Something is Missing

There is one thing that doesn't happen at a movie theater anymore and it makes me sad. It's something that most parents do with newborn babies, it's what we do with marriage proposals and it's a large part of the theater to me.

The unveil.
Peek-a-boo, the ring box opening, and the curtains being drawn open at the theater. How I remember it is much more exciting. There was build up. They didn't show you the screen until the movie was playing, and until then, you stared into that thick velvety curtain waiting for it to unveil the magic behind it. The lights would start to dim and the mysteriously controlled curtains would pull from the top, swinging the heavy bottoms with it. The projection would then show you what you paid for.

Awe.

Well, I've taken a little of the "awe" into my own hands by showing people something they don't see anymore. Film. Real, physical film movies. I bought a 16mm projector, a screen and learned as much as possible regarding handling and fixing film and its projector.

I set up as my friends show up. I feed the leader into the projector carefully, which pulls the rest of the film through a variety of spring loaded pulleys and sprockets.

---The Moment ---
The films perferations grab the first sprocket and bends the film like a snake back up, and then down and into the shutters view. The moment when the film hits the rapid scissor like action of the shutter, everyone grins. It's that nostalgic sounds everyone knows, but are now hearing in person for the first time in years.... or possibly ever.

That's what I like. Child-like excitement and the uncontrollable smiles and exclamations from adults of all ages surrounding a machine that is over 40 years old. We gather around a fire, talk and converse until that moment hits, and then get reeled in (pun intended) to the fanfare of classic movie goodness.

Two-thousand Fifteen

It's here. We're in it.

Note to self: Do not bring moonshine to a new years party with expectations to avoid it. I made it, we all survived. Anticlimactic much like the 2012 end of the world scare, or Y2K toasters going crazy.

I think it's very interesting that the world celebrates a single finite moment so relentlessly.  There IS no physical change.  Normally we discuss time in such a general way. "We'll go later". "See you in an hour or so". "See you in a few minutes". For new years eve though, we focus on individual seconds.

In what other moment will you see an entire group of people gather together and anxiously wait for such an arbitrary moment. I wouldn't be able to gather 5 people together to watch me juggle flaming swords, let alone gather them for a moment that has zero actual benifit or gain to anyone. Purely a mentally perpetuated and emotionally driven moment throughout the entire crowd.  That right there describes the entire celebration. Everyone is directly in tune, using their imaginations to visualize what this minute changover might signify for themselves. It's an emotional connection between the masses, and who doesn't want to be a part of an event? It's a simple event to join, and costs nothing to make happen.  At the one moment before the hand strikes 12, everyone is in tune, in sync, and awaiting that sole moment of release.

Funny to realize the the moment is actually rather deceitful too. Such a finite moment, reinacted each hour around the world for an entire 24 hour period. I altered the technique I use to chase the sunrise on Instagram by searching for the #happynewyear tag and repeatedly refreshing. There, were all of the worlds posts as they happened.  Everyone feeling as if their moment was the finite moment to make a change.

None the less, I took part in a celebration and suffered some of the physical consequences.  Our host requested all cell phones to be locked in his safe. An excellent idea, but prevented many photos being taken. So, you will have to do as you likely did last night, and use your imagination for my photo.

How was your step into 2015?

2015 & How to deal with expectations

I'm sitting beside an open window puffing on my wooden e-cigar blowing patterned whisps of menthol about the room.  Louis Armstrong's scratchy "Thanks a Million" is playing in the background serenading my crisp Sunday afternoon.

Candid summer photo. A moment fondly remembered.

We all look back to the year that has freshly passed and contemplate whether we've accomplished what we hoped to.  I've been looking back recently and what I find myself focusing on, is the wonderful events that took place.  There have been new additions to my close circle of friends, hilarious comedic moments and even unexpected warm snuggles from a new special person in my life.  Trying to predict or control these moments has always been a mental struggle for me.  I want to control my surroundings at all times. I want to know what will happen later in my day, and it can easily bring anxiety to the forefront of my thoughts.

Here's the punchline. It's impossible.  You can't control every variable in a day.  Let's set the bar at a classy 50% split of control. Fair? There's traffic, other peoples' opinions, wants and needs, weather, finances and a trillion other possible factors. Like that silly patch of ice you didn't see while you were balancing 9 grocery bags in an attempt to do one trip from the car.

Accepting the natural variances in your day is key to releasing a little tension.  Let it go. Tomorrow is another day, and yesterday is unchangeable. Tomorrow, by the way, will always be tomorrow. You can discuss the future all you want, but it doesn't make you more productive and there will always be another "tomorrow".  There is only one version of "now". It just happened, and is happening again while you're reading this.  If we can all enjoy the moment we're currently in, I think our day will begin to iron itself out over time.  That being said, thank you for reading this right now and taking the time to spend a little downtime on my blog.  I hope there is something to be taken from my future posts that will enrich your life.

Happy 2014, and to a happier 2015.

2013

Dear 2013. I welcome you with the widest open arms I've ever given a year. You look more promising in my eyes, because I see through them from a different mindset.  You're clearer and brighter than the years past, and I can't wait to fit snugly into your individual days to make the best of every one.  I've got so many plans, and the world needs to see them.  I'm not procrastinating.  They're ready, and the people are waiting.  Let's give them what they want. Together.

Neglect

Taken by Alysha on the newly renovated Lilly Creek
Boardwalk. I've always enjoyed the concept of "out of place"
or desolation in my photography and will hopefully get further
immersed with it in the future.

Holy absence of everything.  I clicked on Blogger like an old friend and realized I hadn't posted a single thing here in a century. Why not?  The chances are still good that people will come here, but at the same time, I can't post everything everywhere right?  In the same sense, you can't possibly read everything I write everywhere on the internet. If you're superman and can slow down time, possibly.

I hope you like this interesting variation of my Facebook cover photo that was taken the same day by Alysha.  She did her own spin on things and I think it's excellent.  A different eye sees different things!

Photo Restoration (1910)

Take a peek at my restoration of this very vintage photo from 1910! I really enjoyed doing this photo because of it's age, and really thank Richard for bringing it in. It was a project for his mother, who's dad was in the photo on the right. Richards Grandfather would have been 9 in that photo, and he was born in 1901.

GTD Wireless Unit Review

A simple test to show people how one of the best priced wireless systems really performs excellently! I noticed that this specific unit has an issue with one channel, and GTD simply said to send them the faulty unit for a repair. No questions asked. That's enough to keep me content. 

A little Short for Spring

I took a vote online to see what people enjoyed seeing me create, and with the results, created this film style short! Hope you enjoy, it took about 2 hours of frantic shooting and about 5 hours of editing. The video wasn't too difficult, but the audio was a very intricate journey. :P Hope you enjoy, let me know what you think! Click the "More info" button to subscribe as the shorts get more and more fun! Thanks everyone!

Canadian International Auto Show

So the trip to Toronto was fantastic!  Even with my car being destroyed just days before, the rental got me there and back (although absolutely horrible on gas) without issues!  Hope you enjoy the video as much as I enjoyed the trip!

Upgrade time. Phase 2.

So it's time. Time for what? Time to get a new PC.  I just can't pump out the material I want to with the speed of this li'l guy. So I plan a new PC to edit MUCH faster.  If anyone is interested in any of the details of what I use or what I plan to buy, this is the place to do it. I don't post much on other media sites about my gear.  Anywhoo, my trip to Toronto for the Auto show was fantastic. Spent some great time with my Bro, and enjoyed the cars on display. I love cars.  And bikes. Bikes more. :P  Here's a little screenshot of how the editing looks for the auto show video. :)