Bohemian Musings

HBO: “Don’t worry, True Blood will be back in Summer of 2009″

You know what HBO, that’s seriously not cool! You can’t leave my show like that, and that better not be Lafayette in the car…. because if it is, I’m boycotting your network!

So I finally downloaded all my pics from my pink camera. Which was from spring break onwards. Here’s the highlights.

Jennay and I

Agnes and I

Nic

Dixieland Photos

Before MJQ

Puppies! You all know the story by now. :)

So I photographed the Vans Warped Tour on Wednesday. It was a pretty miserable experience between walking forever to the gate, being told we have to walk to other gate (and the only way to get there is to walk a mile and half out to the road and all the way around to this other road), having the will call people not be up on their game, the 90 degree temps & 80% humidity weather, and then there’s the fact that half of the youth population of Georgia attended the event. It was horrible. Maybe it would have been so bad if it wasn’t extremely hot…. But it was, so I found myself just wanting to sit in the shade and drink gallons of water instead of photograph the bands. I photographed several bands as a test run before Straylight Run (the band I was covering) and then Shawna and I peaced out before the skies opened up and drenched everyone.

I didn’t even think about wearing sunscreen this afternoon…. that was a huge mistake… check out my sunburn. It’s totally on par with 2005’s “I fell asleep in the sun with tanning oil on” sunburn. I’ve loaded myself up with aloe though it’s not really helping with the pain at the moment…. don’t you love the line on my neck from the camera strap?

On that note, check out my cool new camera. I upgraded since I broke part of the other one on the Roswell trip. The new one is 10.1 megapixels, and it’s my new best friend. :)

Concert pics to come!

Wow. So I’m finally finished with the convention. I almost didn’t attend this thing, and I couldn’t be more glad that I did. I learned how to do things I didn’t even think possible with my current software, learned about different designers’ and designer firms’ histories, learned how to handle various situations with clients that, luckily, I haven’t had to endure yet, saw the newest stuff coming down the line from Adobe, saw some of the coolest art work, listened to famous designers speak, loaded (and I mean LOADED) up with free samples and tshirts and other swag (pictures to come) saw an old friend from freshman year of college, hung out some with Danny (since his company was doing all the video/audio/lighting/stage set up for the event) between sessions, networked my little butt off during the networking meals, hit up the aquarium for the closing gala (they rented out the whole freakin’ place), and ended up leaving the convention completely refreshed and renewed and anxious to get back to my computer to play around with the new stuff I had learned.

Not since bd4d in 2003 have I felt like this. It rocks. :) This being my first conference of this type that I’ve attended, I understand why it’s important to step away and make time for these things, at least once a year.

Over 4,000 people attended the event. This of course made the exhibit floor (or as I liked to call it, SWAG HEAVEN) a nightmare. I couldn’t really take a picture that expressed this, hopefully one will surface. But until then, this will give you an idea of one small section of one small row of the floor.

So I fully know that none of you will get the blue sky, blue sky quote. :) It comes from Chip Kidd’s presentation which was absolutely incredible. I rate it almost as high as the amount of times I heard him say “fuck”. It’s amazing how laid back designers are, one of the speakers used that word 42 times. Danny’s group said they had never heard a speaker even say that before, much less use it to that degree. Anywho, blue sky, blue sky is Cali talk from an employee at Adobe who corresponded with Chip on a poster that needed to be designed to get students to enter the student competition they host annually. If you want to know the rest of the story, ask me, I’m too tired to type it out. heh :)

The sessions were packed out though, I have a video that I’ll upload later to show the shear mass of people that were in there. The below picture doesn’t illustrate that at all. But when people were finding their seats, they usually had the lightning dimmed, awesome music playing (I even heard the Decemberists once!), and they were playing various reels from the designers who were going to speak. And you guys know how I am about the reels. It was just freakin awesome.

Here’s a complete list of the sessions I attended (I included the speakers’ names next to the best ones):

Sunday, June 10

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Pre-Conference: Organic & Interactive Motion Design – Steve Holmes

5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Networking Kickoff

7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Ballsy: Ways to Score Extreme Business Success

9:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Opening Reception; Resource Center Open (AKA SWAG HEAVEN)

Monday, June 11

9:00 am – 10:15 am
A Number of People – Chip Kidd

10:45 am – 12:00 pm
Inspired By Our Passions: The Pursuit of an Enriched Life

2:00 pm – 3:15 pm
Perfect Imperfection—Lessons of the Handmade in Design

3:45 pm – 5:00 pm
Self-Promotion and Portfolios in the Digital Age – Dave Werner

Tuesday, June 12

7:30 am – 8:30 am
The Russell Brown Show for Photoshop Users

8:00 am – 9:00 am
Continental Breakfast

9:00 am – 10:15 am
Universal Principles of Design – William Lidwell

10:45 am – 12:00 pm
What Do You Do When…? – Scott Wadler (creative team from MTV)

