Fireworks 4
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

So this past weekend, I had a good conversation with one of my friends. He basically talked to me about things he's been struggling with, and what he's learned from it. One of the things he said was this,

"Don't let depression define who you are. You'll find yourself comfortable with it, and you'll then convince yourself that you are a person who is depressed. Even if that's not the case at all."

For some reason, this just hit me. This weekend turned me into a new person. For now at least. I have been in the best mood, and that's cause for celebration.

Also cause for celebration, my band (Parker Theory) released our album today in America. At least in California it's in Best Buy. You can find it on all the .com stores I think. Target, Circuit City, Best Buy, Amazon...all the usuals. Please buy it if you love me. Here's a taste of it, just click:



Thanks for reading. If you came directly to the blog, then check out my real website:

www.JonnyUps.com

There, you'll find a directory to my photos, blog (here), myspace, and contact info. It's new, so if you haven't seen it, go check it. Also, if you link to me, change the link to go directly to the website, not the blog. Then peeps can see all that is me. :) Love you all, thanks for the birthday wishes (it was monday, May 14th). Happy Wednesday!

`jonnyups

I Saw A Caterpiller
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

I have a sinking feeling you wrote about me today. You don't even read this blog.

I'm fine. In a sincere way, I'm fine. I'm not ok, at all. My heart is feeling more pain these days than ever before. But I'm fine, and I honestly appreciate you thinking enough to write. Even if it wasn't aimed in my direction. ps. I'm not afraid of you saying hi.

In other news...

The picture associated with this post is one I took this last Saturday on a photo excursion with some friends. When I first started taking pictures of this faucet, I only saw a faucet. There was dripping water, some rust, the usual. So this picture is to remind us of something. It's to remind us that there are things in life that are obvious. The funny thing is, the obvious in this case, was the little creature that I didn't see. How did I not see the obvious? Has life grown to such a speed that I can't look down and see what's in front of me?


Here we are before You, we're falling on our knees
Crying out for a savior, we're crying out for You to see.

Here we are, we're crippled and we're failing
Here we are, we're falling, can You see...

That You're the only one who came for me
So rescue me, I'm desperate for You, my broken heart is calling for You
'Cause You're the only one who can save me
So save me I'm in desperation, save me I've been waiting for You, Lord.

(listen to "Rescue Me" by Joel Hosler)


`jonnyups

Dandy
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

So a lot of my entries have been sad. Things in my life have been tough. Real tough. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know what I'm doing. I have so many things going on that I am lost in my own mind and have definitely had trouble finding my way out. I think I'm just about there. At least for a couple days.

My dad has begun radiation on his pelvic bone and lungs. Both have been attacked by cancer. Pray for a miracle. Those are hard to come by, but that makes them more spectacular.

Last night I stayed up late talking to my roomie, Brandon. About 3:30 am I went to bed. Came online to check my e-mail, and fell asleep. At my computer. 4:45 am rolls around and I wake up, close my computer and stand up to go to bed. I get up, and immediately fall flat on my face, no hands to stop me. My legs were asleep and I didn't realize it. So there I lay on the floor, at almost 5:00 am, unable to move. I finally get myself up, rub my face for a few minutes in pain, and hop into bed. I need more sleep.

Britney Spears is doing a secret show at the House Of Blues in San Diego on May 1st. My buddy Rob and I bought tickets. Then we scheduled band practice that night. So I just listed, and sold our $35 tickets on craigslist for $300. We each just made $100 profit on those bad boys.

The picture in this post is a strong symbol of how my life will be very soon. This flower used to be yellow, or white, sitting there by itself amongst some grass. One day it started to change. That's me. I'm ready for a change. I think I need a wife. :) Specifically a hot one. And one with a good job, because in southern California, I can't support 2 people on my income alone. And if you can sing, that's even better. So, Kelly Clarkson, you win. :) Lucky girl you.

This entry has been more personal than normal. I will try and have something or someone to promote for the next entry. In the meantime, thanks for stopping by. I've been getting hits on this site from all over the world (Spain, England, China, Japan, etc) and would like to see that trend continue. Say hi once in a while.

`jonnyups

ps. Be sure to use BLINGO.com instead of Google.com (it's powered by Google) because you can win stuff. My friend CorRi searched using Blingo, and won a movie ticket...and that got me one too. Free stuff rules my world. So use it, and rule. Click this cute little picture to use it.

Grace 1
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

So all this week I have been dog sitting. Ironically, I am dog sitting (house sitting also) at the same place where I work. It's a home office. Needless to say, I've been going nuts this week. I wake up, walk down the hall to work, then I work, then I walk back into the house where I eventually fall asleep just to do the same the next morning. The bummer being that the dog I am watching is so spoiled that it needs a lot of attention. I'll live I suppose.

