Well, 2013 is almost at an end and 2014 is right around the corner...and that means it's time to make some New Years resolutions. But let's face it, I know I won't be able to stick to any resolutions unless they're something really important or they don't take much effort and are easy to accomplish (but what would be the point of that?). I'm getting up there in years I know I should try to lose some excess weight for health reasons...but that's the standard resolution that everyone makes year after year and I always break it year after year. But I'll put it on my list like I always do...who knows, maybe I'll actually lose weight in 2014.
Okay, so got that one out of the way...now to make some photography related resolutions. For the past couple of years my yearly photography related resolutions would be to shoot more and try to improve...yes, very generic without any any real specific goals. But I think I'm at a place in my life right now where I do want to reach specific goals with my photography. And making resolutions based on these goals is a kind of a no-brainer. So now I just need to get my thoughts together and come up with a list of goals I'd like to accomplish in 2014.
First of all, I've never actually printed any of my photos...what?! Really?? Yes, really. Sadly our walls are bare (except for some family photos) and my wife said we should hang up my photos if I ever print any of them. So this will be one of my resolutions: Print my photos. Of course this means having the photos printed at sizes larger than the normal 4x6 or 5x7 standard prints. Maybe I'll try 11x14 to start with, then move on to the larger sizes once I get the color management and printing specifics all figured out.
Another goal would be to do a series of Christmas bokeh shots using Christmas lights, Christmas themed figurines and maybe some simple props with the idea of using the images next Christmas as personalized Christmas cards. I've been wanting to do this for some time now, I just never got around to actually doing it. I think I'll actually enjoy doing this too since I can create the images whenever I feel like it...I have a whole year to finish this project. So this will be another resolution for 2014: Create Christmas themed images for 2014 Christmas cards.
And something else I've been wanting to do is to start selling my photos on-line...this idea came about after I was asked if I sold prints of my photos (which I don't) and I figured I might as well give it a shot. I got some good pointers from another photographer who sells her photos as fine art prints and have signed up for Fine Arts America and will see how this goes...of course, now I need to be sure I create images that are worth selling. So another resolution for 2014: Start selling photos (and get all that G.E. license and other business related stuff, like business cards and taxes, figured out).
And finally...I do intend to shoot more and try to improve (especially my post processing), but this year I also want to try different things and go outside my comfort zone a bit. I'll be trying a few of those photography projects (simple ones, not a 365 or a 52 week type project), the kind that I've been avoiding all these years...I think I'm ready to try them now, curious to see where they'll take me.
One area I know I need to improve is my confidence as a photographer...I've been shooting with DSLRs for 6 years now and I still feel that my images aren't very good and not worth printing. I think it's about time that I get over this and move on already. Hopefully these projects will help...I'm feeling pretty good about doing the Christmas card one. Resolution number 4: Do some photography projects.
With all of this going on I should have lots to write about for this blog (I really hope I don't wimp out on the resolutions this time)...I can post updates to the blog on how I'm doing each month and how things are progressing. If I can stick to the resolutions and projects it should make for some interesting blog entries as the year goes by.
So thank you for taking the time to visit this blog this past year and I hope you have a Happy New Year in 2014!
Back again and it didn't take me 2 months to post another blog entry this time around (at least I hope I didn't take that long again...haha...).
Okay, so this first group shot was taken on August 31, 2013 at Sandy Beach and we were surprised to have Cory Lum join us that morning. We had a nice sized group...not too big and not too small...and that made it easier for me to get everyone setup for the group shot. Larger groups are a challenge, especially when the Nikonians and Canonistas are off in separate groups talking about gear and forget about the group shot.
The next group shot (3 people are a group?) was taken on September 1, 2013 at Alala Point in Lanikai. While we were at Sandy Beach the day before I over heard Kenway and George talking about going out to shoot on Sunday and I managed to crash their party. The weather was nice but the morning colors weren't too good and I didn't get any decent sunrise shots. But this group shot turned out pretty good...I think we were trying to look gangsta or something...haha...
I don't even remember where we were for the sunrise on September 7, 2013, but I think it started to rain and we couldn't do the group shot on the beach (I just checked...we were at Makapuu Beach that morning and yes, it poured just before we left). So we did the group shot after breakfast in front of Moke's Bread & Breakfast in Kailua. This was a special morning for me as this was the first time I got to meet Bruce Omori in person. Bruce and Tom are the photographers and owners of the Extreme Exposure gallery on the Big Island. Check out the gallery if you get a chance, you won't be disappointed.
We shot the sunrise at Kualoa Regional Park on September 14, 2013. It looked like the rain would get us a few times that morning but we lucked out as the rains went in other directions. The sunrise wasn't particularly good with only a hint of color touching the sky and clouds...I struggled that morning trying to get a decent shot and ended up just doing a few photography exercises instead. For the group shot I wanted to try something different and had everyone gather around one of the picnic tables instead of just standing along the beach. I like the relaxed feeling of this group shot.
The next group shot was taken on October 5, 2013 and again we were at Kualoa Regional Park for the sunrise. The morning was sort of cloudy and it looked like we might get rained on again, but again the rains went elsewhere and we stayed dry. But the sunrise colors didn't show up like we were hoping and I wasn't able to get any good sunrise shots. So I did some photography exercises using minimalist compositions until we were ready to do the group shot. Since the previous group shot using the picnic table looked, I decided to try it again this time...but this image doesn't seem to work as well as the other one...I think the lack of trees in the picture is to blame...and I look like a real dork in this one.
