DOUBLE DOUBLE

Earlier in the summer I shot a couple rolls of film playing around with double exposure. I have done it in the past, but never more than a shot or two on a roll. This is the first time I've committed to the whole roll. I even got my technique down for resetting the shutter with out advancing the film. I can't wait to do this again with a tripod.

All rights resurved Kamal Smith © 2009

DOING IT BIG

After I hit it big in the super lotto. I'm going to build my self one of these with a few upgrades, and I'm not talking about 20 inch rims and a whistle tip.

BURNT ROLL

These are photos from the SLO skate park back in the day. I had one of the gold fish eyes that screwed on top of my other lense and I was messing around trying to take some skate photos. I think this roll of film was in the glove box of my car for the summer and after the film was processed it was stored shotty. All in all I think the defects are the best part of the photos.

Tyler when we called him small fries. Way before the Killa.

Not sure if those shots are Mark-tallica or Shuan "kick-flip king".
Prob Shuan I don't think Mark had a back smith

I can't remember this kids name for the life of me

Jacob was a beast. Those are fakie ollies out of the launch ramp.

Jacob again. This is prob the best photo out of the whole roll.

All rights resurved Kamal Smith © 2009

HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY

I have been dodging this blog like I owe it money. Its not that I don't have anything to write about. I just don't want to write about the things going on in my life or the same crap I read on other peoples blogs. Do you care what I'm eating? No. Do you care that my kid had a major blow-out (shit going of every side of his diaper)? No. Do you care I have cabin fever? No. Do you care that my kid sounds like Master P's hype man "uuuuugh"? Maybe. I guess I have been waiting for something to inspire me to post anything. I haven't found it. Don't get me wrong Francois is off the hook. I'm loving the time I spend with him, I'm just not trying to be that guy thats talking about every little thing my kids doing. I don't want read that.
I will say this... Happy half birthday to my little monster, Francois, Franky, Frankenstien, Buddha, the boss, fat man. Its like I'm a kid again. Singing, dancing, acting a fool. Thank you for making me feel younger and for the twinsies hair cut.

I ALMOST DIED THE OTHER DAY

Last summer I came out to Atlanta for a week before heading up to NY, for my annual "If I don't go somewhere I'm going to lose my mind" travels. I hadn't been here for a while and had all kinds of shit stored down in my moms basement. Records, shoes, clothes, toys, books, photos, drawings, other stuff I should have junked before shipping cross country. I had been without these things for so long I was only interested in cashing out some of my collectibles and grabbing some clothes. Since I moved back to SF while on vacation and was feeling my new minimalistic zen lifestyle. As they say out of sight, out of mind. I didn't need that stuff I had done fine without. One thing that was on my mind was my photography binder of negatives. I had negatives from film I shot back in 96 to 99. I had been thinking about them for over a year. I couldn't remember what was on them, just that I needed them. I thought I shipped them back in the box of slides, video tapes and who knows what.

So this time the folder of negative was on the top of my list. The first chance I had, I tore into the basement closet and inspected each box. Nothing. Well there was something, but it wasn't what I was looking for. Some shoes, hats, old papers and books. I'm sure I sounded like I was going to cry when I told my mom that I couldn't find it. She told me to try out side under the deck. That sounded like a recipe for disaster, even if it was covered. The humidity in the south is thick. I was scared the negative might be stuck to the plastic sheets or even worse not there at all. I went down there and found a box of toys, a box of clothes, and 4 or 5 boxes of shoes. Not shoe boxes, but boxes of shoes without boxes. Probably 8 to 10 pairs each. That was a little surprising. Like I said out of sight, out of mind. Who cares about that though, I needed those negatives. Luckily they were in the box with the toys (Tupac doll, Mac Dre bobble head, tiny sneakers, airsoft uzi). I even had this old large format Kodak my brother bought of a crack head. I don't know if I can use it, but it will look good with the collection.

I can't wait to print some of these out. Its crazy. We were just babies. Skating, drinking, and just hanging out. I just regret not taking more photos.

CAMERA CRAZE

I, I, I.... I got the Internet going nuts. Yeah right. I do have a problem with collecting cameras right now, but only for the low. I've been on the hunt, cruising swap meets, haggling deals, and sniping auctions. Point and shoots for all occasions. Hanni put me up on game of whats said to be more "epic" than the T4. We shall see. Just in case I got 2 for a good price. I love the Olympus XA series. Little batteries, hand wound, removable flash, can't beat it. All I need is the XA4 to complete the set, but the prices are to craze for me. Came up on a couple macro camera for getting all up in your grill and being in focus. More for taking photos of the baby and getting all up in his grill. Can't wait to see how my test shots came out. Ando gave me a Polariod land camera I can't wait to get some instant film for. Last but not least, a Canon sure shot ACE with a top view finder for only 2 bucks. The Goodwill in SLO was quite the come up. Can't wait for my next round of processing.


This is not the full group shot, a few are in various backpacks and diaper bags so I'm always ready for war.

JUST HIT THE CORNER STOOOOORE, YOU KNOW WHAT IM LOOKING FOOOOOOOOOOOOOR......

I always thought there was a commercial to this song (the first one). Maybe I just made it up in my head. Don't remember it being a tape. What do I know. I was in High School. Shouldn't have been listing to beeralation any way.

BABIES HAVING BABIES

Having a baby is no joke. We read and planned and shopped and showered and doctors, doctors, doctors. In the end we came out with a super sweat kid, a real pooping machine. That's how you know they are in good health. I don't have a PHD but soaked up enough game in the last few months to open my own practice and I have a poop chart from a new born class. Yeah a poop chart.

I didn't start taking photos till he popped out. Things were moving quick and I was busy with my fanning duties. Also wasn't trying have the first nude photos I take be of my girls cho-cha with a babies head making its way out. Too craze. I got enough mental pictures to last a life time and you can google that shit if you really want to see. Had to get one of the placenta though. I wasn't going to cook it or plant it, but had to catch a flick. It was a fatty.

All rights resurved Kamal Smith © 2009

PS. check how craze babies look when the first come out and thank you Kash and Kai for the diaper cake. its still on display, he's gotta grow a little for those.

JUST TRYING TO GET AN IDEA OF WHAT GEAR THE PROS USE...

...for certain situations. Now I'm inspired to be a old school Paparazzo.
Check the second video for the lingo definitions.