Chris Freeman's Photo Blog.

One Thousand Posts! / The End

2011-03-25T02:00:00.000-07:00

I've now reached 1000 posts on the photo blog!

In celebration I have two brand new-ish posts for you!

Firstly - the only blog post to ever be censored is now restored because I think the reason it was censored is now irrelevant. So here it is again, much to Nicole's chagrin, I'm sure.. enjoy Nicole's Crazy Night!!

Number Two - A long time ago I didn't know how to adjust the dates when I posted, so if I didn't get a post up before midnight, I just wouldn't post for that day. If I already had a good picture for the next day, then that first one was just lost to history. Well, it wasn't hard to figure out how to change the date on posts, so here for the first time on the blog, the post that should have gone up a few years ago... Matt Ladd singing Kokomo!!

And with that, I think the blog might be done. It's really hard to keep up with it these days, for a few reasons, which I will now ramble about.

First is a really simple technical reason: I no longer have a camera that fits in my pocket. You know how bulky and intrusive SLRs are? Very bulky and intrusive! That makes it really hard to always have a camera handy to take pictures. It also makes it hard to take candid pictures because you've got to pull out this huge obvious thing and hold it up to your face and get all the settings right. It's nowhere near as casual as a point-and-shoot and people react to SLRs differently, which makes pictures not as fun.

Secondly art school kind of ruined the blog for me. With all the heavy conceptual stuff I talked about for two years, it's hard to take this as seriously as I used to. I'm coming down from all that art school stuff and trying to be a real person again, but this still isn't what I "do" as a photographer. It's very much just to keep in touch with out of town friends. Which leads to the third point...

Point the three - The internet has obsoleted the personal blog. Facebook is now the go-to site for everything day-to-day. And probably Twitter, which I'm not on. See, technology has passed me by. April once remarked how fast I was at updating because I put up a picture right when I got home, like four hours after it had been taken. In a world of mobile everything, taking four hours to post a picture is glacially slow. Perhaps when I enter the 21st century with a smartphone, I'll post things more often. But it probably will have to be a new blog on a new site, because..

Quatro - Blogger sucks. The interface hasn't been updated in the four years I've used it, you still have to upload pictures in reverse order to get them to show up right, and it only accepts really, really low-res video. I just pointed out how not-up-with-the-times I am, so if I'm complaining about this site being not with it, it's got to be bad.

So like I said, it's just hard to keep up with and I'd rather it not be a sad shell of what it used to be. Maybe I'll post on Facebook more or get a Tumblr or whatever. I don't know, I'm sort of feeling like I don't want to add to the constant noise of the Internet these days. Do people really need to know what I ate for lunch? I don't know. Maybe I'll change my mind tomorrow and keep posting like this never happened.

Anyways, thanks for looking at my pictures for four years. I still want to keep in touch, so call me, yo!

The Refusalon at the Settlement

2011-03-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

I have a piece in the Refusalon at the Settlement in Pioneer Place.

Found Photo Friday

2011-03-18T08:00:00.000-07:00

Photographer Unknown
Found by Michael Lease

Did you walk across a bridge today?

2011-03-16T23:59:00.000-07:00

Video Fest

2011-03-15T23:59:00.000-07:00

I was in this tonight. I had my camera but it was super dark in the theater. I even hung out with some people afterward, but it was super dark in the restaurant we went to. Portland needs to turn on some lights!

Messing with this camera and some mics because I'm going to give another demo in class

2011-03-14T23:59:00.000-07:00

I went to Seattle tonight to see the Dismemberment Plan!

2011-03-12T23:59:00.000-08:00

The view from the stage during "The Ice of Boston."
Everyone seemed to like the line "Fine Mom, how's Washington?" I don't think they realized it's supposed to mean D.C.

Found Photo Friday

2011-03-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer Unknown.

Ok, Portland, you've out-liberaled me

2011-03-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

What is celiac?!?

