Different Shots for Different Folks – Dozens of Pictures of a Sunset Under the Pier of Ocean Beach – Commercial Photography Failed (Client Unhappy), Exposure Porn Accomplished

Alright!

I’m tired and I got to work later today.

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Yesterday was long.

And it started wrong.

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Photography.

I’m good at the difficult one, horrible at the easy one.

I’m actually not that bad, but now there is a second person in a row that is unsatisfied with my product photography.

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I never charged either of them. So fuck it.

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Also, pictures are quite alright.

It sounds like what he wants is studio 3D photography for like the shit they do on Amazon models and crap.

It is easier to just download that and put the logo on the shirt if that is what they wanted…

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The client is complaining about how the shirt looks wrinkled. He brought me the shirts all bunched up.

I fucking iron them for him. And they still look wrinkled. Well, fuck man.

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One thing I learned is, fuck the white cloth backdrop. It doesn’t work how I wanted it. I even ironed that. And well… when it came to it, I didn’t mount it but stretched it on the floor. I like how it looks, but yeah, I know it’s not ideal.

I also got a picture of him wearing that shirt.

And because I wasn’t satisfied with the cloth backdrop, I went to buy white cardboard.

The shirt didn’t fit completely, so I used the cloth backdrop to complete it. I think they look good.

Client doesn’t like it. I think I rather drop him than try harder…. Again.. I wasn’t even charging him.

That’s what the shot looks like.

I have other friends that do product photography. I’ll send him their way.

…

And I might try harder for a bit on his shirt pictures.

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Might…

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Pinche Paco is talking about photography.

He says he is getting a 22mm for portraits.

For people that don’t really know about photography, a 22mm is not ideal for portraits.

I actually have no idea what I would use a 22mm.

I would rather have the 17-40mm/4.0f

My first lens that I still love.

But if choosing a fixed lens… I rather have it either tighter or wider.

Pinche Paco says he has seen portrait shots with the 22mm that he likes.

I just googled image some. They are way too distorted for portraits.

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I have to take many pictures today again and I’m tired already. But it’s what I wanted. Photography gigs every day for a reasonable pay.

The problem is not that it is every day, it’s just this weekend they all landed altogether. And once I’m done with them, I’m pretty much done with them. And I’m virtually done today!

And a burger joint or three next week. Should be fine.

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Today. I go to Hillcrest. And I’m meeting a drone photographer. That’s going to be fun.

Yesterday, I went to Ocean Beach. The writer that I was meeting there was late. I didn’t really read the story, so I wasn’t sure what I was shooting. So I just walked around the beach and shot everything.

I shouldn’t be posting pictures that perhaps will get printed later. But I’m really proud of one of the shots that really has nothing to do with the story, yet perhaps they will run it.

I actually took the same shot over 20 times. I’m still not completely certain that I chose the best one to go on Instagram. Or if I did the proper edit.

If you are wondering, it’s not that heavily edited. Dropping the highlights barely changed anything. Upping the shadows didn’t do much. Basically, fucking around with the settings didn’t change much so it was barely tweaked.

This shot was a 15-second exposure at 11mm/2.8f with a flash.

I took several others at different exposure times with flash. I forgot to try one without flash just to see the difference. Maybe it was going to be similar. Not sure. It was really dark down there, but at the same time, long exposures capture a lot.

The 30-second exposure has a lot of cloud movement. And the others, the crop was a little bit off (by just a little bit). They all mostly look the same. That’s why it was really tough to choose the best one.

I took a lot of pictures when the sun was out as well.

There are several great pictures that it really is hard to choose. Here’s another one that I don’t think is worthy, but it’s a nice comparison.

And there’s another that is Instagram worthy that I’m going to share soon though it was a job originally for the magazine, I really like the picture and they probably won’t use it.

And if they use it… it’s not like the shots are top secret stories like back in my paparazzi days.

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Alright.

Here it is through Instagram, a different sunset shot.

No tripod necessary.

And no. This was not handheld. That would be ludicrous.

There’s a nice ledge where to place the camera and get this. The ledge under the pier was the same. The difference is that by the pier it was covered with flies… and a homeless dude was there sitting the whole time staring at the sun, barely even moving covered in flies. He was probably tripping balls or something. Or maybe that’s how he was. He didn’t bother me. I hope I didn’t bother him.

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Coffee coffee coffee.

WORKOUT!

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I haven’t said it this time on the blog because it’s barely happening now. The coffee… I’m on my third cup. The workout.

I was going to skip it because I’m tired. But I need to do some. Half a workout. Or let’s see how it goes.

Then pizza for breakfast. Shower. And have to get ready to go work again.

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I finally saw my roommate last night. I met with him because he owed me rent in the apartment he barely lives in. We caught up briefly. He misses the apartment and hanging out over here. And I miss him.

I wanted to just stay with him and party all night, but I had to give the car back and come back to my girlfriend.

Girlfriend was hungry, and I told her I was going to stop by In N Out or perhaps Luigi’s. She said I should pickup a whole pizza at Luigi’s because she wanted to try it.

I called them ahead of time and got a half Michelangelo (assorted veggies) and half White Girl (bacon and chicken).

I got to Luigi’s and there was this super stoned and drunk girl trying to order. I had my order for pick-up, I could see it right next to the counter, so I tried to get in front just to do the quick transaction and get my pizza… It didn’t happen. She kinda noticed I wanted to get in front but didn’t know why and she started to drunkenly order.

“I want that one! AND THAT ONE! and that one… and that one. NO! That one. How many? Six? Okay two more. That one… and that one. And… can I have a beer?” Asked the drunken lady after choosing eight different slices.

The chick at the counter was like “Where did you just come from?”

Drunk chick didn’t understand the question. Counter chick repeated again and again, “did you come from work? The bar? Your house?”

Drunk chick replies “I drove here, why do you care?”

And the chick at the counter shrugged it off and was about to serve her a beer when the drunk chick said “Whatever, let me pay.”

And she grabbed her fucking credit card.

THERE IS A HUGE SIGN AT LUIGI’S THAT SAYS CASH ONLY!

Like seriously… how the fuck can you miss it.

Counter chick just pointed at it.

Drunk chick was like, “since when? how!? Why!?”

Counter chick said “since 14 years ago… There’s an ATM across the street.”

Drunk chick was again like “whatever” and stormed out, left the eight slices in the oven unpaid. I grabbed my pizza, counter chick gave me a discount and said “thanks for your patience.”

Got the pizza, drove my roommate to a liquor shop so he can go party with San Diego friends… I drove home dropped off pizza and gear. Dropped the car at my brother’s place, walked home, got some pizza and a beer, and started editing pictures. I ended at around 1 am.

So yes. I’m tired.

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Luigi’s pizza is so fucking good. And that’s going to be my breakfast after more coffee, a bit more workout, and shower.

Yep.

And then, cross the border, head to downtown, then to Hillcrest for another day of photography work.

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Last day of photography gig for now. Then a lot of writing to do all week that is already set to be written. And then payment?!

Get the Airbnb in Oaxaca… And try to keep on making money and saving money.

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Sigh. I need more jobs. Like the ones this weekend but every single week. Then maybe I’ll stop complaining about money. Maybe.

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Word vomit out.