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posted by [personal profile] bethofalltrades at 10:56am on 31/10/2008 under
Today is Halloween, and that's important, but it is also [livejournal.com profile] kylecassidy's birthday.

It figures that someone as delightfully twisted as Kyle Freakin' Cassidy would have been born on Halloween. Ghouls and goblins walked the earth, punks egged the houses of old people, and Kyle Freakin' Cassidy emerged from the womb, Leica in hand. He surveyed the delivery room and said, "Sweet barking cheese! These overheads are almost as bad as hot lights! Can someone hand me the fill flash from my bag?"

Kyle Cassidy is an artist. Full stop. Anyone who thinks photography is about being in the right place at the right time with a camera should be forced to watch Kyle orchestrate a shoot. The sheer attention to detail, the moving that flash a little bit this way and that flash a little bit that way and adjusting the subject's stance by a milimeter to make THE SHOT. It's intense.

I am, in some ways, terribly jealous of Kyle. He is a huge natural talent, a master of the craft AND when someone says "Kyle Freakin' Cassidy," everyone else goes "PHOTOGRAPHER." For someone with my multiple crisis of identity and ART, it can be intimidating to have someone around who so clearly has it figured out.

Then I remind myself that Kyle is a few years older than me and perhaps when he was twenty-six, his life and artistic identity were as much of a fuckshow as mine are.

Then I remind myself that Kyle doesn't swear, so I amend that to "freakshow," which I like better anyway.

And I count myself incredible lucky that Kyle Freakin' Cassidy is in my life and willing to share his wisdom AND his tequila with me. And one day soon he will share his MOMCAT with me and life will be complete. Although I suspect with deep regret that he will never share his beautiful [livejournal.com profile] trillianstars.

Love,
Beth
There are 4 comments on this entry. (Reply.)
 
posted by [identity profile] trillian-stars.livejournal.com at 03:44pm on 31/10/2008
What a beautiful person you are! And such a lovely, whimsical birthday entry for our Kyle! I LOVE the image of him popping out of the womb, leica in hand, ready to capture the perfect shot.

I think you're probably quite right about the difference a few years make.... At 26, I imagine Kyle wanted to be more like Hemingway and was far more focused on his writing... which is still a major love of his, by the way. Whatever he does though, he does well (or learns to do well through long hours and hard work) because he's always a perfectionist at heart.

Thank you for this entry, Beth -- it's lovely!

xxx
 
posted by [identity profile] bethofalltrades.livejournal.com at 06:26am on 01/11/2008
Aw, thanks Trillian. I only speak the truth--- Kyle is one rad dude. I hope both of you had a spectacular Halloween/birthday.

Annnnnnnnnnnd, I just noticed that I misspelled your username, unless Kyle is stockpiling Trillian Starses.


 
posted by [identity profile] kylecassidy.livejournal.com at 04:24pm on 31/10/2008
Here I am at 26



I think the real key is not to be just anything -- don't be a photographer, don't be a musician, don't be a writer, be all of those things. You're the product, not your latest CD, or your latest book, or your latest poem or your latest kitchen creation, be you who does all those things. Don't get locked into one direction. When you have some solid achievements in one direction, it might be time to explore another. You want people to say "Wow, whatever Beth does next, I want it, I love her poems, I love her photos, I love her bagpipe playing."

And now you're an actor!

I was just looking at some of your photos last night and thinking what an incredible opportunity you have now that I'm envious of -- keep your tear sheets, keep your portfolio together and up to date -- it's going to come in handy.

And momcat sends her love!

Thanks for the kind words.
 
posted by [identity profile] bethofalltrades.livejournal.com at 06:22am on 01/11/2008
This is all very good advice-- how did you get so freakin' smart? (Your comment reminds me of 1,000 true fans, do you know it?)

Kyle at 26 looks like he has it figured out about as much as I do.

Cinderella and I both send our love to momcat. Viva la momcat! I hope your birthday was filled with love and Stars.
(http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/03/1000_true_fans.php)
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