jasontang

Yesterday I took the day off work in an almost desperate attempt to use up some of the annual leave I have left this year. Its not an idea time with work being so crazy at the moment but did it anyway. I organised a shoot with the lovely ulorin_vex  and Angela, a makeup artist I've worked with a few times. It was abit of a slow start as Angela was delayed due to a no show client. But we managed to get everyone in the same place eventually. I couldn't believe how cold the studio was. Poor poor model!

It was good to see ulorin_vex again and scanning the images on the back of the camera during the day, I've been wondering why I've left it so long to work with her again. I'm not sure when I last worked with her. Initially I thought it was at least two years, but thinking about it, it could have been over a year. It felt much longer. I felt good about the shoot. Though working with ulorin_vex feels like there was so very little effort on my behalf. I just clicked away and it was awesome images were captured. I guess this is where there are models and then there are models - they know what they're doing, they know how to pose their bodies and a little suggestion from me pose wise, they just take with both hands and run at full speed - metaphorically that is.

So last night I backed up the images and couldn't resisting editing a few initial shots, not that they needed much work at all. The lights seemed to love ulorin_vex  and so does my camera. Here are some shots..

This first shot I posted up for critique on a website. Some say that because the shades aren't on they feel there should be eye contact. I don't agree with this. I've seen loads of fashion shots where there isn't eye contact. Just because you can't see her eyes clearly doesn't mean she's not making direct eye contact with the viewer.




A normal fashion shot..

Just about.. I thought I'd post something on here since I've not done so in what seems forever. OK I know its clearly not forever because you can see the date of the previous post. I'm not sure what I've been up to since I last posted. I've probably changed job. Infact I mostly definitely have! I work with a fashion company now.. no not as a gay stylist, but yes, working in IT still. I'm generally happy working here. I have half a chance of making a difference rather than dealing with the same issues day in day out but not be able to fix them once and for all. That's one sure way to make a very frustrated and angry Jason. Its not good. Don't do it.

I've not done a huge amount of photography this year. Or last year. Its sad. I seriously want to create some mindblowing images to wow everyone. I have some vague ideas. I just need a big motivational kick up the backside. I trying to avoid committing shooting beauty shoots. I've done far too many of them. I need an awesome clothes stylist for some inspirational styling that'll get my mind working overtime on the lighting ideas. I also fancy giving some art nude ideas ago. I'm not sure how I'd go about it but they're inspired by an art book I have. I reckon I have the models.. again... just need ze kick up ze arse.

Despite getting home about 35mins ago, feeling rather tired and my eyes are sore, I'm feeling rather relaxed. A mix of that aching feeling from going running lastnight and the relief of having finally moved. It does take a little adjustment sharing a house with 4 girls. I'll cope.

Its going to be a relatively quiet week for me this week. Thursday meeting up with friend to catch up. Friday meeting with model friend over in the eastend maybe. Saturday I've taken over organising of a gathering of people from the modelling website I frequent and sounds like its going to be a heavy night. Meh. Oh well it'll be good to catch up with some old friends from the photography scene.

Ok I've waffled enough. I'm watchiing South Park that seems to be themed on WoW

City Link that many people have lovingly nicknamed Shitty Link, who according to their record message on their customer service phone line are 'specialist in express parcel delivery'. Hahahahahahahahaha... hahahahahahahahahaha... I've been expecting a package this week.. at the beginning of the week. According to their online tracking they tried on tuesday. Except I'm not sure where they're trying to deliver it.. it should be my work address according to the website I ordered the goods from. I work in quite a noticable building.. infact so noticable you just can't miss it.

Here's a trace of what's happened..

03:12  	Tuesday, November 6, 2007  	Arrived at Delivery Branch
08:16 	Tuesday, November 6, 2007 	Goods loaded onto a van
10:13 	Tuesday, November 6, 2007 	On route to delivery branch
11:59 	Tuesday, November 6, 2007 	Delivery Failed
19:55 	Tuesday, November 6, 2007 	Goods returned to branch
08:26 	Wednesday, November 7, 2007 	Goods loaded onto a van
14:24 	Wednesday, November 7, 2007 	Delivery Failed
07:24 	Thursday, November 8, 2007 	Goods loaded onto a van
13:21 	Thursday, November 8, 2007 	Delivery Failed
08:30 	Friday, November 9, 2007 	Goods loaded onto a van

chiselwright asked why I didn't call them up and see what was happening. "What have I got to lose" he said. So I did..

Dialled number
Recorded crap
Press 1
More recorded crap
In queue
More recorded crap
I hear tapping on keyboard
"hello? hello?"
Back with more recorded crap
Waiting....
Eventually someone answers. I tell them my assignment number and post code..
"Sorry we dont deal with your area, let me pass you onto the correct depot"
A moment of waiting and someone answers "hello?" and before I could respond they've hung up on me.


I did have something to lose.. I lost part of my life to a bunch of incompetent tw@ts. Grrrr... still no package! No card being left! I also emailed the website that despatched their goods via them and expressed my disgust and disappointment they chose to use them.

