Camera GLUED to my face!

Not sure why I don't have a camera GLUED to my face 24/7! I don't know what is in store for me, but I am so extraordinarily excited about the shoot I had tonight. I absolutely can't STAND IT - WHY am I not doing THIS for a living!!!!!!!!

These are the shots I took from a place near where I live. It's an interesting place, I can't say I patronize this kind of establishment often, its a pool hall with dozensand dozens of tables and private billiard rooms, a game center with all kinds of video and "activity" games, a full bar, an indoor go cart track, an indoor rock cliimbing wall and a lazer-tag variety shooting gallery. Its a paintless paintball arena and this one is the only place in the world that has it set up this particular way, very decked out and elaborate with all kinds of sound effects and gizmos. Very interesting. Well, the advertising company I contract with has me creative directing the graphics, websites and printed advertising and marketing materials, but I am also the photographer of mention. I've done several shoots for them, but this one merits mention on my blog because right now, I am higher than a kite from the shoot and I don't know why I'm not glued to a camera all the time. I feel euphoric and exhausted at the same time. I'm so uplifted by photography. Design is cool and I like it because its a good challenge, but photography, especially PAID photography is the coolest kick in town! I'm riding a high right now - and mind you I'm 100% drug-free! Well, enjoy my buzz, hope you can catch a little from me! Next week I have a contract to shoot at a restaurant in St. Petersburg, FL. (NAMES REMOVED)


For this shot I had to climbed the rock climbing wall about 30' up, hold on to the wall with my right hand (my shooting hand) and shoot left handed, while art directing the two models, making sure my exposure was correct, angle correct and make sure I didn't drop my camera or fall off the wall. It was SOOOO worth the challenge!


Interior of the gallery. The only lighting was the black lights. Each exposure was 2.5 seconds. The models had to remain still unless directed to move. It was an extremely dark room and most of the time you couldn't see much ahead of where your immediate surrounding were, but the long exposures captured a HUGE room and some wonderful and colorful dynamics. How freaking fun!

Stealing away...

Photo: Untitled Fine Art, ©2007 bruce anttila van hoover

Finally stealing away here for a few moments of personal time again today. We had unexpected guests this weekend, well, expected, but then forgotten until, SURPRISE! We're coming over! It was a nice treat, but weekends like this wear me out. I've come a long way since living with my family and the constant "ON" performance my family expects is a bit tiring from the normal, internal routine Tia and I share on most weekends. She has taught me though, to be a little more selfish in my choices and not to feel guilty about taking time out for myself. It's our only hope for surviving this type of weekend.

Today Tia and I escaped for a few hours this morning to venture downtown to the Sarasota Art Festival. I used to shake my head in dissappointment at most art festivals here, but I'm more and more impressed in the quality of the work. We even made a few purchases. It felt good to get charged up about art and see the quality of craft increase in this town and felt especially good to be able to share with Tia comments about technique and our own personal paths about art. We're both opening our artistic selves up again and exploring techniques and methods of self-expression through visual means. I'm still working in photography and working my schedule to fit figure drawing back into my life again and Tia is taking Art and Healing classes for certification. Now that she is back, we've made accommodations to perfectly fit back into our tiny and cramped studio, taking turns at space or working at opposite ends of the room, which, to give you perspective means that we're almost butt to butt! (or cheek to cheek)...

We haven't said no to moving yet and keeping options open for now. I'm ready for a professional change though. The temporary, full-time solution that was only expected to last a few months (going on nine months) for an advertising agency is in need of either a notable change in format or a removal of myself from it altogether. It could work if the right changes were made, change in title and job function. There is a possible future job opportunity I am excited about and I am holding on to the possibility of that working out. Tia has been working lighty, per diem, in her field.

Tia asked me something important today, a key question in my path, "What aspect about yourself would you have to grow if everything stayed exactly the same as it is today?" Poingnant... I had to think a while before I could answer that, it calls for searching right down to the roots of our lives. I eventually came to acceptance of my professional means in Sarasota. I also came to the thought that I may need to sacrifice my desire for professional aspirations somewhat, maybe developing a new way of thinking about what I have or even altering my career choices to include more of what I find ultimate joy in, that being a combination of working in design, photography and fine art. Overall that means patience, acceptance. I also came to the thought that there is no real need to move, only a desire to gravitate to an environment I feel more comfortable in, but I am learning that I can make do here, make Sarasota and my professional choices work for me here and continue enjoying success through happinness.

I want to thank my new friend "kunzang" and welcome her to my blog world.

I hope you all have a great week! Good to hear from you!

Same ol' Story

I have to say, today, writing a quick note to some friends, telling a nutshell version of our story, it feels, having removed our house from the market, that now we're yet again, going against the grain of the universe. It feels like the energy was finally shifting towards the house actually selling, and now we're pulling the plug. The universe provided what we wanted. We now have people interested in our house, and now we're pulling the rug out from any sort of potential opportunity to actually sell. I feel a little slighted. This is something I'm coming more to grip with, like a fog slowly lifting.

Thoughts?

And now.... it's 5 hours later, and I'm finding myself not being able to stop being angry about the whole thing. I'm just flat out mad.

Noteable Notes.

I am completely amazed and entertained by the absolute Yin and Yang, form, counterform, color and compliment system of living I have with Tia. Today, I am a subtle observer of these normally unremarkable traits and today they make me laugh out loud. In the rare moments I have had this weekend to step away from the computer to witness life around me, I have turned off lights, closed doors and put items away, only to have the lights turned back on, the doors opened and the empty spaces filled back up. Each time it happens, I smile wider.

Today marks the 21st day in a row of work with no breaks - I've put in 85 more hours of work in the past three weeks than most people averaging 40 hour workweeks.

Tomorrow marks the 400th day our house has been up for sale. No offers yet. Ironically, our marketing contract with our realtor also expires tomorrow. We do not intend to pursue the move any longer. At least for now...