Photographer on a Hollywood Set Assignment

Thursday, June 16, 2016

I decided to check out another photography seminar at Canon Experience Center. Tonight’s seminar started at 7pm, and it is about “Shooting on a Hollywood Set with Mike Kubeisy.” He worked on such TV series as NCSI, CSI, and Dragnet, where he photographed forensic-related props for movies and TV series. He told us some stories about working on a Hollywood set, which included working with war vets with PTSD as well as working with various actors.

A couple of days before he starts on a job, he receives a memo, which is like a production sheet or chart, detailing what he needs to do on a particular day as well as where it takes place. This chart includes the set, scenes, cast members, days, direction or instruction, shooting notes, stand-ins, props, atmosphere, time, and his assignment throughout the day, on each day that he needs to show up. 

The scenes tend to be gory, but the forensic details are not real. Each episode takes one week to shoot. 

He displays some behind-the-scenes pictures of working on the set. (I have been around some films, TV shows, and infomercials being filmed in my area, and I have stopped, just to check it out.It looks interesting, but it is also tiring and tedious work, because there is a lot of sitting around and waiting. For example, the movie, Kiss the Girls, had a scene shot at a nightclub that used to be across the street from my townhouse. On the way to the gym, I had stopped to see the commotion, and I ended up hanging out there, watching everywhere, and chatting with the nightclub waitresses, who had a role playing themselves in the movie. I saw Morgan Freeman standing outside on his break, smoking a cigarette, and he looked very tense. Some extras mentioned that Ashley Judd had to leave in her limo with her little dog Emmy Lou because Irvine pet stores didn't carry the dog food brand that her dog eats. But I remember that everyone was popping gum and eating lots of candy, like a sugar high. Furthermore, I recently watched an infomercial being filmed, which is a similar process).

He talks about some important and useful tools for photographers, which includes Photoshop, Lightroom, Kelby 1, Aurora HDR, Hunt’s gift card, and some Social Network sites, such as Linkedin.

There was a raffle for some items, and some people won something, but my number wasn't called. 

Photojournalism Tips

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

I checked out a photography event, which was interesting. A retired photojournalist, Don Bartletti, displayed some photojournalist scenes about the life of illegal immigration in Mexico. He used to work for the LA Times, and this journey was one of his jobs, where he had to report on the illegal immigration problem, where many desperate Mexican continually try to cross the border to escape and seek better jobs. He adds that photojournalism is all about telling a story.

Since the eighties, the border enforcement has wanted to build a wall on the Mexico/USA border. This wall was actually put together by the Latinos in America, and there are obelisks with markings placed at certain areas to mark the long and high wall, which resembles the wall on the Palestine/Israel border. (And, remember, obelisk is a symbolic sign for Zionism, whether US Zionists or Zionist Israel).

In 2007, the Mexican war with the drug cartels killed 138,000 people in Mexico. And, the drug cartels live a good life, similar to upper middleclass Americans. The problems with drug cartels have created a debt in Mexico’s tourist entry because many Americans fear visiting Tijuana. The Mexican police department is also corrupt, and they are often paid off to shut up. Twice a year, there is a ritual, where confiscated marijuana is burned in front of American officials. 

Marigold petals are scattered over a coffin in a funeral because marigold symbolizes death in Mexico.

There were many burned victims during these drug cartel wars, which killed and deformed many people of all ages.

The new foreign aid to Mexico has lured many Mexicans to cross the border in order to seek jobs. But the elderly and very young are often left behind, although money is often sent to them in Mexico.

Young Central-Americans people travel throughout El Norte, Mexico to find their mothers. The poorest people live in dumps filled with buzzards. They often rummage through the filth seeking food to eat and items to sell. Twelve abandoned kids live under a bridge. They often suck on glue to survive because it gives them a certain high. 

At the Honduras to Guatemala border, there are many rafts. They follow the train line on their journey. As the young people cross over the bridge, via the train, they look for their mothers. There are food throwers who often give food and other items to these young migrants on the trains.

At the Rio Grande River, there were two boys sleeping inside a huge pipe. 

