Big thanks to Ron Davis and Shawna Rencher and to Tony Yang for the headshot!

Join me on Facebook.

I met Neil “FrizzyCube” Nakahara in 2005 when Myspace was still an acceptable form of social networking. Before the website got filled with creepy stalkers, I befriended Neil through some pleasant exchanges, and we set up a shoot. We chatted on the phone and talked for hours–I had not done that since junior high, back when I loved to prank call people and obviously before *67 and *69. Neil explained his “Toasty Hot” photo shoot concept to me and scooped me up for a shoot shortly thereafter.

Neil’s assistant at the time had full access to this amazing steel factory outside of Manhattan. After a few hours of set-up and shooting, I noticed that the strobes kept moving. One time I looked over, the softbox slowly slid from one side to the other. No drafts, no A/C…just an empty, dark, cold and creepy steel mill. I pointed it out to Neil, and as we both watched the light move from left to right, he said the light had moved five or six meters away from where he originally placed it. Zoiks!

Neil mentioned this experience in the latest issue of Flavour Magazine, this really fabulous e-zine based in the UK. With printed magazines going out of business left and right, it looks like e-zines represent the wave of our future–and Flavour easily takes the cake as a pioneer. Check out the cool interface. I enjoyed sitting in front of my computer, flipping through its pages.

I got the warm fuzzies AND cold chills when I read pp. 68-69. First of all, how cool is it to get a shout-out by one of the most sought-after digital artists/photographers out there? I have some of his big-wow PSD’s sitting on my desktop, and I marvel at the level of skill, time and effort he puts into one single piece of artwork. Any Photoshop geek would appreciate the layers upon layers of tips and tricks in a single FrizzyCube PSD file.

Neil spent countless hours teaching me Photoshop. Every time I get stumped with a retouching problem, he comes up with an easy fix. I want to start something new on my blog next year where I interview photographers that have greatly influenced my work. If you have any interview questions for Neil, please post them in the comment section below. In the meantime, take a gander at FrizzyCube’s dreamy photos (www.frizzycube.com) and show some love!

2. Diamonds or Pearls?
Why not both?

3. What is the last movie you saw at the cinema?
The Hangover.

4. What’s your favorite TV show?
Dexter, Law & Order SVU, Oz…anything light-hearted that helps me relax me after work.

5. What do you usually have for breakfast?
Oatmeal & iced coffee.

6.. What is one of your life’s goals?
To never have to worry about financial stress, to be a positive role model, and to help others–in any way I can. And while I’m at it, take pretty pictures. ^_^

7. What food do you dislike?
苦瓜 / kǔguā (bitter gourd). That stuff is revolting.

8. What is your favorite cd at the moment?
Lord help me, it’s Lady Gaga’s “Fame.”

9. What kind of car do you drive?
I don’t disclose this to the people at Hertz, but I haven’t driven a car regularly since 2001.

10. What is your favorite sandwich?
Bánh mì.

11. What characteristic do you despise?
Laziness.

12. Favorite item of clothing?
Jeans.

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
The Galápagos Islands, Victoria Falls, Antarctica, New Zealand…

14. Favorite Brand of Clothing?
Nothing I can afford.

15. Where would you retire to?
In my dreams, Hawaii. But realistically, Austin, TX.

16. What was your most memorable birthday?
Jon took me to Niagara Falls this year. Pretty spectacular!

17. Favorite sport to watch?
College football. Hook ‘em!

18. Furthest place you are sending this?
As far as the Intarweb can reach, baby.

19. Person you expect to send it back first?
No expectations, but feel free to post.

20. When is your birthday?
January 16th. For gift ideas, see Question #2, #22, and #27.

Just kidding…or am I?

21. Are you a morning person or night person?
Night Owl.

22. What is your shoe size?
8½. Love me some Louboutins.

23. Pets?
Mia and Wasabi, but I have a photo of my beloved Goober sitting on my desk.

24. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share with us?
I have a pretty sweet article coming out next month on the Canon Learning Site, and I’m shooting again for Make Up For Ever, yay!

25. What did you want to be when you were little?
A doctor, but don’t ask me what kind.

26. How are you today?
I’m super, thanks for asking!

27. What is your favorite candy?
Lifesavers Spear-o-Mint.

28. What is your favorite flower?
I love big, bright and beautiful daisies.

29. What is the day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
Christmas, a day to spend time with the fam in the big ol’ state of Texas.

30. What is the name of your first crush?
Jeff Johnston in Kindergarten, although he was a total player.

31. What are you listening to right now?
Wilhelm Kempff: Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata mvt. 3.

32. What was the last thing you ate?
Lifesavers, frozen yogurt.

33. Do you wish on stars?
Haven’t seen stars in NYC in a while…but when I see ‘em, sure!

34. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Red.

35. How is the weather right now?
Swampy.

36. The first person you spoke to on the phone this morning?
I prank-called my mom this morning, but I do that everyday.

37. Favorite soft drink?
Coca-Cola.

38. Favorite restaurant?
Gammy Sue’s in Houston, TX.

39. Real hair color?
Dark brown.

40. What was your favorite toy as a child?
Ernie.

41. Summer or Winter?
Summer, duh.

42. Hugs or Kisses?
Hugs ‘n stinky kisses!

43. Chocolate or Vanilla?
Both. Is that wrong?

44. Coffee or Tea?
Now the questions are getting hard…

45. When was the last time you cried?
Awww…last week.

46. What is under your bed?
Light stands, dust bunnies, shoes, my hopes and dreams.

47. What did you do yesterday?
Flew over O’ahu in a helicopter, went horseback riding on the beach, and then flew to NYC.

48. What are you afraid of?
Ghosts.

49. Salty or Sweet?
Usually sweet, but I love me some salt.

50. How many keys are on your ring?
I make Jon carry the keys; I’d lose them otherwise.

51. How many years at your current job?
2 ½.

52. Favorite day of the week?
Fridays. I reward myself for a hard week at work and then gear up for shooting on the weekend.

53. How many towns have you lived in?
I lost count. Let’s try: Houston, Dallas, Austin, Gurgaon (India), Taipei, Santa Monica, Oxford (England), New York City. 8?

54. Do you make friends easily?
Sure, as along as I’m smiling.

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Feel free to post your surveys here! I love reading ‘em.

Since I no longer ride the subways in the morning (walking to work is BLISS), I have to give a huge thanks to Eric C for the heads up. Sorry for the blurry quality of the image from my Blackberry. I just wanted to share, but you can find this image here, too!

Photographer: Amy Dunn
Photo assistant: Jon S.
Model: Mitali

Wall Street -New York City, 2007