Venetia P!
Had an opportunity to meet the beautiful Venetia from Airbnb and take her photos. After a few weeks of planning and scheduling, we had the date settled to shoot one afternoon with my assistant, Sokhon in San Francisco. Since Venetia travels a lot for work, we used Amtrak’s train tracks as location to show “travel.” We were all in alert while in this location, because a train vs photoshoot are ugly combo if we’re in the way. Other shots were simply her having fun with different looks and background. Venetia is an easy going person who is down for a lot of things, even sitting on the a live train track. Very grateful of having a chance in collaborating with her. She’s one talent that has a lot to show. Check her out: http://www.venetiap.com/
Her Airbnb segment:
Here are the some of the photos (some are in my portfolio in my website: (www.johnquevedo.com):
Nestor and Roxy
One of my best friends, Nestor, presented his relationship for his girlfriend (its the simplest way to say it even if they don’t want to call it), Roxy, to his church. Its was all new to me, but it was great to see them together with their family. Its just a way to let everyone know in his church that they’re in a committed relationship with the blessing of their parents and their Pastor. Nestor invited me to witness their day with them and to also join his family for dinner for a combination of celebration of his bday/their day/father’s day. He asked me to take pics of them two and I gladly accepted. We didn’t really had the time or place to take photos so we just went with the flow. We ate at Elephant Bar, so we ended up just taking photos in and out of the mall. Not the best place for pics, but we made the best of what we were working with just to document their special day. My style is not wedding or engagement, but I treated the session about the same way.
Urban Shoot
Finally posting this shoot from months ago. I would like to thank my two assistant Yuki and Sokhon for helping me out throughout that day.
BTS shots by (HERE), from Sokhon.
Back on the Roadtrip
Every Year for the last five years, I’ve been traveling with my cousin(s) to different places. Here are the combination of those trips: Vegas, Utah, Kuai, Yosemite, Oregon, and all in between.
Next trip this upcoming weekend, we’re going to Northern California (more north than SF, haha0, Humboldt county. More pics to add in these collection.
Florals of my Life
I remember when I first got my DSLR, my favorite subject to take picture of was flowers and plants. I think it was the different color and shapes that attractive me, especially when u see a print of it….AWESOME! Those were the days, when a lot of people would carry their camera to take pics of a lot of things going around them, but for me, it was looking at houses’ yard, or other plants around the area. Now, I feel like Im cheating on photography every time I take pics of flowers, because they are automatically pretty by default. Taking a picture of flowers now a days requires more of a creativity from me, not just shoot and done. I need to like touch it and break it to make it more interesting, make it ugly or something. haha
Here are some of the photos I used to take during the first few years.
Photobooth
Last month for my Mom’s potluck surprise bday dinner, I setup a small photobooth with a white seemless for all her guest. I rarely use seemless, but in this case, it was perfect as a background since I was in a small place without an interesting corner or space. I used a total of two strobes: Main had a soft box and the rim light was bare.
Thank you to all of her friends for planning the potluck for her, she enjoyed it dearly. It wasn’t really surprise because my mom knew it was happening, but she just didn’t know who was coming or what food will be served.
Here’s a keeper from the seemless. I like the simplicity of the background with an attitude of a smile.
Quick Edits: Growth
Happy New Year everyone!
I’ve been looking back at old photos lately and I’ve seen my growth in photography the last few years. I started with photography around spring of 2006 (more on that story on another blog). Man, I can’t seem to feel embarassed on how I would show people my old pics before. Now, judging it, I see a lot of flaws, like simple flaws that I never saw before. It’s kinda fun comparing my growth in editing.
Here’s an example of how I would edit pics before to now. This is just a simple edit too, not the most fanciest edits, just the necessity. Without judging the composition or others, just how I would treat a regular shot. I cant believed I turned the middle photo in to the school. Yikes!!! This was during my bro’s pumpkin patch festival (2007), where I was assigned to take pics of each classes for the festivities. As you can see, I’ve improved a lot, and now have my own style, the new edits only took about 5 mins. All I knew before was to mess with the contrast, saturation, and of course, the exposure. I would really try to keep everything perfectly exposed, but through the years, I’ve learned that I should just concentrate to what the content is if the surroundings are not important.
Dojo
Had a shoot in a karate/kung-fu place, I think its called a dojo. This shoot was kinda difficult because I was looking around for a location inside while thinking of what moves looks good in photos. Here are the shots that got processed and I’ll put up the links with BTS shots later. I might add some more of the processed shots later.
