Vacation: Oregon Trail Once Again

It's been nearly a month since I left Oregon. Finally had a chance to edit some of the photos from the trip. Great trip. I loved every moment of it. Real fun. So many memories. I'm glad I was able to capture a lot of it via GoPro/dSLR. I was able to do some site seeing in Oregon. We did everything I wanted to do in Oregon, given my wallet agreed with me. LoL!

We went snowboarding at Mount Hood Meadows of Timberlake. First time experiencing powder, empty mountain. I literally felt I was the only rider on the trails. I started to get scared because I wasn't sure if I was near civilization. After a day of boarding, we hit up McMenamins. A local bar that was featured in "Drinking Made Easy" with Zane Lamprey. Walking around the bar creep'd me out with all the scary paintings and knowing it was haunted. I don't know. Something about that place rubbed me the wrong way. I just drank more until that feeling went away. Hahaa.

During my visit, it was also St. Patrick's Day and did some site seeing to downtown Portland. I knew Portland was weird and nice, but didn't realize it was that NICE!! Like too nice. I'm not use to it. I feel like no one can be that nice without a motive. Seeing all the green made me sad that I didn't wear a green shirt. The next thing I know we went to the HQ of Nike. Yeah, I bought a grip of gear. It was awesome!! I was so overwhelmed, I needed Steph and Pete to do most of the shopping for me. So much fresh gear. I like I know what I'm doing when I hit the gym.

Another night of drinking was ahead of me. It was amazing to visit Rogue brewery. Grab some amazing beers, like "Good Chit". Hahaaa. Steph's favorite. After the drinks, hit up the coolest strip club I ever been too. Casa Diablo, meeting "Naomi", one of the hottest girls there. That place has built amazing images in my mind. I'll never forget. That's something that's staying with me. Hahaa.

Go Visit the Trans in Oregon with me next time!!

Oregon Trail '12 from Ryan Florido on Vimeo.

Mini Vacation: Oregon 2012 from Ryan Florido on Vimeo.

On Location: MTB WOODSON!!!

Ok, I have hiked Mt. Woodson for quiet a bit already. I can't run up it like Omar, but I definitely don't walk up it. I want to say I know the mountain fairly well. I know what to expect. I meet new hikers and like to share my experience to them. Everyone who hikes Woodson is cool in my books. But how many people mountain bike up Woodson and then down. Not to many. Like the dozen times I have hiked Woodson, I have only seen one biker attempt the climb. The more I think about it, the more confidence builds up. I can RUN mountain bike Woodson.

On a day off, Aldrich calls me up and says one word..."Woodson!" Of course I'm down! I told myself I would ride it. Ride it I did! I was concerned that Al would slow us down. NO FREAKIN' WAY!!! Aldrich is a beast on that mountain. Running up and down it. He beat me and Omar down the mountain. Given I had to shoulder the bike one some pretty gnarly obstacles. Totally worth it in the end to get some pictures at the top with my buddy Omar. Omar is something else. I hope to edit the footage of his downhill.

Both photos were taken by Aldrich with GoPro Hero2 and edited in Lightroom 3.

I am disgusted wtih Omar. That beast.

Yeah!!! We conquered Woodson!!

Tim's G35

A day after the rain is always a good day. Here are a few pictures of Tim's ride, a clean VQ35 with modifications found throughout the entire car. He only cleaned the exterior of his car. Hopefully, he'll detail it and get the whole package of a luxury car. If you know the location of this garage...good for you. If you know a better roof top garage that won't have us kicked out....LET ME KNOW!!!! 

Not all the shots were done by me. Tim, being the ricer he is, he studies his angles and reads enough auto magazines to capture good auto pics.

All shots done by my Canon 20D either the 50mm 1.4 or the macro 100mm 2.8. All natural light. Edits done in Adobe Lightroom 3. If you have a copy of Lightroom 4...please send it my way.

British are Moving!?

Nick Wong, first friend, true statement, well, his friends are moving. But wait, don't be too sad, they found a place about a mile from their previous spot. It was the last day I partied at this house. Everyone was cool. Or maybe I was just drinking that much it made everyone cool. I don't know. All I know is that I had a good time. It was cool hanging out with my first friend, Nick and my Filipino brother Justin. I wonder if Lauren remembers his name? Hahaaa.

