Some more randomness, from around the house, this past week. I not only need to find a way to get out more during the week days but, I also need to get back to establishing some themes for the coming weeks to give myself a challenge. These everyday photos are pretty mundane.
Delivering Happiness, by Tony Hsieh. A re-read. There’s been a lot already written about his tragic death, his mental state, and other circumstances around it. It’s all very sad and a very stark reminder that some of the most creative and well-meaning people have demons that we will never really truly understand.
Star Trek: Discovery - currently at s3 e10. I want so much more of the main storyline and so much less of the Mirror Universe but, I will say that this was a good send off for Michelle Yeoh.
The Mandalorian - currently at s2 e8. That green lightsaber... when it appeared, goosebumps.
This week’s rotation included The Gauraldi Trio (the “A Charlie Brown Christmas” album), Rachael Yamagata, Rainer Maria, The Doors, and Depeche Mode.
[Single] "On Melancholy Hill" by Gorillaz - I'd sometimes play this track on the train ride home (while living in D.C.) as a way to unwind, which may or may not tell you something about my time there.
[Podcast] This Is love, Episode 30: Cheers - I remember seeing Gerald Stratford’s first viral tweet but didn’t opt in to follow his account. This conversation was very sweet; he is a very kind man. I’m now following him on Twitter.
[Podcast] Proof: Sizzler and the Search for the American Dream - Loved listening to Cecilia Have-Jin Lee and her siblings talk about their childhood, and learning about America through TV dinners and trips to Sizzler.
This week most of my views were of computer screens or outside of my home office window, watching my days tick away while I was watching computer screens. This was the week of a big virtual convention for us and, I provided some support through the week both for rehearsals and for the convention itself.
I have no complaints; I have a job with an important purpose, working with important, caring people. I also got to indulge in a double-double to kick the week off, so...
Minor Feelings, by Cathy Park Hong - The writer tells it like it is in a way that no other (that I have yet read) has, on behalf of Asian Americans and the issues and challenges that we face. I am still in awe, and plan to read this again.
Star Trek: Discovery - currently at s3 e9. “Georgiou has been snarling and sniping ever since, and while it always seems a bit weird that a fascist dictator who most definitely murdered people is hanging out with what are basically Science Care Bears, Yeoh is clearly enjoying herself, and it at least offered some tonal variation from the usual hugs-and-crying approach.” I loved this quote from the AV Club’s review of this episode.
The Mandalorian - currently at s2 e7. This episode was some great tension building (and sustaining) from start to end. It is interesting to think about elements of PTSD on all sides of the (Star) Wars.
This week’s rotation included Yo-Yo Ma, G.O.W.E., The Ahn Trio, Superorganism, and Rainer Maria.
[Single] "A Christmas Duel" by The Hives & Cyndi Lauper - A must listen each holiday season. Love this.
[Podcast] ZigZag S5 EP5: Changing Our Relationship to STUFF - it's both fascinating and ominous to consider how much stuff we generate and how much of it stays with us, even though we think we have gotten rid of it.
I kept saving, reading, stopping, and returning to the above NY Times article because I think it's a stellar piece of photojournalism. Perhaps more accurately categorized as "Documentary Photography". Photographer Richard Frishman has not only done some extensive research but has photographed these locations in poignant ways.
It's sometimes amazing how much history stares us right in the face, without us really knowing (or innocently forgetting) the meaning of why things are they way they are.
The article is worth the read but please also check out Richard Frishman's site here.
This was a very uninspired week, more so than most.
This week left me with very little energy to read recreationally, having spent most of my workdays researching some different dynamic web design methodologies, and thinking through how we might approach our own effort (on our sites).
Fargo - completed s4. This season, like the others, was filled with beautiful scenery, a great soundtrack, and generally good acting. This season did not grab my interest in the story nor fate of the characters. It lacked the same cohesion that season 1 and season 2 had. If you’ve been following along, you know that I got really bored with it about half way through and was only watching to see it end.
Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath - currently at s1, e8. Somehow I got sucked into this series (through Netflix). It’s really scary stuff and, well… disturbing. I’m not sure I’m going to be watching more of this.
Star Trek: Discovery - currently at s3 e8. Episodes are much, much better when more of the crew/cast is involved. Even better when they have separate subplots/storylines. Detmer!
The Mandalorian - currently at s2 e6. Great to see Ming-Na Wen back and there's a lot of great action in this episode. I almost felt every hit Boba laid out on the Stormtroopers. Also, how many times did Mando have to run up and down that hill in full armor?
This week’s rotation included Tank and the Bangas, Thao & the Get Down Stay Down, Mariachi El Bronx, Adele, Ana Tijoux, and G.O.W.E..
[Single] "Ditty", by Paperboy - a throwback to my teen years. A friend posted this song on an Instagram story and it's been an ear worm ever since.
