Christmas in July

Christmas in July



Yeah, Christmas is still a few months away, but the mention of it in July somehow serves as a reminder to start saving the change from those lattes for all of those expensive things your wife will ask you for. For some of you, you'll simply have to cut out lattes all together. Haha...I kid.


These are some photos that never quite made it to the blog. Perhaps I was tired of the holiday season before it started that I just never really was up to posting them. Actually, these photos were taken for a Winston Salem Monthly assignment and published in the December 2007 issue. After 60 days copyright licensing expired, it was more than likely mid March of 2008 before I gave them anymore thought. So here we are in July having a look at holiday photos from last year. Good times.


If you're local to the area and have never been to Tanglewood during the holidays, I'd defintitely give it a shot. The lighting display is basically a drive-thru show where you dim your headlights, tune into the local park's station for holiday music, and slowly cruise through the various displays. I'd recommend going sometime early in the season when you don't have 10,000 other locals clogging up the roads leading up to the park. If you've got a hot date it's a definite bonus as there are many areas of the park where it's just too dark for anyone else in any other car to really see what's going on in your vehicle. If you've got a family, calmly tell your kids to cover their eyes. (Ok, who actually reads what I write anyways? It kind of gives me the right to say whatever I wish, right? haha)


Around the midway part of the ride - right around the time that dinner has settled and is making you sleepy - there is a nice place to park, get out of your car, buy some hot chocolate and smores making ingredients, and gather around a large fire pit for roasting with a bunch of strangers. This is an opportune time to make up stories, lie about some big deer you killed on some hunting trip, or make mothers round up their kids as you drunkenly wave around a flaming marshmallow. If you haven't gotten lucky with your date, perhaps this would be a good time to spike her hot chocolate with something that will get the night moving along a little more quickly.




It's hard to believe I will soon be spending a third Christmas up here in North Carolina. It's more unbelievable how time flies and how bringing up photos from last Christmas reminds me of a very much different time in my life. Just a few short months can certainly bring about change and make a whole world of difference. Of course, if you're going into next Christmas still complaining about the last one then you should probably do something a little different to change your life.

I have no idea what this Christmas will bring - maybe a hot chick in a Santa suit. Ehh, actually that'd be better after the holidays seeing how I won't need to save any left-over change from lattes this year. Who knows. Have fun this holiday season. Get in your car, check out some holiday lights, and maybe get lucky. (Are you still reading this?!)

California Burning

California Burning

Mother nature is at it again in this post. I snapped off a few frames of a part of California east of Oakland as it burned. As we flew home from Sonoma I wondered what the people losing houses below were having to deal with. It's an interesting perspective to look down from the comfort of a seat on a plane and know you're fortunate to not have this scene as your worry. Perspectives - some people need new ones. Hopefully these images might offer you a fresh one.

Armageddon - Or a bad summer storm

Armageddon - Or a bad summer storm



In all the years I watched thunderstorms approach the coastlines of Florida I have never in my life seen anything like this. Over the weekend we were in Joliet, IL at the Chicagoland Speedway. As this storm approached I thought it might be wise to lower the 25' poles extended above our race haulers. A few minutes after I was done I ran like an idiot towards our van while getting showered by sideways wind blown rain. I couldn't stop laughing - it was quite fun actually watching everyone run for their lives. One of our spotters even shouted out "Auntie Anne" as he pushed a cart out of the storm and into the garage. Good times.

Stay dry - or play in the rain and catch that cold your mother always warned you about!

- Eugenio

Golden Gate Bridge - Black/White

Golden Gate Bridge - Black/White


A short visit to San Francisco this weekend included a brief daytime ride over the Golden Gate Bridge on our way to dinner at Fisherman's Wharf. I would never miss the opportunity to photograph such a well known landmark and extended myself with yet another inferior camera. Without the luxury of time I was unable to stop, compose, steady, or shoot properly. Instead, I settled for aiming out the window of a wildy racing van with my point and shoot and firing off as many frames as this vintage 2MP Nikon could handle. In the back of my mind I muttered off expletives regarding the camera shake shooting through the filthy window. In the end, heavy cropping and color absent images reveal the architecture that so many tourists and locals seek. The photos produced again reinforce my belief in disposing the cliches that insist only the finest cameras create the finest photographs. Although your definition may vary from my best effort presented here, I clearly define these images by the brief moment I had to enjoy this first visit to San Francisco - priceless. Of course, don't come asking me for poster sized prints. The best I might offer is a postcard.