2:00 pm – 3:15 pm
Copyrights and Trademarks on the Internet: Do’s and Don’ts, Rights and Wrongs

3:45 pm – 5:00 pm
TOAST: How to Make Burnout Delicious – Kevin McConkey

8:30 pm – 11:30 pm
Tuesday Evening Reception

Wednesday, June 13

8:30 am – 9:30 am
Continental Breakfast

9:45 am – 11:00 am
How to Rule the Web with Flash® and Humor – Chopping Block Studio

11:15 am – 12:30 pm
Balancing the Work You Love with the Life You Want

During the times between sessions that I couldn’t find Marc or Cindy and Danny was busy or absent from the venue all together, I amused myself by taking pictures of me making funny faces with my name tag. I’m sure this made me look quite charming to those passing me by. :)

The event at the aquarium last night was pretty awesome. They rented out the entire place, had drinks and finger foods, and a 9 piece band playing in the center. It was called the Descenders Ball. Which if you know typography, you should know the term, and you will find it pretty amusing. :) We were supposed to wear shirts with our favorite fonts, or be more crazy with costumes, which some people did dressing as mad libs, some with 3-d letters glued to their head, and others with amusing font joke shirts.

So next year the event will be in Boston, a couple blocks from Harvard. I totally plan on attending. :)

P.S. Pictures of free stuff still to come! :)

So I need to vent. And I figured I would do this here, because my friends read this (even though they don’t comment very often *coughs*), and everyone likes to vent to their friends.

I know a lot of people judge people that work in my industry. They think we’re all caught up in the Hollywood thing. They think that we’re just superficial, because we deal with people who indeed are superficial. But you can’t count me in that group, and people that don’t know me love to imply that. I honestly think they’re just intimidated by me, because anyone with real depth, who knows me in the least, knows that about me. It’s about the art, the ability to convey feelings, emotions, or concepts via a medium that is able to reach people. I love that movies and television can do that, they can provide with you with an escape, take you to a world you would never be able to visit, and they can make you feel things. They affect people. That’s what intrigues me so. With music, you’re able to associate songs with various periods of your life, with places you’ve visited, and even with the people you love or have loved. It becomes the soundtrack to your life. Photography lets you capture a moment, freeze it forever, so that when you look back on it, you’re reminded of that moment however joyful or painful it may be. It’s all art. And that’s what life is about to me. Art. Without it, life would be boring and utterly pointless. It’s the beauty in a world that would otherwise be filled with ugliness.

So with that being said. Those people, who for some reason, love to hate me… Let them. I don’t care. Let them go about their childlike games of drama, so that they can feel like they’re in control. Let them say whatever they need to say, because they feel threatened by me… like I’m some sort of social competition. And while they’re busy trying to make sure that all eyes are on them, I’ll be here, smiling and enjoying a life that is healthy and drama free. A life that is beautiful and filled with art, an awesome career, love, and amazing friends who understand me and always have my back, just as I do with them.

And one day, when these Emma-haters grow up (if that ever happens), they’ll realize that they spent a good portion of their life being fake and terrified that people would call them on it. Well, I’m calling these people on it now. I know it, and so do you. There’s absolutely no reason why you can’t stop doing it. Be nice to people, listen to the wise words from the movie Bambi (if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it), and stop trying to convince the world that you’re some person that you’re not. If you can’t be yourself and people accept you for it, then they’re really not worth your time anyways are they?

I just don’t do the petty girl competition thing, and I feel sorry for those of you that do. So you guys can play that game by yourself. Spread lies; make fun of me, whatever you need to do to make yourself feel like a cooler person. Personally, I don’t get it, but hey, whatever floats your made for one, lacking in human decency, joke of a boat.

So in closing, you know who you are… I go out of my way to be nice to everyone, to be there for everyone, and I try to make everyone smile. Yes, oh god, I’m such a horrible person. I probably would have been your friend too if you had taken the chance to get actually get to know me instead of automatically trying to sabotage a friendship that has lasted a lot longer than either one of us even knew of you. It’s not going to work, and I’m pretty sure at this point you’ve played your last card.

I should have called you on this earlier, but your latest actions have just tipped the crazy boat. I hope you’re happy with yourself.

I need jennay time. I realized this waiting inline today at Sam Flax. There’s nothing as exciting as doing the following with your best friend: hanging out in Savannah, the beach, making art, and getting the cops called on you for a noise violation at 1 in the morning when all you’re doing is sewing. heh. I still remember the look on the cop’s face…. “and you guys are sewing. yea. alright.” *cop leaves*. heh

good times. good times.

