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.

DOES IT WORK?

Came up on a Olympus XA2 at the swap meet for $3. This is the test roll. I love a good deal.

All rights resurved Kamal Smith © 2008

FUN WITH BIG BRO

I was thinking of how I'm need of something really fun to do. I'm not talking about going to a bar fun. I'm talking about standing outside of the bar fun. Something stupid. Something childish. I don't even know what made think of it. Oh, the fact I want to do something that will put a smile on my face for the three days.

One time Kahlil and I were hanging out and had grabbed some food on the way home. We had a super 64oz soda that we filled up before we left, but couldn't even drink it. It was just starting to get dark and we had a good 30 minute walk home. I was drinking the soda and Kahlil said something ridiculously funny and I had to laugh. I guess it looked like I was puking the way I stood at the edge of the curb hunched over. That gave Kahlil an idea. We started taking huge gulping mouth fulls of soda and pretend to puke as cars passed. We took turns as the look out to get are timing right. The "drunk" one would stumble down the sidewalk and try to projectile vomit mouth fulls of soda into the bike lane as a car would pass. The other one would stay out of sight and tell the other "fire" to try get the perfect effect. Sometimes it was just right. Cars sometimes swerved and honked. After a while we couldn't hold the soda in our mouths without laughing. Watching Kahlil's fake zig-zag drunk stumble and the look on peoples faces as they passed by had me in tears. Just thinking about it has me tearing up.

I guess you can't force that type of fun. It comes spontaneously. All the stars have to be aligned.