Gender Studies Symposium opening dinner at Lewis and Clark College

2011-03-09T23:59:00.000-08:00

My piece in the art show part of it.

Reorganizing my CDs is fun!

2011-03-08T23:59:00.000-08:00

It's like finding a bunch of old friends.

I found the Increment setting on my camera!

2011-03-07T23:59:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday!

2011-03-05T23:59:00.000-08:00

I had a good birthday --- I got dinner and a movie with friends from school. I should have taken some pictures. I am not being a good blogger these days.

Found Photo Friday

2011-03-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer Unknown.

My drawing at The Love Show

2011-02-26T23:59:00.000-08:00

Found Photo Friday

2011-02-25T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer Unknown.

I got this map!

2011-02-22T18:52:00.000-08:00

Now I won't get lost! Matt and Kendall have a DC one, and I liked it so much I got one for myself.

Building sets

2011-02-19T19:52:00.000-08:00

I'm helping build sets for a video for this band.

Found Photo Friday

2011-02-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer Unknown.

Lighting Demo

2011-02-17T21:01:00.000-08:00

Stephen Slappe and I tag-teamed a lighting demo today for the video class, so I got to be a pretend teacher for the day! That's right: paying tens of thousands of dollars a year for an arts education in Portland might just mean you are learning from someone who just graduated and has under a year's experience with video.

I can't even work at Subway here!

2011-02-16T08:26:00.000-08:00

Hmmm.. I guess I didn't get the Arts Intern position

2011-02-15T08:20:00.000-08:00

Nice of them to tell me.

Submitting to the Video Fest

2011-02-14T13:31:00.000-08:00

Putting in a reshoot and doing some color correction so I can submit a DVD to the PNCA Video Fest. Hopefully they'll let me be in it even though I've graduated.

Found Photo Friday

2011-02-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer Unknown.

Jeopardy Online Test

2011-02-10T20:14:00.000-08:00

I didn't do very well... guess I'll try again next year. I'd better start studying.

They won't even let me teach kids how to rock here

2011-02-07T17:45:00.000-08:00

Sweet, I'll remember you when I run out of money and have to move back to my mom's house (a very real, very scary possibility in a few months).

My Blog Post as a Drawing

2011-02-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

The original was pretty text-heavy, so I tried to replace that with more drawing. Can you tell that I re-worked it from the first panel and then ran out of time and just reused all of the original stuff at the end?
I showed up at the gallery to turn it in with 20 minutes to spare and of course they were like, "oh you can turn it in tomorrow, too." Because in Portland deadlines mean nothing.

An episode of Portlandia at the Mission Theater

2011-02-05T18:41:00.000-08:00

It was actually pretty good for once.

Found Photo Friday

2011-02-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer Unknown.

First Thursday

2011-02-03T23:59:00.000-08:00

I'm usually not into little painted objects, but these Sumi paintings were just gorgeous. On some of them he took the imperfections in the brushstrokes and incorporated them into the image. Little spots became snowflakes or clouds. That is brilliant.
The artist's name is Matt Leavitt and if I had an extra $90 I would have bought one. But I need a job.

Working on my piece for The Love Show

2011-02-02T22:01:00.000-08:00

I'm re-editing it and I'm going to add some new drawings. It might be weird to have an inkjet print of a drawing, but too bad. I like that this one also incorporates real images and I'm not good enough at drawing to make something look good (relatively, heh heh) without being able to edit it on the computer.

Cookin

2011-02-01T20:00:00.000-08:00

I didn't have any tomatoes so I put salsa in this rice. I hope it's good!

Found Photo Friday

2011-01-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer Unknown.

Catherine Opie at the Portland Art Museum

2011-01-27T23:59:00.000-08:00

I went to see Catherine Opie speak at the Portland Art Museum. She takes socially-loaded portraits like this one:

But also takes picture of houses, strip malls, and highways like this:

I wrote about her series of high school football photos in my thesis paper:

Afterward I got dinner with Petra. She met her wife while they were both in bible college - that's a pretty good story.

