Bureaucreative - Issue 01 - Janurary 2009

Get your own - Open publication

Christmas Is Here When You Have Giftcards!

And luckily, I have em to Borders where I'll continue to expand my [photo/design] book collection! With over $60, I'm bound to get something good.

Physical Therapy: Session II

Just had the massage on my right shoulder, arm bicycles for 10 minutes and now my favorite: the heat pack where it puts me to snooze. Sweet.

Physical Therapy: Session 1

Just finished my first physical therapy session.

New Photo/Book Project for 2009

Snippet of cover of new project

I just finished designing the unofficial cover for my new project that's scheduled to start in First Quarter 2009.

More details to follow but for now, do know that the team that brought Nonage to life is back: myself as the photographer and my friend Catherine Abalos who will write the introduction.

This project will feature fine portraiture and will be printed on higher quality materials than my first book Nonage.

Stay tuned for more details.

Nate's Birthday!!

After taking Nate (original member of JEAN Productions...the group that started us all) to Bottom's Up, we ended up at Lucky Chances by 1:30am for some food. We told the waiter it's his birthday and she gave in by taking a picture with him. Hahah

Create. Command. Work.

"Create like a god. Command like a king. Work like a slave." - Fahamu Pecou

Quote taken from Ruby Veridiano-Ching's book of peotry entitled "Miss Universe"

Good to See Kids Reading

This kid has been there beside my table for awhile trying to get a good book to read...albeit a comic book but hey he's reading. Now when's the last time YOU read and even finished a book?!

My last one is Annie Leibovitz's new book "At Work"

I've been sitting here...

for about 3.5 hours in a seat in John Daly Public Library. I've brought Bear Naked granola and Cliff Bar snacks but I'm still tired. I think sleeping last night around 2:30a from studying contributed to that. Really can't wait til this exam (tomorrow) is over! Let's just hope I do just fine.

The Dark Knight 2 Disc Special Arrives!

Just received my copy of The Dark Knight on DVD via Amazon (thru Prime Shipping.. You get 2 day shipping for "free" by a yearly membership).

Can't wait to see the special features!

jjasef.com LIVE & Under Construction

My personal logo for my custom design pieces.

jjasef.com is LIVE!

and well.. under construction for now.

What is jjasef.com? *

Well, I decided to separate my design work (specifically custom card designs, fliers, business cards, etc) from my photography blog/work.  This way, I can focus on photography related material and posts on jcasasphotography.blogspot.com and post more personal entries on jjasef.com including all my design work.

jjasef.com is also slated to be my main site/portfolio and will plan on making a splash page asking the visitors which site they will like to enter-- jjasef or jC Photography

2009 is going to be a good year as I have several things lined up including a new book project, jjasef.com, and officially the new line of custom cards designed by me with its signature brand look. More info on that later.

Plus, being on a break from school for almost a month, I plan on definitely making the most out of this break with as much design projects I can. 

Preparing to start fresh!

--

*P.S.

If jjasef.com is not working, godaddy.com is still working things out. Please click here to view current blog under construction

USF: "Pieces of Poverty" Displayed

Well after finishing the images I sent them out to print 11x14 mounted on a mat board. They came in just in time for the event today at USF for a social justice event. Here I am pictured with Virg, the coordinator for the event. Other pieces were showcased as well.. mainly graffiti pieces on canvases.
My pieces did look small though compared to other pieces. And the San Francisco wind wanted to have some fun since she knocked over this piece he is holding and top edge got messed up. Thanks alot.
"Pieces of Poverty: Solutions"
"Pieces of Poverty: Solved"
Me and my pieces happily showcased.

USF Social Justice Fair: "Pieces of Poverty"

For closer look: jcasasphotography.com

Couple of weeks ago, I received a message from my friend Kimiko that she received a message from someone at USF needing photography for a social justice fair coming up. I got his contact info and got more details and that the fair was targeted towards poverty/homelessness.

Until yesterday I finally was able to have time to shoot the image I've been having in my head. I've been wanting to do this concept for myself really but when this opportunity came up I decided to apply for the poverty/homelessness theme.

