3D? Seriously?

More to come from Super Sunday in the life of Mike Palma. But here's a sneak peak. Yikes.

3D supposedly really works according to this group.

Weekend shooting! I mean, photography :)

Happy Sunday everyone! Just wanted to share with you all some shots from this weekend. I've been trying some new things with strobes and what not a better group of people to try them out on than the members of Cold Tofu! Check it out!

Alden V. - He NEVER takes a bad photo. NEVER.

Aaron, doing his best "Che" pose. Kinda works doesn't it?

Denise. I like it, do you think she will?

Jully, trying to bone up on her improv right before our show last night. Yeah right!

Robert. Roberto. Covey. Bobby Covey.

This is Lindy. Had a terrific headshot sitting with her today. Look for her soon on the big and small screens!

Gotta love the rain puddles :)

Okay folks! Hope you all had a terrific weekend! Please leave a comment if liked what you saw. Thanks to everyone for letting me shoot them :)

One month to the day!

Okay, I admit it, I've lagged over the past month with my posts, what with the holidays (and over abundance of food!), the horrible cough/cold/flu I caught, and the awesome new era with Obama as our president (woo hoo!). Suffice it to say, I'm back! And if you're reading this, thanks for checking back to see if I'm still around :)

Since my last (non-photo) post, I've been shooting, as usual. Doing a lot of family photos, headshot sessions, a Disneyland trip, day to day stuff and most recently, an impromptu session with a good friend of mine, Denise. Denise was nice enough to take me along to the "Vanity Fair Portraits" exhibit at LACMA last friday, and with all those wonderful photos hanging around, how could one NOT be inspired to shoot! Of course I had my camera with me, so with what light I found, she and I turned a few moments into a shooting session. Take a look:

Probably on the phone with her agent. So L.A.

Our parking garage studio session.

You didn't really think that there was just one Denise did you?

Last but not least, my buddy Aaron T. You may have seen him recently in Jim Carey's "Yes Man".

Alrightee then! What a start. I've got a lot of portrait sessions coming up, and a wedding! Woo hoo! Can't wait :)

Until next time, Happy New Year (23 days late), and happy Obamanation!

Happy Holidays Everyone

Just wanted to drop everyone a line and wish you all a safe and happy holidays from M Palma Photography. Thanks for tuning in all year, and watch out for more great photos next year!

All the best,

Mike

Clubbin' at 33!!! (Photo Heavy Post)

"It's a small world after all..."

Yes, for most, if not all of us, the lyrics to that famous song is one that we have all experienced at one time or another in our lives, at the happiest place on earth, Disneyland!

This past Saturday, Helen, Aaron and myself were invited by our good friend Jim, to go to Disneyland's uber-exclusive Club 33, located in New Orleans square. It was my second time there, but each time is such a treat! (Click on the link to find out more about why it is so exclusive!)

There's too much for me to say about the evening, so I'll let the photos themselves do the talking for me.

(Note: all images have been downsized and reduced in quality for internet purposes. I've had some "photo theft" happen to me lately, so I'm not putting up high quality versions - sorry!)

Aaron in the Trophy Room dining area.

Legend has it that the vulture on the right was supposed to be an audio-animatronic version where Walt Disney himself would talk through to entertain his VIP guests. (Located in the Trophy Room)

Entrance into the Trophy Room area

Aaron and Helen in front of Club 33 and Helen doing her best "33" gang signing.

The display cabinet filled with Club 33 goodies you can buy (and sell on e-bay!)

Allastair - our waiter and LEGEND at the Club. If you ever get to go, he's the best! Seriously!

The hallway leading to the main dining room.

Aaron holding our uber-expensive bill. Yikes!

Aaron striking a GQ pose at the fireplace next to our table. Note the "hey ladies, I'm at Club 33" expression on his face.

The Main Dining room area. This is where you want to eat cause it overlooks New Orleans square and the Rivers of America. Hard to get a reservation here, but we did! Thanks Jim!

Helen and I with the Club 33 menu.

Aaron and I contemplating "borrowing" these items for use on e-bay.

After having spent the evening with great friends and food (as we all should do!), we were treated to the rare opportunity of walking back to the entrance of DL with the park empty, save for a few security guards and other late stragglers. I had never experienced this before in all my years at the park, and it was an awesome thing to do. Strolling down main street with no one around you. You bet I took pictures, but I am only posting this one.

When have you ever seen Main street this empty?

I'm still recovering from the great food we had saturday, but in the mean time, I'm in a show! Check out Goldstar.com for "Holiday Fever" in it's 4th year. It's happening at the Secret Rose theater in North Hollywood and we run from Nov. 28 till Dec. 20, 2008, Thursday through Saturday at 8:00pm. It's a fun show, great acting and singing, and you get to see me in a unitard. Yikes.

Have a great Thanksgiving holiday everyone if I don't talk to you till then.

A New World

YEAH BOY!

As you know, today is the day after the US Presidential elections, and thank God Barack Obama won! I'm not one for politics really, nor am I someone who would push my views upon others, but hey, the BEST candidate one, and we can all believe and hope again for a better future! Nuff said! Hopefully, you all had a chance to see the following photo firsthand yesterday, and if you didn't, don't complain if things don't work out the way you figured it should!