Many kids in Mexico are forced to join gangs. Gangs often fight each other, and the drug cartels kill many people. There are scenes of an abandoned strip mall and slum alleys where poor people reside. Every day, many people are killed. 

Smugglers help desperate Mexicans cross the border, but for a price, which is as low as $25 and as high as $7000. 

Hotel in Mexicali houses many migrants, who sleep on floors, which looks like a concentration camp.

The last photographs are of all the protests against the border walls and for the border walls.

He also talked about the wildfires in San Diego that created destruction of many homes and deaths of many people.

Fashion Photography Tips

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

I have always loved photography, and I specialize in surreal mannequin photography, street photography, and taking candid shots. So, at the OCMeetUp site, I decided to check out some local photography events. Canon Experience Center puts together some interesting photography seminars.

Around 6:11pm, I drove to Canon Experience Center, which is close by at a neighboring city, to check out a Creative Portraiture seminar at 7pm. Photographer Laura Tillinghast explains creative portraiture in fashion. I notice that she uses lots of butterflies and ravens as well as bird cages in her images. She also uses Photoshop and Lightroom to manipulate photos and fix certain errors. 

Creative portrait photography involves narrative storytelling, symbolism, expressive movement, strategic props, and shooting a series of photos. Fashion images must tell a story utilizing props and a background scene, and such scenes are often dramatic because of the colors, composition, layout, and the model’s expression. The model needs to interact with his/her surrounds and props, which would involve looking else and ignoring the photographer. But when the model looks straight at the camera, then it is a straight portrait. Certain props in a scene add to the story in order to lure viewers to the ad and product. 

Joyce Tenneson is a photographer who uses lots of symbolism in her images. 

Laura Tillinghast demonstrates some photo tricks with a model, Hannah Stacey. Hannah has an identical twin sister, Leah, and they are both fashion models. 

There was a raffle, and the woman next to me, as well as couple of other people, won something. 

For people interesting in avant-garde fashion photography and images, consider googling avant-garde fashions, and clicking on the images.

For more information about the photographer, Laura Tillinghast, you can check out her website.

Fashion Blogger - Just another BlogJob site

Fashion Blogger - Just another BlogJob site

Russia: Sorry, Israel, Golan Heights is Syrian territory -- Puppet Masters -- Sott.net

Russia: Sorry, Israel, Golan Heights is Syrian territory -- Puppet Masters -- Sott.net: http://www.sott.net/article/317089-Russia-Sorry-Israel-Golan-Heights-is-Syrian-territory

Exposing The Truth: Making $$$$ on the Internet. It's isn't what you think it is...don't be fooled... | Exposing the Truth

Exposing The Truth: Making $$$$ on the Internet. It's isn't what you think it is...don't be fooled... | Exposing the Truth

Meditations for Saturday, April 9th

Touchstones Meditations for April 9

Saturday, April 09, 2016

Saturday’s Touchstones Meditations quote is by Sydney Smith, and it states “It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can. Today, I will remember that I am not alone. I have help in many forms, and I will do what I can.”

This quote is all about being productive and achieving a lot, even when we feel overwhelmed because of very big project or too much tasks. Just work a step by step, each day, until the project or tasks are finished. 

Card Reading for Saturday, 4.9.16

The Lovers card, 6^th card, is in reverse, and it indicates that you feel that something isn’t working out for you and you are getting tired of pursuing it because you might feel like you are wasting your time. You might feel that there might be too much negative energy around you, maybe making you lose hope. (Yeah, I do feel like I need a change of some kind).

The Page of Wands card indicates that you are now moving into a new chapter in your life by moving in another direction in order to help you pursue your goals. (I have been checking out OC Meetups in order to check out what is out there nowadays. So far, it is an interesting social engagement, just to meet different people and see what others are currently doing. Let's hope something comes out from it).

The Magician card is also in reverse, and it indicates that you might feel unproductive this Saturday. (Yeah, I feel a little unproductive because I am seeking other ways of doing things in order to change my path and improve situations).

In the numerology aspect of this reading, these three cards add up to 8, and the number 8 means power. You have the power to change your life and make everything work for you.