California

So only in California can you buy a surfboard at Sam's Club. There are a lot of cool things about California, there are a lot of cool things about our country, there are a lot of cool things about the world and we are all in it. So I don't have much to say today. It wasn't the best of days. So I have a new poll for you. I believe it is with the times as some people say. So please amuse me with your intellect. Thanks.

Food Shoot

So I was on a food shoot today for Sizzler Restaurants. This is one of our food stylists burning the grill marks into the Carne Asada. Its a crazy experience to be on a food shoot and see what is real and what is not. I can tell you this. You NEVER want to eat the food you see in menu's. Holy shit. NEVER! But I don't want to ruin it for you or people I know will be out of a job. Peace out.

Randomizer

ran·dom·ize (rān'də-mīz') Pronunciation Key
tr.v. ran·dom·ized, ran·dom·iz·ing, ran·dom·iz·es
To make random in arrangement, especially in order to control the variables in an experiment.

I don't think this makes sense. To make random, ok. Then in order to control the variables? How can you control variables in a random situation? Then it wouldn't be random... Anyways, this image here is a random moment from my life. I think the "randoms" in life that are of the most significance. Without the little things in life what do we have? We have a bunch of pieces with no glue to make any significance of them. The oil in the pan, the colors in a stop light, and the way the light refracts on the bottom of a pool are all as important to me as a babys first step, the moon landing, or the day you get married. I believe they have to be. They all have such beauty in them that can never be taken away, only showcased and should be on display for all to remember. Don't forget the little things.

Morning View II

Having this outside of my patio would be the only thing that could've made my morning better. I am having a fabulous day. I woke up this morning and got a phone call for a job on friday before I even got out of bed. I had some hot coffee and sat on the patio and drew up some t-shirt designs and relaxed. Then I made myself an awesome brunch and took a shower. It might not sound like much but there is a technique to slowing the world down for a couple of hours. Its like what Ferris Bueller said "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and take a look around, it can pass you right on by." 

Morning View

This was my drive to work this morning. Ironically also the Creative Director we were working with moved out here about a year ago from Burnsville. Even two thousand miles away from home you can find people out here from the same place you are from. This is a small world. Can't wait to see how small I can get it.

Dolls of the future

This is a fashion photo from the future. Where the models are so fake that they look like a doll. You can't tell this is a real person? Well, in a hundred years this is what you will wish your wife looked like. Are things getting out of hand in the plastic surgery world? Who is to say what people pay to do to their bodies. Anyone who has tattoos, piercings, or a boob job can tell you where they stand. But I see on a daily basis women who are looking 15 to 20 years younger than they are because of these procedures. I can only imagine when the crowd gets younger and younger until this happens.  Oh and the face mask is because we have destroyed our ecosystem and can't breathe the toxic air any more. Thanks for listening.

Back into it!!

Hey! So I got my internet connection back today and I couldn't believe how much I depended on it. Not only for my personal use but with my business as well. As people working in todays day in age it's hard to imagine what we used to do without email, internet, and cell phones. How did we ever communicate? I know we have all heard/asked this question before but now that we have these things are we better off? Or did we just tighten our noose to everyone we deal with on a daily basis. I keep wondering if we are really in charge of our own destiny or if we can't help but to give it away, or try to, and leave it up to the people we are in contact with by email, instant messaging, or texting. We give every second we can to keeping others in touch with what is going on in our lives. We have twisted and intertwined all of our lives so tight with each other with these devices. Is it possible to even live anymore with out them? Or would every person that you talk to banish you to hell for not talking to them any more, answering their texts, never appearing online, or answering your emails? Would any one forgive you for cutting your leash to the "real" world? Would you hate them? I know this has nothing to do with a picture of a TV but I couldn't help my self.

Gotta Love Ikea...

So not much has been going on since I've moved into the new apartment but I thought that this would make an interesting image. I love how Scandinavian people can dictate warnings. I have more pictures coming of the new apartment but unfortunately I don't have my memory card reader with me or I would've posted one of those... Well, I get internet in 2 days!!!! I can't wait! 

