Comatosed in Korea

061|365 Light Workout ~ Random

2009-03-04T18:33:00.005+09:00

061|365 Light Workout ~ Random, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Random

Ahhh, so that's how it works! I didn't work out, nor have I in the past 27 years. I'm not a muscly guy by nature but this lighting technique is the GUARANTEED FASTEST way to BULK UP with NO EFFORT! Not only does it add definition, it hides fat in all the right places, tans and eliminates blemishes and pesky body hair. No photoshop necessary (except to remove light stands), no exertion required :)

Order Comatosed's Big Bulk - Zero Fat System for just 29.95 NOW!

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/2 directly above my head fired into a reflective umbrella. Just added some contrast and warmth in Photoshop. Will definitely redo this shot without all the gear in the picture at a later date :P

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

060|365 The Ring ~ Off Day

2009-03-04T18:33:00.003+09:00

060|365 The Ring ~ Off Day, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Off Day

I was trying to get one of those cliche, close up intensely detailed eye-shots. Perhaps it was the three cheap magnification filters I had screwed on to the end of my lens, I just wasn't getting anything crisp -- or maybe my eyes really are that dull, hazy and dirty.

Lighting was also a pain. I find when the flash comes from the side you get really excellent luminescence but I couldn't avoid nasty hot spots. Finally I just gave up and settled on this. Anyone know a good way to light an eyeball?

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/2 at 9 o'clock and another at 1/2 power at 4 o'clock.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

059|365 Decrepit Hut ~ Location Scout

2009-03-04T18:33:00.001+09:00

059|365 Decrepit Hut ~ Location Scout, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Location Scout

Out Take 1 - Decrepit Hut HDR
Out Take 2 - Me crawling out of the window

I've been scouting locations for photo shoots during my Sunday walks around town. This is the first of many, an old decrepit hut nestled above the trail that follows the coastline.

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/4 at about 10 o'clock bare.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

057|365 No Frills Photo ~ Flickr Games

2009-03-04T18:32:00.021+09:00

057|365 No Frills Photo ~ Flickr Games, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Flickr Games

Ronnie Rabena tagged me in this flickr game and the directions were as follows:

1. Sit down.
2. Take a picture of yourself (optional rule: right now. don't primp, just snap one!)
3. Upload it.
4. Tag 5 people to do the same.

As soon as I read it, I fired up Photo Booth on my MacBook and took the shot. It went against my every instinct to shoot a 365 photo using a web cam, crappy light and with absolutely no previous preparation or forethought put into it. I couldn't even resort to Photoshop in a last ditch effort to spruce up my mundane mugshot.

But I'm happy I did it! Firstly, it sets the precedent for more such shots which is okay, because I don't want to be a slave to 365 either. I had my friends down this weekend and for the first time in almost 60 days I put photography on the back burner and simply enjoyed hanging with my buddies.

So now it's my turn to tag 5 people and I'm going to take a little while to think about who. Once I do I'll post em here.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

058|365 Friends ~ LazyDay

2009-03-04T18:32:00.019+09:00

058|365 Friends ~ LazyDay, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: LazyDay

Lucky I got this remote fired group portrait or I would have had nothing for 365 today!

My buddies Brandon, Kim and Mark came down from Iksan for the weekend. We were all pretty wrecked on Saturday morning but we managed to get out to this big beautiful rock overlooking the ocean. Brandon and I even decided to jump in for a swim. It was ridiculously cold but well worth it. After the swim we went over to the pebbly beach and lay there soaking up the warm afternoon sun.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

056|365 Protecting Your Pricacy is my Biggest Concern ~ Random

2009-03-04T18:32:00.017+09:00

056|365 Protecting Your Pricacy is my Biggest Concern ~ Random, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Random

The other day a fellow flickr-ite expressed concern that I published a girl's number for the whole world to see. I replied "No no, that's not true, I'm stealthier than you think! Send yours over and I'll show you what I did. "

Well, she did! And to stay true to my end of the deal, I've posted the number she sent with minor modifications to show her, and all other women out there, they can feel totally at ease sending me their phone numbers :P

You see, the original number was 111-867-5309 and it really doesn't matter that I wrote it here because this sly fox was one step ahead of me. If your still wondering why, as was I, then click here :)

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

055|365 I Had To Go... ~ Random

2009-03-04T18:32:00.015+09:00

055|365 I Had To Go... ~ Random, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Random

I really had to go...
lower to the sink to wash the lettuce comfortably ;)