Come back often. I have a folder of images to present. If not here, then someplace on the web.

- Eugenio

5 Hours in NYC and 1 Cell Phone Camera

5 Hours in NYC and 1 Cell Phone Camera


Over this past weekend my travels with NASCAR took me to the Poconos region of Pennsylvania. One of the perks of traveling to a different city each weekend is the opportunity to explore beyond the track's walls and take in the local culture. Little did I know it at the time, but we were within reach of New York City. We were exactly a short 1 hour and 48 minutes away to be exact. On Saturday the garage closed at 2:30pm which basically meant we had the rest of the day to ourselves. There was no sense in returning to the hotel to clock watch, and I cannot imagine what I would have devised to entertain myself, but honestly, there isn't a great deal of anything to do in Blakeslee, PA, unless you intend on hunting, fishing, camping, or skiing during the winter season. I, however, was fortunate to receive an invite to ride along with a few of NASCAR's finest mechanical engineers into the city for an evening of expedited siteseeing and a planned stop in Little Italy for dinner at one of NYC Italy's finest restaurants.


After parking and making our way out of the Port Authority, we had about 5 hours to spend downtown Manhattan since we needed to reserve time to drive back and settle in for the following morning's track activities. We wasted little time in making our way through Times Square and into Central Park. I was amazed to see how many people were out just enjoying life in the park. It was hot. I made the brutal mistake of wearing jeans. I had no idea where we were headed or if I would require something casual for dinner. At one point I even estimated the weather to be cool enough for a long sleeve shirt. I suppose the locals prefer the company of their neighbors in a charming place such as Central Park to a boring stuffy apartment somewhere tucked away in a high rise. Perhaps being clustered together on those grassy lawns extended the old adage that misery really does love company. Or, maybe I was too discontent with having worn jeans and was just constantly reminded by the sweat pouring off of my forehead. Overall, the excitement of being in the "big apple" trumped any discomfort I had dealing with the heat. I am a Florida boy afterall.

For those super fans that keep up with my blog or have been here since the beginning, you will recall that I made this trip to the city back in December 2005. Boredom and repition are feelings I may never have for visiting NYC. The city has a certain appeal. Whether it's the vast diversity of human beings, the collective unorganized-yet-efficient chaos, the variety of activities, or the intriguing quality of the architecture that is downtown Manhattan, I could look forward to visiting regularly. Or, if someday the opportunity presents itself, I might consider actually living in this urban mecca.

A poor selection of apparel to tour the city was mistake #1. Mistake #2 came quickly when I realized that I had no suitable camera to document my short visit. Graciously, I recalled having a trusty 1MP cell phone camera on hand for emergencies such as this. A 1MP camera, mind you, is hardly a camera in today's market of digital portable cameras and advanced cell phones. In good time, the trusty i870 Motorola will find a deep dark drawer to retire in once I make room for something a little more worthy of image capture. In this instance, I will spare you the complaining and whining of the lack of image quality and just move forward with presenting the best "Hello Moto" 2005 has to offer. A camera is a camera so long as the memory is captured, right? I should at least feel fortunate to have a piece of portable technology on hand to make the most of the few hours I had. In that vain, I shall digress and continue on with my trip report.


Upon exiting Central Park in search of the nearest subway station, we spotted a mammoth large glass cube resembling a monument. In the center, near the roofline, and suspending virtually weightless was the trademark logo of the white apple with a bite missing. We knew right away that either some artist had either created some piece of modern art paying homage to the cult-like computer company on the city's streets or somehow there was a magical doorway that led pedestrians into a virtual shopping world full of technical wonders manufactured on the opposite coast. It indeed was possibly one of the coolest Macintosh stores I have ever browsed. The entrance, set above the concrete jungle, was a simple circular staircase, made out of - you guessed it - glass, which led eager shoppers down into the subterranean technology shopper's paradise that Macintosh created. Inside there were tables showcasing the latest gadgets. The hoards of tourists and locals snatching up the trendy and pricy miniature techno-gizmos would rival the patronage of a gift shop near the exit of the Magic Kingdom during the park's closing hours. Had I observed this storefront entrance from above, the scene might have resembled a glass ant farm I once owned as a child.



