Monday, November 30

Reverse Want Ad

Looking for: multiple odd jobs (preferably with benefits, although not required) including:
-late night radio dj (preferably non-ClearChannel bound)
-new-release movie critic (mainstream and indie) (pay must include beverage and popcorn per movie)
-snarky satirical movie dubber (read: RiffTrax / Mystery Science Theater 3000)
-freelance photographer for portraits, weddings, and commercial work
-bartender for a gay bar/club (bar must have regular drag show nights)

Too much to ask? I'm sure they all exist, I just want them all simultaneously.

Sunday, November 22

Bummer

I have not been wanting to update, as I have been in rough spirits lately, and I don't see the need to update you on my being a grumpy bitch.

When I cheer up, you'll hear from this snarky blogger right away lovlies

Wednesday, November 18

Gavin & Caitlin


Gavin & Caitlin
Originally uploaded by Shanna McKay

Photos are up from my recent attempts at the Large Format camera. They aren't wonderful, but I'm pleasantly pleased with a few of them. Wish they weren't showing up so dark, they certainly don't look it in photoshop - we'll see.

Friday, November 13

For Elsie

I read Elsie's blog daily for a serious dose of inspiration. I couldn't help myself from trying to help her out with a tasty allergy-free (at least the 3 I saw noted) delight.

Non Dairy Non Bakers Yeast Non Soy Red Velvet Cupcakes:

2 cups non-dairy, non-soy milk (like almond milk, rice milk, oat milk, hazelnut milk, hemp milk, etc. wegmans has all of these)
2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa powder (use a not-too-dark one, like hersheys, so the red color can come through)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 ounces red food coloring
4 teaspoons vanilla extract

-preheat oven to 350, line a 22 cupcake cups with liners (2 trays, or cut recipe in half for 11-12 cupcakes)

* Add vinegar to milk, and set aside to curdle, to achieve a buttermilk effect. The vinegar helps with leavening- don't worry, you can't taste it!
* Sift flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
* Add vegetable oil, food coloring, and vanilla extract to the curdled milk, and mix.
* Pour liquid ingredients into the dry ingredients, and mix.
* Fill cupcake liners ¾ full.
* Bake in a preheated 350° oven for 20 minutes or until done.

Now the frosting is a little trickier. What you have to do is go to Wegmans and find Earth Balance brand dairy free soy free margarine. Then you can sub it for the butter and shortening in any buttercream frosting recipe (you'll also probably need some powdered sugar, vanilla, and a few drops of liquid).

A good friend of mine is a vegan with a penchant for organic treats, and she's always got righteous recipes on her blog here and there.
Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 11

Photo Student



I need to shoot more. All of these papers and readings are really draining me of any inspiration. The professors say the more we read the more we'll understand our own work, but I'm just feeling jaded and drained. I cannot wait to shoot fashion stuff tomorrow, I'm hoping it revs me up for NYC on Sunday. If I could logically take the LF camera to the city with me, I totally would, but that's a near impossibility. I complain about carrying a purse all day, imagine the crankiness that would come from that camera?

I have dreams of fine art, China Town, my action sampler toy camera, and fish bowls.

Wednesday, November 4

I think I'm going to need to start working on my next Tony presentation. No, it's not due til December, and yes I have more important things to be working on, but I'm in serious fashion shoot withdrawal (which, ps, is a stupid looking word).

I don't at all want to work with fashion students, I just want to dress up some pretty girls in the studio and go to town. I'm tired of trying to make a statement; the world needs pretty pictures too. Magazines wouldn't still be around if it didn't.

I think I have a project for Tony that'll fit the bill so I'm not totally wasting my time (although my port would beg to differ) -- I just fell out of love with my Rebel and I fell out of love with the studio, then entered a serious "fuck you all" relationship with the fashion department.

But that doesn't mean I can't have a flagrant affair with Hannah's 5d & the new lighting equiptment, right right?

Tuesday, November 3

Caz Portraits for Large Format






They all have their little stories, I love them even with their flaws. I intend to only get better =)

Monday, November 2

There's no such thing as "down time"

So basically all I'm saying is if you didn't come see Rocky Horror, you missed out on one hell of a floor show...

Kate Sculley came to visit for the week! It was delightful only I'm sad I couldn't legitimize more time with her because I was too busy catching up on everything I fell behind with the week of the show. We did, however, build a fort:
For Halloween, a bunch of us attended Dr. Sanders' Halloween party and it was comfortably laid back and drama free. I wish I could say I had a good Halloween but... I just couldn't get past all of the little things that went wrong that day / night, and I couldn't lighten back up. By the time we were ready to go to the bar, I was ready to just call it a night.

I loved my costume though - I was a pinup and Kyle was... well.. he was supposed to be something that matched sort of (originally I'd wanted him to be a Teddy Boy but let's be honest, if you're not into it, there's really no faking it) and he ended up looking like a butler instead:
But hey, we're still pretty cute.

Today I have to get a lot of typing done for Capstone and Pepper and make my schedule and generally a whole bunch of things that involve sitting in front of my computer all day, so there's clearly only one thing I can do:

Watch a Kevin Smith movie marathon.
The order of events:
Clerks 1
Mallrats
Chasing Amy
Dogma
Clerks 2

I do not own Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back or Jersey Girl, nor do I someday hope to. I like my Kevin Smith classic, 90s, and unpretentious.

I'm thinking I'll put up one more post, probably later today, with the work I've been doing lately for Large Format. I like it, I'm pretty proud of it actually, but after critique last Thursday, I see a whole world of improvement needed. As much as I hate to admit it sometimes, Neil has his moments where he's just right. (don't tell him I said that, it'll ruin my whole reputation).