rocky horror picture show

life is good. i have not posted anything for a while and for that i apologize. it's been a little crazy over here on the bay - but a good crazy. this last weekend we partied hard for halloween and last night went to rocky horror. here are a few shots of the ladies from our photoshoots. enjoy.  :) 

happy halloween! 

fog, short buses, and a few classes later

If I ever questioned where my tuition money was going, it was answered this morning. I waited on the corner of 79 New Montgomery, in the foggy misty morning of the lovely San Francisco, for the “Hayes Express” to take me to the undergraduate registration building. The short white bus, marked clearly with Academy of Art logos and print, stopped in front of me. I approached the vehicle, entered, and sat down in the middle row next to the window. The driver switched shifts and we were off toward my destination. I was personally driven on my own short bus. I felt like a movie star as we rushed around traffic in the busy city. Everyone questioning who was on that short bus!

All right, I am being a bit dramatic, but I did feel special. Moral of the story is that I am now registered for spring semester and I am incredibly excited about it. First of all, all of my credits from the University of Utah and Firenze Arti Visve transferred! I saved two semesters worth of classes and money. For being told that none of my credits would transfer from either school – this was an exciting surprise.

My classes for next year are:

            Photoshop for photographers

            Quality of Light

            Visualization

            Written Communications of Art

Monday through Wednesday are 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. classes and the Thursday is 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. - exactly what I wanted.

The professors all have really good recommends. One is my favorite professor from this semester. He teaches very limited amount of classes and I never thought that I would get another opportunity to work with him. Another one was described as someone who is hard, pushes beyond the recommended course, and makes students work outside of their comfort zones. Mrs. Garcia (my personal representative) said, “He isn’t an easy class.” I just looked at her shocked that she would even question this and said, “I don’t want easy.” Turns out I am one of the few who wants a challenge because currently I am the only one registered for his class. Interesting, eh?

My morning was productive and made me excited for my future education. : ) Also, I found this quote that I simply fell in love with and find the desperate need to share it with it:

"to be modern is to find ourselves in an environment that promises us adventure, power, joy, growth, transformation of ourselves and the world - and, at the same time, that threatens to destroy everything we have, everything we know, everything we are." _ Marshall Berman

Have a great Friday! xoxo

i am afraid to merge

Where do I start? I am sitting in Sugar Café, two doors down from my apartment, next to a fireplace that some how is lit and flaming over little pebbles that are over glossed in whites and blues. I feel disconnected, which is probably the worst time to write in a public blog, but I can’t help it.

School has been going great. The semester is currently approaching midterms and I can hardly believe how fast two months have gone by. Cliché, but it seems like just yesterday I left my empty room in Salt Lake. Digital photography is pretty basic, but I think I am finally getting a grasp on shutter speeds and aperture. This concept is hard and opposite and is not just common sense like I have been told for the passed few years. It’s amazing that I called myself a photographer before when I didn’t even know how to use manual setting. I was stuck on settings with pictures and I strayed from letters. Boy, have I come far.

Fundamentals of photography is my favorite class, hands down, no arguments. I think it is my favorite because we actually get to create, print, and critique. Some people are afraid of critiques, worry about how to present their art, nervous about what people say, and argue any sort of criticism. Not me, I thrive off of it. I love the thrill received when you lie out those fresh prints, stand in the back as twenty new pairs of eyes glaze and analyze. I actually stand there hoping they say something negative, hoping they have some way to push me, something for me to re think and try again. I like a challenge in my art, but more importantly I like redemption. Our class is working of a “Day in the Life” project. Paired up with someone in our class, our task is to document their life in an interesting way. You know, make breakfast seem as exciting as firefighters washing trucks shirtless. I am working with Jordan, a red haired volleyball playing beauty from Santa Cruz. So far, so good. I had an in progress critique today, which helped generate some ideas to make my collection of five photographs even stronger.

History of Photography is like every history class possible. You pretend that you do not like it, that you dread going, but the entire time you are attentive and listening because it is incredibly interesting to see where your absolute passion stemmed from. Film History is my second favorite class; mostly because I love the enthusiasm my teacher carries with each step. He loves what he does. He is not there for the money (though that may help) but rather he is there to share his favorites films with us and make us connect the themes in the films to our own lives.

