Happy Independence Day!

Not really into burning money, but I love watching people burn their money away with fireworks. It was a great day to enjoy the company of family, friends, good food and some out of state fireworks.

Qoute game

Instead of an assignment assigned from one of our guest photographers we have for class, we got to play a game. It was a fun game introduced to me by Walter Urie.

Each photographer would write a quote on a piece of paper, fold it and drop it in a hat to be drawn by someone else.

The purpose of the game was to do inspired photographs by the quote each of us wrote and another one that we randomly chose out of that hat that was written by someone else.

The main rule was to not tell anyone which quote you wrote and chose. So when we all met again weeks later, one person would start it off with the image that they randomly drew out of the hat. We would critique it, have fun and laugh guessing what the quote was, and then continue by having the person who assigned the quote match it with theirs photograph.

There were some crazy gnarly quotes I have never heard of and glad that I didn't get.


My quote was "Never too old"


The one I drew out of the hat was "Quick as a whip"

Yumi & Max

Snapped a couple photos of my cousin Yumi and her son Max during my nieces birthday. Used the photos as well in my Ad Illustrations class this past spring semester. The ad was assigned by local commercial photographer Scott Montgomery. The ad was to show 2 separate generations interacting for a health insurance ad.

Lining up with school

I was inspired by Kris "Inkyfingerz" photographs. He is a very talented photographer, especially in capturing things for more than what they are in our daily lives.

Over the semester, I would shoot randomly to and from class, as well as on breaks. I didn't realize how many great opportunities are there in front of me when I'm at school. Glad I had the p&s with me on these days.

Bigger than Life

I was helping a couples buddies out in Los Angeles, and while we were sitting in traffic, I noticed these larger than life ads for "Proactive" with Kety Perry and the movie "Date Night" with Tina Fey and Steve Carell.

Alta Coffee

Went out with my wife, sister and my buddy Karan to Alta Coffee in Newport Beach, CA. Great little coffee shop with an amazing atmosphere. Havent been shooting leisurely for my pleasure, so I decided to bring out the cam. Snapped a couple images over coffee, Arnold Palmer,(for me since I dont drink coffee) and of course direct social networking.

So High

So today March 31st, my girlfriend of over 4 years and I got married.

She has supported me in everything that I've done and has been there for me when I was at my worst. Today I am proud to call her my wife and I, her husband.

She is the most beautiful person in and out. From the freckles on her face, to her warm welcoming personality. Her corky sense of humor to her big heart in her petite body. I cant ask for anything more but to spend the rest of my life with her.

Montage pf Robert and Thao's Pre-wedding Session

I brought John along on the session to do take some video. You will see Duy of Thao Vu Photography in action shooting, Gwen Huyen styling hair, small clips of my back side, and the lovely Robert and Thao posing for photos.


In the studio where we set up in his living room, he also incorporated the K2 slider system with his 5D MK2. An amazing system, and very well built and designed. John did an amazing job by adding an amazing montage of the beautiful couple.

Thao + Robert // Photo shoot from John Tran on Vimeo.

Pre-Pre-Wedding Session

Gwen Huyen of "Live Cut Dye" did an amazing job with Thao's hair as well as keeping the bride beautiful.

Anha Nguyen of "ANHA does makeup" also did an amazing job with Thao.

Thao

These are my faves from the Pre-Wedding session I had with Thao. They were shot in film and digitally processed.

Thao happens to be a great wedding photographer herself. I shot along with her business partner Duy in this session.

Robert & Thao's Pre-Wedding Session

A couple weeks ago I had the privilege to shoot an amazing couple. The shoot originally started at the Mission in San Juan Capistrano, but due to the weather the session was cut short. Luckily we had a back up plan. We turned my friends living room into a studio.

I shot in film to mix it up a bit. Dont worry, Ill post my digital files later.

Tony & Menelly

Tony and Menelly were a great couple to shoot. Very charming and wonderful to be with.

This was actually 1 of 2 wedding they had. I know what you're thinking. 2 weddings? The first wedding was in honor and respect for their parents. A traditional Buddhist wedding.

I will be posting their 2nd wedding later on which is a modern wedding that they planned.

Getting her hair did

Shot this 2 years ago when I started started out with film. I shot with Nikon back then as well. Came up on a Nikon F5 and man o man was that thing a beast. Known to most as the "hammer". It was physically tough and heavy enough to drive nails in like a hammer.

I printed this on Fiber based paper and looks way better in print.

Cam girl

One of the first assignments in the Ad Illustrations class was given out by Axel Dohler. The assignment was to make a humorous ad that promoted a product or service.

This image by Derek Woods inspired me. With Dereks blessing, I shot my girlfriend holding a couple of my cameras that I own with a different lighting set up as well as not as many cameras as Derek had.

Feeding Film Frenzy

Rick Steadry is the man with 3/4 of his face showing in the top right corner. Mainly to keep his identity confidential. HAhahaha.

This semester, I am enrolled in his Ad Illustrations class which is offered at The school of Photography at Orange Coast College every 2 years.

First couple assignment were warm ups, which Ill post later on. But earlier this week, he gave us an assignment that he wanted us to shoot in 35mm transparency film.
He was very generous in giving a couple rolls of Fuji Provia and Velvia film to each student. This one assignment will definitely push us in to becoming better photographers creatively as well as technically.

Sheilds Date Orchard in Laquinta, CA..

My girlfriend and I went to Shields during our anniversary weekend. It's a date orchard and gift shop out in Indio, Ca.. If you're ever out in the Palm Desert area, definitly stop by and check this place out.



How can you resist?



2 Ladies work the milk shake machines and the lady on the far left works the cashier and scoops ice cream cones



Shields had this freezer full of different flavored ice cream for their parlor.



I had a mango shake since for some reason dates don't appeal to me. Super good on a hot day.

Anniversary weekend at La Quinta, CA..

Everytime I see this image, I hear Adam Sandler singing "I want to grow old with you" from the movie "Wedding Singer'.



My girlfriend and I celebrated our anniversary during Valentines day weekend. So we made this cinnamon toast crunch treat thanks to our friend John giving us the recipe.



We were on our way to the movies in La Quinta and there were hundreds of cyclist riding on Jefferson.

Disney's California Adventure

Went to California Adventure on a rainy Friday night.



Went to see the Mission Tortilla tour at California Adventure. At the end of the tour they give you a freshly made tortilla as well as a scale to see how much you weigh in tortillas. So I weigh 1,920 tortillas. All I need now is fiash and pica de gallo.

So happy

My girl and I walked around Target for our friends daughters birthday gifts. Im the biggest kid when Im in the toy section. Wish I was Josh Baskin in the movie "Big" as a toy tester.

Natural tones of Nature

Just admired the basic tones of nature when just enough light comes through during a dark gloomy day.

R&B(Rain & Bokeh)

Drove with the wipers off for a bit. I dont suggest anyone doing it, but I was inspired. The things I do to get my shots.

Macroed in on the drops on my windshield and happen to get the bokeh of headlights from the opposing lane

Raining it up

Drove with the wipers off for a bit. I dont suggest anyone doing it, but I was inspired. The things I do to get my shots.

In this one it started to rain hard and wanted to capture the motion as it streak up my windshield as I drove

Window Carbonation

Drove with the wipers off for a bit. I dont suggest anyone doing it, but I was inspired. The things I do to get my shots.

Flicker

Had some fun with a friends ground xmas lights.