That is all.

And I told him he had nice speakers.

...

...

LOOK AT ALL MY SELF CONTROL!

So yeah, I bought a new camera. If you've been paying attention you'll see that the Officially Official Sopheava Camera Of Choice™ has upgraded from the Nikon D70 to the Nikon D300. It sounds better if you imagine a big, booming god-like voice announcing "DEEEEEE-THReeeeeeEE-HUNNNNDRED" every time you say it. Or at least it does in my head, and frankly that's enough to make me feel a little better for dropping a metric fuckton of money on this pile of camera.

In the interest of keeping this short-ish and sweet, the goods and bads ...

THE GOODS:

• The. Color. Is. Amazing. For the first time I'm capturing the fullness of color just the way I see it.
• This goes for white balance too. VASTLY improved. Like, a whole different universe of sweet, sweet different.
• Sharper photos, just cuz they are.
• Active D-Lighting. Why it has such a fancy-schmancy name I don't know ... but the gist is that the camera handles the dark/light highlights of shadows MUCH better. I should really try to take some example pix of this ... but I guess for now you'll just have to take my word that it's uberdelicious.
• I upgraded the core glass in my collection with this purchase as well. Moved up from the D70 kit lens (18-70mm) to the 18-200mm VR glass. Image stabilization for all you Canonites ftw! Sharper pix and god it's hard to take off the stupid thing because it works too well in almost any situation. Except in low light when you're going to need something fast anyway. I kept the 50mm f/1.4 just for that and am not even thinking about selling, bitches.
• And cuz I'm a sucker I got the 70-300mm VR, too. It's reaaaaal pretty, AND BIG!
• Since we're on the topic of size, larger images too: 4288 x 2848.
• Annnnnnd let's not forget the gynormous 3" LCD screen too. Yummy.
• The controls are almost identical to the D200, and if you're not familiar with the changes they made in the D200 let me try to summarize: ISO and all that other sh*t you might adjust on the fly is managed between 1 dial on the left and the 2 adjustment dials on the right you still know and love. All the corresponding data is displayed INSIDE the viewfinder so you're not constantly pulling the camera away from your face to change, oh I don't know, say the ISO. Handy.
• Live-view on the LCD for all you noobs. You know how the handheld cams display the live image preview on the back? Yeah. That.

THE WHAT THE F*Ks?

• Any camera over $2k should be full frame imho. You won't change my mind on this but let's be honest. Do you really NEEEEED a full frame camera at $2k? Prolly not. Weak.
• Pricepoint. Yeah it's a lotta money but you might as well just file "pricepoint" under the "GOODS" too since you're gettin' some pretty snappy features.
• ... that's all I got. For now.

Oops, and one last category. The OOPS, THINGS I WASN'T PREPARED FOR *smacksforehead*:

• Make sure you update your Vista NEF codec or viewing thumbnails will crash Explorer and you won't know why. Might as well do it now anyway and get it over with.
• Get ready to haul out the kizzash for Photoshop CS3. Adobe decided not to support the D300 in CS2 so you have no choice but to upgrade. You're fine if you're running Lightroom, the updates there are free. But you might as well go ahead and download the Lightroom update now too while you're at it.
• So I knew that image file sizes would increase dramatically, as moving from 6.1MP to 12.3MP tends to do that ... but yeah. You can never have too much memory. Might as well stop buying 1 and 2GB storage cards and head straight for the 8GB section. You're only going to need more in the long run ... trust me.
• The Crumpler 7 Million Dollar Home is startin' to get a little cramped. Either I need a bigger bag or I need to sit down and start to do some thinking that's based in reality for a change. Down to 4 core lenses and going to keep it there for a while. Problem solved, the bag is fine (and still my mostest favoritest).
• And lastly, I wasn't prepared for HOW MUCH IT'S CHANGED MY LIFE! Honestly, it was such a huge jump over the D70 I can't even imagine picking up that beautiful, but sad, D70 anymore. It sure was good to me but I'm a spoiled brat and really, REALLY love the new gear. Everything is bigger, better, faster, easier, clearer, prettier shinier etc. etc.

You'll be finding (and already have been!) photos from the D300 all over the photoblog. Lots more to come, clearly, which I suppose means I'll be photoblogging again for the forseeable future. Lucky you!

