Perez Studios

If you love the desert like I love the desert then you should get away to the desert! 

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Okay, I don’t want you to look for Waldo in this photo but instead look for Manuel Perez in the following photos.  If you can find me in both pictures I will give you access to something nice.  Maybe a Demonoid Invite or if its something else you want then let me know! 

The photo on the left is of my platoon in Corporal’s Course in Camp Pendleton, California.  Our platoon Sergeant was Staff Sergeant Moss.  The photo taken on August 12, 1998.  Right after I got promoted to Corporal the First Sergeant wanted to test me and see if I would fail Corporal’s Course.  I passed with flying colors. 

In Corporal’s Course they teach you Leadership, Weapons and Small Unit Tactics, Management and Drill.  Drill is probably one of my most favorite tasks.  You are on a large parade deck with an entire platoon to lead and you are given a drill card that has a list of different movements to put the platoon through.  You begin with presenting the platoon to the judge and then begin with the movements.  The key to drilling is to get the platoon in and out of the movements.  That way you only use a small portion of the parade deck and it is over quickly.

They also inspect you very thoroughly so that you are capable of inspecting your platoon.  Overall the course was great.  I got to stay with a friend and his wife that I knew from communications school.  My wife came over and we spent the time together.  I love Oceanside and the weather is almost as perfect as San Diego. 

The photo on the right is from Marine Combat Training.  This is the training that they put Marines through right after Boot Camp.  Here you learn a lot about Weapons, Infantry Training and other Combat Skills. 

This photo is of Golf Company – 3rd Squad – 3rd Platoon in Camp Pendleton, California.  I took this photo in October of 1996.  I was only 18 in this photo. 

Remember, if you can find Waldo, I mean me, then I will reward you!  Leave your answer in the comment box or either email me.  I will send the winner the reward of their choice.

That’s all for today!

Thanks for reading!

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

This is a photo of a United States Marine manning the radio wearing full Mission Oriented Protective Posture Gear.  This was my last exercise in Okinawa, Japan before finishing my tour.  I was with 1st Stinger Battery from Camp Futenma.  This Marine and I were on Radio Watch when we got the siren to go to MOPP Level 4.  The command is Gas, Gas, Gas and it is nothing to ignore.  Manning the radio can be tough with all this gear on because you can barely hear anything through the mask.  I remember going through Nuclear Biological Chemical Warfare School and we had to play basketball with all this gear on.  Luckily it wasn’t too hot only about 80 something degrees. 

That’s all I have for today and thank you for reading!

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

One day while I was in Okinawa, Japan back in 1999-2000 my friends and I all decided to go rent some underwater gear to check out this one area that the scuba divers use.  I rented an underwater camera housing unit and some snorkeling gear and we took off.  I was kind of curious to see how the camera would operate but it was fairly simple.  I used one of those disposable cameras and it worked fine. 

The photo on the left is of me underwater with the snorkeling gear on.  We had a blast at this place.  In fact a couple of months later some other friends and I went back to check it out again.  We found some underwater caves that took you over to the other side of a big cliff.  We held our breaths and dove in and raced over to the other side.  When I came up I came up too soon and scratched my back on some coral.  It was very painful after I got out of the water. 

We explored the other side of this cliff and found some caves that were above ground.  One even went in about 20 feet or so.  It started to get very tight at the end and we had to crawl out. 

I had a blast while in Japan but it does get kind of sad when the other half of you isn’t there with you.  I eventually left the Marine Corps after serving four years on Active Duty.  I think of the Corps as a place that anyone will transform into another person that has lots of self respect, respect for others, discipline, and time management skills. 

Until recently, I used to think that all the jobs I got were because of the discipline that the Corps instilled in me, but when I interviewed at two different jobs recently and didn’t get the jobs, I began to think that I am losing those traits that the Corps gave me. 

So, I began working on getting those traits back by giving my all at my work, my marriage and my life.  I started on an exercise program back in April called Beachbody’s Insanity and I went from 240lbs to 223lbs in 60 days.  I must say that Insanity is probably one of the toughest programs I have done and remember, I went to the United States Marine Corps Boot camp.  After the 60 days I tried some other programs but none of them gave me the performance like Insanity.  I have also started using my Bowflex to build muscle which they say burns fat.  I have seen a big difference.  I am now at 218lbs and have had to buy a new belt that is smaller than the other one because the other was too big. 

My goal is to get to 175lbs eventually but I am just trying to get to the 200lb mark first.  I know I can do it with a lot of hard work and dedication.  I am drinking water like it were candy and trust me the cravings for soda is almost unbearable. 

I know I can do it and if you are on some kind of diet, then I would love to hear about it.  If you have any questions about the photos from Okinawa, Japan or the Insanity program please feel free to let me know.  I would love to work with you all.

That’s all for today!

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

While I was in Kuwait back in 1997, we had an experience that was amazing.  When we arrived back home, I had a promotion warrant for me.  I had gotten promoted to Corporal.  It was a big thing for me because ever since I first signed up to be in the Marine Corps, I wanted that Blood Stripe and I knew that I had to work hard to get it and to keep it.  The ceremony was short and sweet but it was cool to get promoted in such a surprise.  I eventually got promoted to Sergeant in 2000 just about a month or two before I got out which was another key step for me because being a Sergeant is something else. 

That’s all for today.

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

Hello Photographers and Readers!  I am planning some ideas for the future and one of them is to get some more detailed information from photographers by doing an interview with them.  Of course this interview wont be televised but I do plan on posting the questions and answers. 

I have some questions put together already and want to get any ideas on what kind of information do you want to know about your favorite photographer.  If you have an idea on how to get some more publicity for this idea then let me know.  I really hope to get as many photographers involved as possible. 

Once I begin to get some feedback from others, I will begin posting the results from the interviews.  If you are know of anyone who is interested in doing the interview please let me know.  If you have a favorite photographer that you would like to have interviewed then let me know who they are and I will see if they are interested.

To see the questions click here!

Thank you all for reading!