That Was The Same

After this past weekend, Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook is all like: "These fucks bought the same phone... AGAIN!"

Apparently, the new iPhones, the 5s and the 5c models, were released last Friday. Both of them replaced the iPhone 5, which is the current mobile device that I have. I watched the keynote presentation that introduced the devices and to be realistic, there wasn't that much of surprises. 

Most of the features on the phone were already mentioned and leaked out by the Apple rumor sites since the iPhone 5 was introduced a year ago. They were spilling out stuff like Apple is supposedly making a cheap plastic version of the iPhone, which incase is the iPhone 5c. Then they also said other stuff such as the next flagship iPhone is gonna come in gold. I didn't believe that part at first, but apparently, Apple did released a gold version of the iPhone 5s. In other words, about at aleast 80% of the information on the rumor sites are legit nowadays. I remember back when the late Steve Jobs was around and back during my days working at the Apple Store 5 years ago, rumor sites were just rumor sites. At that time, if they did leak something from Apple that was legitimate, then they would have to scrap that design prototye and start on a new one. It mostly coincides with their notebooks and iPods, but with their cell phones, they have to show the actual products months in advance so that the Federal Communications Commission and the government have to approve it before it sells. 

I checked out both iPhones the day after it was released and to me, they were pretty much the same as my current iPhone 5. I think the difference makes more sense if you're into fast graphics First Person Shooting games on the device now that it comes with the new A7 processor, but other than that, its still the same device. The only new feature that got me interested was the ability to shoot slow motion video on the camera app thanks to its ability to shoot video footage in 120 frames per second. That shit was tight. 

The iPhone 5c in person does look like a kids toy, and it also looks like an iPod Touch with a big ass case. I really don't see too many people using the iPhone 5c. I think they should've released that phone to lower end, affordable no-contract providers like Metro PCS or Virgin Mobile, so that it can really distinct itself from the high end, rich-looking iPhone 5s. I think what they also should've done is make the Gold color only exclusive to one cell phone company like AT&T, who were the original providers for the iPhone since day one. Yet, that won't happen cause according to Tim Cook, he and the company wants that device to be accessible and used by more people thank before. In other words, he just wants to kick Samsung's ass alot in sales and numbers now that Samsung is significantly popular and releasing a different device every other week or some shit like that. Finally, the Touch ID feature is very suspect. Imagine being passed out and your girl takes your thumb like a detective and uses it to unlock your phone, just to see all the half naked chicks that you liked on your instagram profile. It can be done. 

Would I purchase the iPhone 5s? Not right now. I'm still cool with my iPhone 5. The only think that fucked up the interest were the predictable leaks and the lack of features on the 5s. I really don't anyone should jump ship from the 5 to the 5s (or the 5c of course). Hell, the 4s is still a good ass phone, but to each it own for those who want to stay on top of technology nowadays. Time to get used to seeing alot of fake looking rich women holding the Gold iPhone 5s as if it were some fashion accessory.

So what else happened this month?

-The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched the National League West to become the division champions. Then they went adult swimming at the swimming pool in Chase Field after defeating division rival Arizona Diamondbacks to clinch the title that day. Why the hell would Chase Field have a swimming pool at a baseball field? For those rich fucks who aren't interested in watching the sport? 

-Miley Cyrus still making headlines by dressing up as a methamphetamine experiment gone wrong from an episode of Breaking Bad during one of her live performances and photoshoots. Her pops seems cool with it, I assume. 

- The video game Grand Theft Auto V released last week, which made a billion dollars just three days after it dropped. Not into video games that much anymore, but I'd rather have that game be launched at the same time as the upcoming Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 to make it more special. Now fools will be delaying homework assignments and date nights in exchange for pretending to hi-jack numerous cars by driving them off the cliffs and rivers. 