[Podcast] Song Exploder, Episode 198: Jewel - I didn’t like this song when it was first released. But I did notice how there seemed to be different versions of it played on air. This episode not only explains why that was but also has me listening to the track with a more open mind.
What a perfectly low-key week. Helped to have most of it off from work. Also helped not to have the "normal" family and travel obligations. Just chill and uneventful.
I finished Southland, by Nina Revoyr (from last week) and it was excellent.
The Moment it Clicks, by Joe McNally - Reread this as a refresher, paying more attention to the lighting techniques that he peppers throughout (that I glossed over the first time).
Fargo - currently at s4, e10. One of the better episodes of the season though, still just waiting for this arc to end. Visually, everything is still really stellar. It's just that I don't have any stake in any of the characters and the story feels simultaneously disjointed and cliché.
Star Trek: Discovery - currently at s3 e7. Tilly is a great character and all, and the crew has been through a lot, but I don't find it realistic that she would be chosen to be the ship's 2nd in command. As an Ensign. With little to no command training.
The Mandalorian - currently at s2 e6. Yeah, that was good. Really good.
This week's rotation included David Bowie, AKMU, Tokimonsta, BoA, and Led Zeppelin.
[Single] "Blackstar" by David Bowie - I've been listening to his album a lot, this year. Every track is good as a stand-alone but, if there's any contemporary album that needs to be listened to as an entire album, it's this one.
[Podcast] The Walk-In, Episode 16: "The sky was the limit" with Toni Tipton-Martin - Elle Simone Scott is a great podcast host and each episode has taught me something very new. This was a great conversation between her and Toni Tipton-Martin.
I was in the middle of doing something when I looked over to the shelf and noticed the late afternoon sun hitting the Clipper just right. I quickly grabbed the camera and took a few shots.
I'm partial to the Acros version of this image, though the Velvia simulation does give it a nice "classic" look.
I bought a speedlight (flash) a few weeks ago. I haven't owned one in years and even then I rarely used it. The only reason I had one was because I had started doing some small assignments for a local news blog, and sometimes would find myself at low-lit events and needing to get better portraits of people.
In all these years, I never really took the time to learn how to properly use the flash. If used, it was as a fill flash, usually in Auto or TTL mode. On occasion, I would dial the intensity of the flash up and down (depending on what was needed), but only after I had accidentally figured out how.
With the new speedlight, I purchased a wireless trigger along with an umbrella and light stand. Using the flash off-camera (with the wireless trigger) is a new challenge. It's also a lot of fun. I have been spending time rereading old photography books, reading new photography books, and watching videos to learn different techniques and styles.
Back to basics. Well, at least attempting to teach myself some new skills. I don't have any specific intention for this other than to just "know" something else. Portrait, product, and studio photography work (still) don't interest me all that much but you never know.
Here's another week's worth of photos. You might already be able to tell that there was no theme (again) this week. I struggled around mid-week, not only almost forgetting to take a photo on each day but, also starting to consider quitting the project.
I'm not a "take a picture every day" kind of photographer. I take pictures in streaks, which makes this project more difficult for me than most.
The Sentinel: A Jack Reacher Novel, By Lee Child and Andrew Child - I started reading this around 9 pm on Thursday night and ended up finishing the book (reading all the way through). It was a good overall story; well-paced which made it really easy for me to just keep reading. There really wasn't a "stopping point".
Southland, by Nina Revoyr - I'm about 80% through this but I'm counting it towards this week. The story jumps through different eras of the 20th century, across different parts of Los Angeles and makes me miss being around LA. The main plot, and characters, is intriguing. I love it so far.
Fargo - currently at s4, e8. *taps fingers waiting for this story to end*
Star Trek: Discovery - currently at s3 e5. The season is slowly getting better. Michael Burnham and Philippa Georgiou make a great pairing when they're off on their own adventure.
The Mandalorian - currently at s2 e4. I enjoyed another Paul Sun-Hyung Lee appearance. I can't decide if I want more stand-alone plots or if I want more overarching plots (in tv series) but this series does a good job doing both.
The Queen’s Gambit - completed season 1. Ok, so we were hooked and watched all the way through. It was overall a good season. There's a... lot to unpack around the orphanage and adoption story arc but, that will be for another time. Thomas Brodie-Sangster will always look like a little kid (circa his "Love Actually" role) to me.
Ted Lasso - completed season 1. I liked it! Just a fun and light-hearted series that had some really good emotional moments in it.
This week’s rotation included Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Crimson Apple, Flor De Toloache, Peggy Gou, Blackpink, and Megadeth.
[Single] "Discopop!" by Hong Kong Wigs - A pretty good, upbeat track. My first listen I skipped it after the first 10 seconds but came back to it and it has grown on me since.
