Hey everyone,
I'm writing again to tell you that I am back from my summer DCI tour. I got back from Indianapolis yesterday. It was a hard season, but it was a lot of fun, despite the never-ending frustration. We got 8th place in Open class, but we had such a great final show that our score doesn't matter to even one of us.

A bit of news; my old ford explorer died while I was gone (something about a very, very, very unsafe drive shaft), so we had to replace it. I now have a silver Volvo S40 that I love. It may be smaller, but its what I need. I don't need a giant SUV to carry my cameras...

Finally, I'm driving back down to Oregon today to go teach at a Salem area high school. I'll be a visual marching staff member, helping with drill, technique, and sometimes even music (Woodwinds, and maybe mellophones/trumpets). After a week of that, I'll be driving up to Astoria, Oregon with my friend from OC and teach at Astoria high school, virtually the same job. Then it's a week back on the rock in Washington, then back down to Eugene for school and a full time job. I'm working on getting my residency this year, so I'm getting a full time job.

I'll try to stay updated here on deviantART, but it all depends on how much internet I get in Salem/Astoria.

Oh, and even though I had access to internet over the summer via my phone (but I don't really like the dA interface on it), I still totally blanked on dA's birthday. I noticed that I forgot it about two days after it happened. That's drum corps for ya. I didn't even realize it was August until just a few days ago.

Taking my camera down to Salem, and hopefully the change of scenery can get me some good shots. Maybe I'll even be able to cover a townhall meeting, or some shows.
I didn't take a camera on tour with me, so no, there won't be any pictures from my month absence.

Keep in touch!
-t

Hi everyone.
So I'm writing to assure all of you that I am not dead or gone or anything. I've been preoccupied with a project I am working on with about 90 other musicians. This summer, I am marching with the Oregon Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, a "Professional Marching Band" (even though we hate being called a Marching Band) that performs a 10 minute show across the country.

Today, I just got back from our first set of "all-days" rehearsal, and our first tour. A few weeks ago I moved into the Scappoose High School gym in Scappoose, Oregon, where we got up at 7AM each day, rehearsed, and went to bed at 11PM. After a week there, we moved our housing site to Willamina, Oregon. If you google map that, you will find that it is in the middle of NOWHERE. But it was still a lot of fun.

July 2nd was our first show, and unofficial show, but a show nonetheless. It didn't have any judges, except for the audience. I was very excited for this show especially since it was pretty much my "homeshow." It took place in Autzen Stadium, the football stadium for the University of Oregon. It was very exciting stepping onto the field that I watched so many times on TV and in the stands. And playing in the venue was incredible because the stadium is designed for acoustics.
The next day we went to Hillsboro, Oregon, which was our first scored show. On July 4th, we marched in the Seaside Fourth of July Parade. Seaside, Oregon famous for having the best 4th of July fireworks show on the west coast. I have to agree, after seeing for the second time. It was incredible.
We also had front row seats on the beach. The funny thing was that the director of the fireworks show was Larry Kriegshauser (I butchered that name, sorry). He is also on the Oregon Crusaders board of directors, and is known to many as "Santa Claus" because of his amazing white beard. Bainbridge deviants who marched with BHS will remember him as the announcer for any marching competition.
On the 5th we performed the Star Spangled Banner and a standstill performance of our show at PGE Park in Portland. PGE Park is the baseball/soccer field for the Portland Beavers and Timbers.
Then we left for Tri-Cities, WA, Ontario, OR, and finally, Ogden, Utah.
We counted 13 mormon churches from our housing site to our show site in Utah. It was maybe a 20 minute ride.

Anyways, that was my life for the past few weeks. I leave again for another set of all days on my birthday, the 15th, and will then go on tour on the 20th. I won't be back until after DCI Finals in early August, and then I'm moving back down to Oregon a few days after that. But then I'll have internet.

Also- OC is doing some fundraising. We need $50,000 to get to DCI Finals and back, so if you can donate, please go to [link] and help out my tour!
If you live in the northwest, there is an extra performance by the Oregon Crusaders on July the 20th at Southridge High School. If you can make it, please come! I'd not only like to see you but it would also help out the corps a lot.

So I feel like I need to update this.
I notice I haven't been doing it lately.
My last journal is over a month old.

Lately, I've been working on lots of school, photoj, and drum crops.
I got back from the June camp for the Oregon Crusaders this weekend. More than half of the corps was gone because of either the Rose Parade in Portland, or Graduation. So I'm looking forward to re-learning all 15+ sets of drill at 184 BPM that we covered this camp.
That was sarcastic.

However, as much as that is annoying, I'm really excited for tour this year.
I don't like the music for the show, but I like the drill so far, and the show concept: Equilibrium.
If you are around any show sites when we perform, come see us! Our schedule is on oregoncrusaders.org and is under Schedule.
We have a July 2nd performance in Autzen Stadium in Eugene (Considering it my homeshow!), as well as a performance in Tri Cities, Seaside, and Hillsboro.

I was published a third (and final) time in the Oregon Daily Emerald a few weeks ago.
Wasn't as much hype as the last few times I was published, despite it being a lot more "successful" than those.
I had 1 photo front page, above the fold, a square closeup front page below the fold, and a third vertical on the next page.
Not bad.
I get paid for it too, but it's only like $8/photo.