Honestly, I've had this problem ever since I turned 6'4". Counters are just too low in Canada, and especially here in Asia. I worked as cook for about 6 months in a large banquet kitchen back home and that is where I was taught to stand like this. I know it looks _____________, but it's the only way to avoid killing my back.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

054|365 KBS Korean Banks Suck ~ Random

2009-03-04T18:32:00.013+09:00

054|365 KBS Korean Banks Suck ~ Random, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Random

It gets me riled up every time. I've been living in Korea for over three years now, I have a job with one of the largest companies in Korea, I have perfect credit history and they still refuse to give me an international debit card or credit card! (And most other foreigners for that matter)

It's discriminatory. They feel I'm more likely to run off with debts than a Korean because I'm foreign. I haven't lived in Canada for over 3 years, all that time an official non-resident, and yet I have both a Visa and Master Card with a combined credit limit that goes into the tens of thousands. Sometimes my biggest motivation to learn Korean is so that I can argue with bank tellers in situations like this.

But I haven't even touched on the most ridiculous part yet. The will give me a Visa provided I put down a $1000 deposit. And guess how much my credit limit is then... $1000. So I asked what the hell the difference is between a credit card and an ATM card in this country. The difference is, you can take out money / buy things with it in a foreign country, up to the amount you deposited, and you can pay interest for borrowing your own money. Thats right! If you take out a cash advance, or neglect to replenish your account by the end of the month than you can start paying the bank 20-22% interest.

I can't make sense of it. The only reason I haven't started stashing my cash in my pillows yet is because Korean Bank at least have good bill payment services, low transaction fees and zero monthly fees going for them. Better than I can say for Canada.

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/2 at about 2 o'clock shot into a reflective umbrella in front of me. Another Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/16 at about 6 o'clock, directly behind my head fired at the wall. 1 Sunpack SB22 @ fill power at about 10 o'clock with red gel lighting the right of my face to make me look even more angry!

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

053|365 Recharge ~ Random

2009-03-04T18:32:00.011+09:00

053|365 Recharge ~ Random, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Random

After staying up until 5am working on The Best Job in the World video, and then teaching from 7am-4pm, I had no energy, let alone creative energy, left for 365. Crawled into bed at 7pm and slept soundly until 6am the next morning.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

052|365 Best Job in the World Application ~ Random

2009-03-04T18:32:00.009+09:00

052|365 Best Job in the World Application ~ Random, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Random

It was a full on weekend. Brandon, Kim and I did nothing but plan and create our application for The Best Job In the World... well, that and a little drinking and socializing with Scott and Grace.

Our concept: Create Beastie Boys style video with lyrics conveying our personality and explaining why we are good applicants. I approached mine bit like an interview. What I'm applying for, where I heard about the job etc.

We finished writing and recording the audio at about 2am on Sunday morning. We were up at 8:30 the next rainy-ass morning and were planning out our videos when I hatched a brand new concept... a nasty habit of mine. I proposed we run around my tiny, unknown city of Okpo and pitch it as this amazing travel destination - travel show style. I would show off the huge crane, Goliath, and talk about how there were still a few fish surviving in the industrial port area etc.

Well, we went so far as to write out all of our scripts for the new project and then talked ourselves out of it at the last minute and reverted back to our original plan. Time and weather were not on our side nor did we think the travel doc approach would be as entertaining. I'm trying not to live in the past but... now I'm thinking maybe...

Kim at Brandon had to make a 6 hours journey home so things had to be wrapped up by 5pm on Sunday. We didn't have enough time for the proposed locations, wardrobe changes, or even memorizing our lyrics! We shot in my living room, stairway and on my roof.

I stayed up doing rudimentary edits on all three videos and submitted them at about 5am. I slept for an hour, woke up and 6am and was teaching by 7.

It was one hell of a fun time and even if our videos don't make it onto the website (which is very possible because the site was totally swamped and never gave me any kind of upload confirmation) this weekend will never be forgotten.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

050|365 Trying to Listen ~ Random

2009-03-04T18:32:00.007+09:00

050|365 Trying to Listen ~ Random, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Random

She said, "Listen to Your Heart."

I'm trying.

I wish I could eliminate the static and turn up the volume.

