Film Noir

The theme for my photography project this week is "film noir."  Honestly, my culture-less brain had never heard of film noir, so I Googled it.  I now understand it's a B&W film technique from the 40's.

http://www.markholmesphoto.com/news/103-film-noir-photography.html

I took my Nikon 50mm f/1.8 lens to my son's basketball game today.  I figured the dim gym light would be perfect for film noir photography.  I set the camera on B&W and aperture priority @ f/1.8...and fired away.  It was a lot of fun and I took some pictures that were very different than my usual style.  One of these days, I want to go into the city and do some street photography in B&W.

Here are a few shots.  Check out my Flickr page for more photos (and a few of my son playing basketball too).

10 Minutes from Home

The theme for my 365 photography project this week is "Black and White - Ten minutes from Home."  We're supposed to walk, run, bike, drive, fly, etc. for ten minutes and take a B&W picture of whatever we see at the ten minute mark.  At first, I was a bit leery, but I'm actually enjoying the experience.  For one thing, walking around and looking for a photo opp has made me more aware of things in our neighborhood.  Folks have beautiful flowers and interesting gardens, and on some days the clouds are heavenly.

Here's a picture of a beautiful cloud formation over St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.  I would never have captured it if I hadn't walked around the neighborhood looking for it.

I came across this little guy while walking around in the rain yesterday.  There are streaks on the lens from the rain.  I had to wipe the rain off the lens with my t-shirt and apparently didn't do a great job at it....obviously hurrying to snap the picture so I could get home before I got soaked.

I didn't have a chance to walk around today because my son had a track meet after school, but I was able to take a quick snap from the truck after picking up my daughter from school (the wife was driving).  I'm not a big fan of windshield photography...but I was actually pleasantly surprised at the result.

So, whether you're into photography or not, take some time to walk around your neighborhood and smell the roses.  You'll be surprised at the beauty all around us, within ten minutes of your home.

120 Days

My blogging has taken a back seat to my photography lately.  I may need to change the name of my blog to "120 Days."  Ironically, my original vision for the blog was to post one picture a day for a year, but I decided it was too much work to take a quality photo per day.  However, that was before I discovered Flickr.  My experience with the Flickr group has been extraordinary.  Since joining the Flickr group, I think my photography has improved dramatically in only a few short weeks.  Like anything else, practice makes perfect and shooting every day has been very beneficial.  I feel like I'm getting better at seeing light, contrast, and composition.

Interestingly enough, my brother just bought a Nikon D90.  Even more surprising is he actually listened to my discussion on shutter speeds, f-stops, lighting, composition, etc....and even asked a few questions.  I looked outside the window half expecting to see a pig flying.  He's going on a multi-week trip across Asia and decided the awesome photo-opps warranted a higher quality camera, something better than a compact, point and shoot.  I look forward to seeing his photos upon his return.

Anyway, TTFN.

Man-Date

I  learned something new recently.  My son asked if he could go to the movies with his friend Martin and some other friends.  It was spring break, so my wife told him it was okay.  He and Martin tried calling a few other guys, but apparently nobody else could go.  They finally decided not to see the movie.  My wife asked why he and Martin didn't go to the movie.  My son replied, "Mom, that would be a man-date."  My wife frowned and asked, "What's a man-date?"  He explained that two guys aren't allowed to see a movie together….there has to be three or more, otherwise it would be considered a man-date.

Wow…and you thought the urinal etiquette rules were complicated?

New Job

I quit my job today...issued my two week notice a few minutes ago.  An agency contacted me via flickr and offered me a position as a nature/outdoor photographer, with a part-time position as the "second camera" at weddings.  I'm looking forward to a new and rewarding career doing something I really enjoy.  The only drawback is the work will conflict with the kids' basketball, softball, Boy Scouts, etc. on the weekends.

Cell Phone Questionnaire

As some of you know, I'm not a big fan of cell phones.  They are generally for the convenience of the calling party rather than the called party.  For the called party, I think it's more of a pain in the neck.  When I'm in a meeting, movie theater, coaching softball, sleeping, etc. the phone is typically turned off, locked in the trunk of the car, or left in the drawer.  I don't even carry it when I'm jogging.  I would rather risk the unlikely emergency/injury than carry a cell phone and risk destroying my solitude.  This is a bit ironic, since I'm a sales engineer for a telecom company and I make my living selling wireless switches and base stations…the networking equipment that enables cell phone users to talk, text, and surf the web.

