Photography

This is the first post on my photoblog: Link

Tomorrow I am supposed to be getting my first professional roll of color film in the mail. I am excited, even though it probably won't be too different than normal Kodak color film in the store. meh. Doesn't matter I'm still excited. It's just Porta-160VC (from Kodak). But that isn't as exciting as Infrared film:

:D

I'm getting Three rolls of this. It's Rollei ISO 400. One roll for determining exposures and experimentation and two for actual taking. For this I am so excited. Infrared is so surreal and exciting. I just hope that I can find enough subjects (and money for processing).

I will leave you with my most favorite picture of me ever:

Goth Kiddies

I should be writing my German paper, but I'm not. Mostly because I wonder why there aren't any "real" goth "kids" at Kennedy, let alone in Cedar Rapids. It seems that here everyone that looks like they're apart of today's counterculture are really not, and rather teenagers trying to fit in (poseurs, one might say). I would really hate to label these people this; it's mean and they've experienced it since they were in middle school and began to shop at Hot Topic. But really, there is no music scene here in Eastern Iowa, so the ultimate goal here is to get attention. They are not dressing as a part of the scene, there is none. (Disclaimer: not everyone is a poseur here, there are a select few who participate in the goth / metal music scene. And they have every damn right to participate)

Peoples' perceptions about goths have changed as well. With the emergence of the Hardcore musical genre into the mainstream lay-people believe that they are one in the same. They are not. This is important because the emerging teens of this time period do not know the difference and attempt to assimilate themselves into the culture they know nothing about. They know nothing about the music and fashion, the social interactions other than what MTV and Fuse spew out to them. This identity crisis causes people who wear "goth" fashion (from Hot Topic) to enjoy hardcore bands that are, other than their distorted guitars, very different than Metal and goth.

I think I'm done with my rant. It was mostly spurred on by my attendance to the nightwish concert.

I'm getting tired of this layout, I might change it again. Possibly to a 19^th century-grunge feel

Photo Essay

Off topic: Once I start blogging I can't stop. 3rd post this evening.

For a final essay of the school year Mr. Ayers is allowing us to do a little more when it comes to our essays. I am excited. There is no other way to describe it. I was never much of a writer, but all the writing I've had to do with year, has made me addicted to it. I probably have not improved much, but I have, however, learned to enjoy and look forward to the process. I have become more interested in the evolution of language (more than I already have been). Because I've had to type out papers I've become more interested in in typography and text layout. This this class has made me, a math nerd, enjoy and look forward to writing. I never though it possible.

Well, that was an unneeded tangent, but anyway. My essay. I plan to do a photo essay, on the day of a volunteer firefighter / paramedic. I will follow my father and his guy's around for a day. Taking notes and pictures. This will probably happen sometime next week.

After I skip school to invade the lives of the employees of the city of Hiawatha I hope my essay will be 500 - 1000 word with pictures from that day. I don;t know how it will turn out but it'll be an experience I wouldn't pass up.

Things I wanna be when I grow up:

A Doctor:


A Biologist:


A Photographer:


A Graphic Design professional (preferably a typeface designer):


A firefighter:


A programmer:


A Paperback writer:


A Kid:


A Linguist:


A Cat:


An Anthropologist:


A Musician:

The Hazards of Love. {Part Two of Three}

Part One: Here
Part Two:

"The Rake's Song"
Probably my favorite song off the album. It's catchy, funny, creepy, disturbing, and they rhythm make me want to dance in a trance like state. The lyrics, on the other hand, are plenty weird. It speaks of a man who was married then his wife died while giving birth. He then proceeds to plot the death of his children (and executes it).

"The Abduction of Margret"
A simple little song, mirroring bower scene in musicality. It is nearly identical except for the lyrics, making it, almost, a reprise. Here Margret is abducted. I really don't have much to say about this one :/ ... It's equally well written as the other songs, and powerful

"The Queen's Rebuke / The Crossing"
Powerful distorted guitars with the queen singing. Not, itself, impressive. However the vocal style of the Queen draws me in and makes. She sings in waves with a somehow beautiful low-alto/tenor voice that i can't get enough of. The Queen mostly just sings about William and his creation. Over all not really an impressive song.

