::Murkie World::

It has been at least 6 months since my last photography session. For a friend’s birthday I did a photoshoot for her. The session took me longer than expected because I just couldn’t get the color that I wanted. I needed something that makes her look sombre. Controls on my camera seems foreign to me after so long. 

Spent 40minutes on the lightings itself!!! 40 freaking minutes just to get the exact blend of exposure and lights that I wanted!!!

 I was about to give up and make it another black and white collection. I sure was shaky…

There’s something about black and white pictures that makes you want to stare at it…

Finally, my first asian model…

After a few months break, I gotto admit I’m a little rusty. I don’t even know the controls on my camera and how to adjust the lightings anymore… It took me a while to get the lightings the way I want it.

Alright here it goes, this one is dedicated to Carol for bugging me to put it up… So here you go Carol.

Rami, my fellow Sooner whom I was really close with during my senior days in OU decided to take a trip down to California before going for her study abroad program in Beijing. She brought along Claire and Aggie.

So here’s part 1. The day they arrived in Oakland International and I brought them to San Francisco. Thanks to Lynn for letting those girl crash at your place for a night (totally appreciate it).

Here you go… (more…)

I spent the whole 3 days weekend all by myself. I was tired from the LA trip then came back and hung out with everyone the whole weekend.

Sorry can’t join you guys on Saturday night. I just needed a break.

ANYWAY… as you know, I bought myself my dream guitar. Always wanted that guitar since I saw Slash of Guns n’ Roses playing it during their 91 Tokyo concert. That guitar is just so sweet. Played that guitar the whole weekend. My sweet Gibson Les Paul. Orgasmic tone.

Rocking on my sweet Les Paul Axe

I go through my old pictures sometimes. I didn’t like the way the pictures came out the first time. It didn’t portray the mood I wanted. So here you go, I re-edited them. It amazes me how by adding some noise can do so much to the mood of a picture.

It was lunch time and I just decided to go over to a used guitar store (its kinda like a pawn shop) when my eyes fixed upon that beauty hanging on the wall… I swear to god it literally took a breath from me. I took a closer look. I couldn’t help but reach out and touch her… what a beauty. She was perfect. Sunburst, thin finish, and just beautifully hanging on the wall begging me to take her home.

The price tag was dangling from the machine head as I flipped it over… $1,999. I smiled. It was on the high side of what I can afford. “Beautiful right?” a friendly voice came from the counter. “Hell yeah” I replied. “Go try it…”

I quickly called my most trusted friend Brian to check the price for me on Ebay. All the numbers came in. All above $3,000. I knew it… there’s no way a Custom Shop Gibson Les Paul will go under $3,000.

Plugged it into a Marshall JCM 900 amp. After tweaking the amp for a few minutes, it played like a dream. It felt like being united with a long lost love I never knew…

As I unplugged the guitar, I whispered… “Baby, we’re going back home tonight”.

The Gibson Les Paul ‘58 Reissue - Gibson Custom Shop
aka Les Paul R8

With the rest of my guitars

Some random pics that didn’t make it for a full posting. Some are bad pics, some are irrelevantand some are just simple candids or camera test shots.

My Ovation Guitar

Mixer Board in SFSU


Keith and me lost in Japan Town San Jose CA

Sushi Lady On Clement San Francisco CA

At the train station at Monterey Rd

SFSU Student Union Courtyard

Don’t remember

Jeremy after band practice

A drummer’s view: Tatsu and Desmond in the studio

Spent the whole day with Jenn today. She wanted to get some make-up from MAC and also get her make up done by them… went home and took a lot of pictures.
I edited the picture using the concept of HDR (High Dynamic Range). I’m only using the concept not the technique itself. Basically the idea is to darken the dark shadows and brighten the brightness. It is kind of like pushing the contrast while maintaining the mid tones.

The preparation

Went to Yosemite for a camping trip. Two nights of wilderness, beer, smelly armpits, barbecued food and of course, a bonding session with mother earth.

Desmond - The person responsible to keep us alive

Even the way there was enjoyable

(more…)