Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Let's try a regular August Meet-Up at the Czech Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden.
Sorry for the last minute cancel of the regular July Meet-Up. I got swept up into chaos. The music video was suppose to be a Thursday 4:00 PM call, but that got pushed to midnight, and then got canceled.
The shooting was suppose to be Thursday and Saturday, but ended up first being 4:00 PM and then 3:00 PM on Friday. I ended up taking a half day vacation on Friday, even though this was not my gig, just to support "Maggie."
So the cool thing is that Maggie has enough clout that she bumped up her rate, will get paid for all three days, even though she only worked one, and I in turn will get a third of that pay for being her entourage.
The sound stage was a huge warehouse the size of an aircraft hanger with ceilings about 45-50 feet, and was the size of two full sized basket ball courts end-to-end. This did not include the front offices, the Green Room, or these staging areas.
There was a big crew, mucho body guards for the big talent. This gig was big enough that they had body-doubles for the key talent. Also there was the star's crew and in this darkened hangar I was close enough to get a bit of a contact high from all the weed being consumed that I suspect was laced with hash.
I was able to stay awake because I ate a second dinner around 11:00 PM. The crew broke down the set, and next was the location shoot at a Bodega in Sunset Park. There was pizza to fuel the crew, which I refrained from. It would be after 5:00 AM Saturday that we would be Uber'ed home.
The Saturday call for 4:00 PM got cancelled, but again Maggie got paid anyways. Somehow in conversation it we learned that this casting agency is a great one from the male body-double. Also it seems Maggie mentioned that I have a cool look, and the big time director of the casting agency wants to have meeting with the three of us.
This was a very cool experience, I learned a lot, and Maggie and I were the oldest people there. There was another guy that was perhaps close to my age that played the part of a scientist. The long hours of 14-16 hour days and the flexibility required better suits young people.
BTW the winter coat did not get delivered Saturday. Maybe it will be delivered today. If so I will shoot it today after work. Maggie leaves later this week for FLA.
My workbook now has covers and is even more impressive. Weighs 18 pounds on a bathroom scale, but because of bulk feels like twice that.
I took advantage of a Summer Sale at Piezography and restocked with $1k worth of ink. I decided to extend the "Neutral" from the PK-HD (Black) to include Shade 2. The idea here is to cut back the warmth further, and also to make the splitone more three-way with neutral blacks in Shades 1&2; warmth in Shades 3&4 (upper shadows and mids); and cool Selenium highlights in shades 5, 6&7.
I'm at a point now where when Maggie gets paid, I get paid. I figure it is time where I should fill out a W-9 and pay the taxes because my income is lower; I need to set up a business account to keep my personal banking separate; and I might have to set up a LLC to protect my assets.
How did all this happen? Anyways I wasn't expecting it.
Also I had a lot of diss-stain for all the luxury and glamour that spills over from the world of fashion, but I realized recently that somehow I have gotten swept up into this part of NYC that is exclusive and not open to everyone. The discomfort of not belonging seems to be wearing off; I realize I can live and be happy without it; but I realize the opportunity and the privilege; and I will embrace and exploit it.
Cal
Sorry for the last minute cancel of the regular July Meet-Up. I got swept up into chaos. The music video was suppose to be a Thursday 4:00 PM call, but that got pushed to midnight, and then got canceled.
The shooting was suppose to be Thursday and Saturday, but ended up first being 4:00 PM and then 3:00 PM on Friday. I ended up taking a half day vacation on Friday, even though this was not my gig, just to support "Maggie."
So the cool thing is that Maggie has enough clout that she bumped up her rate, will get paid for all three days, even though she only worked one, and I in turn will get a third of that pay for being her entourage.
The sound stage was a huge warehouse the size of an aircraft hanger with ceilings about 45-50 feet, and was the size of two full sized basket ball courts end-to-end. This did not include the front offices, the Green Room, or these staging areas.
There was a big crew, mucho body guards for the big talent. This gig was big enough that they had body-doubles for the key talent. Also there was the star's crew and in this darkened hangar I was close enough to get a bit of a contact high from all the weed being consumed that I suspect was laced with hash.