Thanks to my two assistant: Yuki and Sokhon.
2.1 MP Faves
I used to think that I would never use my phone camera unless Im taking a note of something. Ever since I gotten my Blackberry Bold (story) I’ve been using my special 2.1 mega-pixel camera for more than I thought I would. Now, I use if for snap-shots, sources for sketches to be vectorize or rendered, showing-off food on twitter, and for BTS during shoots.
I don’t take DSLR cam everywhere as I would like to because of its bulk, so this phone gives me that comfort of always having a camera everywhere. Normally, I would just snap away at random thing without thinking, but I’ve been actually using some photography knowledge while using the BB cam. I would change white-balance to manipulate color temperature, think about angles and composition, and cover the flash (only when desperately needed) with a paper towel for softer lighting. The flash is the worst of the worst in this camera-phone.
I actually think this has better my camera skill just because the simplicity of it and working to be creative with such parameters. No photoshop were used, just straight off the phone.
From this device, I’ve built up a few fave photos. Here’s the first post for this ongoing random pics from a 2.1 mega pixel phone-camera, the Blackberry Bold.
Semi-African Shoot
A collaboration shoot with Melanie, others (sorry, i cant remember all their names right now) and my production assistant, Sokhon. Had a blast shooting at Golden Gate Park at night. Stumble upon some drunk racist and a skunk, all for a shoot. Thank you to all the help that was involve.
Here’s the link for the behind the scene shot from Sokhon: BTS
Chanelle and Elijah
One of the best part in having an opportunity to take someone’s portrait is having their stories heard from the session. Its always really slow, shy, and uncomfortable in the beginning, but its the same way as meeting someone new. It’ll take time to warm-up before someone can feel comfortable. For me, making a portrait all pretty and nice is important but having them trust me to take their picture is something more special. The stories I hear from them while I snap away is just amazing. Just getting to know each individual better and letting their personalty speak through photos is something magical. The bond that can be created in such a mount of time from the shoot…priceless! It’s mostly the great laughters that strikes me and knowing how loose they are towards the end of the shoot is something that never gets old.
With Chanelle and Elijah, I had a blast with them because they were just SO shy at first, but taking the time to talk and play with them made it really easy to be themselves in-front of my lens. Their stories, hearing from their parents, is something that made me realize everyone can go through trouble no matter what age but God will always be there to guide you with hope and faith. For such a young age, these two siblings have gone through a lot. Im so glad they’re now in a better environment with people who loves them, and are there for them every step of the way. As you can tell from these photos, they are just two loving kids that has a care free spirit even though they had rough patch.
Chanelle
Elijah
All Blended Up
I carry a lot of little things every time I leave my house. The essentials are my phone, keys, and wallet, but now i carry more things like my cane, notes, etc… so a bag is necessary (no not a purse…haha). I can always put everything in my pocket if I’m not carrying other things besides my essentials but anything I put makes my pocket look bulky. When I put stuff in my back pocket it looks like my butt has a huge uneven bruise and thats not style. haha
Sometimes I just to want to blend everything up so I can just carry one item but still have everything. Like mixing a smoothie or shake, it has different ingredients in one. I would also decrease the chance of forgetting something cause it tend to happens. That’s how this image came all together, day dreaming in the bus and hoping I had everything. Yes, I know its silly but thats how my brain works.
BTS – Cam with a ring flash and PW connected.
URBSTERS
Bagels
For this project, I used a total of two lights. One main strobe light above and a small flash as fillers for the side. I’ll write more later, but for now, enjoy these pics with a BTS shot on the bottom.
BTS
LVL Portraits
If you haven’t read my previous blog, please read it first to understand this post (previous blog)
Here are the portraits of my classmates in LVL class at The Lighthouse for the blind. I honestly had a blast learning and hearing each of their stories. It was truly a blessing meeting and bonding with these wonderful people. Everyone just knew how to joke around, yet be serious when needed. After learning I would be the youngest one in the class, I thought they would just see me as this young adult that’s immature, but that wasn’t the case at all. (cause Im so mature!) They we’re just really down to earth and easy to talk to. I will keep all of their stories and wisdom they’ve shared with me forever. They were all very inspiring in their different ways and has has helped me accept that being Visually Impaired is not a bad thing at all.
