San Francissco 45th Annual Book Sale at Fort Mason Festival Pavillion

Arrived 2:30pm at Fort Mason's Festival Pavillion.

And then bam! 300,000+ books, movies, CDs, and all that good stuff. Best part? All books were priced $2-5. The Kicker? All books will be $1 on Sunday [09/27]

My girlfriend and I check out books. She got herself a Photoshop Tips and Tricks book for $3 and other books for friends.

Well what do you know?! My friend Apol aka Apollo Style was among the books!

There were far too many books but luckily they organize the place in easy to find categories. There was even a section on Math. Skip!

My treasured find among the lottery amount of books: Annie Leibovitz Photographs. Her first published book! $5 Woo hoo!

My other friends are all relating to art/photography as well:
- Andy Warhol: The Philosophy of Andy Warhol ($1)
- Pricing Photography by Michael Heron and David MacTavish ($3)
- Take Better Pictures by Kodak ($3) [This is for a gift]
- The Non-Designers Design Book ($2) by Robin Williams [Another gift]

Me and my loot!

I enter the Best of the Bay section where San Francisco Public Library people put their top and expensive books and low and behold: a 1st edition Annie Leibovitz Photographs 1970-1990 signed edition!

My girlfriend knows that I wanted this... so it looks like I'm coming back for it tomorrow. =)

Another sought-after book that is out of print: The Americans by Robert Frank.

Took a quick snap of this guy while we headed out.

Today was a good day.

And so will tomorrow be when I get my hands on that signed edition.

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INFORMATION ON THE EVENT:

45th Annual Big Book Sale Sept. 24-27

@ Fort Mason Festival Pavillion

2009 Big Book Sale:

Wednesday, September 23— 4-8 PM (Member Preview Sale)
Thursday, September 24—10 AM-8 PM
Friday, September 25—10 AM-8 PM
Saturday, September 26—10 AM-8 PM
Sunday, September 27—10 AM to 6 PM (All Books $1 or less!)

jC Photography x DJ Zita: Behind the Scenes Montage [Produced by Apollo Styles]

Photographer JJ Casas and San Francisco based DJ Zita collaborate on a promotional photoshoot at Levende East in Oakland, CA. This is a video montage of the 1.5 hour photoshoot. Thanks again to everyone who made this happen:

DJ Zita (Talent)
Michele Kitagawa (Stylist)
Awny Rael (Make Up Artist)
Julian Aguas (Behind the Scenes Photographer/Videographer)
Jiro Bantay (1st Photographer's Assistant)
Apol Perea (Producer/2nd Photographer's Assistant)
Levende East (Restaurant/Lounge)

Special thanks to Apol who produced this video montage and Julian for shooting it.

Links:
http://www.jcasasphotography.com
http://www.djzita.com
http://www.awny.us
http://www.astellarproductions.com
http://www.apollostyle.blogspot.com
http://www.levendeeast.com

Enjoy!

Update: [Project] Abbot & East Moltke

So I've been lagging quite a bit on posting images for my next project entitled Abbot & East Moltke. I've been taking images and have also added a Project page on my website jcasasphotography.com

Here's the text copied and pasted from the Project page:

Abbot & East Moltke records what is left behind on this particular corner. Countless items have been abandoned overnight magically and disappear in the same fashion the next day.

This project is a reflection of how our personal objects become a problem or solution.

Each piece has a story to tell and unfortunately that story too is abandoned. Where it will go or what will happen next to it is undetermined as well.

This collection of photographs are not of the past or future but a temporary portrait.

Once completed, proceeds will be donated to an undecided charity benefiting the environment in order to progress towards a greener Earth.

As of now, I'm not sure when I will [self] publish this body of work because the amount of photographs are infinite right now. Who knows when people will stop dropping random items! I am though planning on going to local mom/pop galleries in San Francisco to inquire on hanging these images [maybe 11x14's?] on the walls.

Regarding the photos being published into a book, I will also ask my high school classmate Catherine Abalos to write an introduction as she did for my Nonage. I will also be choosing a charity organization just as I did with Nonage and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to donate proceeds from the sales of the book.

I will continue to post images from this series on this blog as well as my website.

2 Bed Mattresses

Couch + Chair

Couch Number 3
Reclining Chair

Office Chair

TV

Cushion

Rolled Rug

White Couch

New Event: Independent Artist Week @ Yoshi's [San Francisco]

I just got listed as one of the Sponsors/Partners for this year's Independent Artist's Week 2009, which is kicking off tomorrow [Sunday, 3/6/09] at Yoshi's in San Francisco.

I'll be there tomorrow night taking portraits of other guests and artists at the event and will also be back at the Fillmore Center on Thursday [3/10/09] doing LIVE ART: I'll be taking "double exposures" using my Polaroid POGO printer and photographing the person again with their instant exposure.

One, I'm definitely excited to be visiting Yoshi's because I know it's a renowned spot for jazz music and all so I'm sure the venue is gonna be nice. Two, I've worked with Melonie before, one of the heads of Infin8sync in which I was able to put up my work on display at the Fillmore Center last year.

Officially September 8-12 is Independent Artists Week and it is declared by our mayor Gavin Newson.

So do come and support us all [including yourself!] I must say that it's a good way to network and enjoying a space with other indie artists is definitely a home setting.

See you all there!

