What Happened!

Yeah...the Buccanners Tanked...this is probably worse than their inaugural season in which they went 0-14...by the way, thanks Lions - 0-16....this should be the last mention of the Bucs inaugural season....

Regardless, they blew it...they were 9-3 a month ago...just behind the Giants...you know...Bucs fan were thinking...hmmm....we're playoff bound...win a few games and play the Super Bowl at home...that's right, the Super Bowl is in Tampa...but the Bucs won't have a chance to try the improbable....it will remain improbable...BECAUSE they lost the last 4 games of the season!!!

Ouch...they suck...see, this is why a couple of seasons ago I stopped caring...I used to care a lot...I went to 3 games at Soldier Field....yeah, I saw the Bucs play Chicago 3 times in CHICAGO...I wore my Bucs stuff....even cheered them on when they beat the Bears and won the division (the old skool division)....but then I stopped caring the season after the Super Bowl.

Those guys won the big game...did the improbable of that time...then the following year...started off ok...lost a tough one vs. the Panthers b/c they blocked like 10 field goals....then they blew a 24 point lead against the Colts...blew that big, enormous lead with 6 minutes left in the game...and then they just fell apart...didn't even make the playoffs....yup, the Bucs were the first to do something again...the first team to win a Super Bowl and then fail to make the playoffs the following year....

I got interested a little when Chris Simms took over at QB and got them in the playoffs...but that didn't last long...and then the following season they had like a 100 QBs...so that was a crappy season....and then last year, they some how managed to make playoffs with a 9-7 record...but again they figured a way to lose.....

See, it's way too much stress...all this up and down stuff....this is why I stopped caring...but this year I started caring again...I don't know...I think I need to switch teams...at least for this year...I know, that's selling out...and I grew-up in Tampa, but Miami is in Florida???

Go Dolphins...plus, I'm like the only person on Earth who likes Ricky Williams and would defend him in any argument about his early retirement!  Fins Rule...

Going out of my mind!

The Marley vibes down below are keeping me sane...

The last week has been pretty rough...especially the last two days...

I have washed so many dishes and I think it's a world record!  I need to start using the dishwasher but I feel like I need to revolt against some forms of technology....but I'm thinking that dishwasher will be more economical....and a timesaver....???

I haven't shot in a while (a week or so)...it's the season...but it's what I love to do...it beats washing dishes!

Also, I have cooked so much...it's annoying...back when I was in high school, after a short stint with a hotdog stand, I decided I would never work in the food industry...well between cooking 3 meals a day and washing dishes, I might as well open up for business!

Well, because of my insane boredom and being cooped up in the house...serving and serving and more serving, I revisited some old photos that I originally took and never had time to do anything with them....so I present them here....hidden....but now revealed because of extreme boredom and a serious desire/passion to do what I love - photography...and post processing!

Enjoy...call me for a shoot...I'm bored!

Early morning from my deck...love this...will miss this when/if we move...

Last years b-day present...thanks cousin Julian...this was my favorite b-day present ever...too bad the Bucs lost...hopefully they win tomorrow!

shhh...and excursion from work (lunch break!)...a while ago....experimenting with filters!

A carnival...next to the mall....good practice for me....messing with long exposures and tripods...

All these shots were taken in 2007...when I first was getting started....???

Hey mister music...sure sounds good to me....

Ha!  Yeah...I hope you dig the vibes...some original Bob Marley stuff....the music he made before he got any $$$....if you don't like it....sorry for you....regardless, scroll way to the bottom and press pause on the old skool boom box...

Wow...all time low...doesn't every photographer do this...especially on  flickr!

I really need to learn how to photoshop my baldness...

Anyway...I'm up super late working on my new website...this website is going to pretty sick......the web address will remain the same...and I'm going to keep the old website, but change it's address either to freewisefoto.com or freewisefotos.com???  Probably the first one....

Well, gotta sleep a little...need to play with daughter tomorrow...she got this big eco-friendly house...I mean house....she can stand in it....I mean she doesn't even a have a room anymore...it's a house....

Keeping Busy...

It's the Holiday season...so things have slowed down a bit, but I'm still staying busy...

What have I been up too:

- reading the book, "Selling the Invisible" by Harry Beckwith...very insightful book...I recommend it for anyone starting their own business...I got linked to the book via a very successful photographer, David Jay .....

- creating a totally new website...it's going to be awesome...will probably have it up next month...

- preparing a new blog...it will have 3 bloggers blogging...you'll get to follow our journey to freedom...

- and working on Ron Rodriguez's music video...will post that next month too!

Madden...and Ron Rodriguez...

I don't know if you remember, but I shot a music video for Ron Rodriguez...well, I'm nearly finished with the project...so today I visited Ron so he could check out what I got so far...

Well, we took care of business...and then we had to play another round of Madden...I had the game...I scored and took the lead...but I missed the extra point...one of those ooops...you know...I pressed the wrong button...that button is how you kick field goals on Tecmo Bowl???

