Doctors Without Cameras

So I had an interesting experience on Saturday... I went to shoot a fashion show put on to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders and also to showcase some local designers. It was fun... but I need a little work on my lighting technique for runway stuff. We didn't get to see the floor with the lights off and spots on until the show, and I made some flash choices that were, in retrospect, not the best I could have made. Oh well! It was good to help them out, and to have the chance to shoot something new. Here are some of the shots that did turn out...

You can see the rest here.

Stephanie

I had a shoot with Stephanie this evening, and it was the first time I've ever really approached photography with an artistic direction other than taking nice pictures. I mean, I usually hope for something more than "nice", but you know what I mean - I've never tried to make the pictures anything other than what was there.

Stephanie was open to suggestions, though, and so we talked about it and I suggested something in the vein of Dior in a Ralph Lauren setting... a lot of contrast between the clothes, the vibe of the shots, and the setting. She was game, and was willing to go looking for clothes (and did a fantastic job finding the dresses to fit what I described to her), and I found the location and.... this is what we came up with.

The shot above, for me, captures what I wanted more than any of the others.






Yeah, I know fashion is supposed to be about the clothes. But, if you're familiar with my pictures, it's no surprise to you that I had to get at least a couple of her face...

I'm pretty happy with how it went. I hope you enjoy them - if you want, you can see the rest of the set here.

The Boat

I saw a guy on TV wearing a sport jacket. Most of my clothes are still on the boat.

I miss them.

Really, Really Good-Looking

The keyboard guy at church this morning was wearing a piano-key necktie. I don't know if it really was invented by the guy from Frankie Goes To Hollywood, but it was pretty great, I thought. My only regret was that he was playing a traditional keyboard, rather than a keytar.

And if these references (or the title) confuse you, ask someone who's seen Zoolander.

The other interesting thing this morning was that the pastor was talking about how rare it is to find a friend who really cares for you, who is faithful and honest and open and caring and interested in your real well-being, how you are doing spiritually. He was talking about people who are really there for you when things go wrong, people who care enough to stick with you, who really, really love you. People you can depend on, people you can trust, people you can live your life with, no matter what comes.

At first I was a bit confused, because I don't think those people are rare at all... I have a lot of those kinds of friends. And then I realized... I am just very blessed. So for those of you who fit that description in my life: thank you.

Christmas Came Early

I've been going through my apartment trying to get ready to move... figuring out what to sell, what to keep, what to give away. It's been interesting seeing how much stuff I have or have inherited and really, really don't need. A LOT of clothes, mostly.

But I did find something that was quite nice - some jeans that I had bought five years ago or so... they were my favorite ones at the time, from Roots, and it was tough to find them, so I bought 3 pairs, figuring that when mine wore out, I'd have replacements. Well, mine wore out, but I forgot about these ones, and so it was pretty exciting for me to discover them there. I still dig the cut and the color of the wash is good.... merry Christmas!

In other news, it's snowing outside. That's not really supposed to happen here, and does make me think that if it's going to snow anyways, I may as well be in a place that has chicken wings.

Oh, and so far, no movement on the yellow couch. It looks like it will be making the trip with me!

My Olympic Question

They train for decades. They wear skin-tight clothes to reduce wind resistance. They spend years getting the lightest shoes possible. Some of them even shave their heads to be just that much quicker.



And then they wear 3 pounds of gold around their necks, diamond earrings, and giant watches. Because the only thing more important than winning is... what? Impressing women who really dig men who wear a lot of gold?

I've got a little secret for you, boys - if that's what she's into, she's probably not actually going to be that tough to get. I bet you could even save the chain for after the race and still do okay.

Givenchy To The Rescue

Well, it's not the first time I've had to dig through the bathroom cabinet to find some perfume to take something off the yellow couch. Last time it was "Indecent".

This time it's Oblique.

So, two things:

1. If you have the choice, Indecent is spicy, sexy, and smells great on a couch. Oblique could have used a little more time in the old R&D.
2. I think next time I'll use my Gaultier "Le Male". At least I know I like it.

Shiny

I was thinking this morning... a couple of years ago, I got a birthday gift from a friend... it was a cool little shoe-shine kit in a nice leather case. As she gave it to me, she said, "I wasn't sure what to give you... but I was talking to another friend and we were commenting on how your shoes are always in such good shape, so I got you this."

Well, I thought (and still think) that it was a very kind and thoughtful gift.

But it occurred to me this morning... if my shoes are always in good shape, wouldn't it be a pretty safe bet that I already had the stuff to shine them?

