This was three weeks ago now, which might make you think I’m slipping on my promise to get things out in a timely manner, but believe me when I tell you the last three weeks have been absolutely stuffed with things I needed to do, so editing took a bit of a backseat while being in the moment and pushing the buttons took precedent. Like, for example, my Photography Show, first I’ve done in a decade or so. Really proud of this one. Anyway.
So I arrived and a couple people were attempting to move a piano onto a kind of upright framework. This was a baby grand piano, maybe 5-600lbs (that’s 250 odd kilos, for those that measure in saner units), on an engine hoist. The keyboard and lid had been removed, so maybe subtract some from that, but still a big, heavy object. Everybody just kind of pitched in, and Auguste, who was running the show, got on the mic and quipped that it was the first act. Somehow, they managed to get it into the framework, held in place with screws and ratchet straps, and so the show moved on, now with more space for people to sit.
pretty sure this is a bit from isorhythmics’ analog video synth. a very aesthetic pile of wires.
The first act was a duo, cello and piano, and I really should have taken notes because they said aloud the names of the pieces they were playing, and I don’t remember them. Lovely playing, both of them, together and solo.
then there was Dylan’s performance, probably the most punk rock of the evening, my dude just really wailing on those marimbas. not punk in like the fast and electric guitar sense, but punk in a loud and emotional way. If you take my meaning.
really though, the next performance is why I should be taking field notes because I remember liking his stuff but nothing about it at all. When I wrote stuff down that day or the next I could recall all sorts of detail, but now almost a month later? Not happening.
This was a cool analog (I think?) synth performance. I remember being slightly entranced by the whole thing. I probably should have moved around and gotten a few different angles, but I ended up with like 5 different versions of this one shot. Luckily I’m the only one keeping score.
Grant was there doing visuals for several of the acts. Despite some technical difficulties in the first act (bad cable going to a depth mapping camera if I recall correctly), he killed in the later sets.
And then Auguste themself performed, first a ceremony where they burned papers which all had ‘fuck this fascist regime’ on them by all the attendees (with music from the vibrations of the burn bowl). Then a whole set that’s hard to describe.
Antonia also did visuals for Auguste and some of the other folks, really cool stuff.
Then there was Golden Champagne Flavored Sweatshirt, who did their own visuals, synced to a live performance. Amazing stuff.
I just want to note here that there were no lights on in the room when I took this picture. The light from the projector screen and the light from their ipads is the main illumination in both of the previous images.
The last guy, isorhythmics had probably the most insane setup of the night. An analog video synth plus what looked like a bunch of other synths. Again it was absurdly dark at this point so I only got a couple frames, but what a cool performance.
Posted by matt on 2026-08-12T07:49:29Z GMT
from the set of the future hit short film. turns out with modern cameras, equiped with digital shutters, you don’t need a blimp to work silently. Although, when the scene is funny, you do have to try not to laugh. That does show up on the sound recording. Just for example
I took far too many pictures so of course this is a loose edit. It was a super fun day, shooting in three locations. I took both Leicas but ended up shooting mostly with the Monochrom, which means most of the edit is monochrome. Also I’m behind on editing again, so this one is going out sort of half baked. At least it’s done.
Anyway, we keep moving.
The lake was super idyllic, just showing off the best of oakland. It’s sort of fantastical that we live here? And can just use it (and the amazing weather) to shoot our movies?
The line for this shot: “I think I’m at the lake… Yeah, definitely the lake.”
Anyway, that is too many pictures. The next edit will be longer, probably. If I’d had more time, I’d have made a shorter edit (maybe).
Posted by matt on 2026-07-28T07:34:12Z GMT
I live half an hour from the world’s most beautiful taco bell, in Pacifica, and until last week, I’d never been. So we hopped in the car last friday after work, as I’ve been doing, and went down there to see what the fuss was about.
there’s something poetical about going to beautiful places and shooting them in crap light. This beach specifically is quite breathtaking on a good day; the surf and the surrounding cliffs make quite the view; the orange sun setting over the pacific, the whole sky filled with color. This was not one of those days.