I was able to stay awake because I ate a second dinner around 11:00 PM. The crew broke down the set, and next was the location shoot at a Bodega in Sunset Park. There was pizza to fuel the crew, which I refrained from. It would be after 5:00 AM Saturday that we would be Uber'ed home.
The Saturday call for 4:00 PM got cancelled, but again Maggie got paid anyways. Somehow in conversation it we learned that this casting agency is a great one from the male body-double. Also it seems Maggie mentioned that I have a cool look, and the big time director of the casting agency wants to have meeting with the three of us.
This was a very cool experience, I learned a lot, and Maggie and I were the oldest people there. There was another guy that was perhaps close to my age that played the part of a scientist. The long hours of 14-16 hour days and the flexibility required better suits young people.
BTW the winter coat did not get delivered Saturday. Maybe it will be delivered today. If so I will shoot it today after work. Maggie leaves later this week for FLA.
My workbook now has covers and is even more impressive. Weighs 18 pounds on a bathroom scale, but because of bulk feels like twice that.
I took advantage of a Summer Sale at Piezography and restocked with $1k worth of ink. I decided to extend the "Neutral" from the PK-HD (Black) to include Shade 2. The idea here is to cut back the warmth further, and also to make the splitone more three-way with neutral blacks in Shades 1&2; warmth in Shades 3&4 (upper shadows and mids); and cool Selenium highlights in shades 5, 6&7.
I'm at a point now where when Maggie gets paid, I get paid. I figure it is time where I should fill out a W-9 and pay the taxes because my income is lower; I need to set up a business account to keep my personal banking separate; and I might have to set up a LLC to protect my assets.
How did all this happen? Anyways I wasn't expecting it.
Also I had a lot of diss-stain for all the luxury and glamour that spills over from the world of fashion, but I realized recently that somehow I have gotten swept up into this part of NYC that is exclusive and not open to everyone. The discomfort of not belonging seems to be wearing off; I realize I can live and be happy without it; but I realize the opportunity and the privilege; and I will embrace and exploit it.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
The last minute package that was suppose to be delivered last Saturday didn't happen Monday either. Fed Ex in my part of NYC is a Third World service. The driver basically leaves a note on the exterior of the building saving he attemped delivery, and basically this is a lie because there not only is a Cyberdoorman, but also "Maggie" was home all day.
Fed-Ex is lame. They did the same to me with a $5K lens delivery. I basically had to take a second day off from work and do a pick-up in the Bronx on a cold winter's day. No fun at all. Makes me want to kill people.
Maggie repeatedly called and was told the package would be routed to a Rite Aid Drug Store, which also did not happen. Pretty much she was lied to, and misled several times.
No way to salvage this shoot without a delivery. It really is the client's fault due to a rapid last minute timeline. This became a rush job, and Fed Ex blew apart the job. This cost everyone money and from my point of view is lame by the client who put off things till the last minute, and Fed-Ex who failed to perform their job. The client is a very high-end luxury brand, and dealing with them was a huge "spackle-job."
Meanwhile Maggie is getting ready to go to FLA. Oh-well. Her agent will notify the client that Fed-Ex blows a load and that everything was done on our part. I scoped out locations with light to shoot locally while Maggie attended a debut of some documentary she is in, just in case the parcel was available for pick-up after the event. We checked and again Fed-Ex failed to deliver.
Fed-Ex sucks. THIRD WORLD service.
Cal
Fed-Ex is lame. They did the same to me with a $5K lens delivery. I basically had to take a second day off from work and do a pick-up in the Bronx on a cold winter's day. No fun at all. Makes me want to kill people.
Maggie repeatedly called and was told the package would be routed to a Rite Aid Drug Store, which also did not happen. Pretty much she was lied to, and misled several times.
No way to salvage this shoot without a delivery. It really is the client's fault due to a rapid last minute timeline. This became a rush job, and Fed Ex blew apart the job. This cost everyone money and from my point of view is lame by the client who put off things till the last minute, and Fed-Ex who failed to perform their job. The client is a very high-end luxury brand, and dealing with them was a huge "spackle-job."