After a thorough examination of some of the store's newest and most advanced wares, fighting a sudden urge to make an impulse purchase, and after having enjoyed some air conditioning, we resurfaced on the city streets to locate the nearest subway station. By this time in the early evening we had grown an appetite from our walk through Times Square and Central Park and were looking forward to arriving at an Italian restaurant that was highly recommended by another team member that had visited in a previous trip to the Poconos.

A swipe of the Metro Card and a short ride on the subway landed us on the streets of NYC's Little Italy. The district resembled the scene out of any great movie ever created depicting mobsters sitting to dinner. We made our way down Mulberry Street to Angelo's. Seating was limited indoors, so we settled for outdoor seating under an umbrella. Once the ice water was served and the first glass of red wine poured, the worries of the weekend melted away. Even more delectable was my dinner choice of Canneloni. Oh my word. I have never quite enjoyed Italian cuisine like I did on the sidewalk seating at Angelo's. The time slowed to a crawl. Each one of us fell silent and only spared a moment to comment on how f'ing awesome the food was. (Excuse the insinuated expletive, but in times of great frustration, or in our moment of grand exuberance, word choice is loose and non-specific in terms of expressing ones thoughts on a given moment.)


Dinner finally came to a close. Although most in this situation might complain about time moving quickly, I was admittedly gracious towards whatever phenomenon controls the space time continuum for slowing the clock so that each bite could be savored. Once the ticket and gratuity were settled, we mosied along Mulberry Street in search of dessert. The sweet tooth craving was easily satiated with an oversized serving of amaretto gelato. The cold treat closed out the evening in a refreshing fashion. My hosts spent a little time navigating the street vendors in search of faux time pieces or last minute trinkets to bring home to their significant others. I enjoyed a chat with the locals and settled on soaking in the dusk that quickly fell on New York City.


The early gesture offered by the spiritual force that gave us an extra moment at dinner quickly took back our borrowed time by speeding up the clock straight into the evening. We walked briskly back to the subway station, and in an instant we were back in the rental car on our way to the Poconos where an early alarm would wake us from that great, but brief experience in New York City.

I cannot thank the fellas enough that extended me an invitation to join them on this getaway visit to the city. I enjoyed their company immensely and look forward to future experiences while living and working on the road with NASCAR. Hopefully, my next effort to capture my surroundings will include a device more sophisticated than my trusty Motorola i870.

Thank you for stopping by. Check back often as new experiences on the road will be published right here.

All the best,

Eugenio

Spring MTB Pt. 2 - Tanglewood Park

Spring MTB Pt. 2 - Tanglewood Park


I went out on Thursday morning last week on a challenging 9+ mile mountain bike ride at local Tanglewood Park. The area experienced fairly bad weather the day prior with lots of wind and rain leaving a difficult muddy and slippery ride through the forest. The morning was gorgeous and the day was shaping up to be too good to stay indoors. Typically, any mountain bike enthusiast would look forward to getting down and dirty on a forest trail, but after a few minutes into my ride and one solid smack onto a rooted trail, I quickly became humble and toned down my typical aggressive riding style.

Roots, mostly smooth and covered in some kind of algae, are perfectly slick and "channel" the front and rear tires of a mountain bike much like the rails on a train track direct the wheels of a train. I had just coasted down a slope and made an attempt to bank a righthand turn when out of nowhere the front wheel pulled hard to the left and my body flew off the bike to the right. Setting my right foot down to catch the fall did no good as I lost footing and slipped right along. Momentum carried me forward, a right knee impacted the ground, and not even could the glove on my hand slow me enough to soften a full body flop. A system of roots of varied sizes broke my fall to the ground. The bruise on the outside of my right thigh is still going through the changing colors of a healing injury. Luckily no other bones made contact. The rest of the ride was slow and cautious. I look forward to days when the trails are dried and the mud hard packed. I enjoy a good lung busting aerobic workout on the bike and the local trails seem to be the best way to enjoy getting in some exercise.

