The Photoblog of Adrian Mendoza

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Mexico City pix

Ok, so these photos are from last year. I just never got around to uploading them to my main galleries, so here they are for my photoblog.

Mexico City Protest 1

Mexico City Protest, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

500,000 people take to the streets to protest against rampant crime and violence in Mexico City on June 27, 2004, marching to the Zocalo on Avenida Reforma.

Mexico City Protest 2

Mexico City Protest 2, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

500,000 people take to the streets to protest against rampant crime and violence in Mexico City on June 27, 2004, marching to the Zocalo on Avenida Reforma.

Mexico City Protest 3

Mexico City Protest 3, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

500,000 people take to the streets to protest against rampant crime and violence in Mexico City on June 27, 2004, marching to the Zocalo on Avenida Reforma.

Mexico City Protest 4

Mexico City Protest 4, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

500,000 people take to the streets to protest against rampant crime and violence in Mexico City on June 27, 2004, marching to the Zocalo on Avenida Reforma.

Mexico City Gay Pride Parade

Mexico City Gay Pride, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Gay pride parade on June 26, 2004, on Avenida Reforma the day prior to 500,000 people marched down the same street to protest against rampant crime and violence in Mexico City.

Posted by: Adrian / 2:11 PM
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Mexico City Cafe Habana

Mexico City Cafe Habana, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

The Cafe Habana in Mexico City.

Posted by: Adrian / 1:53 PM
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Mexico City Homeless

Mexico City Homeless, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Homeless person in front of a cafe in Mexico City.

Posted by: Adrian / 1:52 PM
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ASPJR

ASPJR, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Armando Salas Portugal, Jr., son of Mexico's finest (IMHO) photographer. His father was famous for the architectural photographs of the work of the Mexican master, Luis Barragan. However, the senior Salas Portugal's landscape and documentary photographs are breathtaking, in particular his b&w infrared photographs (Salas Portugal is mounting various gallery exhibitions of his father's work, be on the look-out for them...).

Posted by: Adrian / 1:51 PM
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Window Dressing

Window Dressing, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Taken in Mexico City's fashionable Polanco colonia.

Posted by: Adrian / 1:49 PM
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Mexico City Drums

Mexico City Drums, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Drum line in Mexico City.

Posted by: Adrian / 1:48 PM
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Mexico City Xochimilco

Mexico City Xochimilco, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Photo taken in the floating gardens of Xochimilco, outside of Mexico City.

Posted by: Adrian / 1:47 PM
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Mexico City Upside Down

Mexico City Upside Down, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Man suspended by a rope from a high pole as he and other me do a sky dance in front of Mexico City's famous Museum of Anthropology.

Posted by: Adrian / 1:46 PM
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Monday, August 29, 2005

Mardi Gras Flames

Mardi Gras Flames, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 12:25 PM
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Laura clouds

Laura clouds, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 12:24 PM
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Laura Tressetis

Laura Tressetis, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 12:23 PM
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Thursday, August 25, 2005

Katia Belly Dancing 1

Katia Belly Dancing 1, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

This is from Katia's last belly dancing performance in Modesto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:33 PM
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Katia Belly Dancing 2

Katia Belly Dancing 2, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

This is from Katia's last belly dancing performance in Modesto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:33 PM
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Katia Belly Dancing 3

Katia Belly Dancing 3, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

This is from Katia's last belly dancing performance in Modesto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:32 PM
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Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Eleventh Street trees

Eleventh Street trees, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:25 AM
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Eleventh Street Crossing

Eleventh Street Crossing, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:25 AM
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Eleventh Street TSP

Eleventh Street TSP, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:24 AM
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Eleventh Street Media

Eleventh Street Media, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:24 AM
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Eleventh Street Congressmen

Eleventh Street Congressmen, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:23 AM
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Eleventh Street Gallo

Eleventh Street Gallo, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:23 AM
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Eleventh Street Portraits

Eleventh Street Portraits, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:22 AM
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Eleventh Street Groups

Eleventh Street Groups, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:22 AM
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Eleventh Street Dancing

Eleventh Street Dancing, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:21 AM
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Eleventh Street Police

Eleventh Street Police, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Posted by: Adrian / 11:21 AM
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Friday, August 12, 2005

More Antigone Rising and Berlin photos

Following are a few more photos from the Antigone Rising and Berlin concert in Modesto, CA.

AR Cassidy, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Antigone Rising lead singer Cassidy performs at the Fat Cat night club in Modesto on July 27, 2005.