I've kind of unofficially taken on the belief of karma, but I'm wondering if the concept of karma is really value for effort. It seems people think I'm a Nice Person (tm) and its also true that there are people out there that think I'm a push over. The latter bit I really don't like. I have a reasonably high tolerance threshold, however when the elastic breaks, it breaks with dramatic effect. Not because I like it getting to that point. Its often people's lack of consideration or more so their ignorant bliss of what they're doing. I think its obvious from this post that something is bugging me. I'd just like to put the signal out there that I'm just as human as the person that walk by you in the street.

Nice one.. money well spent.. NOT

I find some of the efforts here much better than the chosen design. Infact I would have thought that a design offering from the people of london would a great symbolism. Check out these. Number 11 is my fav.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6719747.stm

The cousin that recently got married and failed to bring to my attention he didn't have a wedding photographer and I was the wedding photographer, just phoned me. We don't speak much or at all to be honest which isn't really a problem to be honest, since when he DOES get in touch he usually wants me to help him with something. Today's conversation went..

cousin: Hi Jason its Martin. Is it ok we, me and suzi (his wife), stay at yours tonight? Just for one night?
me: Errr.. I'm at work I can't really talk.
cousin: Aaah sorry. We're in london now.
me: I have plans tonight.
cousin: So we can't stay for just one night on your sofa or something.
me: No, I dont live there alone. I share with someone who also has a say in things.

Maybe it was rude of me to just say no without even trying to consulting my housemate. However I think it was more rude of him to spring this on me and its not the first time its happened. I strongly believe in a saying I picked up over the years:

"A lacking of planning on your behalf does not constitute an emergency on mine"

Seriously though, did he really expect me to drop everything to help him out? He's an only child and he maybe use to it from his parents but I think he needs to realise it soon that we're not all at his beck and call. I hope he doesn't learn the hard way when he starts life in the real work now his Uni course is coming to an end.

I signed up of course. People spread the word!

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Photography/

A couple of recent pics

Last week I went with a few friends around london and took some pics..

You can buy prints of them if you like ;)

A good friend and one of my fav models is going to be leaving the country by the end of the year due to visa running out. :(

Its so unfair! Grrrr!

3- We have moved NDAS from Postgres to MySQL for performance and maintenance purposes.

LMFAO

I almost wet myself. The completely unfunny side is that I work for this company

A model I worked with at the beginning of summer got in touch with today on msn to tell me that my shots of him got him a job in Dublin. He's flying out in september. Even though I've not gained anything financially I can't help feel a deep sense of satisfaction.

I've been slacking big time.. again!

Had a shoot both on saturday and sunday.. neither of the planned ones happened. I shot with kerosene instead on saturday. SundayI just bummed around mostly editing my back log of pics.



I think I might have to found new place to live as housemate is potentially moving to japan. I'll need space and people that dont mind shoots going on in the apartment. Hmmm.. could be tricky.

A lone busker on his own. CCTV keeping a watchful eye on the city. Faceless yet knowing.

..from last saturday




Meh

..since I posted some piccies

Shamelessly stolen from kerosenedeluxe

1. My ex is....gone
2. I am listening to.....Radio 1
3. Maybe I should......Sort out stuff
4. I love......Hugs
5. My best friend.....knows too much about me, I should kill him
6. I don't understand.....stupid people
7. I lose....emotionally
8. People say.....the dumbest things
9. The meaning of my screen name is.....nadda
10. Love is.....an excuse to do irrational things
11. Somewhere, someone is.....bitching about me
12. I will always.....be too nice
13. Forever seems.....never long enough
14. I never want to.....find I'm the only person alive
15. My mobile phone is......b0rked, so I'm using my previous phone. Gak can't get numbers I want or read teh 5 messages sat on it :(
16. When I wake up in the morning.....I wonder where the hell I am
17. I get annoyed when.....I'm bored
18. Parties are.....fun
19. My fish are..... long gone :(
20. Kisses are the worst when..... you dont get any
21. Today I..... am me
22. Tonight I will..... have left work for the weekend.. woo hoo
23. Tomorrow I will.... have a 1 hour shoot and then I'm free to do something spontaneous
24. I really want..... a hug

Never really convinced about these things. I bet I could score higher if I focussed on it rather than doing a few other things too. :p

I'm probably being overly dramatic here. But this is an OMG situation. There are a few photographers who's work I look and always go WOW that's really fantastic and aspire to be able to produce work like theirs. He gave me a extremely generous 10 yesterday. I really dont deserve it but its very encouraging to receive it from a pro.

Weekends just fly by far far too quickly. A quick run down of what I got up to..

Friday was someone's leaving do at work

Saturday shopping and then I was going to meet in the east end for drinks but was too tired to be loud place trying to yell over the music so went to see Silent Hill instead

Sunday had a shoot and focused on artistic nude. She was superb model. I'd not eaten all day until 10pm.

( Not safe for work photos.. )

Monday drove from London to Sheffield to spend 1.5hrs to drop off and finish off setting up sister's new pc. 7hrs of driving. Lovely fun.

I'm ready for another weekend.

The guy in this shot seems to be getting alot of interest from female models wanting to work with him because of this shot. There's also interest from people wanting to do CK-style shoots.



No idea what the next step is going to be.