Being that the trail made for a nasty surprise around every corner, I decided to stop every so often and seek out anything of interest to photograph. Of course, the forest looked the same through most of the ride. Every so often the trees filtered the sunlight into interesting patterns. I even managed to find a fallen log decaying in fungus which made for interesting subject matter. I saw plenty of squirrels and a few chipmunks - which are way to fast for a photo - but no deer on this day's ride.

Tanglewood trails offer a nice mixture of small bridge crossings, log pyramids, and a few fallen log obstacles to challenge the off-road enthusiast. Every so often there are hints of what may have been at one time large rock gardens to bike through. Most of them are worn down baseball sized rocks mixed with loose gravel. Overall, I would definitely recommend Tanglewood to the beginning mountain biker. Just be ready to feel the leg burn. Oh yeah, and avoid riding after the rain or be prepared to take home a bruise or two and a muddy bike.

Stay tuned as I will soon be venturing out to some exotic mountain biking locations such as the Uwharrie National Forest on one of my days off.

All the best -

Eugenio

Spring MTB - Greensboro, NC

Spring MTB - Greensboro, NC


I started my annual mountain biking outings this year with the goal of capturing a few images from the trail. This year has started out fairly slow since getting back in shape is the main priority. I spent all of last spring, summer, and early fall finding all sorts of moutain biking trails in the Triad, but never once carried a camera. This year shall be different and I look forward to sharing photos from my adventures biking North Carolina.




This area is somewhat of a mecca for trail riders. In all, there are about 12 different trails to choose from varying from an easy afternoon ride to a full Saturday workout. I had today off and chose to give myself the torture treatment. I rode for about 3 1/2 grueling hours and covered about 17 miles of rough terrain. Along the way I stopped at a few creek crossings to peer at the aquatic life and to catch a breath here and there. Last year I did not ever get a chance to spot any deer, but this year they seem to have been more abundant. As pictured below, I was upset to come upon a fawn dead not even but a few weeks old or less.




I have also determined it's time to upgrade the old Coolpix 2200 point and shoot to something a little more robust and with more manual control. I had a difficult time getting non-blurry shots in low light areas. The use of the built in flash makes for poorly lit photos. Perhaps a pocket tripod will do the trick.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed some of my newest photos. Hopefully I will have some more as the weeks pass.

All the best,

Eugenio

Love your job

Love your job



February of 2008 marked a significant anniversary that I perhaps subconsciously chose to not celebrate. You see, February of 1998, a date 10 years previous, signifies what I officially mark as my first venture into an adult working career. I had landed my first position in a computer repair shop courtesy of the US Air Force. Technically, I joined the service back in February of 1997, but I don't count my first year since it was spent training and sitting in a classroom. Most college students drag through 2-4 years, but in the fast track that is the Air Force I zipped through an education in 1 year before being sent to my first duty station to do "real" work.

Fast forward 10 years to February of this year. I was on the verge of starting a call center (aka tech support) position with a bank which will remain unnamed. Only 3 1/2 weeks into my "new" opportunity I decided to call it quits. It was the first time I had ever voluntarily terminated my own employment. Don't get me wrong - I've never been fired before and don't hope to anytime soon, but if you consider that my call center job was my 9th job since my journey started in the military, then I can comfortably sit here and say with certainty that it was a job not meant for me. How on earth did I go through NINE jobs in TEN years?! I'm still scratching my head over that.

Just a few weeks ago we had the pleasure of a visit from Shanti's sister Risa and our good friend Patrick who lives just down the road in Raleigh. On a walk through downtown Winston after dinner, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a somewhat odd oxymoronic setting. There was a man perched above what appears to be computers and copier equipment painting a mural. Only now, as I write this, am I making the connection as to what I was intrigued by. I saw myself standing on that scaffolding. When I consider my current employment situation - enjoying computer work, passionate about photography - I wonder if perhaps that man was me reincarnated or some brother from another mother. Mind you, I don't paint, but I do enjoy the intricasy that is finding light, color, shape, etc. in a subject. I capture with a camera while a painter creates with a brush.