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/4 at about 1 o'clock fired into a reflective umbrella with spill guard overhead to subject right.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

049|365 Stair Master ~ Random

2009-03-04T18:32:00.005+09:00

049|365 Stair Master ~ Random, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Random

At my new job there are no elevators. Well, there's one elevator but it's not worth taking because I work on the third floor of that building and it's faster to take the stairs. I live on the fifth floor of my apartment and it too has no lift. So I go up a lot of stairs in a day.

Today I decided to count just how many stairs. The numbers above are my results. These stairs are surely what are holding the daily cafeteria carb-fiesta at bay.

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/4 at about 3 o'clock bounced off the ceiling in the stair well.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

048|365 Screwed Up ~ Random

2009-03-04T18:32:00.003+09:00

048|365 Screwed Up ~ Random, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Random

When I took my last spill snowboarding, my old motorcycle injury started acting up too. My ankle has been swollen, sore and cold lately. It might have something to do with the hundred odd steps I'm climbing everyday (I'm gonna get an actuall number tomorrow).

I went to the hospital here and they made me feel old. It wasn't how the treated me, it was that when I asked them for a copy of my x-rays they handed me a CD-Rom instead of the printouts I was expecting.

I'm impressed with Korean healthcare. I walked in with no appointment and got 5 x-rays taken right away. The cost: 19 bucks for the x-rays -- 20 for the optional CD!

The doctor recommended I take the hardware out if it's causing me discomfort. I was forewarned that the screws may back out overtime and thats exactly what one of them is doing.

Oh, and what you see here are really my x-rays!

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/4 at about 3 o'clock behind my legs with with a DIY grid spot.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

047|365 It Does A 365-ER Good ~ 365

2009-03-04T18:32:00.001+09:00

047|365 It Does A 365-ER Good ~ 365, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: 365

When your grocery shopping, and life hands you a 365 moment -- you take it.

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/4 at about 2 o'clock shot into a white umbrella. Another Vivitar 285 HV @ full power with 2 gels directly behind me for the background.

--- Post Production ---
I really had trouble with this one. I thought it'd be easy to make my milk-stash flickr-pink but ever method I tried just looked fake and drawn on. Anyone who can offer me some advice on how to change the color naturally, please, please do! I also shot one on a white BG but I wanted to try and keep with flickr colors. Tried switching the 365 to flickr-blue and pink but they to looked fake once changed and that kind of defeated all the coolness of having stumbled upon real 365 milk!

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

046|365 Harder Than Expected ~ TheBigPicture

2009-02-18T15:13:00.003+09:00

046|365 Harder Than Expected ~ TheBigPicture, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: TheBigPicture

It's done! Click HERE and SCROLL DOWN to see :D

*** Edit, one day later ***
I just noticed there are 365 views on my album in this picture... weeeeiiiirrrrrdddd!

046|365 It Does A 365-ER Good ~ 365

2009-02-18T15:13:00.001+09:00

046|365 It Does A 365-ER Good ~ 365, originally uploaded by comatosed.

045|365 Project Complete ~ TheBigPicture

2009-02-18T15:12:00.017+09:00

045|365 Project Complete ~ TheBigPicture, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: TheBigPicture

It's done! Click HERE and SCROLL DOWN to see :D

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/4 at about 12 o'clock bounced off the roof with a DYI grid-spot. Another Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/4 with omni-bounce shot into an umbrella directly behind me for the back ground.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

044|365 Sunny Saturday ~ TheBigPicture

2009-02-18T15:12:00.015+09:00

044|365 Sunny Saturday ~ TheBigPicture, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: TheBigPicture
It's done! Click HERE and SCROLL DOWN to see :D

It's the weekend. It's sunny. I'm going riding.

--- Strobist ---
1 giant star positioned at the center of our solar system, also known as the Sun, lighting me. 1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/4 directly behind me shot through an umbrella to create the white background.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

043|365 Bad Habbits ~ BeWeird

2009-02-18T15:12:00.013+09:00

043|365 Bad Habbits ~ BeWeird, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: BeWeird

Cudos to John for this one. One drunk'n night he sent me an email saying:

"Idea: a shot of you biting your fingernails and spitting it out. A shot of you biting your toenail would be iconic."

I didn't actually wanna chew my toenails, but I'll do all sorts of stuff I don't wanna do for 365 :P

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/2 at 5 o'clock shot into a reflective umbrella. That's it :P

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

042|365 Leg-hair Stylist ~ BeWeird

2009-02-18T15:12:00.011+09:00

042|365 Leg-hair Stylist ~ BeWeird, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: BeWeird

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/2 at about 7 o'clock with DIY grid-spot focused on leg hair. Another Vivitar 285 HV @ full power at about 2 o'clock with yellow gel lighting my background.