Meanwhile Maggie is getting ready to go to FLA. Oh-well. Her agent will notify the client that Fed-Ex blows a load and that everything was done on our part. I scoped out locations with light to shoot locally while Maggie attended a debut of some documentary she is in, just in case the parcel was available for pick-up after the event. We checked and again Fed-Ex failed to deliver.
Fed-Ex sucks. THIRD WORLD service.
Cal
NY_Dan
Well-known
Fed-Ex: "When it absolutely positively has to be there overnight!" Unfortunately they don't stipulate how many overnights that might be.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Dan,
A stressed out woman is no fun. LOL.
In this case we gave up.
How hard is it to deliver a package, especially when people are home, or you just have to buzz the Cyberdoorman, get let in, and place the parcel in the package room?
Also dealing with clients like this is no fun. A waste of time for everyone. "Maggie's" agent will be dealing with the client.
Perhaps this expensive garment will remain in the Bronx forever.
Cal
MrFujicaman
Well-known
Oh, Cal...it's never the clients fault...don't you know Maggie should have been sitting on the steps waiting on Fed-Ex?
You need to find out what Fed-Ex terminal service your area and go there and confront the terminal manager.
You need to find out what Fed-Ex terminal service your area and go there and confront the terminal manager.
stompyq
Well-known
I always reroute important packages either fedex or ups. No point taking chances. Just reroute to a fedex office location or ups designated location near where you work. It's quicker and you don't have to wait around for the guy to turn up (or not)
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Pro-Mone,
This is good advice. I have done this in the past and it makes things foul proof.
Cal
NY_Dan
Well-known
Maggie might like The Overcoat by Nikolai Gogol
This early work by Nikolai Gogol was originally published in 1835. 'The Overcoat' is a short story about a government clerk who has his precious new overcoat stolen. No-one seems willing to help him retrieve his prized possession, a fact that continues to concern him even when he is beyond the grave.
Back in the day when I shot a lot of still life - getting the product was always the weak link. Stuff was often stolen - especially large screen TVs by delivery men with tiny apartments no less.
This early work by Nikolai Gogol was originally published in 1835. 'The Overcoat' is a short story about a government clerk who has his precious new overcoat stolen. No-one seems willing to help him retrieve his prized possession, a fact that continues to concern him even when he is beyond the grave.
Back in the day when I shot a lot of still life - getting the product was always the weak link. Stuff was often stolen - especially large screen TVs by delivery men with tiny apartments no less.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Fed Ex delivered my big inkjet ink order this morning.
"A miracle," I say. LOL.
I ordered this ink just last Friday.
I have been avoiding Adorama. I was molested by this store manager when I returned a lens a few years ago. Pretty much he got in my face about returning about $20K or $30K worth of gear over the years. He showed me all the stuff on a computer screen.
I asked him if he could tell me how much gear I bought over the years and didn't return, and it was a comparable amount.
Basically I told him that I have to return about half the stuff because they don't have batteries in the camera, so I can't text them in the store, and about half the stuff I take home is broke or defective. I mentioned that in evaluating I would find that basically they were selling junk.
I mentioned the lens I was returning, because I needed a lens to test the body I purchased, and because the way they sell their used stuff I am forced to take gear home to test.
Then I got aggressive because I had enough. I made it clear I am a performance artist and that I'm going to create a huge scene, and that if all depends if you are going to give me the refund that I came down here for. I also mentioned that my gal works with lawyers and that they are good ones meaning particularly mean and hostile.
Pretty much I was ready to push the red button and launch. I mentioned that I'm not the person being dishonest here, and I already feel insulted. Pretty much I was ready to have one of my grand "hussey" fits, and get screaming loud.
So mucho time has passed. I bought a slim 82mm Heliopan Polarizer. With their used gear they have it warehoused somewhere, but in this cas they must of had it in the basement.
If I'm lucky it is the high transmission version that is new. Only one F-stop loss instead of 2 1/2.
I'm sure this manager hates me. Fug-em.