I also want to thank my Production Assistant, Sokhontheary Im, for shooting the behind the scene shot (BTS). You are a great friend and I appreciate you for coming.
Instructor – Dave
Instructor – Linda
Instructor – Devina and her guide dog, Syracuse
Instructor – Michelle
Dan
Deb
They really are the sweetest couple ever! 
Cenetra
Jean
Toni
Roy
Richard
The whole class – taken by Sokhon.
BTS
with my assistant, Sokhon.
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Cookie McMuffin
Tonight’s dinner was a home made McMuffin or should I say home built McMuffin.
Ingridients:
- English Muffins
- Flat Sausages
- A slice of American Cheese
- Eggs
I Started taking pictures of my McMuffin and I noticed that it was a little too boring. Looking around to add something to the picture, my sweet tooth got the best of me, so I started eating a raisin cookie (run out of the chocolate chips and white-chocolate & macadamia nuts). BINGO!! Instead of using the English muffins, I thought the cookie would make it interesting. I could’ve just easily switched the muffins to the cookie but I was too hungry so I quickly swallowed the first batch of McMuffin and made a new batch for the cookie idea.
Yes, I ate the cookie McMuffin and It wasn’t really a good combo but I still finished it. After chewing it for a while, the taste started to make sense, but remember I was really hungry.
So these are the pictures from tonight’s dinner.
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They know how to have fun
My Aunts just know how to have fun. haha They really know how to pose without needing anyone to instruct them, and as a photographer, I love how they were just free and showed their real personality in pictures. I was oddly surprised on how they posed because it reminded of my friends posing in front of a camera and I also heard whispers of “facbook material” in the conversation. Oh Snap!
Included in the pics are all of aunts, mom, grandma, my uncle, and Gorio (the pug) Thanks family, now I just have to work on the pics to be printed. dun dun dun
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Typical Midterm/Finals
I wanted to shoot a college student during their “hell week” which is either midterm or finals week. I asked my neighbor, Khristine, to be my model for this idea. I was originally showcasing how they feel about finals but it evolved to what they usually do when they’re trying to study…distractions. In this case, the final outcome (last image) showed Khristine trying to study but text conversations got the best of her.
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Photo Trekking Contest
So I wasn’t one of the chosen photographer for the top-five finalist for the contest. 
I do want to say thanks to the talented Nick Onken for the opportunity though. I also want to say thank you to all the people that voted for me in this process, I appreciate all the support and encouragement. The five photographer that got in deserves being in the final and I hope all of them the best of luck. If I can choose the winner from the top-five, I’d choose the first picture of the boy. The expression and glaring eyes are just captivating.
This was my first contest for photography…wait scratch that its my second but the other was from my photo teacher back in AAU. I almost didn’t enter this contest, cause there’s always a fear of exposing yourself to other photographer who’s photo might be “better” than yours but I’ve learned that people see different things. A judge can have a style of photo that always attracts him/her, but it doesn’t mean yours was a total waste if it wasn’t chosen. I also have confidence with my pictures, I know how hard I work creating an idea and how much hours I put into my craft. With all that you can’t help but to feel good about your art.
In the near future, I’ll be looking for more opportunity (contest), because as much as nerve-racking it is, a photo challenge is always fun and it helps me grow as a creative individual. So keep on going and always enjoy the experiences on your way.
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Launch
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So today is March 1st, the launch of my new photography website. Working on this was a big challenge for me, but I’m glad its finally live and ready to show everyone.
This took a lot of self-motivation especially in the early stages. I couldn’t quite decide how this whole “self-image” would look like and the idea of creating something for my self wasn’t easy. As a designer, I tend to change my mind a lot with my own designs, I could be happy with one look today and completely change my mind the next. I knew I had to kept the ball rolling or else I would always lag on this whole process.
I created a big picture plan consisting of the urbsters name for my illustration/design and used my name for the commercial photography section. I wanted to combine the two with the whole branding, so I kept my urbsters logo monster as a universal logo for both of my works. I wanted to use my full name for my photography section because its easier for clients to distinguish who the photographer is and eventually introduce to them my other side (urbsters) gradually.
This new blog will focus on any art form that intrigues me and my everyday art life. I’ll blog about my process of this whole “launch” experience later.
So with johnquevedo.com and urbsters.com the next step now is introducing them to clients and friends.
Thank You ALL.
URBSTERS