I couldn't understand my disdain for cell phones, so I spent some time discussing it with my therapist, the world renown Dr. Charles Shaw.  What he suggested was perhaps it's not the cell phone I dislike, but rather cell phone users…specifically ones who don't follow proper cell phone etiquette.  By golly, I think he may be onto something.

Now, I don't want to get into a long dissertation on proper cell phone etiquette.  I will, however, pose a few questions to all you cell phone users out there.

1. Do you have an iPhone with the fire alarm ring tone selected?  If yes, do you leave your iPhone in your office cubical unattended, with the volume on high?  If yes, do you think it's a wise idea, given you work in a crowded, multi-story, corporate office building?

2. Do you have a Bluetooth headset for your mobile phone?  If yes, do you think it's professional to conduct business with it while using the urinal?

3. Do you prefer to have a 30 minute text message conversation with someone when it could have been addressed with a two minute phone call?

4. Do you talk on the phone while driving your motor vehicle?  Do you think other vehicles like being run off the road because you're more focused on your conversation (or texting) than on the *&%$!@ road?  Do you like head-on collisions (like I almost had with the teenage fast-food delivery driver)?

5. Do you enjoy dining in a restaurant your family, friends, and co-workers?  Do you enjoy dining in a restaurant while they are texting (or typing on their Blackberry) instead of eating or conversing with you?

So, my point is, please use common sense and exercise common courtesy when using your mobile device….and by all means keep using your cell phones, download tons of data, talk all day, text all night, update your Facebook account every five minutes, and help your local wireless carrier generate lots of revenue so they can buy more equipment from me (especially if your carrier is Cricket).  The only exception to this guidance is for one woman, one teenage boy, and one pre-teen girl…..you know who you are.

365 Photo Project

I'm a bit of a late starter this year.  As you're probably aware, I started my "355 Days" blog ten days after the start of the new year.  Well, in pursuit of my goal of becoming a better photographer, I've started a 365 project, where I plan on capturing one photo per day for an entire year.  My photographic calendar's "New Year" was celebrated on March 27, 2010.  Hey, the Chinese celebrate it in February, so celebrating mine in March is cool, right?  This project is based on the "Digital Photography School" structure (http://digital-photography-school.com/).  If you're interested in learning more about photography, the DPS web site is a great resource.

I was at a Boy Scout camping trip this weekend at Lake Chabot, so my first two photos are from the lake and campgrounds.  Moving forward, I'll post my 365 project photos on my flickr site in the "365" set.  Hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I'm going to enjoy taking them!

Photo 1/365 (California Poppy Flower):

Photo 2/365 (Bug):

Five Reasons to Get into Photography

As a kid, my photography experience was primarily with the Kodak Instamatic camera, which used 110 film and real flash bulbs (flash cubes).  I later moved to more modern 110 film based cameras (which didn't require flash bulb changes after every shot).  I was introduced to 35mm photography while in college, when my roommate let me borrow his Minolta X-700 manual focus, film SLR.  I knew nothing about SLR cameras, but my roommate gave me the five minute tutorial and I was able to create some nice photos around the beautiful USC campus using the automatic mode.  I remember when the space shuttle Challenger was destroyed on January 28,1986.  I used the Minolta camera to take pictures of the various memorial services being conducted around campus.  I also took pictures of the historic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Olympic torch, and the life-sized bronze statues from the 1984 Olympic games.

Since getting my Nikon D80 digital SLR for Father's Day in 2008, my enthusiasm for photography has grown exponentially.  However, as I look around, I've come to realize very few people in my circle of family and friends share my love of photography.  Why is that?  Photography is fun.

Here are five great reasons I think people should get into photography:

Kids: Kids are like weeds.  They grow relatively slowly, just scant millimeters per day, but before you know it, they're huge!  Just look at my brother's backyard if you don't believe me.  Take pictures of the kids throughout their lives and stick it in a photo album.  Before you know it, your kids will be in college and you'll have a cool book of memories.  Crack open the album and you'll be amazed at how fast they really grew.

Impress the Kids: Show your kids pictures of you when you were a kid.  They will be impressed at how buff, skinny, handsome, and pretty you were when you were young.  They'll realize you weren't always old, gray, bald, fat, and wrinkled.

