All I want for my birthday...

Im a bit lost for words here. Im stuck between the verge of compiling another small essay for you to read and just saying fuckit. Its late, I'm tired, its been a weekend of epic proportions, and tomorrow the insanity of it all will continue. Given, I have a fair amount of what society would call "work" to do, I have a lot planned in terms of photography. Looks something like this:

* Shoot a rap star. Potential booty shaking, bling and boobs.
* Shoot headshot's of said rap star.
* Shoot a model out on location in the freezing cold.
* Shoot the second part of a series im compiling.
* Start shooting a new series that I am really, really, really excited about. Something very different.
* Shoot a dude with a massive afro.
* Shoot something else I am not allowed to talk about right now.
* Edit all of this shit.

All of this has to be done due to time constraints with regard to my departure back home. Another pretty good reason is that my mother may come for a visit. She recently learnt the phrase YOLO. Which apart from being absolutely magic to hear my mom say YOLO, is great because a spontaneous flight from London to Trondheim will mean I will get to kick it with the most amazing mom in the world for a weekend! ( Come on Neety! You Only Live Once!) I refuse to be caught up with the trivialities of the photo business on a weekend that my mother comes to visit me all the way from South Africa. I really would like to get done with all the shooting before I kick it home as well though. Time to get cracking and make things happen.

In the mean time though. I attended one of the best parties this weekend. My dearest friend Linn-Sara celebrated her birthday in typical style. What a rad Saturday. What a group of people. I kinda felt obliged to whip out the 7D and fisheye for this one. Love that camera and that lens. I have been debating selling the two for long time now. I have also been leaning towards keeping it, but now have come to the conclusion that after the SA trip, it has to go. I hardly shoot it anymore, and its an expensive piece of gear that I can't really justify keeping just because of one lens. Going to be sad. But strategically the right move. *cough* 5D mk3 coming. *cough*.

Here are some pictures of some of the love that was shared, the drinks that were spilled, the cake that was baked, the face's that come to life at night, and most importantly, the friendships I value so much today. Check in soon again. N.

PS. Creds to my buddy Stian for some of the shots. Cant dance, look like Tony Montana and shoot photo's all at the same time ya know!

Some lifestyle shit...

Was that title inappropriate? I tried to think of something witty and smart that would lighten up everyones Monday, but then I realised I'm really not feeling very witty right now, nor do I have the time, so many projects running simultaneously now that Im actually stressing to deliver images to people, bollocks. As much as I love the system I'm running now ( Lightroom 3.5, EOS Digital, Mountain Lion, etc...) Java and Flash are giving me so much shit right now. I need to pay my retoucher to get back a set of images I need so I can send them to the client, but I cant pay him because I cant login to my bank because the login is powered by Java. New plugins please Apple!!! This is slowing the whole production line down as I cant send him more images to retouch before I have paid hime for the last batch. More bollocks.

On my way to Kristiansand now, sitting at the rectum of all airports, Oslo Gardemoen. God have mercy. Looking forward to what I can imagine to be a week filled with good weather, good vibes, filthy humor and the occasional bit of work.

I could actually be sent to Auschwitz for two weeks and not care right now, after the weekend, Im just fizzing with energy and good vibes. Been a while since I've had so much fun with my buddies. Ok, on second thought, Auschwitz would be a pretty shitty place to be sent, especially on a Monday. Here are some "lifestyle" shots from the weekend. I usually refrain taking a DSLR out just to shoot snapshits, but Its been a while since I shot my 7D and 8mm fisheye, but I really love WIIIIIIIDE shots, so I can see myself holding onto the 7D for a while longer just to play with it.

In other news, Moods of Norway are stirring up a fuss. I read in the paper they are expecting a local modelling agency in Oslo to deliver models for Oslo Fashion Week for free. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING?! This is precisely what I was on about last night. I dont know the in's and out's of the entire story, so I dont what to jump down the throat of a group without knowing the facts, but I can say this: Moods of Norway is making money, some where in the region of 271 Million NOK last year. And they are cutting costs and expecting the industry to give them freebies. Get real. Im not hopping on the bandwagon here or trying to start a boycott, but really? I think they are a very talented group of designers, that make some really cool swag, but I dont support them because its not my style of clothing. Thats a taste thing. Anyway, here are some shots from yesterday, Hopefully I can get some of the cool skating shots done later this week, take it easy, N.

Chill time in the sun.

Burger queen.

The candy man, dig this shot.

A well stoked Linn Sara.

All the candy floss disappeared very quickly.

Random cat-fight on the grass.

Drive by skate shot.

One of the outtakes from our session on the hill in Møllenberg. Classic.

Fisheye and random snapshits.

I have recently acquired a 8mm 1:3.5 fisheye. Its super sweet!!! I was looking at the Canon EF 15mm 1:2.8 and the Canon EF 8-15mm 1:4, and a bunch of other Sigma wide angle goodies, but i found this gem for a bargain, I was less than a third of the price of the above mentioned. Score.

I debated for a period, whether to maybe wait a bit longer and save the extra cash to buy some L-glass goodness, but i came to the conclusion that A) This is a lens that i will use for fun and playing around 95% of the time. B) I cant justify spending 3X- 4X more on a lens that does "pretty much the same" when i dont live in CPT anymore and dont have a housing or shoot surfing/bodyboarding as much as i would like to.

This is where it gets a bit nerdy. For those that have no interest in Tech-Specs of gear, im sure SABC3 (eller NRK hvis du bo i Norge) has something less mind numbingly boring on right now.

This lens has NO Autofocus. Is this an irritating problem? No. 8mm is so wide, that the sharpness is right across the board regardless, sure if youre a pixel-peeper, you will be disappointed, but you really have to misjudge you distance to your subject BADLY to screw the focus up.

This lens does not line up with the Canon EF (S) mounts so you can control aperture from the body. So you have to dial in your Full Stops and half stops manually on the lens. I actually like this. Im also going to start using my old Mamiya/Sekor 35mm lenses with this feature more.

Filming in HD with this lens is awesome. End of story.

It feels solid in your hands and on the body, just have to watch out for the front element as it protrudes massively! The front lens cap is bit of a joke, going to have to modify it some way so that it fits a bit more snuggly.

Here are some test shots from the weekend. Enjoy.

Gamle by brua i Trondheim, dritt været. 

Nose was about 10cm from the front element, this thing is WIDE!!!

Ya, i dunno, could really find a sensible caption for this.

Torstein, with the latest edition to the Eide clan, Trim, or Trym or Trimm?