Cudos to Brandon for the hair styling idea. About a month back we were just chill'n and I'm not sure what prompted it but he told me I should spike my leg hair. Well buddy, this ones for you ;)

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

041|365 Are you sure you want to switch to Windows XP? ~ Random

2009-02-18T15:12:00.009+09:00

041|365 Are you sure you want to switch to Windows XP? ~ Random, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Random

I got my work computer today - I'm really not happy about it. It's not that I don't know how to use XP, I just realize how limiting it is after using OSX. I often use my Universal Access features like Zoom to zoom my entire screen, and switch my display to White on Black so students can see better. It seems many practical shortcuts such as CREATING A NEW FOLDER, an everyday function, DON'T EXIST! And of course, without expose I'm back to sifting through stacks of open items with incoherent abbreviated names along my Task Bar.

But it's not just the operating system thats killing me. The hardware is just as bad, possibly even worse. There is no battery life indicator, my audio inputs don't work at all, the ports are scattered all over the place and the trackpad wont let me scroll.

--- Flashlightist ---
I enlisted the help of buddies for the second time. Greg came down to visit from Iksan and after a dinner and some drinks with Scott it was already 11:30. So I had Greg, a very skilled photographer, hear out my concept and set up the frame. Greg had Scott, a very skilled flashlight holder ;) hold the flashlight on my Xnote. Greg then lit my MacBook and I had the tough job of fingering the camera and hitting my remote.

When I went to my computer early this morning, I saw Greg's proposed crop of this photo and liked the idea. I squared it up, did a little dodge and burn and added a texture, Paper Lomo, kindly provided by Logotip.

All in all, a nice collaborative effort.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

040|365 Why Not? I Waited 24 Hours ~ Random

2009-02-18T15:12:00.007+09:00

040|365 Why Not? I Waited 24 Hours ~ Random, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Random

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/4 at about 3 o'clock fired into a reflective umbrella. Everything about today was good with the exception of me realizing I must have left my Bogen super-clamp and Manfrotto ball-head attached to the railing in this shot. I tore my house apart looking, I think they're gone forever :( I managed to get this with my second super clamp but it sucked no being able to work with a ball-head.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

039|365 Monday Face ~ TheBigPicture

2009-02-18T15:12:00.005+09:00

039|365 Monday Face ~ TheBigPicture, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: TheBigPicture
It's done! Click HERE and SCROLL DOWN to see :D

Spent too long on this already, just not feeling it today.

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/2 at about 10 o'clock with shoot through umbrella to get the softest light possible.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

038|365 Sunday Face ~ TheBigPicture

2009-02-18T15:12:00.003+09:00

038|365 Sunday Face ~ TheBigPicture, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: TheBigPicture
It's done! Click HERE and SCROLL DOWN to see :D

What am I doing, I gotta work at 5am tomorrow!!!

--- Strobist ---
1 Vivitar 285 HV @ 1/2 at about 4 o'clock, raw, to get the harshest light possible. Not too flattering for the skin but the detail is cool.

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -

037|365 Lost ~ Random

2009-02-18T15:12:00.001+09:00

037|365 Lost ~ Random, originally uploaded by comatosed.

Theme: Random

I feel lost these last two days. The feeling overcame me just as I left for Fukouka airport. The past 15 days have been full of adventure, quitting one job at the drop of a hat, starting another, moving, snowboarding in Muju with buddies, spraining my wrist, going to Japan for 3 days on a visa run... Now work begins and I find myself still hoping it will be worth everything I had to give up.

I gave up my community of friends, people I worked, motorcycled, traveled, ate and partied with. I gave up students which I taught for 17 months, children that felt so much like my own teaching them was no longer a job, it was just plain fun. I gave up my city, a place where I worked hard to find all those hard to find things I seem to always need when I undertake some new DIY project.

Everyone always says it's tough in the beginning. I should know this by now, I've have at last 15 situations similar to this. But with a breakup still on my mind and plenty of free time for reflection during this latest job transition, I find myself feeling as though I'm just bushwhacking my way through my twenties with no real purpose... well, other than paying back my student loans.

Had an out take today. While I liked the framing, the grit and the shoe, in the end I felt this photo better reflects the feelings I described above. I'm curious, which one would you have gone with?

--- Critiques Welcome ---
- www.comatosed.ca -