School is Officially Rollin'

School has officially rolled in for me [despite it really beginning last Wednesday]. As I sit in my usual seat next to the window, I realize that I've been in this very same classroom at Cowell Hall [of University of San Francisco] more than a couple of times and see that time has really flown by. This is my last semester as a nursing student and it's been heck of a ride since freshman year. So many learning experiences and especially in nursing, so many lives I've bumped into [in the clinical setting].
I've learned so many things at this very point. Just to start: forgoing the backpack. This is what I now bring to class: My special edition faux-alligator and brown leather backgammon case from St. Vincent de Paul's [thrift store] containing my Moleskines [planner and notebook], a sandwich for the day + tangerine + granola bar, headphones for my iphone, pens, post its; my animated Nalgene bottle, and I guess sunglasses.

Besides easing the load, I've learned that this entire process of schooling in order to graduate also means finding yourself in this crazy mix. School is to help find your passion and when you do, fuels it with the classes, its workload of quizzes, tests, frustrations and deadlines. I'm just about to finish The Dip by Seth Godin, and it's at this point where you find frustrations as "the dip" and you find yourself asking "Should I quit... it's so hard." And when you finally start to pull yourself out of this dip you start to say to yourself "This is me. I can actually pull it off."

Yes, I do photography and I still believe that is a major part of me and my passion. Nursing at that same time surprisingly compliments my passion for photography. The same rules apply for both types of work: importance of communication, time management, and roles as a leader. I've found that my social skills has improved over the course of these years and it has helped a great deal in nursing and photography.

School is always going to be tough. We are entitled to sit down through lectures and that means chances of falling asleep, getting in trouble for texting [like how I did today] and being distracted. Yet when we are out of this classroom, we all still strive to be students of whatever of our passions are. If it's nursing, we find time to read the latest developments and always staying on top of technology and advancements. For photography, we continuously learn through other people and being inspired by other photographers.

I say School is Officially Rollin' and to my understanding, it will always will. I realize that once you stop learning, you stop reaping the potential of your capacity to move forward, advance, and/or change to make a difference and impact.

Surround yourself with material that is viable to you: magazines, literature, websites, anything that will help fuel your passion and ultimately your passion to continue learning. More importantly, surrounding yourself with people that share the same passion will ensure this on-going process of learning will continue and will never burn out.

Photoshoot: Kevin Nadal [08/23/2009]

Last week I had the opportunity to photograph the author of Filipino American Psychology Kevin Nadal. This photo was taken at San Francisco's Bayanihan Community Center.

He and 3 other Filipino authors made an appearance to talk about their books and answer any questions from the attendees regarding Filipino culture in America.

I made the image above with the help of Kevin's cousin since I forgot to bring my hotshoe adapter to hold my Sony flash. Burn. So I asked him to hold the flash pointed to an umbrella attached to my light stand and since it was all triggered by a Cybersync set, it worked perfectly.

The full panel of the invited Filipino authors spoke about their books and answered questions from the attendees.

Another photo of Kevin whom I asked to sit on the table [in the same room of the presentation] and it made it easier for me when Kevin himself did a few poses.

Set up was simply a 32" white with black backing umbrella on a light stand standing about 4 feet away from Kevin. Flash power was set to 1/2 power and I was probably shooting at 1/125 shutter speed at about f/5.6.

A photo of Kevin and I right before he left his 10 minute photo session. And yes, this was simply set up umbrella, pose, shoot, and that's it! I only took 10 total photos! So this is my first taste of speed portrait photography.

The book itself hasn't been fully read--I'm about 1/4 into it!

Signed sealed and images delivered [to Kevin].

Thanks again Kevin for your time and agreeing on being photographed!

Behind The Scenes: Photoshoot: DJ Zita [08/18/2009]

Thank you to Jules for providing the Behind The Scenes [BTS] photos for DJ Zita's shoot.

All Photos by Julian Aguas [BTS Photographer]

Arrived early at Oakland and had some breakfast [at next door's cafe] before settling in at Levende East by 10:10am. With all equipment checked in, set up always takes plenty of time.

Setting up a Moon Unit [light modifier] while showing Gee the same time since he too is learning on site.

I'm thinking here "Hmm.. Interesting painting." lol But this area [DJ booth] is for shot #1 in the four images I planned for the day.

I asked Apol to produce this photoshoot and in his hand are the releases for Michele [stylist], DJ Zita [DJ/model for the day], and Awny [MUA].

One of my favorite shots by Julian.

Awny applying some touch up make up for DJ Zita.

Everything's set and now just waiting for DJ Zita.

Overhead lighting as main source.

The crew [Apol (Producer/2nd Assistant), Gee (1st Assistant), myself, and not pictured Jules (BTS photographer)].

Getting ready for 2nd shot.

Releases and make up.

Me taking a break with main camera on standby.

Last shot of the day "Seeing Sounds." Stylist Michele preps DJ Zita to ensure it looks best.

Me "chimping" -- ensuring that I'm getting the shot by looking at my camera's LCD.

Light checking.

I believe the end part is my least favorite--tearing down: packing all equipment back as it arrived, double checking everything is there, loading the car and double double checking if everything's there.

Thank you Ben and Levende East for allowing us to your restaurant/lounge hours before a work day!
Everyone pictured: Apol, Julian, Awny, DJ Zita, Michele, Gee, myself.

DJ Zita signing my Photographer's Chair. I've had the majority of the people I've worked with sign my chair [that I usually use for a shoot].
Finally, a quick shot of Zita and I.

Thanks again for everyone's help!

BTS Video should be coming in soon! Stay tuned.