On the flipside, getting it back isn't neeeeearly as fun as deleting that massive sucker. Yeah, this stuff happens.

Not to worry, file this handy Sopheava guide away in your back pocket for that Tuesday morning when you're flying out the door and need your purchased playlist back RIGHT NOW.

1. Hit up the iTunes store
2. Download anything (free song-o-the-day works, if you're a cheap-ass)

Ok, the purchased playlist is back. Putting all your music back on that playlist can be a massive PITA if your music collection is anywhere in the realm of the size of mine. Never fear, iTunes developed the least intuitive, most mislabled tools for your n00b disposal.

1. In the iTunes app, select File » New Smart Playlist...
2. In the first dropdowns select Kind » Contains
3. In the text field type Protected AAC audio file
4. Hit OK

L'voila!

MOST PLAYED & MOST DESIRED IN A LIVE MANNER: Black Keys, 'Attack & Release.' I have no recollection of how this album ended up in my collection. No, really. One day at work I sort've woke up and realized I'd been listening to this AMAZING album on my iPod. REPEATEDLY. It's DJ Danger Mouse produced and you wouldn't even know it unless you knew it (which you now do). This is the one album I'd regret missing if I had somehow missed it. A solid 4 Sopheava Superstars.

THE SURPRISE: Tapes 'n Tapes, 'Walk It Off.' Dude. In my entire history of album buying, Tapes 'n Tapes' first album 'The Loon' is the ONE album I kinda sorta wish I could take back to the store and never have back (I'm sorry Tapes 'n Tapes!!). Eventhough I paid for it, they could still have it back, that's how much I didn't like it. But it turns out their second album doesn't sound anything like their first album (at least to my non-critic, amateur music ears) and I can totally dig it. Maybe it's just that now I put Erik Appelwick's face to the band or something. Either way it's pretty darn good. Me like.

SEXIEST, SULTRIEST CHANTEUSSE & MY FAVORITE LIVE PERFORMER: Karen Paurus, 'Passion, Prayer & Poison.' The woman has pipes and she's not afraid to use them. While her album is the sexy (visually too, clearly :) it really is nothing compared to hearing her live. Gah. Damn. She'll give it to you hot. She'll give it to you sexy. She'll give it to you however you like. The point is you should let her give it to you in every way imaginable and all night long some time. *meow* [The album is available on iTunes and she performs regularly all over the TC, but also catch her with Lili's Burlesque.]

BEST TOKEN POP ALBUM: Robyn, 'Robyn.' She's Swedish. She knows "how to organize." And she waved a big FU at the record companies who didn't like her new sound and put out the album herself. Konichiwa bitches, indeed. The shortie EP is way fun and has had me dancing around, dizzly, many evenings this month. Super duper fun.

ALT & EMO: Bon Iver, 'For Emma Forever Ago.' What I loved about seeing him at the Turf Club in January is that he, like, had no idea how popular he is. He's just this dude from Wisconsin who recorded an album ... and then people started hearing it on the internet ... and then hipster alarms all over the country went off and he became a super mega alt sensation. Deservedly so. This album won't leave my iPod for, probably, years.

LOCALS: Cloud Cult, 'Feel Good Ghosts' & Atmosphere, 'When Life Gives You Lemons.' I couldn't pick just one album, sue me. They're equally hot but in very different ways that don't at all make it fair for me to put them in the same scale of hottness. Cloud Cult's album dropped and I was all, meh. But I kept it on the iPod and would occasionally stumble across a song here or there. And the more I heard it the more I liked it. And now it's a month later and I really, really, really, really like it. It grows on you. It's solid. And everyone in the band is so gosh darn likeable you won't be able to help yourself either. (They also put on one of my favorite concerts of last year and are a fun show to watch -- live painting 'n all!) Atmosphere comes out tomorrow and what I've heard of it sounds lightyears beyond their previous albums (none of which I could actually bring myself to purchase, btw). But I have purchased this one and hot dizzam it's sizzling. Try not to groove out to this thing. Dare ya.

