The Indefinite Article.

In the OR

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:10:00 +0000

In the OR this morning with a contract photographer taking photographs of a spine surgeon.

There is a patient on the table obscured by tubes and wires, and then further dehumanized by layers of ioban and blankets (so many blankets). In the end, there is no patient only a square of skin, yellowed by rubbings of iodine and surrounded by a giant blue tarp.

Doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists move in and out; every move with purpose. The odor of burning skin fills the room. The yellow skin bursts open red. I expected lots of blood, but it opens easily like cutting a steak. The suction tube moves intermittent drops of blood. Instruments are handed back and forth - shiny and silver one way, silver and spotted with blood the other way.

The conversation is casual as the doctor cuts his way to the problem. Vacations, kids and jokes. This particular surgeon is indifferent to music. Others fill the room with the blues, classical or rock music. Here, the room is filled with the hum of surgery

Taken by killy http://www.flickr.com/photos/47142807@N00/7221303808

Sent from my iPhone

Wednesday Night Photography: Food

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Thu, 17 May 2012 14:14:00 +0000

Food Photography - Dinner, a photo by killy on Flickr.

WNP #2 rolled around faster than I expected. Naturally, I had no idea what i was going to do. Monday, I thought to myself that I would strap my equip to my bike, ride along Alan Pkwy and engage in more building photography (this time, downtown).

That plan crumbled, however, under the weight of Carol's cravings: steak. Friends came over and brought Korean beef short ribs. Carol put together a series of sides that i ate faster than i could photograph: spinach/jicama salad, creamy mushroom rice, and caramelized onions.

Lighting is pretty simple - a large overhead light. In this case, a LumoPro160 bounced into a white umbrella.

Dinner wouldn't have been complete without a cocktail. I made three this evening, a vodka martini, a chicago southside and a johnny drum manhattan; but i only photographed one - the manhattan.

Anyway, a pretty good night for photography. Next week? Who knows.

Wednesday is Photography Night

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:17:00 +0000

1333 ParkTowers, a photo by killy on Flickr.

Turns out, just like everything else, I have to schedule time for photography. I've managed to carve out three hours out the tail end of Wednesdays. Props to Carolina for making it happen. She put it on the calendar and forced me out the door. Tonight was my first night out.

Even though i had received a reminder on my phone (photography night!) it caught me by surprise. I didn't think about it or plan anything as i commuted home across houston on the train and bus. Instead, I kept my head buried in a book until i got to my stop. I exited the bus and walked home with an empty mind, having left the story of the sea bass buried in the bottom of my bag.

When I opened the door, the kids did not trample me. Instead, Carol says, "Do you want to eat dinner before you leave?" and suddenly I was nervous. Oh yeah, i'm supposed to do this. What am i going to do? Why am i gonna do this? Is this stupid?

I ate dinner with the family around the most recent episode of the Legend of Korra with the question, "What am i gonna do again?" on repeat. I gathered my stuff and i was out the door and into the car.

I should get the car washed. I should fill up before i come home. I have to stop by the ATM and get cash for after school care. How about a cup of coffee? I think i'm still hungry. Now, what am i going to do?

The further i got form my house the louder my mind got, and i was forced to listen.What i heard most was fear. I am actually scared to take a photo. Why? Fear of failure - straight up.

This is immature, i know. But it's there.

I drove around for most of my time. First, I thought about doing a simple city horizon from Alan Parkway. Nah. Then, i thought about the new Dynamo Stadium, but it was surrounded with construction material.

But then i remembered the building above which i had seen many times before at sunset picking up Carol from Ann Taylor in Uptown Park. I arrived just before the sun was setting and found the bldg just as you see it.

Sorensen

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 00:58:00 +0000

Carmen in a Tree!, a photo by killy on Flickr.

Keeping with the Sorensen theme, here is Carmen Sorensen, who gets bigger and more adorable everytime i see her.

The whole family came by for a late breakfast of eggs, beans, fruit, barbacoa and carnitas. After breakfast, we headed to the park and visited a familiar tree with low hanging limbs. Carmen got comfortable long enough for me to snap a photo of her.

Taggart Sorensen, Photographer

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:40:00 +0000

Taggart Sorensen, Photographer, a photo by killy on Flickr.

Spent yet another four days with our friend, Taggart, in Louisville, KY for a shoot at the Hyatt on Fourth Street. Despite some pretty awful support we managed to get the shots done - quite well, I may add. Despite his facial disfigurements, Taggart is truly a pro at his craft. I have learned a great deal working with him.

While waiting for the magic moment for a evening shot from the roof of a nearby parking garage, I managed to set up and shoot a quick portrait of Taggart.

Preparations

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 00:36:00 +0000

Cilantro, a photo by killy on Flickr.

This week, I will be heading to Kentucky as Taggart's assistant for yet another hotel shoot. I really enjoy 'making' photos.

Here's a freshly potted cilantro i made this evening. Strobist info: sb-600 in lumiquest from directly above. Bare LumoPro160 from below.

Expecting Rain

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 23:17:00 +0000

Paola in the Rain, a photo by killy on Flickr.

Hope everyone is doing well.

The DaVinci Code

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 21:20:00 +0000

Adolfo Chavez III, a photo by killy on Flickr.

Had the opportunity to sit in on a rectal cancer surgery yesterday in which the physician used the DaVinci Surgical Robot. Click to my flickr to see a shot of my sitting in the control panel!

According to my calculations

noreply@blogger.com (pablo) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:38:00 +0000

it is the birthday of the Todd. Therefore I declare today to be a day of celebration in honor of the birth of the Todd. Happy Birthday the Todd!!