AR Cassidy Cathy, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Antigone Rising lead singer Cassidy and lead guitarist Cathy Henderson perform at the Fat Cat night club in Modesto on July 27, 2005.

Berlin Crowd, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Berlin lead singer Terri Nunn is carried through the crowd by Scott O'Connell as she performs at the Fat Cat night club in Modesto on July 27, 2005.

Posted by: Adrian / 5:46 PM
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Sunday, August 07, 2005

Photo cubism and other tweaked images

The following angular images, a sort of photo cubism, are an exercise in reducing the subjects to geometric shapes with translucent overlays refracting the image. The facet colors are determined by custom made KPT Gel environments. I can either paint with liquid peaches, for example, or use selections for totally unexpected results. Using the transparency, refraction and lighting controls adds even more factors to the equation or there are infinite gel layers that can be applied, erased, blended, etc.

The Kai's Power Tools (KPT) Photoshop plug-in filters used in these samples were released in 1999 and 2000, respectively, but I continue exploring their creative uses. In the following examples, KPT 5 Fiber Optix and KPT 6 Gel were used.

Custom masks, environments and use of the 3-D lighting controls were used in creating these treatments of my photographs. I enjoy the exploration process and using the physics of optical principles (even if they're virtual optics) in the design process.

Although the images may evoke a particular artistic style, i.e., cubism or stained glass, the intent is to create an original interpretation of the base photograph. The image should ideally be inherently interesting and well composed. I hope you enjoy the images and perhaps will inspire your exploration of this "ancient" technology...

Cubist door 1, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

The art deco entrance to the now-demolished Shannon and Whitehurst funeral home provides interesting shapes for application of KPT Gel.

Cubist door 2, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

The gel environment is custom created (not a preset) and - thus - refracts a rich spectrum of color as if facets in a polished stone, within the KPT Gel filter.

Cubist Cityscape, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

The angular shape of a cityscape of Sao Paulo, Brazil serves as an ideal base for the cubist treatment of KPT Gel.

Cleopatra 1, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Detail of KPT Gel treatment

Cleopatra 2, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Detail of KPT Gel treatment

Cleopatra 3, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Detail of KPT Gel treatment

Cleopatra 4, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

The KPT Gel filter treatment seems to encase the subject within a prismatic, refractive material.

KPT fiber optix 1, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Detail of KPT Fiber Optix treatment

KPT fiber optix 2, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Detail of KPT Fiber Optix treatment

KPT fiber optix 3, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Detail of KPT Fiber Optix treatment

KPT fiber optix 4, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Detail of KPT Fiber Optix treatment

KPT fiber optix 5, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

Portrait with the KPT Fiber Optix filter treatment

KPT Gel 1, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

KPT Gel portrait detail

KPT Gel 2, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

KPT Gel portrait detail

KPT Gel 3, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

This is the very first image made, nearly a year ago, realizing the use of custom made gel environments (not presets) to refract the image beneath and to behave as if an actual faceted crystal.

Posted by: Adrian / 9:20 AM
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Thursday, August 04, 2005

Women Rock

Jeez, can you believe it's been freakin' 1 year and 4 months since my last post (not counting the ::ahem:: ultimately deleted February 2nd post...)? So much going on, some of you know the details, most don't, so I won't elaborate just now.

I figured this would be a good time to talk about my 11th Street project, a photo documentation of Modesto's most interesting street - the literal corridor of power - and a microcosm of the city's changing face.

I attended a performance of the band "Berlin" last week and was pleasantly surprised to find out that the band, "Antigone Rising" was opening for them. If you've been to Starbucks anytime in the past couple months, you've undoubtably seen them on their CD's being displayed and promoted. A line of 5 tough looking chicks, the most distinctive woman being guitarist Cathy Henderson, the one with the tightly braided hair and various piercings to match.

Following are some photos taken from that night, including one of "Berlin" lead singer Terri Nunn standing in front of the Fat Cat's marquee...

Fat Cat Antigone 1, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

From left to right, "Antgone Rising" guitarist Kristen Henderson, lead singer Cassidy and lead guitarist Cathy Henderson perform at the Fat Cat night club in Modesto, CA.

Fat Cat Antigone, originally uploaded by amenfoto.

From left to right, "Antgone Rising" lead singer Cassidy, guitarists and sisters Kristen and Cathy Henderson watch the band, "Berlin," from the upstairs following their performance opening for the band at the Fat Cat night club in Modesto, CA