I’m going to come see you soon Jenny! :)

So this has really really been bothering me. As many of you know, I’ve added Grey’s Anatomy to my list of must-see tv. I know I made Jenny and Shawna pretty proud by doing so. :) But there’s one part of the show that really bugs me, and yes I know this stupid…. The elevator scenes. Dude. Yes, they’re awesome and filled with the much enjoyable sexual tension between Meredith and Dr. McDreamy, but let’s really look at this shall we. Seattle Grace has 5 floors according to the buttons on the inside of that elevator…. this is a hospital… there is no way that you can have a elevator ride lasting over two minutes to ride down 5 floors! People would die.

In order to illustration my point, here’s a clip from season 2 where it takes 53 seconds to ride to floor 1 from floor 2. Then 40 seconds to ride from floor 2 to floor 4. Does this bother anyone else?

And before any of you say anything, yes, I know it’s a tv show. :) It just really erks me for some reason when I watch it. Heidi’s apartment elevator is faster than this one. We get up to floor 21 in well under a minute…. FLOOR 21! argh.

[01:06] Crashdowngurl: lets move to california and stalk dr. mcdreamy
[01:06] JHeyJenn: ok
[01:06] JHeyJenn: did i tell you my brother had a beer with him in memphis
[01:06] JHeyJenn: ?
[01:06] Crashdowngurl: WHAT?!?!?!?!
[01:06] Crashdowngurl: WHAT HAPPENED?????
[01:07] JHeyJenn: yea his band went up there for a show
[01:07] JHeyJenn: and they were at the bar
[01:07] JHeyJenn: and he looked over and theres patrick dempsey!
[01:07] Crashdowngurl: wow
[01:07] JHeyJenn: i was so jealous
[01:07] JHeyJenn: i think it was in memphis, ill have to ask him for sure where
[01:07] Crashdowngurl: yeah dude….
[01:07] Crashdowngurl: did they talk
[01:07] Crashdowngurl: what was said
[01:07] Crashdowngurl: is he as hot in person
[01:07] JHeyJenn: hahahaha
[01:07] Crashdowngurl: these are all valid questions

I’ve officially bumped Patrick Dempsey to #2 on my list. And with that being said, everyone in my top 5 is officially over 30. :)

I’ve got my first photography gig. I went out for dinner and coffee last night with Danny, and he informed me that he and Shawna were tying the knot in a very small ceremony in May. He then asked me if I would be the photographer. :) I, of course, said yes. It means a lot to me that someone likes my work enough to ask me to be the one that captures all their moments on a special day like that. I’ve got to do some wedding photography research now, so I’ll know the types of pictures that I’m supposed to get… I still can’t believe he’s getting married… and Brian Rape is too in August. It’s weird. I don’t know everyone still seems so young to me. Alright, maybe not Danny, but still. haha :)

So now getting that external flash is totally justified. :)

I’ve been working on some Veronica Mars promotional things today, and I came across this interview with Ms. Ostroff… the lady who has the job that I will one day take from her. She’s going to slowly kill the best show on television… they should just appoint me head of CW right now and save everyone the hassle. The way this network is being ran is absolutely crazy…. Yes lets keep the horrible excuse for a show 7th heaven for an 11th season while critically acclaimed dramas like Everwood get bagged…. lets pick up shows like Runaway that get cancelled after 3 episodes… and while we’re at it, let’s just change the one thing that sets Veronica Mars apart from all other shows on television…. It’s like watching someone you love die and knowing you can’t do anything to stop it. ARGH. The entertainment world sucks.

Here’s what all my fuss is about:

Sadly, Dawn Ostroff also announced that Veronica Mars will be going on hiatus for eight weeks, while the new reality series, The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll, airs during the Veronica Mars time slot. The hiatus will begin on March 6th and continue for eight weeks. However, when Veronica Mars comes back, it “will come back with five stand-alone episodes.” Each of the five episodes will work separately and run without hiatus for five weeks. Ostroff confirmed that the new stand-alone format for the final five episodes is not “an admission that the show is in a little more trouble” or that the network is “not happy with the numbers.” In fact, Ostroff repeatedly told reporters that the network has “been really happy with the quality” and that “the numbers have been better than they ever were in the history of the series. Ostroff went on to explain the reasoning for the stand-alone episodes, “it’s really just a way to experiment and see if we can make the show closed-ended so that people aren’t intimidated to come in. And it just is more accessible to viewers, and that’s really what’s motivating it.”

Every year, I correctly call the demise of the shows that end up cancelled… I correctly call all the horrid mistakes the networks make. So everyone take note, this is one of those mistakes (lets just hope it’s not one that gets the show cancelled)…. let us remember the end of the first arch of season 3 fondly, because it’s quite possibly the second to last one we will ever have. The trailer doesn’t have any spoilers in it so don’t worry if you haven’t been keeping up with the show at all this season *cough* Jenny *cough* :)