Memory Assistance: They say memory is the second thing to go.  Remember that awesome Camaro you wrecked?  Man, it would have been cool to have a few nice photos of it.

Express Yourself: Photography isn't just for documenting life, it's a form of art.  Can't sketch, draw, or paint?  Origami giving you paper cuts?  No problem, get a camera and take interesting photos of the world around you and keep yourself amused and invigorated with life.

Save Money: Can't afford an Ansel Adams print?  Take your camera to Yosemite and make your own stunning prints.  Wait a second...I spent nearly three thousand dollars on cameras, lenses, and accessories in the last two years and I still don't have a print on the wall.  Hmmmm, what does an Ansel Adams print cost nowadays?

Picture Avoidance: Are you ugly?  Most cameras only take pictures out of the front, so be the photographer and minimize the number of photos you're in.

Okay, that was six reasons to get into photography.  My next blog topic will be five great reasons to learn mathematics.  Anyway, get yourself a camera and go take some photos.  I guarantee you'll have a ton of fun in the process....and you'll get an even bigger kick out of reviewing those pictures with your kids and grand kids twenty years from now.

This ugly dude is camera shy and is clearly in picture avoidance mode....or maybe he's running to get himself a new digital SLR.

Little Penguin

I used to travel on business a lot more than I do nowadays.  One of the things I miss about traveling is the solitude the long flight brings.  It's a great time to read a captivating book, catch up on the magazines that have been piling up in the mail, reflect on life, or just take a nap.  Traveling also offers a chance to meet new people, see new places, and experience new foods.  But traveling has its drawbacks, including lost opportunities to have dinner with the family, missed softball or basketball games, and a lonely spouse sleeping in an empty bed.

My daughter is a very thoughtful and caring person.  Whenever I travel, she leaves a doll or stuffed animal on my side of the bed to keep my wife company during the night.  Whenever my wife is out of town, my daughter leaves me a little penguin to keep me company.  I love this penguin...it doesn't snore, it doesn't steal the blanket, and it doesn't accidentally elbow me in the head in the middle of the night.  Needless to say, my daughter was a bit perturbed when she discovered the little penguin had fallen behind the bed months and months ago and was covered with dust.  Sorry dear….the little penguin is cleaned up and back in bed.

Photos on Flickr

I purchased a Minolta 7000i 35mm SLR camera with a 35-105mm lens back in 1992, while TDY at Ramstein AB, Germany.  I liked the Nikon better, but it was over a hundred dollars more than the Minolta.  At the time, I wasn't sure if I was going to get into photography seriously, so I figured I'd save my money.  If I had to do it all over again, I would purchase the Nikon.  One important note -- when buying a 35mm SLR camera (or digital SLR), you're not just making a decision to buy a camera, you're making a decision to buy into the company's ecosystem.  Each manufacturer has its own set of proprietary interfaces for the lens, flash, etc., so generally speaking a Minolta lens cannot be used on a Nikon camera body, and a Canon flash cannot be used on a Pentax body.  Once one invests in a specific company's system, the cost to switch to another system is high, especially if one owns a number of lenses, flash, etc.  For that reason, I never purchased a 24mm wide-angle lens for the Minolta camera.  I always wanted one for backpacking/landscape shots, but knew if I invested in a Minolta lens, I would need to purchase a replacement Nikon 24mm lens in the future when I purchased my dream Nikon camera.

Now that I have a Nikon D80, I've invested in high-quality lenses, including my new 35mm f/1.8 and 12-24mm f/4.  From here on out, I'll be a Nikon user until I walk through the pearly gates.  God willing, I plan on taking a lot of pictures with these two lenses.  I recommend buying the best glass one can afford because cheap lens plus good camera equals cheap camera.

If you're planning on purchasing a DSLR, buy any camera you want, as long as it's a Nikon or Canon.  The majority of professional photographers shoot with Nikon or Canon, so both companies have a vast selection of lenses, flashes, and accessories.  Additionally, the used market will carry a larger selection of Canon and Nikon products, so there are a lot of good deals on good, used gear.  Remember, you're not just buying the camera, you're buying the entire ecosystem.

Pictures: I post quite a few photos on my blog, but for more, check out my Flickr page.  Some of the pictures are restricted to "family and friends" so if you want to see all of the photos, sign up for a Flickr account and I can add you as a "family/friend" contact.  Check it out from time to time...I plan on updating it fairly frequently.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wayne-k/