Also, for an update on my pops. He had a full body scan this past week to see if he has any bone cancer. The doctor said they may have found a small amount, but that they will be able to take care of it if that's what it is. He also had a lung biopsy on friday morning. We should find out the details on tuesday or wednesday. This is the news we've been waiting for. I don't know what to expect, and I know I'll be ok with whatever I find out, but the anticipation is terrible.

I'm not going to lie, life has been difficult lately.

This is a search engine, Powered by GOOGLE, that gives away stuff when you use it. Stuff like amazon.com gift cards, itunes cards, cars, and cash. This is me talking, not some spam ad. :) I just want to win stuff.

AND...if I invite you, and you win, I win too! So now you see my motive. If you win a car, they give me one too. I'm not gonna lie, that's pretty sweet. So yeah, go. Do this. Win me stuff.

`jonnyups

_MG_7891.jpg
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

Today is the day that my band's new album, "Leaving California" is released in Japan under the Fabtone Records label. The picture in this entry is the photo I took that ended up being the cover of the new album. Japan Release only, of course.

If you want to see the album cover, or even buy the album, look here:


Parker Theory - Leaving California

If anybody from Japan is reading this, thanks for stopping by.

We get to go to Tokyo on May 24th to support this album. Hopefully it will sell well!

This ends my official post on my band.

`jonnyups

Shoot.
Originally uploaded by EOS.650.

But, this is a picture of the lens I just purchased.

Holy Cow.

I am now poor. Resume feeding me donations for the next 3 months.

`jonnyups

My Coast
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

So this "Life Changing" news I posted about earlier...

A week ago Sunday, my dad had finally had enough of his neck pain, so he went to the Urgent Care place we always go to if we need it. They took an x-ray and found that his arthritis had returned...but they also found a questionable mass in his lungs. So they went to get a cat-scan to see if it was cancer or pneumonia. It ended up being a lump, presumably cancerous. I thought we would find out today what it was, but not quite yet. This week they will do some bronchialslidfaslkdjflas something or other test to see if they can determine what it is, then they'll biopsy it.

This whole situation makes you love someone in a different way. I have always been close with my parents, but it's different now. I don't know. I just want this all to be over with so I can know a little more what to expect.

Prayers are definitely welcome!

`jonnyups

Sunny Days
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

Life-changing news, coming Tuesday, March 27th, 2007.



set your alarms. stay tuned. come back here that night.

thank you,
`jonnyups

Connection
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

"you can fly, I will never die. you can do anything you want to if you try.

I am a robot, and you're an alien. I've been lying to you.

But you believed it. Yeah you believed it.



I've been listening A LOT to the new Brighten album. As of now, it's only available at shows (they just finished up with "Cute Is What We Aim For" and will most likely be hitting the road in May with "Hawthorne Heights") and I guarantee you, it's worth the price of admission.

That quote above, at the beginning of the post, speaks loudly the pleasure of deception. The acceptance of it. The normalcy that deception is to most people. People lie to us, people deceive us. And we believe it. We glady believe it because you tell us what we want to hear. All we want is to believe, to believe is something greater. For me, greater is God. It's music. It's photography. It's friendships and it's love. I don't know what love is. I am clueless when it comes to photography. Music is so subjective. and friendships are fake. I know who God is, but do I let Him know me?

I have a negative outlook on life because I have never been given reason to see things positively. Actually, I have. But I am an artist and small speedbumps get me down. On the whole, things are great. I just allow my mind to beat myself up quicly, over little things. Anybody relate to that?


if you could make the oceans, and live above the skies.

wake the sun for morning, and light the moon at night...

then why oh, why can't I?

then why oh, why can't I?

Tracy Johnson 1
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

I love this picture. It's not a fantastic picture by any means, but it has special meaning to me. Special because it's one of the few photos I have of my acoustic guitar. Sadly, I'm not in the shot with it, but that's ok. I like the vintage couch. The blue on brown, the beige, the soft lighting.

This photo was taken quite a while ago. My friend Tracy Johnson (www.myspace.com/tracyjohnson) asked me to take promotional shots for her. So naturally I said yes. When she saw them, she wasn't a huge fan, and hasn't used any of them. I still love her. I didn't post them at her request, but I haven't seen her in a while so here they are. I own the rights anyways.

Last night, one of her songs (co-written by the singer in my band) was played on Mtv's "The Real World: Denver" and so I am posting this photo because I am proud of her!

