One Foot In Front of the Other

This is a marathon and not a sprint.

I need to remember that I can only move as fast as my feet will let me.

There are no shortcuts, and even if there were, again, I can only move as fast as my feet can take me.

I can sense that there is something important waiting for me at the end of my 14 hour flight. It is my goal to find it, my duty to unlock it. A blank canvas awaits. No one else can fill it for me.

Life, you may confuse me from time to time, but just know that I will doggedly pursue all of my dreams. Despite your best efforts to thwart me.

No matter where you take me, I will always be a boy from New Jersey. I may be far from home, but I am on your path, moving at my pace. It may not be fast, but I will always be moving forward.

Back from the Islands

[Sea Meets Sky]

Just got back from a wonderful wedding in St. Thomas. I didn't have too much free time to walk around and shoot, but I did manage to squeeze in about an hour of exploring- just me and my Canon. The Ritz-Carlton was fantastic, but I had to walk about a half mile along the coast to get this more quaint shot. I envisioned this photo in black and white before I snapped the shutter. St. Thomas had blue skies and amazing colors, but for some reason, I just felt like a little dramatic expression. I love reflection and contrast. Those things alone and combined always seem to create more of a dramatic feel to an image.

Congrats of course to my good friends, the bride and groom. It was an honor to serve as the best man.

[Untitled]

Walked around Charlotte Amalie with some friends. Some photos were snapped, an impromptu engagement session of sorts. The colors of Charlotte Amalie were reminiscent of Cuba. That is the Cuba in my mind, because I have never actually been to Cuba. Anyway, I snapped this funny photo of this little gangster checking out my friend Beth as she poses for the camera. The 24-70mm is my favorite lens, and over time it has become the lens that I am the most comfortable using. I love telling stories by fitting in as much as possible into the frame, perfect for the 24-70. 

[Amalie Streets]

I often lean on my writing to help tell a story. A part of me wonders if I am not limiting my growth in photography as a result. For a little while, I am going to try and let my images convey whatever feelings or stories I am trying to impart.

Stay tuned.

the Surreal World DC

[Freebird]

This was a random image I captured during a recent shoot. The oddness of the photo just kind of tickles me. I don't mind this kind of levity and actually may desperately need this as of late.

Nothing comes easy in life. Some things that should come easy, don't. There is no such thing as an ideal situation. One that appears ideal usually only is just that, appearance as a fleeting shade of perfection. When we first meet someone or get involved with something, flaws don't readily jump out at us. It's not that those flaws aren't there. Some just take longer to manifest themselves, and your eyes need to get accustomed to the situation. Only when you truly see, can a real decision on a given matter be made.

When we notice things outside of the norm, it tends to surprise us. We are sometimes drawn to those things, as they provide a different way of thinking of or looking at the world. Some people call those things surreal moments. In actuality, those moments are just as much real and a part of what we deem reality as the mundane. As crazy as surrealism can be, it is no more than just another slice of reality.

Reality may not be pretty, but we can live in no other world but this one.

Special thanks to the random guy in a suit who decided to pick up a bird on the street for inspiration.

Tree Falling in the Middle of a Heavily Wooded Forest

Starting today, I am going to shoot for me.

That is all.

Keep Shootin'

I've been shooting like a mad man the past 5 months. I took account this afternoon, 28 shoots in 5 months. I am probably missing a couple here and there too. June is going to be another interesting and random month. I will share what I can, but some big projects are cooking. My camera and I will be travelling around the world and shooting subjects from all walks of life. It's more like I am continuing to walk the earth and my camera is a new friend that has decided to join me. Photography has certainly opened some unexpected doors, and I am happy to walk through them.

This is generally how I am. I leap into things. My passions never go unexplored. That is the only way to quiet the doubters, including those of the internal variety. I haven't quite won yet and happily trek on.

As a photographer, my personal shooting style is one of control. I shoot exclusively in manual, and I do my best to thoughtfully compose and shoot each frame with purpose. I guess I can't hide my perfectionist nature, especially from Canon. My mentor challenged me to diverge from my current approach and "shoot more." Just to clarify, this is very different from the "shoot and pray" approach. I am still operating off my baseline of control, just with a slightly heavier finger on the shutter. Early returns are showing that I am able to better capture unexpected moments. You don't get a second take on those types of shots. Here's a moment I would have missed if I stayed my course:

[Flower Girl]

Along with classic black & white and brown tones, I am also starting to take a liking to a little grain. I really dig the grain and soft feel of this photograph that documents the intimate moments immediately following the bride and groom's nuptials. No one directed the flower girl to rush to straighten out the bride's grown. While there is nothing wrong with posed photography, I enjoy the untouched nature of pure photojournalism. This frame may not be perfect, but it is real. And I find value in that.