I have had some unfortunate luck over the years with my career. I have had 3 employers close shop and I have experimented unsuccessfully with other career possibilities; yet, here I am tapping a keyboard and clicking a mouse for a living. I was recently having an online exchange with a friend from Florida about my misfortunes. She encapsulated my experience over the years in one word - adventurous. When I think back to every job I've had I can easily conjure fond memories. For instance, I remember goofing off with an old co-worker while handling thousands of dollars worth of expensive military computer systems in a frigid open doored hanger in Alaska. I still remember how awesome those F-15 fighters were just parked a few feet away. And then there was a time when I somehow found myself piloting an inflatable radio controlled blimp over a packed NHL hockey arena during a live game! I was just an intern. While working at a law firm, I made a great friend who somehow got me aboard a sailing yacht - a first for me. I've had the opportunity to run out of a tunnel with an NFL team during a halftime, chat with a celebrity football player during a runway model photo shoot sponsored by his charity, and I remember a summer in 2001 when I was at the bottom of a drained swimming pool shoveling sludge, frogs, and avoiding snakes for my "Uncle Freddy" who at that time was recovering from his surgery. He needed my help to avoid losing his pool business. Here I am - 10 years later and not even a month into my 10th job and I had a moment to sit down and enjoy eating an Arby's roast beef sandwich in the chair across from a famous NASCAR racecar driver. How exactly did I end up here? Why? I don't care, but I love my newest job for its richness in experience.

I look back at all of my jobs and hold very little regret. I loved those jobs. Sometimes not so much for what I was doing at the time, but for the memorable life experiences I had while performing those tasks. As the great poet Thoreau once explained his purpose in wandering into the woods in the book "Walden", "...to suck the marrow out of life," I hope you love your experiences while you are "doing your job" even if what you do is not what you love. I have surely wandered into the unknown with both fear and excitement. What I discover next is a big unknown.

When I look back at this picture of a guy painting his mural, close to the midnight hour in some office downtown, all the while bopping to music playing through earbuds in his ears, I have to stop and think - he must love his job.

Congratulations Justin & Aubrey!

Congratulations Justin & Aubrey!

It's been ages since I have had the opportunity to create engagement style photos. In recent months it's mainly been weddings and magazine photo assignments. Engagement photo sessions, unlike weddings, are loose, relaxed, stress free, and for the most part much more enjoyable for both parties to shoot. I was thrilled when Justin recently contacted me to help him celebrate his recent engagement to his girlfriend Aubrey by asking if I could create some engagement photos for their friends and family. In case you don't recall, I collaborated with Justin and Aubrey back in September of 2007 to create some bike photos. Meeting up again for their engagement photos made our day that much more enjoyable and laid back. We had a good time scouring a local junkyard filled with late model vehicles for awesome photo opportunities. Later in the day we headed to a Mocksville home with an amazing azalea garden. Those photos will come soon. In the meantime, her are a few from the day's shoot at the junkyard.





(More photos from this shoot can be found here: Portfolio - Enjoy!)

Pizza & Pastry

Pizza & Pastry


In keeping in line with my latest hobby - food - I have decided to make another blog entry featuring some food I happened upon last year during a magazine shoot. These days I'll funnel almost anything down the hatch. Next month, once my the magazine usage rights expire, I'll post up some photos of hotdogs I had the pleasure of eating...errr, photographing these past couple of days. In the meantime I hope you're checking this blog entry some time before your lunch hour. I hope these photos inspire a little bit of salivation and maybe a stomach rumble. Yum. Now go eat.

Exiting? No Way! Fooled ya!

Exiting? No Way! Fooled ya!


At some point I might take a break from photography, allow the dust to settle, and maybe thin out the collection, but you're going to have to pry the camera from my cold dead hands to get me to give up photography.

Sorry about my previous post, but I too have to enjoy a good April Fool's gag!