If you haven't seen this puzzle toy when you were a kid... well... you missed out [it was quite a troubling puzzle that I had my mom figure it out and then I learned since then]. Anyways, this toy was a cheat because there was glue on it! [It came with my cat when I adopted him and it actually has paw cutouts on the toy but I just cloned it in Photoshop].

But back to the image and its meaning: I did a quick Google search on "poverty solutions" and ended up with Wikipedia's entry on poverty. [I know.. wikipedia.. sorry]. But! These terms under the solutions made sense so please go over there and read it.

I hope this image is self explanatory. The pieces represent the solutions and all together it becomes the solution. The hand represents someone that initates change or causes the change in order to solve poverty not just in San Francisco but worldwide.

Review: Grado SR 80 Headphones

That's what I call Old School packaging.. especially in the 2008. hahah

To my suprise, I received the headphones I've been contemplating over in mail today via Amazon [email said it would arrive on Monday.. shrug].  Anyways, I've been researching for some good high quality headphones that are 1) good quality with a good name attached and 2) not over $100.

Remembered my friend mentioned the Grados and gee whiz the other models are about $500 and up to $1000 for the studio ones.  There are the known SR 60s headphones which are about $69 which provide beginner audiophiles a good option to get into high quality phones and then there's this model--the SR 80 ($95) which is in between the SR 60 and SR 125. Price wise it's up there still but I decided if I was going to get a high quality item, might as well step it up a bit.

And speaking of audiophiles, I'm getting into appreciating music by really listening to them.  Call it boo sh*t but I find enjoyment really listening to the different sounds, backup vocals, and all the ranges and tones of music. [For example, listen to Usher's "Something Special" with a good pair of phones during the chorus.. just friggin hear the back up vocals and it really is impressive].
As of now, I'm listening to Kanye West's 808s and Heartbreak with them. Volume is about 2/3s up and I'm finding it comfortable to wear: they're lightweight and the headband sits comfortably on my head--not too tight or loose. They are open-eared so music does leak outside [for sure this isn't a Bose noise-cancelling set].  

Do listen to  "Paranoid" feat. Mr. Hudson from his album.
I'm finding the sounds are crisp, clean, and bass tones are just right. I was at Best Buy the other week and put on Beats by  Dr. Dre ($349) and they really packed that thing with sound so the bass is just thumping so loud you'd probably have a headache after a minute or go deaf by then.. whichever comes first.
Will an ordinary person who just bought an ipod appreciate these 'phones over the iconic white buds? Well, there are pros and cons:

Pros

• Honestly, any headset is better than the white buds--trust me.
• Comfortable to wear over a period of time
• Sounds are full and rich--music sounds "close" to you
• Bass tones are just right
• These phones have been described as "neutral" so don't expect deep bass [ I find it just right though]

Cons

• Pricier than what already comes with your ipod
• They dont fold: you either wear em over your head or your neck or set it aside and hope no one crushes it by sitting on em
• Cord is long [can be a pro if you're listening over a home stereo but I don't know anyone yet who listens to their home stereo].. but yea I already rubberbanded them so it doesn't drag on the floor

Conclusion:

If it's for enjoyment of really listening to everything that makes music well music... a good pair of headphones is required. The white buds don't cut it here. Do you need to spend a fortune on them? If you have the money well why not. But if you're looking for something very good for just right of a price.  Also, if you want to appreciate these headphones you have to listen to music [which is most likely around 2/3's of an iPod's volume capacity] alone. These headphones aren't closed so people around you [on bus, office, library, etc] will hear. So leave them alone and keep music to yourself.

Plus, it's good to spend time alone. I call that my-time and I spend mine with music. Try it.

[Preview] Photoshoot: Kid Heroes Productions: Online Store Catalog

photos by cherrymae jumoc

Today, I completed a photoshoot for my friend from kidheroes.net. He needed some shots for his upcoming Christmas holiday sale for his line of tshirts. Shoot started from 12:30pm and ended up around 4:45pm.

There was some down time in between but fortunately there was some food provided [like lumpia!]

Hard work, but good work indeed.

My friend wanted me to pose with my camera and I decided to bring my Minolta TLR to pose with my favorite shirt "indie."

Please visit his website and check out the online store!

More pics are to follow!

