PHIDONG.COM . 5.0

11 days ago the year 2005 came to an end. On the eve of New Years, I had planned to produce another "Best of 200x" post celebrating the end of the old and the beginning of the new. Not that the day really defines a life changing moment in which we all take a new path or anything. Like a birthday, it's just another day.

But it'd be no fun at all if I just glazed over the end of the year without a look back at the good, the bad, and the worst times. If anything, it will hold some archival value to future Phi and we all know how difficult it is for him to remember the times of old.

In many ways, 2005 was not really a departure of the year before it. It was more of a continuation rather than a new chapter. The only real line which seperates it is the day in which we ended the date with a 5 instead of a 4. Of course, this is not to say that 2005 did not have its spectacular moments because it did.

If there was one singular theme that would define the year 2005, it would be the year of camping and trips. From Sedona to San Simeon, to Yosemite then Yucca Valley to Tahoe and then back to Yosemite. From my first camping expeditions to the first time I've ever had a class field trip in college. Despite what people might believe, the trips themselves weren't representative of their locations rather the people who made them memorable. The ability to leave everything behind and get away from it all for moments at a time is something that I will never take for granted. The photography of course comes in third behind friendships and relaxation. If I wanted a job, I'd shoot a wedding.

But the best trip of 2005?

The decision is a difficult one. The trips varied from destination, but also with who went. Some had brigaders, close friends, and others complete strangers or classmates. The best trip award, though, has to go to the one that started them all: Sedona. After a drive down to San Diego and a day shooting an engagement, Tim, Loc, and I spent approximately four hours on the road and arrived in cloudless Sedona. Not the best location for pictures in the week we went (Loc probably uploaded 5 pictures to his Epson P2000 ) but it was a fun time. Runner up: Tahoe with VAC.

Best Win of 2005:

Inevitibly, a year gets classified and remembered by the moments at which things were at their highest ups or their lowest downs. One of the most memorable ups will be when I won an X-Box 360 from every10minutes. Well, it'll be hard to forget considering it paid for most of the computer I'm currently typing on.

Best and Worst From the Theatre

Serenity was a great movie, definitely the best movie I have watched this year. If you haven't seen it, go out and get the DVD and see it now! King Kong was by FAR the worst movie I have watched in the last 5.

Growth

You can't describe 2005 and phidong.com without the word growth. In many ways it was an expansive year with the launch of the photoblog (http://pb.phidong.com) and 4mul8.

The photoblog allowed me to continue where I left off with philoader.net after closing it in 2004, bringing the classroom closer to home. For many people, the photoblog introduced them to the professor in a more formal way.

4MUL8 was more of an experience, but it shows the growth of the website. It's really the gallery that I've never had and another reason/motivation to keep shooting. The unique thing about the daily/weekly photoblog (Actual photos) is that it's open to several talented photographers who post regularly(j/k).

But expansion wasn't the only story when it came to the site. It evolved too. The gallery got a revamp, dynamic text was brought in and everything was tweaked. 2005 introduced the classic random headers again.

The Best cookie:

In September of 2004, I purchased $300 dollars worth of detailing equipment after reading up on it at a forum. I never dreamed that I would ever become good at it, but I did. Unfortunately, 2004 would reveal itself to be an academically challenging year and I could never fully persue my hobby. In 2005 I made several purchases including one from Sparkle Auto in which I received a free bag of these cookies:

2005 would also be the year that I broke into the black with my detailing jobs, finally paying off the equipment I invested in (I also got Hyper Dressing, which deserves an award in its own right but won't get one )

Discovery

I can't say it was a huge surprise, in fact it was something that I had suspected all along. Months after getting scammed by Ben "the thief" Hernandez Photography, Loc and I received several e-mails which confirmed our suspicions. Ben Hernandez is not only a coward, but a sleezy sleezy criminal!

Hey all,

I've had the same problems. I've sent a couple of e-mails and tried
calling but still have not received payment from August 05 Thousand Oaks
Cup onwards. I've sent him an invoice accounting for my hours and
corresponding pay totaling a little more than $1,000. I hope we can get
this resolved soon.

Regards,
Justin

Hey all,

I just received your emails about Ben and I couldn't believe my eyes. I though I was the only one having problems with Ben over money and various other things. You may remember that I worked for Ben during the summer running the booth and later look to working at his house during the week when he decided to try and cover baseball tournaments. I quit two weeks after I accepted this position and I am sure you can imagine why. I still have not been paid for my labor and BHPhoto owes me close to $500. This amount is nothing compared to the dept Ben owes some of you. I cannot believe he let it go so far. It seems his greed to push his miserable excuse for a business through to success has blinded him to the fact he should have landed a real job along time ago then maybe he would understand how to manage his money schemes. His desperation is disgusting.

I also considered reporting him and I will. I was giving him the benefit of the doubt but seeing that this miser attitude is a nasty habit he can't kick I have changed me mind. I don't really care if he can pay or not, I am angry.

Megan

So are you one of the many BH Photo shooters owed a ridiculous amount of money? The MkII deal I had with Ben fell through, so now I am owed pay & the money for a MkII...

So how've you been? A lot of us ex-bh photo shooters are keeping in touch over email, and I figured your UCI email (the only one I have) is defunct, because I think you graduated... if you care to join us, send me a line at alex@gmail.com. I think the other Alex would like to quiz you about the 120-300 2.8 sigma, heh heh.

I did eventually pick up a MkII N on my own account... nice camera. Anyway, hope to hear from you.

From: morenoar
To: Locster
Date: Oct 28, 2005 Oct 28, 2005
Subject: Re: hello Loc
Message:

Nope, have not been paid for a while and also owes me money that was suppose tobe for a 1DMKII. He owes me about $2300. Something I don't see getting back. What about you? You still working for him or?

After hearing all these stories, not only did my $200 seem insignificant, but hope that karma in this world does indeed exist has never been so great. Something is going to hit Ben Hernandez soon. If it isn't bad karma, I hope it's a bus.

My Share

I couldn't escape the bad karma for myself. The worst moments of 2005: I get scammed by Ben Hernandez, I go on academic probation, my car gets stolen, Honda World fucks me over, buyer rips me off on eBay, crickets invade my house (nothing lucky about this at all ). All equally sucky.