TAKS. It is the standardized test that has plagued the land of Texas for years. It makes children cry, teenagers throw up, and adults bight their nails. For seniors TAKS week is a week of relaxation and oversleeping. For this senior, on the other hand, it is a week of normal mornings and extreme boredom. You see, I have college classes at 7 a.m. that are not connected to the TAKS test in any way. I'm sure I would enjoy this week more if there was any way that I could sleep in. But there is not.

-Otis

16 again.

Yes. It is true. While sitting in my car, waiting for my church's youth choir to start, I morphed into one of "those guys". I got so very bored that I started taking pictures I myself with a multitude of faces. I haven't taken part in this activity since sophomore year and I have to say, I missed it.

Sitting in my car gives me plenty of time to ponder. I decided that I would like to get more involved in the Christian movement going on in London. A man came all the way to our church today from there to talk about what's going on in the church across the pond. It is splintered and shattered. If I could make an impact on this country that is beginning to have a greater capacity for Christ, it would be awesome. It makes me so excited to go there this summer.

I want to graduate.



-- Otis on the move

Twiddling Thumbs...

So this weekend has definitely been one of those weekends that I just kind of sit around and relax. Friday Night I spent all my time watching the television shows that were recorded on my DVR. When I was done with that, I proceeded to go upstairs and read. Toups and Riggs will be very happy to know that I read a lot of, "It's Kind Of a Funny Story". Unfortunatly, finishing this book has now become a mission instead of entertainment for myself.

Saturday was a day filled with mixed emotions. The beginning of the day was pretty standard. I continued watching television shows after making myself cinnamon roll things. Later on, my uncle, aunt, and cousin showed up to commandeer our elliptical. It was fun playing with Chloe. She's 1. I love how kids who are this young have entire conversations with you without you knowing anything they are saying. Anyway, I had agreed to do this lock-in for the children's ministry at my church that Saturday night. What I forgot was that I had promised my friend that I would go to her last dance show that night. So I accepted that I was a horrible person and I told one of the leaders that I would have to cancel my involvement in the lock-in. I guess they understood. The main guy called me during the dance show and asked if I could just come after, but I didn't listen to it until this morning. Awful person.

I guess this weekend hasn't been that bad. The worst part was definitely taking pictures at the softball game. If it wasn't bad enough that almost every girl on the softball team could beat me up, it was senior night which meant that I got to enjoy thirty minutes of getting to know every last detail about each and every senior girl. I found out that the pitcher's favorite class is Calculus, the third baseman's favorite softball activity was those "crazy bus rides", and the right fielder was the only cheerleader to ever be a member of the softball team. The only one I was okay with hearing about was Rachel, because we were Physics buds, as well as Business Management buds. Anyway, after that little pow wow of fun, I spent the next hour trying my hardest to get some usable pictures, in between the grunts and cheers of the players. Needless to say, leaving was not hard for me to do.

-Otis

Loner Face

I'm not going to lie. I absolutely hate not having plans on Friday night. Whenever I sit at home on these nights my mind is racing with all the reasons why I'm not out. It's a really depressing time. 

It's nights like these that make me want to go to college really bad. Even if I am unlucky enough to not have plans on a Friday night in college, it's not like I am staying at home with my parents. I think my problem is that this year has been one big bore fest. Even when I do hang out with people, it is only one night a weekend. Not to mention, I never do anything more than just go out to dinner. 

I don't even know what I would do instead though. That probably adds to my frustration. 

I think that in college, even if I don't have plans, I will at least have something to do. That hasn't been an excuse all year. I can't even work on homework when I'm bored...

-Otis

Adventures in Fashion

I really liked this shot.

My latest photographical adventure was at the FHS Fashion show. I was able to get a couple of good pictures of the girls who rocked it! Unfortunatly, some of the people in the show were less than adequate. The worst part of shooting the fashion show was definitely the "freelance" photographer that likes to just show up at random events and take pictures so he can take them home and oggle over his work. I don't think I would have so much of a problem with him if he wasn't such an arrogant little prick. He acted like he was doing them a gigantic favor by being there. NO ONE ASKED HIM TO BE THERE! He was so rude on Facebook to the people who gave him comments. I, on the other hand, was waiting waiting waiting for someone to comment on my own pictures, and only received three. I mean, I know it's not about how many comments you get, but I didn't even get a thank you. I don't know. 

