A Year Of Learning

'What's Wrong With Me?'
-Julia Stone

(Disclaimer: I have chosen to speak very frankly below.  By doing so you may feel offended and angry. Just know I wish you peace as there is no time to truly be angry in your day at the words and thoughts I choose to share.  I mean you no harm and hate, just that we are of different paths now and that is ok.)

Dear Readers of 'The Gawduner,'

When things happen in ones own life that cause a inner reflection at what they really want out of their life things begin to change.  Things can change for good or even bad.

As I have said in the past 2011 became a pivotal year for me, and it was a good one in the end.

I accomplished my goal of distancing my self from the constant addiction of Facebook except in regards to the ARG IMAG Photography page which needed keep up for my business.  I experienced a once thought to be a budding relationship turn to dust over night (Literally), which later turned out to be one of the biggest plays I've ever been through.  (And I've been played before.)  I experienced the forced loss of a job and the luck of being offered a job all because of the impact I have left on people around me.  I gained a powerful recharge in my photography that has taken me light years of where I was this time last year.  A charge in the way I look and practice physical health was embraced this past year, I have never looked nor felt better.  I have also experienced the sifting of friends and finding those that have stayed close to me even when they live miles, city's and states away.  I have also started new friendships by the common connection of simple iPhone apps and love of music.  During that same time with friendships I have greatly learned that several I called friends in my own town were not such.  It was more of a friendship of convenience, one in which they took and gave when they felt inclined.  And if I did not do the "keeping in contact 100% of the time" it was my fault I was not part of parties or get togethers (just a heads up a phone works two ways and there are many ways to contact me other than phone.)  I experienced a look at my own beliefs and religious beliefs, and just where I stand in regards to them.  And I experienced a dark and deep depression.

I am not bitter for any of the things I learned and went through in 2011.  I thank those who helped me in depression and despair, sometimes even making sure I was actually eating.

My Family
Sydney
Kenley
Nicole
Fred
Daniella
Channa
Emily
Kevin
Katie
David
Molly
Roxanne

I take to 2012 with this new mind.  Full of knowledge and ability to accomplish greater things than ever before.  My blogging may pick back up and it may not.  I have chosen to live my life doing what I like and enjoying my passions.  This means the pull of the inter-webs to blog and Facebook my every moment, unless for photography related items, may be infrequent.  But do check back from time to time.  You have not heard the last of me :)


'The Memory Machine'
-Julia Stone


-Gawdun

2011 A Grand Start

Besides loosing my bartending job this week due to Ruby Tuesday closing all it's franchise locations I am having a FANTASTIC 2011!  I'm sure it will get better but I would like to see it try!

My photography business, ARG IMAG Photography, is growing, and my personal life has taken a huge jolt of "I didn't see that coming but I love it!"

Hope you are all having a great start as well.  February is next week!!

...The End

-Gawdun

Dance on Your Floors

'My Only Wish'
-Jessica Simpson

For my final posting for today.  (Three in one day that is record for me fewwww.)

Last week Nicole and I attended that Sin City Roller Girls roller disco event down in Vegas like old times. (They used to host it at the Rain nighclub at the Palms but since it has moved over to The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel Casino) Being friends and working with the roller girls has it's perks as we did not have to pay a cover for the club and were on the list.

I like being on a list.

I opted out from skating with the rest of the fun people so that I could take photo's.  I did not bring my work camera as I wasn't on the media list so I just stuck to the trusty cell phone and used a trusty app called 'Vignette.'  If you have an android based phone I must tell you to get the app.  It's worth the freeness of it.

Here are the shots from the night.

Favorite Shot #1 (above)

Favorite shot #2 (above)

Favorite Shot #3 (above)

Favorite Shot #4 (above)

I'd love to hear your thoughts on these please.

It's nice to once in a while shoot photos that are not on a specific assignment or job and things that I want to shoot.  It helps keeps me creative and fresh.


'Time of the Season'
-Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan


-Gawdun

Supersampler Wake

'Electric Feel'

-MGMT

Over the past weekend I joined some friends at the lake. 26 and I sadly have to admit that I had never wake surfed before and the last time I was on a boat was when I was 9 or 10 and it was a tiny fishing boat. (You know the kind seen in the movie 'Date Night.' Yeah it was just as slow.)

It was a day of new things. First off I'm not a fan of water I can't see the bottom in, but that didn't even bother me. When it came time to attempt the surfing I wont lie, I sucked at first. But the guys said I was improving each try. I neither can nor cannot confirm that there was a few choice words out of my mouth at this time. I just about made it standing up but man-alive I needed to take a break, wake surfing sure used muscles I forgot I had. We then decided to hit up the cliff jumping rocks. I said "Heck NO!" to that but in the end jumped not once but twice. It was fun and addicting.

Later though when I tried wake surfing again I feel that I tore it up! One of the guys gave me a pointer on getting up on the board better and it totally worked. I was up and riding behind the boat! It was sick. The only bad time was when we hit, what my aunt calls, "that wave." I am surprised I wasn't knocked out cold. It was nooooo good.

Needless to say the pain in the morning was well worth the adventure.

While I was on the lake I brought along my camera. (I know shocking.) But I didn't bring my work camera I brought myLomography camera. It's a camera from the 'SuperSampler' line. I forgot how much I love shooting with film and this camera....

Bill yet showing how to do such events with the board.

I had Bill take a shot of me with the camera so I did my best to explain from the water how to use the camera. Bill did manage to photograph part of me, er the board I was on. Don’t worry Bill I still love it.

Fred, seriously tears it up. While I need to hold onto the rope he did not need it most the time. That shall be my goal for next time.

The cliff from which we jumped. I only was half way if that on it.

This is by far one of my favorites from the day.

'Dying Day'

-Brandi Carlile

-Gawdun

How's My Flash?

As many of you read in the past few posts I was and am a big supporter of Earth Hour. (refer to past post 1 and 2) My family also supports this grand cause. This year we participated in a couple fun rounds of Uno Attack and all this is done by candle light. Along with my little brother, mother and I, we had the neighbor over and two friends of mine over, Karyn and Susi. After we partook of this glorious game of alliances and deceiving each other we took some night photo's using our little LED lanterns. (I understand several of you may wonder why we had a LED lantern when we were supposed to be in the dark. Well flashlights are ok, it's using electricity and turing the lights out that Earth Hour tries to make people aware of.)

Here is the result of our LED light work... I'm learning to use a new Mac photo editing software called Pixelmator so this is not the best photo stitched image. You'll get over it I'm sure , if not that is your fault. :-)

I felt that Earth Hour would not be complete without a special candle so I made a quick trip to the local Dollar Store and picked it up. I won't lie when I say that it seemed to complete the darkness, what do you think?

Hope everyone is having fun this conference weekend !!!

-Gawdun