"Annan Water"
I have no idea what "annan" means, nor does my dictionary. Ah, Finally an acoustic guitar. I have impatiently awaited for this moment, and - alas! - it has come. I really like this song as well. Where "The Rake's Song" is my favorite, this one comes close. I think it is because it sounds a lot like older Decemberists' stuff. And I don't want to "dance" to this one, but rather sing. VOCAL HARMONY! A new movement began, and well, this song has become my new favorite. (oh Lord, I am indecisive)

"Margret In Captivity"
This is just about nothing else than "Margret in Captivity." It's a little conversation. Once again, not very impressive.

"The Hazards Of Love 3 (Revenge!)"
Opens with the harpsichord theme from the wanting comes in waves, except on Electric guitar. It is sung by what sounds like children. I like this one a lot. It's really weird but I like it. It almost seems out of key. And there is a lot of synthesizer action making a lot of funky sounds. Mostly 19th century themes.

(Reprise of "The Wanting comes in Waves")

"The Hazards Of Love 4 (The Drowned)"
A New motive/theme. I like it a lot. It is very much like older works. This sounds nothing like the other "Hazards of Love" and i like it alot. Beautiful singing, and musicality. I really like the traditional Instrumentation. The Synthesizer and electric guitar get old after a little while. The steel guitar make me laugh a little and give this song a bluegrass/ southern / folk feeling.

Part 3 next Week.

Nightwish!

May I recommend to you the greatest band ever, Nightwish.

Well I went to a concert in Sauget (Illinois) and it was amazing. I wish I had brought my nicer camera, but I didn't want to ruin it. Here's the best picture I took with my crappy phone. :D


Anyway, It was a great concert, truly an once-in-a-lifetime experience.

For those of you who don't know Nightwish is a Symphonic metal band from Finland. So seeing them in the middle of the United States was amazing. The concert itself was not as "fun" as I expected, it was not every energetic (like pop concerts and "hardcore" concerts) I've been to, but it was just as fun. I think that the culture was truly the defining factor of the energy and how it was expressed at this concert.

Before I continue about Nightwish I'll post my tweets from the night:

Hey its a native american!
11:30 PM May 8th from txt

Chills.
11:04 PM May 8th from txt

Beautiful drum set
10:33 PM May 8th from txt

Oh god :)
10:32 PM May 8th from txt

7 days to the wolves
10:26 PM May 8th from txt

Nvm and it begins
10:22 PM May 8th from txt

-15 minutes til it starts......
10:15 PM May 8th from txt

They're testing sh*t!
10:03 PM May 8th from txt

4 minutes
9:56 PM May 8th from txt

10 minutes!
9:50 PM May 8th from txt

@benchsketch it'll probably go to 1 am
9:39 PM May 8th from txt

@benchsketch i'm tweeting this entire concert you might want to turn off updates...
9:34 PM May 8th from txt

They continually get better... And funnier
9:32 PM May 8th from txt

He's doing a bunch of elvis impressions lol
9:31 PM May 8th from txt

Such a wide variety of people... I think the normal looking people are here for the opener
9:23 PM May 8th from txt

Not bad for an opener :)
9:12 PM May 8th from txt

So the opening band is playing a metal cover of a johny cash song
9:11 PM May 8th from txt

I am so out of place here :)
9:06 PM May 8th from txt

Nightwish woot!
8:44 PM May 8th from txt

Mmm Nightwish! :)
8:12 PM May 8th from txt

I don't really want to explain it, but the opener was kinda a southern metal/rock deal, it was funny (as I said on twitter) but not wonderful. I'd say they were pretty good for an opener.

After they finished playing most of the normal looking people left and we were left with the goth people. :D These weren't Cedar Rapids goth, but rather St. Louis goth. Real, not "dirty kids," a part of the urban culture. I was my first true experience with this subculture, and I enjoyed it.

I really hope Nightwish comes back next year and I can go again, it was probably one of the best experiences of my life!