Curious.

Anyways, it's not my birthday now, so please don't read this as some kind of hint for you to send gifts (as if you need a reason), but I was putting away some shoes this morning that, to my shame, do need to be shined.

Good thing I've got the kit!

Blue Suede Shoes

Well, I got some new shoes in Prague. One pair are blue suede driving shoes. I like them, because I didn't have anything quite like that before. They're quite blue, so I didn't figure they would be every day kind of shoes, but they were inexpensive enough that I'm quite okay with that.

Spring has been resiting here, and so I've taken a bit of a new tack: I am dressing for it, in a (so far futile) attempt to force its hand. Today, that translates into a light striped shirt and the aforementioned blue shoes.

[EDIT] And pants. I'm also wearing pants. [/EDIT]

Now, I think it's interesting how you (and by "you", of course, I mean "I") get used to the shoes you usually wear. I have a pair of skate shoes (Vans) that, on occasion I pull out. They are the closest thing I have to white runners, with the exception of my actual running shoes, which only make an appearance when I'm running. They're not Seinfeld-white exactly - more like grey - but lighter and a bit more bulky than most of my shoes. I was wearing them when we were in Prague, actually (figured they would be quite weather-resistant), and I kept getting the feeling that I had these two foreign objects swinging around underneath me.

I'd be walking along and all of a sudden kind of catch myself:

"What the...? Oh yeah... those are my shoes."

Pause to collect thoughts.

"Okay."

Keep walking.


Now maybe this doesn't happen to you. Or maybe you're just not entirely comfortable admitting it on the interweb. Either way, I find that when I'm wearing unfamiliar shoes, they have a way of distracting me.

So today, as I've been walking in my BSS, I have noticed something I should have perhaps come up with before I purchased them.

They make me feel like I'm wearing slippers.


I'm pretty sure it's the color. The shape is not that different from many of my other shoes, and they are regular, old-fashioned lace-ups, so there is no hush-puppy/slip-on kind of ambiguity going on there. They're just a rather vibrant blue.

One not usually found in footwear. Or, at least, adult footwear.

Oh well.

Spring... where are you?

Read It/Spring Is Here!

One of Sydney's comments about reading sporadically made me realize that I do that, too. Actually, "sporadic" would be generous. I'm really bad at remembering.

I have good intentions; I also have about 800 bookmarks.

Anonymous seems to have picked up on this early on and figured out a way to automatically generate email feeds from her blog when there are new posts. So, I see those. But for those of you who do this kind of thing, what do you suggest? How do you read mine?

I would prefer a format that collects them all in one page, rather than loading each blog in another tab or something. Full text (with pictures, if there are any) would be good.

Ideas?


And, in other news, it was snowing yesterday, but it's definitely spring. The new shoes are out, and it's looking good... the kind of inverted pyramid-shaped heels from fall are gone. Skinny heels are back, baby! Now we just need to get rid of this rain/snow/cold...

It Was the Best of Times; It Was the Worst of Times

And, as usual, it's all about clothes.

I had been thinking, while I was in the Czech Republic, of my "I Survived Dance Camp" tee shirt. Katie had found a vintage store she was rather fond of, and I mentioned that I usually go to a shop in Calgary that could not really, even very charitably, be described as vintage. Or even "second hand". It's "used", plain and simple.

There is a lot of crap there. If you don't mind (and I don't) going through 300 hangers to find one shirt that you couldn't get anywhere else, it's a great place. And I have some wonderful, wonderful shirts that I've picked up there. While I was reminiscing about some of my favorites, I realized that it had been ages since I wore the simple black tee with white lettering kind of scrolled along it: I Survived Dance Camp. Now, since I've turned into a dance machine, some of the irony has worn off, but it's still a fantastic shirt. I wondered where it had gone.

And there was another one I had been missing, too. It has the brother from Napoleon Dynamite in kind of a crudely-drawn coat of arms, and in a banner scrolling above and below his picture, it says "I'm training to become a cage fighter". I saw the shirt before I had any idea of the movie, and, even so, it was the funniest thing I had ever seen on something I could wear. I lent it to Josh when he used that movie as a theme for one of the YFC service projects that he organized. To be fair, it took him a while to get it back, but I seem to have forgotten when he did, because I asked him about it just a few months ago.

Anyways, I decided to go through my tees today to see if I could find "Dance Camp" and, sure enough, "Cage Fighter" was right there with it. Wonderful, wonderful news. And Josh, if you're reading, I'm sorry for not remembering that you had given it back. I shouldn't have doubted you.