Also something new that I haven't told anyone on dA; I'm working next year to get my residency status in Oregon. Soon to be an official Oregonian!
Well, in a year.
I'm only taking one class per term, and working full time. Hopefully I'll have a photographer job on top of that as well.
After tour I may be teaching at McCay High School in Salem, Oregon. I'll be a visual tech for their marching band, under the direction of my great drum corps friend, Kenny. That is, if I get the job.
If I do, I move down to Oregon just a few days after I get home from tour.
If I don't, then I move down to Oregon on September 10th.
Either way, I have about 2 weeks in Washington total, so that may be sad news for you Bainbridge kids reading this.
Sorry.

On an art standpoint, you probably won't be seeing that much street from me anymore.
I don't really like it that much.
I'll still help anyone who wants help, even though I know I'll just bash your work. That's how I was taught from a personal trainer, and that's how I'll teach individuals as well. Tough
To me, street photography seems like the same thing over and over. It has such an existential view on life, and even though I'm certainly an existentialist, I just think the style of street photography that depicts existential thinking is best suited for hormonal teens.
No offense ^bQw and `Obsidian-Fox; I don't consider either of your works like that. You guys are different.

So on that note, I'd like to declare my official field Photojournalism. Not that far from Street photography, however it has a practical output, and can actually be sold.
I'm sure I'll start street again once I get a steady PJ job and am an actual "working photographer" by `cweeks' definition.

Last, and unfortunately not least, this week is my last week of Freshman Year at UO. It's finals week.
Fuck.
But all in all I'm really unhappy to be leaving Eugene, despite how much I miss the Rock right now. I'm gonna miss Burgess (my dorm) a lot, but at the same time I'm really excited to move in to my own apartment.
I just finished the lease signing process today with my room mate Chris. The great part about it, just above us will be two other apartments with people from Burgess 1st floor. So we'll all pretty much stay connected.

So I'm betting my next update will either be right after our Northwest Tour, or after our last tour.
I have a week break inbetween, which is very unorthodox.
However, i will have my blackberry on tour. But sadly, deviantART doesn't really work well on the phone, so I'll really only be using facebook and stuff. So I'll be able to respond to things there.
Have a great summer, everyone. I know I will! Keep an eye out for the Oregon Crusaders in the news; hopefully I'll be coming back with a 1st place ring.

WHAT?!
I noticed that an icon on the top right of my userpage has been added. I know what it is.
It declares that I wear a TINFOIL HAT!!!
That is Blasphemy!
They must have mistaken me for my mother.
It happens.

So I've been very lazy and didn't update this journal right when I got back from California.
But let's just say it was fucking amazing.
Drove down to L.A., then Indio. Very very hot.
Coachella was a great show.
Paul McCartney? Hell yes. Best show of my life. Period.
Probably best show of many people's lives.
Double encore. Coachella was fined $1000/min after midnight because of a noise curfew imposed by the city of Indio.
But they wouldn't cut off his mic. Who would cut off a Beatle's mic? They cut off another band though.

Of the first day, I saw:
Alberta Cross (Great album)
Noah and the Whale
Airborn Toxic Event
The Hold Steady
White Lies
Franz Ferdinand
Leonard Cohen from far away
Unfourtunately, not Crystal Castles
Ghostland Observatory (For a little bit)
Beirut
The last half of Morrissey (but I didn't want to...just wanted a good spot)
And finally, McCartney from 10PM to like 1.30AM

The second day was a lot more fun all around, but nothing beat Paul.
I saw:
Blitzen Trapper (Seeing them tonight)
Michael Franti & Spearhead
Skipped TV on the Radio because I don't like them, and I wanted to get a good spot for
Fleet Foxes (Also seeing them tonight)
Band of Horses (surprisingly good)
Then M.I.A. from a distance (did NOT like her)
and finally, The Killers.

The killers show was a little "poppy" for me, but it was fun nonetheless.
Missed Lupe Fiasco on sunday. Had to drive up. We couldn't stand the heat, and the camping part. My days of roughing it in boy scouts are loooooooooooong gone.

Since I was up close to a lot of shows, I also was right next to the press area. For some bands such as fleet foxes, the press "box" was packed. For McCartney, I'm sure it spilled over into the crowd. How cool would it be to shoot McCartney in the press area front and center? wow.

Sadly, I also saw some things that REALLY pissed me off.
I saw many press photographers with Rebel's, but thankfully, they at least had some L glass
Then I saw some with Rebel's and 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 glass.
THEN I saw some "photogs" with advanced POINT AND SHOOTS.

Oh but it gets better.
I'm pretty sure I saw at least TWO photographers with Nikon Coolpix cameras, or a Canon compact like the SD750.
Yeah.
I was ready to steal their press wristbands and use my film canonet.
I hope they were reporters and were using the camera as references.

I was also upset to see a LOT of non-press with SLR's. I was told no removable lenses, and when I was searched on sunday, the lady asked me if my camera had removable lenses. And yet there were literally thousands of other SLR's in the festival. With obviously big "professional" lenses.
Pissed me off.

Anyways, it was a lot of fun, but I'm happy to be back in Eugene, even though it was just as hot here yesterday.

So tonight I'm seeing (and finally SHOOTING) Fleet Foxes, opened by Blitzen Trapper. I don't know which band I like best. BT is very very good.
So I'll hopefully have photos from that on facebook or something tonight or tomorrow, and maybe a dA photo.
I'll try to develop the two and a half rolls of tri-x i went through this weekend. I also have to decide how to spend the other 7 rolls I bought for the trip
At least I'm stocked up now!

Have a peaceful earthday!