-Drake's Nothing Was the Same record came out today. Like the iPhone 5s , that album was leaked weeks before it dropped. I was playing as I typed it, and it was really decent. I liked the progression and creativity of the beats and rhythms more than the lyrics that will be re-quoted more times than the transcript of The Big Lebowski. His crew had opened up a pop up shop on Fairfax last week to promote the album, by giving away free t-shirts. I didn't plan on attending this, but I had to drop off somebody in Hollywood and I thought I check it out just for the hell of it. When I got there at around 3, the time that it was scheduled to be opened, I knew there was gonna be a long line, but NOT A LINE THAT WAS EXTENDED AROUND AN ENTIRE BLOCK.That shit was like camping out for a pair of Supreme Vans down the street or something. Majority of the kids in line came from Fairfax High School across the street. After wasting two hours with the line slowing moving, we were all informed that the t-shirts were sold out. Later on, we also learned that Drake himself made a brief appearance and everyone started going to the back and chasing the black Chevy Suburban that he hopped on with his posse. I didn't see him that day, and like I said, I wasn't planning on seeing him that day. A brilliant marketing publicity stunt pulled off well. 

Anyway, thanks for your time reading this. Enjoy the rest of Autumn. 

The Wedding Ceremony of Eric Jackson and Jessica Torres, May 25, 2013

Back in the day, about some 30 years ago, photography wasn't for everyone. There were many people that had cameras to take pictures of their families and vacations and whatnot, but there were few that exercised the craft to capture and create perfect looking images. In fact, these said images were so attractive, that the photographers who produced them were recognized as professionally, skilled artists. Professionally skilled artists that regular people can turn to, whether they want to hire them to cover an event, or to learn from them so that they to can become as good as the professional photographer. Keep in mind, this was back in the days of 35mm Film and fully manual operated SLR cameras.

Fast forward to the present. With the current modern technology nowadays, about everyone now can instantly established themselves as a photographer by their own discretion, courtesy of the simple-to-use capture devices. Mobile devices like the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S4 have cameras built in that are far more advanced than a regular camera, and DSLRs are now becoming affordable. Apps like instagram are making the OG photographers, who have been doing this craft since the 1970's and before, getting upset about how simple it is to had a filter over an image without spending at least 5 minutes in a darkroom like they used to. The thing about time and life is that as it goes by, newer ideas are being put on board and newer generations are adapting to the changes that the current generation is going through and getting used to.

One minute were all a bunch of juveniles living off our parents and seeing the same peers 5 days straight every week from September to the middle of June the following year. The next minute, these same people that we were accustomed to since Freshman Year of  high school have moved on to continue building their lives for the better. Some have gotten married to a significant other outside of the circle of your mutual friends, some have produced children of their own to start a family, and there are some that moved out of state, or out of the country at least, so that they can pursue their career that they dreamed and studied their asses off for. As they move forward in maintaining their lives, they can always look back at something inspirational to remind themselves what started them to get to where they're currently at. That is one of the main reasons why I like to take photographs.

I wasn't hired to cover the wedding ceremony of my friend Eric Jackson and his fiance Jessica Torres back in May. I went not only as a guest to support them, but as a guest who likes to take photos. The ceremony took place outdoors at Franklin Canyon Park, up in the mountains between Sherman Oaks and Beverly Hills near Mulholland Drive. It was a very good ceremony, but unfortunately, I didn't stay for the reception since I had to do something later that day, but still a very good ceremony. I took some photos using the Kodak 400TX Black and White 35mm film, and I was very pleased on how well they came out. The flash on the camera was hardly used as most of the indoor images contained plenty of natural light. So far, this was one of my best work I've done this year, and to me, I really think every engaged couple would have their wedding day recorded on film, despite digital photography being the default mainstream medium right now. To paraphrase the first paragraph, not everyone shoots in film nowadays. There are many people that have cameras to take photographs digitally, but it's nowhere the same feeling as taking photographs on film.

Many special thanks to Eric and Jessica for inviting me to witness your marriage and for letting me capture and share this precious occasion I photographed. I wanted to upload these last Monday, but so much with the taxican gig and everything else (such as taking photos at Jane Lynch's Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony last week for example)  had gotten in the way, and I really didn't have enough time. Now I can finally share these images cause like I said, this is by far one of my finest photo essays that I've done.
Enjoy the photos as if you're reading a story instead of looking at them as just wedding photos.