A few random Parker shots to get your baby fix.

Check it out: ’skine.art.

This is one of the primary reasons I got into video. To manipulate the everyday perspective into beauty and humility. Plus, how many people’s home videos look like this? I have to thank Phil Bloom for the inspiration and realization that you can do amazing motion photography with the simple stuff as I’ve always done with photography. Simply let the object and scene record itself in 3 dimensions instead of 2.

Download the high-def 1280×720 verision here.

Music by Jack Johnson (don’t tell him, wink). Cut with Final Cut Pro, graded with Apple Color. Shot with Sony EX1 at 1920×1080 on a Satchler head/tripod.

For the rest of us… so cute!

Parker is doing amazingly well. He rarely cries (after we figured out that hours of him being up and crying at night were from hunger). Sometimes he gets a little cranky changing clothes and diapers, but even then he’s patient most of the time. The first two or three days he was plagued with random jerky spasms of movement, sometimes waking himself up. Now he’s gained a bit more motor control over his arms, not so much his legs yet. He’s also started to really open his eyes and stare at the world. I shot some great video yesterday that I’ll post soon.

All in all, the pregnancy and parenting thing haven’t been nearly as bad as I was expecting it would be based on the warning and horror stories we read and were told. Yes, he needs to be fed every 3 hours or so, which means being up in the middle of the night, but Jess and I both still manage to get our 8 hours in. Jess takes on the majority of minute-by-minute Parker-care (feedings, diaper changes, etc.), I pick up the slack with bottles, play-time, and when she needs a break. I’ve also saddled up on the housework full-time with meals, cleaning, laundry, and dogs all under control. I bet if you throw in twins+, things get much more complicated in a hurry.

Parker Lee Van Alstyne arrived at 7:31pm last night; weighing a healthy 8lbs. 6oz. and 20.75″ long. He’s healthy, he’s gorgeous, he’s big, and he has LOTS of hair.

The birth went really well. We got to the hospital at 9am, and Jess was already half-way there, but then things slowed down a bit. At about 3pm, our midwife decided to break her water and move things on a little faster with pitocin (a labor inducing/speeding up drug). Then we really got somewhere. It felt like a super long day, especially while we were just waiting, but after it was all over, we just wanted to stare at him and get some sleep. Jess was a superhero! She did the whole thing without any pain meds! She’s going to be a truly great mom (and hopefully I’ll be an ok dad :).

There will be lots more to follow I’m sure, but most of the Parker coverage will be done by Jess on her own site, yet to be finished and unveiled.

I beg you. Whatever you do, DO NOT bank with Wells Fargo. I have my business accounts, personal joint accounts, and home mortgage with them. I regret opening all of them except the mortgage. The checking accounts have been nothing but headache after headache. Currently, they are holding a very large business deposit of mine for two weeks before they clear it. Two weeks! It should be illegal. Previous problems have ranged from mysterious disappearances of transfers between accounts, random disappearance and reappearance of both deposits and debits, random deposit holds, charges not going through, and my personal favorite, the spending limit cap on how much I can spend from my own checking account.

You are asked to do or create something which you know to be wrong or otherwise an embarrassment to your craft. On the one hand, you are being paid for your services and talent, and are obligated to do what the client wishes. On the other hand, after this client is gone, all you are left with is money (hopefully) and this piece which is, at best, useless for your portfolio, at worst, has your name and pride attached to it. There must be a point where you have to self-preserve and say enough is enough.

I suppose if you were a full-blown employee, it doesn’t much matter. Nothing you do has any direct bearing on you, and you can’t use anything for a personal portfolio anyway. However, for a self-employed designer/photographer/artist/etc, all you have is your portfolio. A creative’s portfolio is the holy grail for prospective new clients and employers; resumes come second, if at all. So if you’ve filled your portfolio with crappy work you knew sucked when you created it, but still made money, where does that leave you for the future? Ultimately not in a good position I’m afraid. Telling your future employer at an interview that the reason that project looks horrid was the client’s fault, probably won’t go over so hot.

What about you guys? Thoughts?