Cal
"A miracle," I say. LOL.
I ordered this ink just last Friday.
I have been avoiding Adorama. I was molested by this store manager when I returned a lens a few years ago. Pretty much he got in my face about returning about $20K or $30K worth of gear over the years. He showed me all the stuff on a computer screen.
I asked him if he could tell me how much gear I bought over the years and didn't return, and it was a comparable amount.
Basically I told him that I have to return about half the stuff because they don't have batteries in the camera, so I can't text them in the store, and about half the stuff I take home is broke or defective. I mentioned that in evaluating I would find that basically they were selling junk.
I mentioned the lens I was returning, because I needed a lens to test the body I purchased, and because the way they sell their used stuff I am forced to take gear home to test.
Then I got aggressive because I had enough. I made it clear I am a performance artist and that I'm going to create a huge scene, and that if all depends if you are going to give me the refund that I came down here for. I also mentioned that my gal works with lawyers and that they are good ones meaning particularly mean and hostile.
Pretty much I was ready to push the red button and launch. I mentioned that I'm not the person being dishonest here, and I already feel insulted. Pretty much I was ready to have one of my grand "hussey" fits, and get screaming loud.
So mucho time has passed. I bought a slim 82mm Heliopan Polarizer. With their used gear they have it warehoused somewhere, but in this cas they must of had it in the basement.
If I'm lucky it is the high transmission version that is new. Only one F-stop loss instead of 2 1/2.
I'm sure this manager hates me. Fug-em.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I fit that huge rubber band bracelet with the letters "MONSTER" printed on it onto the 50 Lux SL. Looks like a name tag for my camera. LOL.
Kinda funny how my big camera got the attention of this model on Broadway. I was shooting "Maggie," and this young girl kinda took exception that I didn't take a shot of her.
I was walking away, but I turned around, and she turned towards me. I took two shots. The look she gave me is very seductive. Perhaps flirting more with the camera than me an old man. This girl was young enough to be my granddaughter.
Cal
Kinda funny how my big camera got the attention of this model on Broadway. I was shooting "Maggie," and this young girl kinda took exception that I didn't take a shot of her.
I was walking away, but I turned around, and she turned towards me. I took two shots. The look she gave me is very seductive. Perhaps flirting more with the camera than me an old man. This girl was young enough to be my granddaughter.
Cal
Range-rover
Veteran
Cal, you don't look that old, you have the good gene's like me.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Bob,
This girl's look was not appropriate considering my age. I'm old enough to be her grandfather. Nature is cruel...
Also check you PM. I'll give you my cell. Right now I have "bonus vacation" because "Maggie" is away. Would be great if we hooked up soon so I can give you your prints and Les Paul case.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
If you are in Soho there is a Pop-Up Group Show that will be curated by Ariel Kader from "No Longer Empty."
The work will be displayed at Brooklyn Diamond Coffee, 349 West Broadway, between Grand and Broome Streets.
This opportunity came up today and is being run by the same folks that did that group show "Fresh Out Of Storage" where there was a group show at a Manhattan Mini Storage on the West Side just opposite the Aircraft Carrier Intrepid.
I'll be hanging two of my prints that are street shots.
This is another case of, "I was just minding my own business," when I get this e-mail at work...
Cal
The work will be displayed at Brooklyn Diamond Coffee, 349 West Broadway, between Grand and Broome Streets.
This opportunity came up today and is being run by the same folks that did that group show "Fresh Out Of Storage" where there was a group show at a Manhattan Mini Storage on the West Side just opposite the Aircraft Carrier Intrepid.
I'll be hanging two of my prints that are street shots.
This is another case of, "I was just minding my own business," when I get this e-mail at work...
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
GEAR ALERT: Looks like "Maggie" is getting sponsored by "Zero-Ink" which is a camera that makes small instant prints that are Instax sized.
My fantasy is a camera and an unlimited supply of materials to blast away.
I'm thinking that this is a bubblejet printer that also is intergrated into a camera.
