[link]

In December, drinking horchata
I'd look psychotic in a balaclava
Winter's cold is too much to handle
Pincher crabs that pinch at your sandals

In December, drinking horchata
Look down your glasses at that aranciata
With lips and teeth to ask how my day went
Boots and fists to pound on the pavement

Here comes a feeling you thought you'd forgotten
Chairs to sit and sidewalks to walk on

You'd remember drinking horchata
You'd still enjoy it with your foot on masada

Winter's cold is too much to handle
Pincher crabs that pinch at your sandals

Here comes a feeling you thought you'd forgotten
Chairs to sit and sidewalks to walk on
Oh you had it but oh no you lost it
Looking back you shouldn't have fought it

In December, drinking horchata
I'd look psychotic in a balaclava

But winter's cold is too much to handle
Pincher crabs that pinch at your sandals
Years go by and hearts start to harden
Those palms and firs that grew in your garden
Are falling down and nearing the rosebeds
The roots are shooting up through the tool shed
Those lips and teeth that asked how my day went
Are shouting up through cracks in the pavement

Here comes a feeling you thought you'd forgotten
Chairs to sit and sidewalks to walk on
Oh you had it but oh no you lost it
You understood so you shouldn't have fought it.

Hope everyone is having a Merry Christmas! I know I am

Returning soon!

So, I'm starting to seriously budget out my money. Hopefully, by next spring, I'll have paid the last bits of my debt off, and have saved enough to get a Nikon D300.

On that last matter, I know it seems too soon, but I'm planning on upgrading my camera. Again. My reasoning is that the D60, while a fantastic camera, isn't a long-term camera, due to the fact that its performance in less-than-ideal light is less-than-ideal, and it doesn't have an autofocus motor in the body, meaning that if I want to autofocus, I have to shell out for the pricier lenses with a motor in them. So, I'll get a D300, which is a whole other level of awesome camera, and actually get started doing some serious photography. I'm talking to my engaged friends about doing their wedding photography in the future, and all is well.

And don't get me wrong, I'm glad I sold my 450d when I did, and I'm glad I got the D60. The 450d was a week away from dropping in price from the 7d, so by selling it when I did, I got the most money possible from it. Plus, I got my D60 for a little under $400 with a discount and a warranty, meaning I could sell it for about $450 or more easily. And, the benefit of the D60 is that I got a chance to learn some of the intricacies of the Nikon system. Oh, and the lens I got, the Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5, is FANTASTIC.

Oh. My. God. The season finale of Dexter last night was...... jaw-dropping. Never before has a TV series made me feel sick to my stomach (in a good way, I mean). I'm not gonna spoil anything for anyone, but seriously, if you don't watch this show already, you need to watch it now. NOW.

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Ohmaigawd. Today, my group, Photomentalism ([link]), went live. It's a group focusing on using the tools you have to make great images, and trying to do away with the idea that you need a $2000 camera to make a fantastic photo. Photography + fundamentals/fundamentalism. Back to basics. That sort of thing. Join/watch if it interests you, and if you'd like to help out, simply apply for a contributor position

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So for some reason, I can't stop listening to Bad Romance by Lady Gaga. It's just so damn catchy. Le sigh. Also, Fame Monster is a really good album. The 8 new songs she added to her old album are pretty awesome.

I got my first "camera collection" camera

It's a Yashica Electro 35 GSN film rangefinder, in perfect working condition with a battery and all. I haven't had a chance to go get some film to take some pictures, and I won't until this weekend, but it's still effing awesome.

Check it out!
[link]

So life is kicking in. I'm getting registered for UVU, and my brother and I are gonna be moving out by the end of the month. Le sigh. Life sneaks up on you.

Returning soon!

So, after a lot of thought, I've decided I want to start a small collection of cameras. I have my Nikon D60 with the Sigma 18-50mm 2.8 lens, but seeing as both my early 90's Canon Rebel X and my rugged vintage Soviet Pentax Zenit-E are non-operational, or at least beyond where I can figure out how to get them working, I'm back to square one with a single camera. I need some film cameras to satisfy my cravings for the occasional bit of classic photography. This time around, however, I wanna go for the more abstract, artsy type of film photography with at least one or two of my camera purchases. I definitely wanna get a Diana F+ or a Holga, or, hell, both. It would be nice, as an artist, to have a wide range of tools, each with different specialties, and in this case, classic cameras are fairly inexpensive. I've considered maybe a Nikon F2 or a Nikon rangefinder as well, just to go the more traditional film route (especially with the portability + quality of a film rangefinder), but it's still up in the air, depending on my financial situation in the coming year or so.

My goal, though, is to have at least 3 cameras, my D60 included, in my camera collection by the end of this year. Any of my more photographically-inclined watchers have any suggestions as to what cameras or types of cameras I should look into for the future? I'm willing to spend a bit of coin, but not much, so no Leicas or anything. Believe me, I would if I could

Returning soon!