A trip to Ikea for a frame

2011-01-26T21:16:00.000-08:00

I went to Ikea today for a frame. I actually hate Ikea because walking around in there just makes me feel lost and confused. Sort of like a sneak preview of every day of my life in 40 years. But that have nice looking cheap frames, so whatever.

Soon this frame will hold a print of this blog post and will be up at this show.

I'm a TA at PNCA now!

2011-01-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

But it doesn't pay, so I still need a job. And actually this makes finding a job harder because now I'll have to give this up if I find a something that's 9-5. But whatever, I really like being on the other side of the classroom and I'm TA'ing for Stephen Slappe, who is totally rad.

Found Photo Friday

2011-01-21T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer Unknown

I went to an artist talk by Holly Andres today

2011-01-19T21:51:00.000-08:00

Holly Andres is a Portland photographer who makes constructed photos exploring identity; therefore I like them. She also teaches at PNCA. I went to hear her speak today at the Portland Art Museum. As per usual lately, I took my camera but didn't take a single picture because pulling out a humongous SLR is so awkward. I need a point-and-shoot and/or smartphone! But I need a job first. Whatever, here are some of her pictures an here's her website.

Extreme Makeover: Turtle Tank Edition

2011-01-17T20:48:00.000-08:00

Kelly, the girl from school who watched Cherbs while I was gone, was an overachieving turtle-sitter. She got some advice from a friend who worked at a zoo. She bought new bedding, taped up the sides of the tank so Cherbs can't see out, bought light, and made a new tent. I had heard about turtles getting stressed about having glass walls, but I just let Cherbs run around the apartment to solve that. I guess the new tank is working, Cherbs seems calmer. Maybe she wasn't a hateful and bitter turtle this whole time, maybe I wasn't taking care of her properly. Oh no, I'm a terrible turtle dad.

Found Photo Friday

2011-01-14T21:56:00.000-08:00

Photographer unknown.

Job Hunt Day 1

2011-01-13T23:21:00.000-08:00

I'm freaking out already.

Hey Portland

2011-01-12T23:59:00.000-08:00

Ok... there's gotta be a job in this town somewhere, right?

R. Kelly: Great musician, or THE GREATEST MUSICIAN?!?!

2011-01-11T23:59:00.000-08:00

Snow Day!

2011-01-10T23:59:00.000-08:00

Hamletts

2011-01-09T23:59:00.001-08:00

Leo's father just wants a good woman for his son

2011-01-09T23:58:00.000-08:00

When I was in DC a few weeks ago, Kendall and I found this torn-up note on the ground. I finally put it back together.

BananaGrams

2011-01-08T23:59:00.000-08:00

Anderson Gallery

2011-01-05T23:59:00.000-08:00

Anne and Dave watching the ceiling-projected Pipilotti Rist installation.

Michael Lease showed us around.

Richmond does not update its signage very often

2011-01-04T23:59:00.000-08:00

About 10 years ago, this sign in Richmond had a sticker of a gun next to the pedestrian icon's hand. Since my group of friends are good citizens, we thought that was not a positive image. So we ripped a 311 sticker off of Lin's car and covered up the gun. It's still there on Three Chopt Road.

Baltimore New Years

2011-01-01T23:59:00.000-08:00

It looks like 2011 is going to be just like 2010

2010-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!

I played poker with my half-brother and his friends

2010-12-30T23:59:00.000-08:00

And totally destroyed them

Don't cross Dan when it comes to Karaoke

2010-12-29T23:59:00.001-08:00

Matt Ladd: Facebook Scrabble Champion

2010-12-29T23:59:00.000-08:00

Anne and I got him this trophy because he always beats us at Scrabble.

Kyle sent this Lylas Christmas CD

2010-12-28T23:59:00.000-08:00

Mom listened to it... she liked it but said it was "mournful." Duh, Mom.
(Lylas made a Christmas video, too, so check it out)

I only get to see Josh Grove once a year now... not often enough!

