Gentlemen's Quarterly and Colorblindness

For our last photo assignment, we were given the task to re/create a magazine cover of our choice. Actually, our photo teacher didn't tell us what we would be doing, he just asked us our favorite magazine or the magazine we would like to shoot for.
I said GQ instinctively because it's men's fashion, and I like shooting guys and fashion. That's when he dropped the assignment on us, and immediately I was scared that I wouldn't be able to deliver a good image.
One of my friends is a pretty good looking guy so I decided to ask him to pose for me, and since he's an acting major I thought it would be good to get him some nice images. But I didn't know what to dress him in or how to take the shot. My good friend Jess let me borrow her studio lights and I had my flashes and umbrellas. And then my lovely friend Moana let me use her front room as a studio.
But most of all, Becky Leung helped me with art direction, hair styling, and costuming on the actual shoot. That girl knows her stuff and what looks good. She stayed the whole shoot which I believe was 2 hours + and didn't not complain.
After taking the shots I began to look through all of the images that were worth editing. Luckily there were quite a few but ultimately I decided on one. As I began to edit the image I felt quite confident about it and was done pretty quickly. Until I asked about skin tones. Becky told me my skin tones were very red. So I changed them up. Then when I asked again, she said they were green! Something was wrong cause I didn't see it. So then the TA, overhearing our conversation, had me take a colorblindness test. And it turns out that I'm slightly red/green colorblind. D: This just a little disconcerting because I want to shoot people for my career.
Anyway, after staring at the picture long enough and figuring out other things to edit, I was able to produce a great image. And here it is:

MIP

For digital imaging we have to take a picture of the most important person in our lives. Well I don't have a girlfriend or boyfriends or spouse like the other students in my class, so I decided to shoot numero uno, myself. The objective was to achieve normal skin tones while using artificial lighting. I luckily have some umbrella lights (thank you parents) and my friend Moana was willing to help me take the photos. She is an illustrator and loves photography so she delivered some great images. I have three that I like a lot but I'm only going to pick one. Hope you like them.

Pretty straightforward.

A little more personable

This is the one I'm going to choose.

I like the last one because it's a lot more fun and personable than the other two. I think it's natural looking and I worked on the skin tones a lot. Hopefully they look good and not too yellow.
In other news, I'm sick. Hopefully it won't last long. It's too bad I can't always be happy and full of laughs like in these photos.

Things that have been on my mind lately...

1. My application to go to Japan this spring is totally finished. I guess I'll just find out soon if I am accepted.

2. I realize that if I AM accepted, I'm going to have to refine my concept for a photographic essay.

3. My photo classes this semester are a little expensive. Film, paper, and prints. It all racks up the $$$.

4. My East Asian History class is wonderful. Lots of reading but great. Japanese is a blast!

5. I miss my family. But for some reason in a sad kind of way.

6. I really hope I get the job in the library that I'm applying for. It's going to be more Darkroom work.

7. Why is opposition so necessary ALL the time? Why can't some things be easy to have or do?

8. A certain someone.

9. I'm grateful for loving friends. And my wonderful family.

10. Sleep. Zzzz.....

Here I am on a Friday night...

Just getting ready for some Torchwood: Miracle Day!
For those of you who haven't watched Torchwood, I highly suggest you give it a try. Well, that is if you like supernatural sci-fi shows.

Lately I've just been wanting to get back to school. Strange, I know. I think it's because I want to do more photography! I love summer vacation and I really like being with my family, but for some reason this summer I have really been sapped of my creative streaks. I just haven't come up with many ideas or executed the ones I have. Major boo!
So luckily, with new classes, I believe that my creative bounds will be tested. Sort of like reality TV shows. Well namely one that I've been watching lately. Project Runway.

Once again, if you haven't seen it, go watch an episode or two. Google it. I love this show because it challenges people to stretch their creativity. Finding ways to make clothes using inspirations like cities, pieces of art, and other crazy stuff. Or they have to make a garment using only fruit or things you would find in a pet store. I think it's amazing!
Another great TV show is the Amazing Race!

The other day we played a game in my singles ward. It was based off of the Amazing Race. In teams we had to complete several challenges like walking with a cup of water on our heads or decyphering a code with words in a cemetery. It was really cool. I got really competitive, I always get competitive in games like that. Haha, anyway, we were the white team and the last ones to leve from the first 3 challenges. Luckily in the cemetery we caught up and worked our way to first place. We kept our winning pace until the very last clue and area, and there I lost the whole competition for my friends and teammates! DX It was horrible! The last clue said to run up to the top of the baseball bleachers at North Ogden Park but I didn't hear the "top of the bleachers" part. So the black team caught up right behind us and they immediately ran to the top of the bleachers as my teammates did as well. Only I stayed at the bottom thinking that there was nothing else to do! So thanks to me the whole team lost first place and came into an oh-so-close second place. D:
Haha, I really don't care. But my other teammates made a big deal of it. It sort of stinks when others ostracize you just cause you lose something. That's one reason why I don't like playing sports. But all the same, I think that we did a good job coming up from the bottom all the way to the top.
I'm so excited to go to school! Woot woot! Even though grades aren't that fun to think about, at least I have 2 Photo classes, 1 Framemaking class, 1 Asian Studies class, and an Art History class!  There's also going to some free time. Except for Wednesdays. :P
This semester is going to rock!

Dear Nicki Minaj

Sometime after I got home from my mission I got your album Pink Friday.

Yes, there you are, with your crazy looking Barbie leg. I didn't really listen to any of the music seeing as I'm not really into rap. I thought that your rap would be like everyone elses. But oh, how I was wrong. Well, wrong and right. Your rap is, in a way, like everyone elses because you sing/talk really fast and use some not so wholesome language at times. I'm not proud of it. But you're different in your ability to catch me and keep me reeled in. Mostly with your song Super Bass.
Super Bass is awesome. It's beyond awesome! It's BE-AWESOME! Catchy, fun, and great to sing. It's my goal to memorize the whole song by the time I get back to Provo. But one thing I love about you Nicki, is that you dress up and get funky without all the campiness of Lady Gaga. With you it's just 100% cool. Here are some snaps from Super Bass the music video to prove my point.

I really want to try and do a photo shoot using black lights. Like this. ^^^^^^
Anyway, thanks for the music Nicki. Keep doing what you do. But hopefully with less profanity. You are too beautiful to use it. :D
Love always,
Spencer