Graduation could not come any sooner. Even yesterday, I was walking through our over-populated hallways, and I couldn't help but imagine myself walking on OU's spread out campus where fighting your way through a crowd is not even a problem. I can't wait to be there.

I really hope I like OU. At the same time, I hope that their program can get me where I want to be. I have already decided that I am going to work my ass off so that I can get a good internship, and a good study abroad program, all leading up to my dream job. I'm pretty sure that I will aim myself towards New York for the start of my career. If I don't go live there at first, I never will, and I will regret it for the rest of my life. 

I decided that if my parents are relocated up north by my dad's company, I wouldn't have a problem with it. Not because my parents would be really far away, because I decided I would transfer to the north. It would actually be a really rewarding experience. I would be able to transfer to a school up north that probably would have a better photography program. Not that I don't like OU, I'm just saying that it would be good either way.

I have been involved in a barbaric fight with my self image for so long that I absolutely have no idea what it would feel like to be happy with what I look like. I don't say this that everyone will whip out the handkerchief from their back pocket and dab the tears away from my eyes, that would be embarrassing. Who uses a handkerchief anymore? Anyway, I am just utterly flabbergasted with the amount of time that I have been fighting to make myself perfect. Let me list the things that I have seen wrong with me:

1. Weight (Stomach and Man Boobs, they are so yummy)

2. Hair. Never gotten it quite right in my opinion.

3. Stretch marks. They are everywhere! I don't think it is because I'm ginormous, because I know I'm not. I think it is just because I have really sensitive skin.

4. Small feet and small hands. I know...dumb.

5. Big lips. I feel like they don't match my face?

6. Huge bags under my eyes! I look close to death at all times!

7. White! Nuff said.

8. Etc...

The point is...I am so sick of being unhappy with myself. Enough is enough. My newest project will becoming happy with what I look like. I don't think I have a problem WHO I am. I am very confident with the man that I have become. So year. No more complaining about me.

-Otis

Drive.

I have been presented with the opportunity to be a photographer for the Sooner magazine and the Sooner yearbook. The editors have expressed that they really want me on staff. I love these little confidence booster moments.

Recently, I have had my own personal epiphany. I do not just want to be a photographer. I want to be one of the most creative and succesful photographers that has ever graced the earth! I'm not kidding. I am going to work my ass off in college and make it my first priority. I refuse to sink into laziness and blandness by becoming a portrait photographer in a suberb of Dallas. I will live in a big city and I will have a photography job that other people would die for. It will happen.

I put some of my favorite black and white pictures up. What do ya think?

-Otis

"Jesus Knocked Out the Devil", Kade

I just started editing the picutres of my cousins. I have hardly edited any and I have so much left to do. MOre to come.

Workin'

I work at a daycare. Although, some days I feel as if I have been given an opportunity to be a good influence in childrens lives, most of the time I struggle not to pull out all my hair. The tattle tales, boo boos, and crocodile tears all add up into a mixture of utter terror and dissatisfaction. These kids are disrespectful to me and everybody around them. The attitude level reaches a new height every day. Not to mention, I keep having to get the boys to stop kissing each other. It's weird.
I would quit...but I like the little punks too dang much to leave them.



-- Otis on the move

On the Move

I am posting from my iphone! This is a new and exciting expereience! For all of my (future) readers, when a post is signed "Otis on the move" I am posting from my phone. This is so grand.
Today we went to the grocery store during RACC TV! We got bread and cheese! Enjoy a picture from our adventure.


-- Otis on the move

Beginning

This is my first blog! In past times, I have been a blogger on my friends' blog "The Facts Were These". This doesn't really matter since no one besides us ever read the blogs on it. I will now proceed to introduce you to myself. I am an aspiring photographer living in a suberb of Dallas, Texas. Next year I will be attending the University of Oklahoma where I have been accepted into the Art School to study photography! I also received a scholarship from the Art School! It is a really small amount of money but it was definitely a boost of confidence for me! I will also be a part of the staff for the Sooner yearbook and magazine. I am sooo excited because I am pretty sure that I will get paid. It is so great to have your skills valued and appreciated.

Unfortunatly, because I am so excited about college next year, I have pretty much given up on doing well in high school. I don't care about any of my classes. Only one thing matters, college.

P.S.

I'm a boy. The picture above is not me, it is just one of my favorite shots that I have taken.

Otis