Life of Bot

Knee update - Kinda Gross

    Here's an update to my friends and family, just wanted to show you what the knee looks like once the bandages were removed this morning. This also explains why it hurts so much. Everything is good and going according to schedule. Thanks to everyone for the emails, phone calls and in person support. It means a lot. I know this happens to people all the time, it's just my first and hopefully last one.

 

Polaroid: My Mom

This is a polaroid I took of my Mom while visiting Dover, New Hampshire. She is adorning a traditional Thai dress. She and I were both born in Thailand. She is a beautiful person and an inspiration to those who know her. She is the positivity in my daily outlook.

 

 

Polaroid Land Camera 180

FujiFilm 100B

This is where I met Jenn for the first time

    I had a chance to stop by 100 Northstar drive today. This is where I met Jenn for the first time. Who knew we'd be married ten years later?

 

Polaroid 180 Land Camera - Fuji 100B

The Black Keys in Oakland, CA

My good friend Adrianne called me and let me know she had an extra ticket to The Black Keys show at the Fox Theater in Oakland. STOKED! Hopped on that train and went and saw an amazing show. These two guys ripped and let a happy audience in their wake. Seriously raw rock and roll. If you get the chance to see these guys, make sure you do.

    The opener was also very impressive, her name is Nicole Atkins and she can belt out a tune. Her voice filled the room. She has a free download HERE. Check her out! 

 

I brought my polaroid and took a couple photos.

 

Picked up some road food at Squeelers

 

 

Fox Theater Marquee in Oakland, CA

 

Ran into the Tahoe homies after the show. Good times!

 

The End

Yesteryear: What I done did in High School

    This is what I did in High School, uhmmm...17 years ago. My parent's gave me $1000.00 the day I turned 18 from a CD account they had saved and said do whatever you want with it. What I did with it was fund the recording and packaging of this album. You see, I was in a rap group called Main Perspective with group members: Prophet G, Ire Eye, Archie D, and still to this day, my best homie DJ Diggemsmack aka Scott Coslett, who is doing quite well for himself as a studio engineer and is running his own recording studio in Los Angeles. Humble beginnings. I laugh about it now, but what this group did for me was gave me the courage to try to step into big projects like shooting snowboard photography for a living as well as skills such as speaking in front of large crowds. We traveled throughout the East Coast and played shows in NYC, harlem specifically at the Harlem Victoria V on 125th street, We also played the first Hip Hop show at M.I.T. with Mixed Nuts and Powerman 5000. We were also part of the Boston chapter of the Zulu Nation and it lead me to hang with the Rock Steady Crew, chill with Afrika Bambaataa in his apartment in the Bronx River Projects, meet the Fugee's before they were big, get in a scuffle with Wu Tang and get some TV time on BET for the 20th anniversary of the Zulu Nation. The whole while, I'm thinking "what the hell am I doing here"? I've also campaigned for Lenora B. Fulani, She was the first African-American independent and the first women presidential candidate on the ballot in all 50 states, I've sat at dinner with Reverend Al Sharpton and I've questioned Bill Clinton on the news. I guess what I'm getting at, is just send it. Go out there and do some shit! It's a crazy life!

 

 

 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Clause

    I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot the other night with my brother's daughter Fiona Rose in our kitchen. She wore a christmas gown and we had a Santa that my mother had given to us years back because she couldn't leave without giving us something. Anyways, the photo shoot went horrible, nothing was working and I remember being bummed at the end of it. However, when I checked the photos the next day, this photo made me happy again. She kissed the Santa and there seems to be a real tenderness that cannot be faked. Also, my mother's gift, no matter how silly, ended up being an amazing prop. Thanks Mom and Merry Christmas to everyone!

 

Da Bic

    Fall is no longer knocking on the door, but rather, is in the house and chilling on the couch. I've been thinking about making some changes in my own life and the time is definitely now. One of the quickest ways of making a change in your life is to cut your hair dramatically. I think the ladies are well aware of this. My wife shaved her head, must be something like 6 years ago, so I decided that I was going to do the same thing. I ran into Salomon/Bonfire TM Java Fernandez at the Forum premiere in San Diego and he mentioned that he had Bic'd his head this summer. "You gotta do it once in your life" was his comment, so I took it as a sign. During a photo-shoot in San Diego, Stevie Bell was making fun by pointing out some grey hairs on my head, yes, another sign. So, this morning, I broke out the buzzer and the bic and went to work.

 

Patrick and Fiona

    My brother Patrick and his 'lil baby Fiona Rose came by the house for a minute today and as the responsible photographer Uncle, I grabbed a portrait of the two in the backyard. Here you go parents, your granddaughter is beautiful.

The Heart of Chocorua, Recovered

    I had an opportunity to go out to the annual Patch Party out by Red Lake on Carson Pass for one night this week. After setting up my tent and indulging in a tasty beverage, Chocorua, my dog, and myself head out to the closest, highest peak. Kyle Schwartz grabbed his camera and joined in the hike and photo opportunity. Once we made it to the top, I took this photo of Chocorua. She's a real sweetheart and my first non-human love. I, in fact, hated dogs due to a couple incidents around my block where I grew up that involved a mean German Sheppard and a vicious Doberman Pincher, but I digress. When we got Chocorua, she won my heart over.
    When I was composing this photograph, I was thinking about how much I loved her and how sad I would be when she passes away and I was feeling that the star coming through her legs from the sunset behind was her heart shining. I then told myself not to erase the images and immediately went to the menu, scrolled down to FORMAT and pressed ok. DOH! Seriously, what the hell was that all about? Anyways, I took the card out and set it aside. The sunset was really nice and I just went into shooting it. The whole time, I was bummed though, because, I had a real emotional attachment to the experience and it was getting to me.
    When I got home the next day, I took the formatted card and put it into my card reader, of course, there was nothing on it. So I opened a program called FileSalvage which is meant to recover deleted files. This file, was not only deleted, but formatted as well. I let the program do it's thing, and it recovered my files no problem, not only the ones that I had taken this day, but many shoots ago. Needless to say, I was relieved and excited. I just wanted to share this with any photographers who have accidentally done this, which is most of us.

Follow these steps:
    1. after erasing the images, do not shoot anymore photos on that card
    2. plug the card into a card reader
    3. open filesalvage, assuming you have it, or have just downloaded it ($79.95, not cheap, but this                 photo is priceless to me, so it's worth every penny, plus).
    4. recover your files.

A video for Mom

This is a video of my Brother Patrick and his beautiful daughter Fiona. I had the chance to visit him right before New Years and see Fiona walking around. Today is my Mother's birthday and she has not had the opportunity to see her granddaughter since birth, so Mom, this little video is for you. Love you and hope you have a happy birthday.

Patrick and Fiona video for my Mom's Birthday from Tim Peare on Vimeo.