[Podcast] Death, Sex & Money: I Killed Someone. Now I Study Police Violence - I cannot imagine being in his position.
This week had no theme (random) but I'm happy with how easy it was for me to remember to take a picture each day. Really, the point in doing this project is to get me back into the habit of seeing things "photographically" while encouraging myself to be 1) more experimental and, 2) more comfortable with really mundane images.
The point isn't to have 365 of the best images ever taken rather, it's to build up some habits and maybe fine tune some skills along the way. At least, those are my goals.
Nada to report here. At this point it's just embarrassing.
Fargo - currently at s4, e8. Some speeches, some violence, some weirdness. Still no connection to any character or really any character arcs. At this point, I’m watching just to see it end. Like I’ve said before, season 2 was my favorite. I distiinctly remember being invested in a few character arcs, and not wanting the season to end because it was all so captivating.
Star Trek: Discovery - currently at s3 e5. The USS Nog! The USS Voyager “J”! Tig Notaro asking for (and getting) a snack from her interrogator! And, as usual, Michael Burnham has to be right smack in the middle of every single thing that doesn’t really make sense for her to be in the middle of. Nhan, we hardly knew you! I really wish this series would allow the other characters to shine (without her). Also a bonus: watching Michelle Yeoh and David Cronenberg verbally sparing during their scenes.
The Mandalorian - currently at s2 e3. I liked this episode. Pirates! Though, the episode seemed to be over too quickly for me. It was fast-paced which isn’t a bad thing; I suppose I just wanted more of Katee Sackhoff as Bo-Katan Kryze, and the Nite Owls.
3rd Rock From the Sun - completed the series rewatch. This was really enjoyable. I think I laughed out loud at least once every episode. Much needed during 2020. There was a lot I remembered (from watching when it first aired) and a lot that I had forgotten about. This was a talented group of cast and crew; the combination of writing and acting made it so, so good.
This week’s rotation included Rage Against the Machine, AKMU, Ana Tijoux, Japanese Breakfast, and David Bowie.
[Single] "Birds" by The Churchhill Garden - When this first played I thought it was The Cranberries. Very similar, soothing sounding track.
[Podcast] This is Love: Episode 28 The Clearwater Monster - Practical jokers had the whole town fooled. I can see this still being possible today.
As you can see, this week's theme was "black and white". Pretty easy/basic but enough to keep me engaged in this year-long project. The original plan was to setup the camera (Fujifilm) with the Acros film simulation so that everything I saw through the viewfinder and captured was in B&W. But that didn't last as there were some other images, this week, that I wanted in color.
Recently Read
This was a week when I *should* have escaped into a book but simply could not.
Fargo - currently at s4, e7. Ugh, it’s getting tedious for me. This season is far more drawn out than it needs to be. I don’t think we 1) learned anything new, and 2) progressed the story forward in this last episode.
Star Trek: Discovery - currently at s3 e4. This episode had shades of ABC’s TGIF sitcoms in that everything was tied up really nicely at the end with just a few heart to heart talks. I don’t mean that as a negative but, it did feel too convenient and unrealistic. Also, I don’t think it made sense for Burnham to be in the Trill pool with Adira, witnessing all that.
The Mandalorian - currently at s2 e2. Seeing Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as an X-wing pilot was a nice surprise. Baby Yoda's love for eggs mirrors my own.
3rd Rock From the Sun - currently at s6 e3. Jan Hooks is still amazing. Just so, so funny all around. Jane Curtin, too. The absurdity of this show is what makes it so funny. I need this juxtaposition against our current reality.
This week’s rotation included Heart, Fleetwood Mac, Rage Against the Machine, Blackpink, Peggy Gou, and David Bowie.
[Single] "Ohms" by Deftones - Featured on the latest podcast episode of Song Exploder, I didn't know that the Deftones originated from Sacramento.
[Podcast] Extra Spicy: Food photography is a meritocracy - This is a great conversation with Oriana Koren. I really like her work and have even more respect for it after learning how much research and preparation she puts into it.
Cooler weather, clouds that tease rain, long shadows, and a few golden trees. This is Fall from my office window; a hopeful scene during a trying week.
This week's theme was "breakfast". It's interesting to consider how mundane and repetitive this meal is. When I first considered this theme, I was worried that I was going to end up with 7 photos of oatmeal. But, I'm not one for monotony in food; I have a hard time with leftovers not because I don't like them but because I like a lot of variety from meal to meal.
This week was a little outside of "average" in that I had more eggs than I usually do. Most of this was not due to the photo project (I think) but because I woke feeling hungrier than normal most of the week.
Note: I’m also uploading all of the photos into this Flickr album. Each photo posted there has a description, like a short “thought of the day” accompanying it.
Two weeks down, 50 more to go…
I hate when I don't have anything to report here. I read, constantly, but I didn't get around to reading anything recreationally (i.e. fiction, novels, etc) this week. Grr.