The next group shot was taken on October 12, 2013 at Sandy Beach where we ran into a few of the "I Wanna Shoot So Badly" photographers. It's always fun to hang out with those guys. The weather was really nice and we actually got some nice colors that morning with some pinks, purples, orange, yellows and reds showing up in the clouds. I was busy working on my composition skills and shooting on the far right side of the beach. Most of the others were shooting the waves (which were pretty big that morning) by the larger rocks that are so popular (especially if you like to do long exposure shots). It was really hot that morning and with a large group of hungry photographers I had to hurry to get set up for the group shot and was sweating by the time this shot was taken. Another great Saturday morning.
The guys were excited to hear the Hokulea was moored off Kailua Beach and that's where we went on October 19, 2013 to shoot the sunrise. The weather was mild with hardly any wind and there were some nice clouds hovering above the horizon. We got some nice colors during the Blue Hour and some really nice warm colors as the sun rose. The Hokulea made for a really nice subject as it slowly rocked in the calm waters off Kailua Beach and I ended up taking more shots than I ever have during a Saturday sunrise shoot...485 frames taken in one morning. The group shot was fun to do, although a bit challenging in the bright (and hot) morning sun...I used a ND filter to help with the exposure and this was one of the few times I had to set my flash to full power to get the shot. But I'm really happy with how this group shot turned out.
Later that afternoon we attended a lighting workshop being held at Kaneohe District Park with our buddy Brandon as the instructor. Brandon had offered to do a lighting workshop if any Crazie wanted to learn the basics of using flash or studio strobes and we told him we'd love if he'd do one. Brandon has done a few small workshops before and he's a really good instructor...he knows his stuff and is really good at explaining the different aspects of photography in a way that anyone can understand. We were all surprised to see Kyle show up for the workshop...haven't seen that guy in a long time. The workshop went for about 2 hours or so and then Brandon let me use his softbox for the group shot...it produces really nice soft light...you almost can't tell this shot was 'lit'.
I was fighting a persistent cold for almost 5 weeks and missed a bunch of Saturday sunrise shoots so I was really glad to join dA Crazies for the Saturday sunrise at Kaneohe Bay on November 30, 2013. The morning was mostly blue/grey and not too inspiring...until the sun started to come up and we got a splash of reds, pinks and orange in the sky for about 10 minutes. I tried to capture what was happening before the colors vanished but I struggled to get back into my shooting groove and didn't get much. As I was getting ready for the group shot I found I forgot to bring a threaded spigot for the super clamp and that meant I couldn't put my flash off-camera like I usually do. So I put my flash on-camera but had trouble getting my wireless remote shutter release to work...ugh...so I had to take the group shot using the timer on the camera and that meant I only had one chance to do the group shot (because everyone was hungry and wanted to go eat..."Hey photographer! Hurry up! We hungry!"). Glad this shot turned out. The guy in the orange is someone we met at the location. I forget his name but he said he was a lawyer and I think he was on his way to the Philippines to live a simpler life or something like that. Interesting guy. Tall too.
I missed a couple of Saturday sunrises in the beginning of December and joined dA Crazies for a sunrise shoot at Waiahole Beach Park on December 14, 2013. It had rained really hard the night before and I wasn't sure if we'd be able to shoot anything in the morning. We really lucked out as the sky was clear and the stars were shining in the early morning hours. The sky was already beginning to lighten when we arrived and I rushed to get setup for some shots as the others did the same. I started with some long exposure shots during Blue Hour but I wasn't happy with most of those. So I moved to a different spot on the sand and tried some low angle shots while experimenting with the compositions. The colors were sort of drab early on and I just kept moving around looking for something interesting to work with. I did some long exposure shots and some bracketed shots that I hoped I could process later. Then the sky teased us with some reds and orange for a few minutes and I was able to shoot a few frames before it was gone. I was walking back and forth along the shore line looking for anything interesting when the sun came out and started to hit the Koolaus above Kualoa Ranch and that's what I was waiting for. I looked for a nice spot to shoot from and set up for a low angle shot. I managed to get a good series of shots and then went to look for the other Crazies so we could do the group shot. I found them by Kenway's Tree and that's where we did this group shot.
This is a bonus group shot from December 14, 2013 and was taken before the normal group shot. The Nikonians were off to the side talking among themselves as I was prepping for the group shot. The Canonistas were all ready to go so they told me to take the group shot without the Nikonians. I rushed to snap off a few shots and forgot to jump into the picture...I think we were all laughing because the Nikonians didn't know what was going on. These guys...always having too much fun.
I know there are still a few weekends left in the year, but I thought I'd better not take any chances of letting procrastination set in and thought I'd better post this now. I have a few ideas of what I might be blogging about next year and I'm letting those ideas stew in my head and will see what comes out in a few weeks. Thinking about shooting more often...different types of photography...toys...bead jewelry...silliness...projects to learn from...and other photography related things.
Thanks for checking out Lost in Kaneohe this year!
