seriously ... we were having a nice dinner. brought a very nice bottle of oregon pinot. we walked to get gelato down a couple blocks. when we were first getting accustomed to this neighborhood i carried a very big knife. i mean ... walking through hollywood on the way from an assignment you learn shit.
take my shit you're gonna get fucking stuck.
then complacency set in ... and i didn't really worry about shit as much.
i didn't think there was any reason to be armed.
on the way back from gelato jamie's uncle and i were about 20 feet in front of j and her aunt. i heard her aunt say something about some plant. her uncle and i rounded a corner. i then heard some noise. looked behind and saw someone in a shitty sub-compact say something. i heard a scream. i walked toward the corner and then saw some black kid jumping into the subcompact, which of course sped away, and i saw jamie on the ground.
my heart was in my throat.
she held on to the chloé bag but the asshole pulled quite hard for a five-foot-five-little-bitch.
and, yes, i said black kid. if he were brown, i'd have said brown. white. i would have said white.
if you have a problem with my description, i don't really give a fuck.
trust me on that.
jamie's a bit sore ... really sore. poor thing. i feel bad for her. i feel bad for her uncle and aunt who had to witness this ... sucks.
all good, though, i've reverted to my prior "level of trained readiness."
did an edit of some b/w stuff i shot ... edited it on the speedy new mac book pro which runs aperture like a mofo. daaaaaaaamn. i know there's at least one of you out there who's very happy that i won't be bitching about how slow it ran on my prior machine.
edited 1700+ photos and scans from a wedding i shot a coule weeks ago and it KICKED ASS.
the new trackpad is beyond. i've given up on clicking and now just "tap."
everyone said "i was going to hate the glossy screen." um ... really? i went from location to location -- darkness and light --- to see how it was. um ... it's amazing.
why are people so reticent to accept change?
amazes me.
stupid bitches.
i'm stoked that i've always embraced FW800. now ... that's the only fw port available! just ordered a fw800 card reader! :)
sucked showing off the new machine because everyone wanted to try it out for longer than i wanted them to.
apple scored.
again.
thank you, apple, even though i really do think you're biased toward wedding-fucking-shooters. ;)
now the prior machine goes back to apple for a nice apple care refurb. :)
funny that i read the wank talk about the fact there's no FW400 port. what's funny to me is that anyone would listen to someone who's not even a "real photographer." in fact, he's a picture taker and has no right even expounding upon the most photographically rudimentary subjects.
yes, wank, you can edit on your old g4 laptop ... you're not a working photographer.
working photographers need the best tools we can get.
apple just gave us another.
the new mac book pro is fucking beyond.
this keyboard is the best yet.
and unless you subscribe to the ideas of someone like wank -- someone who's not even close to being good enough to be a "real photographer" -- this machine will do well for you.
as much as i bitch about shooting weddings i have to say ... i really liked the work i did a couple weeks ago. i'll ask her if i can post some stuff here.
i think i may link the following photo to wank's name whenever i mention wank ...
it either looks like a brat or a thumb or something really fucking phallic.
depends upon where your mind is.
we spent a few days with our friends john and kelly in a place we'd usually just "fly over." we honestly had a blast and wished they lived in our city.
i'm sure john wished he was walking with us the close-to-fateful night the other night.
that would have been interesting.
saw my first roller derby demonstration. it all seemed like a blur.
hence the shutter dragging.
was pretty cool, though.
john's gf, kelly, was the hottest of all of the girls, though.
and .. perhaps the straightest. ;)
not that it matters.
i'll say that st. louis does a pretty good octoberfest.
double-fucking-fisted, baby.
only good if taken in the context of the above example of fisting, of course.
i think i like this photo the best.
the 28/2.0 voigtlander is very nice at night, too. :)
and in tents! :)
i'm so happy i carry a camera with me 24/7.
the other day i drove to an assignment -- knowing i had a bunch of digi-gear -- but lamenting i forgot the leica at home.
sucks.
i almost try and not be as observant so i don't hate on myself for forgetting "the real camera."
a camera i'd love to see wank try and use.
we should all add ken rockwell as a friend on facebook.
shouldn't he be inundated with friend requests?
john and kelly took us to a dive bar which boasts the largest number of disco balls in any one location...
wish you could see this on a giant cinema screen.
it's amazing.
sorry i can't make it bigger on the internet, though.
i'll try a vertical...
if this place were in l.a., we'd make it the new "in spot" for sure. there'd be promoters lining up to host here.
