I feel that the best way to embark on this people project is to take a step back and look at myself. I never actually took a photo of myself, especially with lighting and light modifiers, it was a trippy experience. I didn't have anyone to tell me to shift my body, or tell me to "make love to the camera"...which was a good thing, really. This is my attempt at a self portrait, I think it came out pretty good especially since I am that guy who would often times be perfectly happy always taking the photos and not being in them.
This project is about gaining understanding of the people around me (and you). Here is a little groundwork about yours truly... I am turning 30 this year, which is not a big deal for me specifically but seems to be on the forefront of thought for those who know me. I don't own a house, I still drive a compact car, and I (because of a great blessing) live in a wonderful flat in San Francisco. My day job consists of managing corporate telecom accounts and is not as glamorous nor mundane as you might think. I talk to people all day long... clients, co-workers, vendors, managers, etc... and what I have realized is that I really don't know much about them (as people). I know that my boss like to have the most current tech-toys, my clients like to save money in any way possible, my co-workers love coffee, and I have a huge hunger for Vietnamese food when I walk by it on my way to the office. I am sure there are plenty of other details that I know about the people around me, but for the sake of this entry I will keep it simple. My lack of understanding is not limited to the people I have a professional relationship with... what about the guy at the restaurant who serves me? That is a pretty intimate relationship that is only shared with someone like my wife or mother. I know that is his job, but I am beginning to feel like I should at least know his/her name. I confess, my life is already saturated with information and yours probably is too, so getting to know every person that you interact with may be a bit of a stretch. I will try it for a year and see how it goes...
So more about me: I have this passion for photography that erupted when I actually got married and had to hire my first professional photographer. It was an awesome experience and I thought... I can do this too! Well, just about three years later, here I am. I take pictures for hire at night and on the weekends and sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed, but it has all been a great experience.
In addition to working full time in corporate America and managing a photography side business, I have developed an iPhone app with a business partner. Can't really go into details but that project has been very exciting. Not sure if anyone out there agrees with me, but oftentimes I feel like I wear so many different hats that I lose track of who I am at the core.
I have so many people expecting so much out of me all the time. From family, friends, clients, etc., I begin to feel like six different people. The pressure does get high, but with the help of my wife (and a whole lot of prayer) I am able to get through the toughest of times. I don't mean this in a negative way at all. I sometimes wish it was all a bit simpler, but I am getting used to it.
After reading this entry once over, I know that it is not very concise and does not give a clear description of who I am...but it is me. I am pretty much all over the place, not really sure of who I am in this world, and really look forward to my last entry to see how this progresses. This should be an exciting journey and I look forward to learning more.
Photo Info:
So I basically set the camera up on a tripod with all the same settings as I would use for a client shoot... 70-200mm lens @ f5.0 & 1/250th. If you click on the actual image you will be taken to the flickr page that has more info on the setup of the photo.
