Nothing can end if it never started.....

I'm of course talking about summer. I can sit here and bitch about how bad the weather was this summer but I'm not going to. Well, maybe for a second. I mean COME ON!?!? After a long winter, I had high hopes for a great summer. Nice, consistent weather that I could get out and shoot in. That didn't happen until like the first week in July. JULY! So no, I really don't think we had a summer. Let's move on to what I did.

To say I had big plans was an understatement. Of course, most of what I had plans for was to shoot outside. I was scheduling left and right just to get the ball rolling. If it wasn't for the clients being not able to make it, the weather would step up on the day of the scheduled shoot and crap on my parade. After scheduling so many times in June I became discouraged and quiet disappointed.

I did do a promo shoot for History's End in early June. It was great because not only did I get to try something new I got a good profile photo of myself as a bonus. I knew I'd have to try the whole green screen process and decided to test out the lighting effect they were after ahead of time. So I simply used myself. It turned out quite well. I was pretty pleased at how it turned out and I learned a few things. Always try something new out before you go and do it for someone who's paying you. lol I had to unfortunately sit on those History's End photos until later in the summer. I wanted to put them up so bad because I was happy the way they turned out. But there was a good reason not to that I agreed with.

I also did a gig for a benefit for a friend who was senselessly taken away from us this past spring. That made me

feel good. That was right at the end of June. I got to see a lot of old friends I had not seen in a very long time. It was just too bad that we had to see each other in those conditions. I must say, it was one of the most well supported and planned benefits I have ever seen in my life. The turnout was unbelievable and is a testament to the impression Jason left with everyone.

The night before that benefit I shot History's End for the first time in awhile. Mark was retiring from the band and had asked me to come out so I did. That was fun, AND TOUGH! Go figure, that night, and most nights at St. Tom's it seems, would bring a thunderstorm. Which as soon as it hit sent EVERYONE inside the tent. Good for the band, tough for me. I think the biggest disappointment of the night was the use of the wide angle lens I had rented. Just never quite gave me what I wanted. I did get a great shot of one of the rides though. The end of the night was probably more fun than that ride though... lol

I did get out to take some slow shutter photos at night while I had that lens. I've always wanted to do that, and it seemed like a perfect opportunity to try it out. I kept telling myself to just get out and shoot it. Seemed strange going out at night to be out in the open with a tripod but that's what I needed to do. First I had thought about going on the railroad tracks above US30 in Schererville. I've always looked at that as being a perfect spot because of the all the traffic merging underneath the bridge. But, after driving around looking for a place to park and peering down a PITCH black track walk. I passed. Headed to the Home Depot bridge and got some decent shots of cars flying by me. I tried not to think about all the drunks out heading south from Jalapeno's as I've done many times myself. Just leaned the camera as far as I could in to the oncoming traffic constantly picturing in my head a car tagging the first expensive lens I've ever rented and shooting it down the road in a shattered mess. Screw it, I paid for the insurance..... oh yeah, um, the focusing motor must of exploded.... what tire tracks? lol

I timed the rental period so that I would still have the lens during the 4th of July weekend. So my decision was to go to Munster's Fireworks. WHAT A MISTAKE. I know it was their first time a

t the new park but come on. The traffic was a complete nightmare leaving. I got there early and got a good spot with my tripod and of course, didn't bring a sweatshirt. 4th of July? It's summer right? nope. Froze my ass off. AND to top it off, the fireworks were late. I mean, the orchestra took like a half hour break? No one has a stop watch??? I did get some pretty cool shots I was very happy with. I pretty much just kept hitting the shutter release constantly and really didn't get to actually relax and see the show. I was constantly changing settings figuring the more I get the better chance I have of getting a great shot. Learned a few things that night. But the worst was of course the time leaving. I was stuck in a parking lot for like 25 minutes not moving at all. Was it worth it? Meh, maybe for the shots I got.

Speaking of 4th of July. It was nice to celebrate the actual 4th of July at my friends Steve and Tara's house. They had a great group of people and I had a blast. Of course it rained but it eventually cleared up. I drank WAY too much and danced WAY too much. It was right after MJ died and that's all I remember hearing. Say what you will, but the guy was a talented song writer. Woke up in the morning at their house, not even knowing where I was. Plus, come outside to find my car covered in exploded shell fragments. Which, I of course, found absolutely hilarious. lol

Went down to the beach at a banquet facility that has some interesting architectural feel to it. My technical skills were definitely rusty. But all and all it went ok. The only thing that was such a pain were the SWARMS of mosquitoes. However, I did finally get to use my new battery system for my large moon unit for the ring flash. It worked quite well for the shoot.... and unfortunately at attracting the mosquitoes as well. lol

I also got to shoot Mark Smith's last show with Historys End. What a wild night that was. Filled with memories and blasts from the past. Sad, but probably one of the best parties and best performances of the band ever. Everything just went so well. I believe I took over 800 photos! That is definitely a record for me. Took me a long time to go through them but I was very pleased with how they turned out. The crowd was absolutely enormous and crazy. It was difficult to get through them but I managed with throwing a few key elbows. It was VERY hot, so I anticipated this issue of dehydration by drinking about 6 beers in the hour prior to the band starting. Oh don't give me that "alchohol dehydrates you stupid". Just laugh. lol

Somewhere along the way I finally got Fender's pass to the Munster Centenniel Dog Park. It's really cool and quite large. I think 3 acres? They have little doggie water fountains for them and everything. Fender for the most part is pretty good there. There is an issue with him catching up with some smaller dogs and then wanting to play with them a little too rough. But I'm trying to get him to stop that. It may just take some time to get used to all the other dogs. He is always friendly with the people around but he just doesn't know when to stop with his buddies sometimes.

Just recently I finally got back up in the air. It was such a good feeling. Brought a lot of memories back. I did quite well considering it had been 5 years since I had last flown. Landing was pretty good actually. It was also nice to see a few familiar faces around the airport. That's what flying is all about. The stories from the old timers, the smell of 100LL, and the tales of what everyone did that almost killed themselves once... lol Unfortunately, the day was pretty hazy when I went up. But I did't care. It felt so good to be at the controls again. It really did feel like riding a bike. Things you do early on in life over and over again get ingrained in to you. It becomes who you are. It becomes natural. I am looking forward to flying more often. = )

Finally, I did get a chance to see my friends from Chicago. It turned out to be a great night. I haven't had that much fun in a long time. Long day, didn't plan on staying there for the party at night but ended up staying for it anyway. I'm glad I did. = ) It's strange to think that at those times when you're with friends you have known for a long time you can completely feel like yourself. Most people never see that side of me. I'm not sure why, but it doesn't always come out.

So that is pretty much my whole summer. I really thought I didn't do anything. But I guess I did. I learned a few things which isn't always bad. Got back in to flying. Saw some old friends. Worked WAY too much. But all in all, probably not that bad of a summer after all. I look forward to the fall now and all that it will bring. Bring on college football. I have to admit, fall is kinda nice temperature wise. So that's it. Yes, this particular blog was WAY too long. But I kind of had a lot of catching up to do. I have felt like blogging more often and maybe I will. So I hope to see some of you real soon again. = )

Remember, don't sweat the small stuff and all that jazz.....

Steve

“It is a sign that your reputation is small and sinking; if your own tongue must praise you” -Matthew Hale