jeeeeeeeesuuuuuhs was everywhere.
though.
hear god.
there's a certain juxtaposition here, though.
hear god.
um ... why don't you just listen to yourself?
religion is such a crock of fucking shit.
we're all god.
wish we all acted more "god-like."
imagine if we did.
not very god-like of me, though, to point out obesity, right?
work in progress.
i still don't understand how people spend thousands of dollars on religion or religions-of-sorts.
when all of the answers are inside you.
odd.
just so the legions of wanks and wank-fans who email me and call me an asshole ... aren't left-the-fuck-out ...
there's a wall photograph for you.
now fuck off, stop emailing me calling me paparazzi: you have some subject matter you can shoot and try and emulate.
there ya' go. ;)
diamond in the rough?
i'm sure a wank would have pulled out the 14 and the 5d and gotten the cityscape as well. ya' know. at magic hour and shit. whatever.
i didn't.
not the way i saw it.
i saw it as a small detail to an otherwise pretty cool city.
arch or not.
i wouldn't suggest going down to the arch past 01:00. then again, we had to come back to a pretty gentrified 'hood to get mugged. ya' know what's interesting about art? i think that sometimes art is called art when, in fact, it's a result of someone's obsessive compulsive disorder...
lampshades as the roof for the skeleton of a church. are they trying to make a statement about shading of the light?
is god really "the light?"
hmm...
did you know that glucosamine comes from bovine larynxs?
neither did i.
very interesting this "project."
as opposed to my own fucking project (read: ocd-thingy)...
jamie -- when she saw this on my mac book pro -- said "you were fucking stoked."
:)
she knows me so well.
if you're ever in st. louis you have to go see the kemper museum. it's really amazing.
we'll definitely go back!
then again, very good friends live there as well and ... we look forward to hanging out with them again.
and to me ... dunno why ... this represents the midwest to me. dunno why.
way way way esoteric but ... i'd love to have this six feet wide on my wall.
perhaps it's because of elinor. ;)
my little lover of the esoteric.
and, no, this wasn't in missouri. this was right down the street from my parents.
yeah, save the babies but kill the quasi-convicted and support your lying president and send 4000 off to their death. yep ... you fucking religious dogmatically stupid fucks .. save all the babies ...
so you can send 'em off to war.
and kill them when convicted of something dubious.
when what you really believe says "thou shalt not kill."
what part of that don't you understand?
the yes on 8 people are the same people who think palin is amazing.
but what i think amazing ... is ... the fact palin's gone rogue. of-fucking-course she has. anyone surprised?
okay ... time to sharpen the zero tolerance. ;)
very liberal of me. i know.
i'm hungry.
hope you all had a less eventful weekend that we did.
cheers from the cooler-yet-a-bit-more-wary l.a.!
-chris
p.s., the napolitano bitch ... made an amazing photograph!!!!!
©2008 REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
well done, brother. well-fucking-done documentation of america's opinion. there are more in this yahoo slideshow.
I would love to have the new Mac but I have a script I follow. I only buy every other new laptop and camera so I don't go into debt.
Sucks about the weekend but everyone is safe. I liked the wank photo, what does that say about me, and my boy liked the disco balls.
Posted by: zoeller | 27 October 2008 at 01:49 PM
Ha ha, I don't run Aperture anyways. But I'm glad for my new "the latest old 15" Pro in stock" ;-) and might keep it for a while.
Saw a lady with a brand new MacBook in London, and hers was black!!! Now, we all know that one doesn't really exist. So that's quite a statement of "I'm special and I have connections" or whatever. I'm still speculating how that is...
Gloss screen has worked well for me, and still does on the other machines.
Love the disco balls shot. Lots of stuff to see.
Posted by: Thorsten Overgaard | 27 October 2008 at 01:54 PM
Hi Chris,
I'm so sorry to hear about what happened.
Please don't revert back to your 'state of readiness' – It doesn't matter how right you are, nothing good can come of that! (Please excuse me, but I really believe that. – There's too much that could go wrong.... or worse.)
A good documentarian (I don't know if that's a real word) will tell things as they are.. if anyone has a problem with it, it's because of their education, or their agendum/a.
That sign... how nice to make you think about one of the nastiest things that happens in the world. Glad I saw the shot though.. Something of a classic, methinks.
Roller-wise, I don't know if it still goes on now, but when I used to live in Paris, it seemed that just about every Sunday, there'd be about 30,000 rollerskaters/bladers who would go through the city in the afternoon. Made a great spectacle.
