Evening on the Lake

Evening on the Lake, a photo by sir jeenyus on Flickr.

I never liked the words "fine art photography," but if I had to use them, this is one of the first photos that comes to mind. To some, photography is a form of art. True, I do like the creativity that is involved with the process, but most of the time, when i see these "fine art" shots, it's usually some HDR garbage of some random brick wall or car or something; things that I do NOT associate with being artistic. Of course, art is in the eye of the beholder, but some people can really stretch it. I'm all about capturing moments or feelings, and if the shots come out "fine art" like, well, I guess that's just a side product of the environment. I actually went to great lengths to get this photo, and it really paid off. This is from last summer, and the Seattle/Washington trip. We rented a cabin in the woods of Glacier National Park, next to a kitschy camp ground, filled with motor homes and general stores and all that stuff. As touristy as it was, it really was an escape. At sundown, everything got quiet, and nature just sort of took over. Our cabin was located right next to Lake McDonald, and our "front yard" was actual a river that was an outlet. I swam in it with my sister, and because this is a glacial lake, the water was crystal clear and freezing. Afterwards, I'd go for a walk by myself along the shore, skipping rocks and just coping with difficult feelings. I saw these boats pulled up on the dock, and decided I wanted to capture it, just as i saw it. About 30 shots later, I took the one that I knew was perfect. Edited as little as possible, just to remove marks on the sensor and what not, this shot really remains true to what I saw there on this beautiful lake in Glacier National Park.

Blizzard

Blizzard, a photo by sir jeenyus on Flickr.

Fisheye fun! This was just a few days after I put my hands on the Lomo for the first time. Massive amounts of snow this winter, and I took every advantage I could (and was willing too). After some cheese and cocktails at my aunt's house (who conveniently lives across the street from me), I decided to forge through the storm to my doorstep. However, along the way, I stopped to take this photo. I had noticed the light fading fast outside the windows, and the image of this shot coming back from the lab just struck my mind. I immediately left (after goodbyes, of course) and readied the flash on my camera. I checked for traffic like, 6 times in each direction, cause the wind was howling, and I couldn't hear anything. Pointing the little device at myself in the middle of a snowstorm, in the middle of the street, any passerby would easily have thought i was crazy. The result was so worth it, though.

Metro, Washington DC

Metro, Washington DC, a photo by sir jeenyus on Flickr.

I took this shot last year when i went to DC with my mom. It's amazing how much can change and how tables can turn in less than a year. The May of 2010 was when I blew opportunity number one (of many), a decision that you'll hear about later on, and a decision that pretty much ruined my life. That weekend spent there was just... great. It could have been better, but I got things back on track (somewhat) with a girl I was in love with more than anything in the world. But like I said, that's another story. While in DC, I spent time at museums, parks, etc. You know, the whole "DC tourism" thing. This was on my last day there, when it was rather hot out. It was the last train ride back to Greenbelt, towards our hotel. I just wanted to get a motion blur of the train, but when i zoomed in, this gem stood out, The passengers on the other side of the platform were perfectly silhouetted from the moving train, giving the illusion of people dancing on the Metro. I revisited DC again this May, and boy, things were different. My feelings were a complete 180 of the last time, and I was (and still am, partially) heartbroken. I tried recreating this shot, with a bigger and fancier camera, but to no avail. I guess it goes to show that some things just happen, and when you try to improve upon them, there's a 50% chance it will either go good or bad. Somewhat of a life lesson learned. Note to self: hang on to the good things. You'll regret it if you don't.

In The Face

In The Face, a photo by sir jeenyus on Flickr.

This shot is from my first roll of black and white, ever. It was expired by many years, and every (perfect) imperfection shows itself on the slide. The roll of film was from when my sister had just started shooting photos. With her first camera, a Canon Eos Rebel 2000 (which i religiously use), she bought a slew of film before we went to Yosemite National Park, in the summer of 2004. She must have only shot a few rolls, because over 6 years later, there were still 2 rolls left, which i hungrily (and carefully) devoured. I had also had a shot like this is mind, and once the setting was found, BOOM. Carefully planned and executed, this shot came out perfect.

My friend Danny, the model< is by far my favorite model ever. His facial expressions are always spot on to what I need, and he's never afraid or embarrassed to pose exactly how I need him.

73/365

73/365, a photo by sir jeenyus on Flickr.

Another shot from Project 365. This is from last summer, when I went to Seattle, Washington and the neighboring areas. I can't recollect which states i went to in particular, or if I went to any others at all. This is Mount Rainier, I don't now how many miles away from Seattle. You can see this dormant volcano from the top of the Seattle Space Needle, way off in the distance, with clouds and haze surrounding it. Seattle is such a nice city; friendly, clean... Everything thing you want New York to be, but isn't. And once you meander outside the city limits, you are encompassed by nature in it's rawest form; large pine forests, majestic mountains, views of the bay.... everything you want to see. The air out there is sweet, lightly pine scented, but it's always present, and it's just lovely. Mt. Rainier National Park itself is also a gorgeous place to behold, and the views that it presents to the human eye are truly the works of a much Greater Power.

5/365

5/365, a photo by sir jeenyus on Flickr.

This is a photo from my still-ongoing/semi-failed Project 365. As many probably know, 365 is a photo documentation of a year, something I was really looking forward to partaking in. But as the days and months wore on, I found the project becoming lackluster as I slumped into an even further depression and the activities which I normally partook in fade away. Music was my one and only outlet for the darkness I had in me, and I would play my guitars for endless hours every day. The music from this time definitely reflects it. Although upbeat in tempo, the lyrics reflected a much more depressing mood. But that's what music is for, for me, at least. I love this photo, and the way is truly portrays me as an individual.