So Ron got the ball back...down 6 and scored a TD with about a 1:30 left in the game...he made his extra point....I had a chance at the end but blew it...next time Ron...I'm winning out...just like the Bucs will do in order to stay in the Playoffs!

Thomas Family!

For the first time, I woke-up this morning with my son on the bed...not just him, but everyone else...Sani, Rana, and Taavi...and even Sofia (the cat)...It was so different...and I have all these new responsibilities I typically miss out on...but today, I woke-up, got myself ready, made breakfast, ate with my daughter (which we do almost every morning), bathed her, helped her pick-out clothes, brushed her teeth, went back downstairs and cooked again...this time lunch...Rana and Taavi finally came downstairs...ate breakfast/lunch...I washed more dishes than I ever want to...and then got myself ready for the Thomas Family shoot!   

The Thomas Family are a great bunch...so hospitable...fun...and just family!  They had 3 generations present for the shoot...wow!  

Julie, daughter of Mrs. & Mr. Thomas, e-mailed me and asked if I could photograph her family...I almost had to cancel the shoot...but my wife is awesome...and Sani is such a great helper...

So here's a few from today's shoot with the Thomas family!

Julie and Blake!

Baby boy has a name and is home!

So my son was born a few days ago...but Rana and I hadn't come up with a name...Rana had chosen well over 100 hundred names to mull over...she did the same thing with our daughter...she makes it hard, but for Rana, the meaning of the name is the most important thing...to me - well, originality and a cool sound is good...and then a good strong meaning...so at the last minute, after months of research and "Ezra, what about Zakai, or Saliym, or Nury, or Ori, or, or, or......we finally agreed upon a name...it wasn't Rana's first one on her list...but it was up there...to me, it was up there...I had a premonition about a week ago...and out of all the names, his name just came to me...so out of love we chose his name....Taavi!

It derives from the Hebrew name David...but Taavi is the common name for David in Finland...and Taavi means "Beloved"...or "Beloved by God"...

Now our next challenge is keeping our daughter content...today was rough...

I knew last week would be the last days of our daughter being the only little one in the house...I was sad...almost guilty...maybe even felt some betrayal...well, today, those feelings came swelling up...

Man...she was not happy...at times she wanted to play, but I had to hold brother...or help Rana...and I just couldn't play...and she realized that it was because of brother...ouch!  She had fits...sadness...maybe even resentment...she even told me she liked it when it was just mommy, papi, and Sani...

Needless to say, papi is hurt...and is trying to figure out how we're going to balance this out...I don't want my first born...my daughter...to change...I want her to stay the same little Saniyah that's she's always been...and I know she will change...she is always changing...but I really don't want to mess anything up...that girl to me, is the most special soul, spirit, or whatever you call it, in the whole time of all existence...I can't even explain...

So if anyone out there has had two children (that were not twins) and were able to show them love at all times and bend over backwards for them at any given moment, please, please, tell me how...

Good News!

Alright everyone...finally baby boy was born (sorry, we don't have a name yet).  He was born yesterday at 8:57pm...he weighs 9lbs. 3oz!  

Rana is doing well...and baby is nice and healthy....

Take care everyone!

ahhhhhhhh....Bucs?

Last night I hung-out at Ron & Melissa Rodriguez's house to watch the Bucs game...that might be the last time I watch a Bucs game at their house...bad omen! I'm a little supersitious...???

The Bucs blew in grand fashion...I mean 1976 blew it! Where was their defense? Carolina ran for over 300 yards...they let two running backs rush over 100 yards...and the Bucs let Steve Smith wide open? Now the Bucs need to win out to stay in the play-offs...next weekend they have to WIN!

On a good note, I beat Ron Rodriguez at Madden....yup...I beat him at his own game.......!!!!

No baby yet...

Rana's due date was 12/5...and today is the 9th?  I guess he's not ready to come out yet...but Rana has been having minor contractions....we'll see...patience....

Stay tuned for my new logo...you all are going to help me pick one....

My daughter, the photographer!

So you know the deal...no fotos of my daughter on the web...but what about fotos she has taken?

We're good there!  

Rana and I have been thinking of getting our 3 1/2 year young daughter a camera...but we realized that if we get her a Point & Shoot she might not want it because these cameras look distinctively different from my cameras and she would rather use what I'm using....anyone with children will understand this...

We also don't want to get her a kiddie camera either because we like to give our daughter the real deal!  We don't want to underestimate the talent and skills of our daughter....

So...I decided to search the web for big cameras...with detachable lenses (DSLRs)...and I found a used Nikon D1 for a real good price...(don't worry...the camera is from a reputable company)....

But then my wife asked, can she hold that kind of camera?  They are kind of bulky.  So I said, let's see....I gave my daughter one of my D300s and a back-up lens....told her to use the view finder...and press the button...

Look what she did below!

The stuffed animal all the way to the left used to be mine...look Ma...do you remember!

Her Papi working hard on Jennifer and Tim's fotos! 

Good use of lighting...and I love the negative space...like Ying/Yang!

Good shallow depth of field....

