Working on some new videos

I’ve been working hard on a bunch of new videos to share soon. The editing is the part that takes the most time! I have a plan (half-baked) to get an assistant here to help me edit together these videos so that I might better be able to share more stuff with you… little behind-the-scenes… more screen-casting, and this sort of thing. I edit so many photos per week… I’d like to capture more of it to share. I’ll get on this…

Daily Photo – In The Sun

I was working on some photos from Argentina (one from yesterday you might have noticed, and this was in the batch. Most of my Argentina shots were of rugged landscapes… so I thought maybe you might something a little less rugged here…

Filed under the categories: Argentina, El Chalten, Model, Patagonia, Travel

Not everything in Argentina was rough, and here is a little yang for the yuri.

We rented a car from a horrible company called Wagen.  Don’t worry, I’ll get to the girl part.  The car’s battery died very quickly, leaving us stranded in El Chalten, which is the hub from which many trails spawn out into the Andes.  We had to wait a whole day for the horrible company, once again, called Wagen, to come out and replace the battery after their very unhelpful employee made us jump the car, to little avail.  If you are ever out in Argentina and you need a reliable car, don’t call Wagen. Even worse, they would not give any partial refund. You could get stuck out in the wild with no chance for help.  Luckily we were close to a phone, and that phone was close to an aspiring model to help my camera wile away the hours.  Okay that sounds stupid.  But it’s kinda true.

While in El Chalten, we stayed in a charming little hotel.  At night, I would stay up late and process photos, drink coffee, and listen to music.  This is what I always like to do after dinner.  Maybe that sounds lame.  Anyway, the nice Argentine family that ran the hotel took notice of me and I got to know them.  The mom that ran the hotel had a 20-year-old daughter named Natalia who had a unique look but had never modeled before.  It’s a small town way down by Antarctica and they don’t have many model/photographer resources down thataway.  Anyway, since we ended up with an extra few hours, I asked if she wanted to go out and shoot.   Natalia’s English wasn’t so great, but I was able to draw things out in the dirt like calling a play in flag football.  We ended up with a lot of good shots that I will add over the next few months.

Filed under the categories: Argentina, El Chalten, Model, Nikon D3X, Patagonia, Travel

Hey everyone knows that models that we see in magazines and the like get a little bit of touch up.  That’s no shocker…

A few days ago I was invited to this exclusive party full of models and photographers.  I was picturing a scene like in that episode of Seinfeld when George Costanza went to that secret party.  Well it was nothing like that.

It started with a little road trip with some photographer friends… and, well… more after the link… but we ended up talking a lot about Portraiture.  I decided to give it a whirl, and so I whipped up a little Portraiture Review for you.  I think it’s great, and I am shocked it took me so long to give it a run.

In the review, you can read more about the process and the software. You can also see the original photo, since people always seem to see the “Before” and “After” of these portrait shots! And, if you like modeling kinda shots, I have them mixed in this set here on Flickr, some of which are the product of my Textures Tutorial.

Filed under the categories: Austin, Model, Nikon D2XS, Texas, Travel

These were shot here in Austin with Stephanie and Janus at a cool winebar/restaurant called Imperia in downtown.

Filed under the categories: Austin, Model, Texas, Travel

This was shot in the ultra-cool wine area of ultra-cool Imperia.

Filed under the categories: Austin, Model, Texas, Travel

Here is Jessa again, meandering in the full spectrum… not that anyone gets tired of her. She looks mysterious while trapped in the Nexus, where she just might eat a carby breakfast with Kirk then go on a horse ride.

This was created after following the new video tutorial entitled “A World of Textures” that I recently put together. Included is also 100 textures, depending on the package you choose.

Filed under the categories: Austin, Model, Texas, Travel

Motion capture…

Filed under the categories: Austin, Model, Texas

Believe it or not, she spent the whole morning in church then at Bible study before meeting us for a photo shoot. I asked her if she wore that outfit to Bible study and she said, “Ummmmm, no.”

Filed under the categories: Austin, Model, Texas, Travel

I am meeting a group of friends tomorrow to do some lighting work here in Austin… experimenting with some new styles for fun!

Filed under the categories: Austin, Model, Texas, Travel

Anyone remember that show? I watched all of them… the red room… black forest… bob… what a great show. I wish Lynch would make another like that. Now we have Lost… which is kinda like it, but not nearly as trippy. What does all of that have to do with this picture? Oh yeah there was a gal named Josie on the show that reminded me of this girl.

Filed under the categories: Model

Last year I was nominated for the bloggies and I lost to my worst enemy, the FlickrBlog. So, to the extent that people out there like to see pictures of models, and to the extent they like the occasional model that is of the Asian persuasion, then here you go!

I would appreciate your vote for the 2008 Bloggies! I hope you vote for www.stuckincustoms.com in the "best photography of a weblog" category!

Filed under the categories: Model, Musings

This is Secret.

I found her walking with her hooded ilk around the back streets of Mumbai. Usually when I see a cadre of the enshrouded, they are accompanied by Muslim man that is glaring at almost everyone. This time there seemed to be no alpha around, so I asked her for her name. She looked at me and smiled (I think) and then looked furtively around to see if anyone was watching. I got the distinct impression that since I was a white oddity that actually spoke to her that she wanted to talk, but then thought better of it and made a slight bow before gliding away.

Filed under the categories: India, Model, Mumbai, Travel