Finally, as always, great shots and thanks for sharing!!!
All the best,
S.
Posted by: Stewart Bywater | 27 October 2008 at 01:54 PM
you crazy guy
quite a good write up for the mac book though
Posted by: peter | 27 October 2008 at 02:07 PM
Glucosamine should be every pro's best friend along with Advil.
Sorry to hear about Jamie that sucks man.
Posted by: Jay Gannon | 27 October 2008 at 02:10 PM
I feel you on that 'state of readiness' mate. Not fun at all. Where I usually shoot through the weekend I'm often having to walk through sidewalk fights to get to my work or look vicious enough myself to ensure none of the drugged up fuckers try anything stupid on me. We have less of the drive by attacks here though, it's usually just mobs of inebriated gangs talking each other up to a state of violent frenzy. I've yet to test how well a magnesium Nikon body makes dint's in an attacker's head but it may just be a matter of when and not if.
I am guessing over there you need a permit for tasers? Only police can carry them here and the bleeding heart church groups over here have lobbied against their use. "Can kill people', they say... forgetting of course the other alternative does actually kill far more often and effectively. If only church lobbyists could be outlawed, at least just long enough for them to feel how they've affected most of the rest of the world's population this last 2000 years or so. On a related topic, similar church lead lobby groups have pressured our Government to put a filter on Australian internet content to 'protect the children', as if it's not the sole job of teachers and parents to do by paying attention. Never mind it would slow our net access down to near dial up speed at peak hours or that valid arts sites would likely be banned by the hard right wing twats on those lobby groups.
Roller derby girls here are lots of fun. I did a shoot with one of them a while back at a skate bowl and had a great time. I am looking forward to their competition kick starting again this season.
Anyway, I'm off to work, enjoying the full time shooting and editing and glad it's not affecting my desire to create for myself on weekends. =)
Hope all is well for the family over there mate, and that J is feeling better. Cheers from a rapidly heating Brisbane.
Posted by: Mark Greenmantle | 27 October 2008 at 02:32 PM
Sucks what happened to J man, its always when you feel comfortable. See the same shit all the time in Chicago, get 3 steps to far ahead of others and shit goes down behind you.
and next time you go to St. Louis you HAVE to go to the "city museum" http://www.citymuseum.org/
Will make you feel like a kid again!
Posted by: Terry Zumalt | 27 October 2008 at 03:38 PM
Haha "you were fucking stoked" - that's awesome.
Is Aperture fast on the new Macbook Pro? I'm extremely close to switching to mac to work with aperture but I want to make sure that Aperture is going to be very fast - I'm waiting for it to come into a nearby apple store so I can test it out, but it seems like you're pretty amped about it. I want to try out that new trackpad too.. that looks sooo nice!
Good to hear J is okay.
Posted by: Dan Powell | 27 October 2008 at 03:55 PM
Man that fucking sucks!!! I jope J is OK. The same thing happened to my mom a while ago and it scared the hell out her. Great shots... for some reason I really like the disco balls and of course that last one killed me :) Free speech... I love it! Hope you guys are doing great.
Take care!
Posted by: Richard Polom | 27 October 2008 at 04:47 PM
love the shot after rockwell in a basket, and i always enjoy your o.c.d shots ;) thank fuck j is ok. it worries me that on seeing the 'level of trained readiness', the offender may up the ante and pull a gun or something, but you can't sit back and do fuck all, it's human nature to fight back. my gran once got mugged, she was just shook up, but the fucker who took her bag got an unpleasant visit, and i doubt he did it again. as i write this, i hear another assassination on obama is foiled, the worlds gone mad, even the incoming leader of the free world isn't fucking safe in the street :(
Posted by: Christian Rollinson | 27 October 2008 at 05:27 PM
Sorry about the jacking...and fuck I'm going to be back in LA for a month in Dec/Jan...but I'll be in RPV, not exactly car jacking central.
Dude don't carry a knife. Only 2 things will come from that: you'll pull it on someone else with a knife *who is more desperate then you* or you'll pull it on someone with a gun.
Posted by: Brian Webb | 27 October 2008 at 06:56 PM
I second the opinion about not carrying a knife; I'd hate so see one of my favourite photographers sliced to pieces by an experienced knifer or shot down because the other guy enjoys the 9mm advantage.
