Accidentally Benjamin

Portfolio Site

Ryan — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 11:42:56 +0000

Well, I finally did it. I’ve been wanting to put up a portfolio site for a while to highlight some of the things I’ve done. And now it’s done. It took a while to figure out how I wanted it, but I really really like the outcome. I’m a little shocked that it actually looks similar to the mental picture of it I had in my head. That rarely happens.

Without further ado, I introduce you to Ryan Benjamin Films (dot com):

The URL is www.ryanbenjaminfilms.com, which took a while to decide on. I wanted it to sound nice and not be too hard to spell (which my last name can sometimes be). I’m definitely pleased with the final product.

Ryan — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:25:14 +0000

Yesterday morning: trapped the mosquito between the window and screen.

This morning: the mosquito lying dead between the window and screen.

Ryan: 1 Mosquito: 0

The Civil Wars: I’ve Got This Friend

Ryan — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 20:18:58 +0000

Loves it.

A new adventure

Ryan — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 22:00:52 +0000

As I sit next to my open bedroom window, listening to the rain fall outside, it’s hard to fully believe that I live here now. I’m sitting with my cup of jasmine tea and a burning candle–my tiny escape from the busy-ness that is life in a big city. I’m definitely not in the thick of the hustle and bustle, as I live in a (mostly) quiet neighborhood in the suburbs, but I can still feel the drive to accomplish and hurry all around me. I guess what I’m trying to say is that it’s nice to have these quiet moments to just be still, especially when I don’t usually set aside enough time for it on a regular basis.

I’ve had a lot of time recently to be still and think about life. Being unemployed has probably helped with that. [As a side note: there are many upsides to being unemployed. I can sleep in whenever I want, go sit at Starbucks for hours on end, and do pretty much whatever I want, whenever I want. However, the downside is that this all gets old pretty quickly without purpose, and it is definitely not sustainable, financially speaking.] But back to thinking about life…

I’m in a strange/interesting/wonderful phase of life now. A lot of big things have changed for me and I have never felt more freedom to do what I want to do or to be who I want to be. There’s both an aura of uncertainty and a measure of excitement surrounding this new-found freedom. It’s a wonderful place to be in life. Boundless opportunities. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Now, let’s start by finding a job…

Ryan — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 02:55:30 +0000

I finished this video quite a while ago, but am just now getting around to posting it. I’ve really enjoyed being able to do some wedding videos lately, and the Bodens’ wedding was no exception.

First Wedding Video

Ryan — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:30:38 +0000

My friends, Jen & Chris, agreed to let me do their wedding video last month. I had never done anything exactly like this, so it was definitely a learning experience. But also loads of fun. Here’s the result:

Ryan — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:43:28 +0000

We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood — it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, ‘Too late.’ – MLK jr.

(source)

New Intel Commercial: Chase through computer programs

Ryan — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 12:30:34 +0000

Now this is just fun.

(via 22 Words)

If you want your skin turned blue, I’m your man.

Ryan — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:30:25 +0000

I’ve been going through some Photoshop tutorials lately, trying to brush up on my image editing skills. I watched one the other day that went through the process of changing facial structure and skin color so that the end result was the subject of the photograph looking like a Na’vi, the blue aliens from the movie Avatar.

Of course I had to try it.

My sister, Maddy, was the lucky subject. Here are the before and after pictures:

For not spending a whole lot of time on it, and it being the first thing that I’ve ever really manipulated in Photoshop, I’m pretty pleased. I definitely should have flattened the nose some more. Oh well. It looks ridiculous, I know. But then again, most blue-skinned people do.

It’s somebody’s birthday…

Ryan — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 12:30:05 +0000

I love you, Dad! Happy Birthday!

(nice picture, huh? )