2010-12-27T23:59:00.000-08:00

I realized through talking to him that I've lived in Portland long enough now that it's hard to answer general questions about it. The public transit and rain and great food and liberal hippies are just normal now. I have to really think to remember what's unique about it.
(He makes guitars now, if you need one)

Snow Day

2010-12-26T11:38:00.000-08:00

I'm stuck in the house, so I'm finally reworking my website.

Now if I could only remember css well enough to turn this bad mock-up into a real site.

Merry White Christmas

2010-12-25T23:05:00.001-08:00

Or orange under that street light.

Mom cleaning out her birdfeeders

2010-12-24T11:54:00.001-08:00

I fixed mom's wireless keyboard

2010-12-23T23:59:00.000-08:00

Good thing I knew this really super secret tech: replace the batteries.

Matt Ladd beats me at Scrabble online and in real life

2010-12-22T23:59:00.000-08:00

Although I almost had him this game - it came down to the last turn.

Xmas Adventure Begins

2010-12-21T23:59:00.000-08:00

I made to New York, but then my connecting flight to Richmond was canceled. So they sent me to DC instead and Matt and Kendall picked me up.

My latest crush: I didn't even get a good story out of this one

2010-12-20T23:59:00.000-08:00

I am finished with school at PNCA, now I'm a bachelor of science and of fine arts.

2010-12-19T23:59:00.000-08:00

SUCK IT, VCU!!!

My last video project for school is now up on YouTube.

2010-12-18T23:59:00.000-08:00

This might actually be better than my thesis project... because there was no pressure. It was just this fun little thing I made for class.
Here's the link!

Found Photo Friday

2010-12-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer unknown
Found by Michael Lease

Nerd Love

2010-12-16T19:35:00.000-08:00

One last video

2010-12-15T18:53:00.000-08:00

I've got one last video to finish up for a class that's due Friday. It was supposed to be this quick thing after my thesis, but I'm having crazy technical problems with it. Final Cut doesn't like the file formats from my awesome new camera!

My thesis is up on Youtube

2010-12-13T08:00:00.000-08:00

Go here to watch it!
Hopefully it works, I got an email saying it might be blocked because of the music. If it doesn't work, you'll just have to wait until I update my website. I meant to do that last spring, then over the summer.. but seriously now I'll do it this winter.

Found Photo Friday

2010-12-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer unknown
Found by Michael Lease

Here are some pictures from me presenting my thesis last week

2010-12-08T22:54:00.001-08:00

I'll try to post the video this weekend. I've been too busy finishing up my paper (due in the morning!)
I don't know who took these. Somebody at school.

Finishing up my Thesis Paper

2010-12-07T22:20:00.001-08:00

Thesis coming soon

2010-12-06T20:37:00.000-08:00

I'll post it soon.. I want to make a few tweaks first since it will probably get a few repeat viewings online. And I'm trying to figure out how to convert it in a way so that it's small enough to put online but doesn't look like utter crap. Thanks for wanting to see it!!
(I'm actually not that happy with how it turned out).

Found Photo Friday

2010-12-03T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer unknown

Thesis done!

2010-12-02T11:00:00.000-08:00

I'm going to bed.

Finished!!!

2010-12-01T20:28:00.000-08:00

There's my entire finalized cut of my thesis video exporting. And I still have 10 whole hours until it's due!!

I did my very final shots for my thesis today

2010-11-30T23:59:00.000-08:00

You shouldn't really shoot more footage two days before the project is due, but I had to be sure I had all the other shots before I did this one since it involved cutting all my hair off.

Having a Heart-to-Heart with Captain Picard

2010-11-29T21:43:00.000-08:00

Two days left to work on my thesis project!

2010-11-29T20:38:00.000-08:00

Three more days left to finish my thesis!

2010-11-28T23:59:00.000-08:00

I spent another ten hours or so editing today. And shot some little things at night.