Fargo - currently at s4, e7. Really hope the slow build starts showing us something soon...
Star Trek: Discovery - currently at s3 e3. This episode took a lot of "emotional leaps" and played into that instead of focusing more on the story/plot. Michael's perspective: she has been waiting for her crew for a year and that year has "changed her so much". The Disco crew's perspective: it's only been a couple of days being separated from Michael but the "reunion" was played up like it had been decades. And they skipped past a lot of things they could have gone into for visiting Earth 900 years into the future. Also, Philippa Georgiou's diplomacy is my kind of diplomacy.
The Mandalorian - currently at s2 e1. A fun ride/episode all around but felt a little more drawn out than it needed to be. The production value is definitely feature film quality, which makes it really fun to watch. I love an Amy Sedaris appearance. And a Timothy Olyphant appearance. That better be Boba Fett.
3rd Rock From the Sun - currently at s4 e12. When Jan Hooks shows up is when the show is at its best. It's so ridiculously silly that it's sometimes too easy to miss the very clever commentary.
This week’s rotation included Peggy Gou, Depeche Mode, David Bowie, and Yatte.
[Single] “Spirit Calls”, by Yatte. The 80s are back! Yatte's music is fun and worth exploring.
[Podcast] Getting Through it: Real Science vs. Alternative Facts - It's refreshing to listen to a scientist who is not only grounded but practical and realistic in relaying facts and how we might act on them. I'm a fan of Dr. Lucy Jones, as most in Southern California might be.
I updated my settings to take Jpeg+Raw, where the Jpeg will be done in Fujifilm's Acros film simulation. This gives me the best of both worlds, where I get a nice B&W with no post processing needed and a Raw file for if I do want to revisit the editing later.
Here are my photos from the first week. To help keep me going through the entire project, I'll be using themes to help tie photos together. The first week doesn't have a theme, though. It's random just to help me get started.
I'm also uploading all of the photos into this Flickr album. Each photo posted there has a description, like a short "thought of the day" accompanying it.
One week down, 51 more to go...
Hellacious California: Tales of Rascality, Revelry, Dissipation, and Depravity, and the Birth of the Golden State, by Gary Noy - I'm sure every state's history holds stories similar to this. And if not already, I think someone should compile those stories for them because this was a very fun, very interesting read.
Fargo - currently at s4, e5. I said it before, I really like the look (cinematography), setting, and production value of this series. But this season's story and characters aren't resonating with me. It's not bad but it doesn't stand out as anything "memorable".
Star Trek: Discovery - currently at s3 e2. So, so, so much better now that they're no longer a prequel! So much better!
3rd Rock From the Sun - currently at s3 e10. Because silly, slapstick, absurd comedy is just what is needed.
This week’s rotation included Flor De Toloache, The Black Crowes, Radiohead, and Led Zeppelin.
[Single] "Back to Earth", by Jackie Venson - Just a really great song by a really great artist.
[Podcast] Criminal: 76th and Yates - The logic of some laws make sense but, how they practically apply to those involved, sometimes doesn't.
It’s starting... apologies in advance for many mediocre photos as I force my way through a 365 project.
If feels like I start this project every year and give up around photo #20. I never liked photography assignments, let alone ones that had regular (daily) deadlines. Good thing I never went fully into photojournalism, eh?
It's a hobby, one that I love but one that I want to do on my own time, my own terms.
I'll be posting them weekly as slideshow/posts here on the blog, and a little more frequently to this album (on Flickr).
Still behind on my recreational reading. I spent the week doing a lot of research (and writing) for work. I did watch Alta's California Book Club live stream with C Pam Zhang, author of How Much of These Hills is Gold (which I loved). It was a great all-around conversation about what goes into crafting a novel like that.
David Attenborough: A Life On Our Planet - If there's anyone who can give us a first-hand account of the impact we have made on Earth, it's David Attenborough. Through his “Witness Statement” we get a very intimate illustration and plea to better educate and more responsibly act.
Fargo - currently at s4, e4. Still on episode 4 because we're opting to wait for a few more episodes to queue up. The pacing is slow enough as is so, waiting a week between each episode is a little irritating. It definitely works better if we can bing a few at a time.
3rd Rock From the Sun - currently at s2 e16. Our weekly escape to silliness and laughter.
This week's rotation included Flor De Toloache, Yusuf/Cat Stevens, Peggy Gou, and Van Halen (R.I.P. EVH).
[Single] “Build a Fire”, by Patty Smyth - classic Patty Smyth and a perfect road trip track.
[Podcast] The Dave Chang Show: Good Tortillas and California Politics: The Gustavo Arellano Experience - I like Dave Chang and Gustavo Arellano's individual perspectives on food culture so, listening to them talk to each other about a range of topics was fascinating.