Okay, I know it has been a solid month since my last entry (which was one of my favorites BTW, for that one swelled with Filipino pride, as the above swells with USA pride.) Since then I've finished building up my new speed-weapon, the Cervelo P2C (she's a beaut!), attended a photo-workshop (images to come), and witnessed history! That's a pretty good number of things to have done! Oh, not to mention having dressed up as Billy Idol for my buddy's "Rock Band" Halloween party last week, rebel yell baby! I'm behind on all the posts, but I'll try to finish strong for the rest of the year.

Anyway, here's a photo of my new baby (in the most figurative sense possible!)

She's not for rent BTW. Looks fast though doesn't she?

Before I leave, just wanted to let everyone know to check out a few things happening this month.

Thursday, November 6, 2008 - Cold Tofu presents "Edamame Lounge" at the Japanese American National Museum's Democracy center in Little Tokyo (Please check ColdTofu.com for details)

Saturday, November 15, 2008 - Cold Tofu's monthly improv show at the Maryknoll Catholic Center (Please see website)

VOTE AGAIN for Cold Tofu for "Best comedy improv troop" in MYFox LA's on-line survey.

Lastly, the new show I'm in, "Holiday Fever" open November 28th at the Secret Rose theater in North Hollywood. Check out GoldStar events for more info!

That's it for now folks, and here's to a new president!

The Pride of two nations

Okay, first off, I have to apologize for lagging a bit in terms of having some new entries. As we all know, life has a way of getting in the way (as does laziness!). Rest assured though, after a long absence from the blogosphere, you can expect a huge photo post of my recent happenings! And there have been a few.

Let's see, since the last post, I finished another short film with Cold Tofu called "Frothy Sea-Men", which is soon to be released on CTV. I'll leave the explanation to the final product. Good times though, funny stuff.

I "climbed" our local Mt. Wilson, via Angeles Crest on my bicycle. 20 miles one way, uphill ALL THE WAY. Took me two hours to go up, and 45 minutes to go down. Gotta love that gravity!

And then, yesterday, I had the rare opportunity to cover a press conference. Not just any press conference, but for you boxing fans, it was for the big Oscar de la Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao fight happening in Vegas on Dec. 6, 2008. What a cool gig! My good friend Jenni (of Eventworks fame) asked me to cover the event for her company, and what a treat it was. Smack dab in the middle of East L.A., home to Oscar de la Hoya, and the throngs of de la Hoya boxing fans. Needless to say, I definitely was in the minority of those rooting for the Philippines' national hero, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, so much so, that I took a photo of all of us, which I believe could be counted on one hand. The de la Hoya fans were cool about it though, and both countries' flags waved side by side (Mexico and the Philippines, and an American flag too).

Throughout the 2 hour press conference, it was interesting to see the pride that the de la Hoya fans had (or East L.A.'ers), for here was their hometown boy, who literally grew up on their streets, went to their schools, ate at their restaurants, who made a name for himself world-wide as one of the most famous boxers of all time. Oscar was definitely proud of his East L.A. heritage, giving "shout-outs" when he could, and even exclaiming how he would "take East L.A. to [his] grave". Now that's loyalty. And to top it all off, when all was said and done, he treated his old neighborhood to free tacos for two hours at a local taco shop called "Porky's". What a guy!

On the other hand, there was the pride of the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao, who, like de la Hoya, came from ultra-modest means, perhaps even living in squalor in the Philippines, to also become a national and international hero. I couldn't help but feel the pride of having a filipino icon in front of me representing the land of my forefathers. Plus, he too was an all around nice guy! Very respectful of the Oscar (and vice-versa) and to the crowd as well. You gotta give it up to my peeps! Besides, he's going to kick Oscar's @$$ come December 6, so too bad de la Hoya fans! Ha!

Okay, so here are a few photos from the event. I've shot more recently, but I thought that these were cool.

There weren't many of us, but my peeps sure do know how to show their pride, even in "hostile" neighborhoods! (Note the non-smiling East L.A.'ers)


This kinda reminded me of one of the "Rocky" movies, where Rocky was full of himself, and totally underestimated his opponent (I think it was "Clubber Lang" - Mr. T. back then)
Manny was respectful and friendly to Oscar, but by the expression on his face here, he AIN'T having it!

The Golden Boy working his hometown crowd. Ah, how sweet!


Some guy named George Lopez MC'd the event.
Note again how Pacquiao's face is "all business". Yeah boy!

I didn't get this gentleman's name, but after speaking with a few of Pacquiao's fans, it turns out that he's Pacquiao's adopted father. You can see the pride in his face as he watches Manny speak. I like the patriotism in this shot too.

The pride of the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao.


East Los Angeles. 'Nuff said!


I like to use the term "Rock Stars" alot cause it's one of the highest compliments I can give a person, and Jenni (left) and Michelle (right) are definitely that - Rock Stars!!! Thanks Jenni for the opportunity to photograph for you. And hey, all of you who need a BIG time event coordinator, contact Eventworks for the hook up! Aren't these two hot?!


After all was said and done, and I made my way back to my car, I couldn't help but notice this left-over Birthday sign auspiciously greeting me over a concrete wall. Sometimes, you just have to keep your eyes open for the signs that life gives you.


Last but not least, my new piece of speed weaponry, the 2008 Cervelo P2 Carbon - woo hoo!!!
Happy Birthday to me, happy birthday to me...!