aaron schwab

i’ve been super busy lately, as the huge gap between my blog posts — which are becoming somewhat of a norm — can attest.

basically, the first week of photographing the 2010 graduating class of engineering students at UW is going well. it’s been a lot of fun working with Justin and Brandon as our two new main shooters. i remember being in their position last summer, shooting my first few grad sessions and such, and it’s amazing to think how much i’ve learned and the eye i’ve developed for my work since then. it’s kind of amusing, too, to watch both Justin and Brandon develop their own little habits and mannerisms and get into the groove of shooting grad sessions in the manner that we shoot them. even though it can feel like a bit of a daily grind at times, i genuinely enjoy my job — i work with good people who all operate in an ethically-sound fashion, the pay is fair (and i literally mean that as “fair,” not as “moderate”,) i’m subconsciously learning more about portraiture than i ever figured i would, and i feel as if i get little bits of senority added to my standing every time i’m in a position to instruct or guide someone. i suppose i could summarize by saying my job is progressive.

speaking of photos, i ended up attending and photographing ARC Cloathing’s spring/summer 2009 line at their second annual fashion show, which was hosted at the Children’s Museum in downtown Kitchener. Curt and Cory ended up opening up their shop after the show for a late-night shopping party, where i picked up a sleek red track jacket. have a look at some of the better photos i captured that night here!

as good as all of this work- and photo-related business is, it’s all overshadowed by the surprise that Cagney got me yesterday, the likes of which she spilled the beans about a couple days beforehand — she got me my very own kitty! photographic evidence suggests that there could not have been a better kitten for me:

his name is Rodney, and he’s named after the godfather of modern street skating. Cagney chose Oliver as his middle name, after the titular character in Oliver and Company.

i had to work today and, unfortunately, had to leave him at home, but Cagney had the day off so i felt better that he was being babysat (and monitored closely around Zipper, who hisses and growls at him out of terror whenever he gets too close — poor thing!) apparently, he’s much like me; not only in terms of literal appearance, but in the fact that he loves hot chocolate and hates eggs. as i type this, he’s napping on my lap, and has already taken naps — both on his belly and upside down with his arms cocked out at a weird angle in the air — on mine and Cagney’s chest, shoulders and legs, and in the couch cushion cracks. my heart is still melting over his sheer cuteness. i just hope Zipper eases into him in good time and realizes that she has no reason to be so on-edge around him (although, to be fair, every other male cat she’s had to room with has scared her to some extent, simply because they were larger than her and much more aggressive, even if it was only the “hey, hey, play with me!” type of aggression.)

i’d better get the little dude’s bedroom litter box and food dishes ready before i hit the hay myself — we’re probably going to keep him in the bedroom away from Zipper at night until she warms up to him. until then, i get to look forward to wee claws and teeth using my toes to climb up onto the bed!