DRIVING AROUND MUSIC: Gnarls Barkley, 'The Odd Couple.' Gnarls Barkley is having a darn good year. Ok fine he/they're having a darn good LIFE. Here I find myself gushing about DJ Danger Mouse again, half of the Gnarls combo, because goshdangit he deserves it. The album is raw and honest but that's a lot of its charm. This album could also double for the title of BEST WORKOUT ALBUM too. Crazy, happy beats.

HIPSTER ALBUM: Portishead, 'Third.' Yeah, like you didn't see this one coming. Of course Portishead is on the list and of course everyone loves them. I find that when I meet people for the first time and we're not sure what to talk about Portishead is one of those bands that everyone can go, "OMG I love them! I remember this one time when ..." and off you go. Supersolid band. Supersolid album.

CONCERT I'M MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO / BEST MORNING CD / PUTS ME IN THE BEST MOOD: Andrew Bird. I wish Andrew Bird were in my bedroom every morning to wake me up (lord, I mean that in the most non-sexual way possible ... I think). Whenever I listen to his music I sort of picture him under happy trees all blissed out with a whole crowd of little woodland creatures running up and making him an attentive audience just like in Bambi. His cheeriness is infectious and honest. Which is why I listen to him A LOT in the mornings. I mean, like, a lot. You should too.

ALBUM I ALREADY FORGOT ABOUT: Mariah Carey, 'E=MC².' Not hatin', just sayin'. I don't love it or hate it it's just that it's so ... meh. A couple songs are okay and when she comes on my iPod I don't bother switching her off. But I also never think of switching her on either.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Madonna, 'Hard Candy' & Moby, 'Last Night.' Let me just start by saying I loooooove Madonna. This album though ... Madonna you're killing me here. Lyrics? Weird. Beats? The same. Video? Meh. And is it just me or does it feel like she wasn't even present during the songwriting and recording of this one? I will always love The Madonna but this album makes me the sad clown inside. As for Moby (let me qualify this next statement by saying I'm not a music critic, I don't have a trained ear or whatever distinguished thing it is that makes music critics music critics, I'm just a chick with a credit card and an iPod) but the album? It sounds kinda, dare I say, amateur? Like he used one of those old 30-something key keyboards and recorded this in his room while his parents watched tv downstairs (yeowch, I didn't mean for that to be so harsh). A couple songs are nice enough that I've listened to them over and over, but for the most part I'm surprised by his work as a whole. AWKWARD!!!

ALBUM I WISH I COULD RETURN: Janet Jackson, 'Discipline.' I have very little to say about this album. Overprocessed. Overhyped. Over a lot of things and I was already over it 10 minutes after listening to it. My deepest apologies Janet but you sound like a robot. And not in the good way :(.

ALBUM I'M MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO: Santogold, 'Santogold.' I first read about Santogold sometime last year when music critics everywhere were calling her the new M.I.A. Which fully explains why it took me so long to actually listen to her since I was all, "Oh no you di''nt with the M.I.A.!" But they did, and then I did, and it turns out she's got all the goods. Her album comes out in only a week or two and if it's anything like the single 'Creator' (already on iTunes for those of you looking to take on a new Luvah) it'll be a healthy dose of kickass. Check her out fo sho.

ANOTHER OTHER ALBUM I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO BUT WILL ONLY SHARE WITH MY GIRLFRIENDS: Ashlee Simpson, 'Bittersweet World.' If I could have written that title in code so only the ladies in the house could read it I would have. My ladies will all secretly love this album in the privacy of our cars and iPods -- sharing and copying it for each other -- while boyfriends and significant others will continue to live in a state of quiet, blissful denial that their women would never indulge in that other Simpson's music. But we totally will, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US.

I know there's about a gazillion albums missing from this list which is why you guys gotta represent and show me some love in the comments. Or hatin', whatevs. Either way I'm dying to know what you guys are investing in and what I might have missed.

*mwah*

[They're pretty awesome, btw.]

So yeah. Um ...

Happy Birthday to Sopheava de Lumiere!!

I'll see what I can do about getting you le photo specialle this weekend. That's the least I can do, no?

