This gallery contains 10 photos.
Very happy with the results of all three, really great people that I worked with. I was able to really work on new editing skills and work on how to compose people in my frame. Definitely not easy but I … Continue reading
Some people think I am a nut for cycling in the winter time. Some people think it is dangerous to ride in the winter or led to believe bikes should not be allowed on the streets during the cold months. In my opinion, they are flat out wrong and definitely do not understand at all.
First and foremost, being to cold out? Never. Even when the temperatures plummeted to single digits (in F) I still rode. I still came to work sweaty. Why? Body heat. I was far warmer then those waiting for buses, trains or just walking. I felt bad for them. While you are driving your car and your heater still hasn’t heated up, I was warmer then you even though you were in an enclosed metal box. It’s all about how you layer! And there have been times, even at 24F when I had one too many layers on. And I usually only wear two at most!
I am not hating on cars in this blog. Just to get that out of the way.
Now, you ask, what about snow? That’s something completely different. I wouldn’t even drive with heavy snowfall. And we’ve only had 3 heavy snowfall days. I took 4 or 5 days off just for that. Common sense ruled in this case. Still have I have knobbier tires and shoe covers, I will stay off the bicycle.
I did ride in one of those snowstorms! Unbelievably fun, but the end result led to soaked shoes and extremely dirty bike. So worth it though. From a commuting stand point, I’ll pass till the day after the snowfall for clear roads.
To sum it up, this winter cycling commute, has been amazing and totally worth it and has proved to me that cycling is a VERY viable way of getting around even on the coldest days. Sometimes, yeah, common sense will work its way to mind, especially on bad weather days.
Light snow, cold days, and layering don’t bother me. Get a bike and ride!
To Be Continued.
They say that it isn’t the camera it’s the photographer that takes the photo. It is true but in some respect and to give a nod to technology, the camera does play a vital role in how the actual image is going to come out. No way around it. Especially in digital too. Aside from composition and lighting if one is going to manipulate a photo, it would be ideal to have the best possible image with great pixel output (some lenience in cropping), great colour space, and the physical part of it: good optics if not the best optics. I’m not going to get all technical so don’t look for any tech advice, that’s just what I see in my ideal world of photography (which is nothing but subjectiveness).
Recently, I got in the habit of exploring old photos and applying new editing techniques. But I have noticed lots of problems (I have noticed them before) with focus and sharpness in many images. I advocate auto focus for dSLRs, why? Because there’s no damn split prism! I solely relied on my Pentax’s AF system. It was one big failure in my opinion. Not only did its system not tell me where it was exactly focusing itself but the screen to check if my focusing was okay had such a low pixel count that checking was near useless. The only way to find out if focusing was correct was after the shoot and then being led to a huge upset. Pentax, you were a cool camera in theory but in practice, was absolute shit. Your optics sucked a big one too.
So going through some older photos, I did manage to salvage some. The ones with perfect sharpness were gems. Here is one that I am proud of with great sharpness. Though it’s actual exposure and colour was a little bizarre to work with (the Pentax never really gave a great colour space), I still dig it:
Posted in Inspiration, Photography, Portrait
Tagged actual image, Art, auto focus, awesome, chicago, colour space, columbia college chicago, flickr, inspiration, Kevin Gebhardt, old photos, pentax, pentax k-x, photography, photoshop, pixel count, portrait, reflections, strobes, yongnuo
So, a couple weeks ago I created a self-portrait that was inspired by the inside image of the album With Teeth by Nine Inch Nails. I was thinking it was a great idea to pay a little homage to my biggest inspiration and role model.
Trent Reznor portrait from With Teeth (2005)
I thought I had it down, I didn’t want to rip it off to much. Of course though the final result was very subtle. The only thing that was comparable to the original and my version of it was the little hand gesture. This led to some people thinking of Twilight and (hopefully they did not) believed that I may of been inspired by that look. It finally led to me being outraged and upset that my self portrait was a failure to being a homage to Trent Reznor/Rob Sheridan (though I chose a mixed media result instead of doing the painstaking work of databending). So I went back to the drawing board. Keeping the same photo but had to figure out how to get the “glitch” in it. I was thinking of actually going the work myself and probably spend hours working on it. Though it probably would be a very cool skill to learn and develop, I decided against replicating it through the painstaking work Sheridan had to do once. Not because I was lazy but because I really wanted to get that defined look of the album image as shown above.