I am getting a new external hard drive in a couple days, so I can start posting photos again. Photos with stories. Don't forget about me, bookmark this place and come back often. Thanks Friends!

`jonnyups

Canon + Apple = Love
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

In this life, I have few loves. My Canon camera, and my Apple (MacBook Pro) laptop. Some other loves are my Taylor 414ce acoustic guitar, my Ernie Ball MusicMan Stingray bass guitar and my friends.

I know 4 out of the 5 of those are objects you can buy. I consider my family as part of the friends group. I love my family.

I'm not a very material person. I mean, I am because I enjoy buying things that are awesome (such as cameras, computers, instruments), but I enjoy moments in life, experiences, and people far more than anything you could buy at a store.

With my instruments, I've had the chance to have some amazing experiences. I've traveled to Germany/Switzerland/France because of music. I've played in front of thousands of people in one night. And soon I will be going to Japan to play music. I've gotten to record with amazing artists, I've gotten to learn more about myself by teaching myself an instrument. I've had some great times, and I've allowed myself to look deeper while holding an instrument.

With my camera I've been able to meet and photograph some amazing bands. I've been able to stretch myself by doing portraits, weddings, parties, and other things I would have never imagined attending or trying. I've learned the value of a dollar, and when I want to buy something for my camera, I know it's important to save about two thousand of those valuable dollars. And because of photography, I have now become a "Professional Photographer" for my job. It's full time, and I get to work with kids and love people in a way I could have never imagined.

With my computer, I have become a ".com" and have people from all over the world reading useless ramblings of a dumb guy in San Diego, California.

Because of money, I have been able to buy happiness. DO NOT, for a moment, think that money can buy happiness. Money can be the root of all evil. You just have to use what you have, in a positive way. Years ago, I decided that I was going to live my life in a way that made me happy. I think that if you have a job that you're not happy with, you need to do something to change it. I have had jobs I enjoy, but I am constantly changing in the area of what I enjoy. I have come to a place where I love what I do. My free time is filled with photography, or music, or traveling, or friendships. Not to pull a Dr. Phil on you, but when you click out of this page and go elsewhere on the net, don't forget this. Don't forget that YOU are responsible for yourself. You have the power to make yourself happy. Just look at life a little differently.

"In this life you're the flower and the thorn... -jon foreman

`jonnyups

Joe Greenetz 3
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

Back in December, I had the chance to record some bass tracks for a pal's solo project. The drummer on the project is Joe from the band Sherwood.

Anyways, my point being this:

Sherwood is releasing a new album on March 13th, it is called "A Different Light" and it is worth the money. If you head over to myspace.com/sherwood and look around, you can get the album for under $10, or the album AND a shirt for $16. Please do youself a favor and get this album, it is very solid from start to finish.

The least you can do is go to their myspace and listen to a few songs. Then come back here and tell me what you think.

`jonnyups

Stipes Of Fremont
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

This was a door near an antique shop in Fremont (Seattle). I like to travel, and see the world. Seattle is one of my favorite places. I would like to live there, but I would also like to stay here in San Diego.

Not everything is black and white.

Speaking of travel. I just found out this week that my bands record label in Japan is bring us out to Tokyo in May. We're going to be opening for our friends in Waking Ashland for at least 3 shows. I love Waking Ashland, and they are from right here where I live, so it will be great to travel across the world with them. I am excited to see Japan, and know what the culture is like. My friend Jordan (from As I Lay Dying) has told me that Japan has the best fans in the world, and I look forward to finding out for myself. You can expect pictures, for sure!!!

I love music, I love photography, I love sleeping, I love God, and I love my life. I am thankful for ALL of the awesome things I get to do.

`jonnyups

Public Information
Originally uploaded by jonnyups.

So as I was walking through Fremont (Seattle, Washington), I saw this...a telephone pole that had seen it's fair share of staples. There are probably 40 or 50 billion staples on this post. It's ridiculous. But think about it, what announcements have been made on this post?

"Concert this Friday!"

That's an easy one. Maybe political statements, or maybe religious statements.

"Jesus Loves You"

Whatever has gone on this post, placed there by a person, and held tightly by staples, I hope it was read. I hope someone saw the message, and acknowledged it. Either by reading, or ripping the paper off, or sticking gum to it. I hope this post has been well loved. Actually, as I was walking down this street, I saw a woman walking with a stack of papers and a stapler. She stopped at the post before this, and left her message. And to be honest, I am everything I don't want to be. I didn't read her message. I just thought about what I would staple to a post.

What would you staple to a post? If you were on a busy street with a stack of papers and a stapler, what would your papers say?

`jonnyups

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