Today was supposed to be an easy day: NBA game, gym, 4pm meeting with my agent (insurance, not talent), dinner with high school buddies after.

At 12:45, as the Utah Jazz and LA Lakers started the 4th Quarter in Game 3 of their playoff series, I got a text from an ad agency to come to a bid meeting at 2pm. I showered quickly, threw some clothes on, and checked the TV. The game was tied at 86 with around 3 seconds to go. Someone was going to have the make the game-winning shot. I left.

The day isn't over, but hopefully, to keep it easy, that was the hardest decision I'll have to make. I better win that bid too.

PS. Deron Williams drilled a fadeaway jumper with 2.2 seconds left to give Utah a win.

PPS. I'm on Twitter. Hehe.

Turbo Goth shoot

I shot the band, Turbo Goth, for Preview today. It comes out in the July issue, I think, so no posting of photos just yet.

I've always wanted to do more portraits, and to shoot a band was something I've missed doing. When I was still in school, I interned for a music magazine, and it was cool knowing that I could do much more in terms of technique, now that a I know a bit more.

This shoot went extremely well. Sarah and Paolo were game and knew what do in front of a camera. I had a list of images in mind and I felt that I executed them pretty well. I think it was great that no one from the magazine could come and I was left do my own thing. But, as it is with me and my broken social skills, the day wasn't without some of my usual verbal blunderings.

Me: So Paolo, is your band your full time thing now?
Paolo: Yes. But I'm also a freelance skater.
Me: Oh, like on the long board?
Paolo: Huh? Freelance caterer! I went to chef school.

Sarah brought this tall, stiff hat as part of her outfit.

Me: Great, did you make this from a lampshade?
Sarah: ...
Me: Er, hehe.

I really thought she was one of those girls who made their own clothes (a good thing)! She's a tatoo artist for chrissake (non-sequitur)! Anyway, every thing was all but forgotten by the end of the shoot. I think. They said the liked the photos. Paolo made me take a swig of gin from his bottle of C2. That means it's all good right?

I need to just get out there and take pictures.

Encounters With A Yeti

I made an impromptu stop at Cubao X last night. It was hot and humid, and I couldn't stay for Shoulder State. But there was an unusually large number of pretty girls. Also, the band that opened was pretty awesome. May post rock band pala tayo.

Check out Encounters With A Yeti.

I've been busy lately.

Finishing off Season 4 of The Wire. I love this show. Every time they kill off one of the main guys, I get torn up inside. After seeing Generation Kill, I see a common theme among these David Simmons/Ed Burns-produced shows: It doesn't matter if you're a player on the street, the police, or an infantry man. You'll always be a good guy. It's the bosses who are mostly fucked up.

Anyway, I like this show about a city I've never been to.

I've also been busy finishing my second reading of Chabon's Kavalier and Clay. It's even brillianter this second time around. But I always get a little bit impatient reading the last hundred pages and I rush it. I guess that means that, around a year from now, I'll re-read it again.

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Anyway, hat tip to to the blog, Slightly Lucid, for directing me to photographer, Estan Cabigas. His series, Non Places, with it's color and negative space, is pretty good.