- Eugenio

For Sale

For Sale

I regret to inform my dear friends, family, and general public to stumble upon my blog that due to unforseen circumstances I will be exiting photography entirely. In the coming weeks most of my equipment will be listed for auction on eBay including my vintage collectibles, digital cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment.

This decision has not been easy and is one I made after many weeks of thinking things through. Without going into detail regarding the circumstances forcing me into this position, I truly assure you it's in my best interests. It's tough to say these things, and after seeing the many months I have put into this weblog along with my journey shooting for a local magazine, I will miss photography wholeheartedly.

Thank you for the many years of visiting my blog to see my latest work. I hope you saw some photos that you enjoyed or were even moved by. I sincerely hope some of what I have done here will inspire others to pick up the journey where I have left off.

Enjoy life. Take up a hobby. When it's time to say goodbye, just say goodbye, move on, and never look back.

- Eugenio

(P.S. - For those of you looking to score some great equipment at great prices, please check back in the coming days where I will list the eBay auction IDs and links to items being sold. Thank you.)

Starr's Sunday Brunch

Starr's Sunday Brunch


There's something special about brunch. It's a meal that combines the best of breakfast with a taste of lunch. Okay, so that's probably the most obvious thing you've ever read on a blog, but skipping breakfast often means that the hunger setting in creates a unique craving that begs for a delicious compromise. During the week it's far too easy to abandon breakfast, but on a weekend when the pace is slow and relaxed, sometimes it means that typical morning fare can relentlessly be craved throughout the day.

Brunch at Starr's is an experience all to itself and the food is only just the start. Starr's ambience is artsy, but masqued in a warm and welcoming setting. Visit sometime in the spring when the cold wind and warm sun confuse your senses about the time of year. For some odd reason this mixture of sensory experiences creates a natural parity. Perhaps this is why nature chose this time of year to grow living things of beauty. Starr's on a weekend is certainly a thing of beauty.

Exactly one year ago to this month the local magazine I shoot for assigned me to photograph several local restaurants with weekend brunch offerings. My first stop was in Mocksville at Starr's. Starr's is located in the downtown area of a really small town. I was thrilled to have blue skies outside, but what was more exciting was the colorful inside. The front reception area resembled the storefront of a bakery. Unbeknownst to me, Starr's probably was a bakery. I was simply taken aback by the vibrantly painted interior and the charming staff inside. It didn't take but a few moments to speak with the restaurant's owner and head chef. Before I knew it, brunch was served. Photos were a breeze given the large front windows, and of course, the colorful walls, table setting, and dish.


I could spend the next few sentences describing what you see above, but you would perhaps best be served by staring and salivating at the image. Yep, it was that good. Oh yes, samples for the photographer are often consumed by the photographer.

Brunch is now a new weekend incentive to sleep in until at least noon. I can comfortably hug my pillow and allow my belly to ache me awake into the day already in progress. A warm shower, a short drive away, and a brunch in a small town fulfills one of many weekends in continued search for a better quality of life. Find a restaurant offering brunch in your town. You might just find yourself comfortable with skipping your next breakfast without regret and with a new found sense of weekend relaxation.

Florida, In a Blink, Many Memories

Florida, In a Blink, Many Memories


My trip to Florida this weekend was determined a few years ago when our family lost my Uncle Gilbert, and more recently, the loss of another uncle, Uncle "Jessie." Shanti and I drove overnight on a Friday and into Saturday for a ceremony to celebrate their lives. Our time in Tampa - only just a few hours on Saturday followed by an 11 hour return trip to North Carolina on a Sunday - imprinted a lifetime of memories in my mind. It was my purpose to photograph our family's reunion, but a heavy heart made it difficult to commit. I found solace in the hours after the ceremony to take photos of what used to be my home and again capture my Florida's beauty. Our day on Saturday ended just like many others when our families would leave a beautiful sunset behind us from a long day at the beach. Watching that sun setting on the drive home was like leaving the beach for the last time with my uncles. On Saturday we said our final goodbyes. As I watched that sun set into that beautiful Florida sky I felt as if I was leaving the beach that one last time, except without my uncles. I miss my home. I miss my uncles.