[Untitled]

This is one of my favorite shots from the past 5 months.

As photography starts to feel more like second nature to me, I look forward to capturing more images that move me. If I can't move myself, it will prove impossible to move those who view my photographs.

Amazing Time-Lapse Video Montage of Japan

What an amazing video. It also reminds me of my fantastic trip to Japan in 2009.

I really need to learn how to use the HD video capability on my 5D.

Have a good Memorial Day weekend. I feel bad for all the people who live in NJ. Thanks to MTV, wannabes from all over the US are probably headed to the Jersey Shore this weekend.

Make it happen, Cap'n

I recently had the pleasure of taking engagement photos for my good friends Jane and Peter. We took a quick stroll through Peter's alma mater as I scoped out potential locations. I usually have a good idea of where and what I want to shoot, but this was my first time on campus. As I grow as a photographer, I am starting to relish the challenge of getting the shots that I need regardless of conditions. I think that is one aspect of this business that separates the pros from the amateurs. The best can process their surroundings quickly, adapt, and make their vision a reality with relative speed.

Life is very much the same way. They say that if life gives you lemons, you ought to make lemonade. That's too easy. What if you don't even have lemons? You better look for some seeds then, son. Plant and water that bad boy. Stand watch. Wait. Keep watering. That purple stuff just won't do, because I want some lemonade. No excuses. No wallowing. Maybe a little whimpering depending on the circumstances. But in the end, make it happen, Cap'n.

Working under changing conditions is something I have grown comfortable with, but equipment failure is an entirely different story. But that too is a common recurring theme in life. Unfortunately, as I set up my first shot, I learned that my Q flash would not operate. That was a big downer, because that flash was how I envisioned getting and enhancing most of my shots. I quickly had to rethink the entire session, despite how annoyed I was at the situation. I wasn't going to get the Q flash up, but I could look for ideal natural lighting. Most photographers who claim to prefer natural light just don't know how to use artificial light sources, but there are definitely times when God-given natural light is simply amazing and impossible to simulate. So I searched. And I shot.

I used to get all crazy with my post-processing in Photoshop and Lightroom, but now I basically stick to color, black & white, and sepia. Through my education and training, I have grown to love classic photography. In particular, I find that my personal preference runs toward brown tones. I just love its timeless feel.

The sun was my friend on this day. A little sun flare was also a nice sidekick.

My love affair with infrared photography is also ongoing. This time, I chose to convert the photo into a brownish tone. The infrared camera turned this nondescript field in the middle of nowhere into a dreamy backdrop.

Most days I go back and forth between feeling frustrated that my skill level and technique is not where I want it to be and being satisfied at the progress I have made. My mind is a complicated place, and being hungry is a complicated game. Like Puff (not the Magic Dragon) used to say, 'I've got to keep on moving.'

language of love

[Looking Ahead]

One of more unexpected and surprisingly interesting aspects of my training in photography has been the pleasure of seeing the way different cultures and ethnicities celebrate weddings.

In addition to standard American events, over the last 6 months I have had the privilege of shooting Filipino, Ethiopian, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Pakistani weddings. While I may not be versed or understand the cultural significance of each part of their respective ceremonies, I appreciate the unique twist and flavor that has emerged through each culture.

Sometimes I enjoy not being able to understand what is said, because then I have to rely on my other senses to guide me. While I enjoy words, at times they are a distraction.

Love may be the universal language, but the expression of love and commitment is different across cultures.

And that, my friends, is a beautiful thing.

The Truth About Destination Shoots

[Jamaican Sunset]

Just got back from helping shoot a destination wedding in Jamaica. I was a bit surprised at how much work it was compared to a regular wedding, but I enjoy the hustle. Prior to hitting the ground, I imagined it would be much more relaxing (enjoy the beach, pick up the camera occasionally and shoot), but the actual experience was far more intense. Between the heat, location shoots, and three days of coverage, pool time was pretty much limited to the evening and the final day. Relaxation was further cut into by a last minute model shoot. Shooting Austrian-Jamaican twins on the beach didn't really feel like work though...