1. Swim with dolphins
2. Great Wall of China
8. Have coffee at a French cafe
12. Get a dog
13. See Madonna perform live

19. Grow vegetables
20. Swim in a waterfall
21. Stonehenge
22. Hot springs in Iceland
23. Spend a night on the beach

28. Go fruit picking and make pies
30. Learn to drive stick
31. Grow my hair out really long
39. Learn to cook
46. Design a home from the ground up -- interior and exterior

50. Make out at the drive-in
55. Live in a foreign country, again
57. See and photograph the Grand Canyon
58. Own a summer home on water
65. Own an oversized, comfy reading chair

66. See the Nutcracker ballet every Christmas
70. Invent something
71. Grow flowers in my own garden
72. Horseback riding on the beach
78. Get one of my photos printed on large-size, stretched canvas (like, 40"+)

80. Take photos underwater
84. Have fresh flowers in my house every day for a summer
86. Machu Picchu
96. Eat breakfast in bed
97. Take a nap in a hammock

Donald Rumsfeld is giving the president his daily briefing. He concludes by saying: "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed."

Finally, the President looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?"

A couple months ago my very good friend Karen Paurus told me she was recording an album. This was some really fucking fantastic news because the woman can sing. I mean, DAMN, THAT WOMAN, SHE CAN SING. In fact she was named 'Minnesota Female Vocalist of the Year' in 1999 because she's just THAT GOOD. I also worked my friendship in as many ways as I could think just so I could get ahold of the cd early -- which I did of course, but only after she twisted my arm and begged and pleaded with me, and maybe even got down on her knees, to do her photography and album artwork. After, oh I don't know, thinking about it for a whole 0.05 microseconds I agreed and we began our journey to beautiful art together over hot dogs on the patio at The Bulldog in Northeast. Ain't nothing that says beautiful, sensual, emotional dialogue like a couple of big ol' juicy dogs if you know what I mean. (There might've been cocktails involved too, but don't tell our bosses.)

She told me about the album and we instantly began plotting the first photoshoot. Dark, light, mysterious, sensual, luxurious... the album is an amalgamation of dark and light, blues and jazz, indie and contemporary, it has the flavor of so many different genres it honestly needs its own, brand, spankin' new genre to even begin to describe how incredibly fantastic it is. And if you knew how much Karen liked herself some spankin' ... well ...

One thing led to another and she recorded the album at Brewhouse Studios in Minneapolis last November. I went with her to the studio one evening and snapped some pretty amazing shots of her on piano and her musicians - guitarist, cello, stand-up bass, drummer - doing their thing. Of course I haven't posted much from this shoot yet but I think maybe now I will. It was really f*cking cool to see a live album being recorded.

We knocked out the full album shoot in December just before Christmas. An incredible day that led to her album cover:

Now I'm going to tell you a secret but you can't share this with anyone: we shot that photo in her bathtub. Just a typical Sunday morning at Karen's house ... lounging around the bathtub in a full out evening gown, hat, fake eyelashes, and diamonds. You know, the norm. Also captured that day was the shot I used inside her CD, behind the cd tray:

There's one final photo per Karen's request on the album artwork, a photo I used both on the cd imprint and the back cover. A cookie to whomever can tell me when / where I took this (because you guys totally know, I know you do):

'Passion, Prayer and Poison' officially unleashes itself on the world March 15th with a CD Release Show at The Times in Northeast. You totally didn't hear this from me but there's every chance she'll not only be performing songs from the CD, but maybe just maybe having some surprise Minneapolis musician-type friends there as well. Who knows, IT'S A SURPRISE! And you'll just have to be there to find out. I'll be there, the one with the camera if you have trouble spotting me. I wouldn't miss this party for the world (and neither would her biggest fan who will be too busy oogling to actually take any of his own pictures). He's having his own love affair with a sneak preview of her album.

The artwork turned out really beautiful and I'm ecstatic I could give her something that really compliments the amazing job she did on the album. Can't wait for you guys to hear it in a couple weeks! It's gonna knock. your. socks. off.

A couple of days ago and thanks to this guy's good sense I ended up back at the hospital. I was mostly fine for the day except for a wicked cough that quite literally came out of nowhere. But between when I got to the hospital and the almost 3 hours I spent waiting to see a doctor things deteriorated quickly.

I left with a prescription to treat my now fully developed bronchitis. This time, she said, the meds were the good stuff. They're also pink this time, so I'm extra hopeful.