I feel for J, all the best,
Karsten
Posted by: zabong | 28 October 2008 at 01:39 AM
In the words of Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee: "That's not a knife"... at least, a very big one ;)
Glad to hear everyone is ok other than some soreness.
Posted by: Isaac | 28 October 2008 at 04:01 AM
Chris: was looking for your email, can't find it anymore, so I'll leave this in a comment.
Your friend Cobra had a documentary done on him for Current.com. Really interesting stuff, thought you might like to see it / know about it.
http://current.com/items/89394870_cobra_party_pictures
-chad
Posted by: Chad | 28 October 2008 at 06:34 AM
That disco ball bar looks amazing! Imagine what fun you could have doing a fashion/editorial shoot there.
And the shot of the two guys sitting on the curb is really lovely, it's such a peaceful moment that you've caught.
I'm smiling at the "huddle house" sign :)
Posted by: Justine Trickett | 28 October 2008 at 07:32 AM
@zoeller: thing is if i amortize the last mbp over 2.3 years, it cost me not very much. in fact, i believe apple products are bargains.
all of that is to justify my "need for speed." ;)
does suck but it could have sucked more. the wall photo? i liked the pattern as well. and ... your boy has good taste! i'd love to do some editorial shoot there!!!!
thanks for the comment, mate!
Posted by: C Weeks | 28 October 2008 at 10:35 AM
@thorsten: glad the new-ish mbp is working for you. ;)
that woman in london didn't have connections. the only NEW mb is the one that looks like the mbp unless she powder coated it herself. ;)
i love the glossy now! then again, i embrace change. ;)
thanks, man! glad you liked the photos! glad you got home to denmark safely!
Posted by: C Weeks | 28 October 2008 at 10:38 AM
@stewart: you don't have to worry, mate. won't say why but you don't have to. :)
and, yes, i'm pretty sure it still goes on in paris as i've seen it a few times. quite the spectacle.
happy you enjoyed the photos!!!
Posted by: C Weeks | 28 October 2008 at 10:48 AM
@peter: i wouldn't say crazy. ;)
think i'll do a more formal write-up on the mbp at some point.
amazing machine.
Posted by: C Weeks | 28 October 2008 at 10:50 AM
@jay: ever since we got that willitblend.com machine ... well ... glucosamine, coloidal silver, b12, calcium and ... flax seed oil have been in our daily-sometimes-twice-daily smoothies.
i'm very happy nothing worse happened to j as well, mate! thanks for the well-wishes.
Posted by: C Weeks | 28 October 2008 at 10:52 AM
@mark: perhaps our states of readiness are very similar. ;) dunno about tasers here. haven't ever checked. i'm only fully versed in "other kinds of permits" as it were. ;)
fuck the church groups. nothing good comes from religion besides war and abortion clinic bombings.
and fucking palin, of course.
mate, i'm so happy you're shooting and editing full time! that's so amazing.
and ... even more so that you're still shooting for yourself!!!!
Posted by: C Weeks | 28 October 2008 at 10:56 AM
@terry: the odd thing is that she never carries a purse. dunno why she decided to do it that night. usually i carry her d.l. in my wallet.
i think my friends told me about that museum. actually, i really enjoyed st. louis and look forward to returning!!!
Posted by: C Weeks | 28 October 2008 at 10:57 AM
@dan: i think you'll find the new mbp plenty-friggin-fast for aperture.
once you get used to not having to click if you don't want to ... that double "tap" is nice.
apple usually doesn't make many mistakes.
Posted by: C Weeks | 28 October 2008 at 10:59 AM
@richard polom: the same thing happened in canada???? damn. hope it never happens to your mom, j or anyone else ever again.
in the us, though, i think it will happen more often because of the economic sitch.
disco balls are rad. i so so so want to do a shoot there! when i was there i totally saw how i'd shoot it. not only .. i'm sure the location fee would offset the travel.
we're doing well, thank you, mate! hope you are as well.
Posted by: C Weeks | 28 October 2008 at 11:02 AM
@christian: glad someone else enjoys the ocd material. ;)
you don't have to worry, mate. there's more to my background than i'll put out here publicly. much more. and it pisses me off that i gave a semi-gentrified 'hood the benefit of the doubt. won't happen again. ;)
glad your grandma's attacker was visited. ;)
that assassination was in the planning stages by dumb asses with gun photos on their myspace pages. these were backwater tennessee people and wouldn't have gotten close.
Posted by: C Weeks | 28 October 2008 at 11:05 AM