The image (to the right) is the “Twilight” version that I despise with a burning passion. I definetly see it resonating with the imagery done for the promotional material for the film franchise. Though I thought the mood in my face would have said otherwise. Guess I was completely wrong or people are just a little ignorant when it comes to looking at photographs and how they convey a mood or message. But it’s kind of biased for me to say that since I am the creator of it. But I do believe the mood of this image is far calmer then that of a photo of Edward Cullen from “Twilight.” My eyes are open and have a cool colour, I am not looking angry but more confused or lost or just blank (Which is in, my opinion, the look of Reznor due to his recent sobriety at the time). Regardless, I took the image from With Teeth and pretty much got rid of everything aside from the “glitch” part of it and some background elements. It became a mixed media (in a way) project.
The final result:
- Kevin Gebhardt
Posted in Experimental, Inspiration, Photography, Self Portrait
Tagged album cover, burning passion, columbia college, composite, data-bending, Edward Cullen, film franchise, glitch, inspired, Kevin Gebhardt, mixed media, Nine Inch Nails, painstaking work, photoshop, promotional material, rob sheridan, role model, self-portrait, trent reznor, Twilight, With Teeth
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New WIP. I feel so content in Chicago now. Not entirely complete as I want to get closer shots of things in my apartment. Hence, WIP.
For the past week, I kind have grown attached to “Change” by mind.in.a.box. I find it to be nearly an anthem to my life and current situations.
I interpret it as someone feeling lost, out of control, unguided and lonely. Though I do not see these as extremes to my life, I have felt those effects hit real hard in the past. One feeling that does resonate with me at the moment is loneliness. I am quite confused about my friendships, what they are becoming and how I thwart most of them because of prior experiences with other people.
Me ruining or not letting friendships develop comes from times where other friends have hurt me in the past and I am afraid to make new connections in fear that I will lose the next group. It is one of my major flaws that I live by. I do seek a change but I do not have the passion for it unfortunately. I’m hoping with the start of the new semester and upcoming semester I can amend my flaw and create some lasting friendships and not fear about them falling apart.
Lyrics:
and I will never see the truth,
this is not a matter of my youth.
I do not need anybody else,
bonds would put my mind into cells.
and I will never know I was wrong,
never listen to those truly strong.
I do not fear anything that’s not me,
ignorance is the ultimate key.
but I wouldn’t want to live like this forever.
but change myself? never, never!
the very thought sends shivers down my spine.
I’m sure everything, everything will be fine.
I am the one who cries out at night,
for somebody to change my very core.
not sure why I live in endless fright,
doomed to love only myself forevermore.
I am the one who has no real friends,
shallow people flocking to my banner.
always trying to make easy amends,
cherishing my own overbearing manner.
life – always fragile.
I will never change.
love – always fleeting.
I will never change.
life – always fragile.
I will never change.
love – always fleeting.
I will never change.
but I wouldn’t want to live like this forever.
maybe I really was too clever.
but I wouldn’t want to end like that.
I would die lonely and incredibly sad.
I will never drag myself out of this,
the shadows of my past bogging me down.
feeling lost in turmoil and crisis,
my face forever set in an endless frown.
I have been hurt beyond mental repair,
thence destined to suffer eternal damnation.
no one can be there for me to care,
but without I will never find salvation.
lust – always empty.
but I will never change.
death – always tempting.
but I will never change.
lust – always empty.
but I will never change.
death – always tempting.
but I will never change.
everything is about control.
I must never slip, nor ever fall.
anything is possible for me.
I must never doubt, and finally be free.
and finally be free.
Posted in Inspiration, life, music
Tagged anthem, awakening, awesome, change, chicago, columbia college chicago, confused, creative, EDM, emo, friends, friendship, growing up, ideas, inspiration, Kevin Gebhardt, life, mind.in.a.box, new chapter, ruiner, tears, thwart
I’m not sure where it is. I feel content with the city I live in. For the past year, I have essentially, lived on my own. I have paid rent on my own with out support from my family, paid my bills, learned to be sociable and take on full time school and nearly full time work. Still, I feel on edge.