Dezma, update and an opportunity to Help

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:09:00 +0000

As many of you probably know my niece, Dezma, was diagnosed with Leukemia about a month ago. So far, things have been going just about as well as one can expect. She has responded well to her first round of chemo, so much so that they have allowed her to spend a few days at home before she begins her second round. As you can probably guess, the cost of treating Leukemia is eye-crossingly unimaginable. My sister has now earned the dubious honor of accruing far more debt than her big brother. It's laughably, mind-blowingly, unimaginably huge. To help offset that cost a Recovery Fund has been established for Dezma. Following that link will take you to a donation page where, if you are able, you can help. Thanks for all of your prayers and positive thoughts.

Dezma Benitez has Leukemia

noreply@blogger.com (CarolinaDivina) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:09:00 +0000

Most of you know Dezma, Killy's neice. She is 10 years old and was diagnosed with Leukemia.
Please visit her website and send her a note of hope and love.
Thanks!
Welcome to peaceLoveHarmony

Merry Christmas Y'all

noreply@blogger.com (pablo) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:22:00 +0000

I hope everyone's holiday feels like this

Killy Makes the Doonesbury Blowback Page Header!

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 06:35:00 +0000

Carmen and Ruby visit Los Chavez!

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 02:20:00 +0000

Carmen and Ruby visit Los Chavez!, a photo by killy on Flickr.

Taggart and Liz asked me to babysit this evening. For those of you who have never met Rudy (some middle name) Sorensen, here she is!

Happy Halloween!

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:34:00 +0000

Princess Carolina, a photo by killy on Flickr.

Princess Carolina was radiant in this year's costume provided by our next door neighbor, Krista Ledman.

We spent the evening with friends chasing our kids from house to house as they filled up on candy i'll struggle to not eat for the next month or so.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Adolfo Kicks

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 02:09:00 +0000

Adolfo Kicks, a photo by killy on Flickr.

Just a millisecond later and i would have gotten his foot on the ball. I tried several times, but just couldn't time it right. Either the ball was in the frame or it wasn't.

If there is such a thing as perfect weather in Houston, today was the day. The cold snap had killed all the mosquitoes that had hatched after a recent rain and the sun was bright, crisp and warm.

Drought Death

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:48:00 +0000

When we first bought our house six years ago, my yard was a plush green wonderland. Seriously. It was beautiful. Fast foward six years and it's now a brown, weed infested parking lot. I put a lot of the blame on myself for a long time, but this morning after reading the sci-guy blog I don't feel so bad. Turns out that the drought has actually been going on for the last 4 years, each year getting progressively worse and worse. So now, while i'm still upset that my lawn feels like broken glass when I walk on it, I don't really blame myself. I also don't envy the people who have managed to keep their lawns alive; their water bills must be through the roof.

First Night of Autumn

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 01:59:00 +0000

Adolfo Roasts Marshmallows, a photo by killy on Flickr.

Despite the burn ban, i burned and Adolfo and Paola roasted a few marshmallows. Sorry.

10 Years

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 02:02:00 +0000

Here we Are!, a photo by killy on Flickr.

For those of you that don't know, Carol and I have now been married for over 10 years. Our anniversary was September 29th, but it was the weekend of September 10th that we spent celebrating in San Francisco. It was a magical time.

Special thanks to Taggart for making it all possible.

I know it's a bit late, but no one ever reads this anyway - do they?

Paola - growing up

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:57:00 +0000

Needville Harvestfest 2011, a photo by killy on Flickr.

One of the cool things about having two kids that can talk to one another is that, every now and then, they fall (maybe stumble is a better word) into a real honest-to-god conversation. One our way to Needville this weekend and question emerged from the back seat from a game of angrybird vs. bunnybun: "Can God die and then come back to life?"

Adolfo took charge: Well, I heard about this when I was a baby, but i'm really not too sure about it. I mean, he WAS nailed to his own cross, so ....

So the question was posed to the adults in the front seat.

Daddy: Well, as Catholics, yes, we believe that Jesus rose from the dead.

Momma: That's what we celebrate on Easter.

Adolfo processes and then turns back to Paola to translate:

Adolfo: Okay, so on Easter, it's like God gets a 1-up.

Paola accepts this answer wholeheartedly and the game of bunnybun vs. angrybird continues in the backseat.

PuffUp Webelos Camp

noreply@blogger.com (killy) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:52:00 +0000

PuffUp Webelos Camp, a photo by killy on Flickr.

Adolfo is a Webelo. If anyone catches me wearing an adult size brown shirt, please kidnap and deprogram me.

Postnatural Clouds

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:32:00 +0000

My dissertation reduced to a tag cloud. See here for the whole story and a plea for text clouds on the back cover of every book: Postnatural Clouds in a Postnatural Sky

Good 'ole Dan

noreply@blogger.com (colin) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:01:00 +0000

Happy Birthday To The Adolph

noreply@blogger.com (pablo) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 17:49:00 +0000

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Some stuff I made

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 10:37:00 +0000

Hey everybody, hope you're all doing well. A while back I posted a talk I gave on comics, and now I've got some new stuff, so I thought I'd put it up here too, in case anyone's interested. The first one's another academic talk, this time on Frankenstein films:

And the second one is something I put together for a conference ("Cultural Distinctions Remediated: Beyond the High, the Low, and the Middle") that I'm helping organize here in Hannover:

Hope you like!

Also, I like coffee too!

Also, I think Paul's app icon is pretty swell too...