I have neglected a little bit of extreme thank you’s. First off, thank you to Aunt Michael for the Wicked t shirt and the New York skyline paper cut out sent all the way from NYC. I wear the shirt all the time, can you say softest shirt ever? Oh, how I am jealous that you got to experience it. I need to give a big thank you to my Grandmother for the little slipper shoe things. I have been desperately looking for a pair of these just to roam around in the dorm with. They are perfect. Thank you to my sister for the constant Halloween goodies and surprises. Thank you to my Mother for the Halloween decorations. Some parents send food, some send money – mine sends bat stickers and paper foldouts. I am so grateful. Thank you all so much for all the fun surprises. I cannot tell you how good it feels to get a package in this lonely city with just the touch of home.

On Friday I have a meeting with some girl named Monica to schedule and register for next semester. I cannot believe it is that time already. It stresses me out. Everything is starting to feel permanent. When I went to Italy, I knew I would come home in four months and never be back (well hopefully one day I will go back, but you get my point,) the University of Utah was the same way – I would be done in a few months. My summer job, I knew it would end. I have not had anything permanent in my life for a while. Everything is changing. I am scared to commit. I won’t lie. I do not know how to explain it. The best way to describe it is I am “afraid to merge” (Less Than Zero, Brett Easton Ellis.) What an incredible opportunity I have to live here, but why doesn’t it feel like home.

I think I am going to stop before it gets dramatic and I start rambling. Have a good night.

xoxo  

i am not a robot

Title: Marina & the Diamonds 

San Francisco has been awkwardly hot the passed two days. People are in a panic. It is almost the next War of the Worlds as people try to go outside in sweaters and realize it is too hot. Pale skin is exposed rawly to the beams of the cloudless sun rays. There is no fog in sight. It has gone missing. I wore a strapless dress and nothing else today. I read my text books in the sunshine on Union Square Plaza. I am in a wonderful mood today and I thank helio-therapy. 

October has begun, just incase you did not know. Fall is here, the leaves should be changing, and the orange yellows and browns should be making their seasonal appearances on the wardrobes that walk to the streets to and from the coffee shops and work. 

To get into the holiday spirit, my family treated me (literally) to some fun packages. Yesterday I got a can in the mail. A soup sized can. As i opened it I was shocked to find there was no chicken noodle broth mixture, but a cute little note, candies, vampire fangs, black sparkle metallic nail polish, and boo mallow marshmallows. This was all from my sister. She even made me wait to open it until she could watch me do it on skype. Two and a half hours later I had finished all the candies and was almost in tears as I bid my sister (dressed in surgeon gear may I add) goodbye. She made my day.

Now I was coming home from class, I approached the doors, and the security guard couldn't wait to get out "Audrey, you have another package!" She was excited as she pulled out an orange box with pumpkin stickers and my Mother's handwriting. The minute I saw it, I knew my school teaching perfect handwriting too cute for words Mama had sent me something that no other college student would ever recieve. I rushed to my room, tore open the tape (which took longer than it should of. note to you: i had tape and envelopes) and almost died as i held halloween decorations in my hand. Mama sent me bats to put on the wall! With help from Emme and Phoebe, we now have bats flying from the mirror, to the door, and over to my neighbors door. We are the envy of the dorm. People have visited from other floors just to see the magic. People have offered me money to send to my mom so she can buy them some. I can confidently say that I have the best Mom in the world. No joke. 

I love Tuesdays because I have my favorite class, with my favorite teacher. I started my day getting a latte from Sugar Cafe, sipping it while I critiqued/analyzed/observed/argued about photographs as the sun rose through the windows for participation points. My class loved my final prints of different perspectives of Emme. I will give you the link once I post them, but I am incredibly proud of my work. Our next assignment is to shoot form and narrative. I love pieces that scream stories, provoke questions, make you want to know more. I have the perfect idea in my mind right now, it is hard to explain, so just cross your fingers and I will show you the final piece. 

I printed out my resume today and I am ready to turn it in to a coffee shop five blocks from my house. Cross your fingers. 

I am going to end this post with a product review. Now, before coming here my Mother and I were shopping at good ol' Costco. It was here that we stumbled upon some new razors for my shaver. They didn't need shower cream, it was like built onto it. You know what I mean? Well they work great, but they get sticky, they never dry, and they melt every time you get it wet. They only lasted a few shower uses and the little plastic piece that surrounds the blade actually fell off when i picked it up this morning. Although they are cute. Do not buy them. 

Ciao Bellas. xoxo