The other night, I had a very peculiar dream. It was of an old teacher I had and I’m not sure where it started but I came back to his class room. I asked what is a way I can motivate and keep on making new work. He told me “write things down” from what I can remember. I’m 100% sure it concerns writing down my ideas, thoughts, and goals. It was strange, yet eye opening experience. One of the more lucid dreams I have had in awhile.
Some new work that is leading to a new project: My home. I titled my set of Milwaukee “Home”, however, being there did not feel right anymore and I felt a cold shoulder. I felt very restricted being home and not having any transportation to just go out and do something at a moments notice. My friends weren’t really there, could have been my fault as well for not seeking them out.
I feel so comfortable being in a different city. I like the new interactions that I encounter, I like the fact that I go to work and make a living on my own and separated from my parents. I am confident in calling Chicago, my home, for the foreseeable future.
Posted in Inspiration, life, Photography
Tagged awakening, chicago, city life, confident, creative, cycling, excited, growing up, home, ideas, joy, Kevin Gebhardt, lucid dreaming, milwaukee, new chapter, on edge
I have this little note stashed in my wallet. I’m not sure how much value it holds to the original possessor of it but it means a lot to me and kind of a secret motto that I have. It was from an exercise in my psychology class. We had to write a letter to our “shadow” selfs and basically point out our wrongs, rights and what we need to improve upon or continue doing. Then we had to take a quote from it and write it on a piece of paper and give it to someone (if we chose to).
The message [in title] reminds me that, yeah, hardships are among us, but we can make it through them. With dedication, witty solutions, and a little intelligence we can get around to doing the things we strive to do.
I remember my little note from that exercise. I’m not sure of its exact wording but it was some like “You know what hitting the bottom is like now.” Around the time I wrote that I was spiraling down depression and basically lost track of what was real and what I should be doing. Though I decided not to keep it myself, it retains value to me because someone else has the message and can use it in their context.
Next week is the beginning of the semester. I am going to use both messages to climb on top of this semester and beat it into submission and not have a repeat of last semester.
Posted in Inspiration, life
Tagged awakening, chicago, columbia college chicago, creative, existentialism, growing up, ideas, inspiration, Kevin Gebhardt, rationalism, realization, reflections
Half Dressed (Click image to be teleported to tumblr)
That statement [Being comfortable in your own skin], is something, that every human being should be able to embrace. Unfortunately, there is that group of people that try to stomp that out to create a nightmare for others. It’s seen around the world. It’s genocide, torture and punishment for either saying, thinking, doing or believing in the wrong thing.
My self portrait above is not meant to cover the extreme issues that occur in our society or even societies beyond ours. It is about personal expression, something that is also ripped away from people. It is fearing the thought of being scrutinized, looked down upon or being laughed at for showing our colours, thoughts, and/or ideas.
The actual text that should be accompanied with this particular image is Half Dressed.
Rather saying half naked, my feeling is being “half dressed” or in other words: not quite there, unprepared or in-progress (Or even apply your own message). It could be a sign of confusion, rebuilding or re-imagining ones self being. I’m going to dispel if anyone does have the idea that I am confused (not that I am worried about what one thinks of me, I just don’t want the wrong idea floating around) about myself. It’s not about confusion about myself; I am perfectly happy of who I am and what I do. My confusion or issue is about what the future will hold and how I am going about it. The feeling is, as stated, being unprepared or even lack of execution into bringing myself to a career. I am probably worrying about nothing and over exaggerating it. Yes, I am a student, only 20 years of age, I have the thoughts that I am doing something wrong. I think that may be normal and I need to just set those feelings aside and continue doing what is right and have a more “dressed” feeling about things.
- Kevin
Posted in Inspiration, life, Photography, Self Portrait
Tagged awakening, chicago, columbia college chicago, creative, flickr, genocide, growing up, ideas, inspiration, Kevin Gebhardt, own skin, personal expression, photography, photoshop, portrait, realization, reflections, self portrait, torture and punishment, wrong idea
A recent discover is a band called Kite. A Swedish band that formed in 2008 by Christian Berg and Nickolas Stenemo.
But for some reason. Can’t quite get this tune out of my head:
Posted in Inspiration, life, music
Tagged addiction, awesomeness, christian berg, inspiration, Johnny Boy, Johnny Boy by Kite, Kite, music, nickolas, swedish, swedish band
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