The Opening Titles for my Thesis Project

2010-11-27T13:48:00.000-08:00

I spent a little too long making these, but they will be worth it!

Shooting Done

2010-11-26T23:59:00.000-08:00

I think I got all the shooting for my thesis done tonight. Well, maybe there are a few tiny inserts left, but the majority is done. Six days left to edit, composite, and mix sound! Oh, and write up my half-hour presentation about the piece.

Thesis

2010-11-25T23:59:00.000-08:00

Oh, it's Thanksgiving... I didn't go anywhere because I've got too much thesis work to do. I did get over to Gina's for a couple hours for a Thanksgiving orphans dinner.

I haven't been keeping up with the blog because making web versions of the video is just extra stuff to do, which I really don't have time for. I am alternatively excited about my project and then totally worried I will fail even if I get it done on time.
Most of what I previously posted has been reshot, which is stressful to do at the last minute. But it's got to be right, and I'm finding out you can't fake video the way you can sound.
I've got a week left and still have tons of work to do.

But since Star Trek is my source material, I am inadvertently following in the tradition of the 1979 movie, which was being rewritten as it was shot and the effects were delivered so late that the first print wasn't finished until the very last minute. The director drove it from the printers directly to the world premier to load it into the projector.

That'll be me this time next week... except it will be from a computer lab to a classroom.

Friday night masking

2010-11-19T18:47:00.001-08:00

If I don't get this shot to work, my thesis is doomed!

Found Photo Friday

2010-11-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer unknown
Found by Michael Lease

I saw this on the school message board today... too perfect

2010-11-16T23:59:00.000-08:00

I'm so tired I can't even tell if this is good or not

2010-11-15T23:59:00.000-08:00

(It's still missing a few clips and still has some I want to replace, and the sound is not done)
This took 10 hours today to edit. Plus the time shooting it last night. Literally all I'm doing now is thesis work. The days just blur together.

The great thing about doing a scene where you talk through the computer is that you can just read your lines

2010-11-14T23:59:00.000-08:00

Look.. check out this horrible rough cut of a scene from my thesis!

2010-11-13T21:06:00.000-08:00

The black and white shots are to remind me that I need to reshoot those because they're terrible. (and don't tell me the whole thing should have been black and white!).

Check out the rough cut of my fight scene for my thesis!

2010-11-13T08:00:00.001-08:00

(no sound yet)

Found Photo Friday

2010-11-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photographer unknown
Found by Michael Lease

Mark makes his acting debut

2010-11-11T23:59:00.000-08:00

Sixteen days left to get my thesis project done!

My living room after shooting a fight scene

2010-11-09T23:59:00.000-08:00

The thesis clock is ticking!

More shooting

2010-11-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

Facing Fear at Launchpad Gallery

2010-11-06T17:43:00.000-07:00

I showed my video/performance piece "When Chris Freeman was Visited by a Ghost" at this last night. It was super fun - there were like 100 people watching it, even though I had to use a small home movie screen in a corner of the gallery. They all crowded around and were quiet and attentive. And they laughed at the funny parts.
But I had so much equipment to bring that I didn't bring a camera. I should ask for a new point-and-shoot from Santa this Christmas.

Found Photo Friday

2010-11-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Photographer unknown
Found by Michael Lease

First test footage of my thesis project

2010-11-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to use any of this except maybe some of the insert shots. My teacher wants me to decorate the walls to describe the character more. And I'm changing the story a bit so this footage won't work. I just needed to put something together to show my teacher. But this is an idea of what the first minute will be like.

Happy Halloween!

2010-10-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Photographer(s) unknown
Found by Michael Lease

Halloween

2010-10-30T23:59:00.000-07:00

I went to Gina's Halloween party. I was Clark Kent. Krisha took this picture. They wouldn't let me leave until I ripped my shirt open.

Found Photo Friday

2010-10-29T08:00:00.000-07:00

Photographer unknown
Found by Michael Lease