[Personal] Thank You Cards

So after my 21st birthday, I'm still working on my Thank You cards.. so sorry for the delay everyone [who gave me a gift!] I started writing them on Nov. 11 so if you receive them even later, please don't be surprised by my lateness. =/

These cards are made with regular card stock printed from my HP inkjet PhotoSmart.

The design folds into itself revealing "you" after "thank" is read on the very front of the card. Once unfolded entirely, the message can be read inside.


My personal jC logo on the back as usual.

Obama Wins! Aaand the xB is Reborn!

My mom, uncle, and I were at the Oakland Toyota/Scion dealership for the entire night waiting for the new car. While my mom was signing papers, it's announced that Obama is the president! He makes his speech as my uncle and I inspect the car in order to go home ASAP. We were there from 630pm til 945pm!

Hypnotic Teal Mica. Didn't know a color can be so damn descriptive.

And here's the keys. Got my first real test drive by driving home and I must say the car is pretty quick which offsets its shortcomings [in my opinion]: lower visibility in the car, pretty bad blind spots since they removed the windows between the rear window and the door windows, no more wiiide front windshield view, smaller back interior space in order to make room for a bigger trunk.

But I can't complain: my mom was able to get the car.

Unboxing: MACBOOK PRO 2008

Photos by Apol Perea

I ordered the Macbook Pro through Amazon on Friday and got it yesterday. So my friend Apol suggested to document the opening and so we did.

I've been using my Gateway tablet for a good 2.5 years and it's definitely struggling with today's applications and my needs when editing... so I thought it would be a good investment to get a new laptop [my new credit card with 0% APR til 2011 helped too] and why not go all the way and get a mac.

So now I "sold out" according to a graphic artist friend who uses Windows.. but damn I look good now selling out. hahah
It's so cool that laptop itself is cold.. lovely laptop crafted from a block of aluminum.

"I have to get your reflection." - Apol


I've yet to get used to mac's operating system but soon and very soon I shall.. especially when I get it outfitted with my photography programs. From there, I'll make the switch as my primary computer. Yee!

Unboxing: Wacom Intuous2 4x6 Tablet

Photos by Apol Perea

Picked one up at Best Buy using my gift cards. This thing cost $199 but with my birthday gift cards, got it down to a good $36. Tee hee.

A definite upgrade to my other Wacom tablet [Graphire 3.. which I'll posting up for sale sometime soon for anyone out there who hasn't used a tablet].

This will work good with the next thing I bought.... the MACBOOK PRO!

VOTE!

Made my trip to my polling place and casted my vote and got myself a nifty sticker.

Guitar Hero World Tour (Wii) vs. $100 Best Buy Gift Card

On October 20, I went to Best Buy to reserve a copy of Guitar Hero World Tour for the Wii since my friends pooled up money and issued a check to me for my birthday. So simple as that I go in and reserve a copy by depositing $5 that will be used towards the purchase of the game.

Come October October 26, the release of the game [odd that it was out on a Sunday since games/movies/music come out on Tuesdays]. Anyways, I go in and present my receipt that I reserved it and they [customer service] tells me that they don't have the complete set for me. I see clearly there are 2 complete games in the side but the employee tells me they are online orders and that they are "different."

"So uhm, where's my copy? I reserved it, yea?"
"Well, we have limited quantities," she says.
"Ok, but doesn't it mean that when you 'reserve' it, you're like guaranteed to get it right?"
"Yea, sorry... we just had limited quantities. And it was a first come first serve basis too."
"?? That doesn't make sense.. 'first come first serve'? I reserved it.. so there should be one despite a 'first come first serve' basis, right? Well, that's fine, can't do anything about it. I'll check in next time."
"Yea, sorry."

And now today, I go in by 10:20am and again Best Buy tells me they don't have a copy for me when there is one [and the only one as of this moment] off to the side of customer service but again it's for an online order.

"Look, I don't want to be such a beezy about this situation. I mean: it's a video game, ya know? And I don't want you to be hearing all this from me, so if there's a manager available I'll gladly to talk to him or her."

I said this to this young petite Filipina who told me all she can do is get my info and contact me.

Here comes the manager and asks me what's wrong.