In fact, it was super overcast. And somehow dark? We got there with about 10-15 minutes before sunset but I almost missed the photos of the sun peeking through on the horizon because I thought it must’ve passed already.
I’m still in a post-op shoe because the fracture in my right foot isn’t healing very well. I’ve got a bone growth stimulator (we’re still doing phrasing in this house) and we’ll see if it works. But for this outing I didn’t want to get the medical shoe full of sand, so I didn’t go down to the ocean. Actually me and the ocean are on the outs, seeing as how it keeps trying to kill me.
The food at this taco bell, in case you’re wondering, is the same food they serve at every location, which is to say fine. Well, it’s one of their “Cantina” locations, so you can get drunk and then get your drunk food in one convenient place. Otherwise, it’s a Taco Bell. With a nice beach. Infrared heaters on the deck were a nice touch, even with my jacket it was chilly out there.
Posted by matt on 2026-07-23T07:56:52Z GMT
sometimes I just have a few photos to share
the texture of the concrete made me stop as I was unlocking my bike and get my camera back out to get this picture. Really nice.
Then I got home and the moon was doing a thing. Earthshine visible on the dark side. Several UFOs not visible to the naked eye showed up in the shot, too (lens flares).
Posted by matt on 2026-07-22T05:18:35Z GMT
These are actually from last Friday, didn’t feel a ton of urgency. Also, just a crazy week. I found out Monday my foot isn’t healing (3rd metatarsal fracture on my rt foot), so I have to spend another period in a postop shoe or boot. They’re going to maybe send me a bone growth stimulator, a real medical device that exists, sometimes the future is actually awesome. Method of action is ultrasonic waves stimulate blood flow to the affected area, as I understand. Anyway.
Still really loving the black and white of it all. I had a night to myself last friday and so went back into the city to try to catch the sunset and also the hours after, I really wanted to get some photos after dark of the bridge and the Marin headlands at super high ISOs (the new rig goes to 200k, did I mention? so cool). My timing was off, though, and I had to deal with beautiful dramatic sunset light in one of the more picturesque places in the world instead. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Palace of Fine Arts, way out next to the Presidio, always feels a little bit like a movie set that someone has shored up a bunch. Which is not far from the truth, it’s been used in a lot of movies, and was originally supposed to be temporary. It was completely rebuilt at some point (‘64-74).
It really is quite big. 21mm at f/16, probably, ISO 125.
It was super windy at the overlook. My original plan was to go and find the good spot that views the bridge from the SF side, not the ocean side, because it’s a parking lot that’s reasonably sheltered, but I couldn’t find it on the map. I ran across it years ago riding my bike the long way (out embarcadero, lands’ end, then south down through the Richmond) to Ocean Beach. I stopped and took a photo, I think? but I don’t even know what year it was, so finding the photo would be hard.
Turns out finding the parking lot is even harder. I thought it was here but actually it’s probably here. I’ll have to check, next time I’m out there in a couple years.
Land’s End and the area around GGB is all this weird touristy area that’s all former millitary, back when the Golden Gate was strategically important. Maybe it still is but we don’t need like, missile batteries front and center to protect the shipping lanes any more. So I went from simulated Roman ruins to actual American ruins.
The ocean: It’s Big! Really astoundingly so. It’s cool to be up on a cliff and get a better idea of just how big. It just keeps going, mysterious and wine-dark.
I stopped way down for this one to force it to go to ISO 100,000. It looks better and sharper than T-Max 400. I might make a big print of it, just to see what that looks like.
f/2 with the classic Canon LTM 50/1.2, this is the look that I was thinking of that made me buy the new camera in the first place. I think it has potential. I also need to take the new body out with the Noct. Just so many new things to try! Love it. Lotta shooting to do.
Posted by matt on 2026-07-16T07:14:45Z GMT