Thus ends the "best of times".

On the other end of the fashion-induced euphoria spectrum, I seem to have lost my favorite boxers. Now this both troubles and puzzles me. Troubles, obviously, because they were my favorites, and I'm sad not to have them in my life any more. Puzzles, because, unlike an umbrella, or a book, or a scarf, it seems like underwear should be a rather difficult thing to misplace. It's not like I'm taking them off indiscriminately, deciding that it's a bit too stuffy, and leaving them on the bus seat next to me.

I'm not sure where they could have gone.

While we're still trying to nail down the finer points of the terminology, the little chick's fascination with panties is such that, if she came across them, she wouldn't have hidden them somewhere. I'm quite sure she would have brought them promptly to my attention.

So, I haven't given up hope, but I'm not sure what else to do. I even checked on the back of the door in the little bathroom.

Nothing.

Rats. I guess I'm going to go train to be a cage fighter.

It Could Be Worse, They Could Be Chaps

Okay, over the last few days I've seen three people in leather pants in Geneva, and one more outside... three women and one man.

And none of them were together.

So it's not like there was a "let's all wear out leather pants" party or something (I think we've all been there). These were adult people who decided, independently, that it would be a good idea for them to put these on and go out where people could see them.

I know there are some of you who are quite fashion-conscious. So check me on this, please:

Approproate times for a woman to wear leather pants:

1. When attending a casting for a Mötley Crüe video
2. When taking on some official function in a rodeo
3. When advertising, "hi, my name is ______ and I'm interested in picking up men my son's age"

Appropriate times for a man to wear leather pants:

1. Oktoberfest? Not sure....

So, I don't know if they're coming back. Maybe Poison was touring and I just didn't hear about it. Maybe they're German.

In any case, I'm afraid. And you should be, too.

Superstar Hair Challenge

I've managed to squeeze in a little bit of TV while I've been back with my parents. Some of it has been no good. I've been sad, still, that the food network somehow continues without either the original Iron Chef or David Rosengarten. All of it has had WAY too many commercials.

But some has been very good indeed.

And I like this one - the superstar hair challenge. It's like American Idol, but with hair. It kind of makes me wish I had a better haircut. It kind of makes me wish I had some friends who were hairdressers, though I'm afraid the lisps and constant brandishing of thinning shears may get to me after a while. But mostly, I just love that they take it very, very seriously.

I can't wait to get back to Geneva. I may not get it done by a superstar, but I'm getting a wash and a cut. Less dramatic than the "freestyle showdown", but I'm going to enjoy it. Cool.

Usually

If you're wearing sunglasses and holding an umbrella, one of the two is inappropriate. Usually.

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

Many of you have probably heard me say that there is nothing in the world that could make me sing songs from The Sound Of Music.

Well, I was wrong.

The little chick has wanted, lately, to sing "Do, A Deer". And so we have spent a lot of time (much of it with her on my shoulders, walking around Geneva) singing just like Julie. She's a little sketchy on the words, and I have trouble remembering if "so" or "te" is first, but we get by. So, yeah... turns out that there is one thing that can make me do it. Or maybe I should say at least one. I've learned my lesson, and there will be no more premature statements from me... ever.

And that got me thinking of a few of my favorite things when it comes time to pack up to go back to the Great White North for Christmas. So, in no particular order, here they are:

• Jeans - I spend a lot of time in jeans, even at work. I like it. I have two favorite pairs: one big, one skinny. I'll take them both with me.
• Red scarf - this was a gift from a friend and TYC reader, and I get compliments on it most times I'm out. I don't wear it much when it's really cold, because my warm coats are really warm... adding a scarf is like putting maple syrup on chocolate cake... it may be kind of nice, but you don't really need it.
• Flaming Chucks - when I first bought my flaming Converse All Stars, I wasn't sure when I would ever wear them. I mean, when is it really appropriate to wear shoes that look kind of like a 40's hot rod? Turns out that, when worn with confidence, they work for almost anything, and I've probably gotten more compliments on these than anything else I 0wn. So, they're coming with.
• Skinny sweaters - I still have a few bulky ones around, but most of the sweaters I wear now are made to fit under a jacket. My favorite is a fitted grey v-neck with disproportionately long arms. I don't have anything else that is quite the same shape, but I dig it.
• Jackets - to go over the sweaters. I spend a lot of time in a couple of nicely cut corduroy ones, one black, one almost-brown/almost green. And, on special occasions, the blue velvet comes out. Look out, baby!
• Tees - a couple fitted ones to go under the sweaters that go under the jackets. And a few other fun ones... my current favorites are a bright green Abercrombie one with Adam and Eve on it, a mustard Beastie Boys, and a gray Ben Harper one with his head with a giant 'fro on the front.
• Big red coat - known to all close to me as "the big red coat", this thing deserves its own name. It's made for going to really, really cold places, but I like wearing it in just kind-of cold places with just a t-shirt underneath. It's like wearing a warm shower. Beautiful.
  