[Red Stripe]

The picture above is something I came up with in the moment. I initially thought about doing a ring shot with hand prints in the sand (nothing wrong with that concept of course, just cliched), but I am glad I did not follow through. For most of my life, I have always wanted to carve out my own little niche in the world. And whatever I was doing, I wanted to do it differently. Not different just for the sake of being different, but I have always wanted to put my own unique stamp on the beach that is life. My approach to photography is no different. At the very least, I want to work off of established baselines and add my own twist. Paying homage while respecting my own individuality, I dig. As I continue to explore and define myself as an artist, I hope to maintain that attitude.

On the flight home, I could not help but reflect on the whirlwind the last 6 months of my life have been. Looking back even further, I also realize that there is an unknown purpose to the ups and downs of my life. My life may not be unfolding the way I had planned it, but it has certainly not been boring. At the moment, I do not fully understand what or where the body of my experiences is leading me to, but I am starting to think that trying to figure that out is an exercise in futility. There is a time for self-reflection and looking back, but currently I believe my time is better spent engaging in the moment. Following my dreams has gotten me thus far, and I can only hope that will carry me forward the rest of the way.

50% Pain

[Meadowlark Gardens, VA - infrared shot at F11]

Recently, I have been intrigued by infrared photography. I love how infrared forces me to think and visualize differently from what my eye can see. I have grown to love the color green and clouds, which infrared turns into a dreamy white on the canvas of a photograph. In order to start shooting infrared more regularly, I need to buy another Canon body and have the sensor irreversibly adjusted. Photography continues to be an expensive hobby. What's a few more toys? My bank account is in serious pain.

"10% luck. 
20% skill.
15% concentrated power of will. 
5% pleasure.
50% pain.
And 100% reason to remember the name."

- Fort Minor, "Remember the Name"

I find these lines particularly applicable to photography. Anything that goes beyond the comfortable confines of a hobby and starts to teeter into the territory of a job is filled with pain. Photography as a hobby is all fun. Photography as a job requires much more discipline and engaging in tedious but necessary activities. As I've grown older, I have come to realize that every single job in the world is like that. For a while, photography and poker seemed like too good to be true professions. In the past year, through my tangential pursuit of each arena, I have come to realize that the grass in fact just looks better from the other side. So keep mowing your lawn.

Baby Momma photographers and Uncle Bob photographers are surely scratching their heads. They take pictures all the time and enjoy doing so. "Spray and pray" (in auto to boot) is their preferred operating mode, an approach that doesn't fare too well in the field. The hours that go into improving as a photographer are far greater than I anticipated before I started my training. It sounds like an adapted cliche, but photography is yet another area where there is no gain without pain. And photography does not discriminate. No matter who you are, you're only going to get back what you painfully put in.

I was in Chicago for a bachelor party this weekend. Good friends. Good food. Great city. Awesome time. As is the case with all bachelor parties, I didn't get much sleep. When I got off the plane at 1:30 PM on Sunday, I knew I didn't have much time before the wedding at 3 PM. Being so tired, I kind of thought about skipping the gig, but having committed, I did not want to go back on my word. That was the first time the thought of working an event felt like a job to me. It was a great example and reminder of the pain principle. In a quiet and unceremonious way, I felt like I crossed some kind of photography rite of passage. Ironically, I think I got some of my best images to this point at this past weekend's wedding. And it almost didn't happen. I will keep that in mind the next time I am debating calling out and taking a nap.

And despite the 50% pain, I still find that I am eager to get out there again in pursuit of that 5% pleasure. Because to be totally honest, that 5% sometimes feels like 1000%. During those moments, the time and sacrifice are all worth it.

---

Since this is a photography blog, I will share a few photographs. As much as I would like to, I cannot share my best photographs from recent gigs. When I get my own gigs, I will, but for now, I have to respect the subjects' privacy and want to avoid anything that might complicate my mentor's business. One day, some of those images will show up in my portfolio I am sure. For now, I suppose there is no real proof that I am a photographer nor evidence that I am improving. = )

Here are a few of my favorite photographs of Japan:

[Mount Fuji from a Bullet Train]

[Geisha Meets West - Kyoto]

[Begging Monk - Kyoto]

I took these photos before I started getting really serious about photography. These images don't make me cringe like most of my earlier shots, but I would be the first to admit they are over-processed. I see plenty of room for improvement in the images, but it kind of amuses me to remember how I used to approach photography.