Capture the moment

Dec 31

Santa Anita Photography Day

This is the first time I attended a big gathering for photographer. It was quite an eye opener as I encountered all the different types of die-hard photographers out in the field. Certainly, equipment and gear are big part of photography and having the proper gear can really help make that great shot. But centering the conversation around expensive lens and fancy equipment is actually really annoying. This is not how seasoned photographer should differ themselves from the amateurs. The camera companies are really doing their part on consumerizing this art form by making great camera affordable for the public. When equipment homogenizes, we can finally focus on the art itself - the composition, exposure, and moment. Everything else is really just a usability enhancement.

Dec 18

2011 Reflection - Photographer Edition

2011 is going to be pass by really quickly in the next few days and this is the time to reflect on what I have learned in the past 12 months in the area of photography. To see my best shots from this year, check out my gallery.

At a glance, all my shots from this year mainly focused on landscape, objects, and texture. I took a lot of picture of the space around me, the places i visited, and any interesting artifacts at those places. Toward the end of the year, I started to photograph flowers and other object that requires macro. I suppose the challenge for next year will be to really work on capturing people - both candidate and modelled shots.

This is a shot taken later in the year, which I got right in one shot.

It’s probably not apparently through the end product, but I notice the amount of time I invest in post-processing is incrementally shorter and most of the time I had the exposure just right so there was almost no need for any post processing adjustment. I made this huge leap after reading a book specifically on exposure technique - Exposure: from snapshot to great shot. Although there are still much work to be done in the flash photography area and for the shots which has very high contrast.

This is a shot which was exposed correctly upfront and the composition was well balanced to bring out the contrast between the weary sunset sky and the joyful ferris wheel.

In terms of composition, my ability to compose is improving but it is very hard to gauge exactly what considered to be an improved composition. This is probably an area which will require a lot of reading and experimenting to improve. 

Overall, it’s a productive year for my first year as a photographer. I want to use this skill to tell untold story of different parts of people’s lives (ugly and good). Let’s travel the hidden path and capture interesting things to show the world. 

Dec 12

Light

This is what it means to live in Santa Monica - you end your day with a beautiful sunset and the lively colorful night life begins right afterthat.

Dec 06

Bonsai

1/50 at f5.6 55mm ISO 200 What does it mean when your sole purpose is to be confirmed in a space to entertain others?

Light

1/15 sec at f1.8 ISO: 800 35mm I was strolling around at the Santa Monica Pier and noticed the awesome color on the roller coaster. Roller Coaster brings both fear and joy. It is the perfect antithesis of itself.

Nov 26

Sunset at a pier at Tahoe

1/40 f/22 
18mm
ISO 200

This is taken right before sunset at a beach at Tahoe. The glowing warm light was casted over the sand and the pier, and contrasted against the clear blue water at Lake Tahoe.

Paddle boat on Tahoe

f/13 1/80
105mm
ISO100

After driving around the whole lake, we finally settled at a spot where we could get a good glimpse of the sunset. I have my tripod setup and waited until the sun was half way down. Its glowing light projected onto the paddle boat and created a very weary feeling for the photo.

Nov 21

Aug 16

Dance in the moon light