Here are some of the photos from the night.
Song: Beautiful People
Artist: Chris Brown

Camera Info: Canon 20D, Canon 28mm f/1.8, Canon speedlite 430ex, shot mostly in manual mode with a shutter speed of 1/40, aperture 2.5-4.0, speedlite set on ETTL bouncing off the ceiling. No added light modifier.

Click Here to download pics. Yeah...I'll see some people using pictures on facebook. HAHaa.


British are Moving from Ryan Florido on Vimeo.

On Location: Clean on the Outside, Cream on the Inside

My good buddy John just washed/wax his ride. Not a weekend warrior car, a daily driver Acura RSX Type-S with A-Spec styling. I've always been a fan of the car scene, I can talk about cars all day at time. It just happened that he was off and so was I. What a coincidence.

We hit up Harbor Island to shoot the San Diego skyline, Midway for a guerrilla type photo shoot, then downtown SD for some fresh graffiti. Tried different techniques, not bad for an hour photo shoot.

On Location: Stuart Collection

One of my goals for 2012 was to be more active in photography. Not just taking self portraits and shooting my friends' when we drink. Those are all fun too, but I need to practice more than just portrait photography. One thing that is helping me are local photography Meet-ups. I have the opportunity to meet other photographers and practice my trade.

This meetup was to walk throughout the campus of UC San Diego in La Jolla. A beautiful campus with color, design, and significance. I wonder if all UCSD students appreciate the art surrounding them.

Fallen Star

The Fallen Star is one of the newer pieces, created by Do So Suh. We were able to meet the director of the Stuart Collection and brought us up the top of the Fallen Star and explained the importance and meaning of it. Being an immigrant coming to America, he felt as everything was disoriented to him. When you take a step into the house, you feel that disorientation. Looking out the window, seeing the view of the campus and library. It wasn't furnished yet. Very cool structure to visit it.

Geisel Library, Snake Path, Garden of Eden

The Library is a marvel on its own. The snake path and the significance amazes me. Leading toward the library is a snake path, tiled and curved like a snake, not like a traditional path. The idea of the library is Paradise. With the snake being the path toward Knowledge (library).

This kid was just hanging out, studying. The colors and his lounging was attractive to me.

Bear (2005) Tim Hawkinson

Dr. Suess

Trees (1986) Terry Allen

Snake Path (1982) Alexis Smith

Talking Tree

Titan

2011 FAIL!!!! 2012 is here!!

Happy New Years to all my family and friends. I'm thankful that I started the New Years right with the people I love! It wasn't EVERYONE, but I can fully say I Love Everyone in these pictures!!

Looking back at 2011, it was disappointing year in term of my photography. I didn't do a single thing on it!!! I think, or I want to believe it was because of my financial lane. I moved out of my parent's house, paying rent definitely hurt my photography budget. So this year, I have I re-evaluated my goals to something more realistic, AND AND i know how to achieve them too. LOL!!!

1. A lot of people talk about photography and want to see my work. Whats the best way of promoting it? Through a business/calling card. I plan on working with some designers in Long Beach called Fresh Print Design, super cool kids. They are familiar with my work so I trust them on helping me make a logo and creating some sweet looking calling cards. They're a new shop. But check them out and hopefully you'll see my work on their site/shop. http://www.freshprintsdesign.com/

2. How long have I've been using the same equipment? I'm not complaining about it one bit, but it does show its age. So I plan on purchasing a new body sometime mid year. Aiming for a Canon 7D or hopefully they'll have a 7D Mark II!!!! I've been saving strictly for a new camera. Every paycheck, I hide $100 for the ultimate goal of a new camera.

3. I definitely like exploring new photography, I want to buy the Canon 100mm 2.8 macro lens. Hopefully with tax return i can buy a used lens off craigslist because they stopped making this lens. Sweet looking lens. Its a prime too.

4. Do more gigs. A lot of people are encouraging me to charge for my photos, it doesn't hurt to do some events every once in a while to support my hobby. I still have my 9-5 job to support my real living. DAMN!!! Photography is expensive!!!

I'm also trying something new and uploading some slide shows onto Vimeo. I would use YouTube but they are super strict with music rights.

Untitled from Ryan Florido on Vimeo.

Happy New Year and thanks for looking.