Final Print - Jahnna

So here is a final from the shoot with Jahnna the other day. I hope you enjoy it! It turned out to be such a gorgeous day and here is a gorgeous print to show that! Things have been going well with the new apartment, if only I had internet there... Well going to Starbucks at least gets me out of the house on slow days! Ha!

The hustle and bustle of everyday life.

California traffic. You can say all you want what you think about it. The deal is that it moves. This is 8 lanes and everyone is going 80. What can you say about that. 

I apologize

So I apologize for not keeping up with the blog. I just moved into these apartments and have no internet connection till the 23rd. This is a pretty shitty deal. I will try and keep up with going to Starbucks. It really bothers me not having a connection. It's like having no service on my phone... Which I have full bars at my new place! So if anyone wants to give me a call, feel free! But I promise that once I get my connection I'll be posting daily!!

Hillarious

This was outside the OC Tavern last night. I saw a shoe and took a closer look. I couldn't stop laughing!! Someone was so jacked they decided to leave their shoe behind after a drunken splurge of alcohol. This was one of the most hilarious things I have seen in California, not that this wouldn't happen in MN... Well, I'm happy to move into my new apartment tomorrow. See you then.

Hard day at work.

So here was what I did today.  My first beach shoot with MTV's Reality star, Jahnna. We also had shot video during the shoot, so I might even air on MTV with her. Crazy. Start my 15 min of fame huh? Well I feel bad for Jahnna, she's only been out here two days and when we got back to the car after the shoot we saw that their car had been broken into and someone had stolen her purse. Now stuck in LA with no cash and no ID. That doesn't add up to fun. But it was a gorgeous day for the shoot. The water was a little chilly at Laguna but couldn't have asked for better weather. Make sure to keep an eye out for the final product and maybe keep your TV's on the MTV channel.

Yep I did it.

I haven't worn these shoes since I was 8. It was a trip for a trend to come full circle on me like this. I'm sure it won't be the last time. So I am in for a blast from the past! Other than picking up a pair of these today, not much has happened. It was great weather, 75 and sunny. Weather that you always imagine the middle of february. For the first time I am enjoying a winter like I should. I don't even feel like it is winter. Today was a summer day in MN. Other than 3 weeks this winter that I have spent in snow, I haven't had to deal with it. This is something that I can get used to... I recommend it for everyone. Come try it.

Anyone fly Sun Country?

I didn't do anything but relax today so this is my post.... Does anyone fly Sun Country? Well the next time you do see if there is anyone on the plane that looks like Willy Wonka. As you see on image number 5 when everyone is running out the door there seems to be a man in a purple tux and top hat... Yeah the next time I fly I might just have to rent that from a costume shop. Ha. If you ever get the chance to see this brochure it is hilarious! Just above this in the "How to brace yourself for a crash" there is a ballerina with a tutu! I checked to see the last time it was updated and it was in July of 07. Wow. I think it is great that art directors can let this slide. Well if you have to make light of the situation, what better way than to add a ballerina and Willy Wonka? I can't think of one. It definitely caught my attention. I love flying Sun Country. 

Cracks in the dirt.

Today I went for a 5-6 mile walk. This was along the trail. It reminded me of a desert floor after a huge rain and the rain dries up and it cracks. The dirt is left in a state of disarray. Cracked and broken it is all the same yet broken off, almost in exile, only yet to be reunited by the next rain. Sometimes I feel like that. I need to get out into the wilderness and remote areas to reunite myself with the stars if you will. Today was a good day.

Hollywood Today.

I picked this image today of the Writers Guild because of the current events today. There is a supposed deal between the powers that be to end the strike that has lasted 3 some months. It just so happened that the shoot I was running around with all over town shot in the alley behind their building.  We also drove around Hollywood and past the restaurant that they filmed the beginning of Pulp Fiction in. We ate at Canters which is a famous restaurant on Fairfax that has a menu the size of the Bible and everyone from Babe Ruth to Frank Sinatra has been seen there. They also had the best Ruben sandwich I have ever had in my life. So maybe today was a day full of restaurants... Have I ever mentioned that I love food? Haha Well if you are ever in West LA on Fairfax make sure to stop by Canters, its open 24 hours. 

