Calm Down

Disney has a way of bringing people from different backgrounds together and once again I was fortunate enough to meet a new friend before getting down to Florida!

last week I met with a girl who has a way with words. now that I think about it, that's actually how I remembered her and for that I thank you marta

you see while trying out for Disney entertainment in Chicago, I had come across two awesome people who happened to be next to me after the first wave of cuts. Nick and Michelle were practicing their dance to perfection and nerves were flowing through us all as we waited for our time to come. Nick to say it in a nice way was...... GOING BANANAS PRACTICING LIKE A MAD MAN. the mad hatter had nothing on nick that day

Marta- "would you calm down, everything is gonna be ok!" placing her hand on Nick.

As simple as it was, I found myself breathing a little easier along with everyone else after hearing those simple words. it wasn't a life or death situation, it was a tryout and last time I checked we weren't gonna be shunned from Disney World if we didn't make.

Fortunately after we all made it into entertainment (yea me, nick, michelle and Marta!! what were the chances :D ) I found myself coming across Marta again because she happens to arrive the same day as me and with that being said, we got in contact with each other and hung out for the first time :)

here's a few from last week!

Taking a breath of relief

There's a requirement at my school known as the "Junior Year Experimental Learning" where a student is required through DePaul University to either Study Abroad or do an Internship.

With my earlier decision back in January pertaining to pursuing another Disney College Program, I had to fill out a application for the UIP (University Internship Program) in the hopes of getting credit through DePaul to fulfill my junior year requirement.

After a few weeks of paranoia regarding this acceptance, I received this Email from DePaul

and then I took a huge breath of relief

What's that you say DePaul, we only have to take one online class? sure thing!!

I mean I WILL be busy with this amazing experience ;)

Reflection from the beginning and meeting the Fro

Back in January of 2011 I decided to take that plunge into the photography field. Not knowing what I was getting myself into or where to even start, I did what any other clueless person would do for inspiration and an idea of where to start.

I popped open a tab for google and typed in anything from "getting better at photography" to "understanding a digital SLR" and tons of links and websites popped up but nothing was really getting my attention with all this fancy talk about "shutter speeds, iso and aperture" (little did I know I'd be talking about those all the time now), but something caught my attention on Youtube about video tutorials and learning different settings etc.

So I made my way to Youtube and started doing searches there and came across a man known as Jared Polin of Fro Knows Photos business he started. Instantly I was hooked to his passion for photography, his motto at every end to his videos and of course Lil. What caught my attention most though was his idea of sharing information for others at no cost, giving FREE education online at no cost which is extremely hard to come by in this day in age where everyone is looking to make a buck or two, but his sharing of information is not only priceless but rewarding.

I learned so much from the Fro and I've been so grateful for it. Which brings us to this current time in which one of my friends Cody brought to my attention that the Fro would be in the Windy City aka Chicago for a couple days and offered to do a photowalk with some followers!! So OF COURSE I jump on this opportunity to meet the guy who helped me with my pursuit of happiness, whether it be with gear or further understanding my camera and what I can do with it.

With ALL that being said I met the Fro and not only got to learn something, but I also took advantage of the opportunity to not only meet Jared, but network as well!

"But Ethan where's the cherry on top? you always seem to have a cherry on top!"

haha the cherry on top was Jared letting me use his camera to film the day with everyone! Not only was I able to hold the new Nikon D3200, but he also had one of the Hebrew trinities on it aka one of the GOLDEN lenses every photographer should have in their bag. He had a 14-24 2.8 G ED lens on it.... lets just say that lens cost more than twice as much as the camera it was attached to tipping the scale at over 2,000$ for it!

Did I have a deathgrip on it? YES!

any who, here's a few photos from today with some amazing photo credit to Cody even though I almost had to fight him for my own camera back.......

haha thanks Cody, and thanks Jared for the awesome opportunity!

Photo credit Cody Barczak

Photo credit Cody Barczak

Photo credit Cody Barczak

Photo Credit Cody Barczak

Photo credit to Cody Barczak

Jared Polin aka Froknowsphoto with his Dad

Preview to the summer. Fest2012 with Lupe Fiasco

8:15 am Tuesday

Me- "ready for the game plan?"
John Daly-"lay it on me"
Me- "After class, take the stairs to the 14th floor and run across to the DePaul Center"
John Daly- "The stairs!?"
Me- "are you joking, do you realize how many people are gonna try and take the elevator after class??"
John Daly- "good point! ok cool"

9:57 am 

Professor- "I STILL have 3 minutes to get through this concept"
Me- *In my head*- "SERIOUSLY"

10:00am

Me- "COME ON DALY LETS MOVE!"

*running out of class up the stairs and one building over!!!!!*

*1 hour later*

iPhone photo! ;)

Kicking the summer off with some Lupe Fiasco in Chicago is perfectly fine with me

considering it's 2 days before my birthday I gotta finish my under age drinking years with a bang right?  

a week later :: a week closer

It's officially been a week since I last met with Michelle a.k.a. a future college program cast member :)

We stumbled upon each others during the Disney Entertainment tryouts in Chicago and after finding out we both got accepted among some other awesome people we met, we decided to FINALLY hangout last week! 

Me (cell phone)- "where are you?"

Michelle (cell phone)- "sitting in front of DePaul where are you?"

*making eye contact with each other*

Me- "I didn't realize it but..... you really are mouse height" 

Michelle- "hey, whatever gets me into the program"

and off we went to explore the city on the amazing day! 

From the amazing weather and talking about Disney and what we were looking forward to, to walking along the lake shore and Navy Pier we got to know each on a new awesome level. 

Moral of the story? I can't WAIT to meet all these other amazing people in person! oh oh oh AND one week later is another week closer.... closer to Disney!

OH and Michelle, I told you I'd make you photogenic ;)

Happy Tuesday Folks! 

"Come on, have another drink with me" - Mom

Full-time Student + Work on the weekends is rough, but I promised myself I would write this post given the day it is!

After getting out of work Saturday night around 1:30 am I somehow made my way to Dominick's since it was open 24/7 and there was a surprisingly high number of people there..... coincidence they were all in the flower area? I think not ;) I have no excuse I admit.... BUT I left with a few things

After getting home and placing everything accordingly I passed out and my momma woke up to these pretty things ;)

and what does my Mom say after seeing them? 

"If you wanna go all out.... you place this here"

*placing a fake butterfly on the flowers*

Following the flowers my mom insisted on a Mojito given the beautiful day we get to enjoy this Sunday and of course she wants me to celebrate with her ;) 

"come on, have another drink"- Mom 

Happy Mother's Day Mom and to all other Mom's such as my Sis and Grandma 

Thanks for putting up with my nonsense over the years, and cheers to many mother's days to come!