I Am God

I Am God, a photo by sir jeenyus on Flickr.

Another experimental shot from the Fisheye 2, which is too much fun. This was taken shortly after Christmas, when we had one of the many snow storms of winter '10-'11. I'm not sure what I had in mind when I took this, because i was literally going around snapping everything i saw that interested me. I was as surprised as anybody else when I got the roll back and beheld this image. God-like is the only thing that came to mind when I saw this, and I personally think it describes the photo perfectly. Not every photo that comes from the fisheye is exactly good, so when i get 4-5 good shots on a roll, I'm stoked on it. This goes down as one of my favorite Lomo shots ever.

Pedestrians

Pedestrians, a photo by sir jeenyus on Flickr.

I can vividly remember taking this photo. It was right after I went out to dinner for the last time with all of my best friends. The night before, I was forced to stay in the city because of train problems (damn LIRR) so I had to stay with my ex-girlfriend; a girl who I was very much still in love with at the time. It was awkward, but we were good enough friends that it just worked out. The next day, we decided to make the most of it and go out with her old and current roommates. We went to Maui Taco, one of her and mine's favorite restaurants to go to. It was September, so it was still warm out. We walked around Herald Square for a bit, just taking everything in. I had just finished a roll of film, so I loaded my camera with some super old Kodak 400 B&W. I had to stop and take this shot, while everybody else continued walking. I can remember her waiting by my side as I took this, and then the both of us ran off after everybody. I can remember her smile like it was yesterday, and I can remember us stopping on the corner of 34th and Herald Square just hugging each other. That's something I wish I could have back more than anything else in this entire world.

Bridge

Bridge, a photo by sir jeenyus on Flickr.

Interesting thing about this photo is that it wasn't edited at all. I took this through the viewfinder of an old Pentax K-1000, that belonged to my sister's boyfriend's dad back when he was a kid. I saw the camera at his (my sister's boyfriend) house back in December during a Christmas party, and I needed it as soon as I laid my eyes on it. After being given the okay, I took it home that night. My mother despised the sight of it, because of the grime that had built up on it over the years. I thought that just added to the charm. The next day, I loaded it up with some expired film and carefully took some shots. Seemed to work. This photo here was taken on a digital camera, simply through the view finder of the Pentax.


This vantage point is from one of my favorite parks, Gardiner's, which I seem to find myself returning to more and more frequently. It's a nice walk through the woods, which can or cannot be secluded, depending on your liking, and finally leads to a little stretch of beach on the bay. The Robert Moses Causeway is visible. Unless you have a boat, that's pretty much the main lifeline to get to the beach, and during the summer months, it can back up for an hour or two. The bridge is 3 miles long, but you wouldn't think it driving over it. Usually the anticipation of finally getting on the sand dulls the thought, or maybe it's the fact that the windows are down and the music is turned up. Either way, it's an amazing drive.


I only shot a few pictures on the Pentax day, on some expired Kodak T-Max Pro, which has YET to be developed, but surely will eventually. I'm dying to see the results. And I absolutely love black and white film, so it's been bugging me for a while.

Surfacing

Surfacing, a photo by sir jeenyus on Flickr.

This is from last summer, which now that I look back on, was a mixture of one of the best and worst summers ever. I can't make up my mind whether I hated it or loved it. My best friend Mike (pictured) and myself would spend every weekend at our favorite cove in the Great South Bay; Coast Guard. A calm little place where there's always old dudes drinking and waves are right through a cut in the heavy brush and across the highway. I can see it all so vividly, plunging into bottomless cove, grabbing my board and paddling over to the shoreline, walking over some old plywood and pieces of plastic playground which made way into rough grass. The concrete highway was always plenty hot, but I loved that feel on my feet. Onto the beach at this point, and I was practically running just to see the waves. A super good session and we'd return to the boat to sit back, listen to some Rooney, watch the sunset and practice our dives off the back. Mike posed for this one, and after a few attempts, I got the perfect image. The black and white really brings out the intensity of it. I absolutely love this photo.

(summer)

(summer), a photo by sir jeenyus on Flickr.

This photo is from my favorite little Lomography Fisheye 2. My sister got it for me for Christmas, and as soon as I opened it, I was firing the shutter button almost nonstop. A lot of the pictures are just guesswork, as you never know what you'll get with this thing. Usually 1/4 of the roll is worth posting. This photo was taken the day after my birthday, March 18th. It was in the 70s, and me and my bro broke the longboards out for the first time of the season. My legs were burning, but it was totally worth. Also, broke in my new Vans that day too, so it was just an awesome day. I had an image of this shot in my mind for a while, and I was super anxious to see how it came out. I love it.

Show Me The Way To Go Home

Show Me The Way To Go Home, a photo by sir jeenyus on Flickr.

This is where I live. The Great South Bay is my summer stomping ground, and i long for the days and nights I spend in the heat of the sunshine and the warmth of the water. Some of the greatest memories I can recollect come from this body of water, and for as long as I live, its intoxicating beauty will always invade my mind. Long Island gets these beautiful sunsets from New York City's generous pollution. I know it's terrible, but the sky in the summer is magnificent every single night. The scenery mixed with the smell of salt, low tide and mixed gasoline is something I can never get enough of, and as I sit here writing this, images of the summer months ahead surface, and I can't wait to get out of the classroom and into the water. Long Island in the summer. It's almost as good as paradise