"Well, I was told there'll be new copies in today when I checked in on Sunday for the game. And there's no game here. I do see there's a copy there and so how about I get that game and when your new shipment comes in, you can give the new order to that customer. I was told yall go by a first come first serve basis: I'm here for the order and that customer isn't."

He checks in with other employees asking when the next shipment is coming and in the end none know when it'll come.

"Ok Boss, you have a choice here. You can either walk out today with that person's copy of the game or I can give you a $100 gift card for your inconvenience."

"Hmm.. it's like Deal or No Deal," I chuckle but he doesn't.

"I'll take the gift card."

For Sale: (2) Minolta 3600 HS (D) for Sony Alpha System!

I am selling two (2) of my Minolta Program Flash 3600 HS (D) since I've upgraded to the Minolta 5600 plus the Alien Bees strobes now.

Both units, one is brand new, the other is used, are in real great condition.. that's why I'm only showing one of them since you [or I] can barely distinguish the used from the new. The new was bought as a back up but never ran into problems with my first one.

Each unit comes with its original packaging: Minolta 3600 flash unit, case, original warranty card, manual, wide angle adapter--PLUS! The flash will be sent wrapped in its original plastic wrapping! [That's how good I take care of my equipment! =) ]

They're both listed on eBay:

Minolta 3600 HS (D) - NEW: Starting Bid: $135.00 [Buy It Now: $179.99]
Minolta 3600 HS (D) - USED: Starting Bid: $100.00 [Buy It Now: $150.00]

Shipping for either item is only $8 flat.

RETAIL PRICE FOR THIS FLASH UNIT: $199.95. A definite save!

Publishing Class @ USF: Obama: "Change"

Photo of Barack Obama courtesy of AP via CNN.com
design by jj casas

For my Publishing Class at USF, we're currently learning how to use Adobe InDesign inconjuction with Adobe Photoshop and learning how to export using Adobe Acrobat Professional.

For today's class, our instructor had us do a political poster featuring either presidential candidate Obama or McCain. I chose accordingly and here's my poster for the class.

The image was taken down after a google search of "Obama". I knew that I wanted to use his main theme of "Change" so I decided to somehow portray that change.. the movement that has rocketed him to be the democratic nominee. I simply extracted his head and removed the black background from the original image--that also took out the backside of his head but it turned out fine. I applied the cutout filter in photoshop ensuring that detail was still intact and duplicated two times. For the two other layers "behind" the main image of Obama, I tinted it red and blue and turned down the opacity of the image so it would bleed in together.

To me, it's simple and his message is presented clearly.

I know there are many artists out there with their own renditions of their Obama posters and this got nothing on them.. hahah True talent out there being used to raise awareness. Nice.

Bathing Iso

So after adopting my pet cat I named Iso, my mom has said she wants to give him a bath at least once a month. I for one think that cats clean themselves and am always sure that they are finicky when it comes to water. But Iso is strangely different--he likes water from the tap and actually doesn't mind my mom giving him a bath with warm water and soap.

Here's my mom's workstation. She says she doesn't put soap on his head since it might go to his eyes--good call.

Iso all wrapped up and most likely feeling a chill after the bath and stepping out of it.

On low setting, my mom blow dries him off for a couple of minutes [cats' coats absorb ALOT of water.. so I helped by towelling him off as well].

After a few whines here and there, he stuck with it and my mom gave him some treats as a reward.

It is pretty cool though he tolerates water pretty well. Plus, he's fresh and clean. Nothing wrong with that.

Moleskine Notebooks: Notebook #3

My latest Moleskine now has the Hulk on its front--my favorite Marvel character.

So why these notebooks? Aesthetically, these notebooks are real nice. Very sturdy--its stitched pages really hold up unlike other pocket notebooks. Also, the pages itself are very pleasing to write on. Other notebooks have very thin pages and ink bleeds easily.

And because of its "past user," [Van Gough, Hemminway], it makes you want to write something worthy.

So for me, I put down concepts, sketches of those concepts, quotes, things I did photographically, magazine excerpts [I have a lot of subscriptions.. so I write down a lot of photographers I like and any tips I've learned] and just like any notebook, keeping track of thoughts and ideas.

My new quote to fit the Hulk's strength:

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will." - Mahatma Gandhi.

Yea, tell that to the Hulk. hahah