Nix's Notions

Tilt Shift Photography

2009-03-21T17:03:00.000-07:00

So I'll be the first one to admit that I have an addictive personality. When I find something I like, I tend to run it into the ground...I'll let everyone within earshot know what I'm "hooked" on and shove it down their throat. Well, this week it's a style of photography/photoshopping called Tilt Shift Photography. In a nutshell, it gives your ordinary photos the illusion of being miniature models. With the right photo, the effect is absolutely stunning and it truly looks like your photos has been "miniaturized". Anyway, here are some photos I've "tilt shifted".

As you can see the effect is pretty dang cool. While I consider myself a great photoshop user, I must admit that this effect can be achieved with the help of a web application. Just go on over to Tilt Shift Maker and upload your photo. Have fun!

Playing with Painter X

2009-01-26T14:37:00.000-08:00

I got bored the other night, so I decided to open up a program I don't normally work with...Corel Painter X. These two images are what came out of my brain...they don't have titles, themes or any meaning...just simple digital paintings. Take a look, let me know what you think...good or bad.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T23:12:00.000-08:00

Just got back from having a wonderful evening with my family and my girlfriend. I feel blessed to have such a caring family that can sit around the living room, poke fun at each other, tell stories about the past and laugh...all without any sort of ulterior motive. I know there are some that dread the times they "must" spend with their families during this time of year...but I'm thankful that my cynicism and pessimism have not sullied our traditions and allow me to relax and be myself while with them.

I hate to say it, but it seems like the only time people really connect with each other and you get to see that glimmer of hope in humanity, is around the holidays. It's unfortunate that the feeling cannot last all year round for most people (I'm guilty of it too...I'm not getting on my soapbox...don't worry)...but I truly hope; with the times that are coming this way economically, that everyone can at least stay close to their loved ones and cherish the time they have with them. I do...and I hope that maybe you can read this and just make that little extra effort to have the "Christmas Spirit" with you for the coming new year. It'll feel good, I promise.

Duplicity

2008-12-23T22:06:00.000-08:00

I sit in my apartment, partaking in The Beatles...listening to songs that were made before I was even an itch in my daddy's pants (thanks Dan!).

I sit and listen and wonder. Wonder about life and love and the things that make this crazy world spin around. There's always the nagging "What are we here for?" but more commonly for me "What am I meant to do?" The narcissistic side of me believes that I'm here to make people happy and that somehow I belong in certain people's lives for some certain reason. The pessimistic part of me thinks that I don't make much of a difference in certain lives and who am I to think that things can change.

In the past few years I've been through quite a few ups and downs...thinking I was meant to be a part of someone's life for the rest of mine...then quickly realizing that this other person wasn't even on the same page; let alone the same book, as me. Escaping that sinking ship, I made my way back home...back to safety, back to the family and friends I had known all my adult life. For a couple years, I built back my self-esteem and did things that I didn't know I could...I LIVED...I realized for the first time, that I didn't need to make other people happy...I could be selfish and buy crap that I really didn't need. I could go out and stay out as long as I wanted. While I look back fondly on those times, I knew the inevitable truth was looming in the distance...when am I going to grow up? Or was there some sort of "in between" mode...could I still look out for myself and take care of another?

Now that I've moved out again and I'm living with another...I realize that there is a fine line that can be traversed. While I struggle with certain realities of "growing up", I do realize that in the end...it's the people I touch along the way that defines who I am. I'm a conglomerate of past and present friends, family and lovers.

Yet, why do I hold on so dearly to the past? What lies in those times that I'm so afraid to let go of? I truly believe in my hear of hearts that if I were to call on past friends for anything, they would respond without a moments' hesitation...for I would do the same for them. And while I know it was me who made the conscious decision to move away (60 miles only), I feel punished for doing so. Friends whom I stood next to, don't contact me like they used to...steady streams of phone calls and text messages fade away and I still hold my head up high, standing by my decision to move and be closer to work...which has become another defining characteristic of that which is ME. And while I mourn the lose of friendships I grew up with, I cherish the new people I've met in my journeys. Friends that have taught me what I know in my job, friends that have inspired me to become what I am now, friends that understand the person I am now (flaws and all). In a perfect world, these two "sets" would become one...but a perfect world would mean no challenge...no reward...no sacrifice. My only wish is that my past friends can understand the decisions I've made and why I made them.

And now that I go back read through this junk...I hope that someone out there can catch onto my stream of consciousness and relate to what I'm going through. Torn between the past and present, the happy and sad, the good and evil, the love and hate. The duplicity of life will always be a mystery to me, but an enigma that I'm willing to deal with...so long as I become a better person for contemplating it and posting it on the web for everyone to read.

Let me introduce myself...

2008-12-23T21:34:00.000-08:00

I'm going to take a page out of a good friend's book and spend my first blog introducing myself.

Name is Nix...Eric Nix. Been on this great big round world for 29 years, been working for the mouse (more on that some other time) for over 10 of those precious years. I still read comics, enjoy dumb movies, good movies, bad movies, play copious amounts of video games, love animated shorts and yes...I still play with (and collect) toys. If you wanted to boil me down into one word: Geek...and very proud of it. I've either had a keyboard at my fingertips or a game controller in my hand since I was 6. I'm not a programmer or HTML enthusiast but I do love Adobe programs and designing in my spare time.

I live in southern Orange County but don't really feel like I'm a good fit here...I guess I'm too courteous to truly be part of the culture here. Love the homes, views and weather...hate the pompous people and their sense of entitlement. With the good, comes the bad I suppose.

So in short...this blog is dedicated to the everyday ramblings of my life. The gum on the bottom of my shoe. The lady who cuts me off on the way to work. The work that gets piled onto my plate. And the people in my life.

The names may be changed for the protection of the innocent, but the stories are real.

The feelings won't be phoned in and I won't ever fake the funk.

So strap in folks and enjoy "Nix's Notions".