Okay, this one is blue, but you get the idea.

I look like the Michelin man when I wear it, and have had strangers walk up and poke me.

• Black shirt - as I've mentioned before, black shirts work for me, and I love my synthetic one... I couldn't wrinkle it if my life depended on it, so it's great for traveling.

What are your "must-pack" items?

Why Is It

Button fly: no problem at all, ever.

Zip fly: "does anyone else feel a draft?"


Rats.

Back In Black

So I was listening to a little AC/DC while walking to work today. It's not my usual thing, but I do enjoy them on occasion.

I've talked before about how different songs are good for walking. Well, those of you who know me know that aggressive is probably not the first word you would use to describe me. I get "intense" sometimes (almost as often as I get "laid-back", oddly enough), but I don't think I have ever been called aggressive. But when this song comes on... man, stay out of my way. It's a good, good tune to strut to, and makes me feel rather unstoppable.

And I've been thinking, too, about black shirts. I have a couple that I really love, beside the standard mass of black concert tees and the fitted black tees that are de rigeur under a sweater or jacket most days. Both collared and long-sleeved, one is a fairly traditional dress shirt, the other is more synthetic-y but still good... open collar and it just drapes really, really well. I think I have gotten more compliments in those two shirts than I have in any others I own.

Well, when I wear those shirts, I also feel pretty unbeatable. When I go into a meeting wearing black, there is no question which way it's going to go. It's not even a matter of time - I'm ready to drive, and we're going to go. Now.

It led me to wonder... what would happen if I tried, at some point, to wear the black shirt while actually listening to Back In Black? I can see it leading to trouble... or getting me elected president of something. Could easily go either way.... I may have to give that a shot.

I'm Still Here, Wearing A Suit

Sorry for the big gap. I've been pretty busy, had guests, been a little sick, and looking after a little chick who has been more sick. I've been thinking about you, but haven't been writing.


I was in a meeting all day today with clients from the bank I'm working at, people from our project, and people from our R&D department. Our people - who usually dress casually for work at our own offices but dress up to go to the clients - brought the dress code up a few notches for the meeting.

The bank people, who are always in suits at their own office, dressed casually to come see us.

And yeah, I know: I talk a lot about clothes for a straight man. I've learned to accept it. But I think that next time, somebody really should coordinate this. I mean, is this the kind of meeting that requires a tie or isn't it? And how is it that we can't even agree on the "when I'm at my office I'll wear jeans and when I come to yours I'll dress up" thing? Aren't there rules about this somewhere?


And here's the other thing I think about suits in general: unless there are some of us who don't feel competent in choosing a non-uniform set of clothing in the morning, no one is going to feel more comfortable working in one than out of one. Yet we all wear them. Why? We wear them to impress them. They wear them to impress us. In the end, no one is really that impressed. Except my dry-cleaner.

I think suits should be saved for nice dinners; wearing them should be a special occasion. Work is everyday. It's normal. Why not go ahead and dress like it is? Otherwise, we men have nowhere to look to take it up a step other than a tuxedo.

And that's a pretty big step.

Oh, Happy Day

I found my sunglasses. I had bought some new jeans, and tossed them into the bag on the way out of the store. It's happy, happy news. Not only do I have my favorite sunglasses back, I can maintain that I don't lose stuff like that. Pride and cool shades: what else could I possibly ask for?

Sunglasses

I can't find my sunglasses. I had them on Tuesday; now I don't. I never lose stuff like this.

So here's the thing: they aren't expensive ones. I kind of feel like sunglasses are just too easy to sit on, get scratched, have a two year-old wonder what they would look like in the oven or whatever to pay a lot for them. So I buy cheap ones, but these ones were still eally nice. They fit right, they felt good, and they looked good. And now they're gone. Or maybe in the oven - I better check that when I get home.

Anyways, it looks like back to Rome to try and find the street vendor I bought them from to see if he has any more.

Anyone up for a trip?