Winner of the "Best Most Creative Comment" contest!

Alright...so today I announce the winner of the gift certificate.

For all who don't know, the person who left the "best most creative" comment on my website about my wedding stills (rings, dresses, shoes...things that don't move) wins a gift certificate to the World Market!  www.worldmarket.com/home.jsp

So today is the day. I got some cool responses...but I it narrowed down to 3 choices...the top 3 were:

Karen (who owns Pearly White Properties...a location where I have shot a wedding) said this about the foto above - "I love this picture...it is my favorite. I think its unique but also is sexy and pretty. 'Diamonds and shoes are girls's best friends.' You never can have enough of either!"

Anyone who says my "shoe pictures" are sexy must get a lot of recognition! Thank you for contributing...I'll be e-mailing you soon, so I can see what fotos I can contribute to your awesome website!  www.pearlywhiteproperties.com 

Christine (who's wedding I will photographing this summer) - said this about the above picture - "I love the beauty and simplicity of this picture.  I think it captures the essence of true love - simple and beautiful!"

This was my favorite comment... it's so true...because it is my favorite comment, you'll be getting a free DVD slide show of your engagement shoot!

But the winner of the "Best Most Creative Comment" goes to.....drum roll....... Rayshawn!

Yup...read this about Pinball Marchine picture...ridiculous...but it is the Best Most Creative Comment!

"I like this one because that is exactly how Sabrina and I were dressed on our wedding day! Minus the dragon, those babies are expensive...sheesh."

Rayshawn had me laughing for a good 5 minutes...I'm still chuckling...

Congratulations Rayshawn...the gift certificate is in the mail...

Alright...stay tuned....I'll be having another contest up soon...you'll be helping me choose my new logo!!!

I'm done with classes!!!

I finally finished my certificate in Video Production at FCCJ (that's our local community college). It took me one year to complete...it was a lot of fun...and I made a lot of friends along the way...but what am I going to do with this certificate?

First, I got to get the certificate...see, I gave FCCJ Valparaiso University's transcript (that's where I got my 4 year degree)...but I took one class at University of South Florida (in Tampa, where I grew up and would go home for the summers)...My Valpo transcript shows that I got credits for the class, but it doesn't show anything else, so FCCJ says they need the actual transcript for that one class from USF in order to get my certificate...I can do that...but then what?

Well the good thing is that during my studies in Video Production, we learned a lot about photography and framing our shots...because photography and video are kind of similar (as far as creating an image...just watch TV...you'll see)...regardless, we studied some photography and were even given the chance to do it...and viola...I found what I want to do when I grow up - photography!

I have to say, my professor and friend, Marc Boese, gave me a lot of confidence in my early, raw photography skills (which are still pretty raw)...that confidence pushed me to learn more and more...so to him, thank you! And thanks for that book...I need to give it back, I guess....

Many have asked how I got into photography...where I studied, etc...well, this is pretty much how it happened...

Well...stay tuned...Late today I have to announce the winner of "the comments contest"...who's going to win that gift certificate???

GO BUCS!!!

Go Bucs!  Wooohoooo!  9-3

Watch out G-men!

I apologize for this post...I grew up in Tampa (sorry Jax fan) and we celebrate as much as possible when they are winning...we once suffered 14 straight seasons with losing records!

My childhood best friend and I used to go to the backyard and impersonate the Bucs...we constantly dropped passes and had Vinny Testaverde throw plenty of interceptions...so now we must celebrate!!!

Darcy & Matt & Anna!

I have been so blessed...every person, family, or couple that I have had the opportunity to fotograph have been totally awesome...they are the coolest people on earth...same is true for Darcy, Matt, and Anna - they are the coolest!  

I met them today at Willow Branch Park in Riverside...I hung out with them, took some candids of them and their daughter playing, hanging out... and just being family...

Darcy is an associate with a local law firm...Matt is a reporter for the Florida Times-Union...and Anna is the lucky one...she doesn't have to go to work!!!  Oh...Darcy, Matt, and Anna or good friends with Casey, Michael, and Mariah - also the coolest people on earth!

Enjoy

Jennifer & Tim teaser!

Back in June when I was doing a little shoot for Ron Rodriguez, my phone rang...I answered it...and Jennifer was on the other line...she was helping her friend, Andrea book a wedding photographer...this is how I met Jennifer...

I shot Andrea & Carlos' wedding...and I got a few fotos with Jennifer and Tim...Jennifer was doing Andrea's hair and Tim was being cool with the guys...

Now they asked me to do a foto shoot for their one year wedding anniversary!

Here's a few...teasers...

Thanks Jennifer and Tim...and God for giving us 77 degree weather in the end of November!!!

Obradovich Family!

Today was awesome...the weather was near perfect...and to top it off, I was given the honor to photograph the Obradovich Family.  The Obradovich Family is originally from Peru...the family moved to South Florida over 25 years ago!  Mark, their son, who scheduled the shoot, lives here in Jacksonville...he's in the Navy...

Enjoy and thanks Mark...your family is awesome...ciao!