Studio Shoot

So here literally is a day in the life of Camera Dan. This was the set for the shoot today I was assisting on. It wasn't anything special today, no celebrities, expensive cars, or hot models. Today was low key. We did go to a sushi place for lunch though. There was also a cool yellow Lamborghini out in the parking lot. Maybe I'll post a few of the cool cars I see out here in Cali. You see that stuff all the time out here. Tomorrow I will be working with a guy out of San Juan shooting up in LA. So tomorrows blog might be late like this one. But it will probably be more interesting than todays. So onto another day. I need to sleep, it is an early rise.

Mr Poirire from Fargo.

So there once was this man from Fargo..... Have you ever met such a soul that can make you wonder how these people came to be? What events took place in this persons life to mold them to what you see sitting before you? Scars and personalities everything all bundled up into this body across from you? Staci and I went to go see my buddy Shawn at the OC Tavern. He in fact I found to be living in San Clemente this whole time I have been here! While sitting at the bar eating some taco's this guy, Mr Poirire, the Peach Picker in French, asks if there is decent food here. He is on a golf trip touring the southwest states golfing. After sitting talking with him and the bartender, who was from New Jersey, for a while I was starting to wonder where the locals are around this area. Everyone I have met has a story. I find it interesting to listen to their story figure out what they came out here for, if they achieved their goal, and if they are happy now. Some are and some are not. I don't know why, but I find some hope for myself in it all. 

Wahoo's

Haha! This was last night and if you think I look stoned here, I look like that in all my pics, you should see my passport! So I went to the local Wahoo's, great fish taco's by the way, and my order number came up to be my favorite number 37. Has that ever happened to you? Not only at a restaurant or something but it brought me back to a memory that I haven't thought of in ages. My driver's license test. I was number 37 in that line as well! And of course I passed. Ha. So I was sitting there eating my taco's, which I got the Carne Asada this time, and Staci reminded me that she had one of my Camera Dan stickers in her purse. So I branded Wahoo's with one of my stickers on the window. Yes! Just wait America! You won't even see me coming!

Happiness

Here is a snapshot I took the other day when I was in Laguna Beach. The sun was shining, unlike now with rain and a wind advisory, and the waves were crashing.  I was on my way to see an exhibit in the Pacific Edge Gallery with over 120 pieces of John Lennon's art. John was an amazing artist. I recommend anyone who has a chance to see any of his work, or buy it, do it. So as for the image, here I stood and watched these waves crash towards my feet. This is the scene I imagine with the lyrics of an Incubus song "I dig my toes into the sand, the ocean looks like a thousand diamonds strewn across a blue blanket, I lean against the wind, pretend that I am weightless, and in this moment I am happy." I feel like I live for these moments. Hopefully one day I can live one of these moments with you.

Profound.

Here lies the death of an umbrella. Some people might think that this is just garbage but I love it. I wonder how many people passed this not even noticing it or thinking why someone doesn't just pick it up and throw it away. I wonder if anyone thought that it looked beautiful like I did. 

My First...

So, I decided to start a photo blog depicting a new image every day in my life. I don't think that I decided this to glorify my life or try and elevate my status to a new new level. I think I did it to give myself a release for all these images I take on a daily basis. So many things happen in life, not only mine, that people don't understand and I want to sort of expose that from my life and into yours. As this blog continues you will see some crazy images from time to time as well as some images that you can relate to. I hope you will check back with me for updates and a quick glance at what is going on in the crazy life of Camera Dan. So for this first image, I picked California. It represents so many new things in my life. Like a new photo blog, a new start in a new state, or learning so many new things being so far away from home and making this a new home. This image was taken up on the path behind The Reserve where I live. It is a very tranquil spot that I like to go when I need to reconnect to nature and the world. I hope you can relate.