January 31, 2008

My Bad Ass Daughter!

Music | Alabama by John Coltrane Quartet

OK, I know I'm on a youtube run here, but I wanted to share what my kid can do to a 40 foot vertical wall. Scroll to about a minute 30 to see some advanced moves and me getting carried away a bit...

Is Printing Dead

Music | Better Way by Ben Harper

After seeing this, I don't think so!

January 30, 2008

Linnton Family Café

Music | Madam Butterfly by Malcolm McLaren

UPDATED: Go Here to view the review.

My buddy PattyDaddy and I have been exploring burgers around the Portland area to write critiques for the Portland Hamburgers blog. PattyDaddy has been on the blog once before, here.

Today, he suggested driving out to a little town on hwy 30 named Linnton. The name of the restaurant is the Linnton Family Café. We were treated a pretty decent burger at a very affordable price. Hopefully, the review will be on the blog shortly...





January 28, 2008

Trinket* and Ollie

Music | Polvere di gesso by Gianmaria Testa

I have friends who took in 2 foster dogs just before Christmas. They are so freakin cute, I had to photograph them! Trinket, who is now Pinkie has the red collar and Ollie are full of personality. In my short evening hanging out with them, they revved themselves up into a frenzy, wrestling, biting, smacking each other silly, then settling down into an almost nap mode...







How freaking cute can dogs be???

January 27, 2008

Blurred Image

Music | 97 by The Pretenders

In keeping with my desire to shoot personal content at least once a week for 2008, I've put up a picture blog called Blurred Image.

For those that were keeping up with Transparent Truth, you know it no longer exists. This is my solo attempt to go it alone.

Hope to see you there and thanks for your support...

January 24, 2008

Continued... week 4

Music | Flicks by Frou Frou

January 21, 2008

Relationships...

Music | #41 by Dave Mathews

There are a few things in the world that I could build things around and live happy. I have a sweater vest that is older than I am that my Mom's cousin gave me when I was in high school. My $15 black hat I bought over the summer that I not only wear on special occasions, but just for the hell of it. I have a 10mm open/box combination wrench that fits in my hand just so and everytime I get to use it, it just feels right. Design wise, I absolutely love my MacBook Pro. Everything about it is just right... (It is too bad in a few years, I'll feel differently... technology both sucks and is amazing at the same time). I used to have a 1976 BMW Motorcycle that was a part of me when I rode it. It was my perfect motorcycle.

The other day, my friends Paul and Reneé gave me a rice cooker that I believe will have the same panache as those things that are just right. I know it is rather sacrilegious to use a rice cooker not made in Japan, but I have a good feeling about it. Simple design, nostalgic looks, easy to clean... May this relationship blossom for years and years to come...

January 12, 2008

Arianna...

Music | Feeling Good by Nina Simone

I'm just shooting, in the zone...

January 10, 2008

To Discern...

Music | Long As You're Living by Abbey Lincoln

I put images out there for people to see and appreciate, and then I put images out there and know that only a handful of people will see and appreciate. I think in the back of my mind, I want to hear someone validate my photography, my view of things... It rarely happens for me, but when it does, the feeling really hits home. I like the idea of someone saying, "I get it, Ted, I understand!"

When that happens, it feels like I'm allowed to go deeper, get dirtier and grittier, to get even closer to the soul. It allows me to be bolder and take more time.

This personal journey that has been resurrected recently has opened up my eyes, for now. I know this moment is fleeting and I have to take from it all I can.

January 08, 2008

A Series Begins...

Music | The Truth by Handsome Boy Modeling School

It seems appropriate that G.G. would start this series of Poets, Singers and Writers. It was she that introduced me to The Ohm where I came up with the idea of photographing some of these amazing spoken word and musical artists.

Helvetia Tavern...

Music | Destiny by Zero 7

Portland Hamburgers has been a mouth watering experience ever since I discovered it late last year. It seems my friend Tony has really taken to it as well. He has been dying to go to few of the places that have been featured there. Today, he made me an offer I couldn't refuse... He'd buy lunch if I drove and took pictures... Hopefully, his write up will be on
Portland Hamburgers as well and he can call himself a full fledged food critic!





Here is what Tony wrote..."Me and My photographer friend Erio went for a destination burger at the Helvetia Tavern, just north of Hillsboro, Oregon. We were not disappointed.

We both went for the Jumbo Cheese Burger and split a large fry. The Jumbo is served on an oversized bun and features: two quarter-pound, fresh (never frozen) pattys from Ponderosa Meats in Aloha; special sauce made from mayo, mustard, and relish; shredded iceberg lettuce, tomato, onion, and 8 or 10 pickle slices. A deal at $7.75. The fries are hand cut daily and cooked up not-too-squishy and not-too-crisp. Erio chose a bottomless RC Cola for $1.75 and I had a PBR for $2.50.

Rustic and authentic old-west architecture. Friendly staff. Regular people.

You can call me Pattydaddy."

Exaltation!

Music | Bird of Cuzco by Nina Nastasia

2008 is going to be another great creative year. It is starting out so strong, not only with myself, but with a few of my peers. It looks like my good friend SJ Hammack got a large commission where she is too busy to answer the phone. I got a call later from her telling me she is just creating, painting away to finish quite a few large pieces for her client.

Kristen Miller, having just ending her show at PDX Contemporary Art Gallery told me the other day she has decided to make one drawing a day, for the entire year!

Roberta Wong is having a solo show for the 25th Anniversary of The Interstate Firehouse Cultural Center. I think it is fitting for her to be featured there as she curated the IFCC gallery for 18 years!

It is going to be an exciting new year. I'm hoping that we can all keep up a dialog to push and inspire each other.

January 02, 2008

Fun???

Music | Black Woman by Fred Anderson

I've been a kid again for the past 2 days. I'm having a joyous time converting, burning and dodging, toning, cropping and general experimenting with photos I've shot in the last 2 weeks. Nothing has been a job, a commission or mandatory related. With Transparent Truth launching yesterday, I'm still in the mode of wanting to work, massage, mold my images. I'm having so much fun. I know I'm affected when as I'm playing with an image, I realize in my thoughts that what I am doing at that moment is bringing me a lot of joy. I decided to stop and write about it, so here I am...

Here is an image I'm playing with now...



It's nice to have content to play with. I also have the energy and desire to be creative, to want to experiment!
 
-- --