Hello Poland

I got a page view from Poland, and I would like to say hello to whoever that was. If you're in some random part of the world, thanks for finding me. I hope you enjoy my pictures, or my stories, or the candle I have burning in the corner. I have to blow it out when I go to sleep though so it doesn't catch the curtains on fire.

`jonnyups

Driving Beverages
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

Sometimes in life you take chances. Sometimes these chances are with a job, or with a girl or boy, or with weekend plans, or whatever. This photo represents a time when I took a chance. It was a moment in time where I didn't think about anything, and just took a chance. Yeah, it involved a girl. Not in any romantic way, just in a friend way. It was a chance well worth taking. I had a fantastic time in this moment.

I never thought much of this photo. It was just a quick snapshot because I love Starbucks. But now looking back at it, it reminds me of a fun day. A day where I shot some mediocre photos. A day where I made a new friend. And a day where I didn't think about the person I was, or who I would become. I just thought about that exact moment in time, and had a blast.


Life and love and why
Child, adult, then die
All of your hoping
And all of your searching
For what?
Ask me for what am I living
Or what gives me strength
That I'm willing to die for

Take away from me
This monstrosity
'Cause my futile thinking's
Not gonna solve nothing tonight
Ask me for what am I living
Or what gives me strength
That I'm willing to die for

Could it be this
Could this be bliss
Could it be all that
I ever had missed
Could it be true
Can life be new
And can I be used
Can I be used

Give me a reason
For life and for death
A reason for drowning
While I hold my breath
Something to laugh at
A reason to cry
With everyone hopeless
And hoping for something
To hope for
Yeah, with something to hope for

Could it be true
Can life be new
Could it be all that I am
Is in You
Could it be this
Could it be bliss
Can it be You
Can it be You


`jonnyups

Pluggity Plug
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

I party with rock stars. Tonight was no different.

`jonnyups

Hyper-Snare, GO!
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

This is my #10 most viewed photo on Flickr.com. It was the first real concert I shot with my camera. I have the pleasure of knowing this band (www.AsILayDying.com) via this guy, Jordan, whom I worked at Wetzel's Pretzels with back in our early years. He and I have also grown up in the same church. I was house sitting for his singer and was able to get a photo pass for their show when they came through town. I hadn't seen Jordan play drums in years, so I was rather excited to see how he had progressed in his mad skills.

I was not surprised, he was pretty amazing. His band's light set up was pretty great too, allowing me to get some good shots.

I learned this night to shoot on my manual setting. It was scary, but it worked. It also started to sprinkle a bit and I was scared of ruining my camera so early on in my career. Everything ended up working for the best, and out of the 700 photos I took of this band that night, I came out with a few that made all my hard work worth it.

As I Lay Dying is currently writing a new album right here in San Diego, and it will probably be their biggest album to date.

Model 04
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

This was the first model shoot I ever did. Her name is Kimberly, and she is fantastic. She is truly beautiful, and the camera seemed to love her. This picture isn't my favorite shot of her, but it's one I haven't looked at since the shoot, and I do enjoy it. She looks uncertain, but is definitely confident. She has since moved from San Diego and is "Snow White" at Disneyland in Los Angeles. Someday I will shoot her again, she doesn't know it yet. If you click these photos, you can see the image, and some others from that day. Please take a look around, and if you're on Flickr.com, feel free to leave a comment.

`jonnyups

Barbed Wire
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

She calls out "Hi Ho Silver" from her chair
She dreams of somehow saving the day
She rides out west into the sunset
She knew she could, she'd somehow find a way

Unsettled and nervous, she stands up and walks towards the door. She knows the torment within her soul, slowly eating away at her, will someday find solace in the calm of another home. Love surrounds her, flocks to her, but it's empty love. It's empty because love isn't what she's looking for.

She's closed, afraid and wary because of a heart who did her wrong. She's ready.

She dreams of somehow saving the day.