Basically I haven't left the bed in 2 full days and I'm still competing with a fever. I'm sure I will make it through the other side just fine but just need a whole lotta rest right now. Apologies for late emails, I'll respond to each and every one of you as I'm able. It may also be a few days until I'm back in the photoblogging and linkifying swing of things.

Hope everyone is staying well and healthy.

The important thing is drugs! It also kinda explains why some people thought I was looking a little, uh, weird (tired? gaunt? pale? sober?) in this photo. It's because I hadn't yet been medicated which will allllll change very shortly. A big shout-out to the nice doctor who sent me home with a bag full of goodies.

A few things to note before Indigo and I fall asleep at the keyboard...

First, Obama is in town this Saturday and he's speaking at the Target Center. If you subscribed to my link-bar you'd already know that, natches ;). Whether you are or aren't voting for him you should be there. Being informed isn't such a bad thing.

Second, tomorrow (01/31) is the last day to VOTE for your picks for the Most Eligible Bachelor and Bachelorette in the Twin Cities. You know you want to see the pix and read the profiles... do eet!

I think there was a third and fourth but I've already forgotten them. Hope everyone is staying healthy and well.

Still cloudy in the head and just moving past that whole laryngitis thing (did you know people still get that? cuz I totally do whenever I get sick) so let's keep it all over the map today, que non?

+ Bad news first eventhough it shouldn't come as a major shock to anyone who's as excited about bloody, brutal, gorey, violent, sexually deviant MMOs of 2008 on the tips of everyone's tongues: Age of Conan has been pushed back, again, from March to May. Shocking. So like, does this mean Warhammer and Age of Conan are coming out the same weekend, which also happens to be the same weekend of the Indiana Jones movie? I swear Mythic and Funcom are having a chicken contest. "No you first, NO YOU, hahaha pwnt noobz."

+ I'm shooting film again. This one deserves its own blog post, which it will get, soon.

+ Hey, did you know I also have a mini link blog on this site? Cuz I totally do and there's some surprisingly good content in it. It's right in the middle of the page in a very forgettable position. Apparently there's been some massive confusion about all the RSS feeds up and in this joint so let me lay it down for you:

• Subscribe to the blog
• Subscribe to the mini-link-blog
• Subscribe to the photoblog
• Link to all 3 feeds?: still in development

I trust you'll do the right thing.

+ I got a Wii and it is [RIDICULOUSLY] good. Games acquired: Super Mario Galaxy, Legend of Zelda, Mario Party 8, Guitar Hero III, and of course Wii Sports. Wii Sports is like crack and should be avoided at all costs. Even when you're bowling and find out that as a pro you get a PINK BOWLING BALL covered in SHINY STARS ... step away from the Wii. Someone gave me Guitar Hero III for the Wii and I was all, "Blah blah blah FINE I'LL TAKE IT" cuz everyone can't stop talking about this stupid game. And I looked at the silly guitar and thought to myself, "This is so dumb." But then I started playing along with Pat Benetar. And Kiss. And Poison. And you know what? It doesn't suck. In fact it's kind of fun. So much fun you find yourself wanting to unlock more and more songs just to see what else is hiding in there. *sigh* Fine I'll say it: I like Guitar Hero III.

+ There's a contest going on, have you heard about this one? Vita.mn is looking for the Most Eligible Bachelors and Bacheloretes of the Twin Cities. Are you or is someone you know one of these people? If so, why aren't you nominating them right now? There will be a cover story written about them, a party at Soundbar (did I mention there are rumors of an OPEN bar?? - that's totally between you and me btw), other phat lootz, and bragging rights to go around. The first round of voting starts later this week - check back often and vote your faves up (or down, whatever your flavor). We'll make it worth your time. Promise.

+ The Lili's Burlesque show photos are done and I'll be uploading them to flickr any day now. You know you can't help yourself, they're delicious.

Time for more medication, thanks for hanging in there.

Think Margaret, think.

Which is why I'm not telling any of you bitches about the when or where of his next concert. Except that I'm going to bring my friend Leslie and a 35mm camera and take some crusty good photos that will float your boat. And once he sees how fantastic they are they'll float his boat too.

I'm pretty excited about tonight.

Oh yeah, I did mention something about a 35mm camera. There's a story to tell there... but you'll just have to wait! It's a good one though and definitely worth the wait.