Cal
Post Script. Evidently this is some paper that allows color printing without inks. Some form of crystal is in the paper. Print size of the Canon "IVY" is 2x3. About $0.50 a print when bulking up on 50 sheets for $24.95. The paper that this Canon IVY uses is Zero-Ink.
My fantasy is a camera and an unlimited supply of materials to blast away.
I'm thinking that this is a bubblejet printer that also is intergrated into a camera.
Cal
Post Script. Evidently this is some paper that allows color printing without inks. Some form of crystal is in the paper. Print size of the Canon "IVY" is 2x3. About $0.50 a print when bulking up on 50 sheets for $24.95. The paper that this Canon IVY uses is Zero-Ink.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Yesterday it seems like "Maggie's" package arrived at the uptown Rite Aide. Won't be able to shoot it until Maggie returns from FLA.
Glad we can still do this. I need the pay.
Cal
Glad we can still do this. I need the pay.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
535K followers.
Shot a jacket last night for one of those reported "paying" gigs.
My workbook should be full when I mount these last 10 pages, meand I have a book that uses 4 inch binding posts and is 4 inches thick at the spine.
The Pop-Up shoe in SoHo is over. Pretty much was only three days. My two prints in cheap Muji frames looked great. I could see if I had a huge wall that I could use thes modular frames to effectively present a wall of work. Almost worth the hassle of dealing with them being a dust magnet.
Yesterday the N train was a disaster. Subway construction made everything difficult yesterday going uptown and downtown.
Cal
Shot a jacket last night for one of those reported "paying" gigs.
My workbook should be full when I mount these last 10 pages, meand I have a book that uses 4 inch binding posts and is 4 inches thick at the spine.
The Pop-Up shoe in SoHo is over. Pretty much was only three days. My two prints in cheap Muji frames looked great. I could see if I had a huge wall that I could use thes modular frames to effectively present a wall of work. Almost worth the hassle of dealing with them being a dust magnet.
Yesterday the N train was a disaster. Subway construction made everything difficult yesterday going uptown and downtown.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
"Maggie" was interviewed for a new magazine and some of my shots were supplied.
Really love the night shots we took Sunday. 50 Lux-SL wide open at 1600 ISO. Very urban.
It seems I will be limiting my Piezography Pro printing to Canson Baryta Photographique because this paper lays flatter than the rag papers and does not give me problems with head strikes and head scuffing. \
Pretty much all I need is a quick print, and this paper is the most inexpensive. This will be a cellulose "workbook." Should speed up things. What I like is that the Baryta Photographique makes good proofs that match well with Canson Platine Fibre Rag, and the same file also looks great on Jon Cone Type 5. All are Baryta papers.
Cal
Really love the night shots we took Sunday. 50 Lux-SL wide open at 1600 ISO. Very urban.
It seems I will be limiting my Piezography Pro printing to Canson Baryta Photographique because this paper lays flatter than the rag papers and does not give me problems with head strikes and head scuffing. \
Pretty much all I need is a quick print, and this paper is the most inexpensive. This will be a cellulose "workbook." Should speed up things. What I like is that the Baryta Photographique makes good proofs that match well with Canson Platine Fibre Rag, and the same file also looks great on Jon Cone Type 5. All are Baryta papers.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
It seems the feedback from the client is showing much love for the shots we took last Sunday. The black coat is gifted, "Maggie" on top of that gets her fee, and I in turn get paid.
The SL with the 50 Lux-SL is a great rig for night shooting. I used 1600 ISO. The files stay clean.
Understand that I was shooting a black coat at night using just street lighting.
Cal
The SL with the 50 Lux-SL is a great rig for night shooting. I used 1600 ISO. The files stay clean.
Understand that I was shooting a black coat at night using just street lighting.
Cal
NY_Dan
Well-known
Can you share a few photos yet?
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Dan,
https://www.instagram.com/p/B15ZhjtBv-f/
Over 15K likes within 24 hours already.
Cal
Sorry for the dead link above.
Go to www.AccidentalIcon.com
Scroll down to "Follow."
Image that received 15K likes in less than 24 hours is the first one on the bottom left that features a $2.6K Montcler jacket.
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