the Mokes at Dawn

Never Stop Believing

These Islands, which I've blogged before, are known locally as the Mokes.  A friend invited me to trek out there with a kayak before dawn to catch this image.  We were in the water at 0630 and it was the perfect temperature.  The water was cool, the air was warm, and we were the only two people on one of the best beaches in the world.  

Cheers to adventure, its addictive nature and those who seek it out.

Camera Stuff: Canon G10 with some boost from Photoshop CS5.

Fun Family

This holiday season, I introduce Emily (youngest), Luke (oldest), Allison (smartest) and John.  It was during a break from class that John had asked if I would take some shots of his family. Of course I jumped at the chance to take some pictures! 

Luke and Emily

If you were to ask me what was my favorite part of this shoot, I would say "everything".  Let me explain why. Growing up, I had three siblings, all within one year of each other.  Doing anything as a family was a chore.  We couldn't arrive anywhere on time, clean and without someone fighting with someone else.  Even my closest friends were used to my siblings and their antics.  Regardless of the event, it was chaos if we were involved.  

Allison (the taller cutie) gets credit for setting this one up.

Fast forward to this photo shoot. Emily was a fireball.  Luke was looking for direction.  Allison knew her time with the light and attention spans were limited.  John was ready to finished already.  When someone was getting their picture taken, someone else was giving direction behind me. "Hold still", "Come back here", "Get down off there", "hurry up, we're losing light"!  All of these different aspects and I couldn't stop thinking about my family growing up.  Thanks John and Allison for allowing me to photograph your wonderful family.  It was truly fun and exciting the whole way through.    

 A brief moment alone

The Crew

Emily dominates this image!

Thanks again to John and Allison and their wonderful family! It really was a great time and can't wait until we can do this again!

Camera Stuff: Canon 5D Mark II, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 50mm 1.8, and 17-40 4.0L were used for this photoshoot.

Thanksgiving

Abby

With my family out of the state visiting other family, I was invited to my friends house for Thanksgiving.  Here, I was able to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family and friends.  And one of those friends, is Abby, pictured here.  

What I like most about this image is the fact that she is going for the healthy food, bypassing all the scrumptious goodness within spooning distance.  This combined with her reflection in the spoon really send this image home for me.  

This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for my family on island, my family off island and moments like this when it all makes sense.

Camera Stuff: Canon 5d Mark II, 100mm Macro lens at 2.8 for 1/90, ISO 800.

Smallest to Tallest

Smallest to Tallest

This image was created with the Canon 100mm Macro lens.  In the foreground is a small puddle, less than an inch deep.  This is the smallest representation of the geography on Oahu.  In the background is Koolau Mountain Range.  The tallest form of geography on Oahu.    

Beachfront

This image was created en route to the location of the image above.  What I like most about this image is it's separation from the normal beach front many have come to know.  In reality, this rock was in the splash zone for the Pacific

Camera Stuff: Canon 5D mark II with 100mm Macro lens.  

Status Update

So my wife and my son are home visiting family.  What does this mean for Billy?  It means I get extra time to catch up on all the 'nerd' type items that I have been neglecting since the middle of August.  The best / worst evidence of this was my recent purchase at a grocery store: 2 bottles of a drink refined by another Captain I know, plus cheese and sour cream.  I already had chips at home for my dinner tonight; nachos!

To my two favorite people, seeing you again will be awesome. Just barely a month until then...

Brick & Flower

G10 - Brick & Flower

Falling behind being so busy and we often lose sight of the little things.  It's those little things that make it worth everything else.  Especially when everything else is a lot harder, those little things are what make it worth while.

Camera Stuff:  Canon G10 set on macro.  

High Dynamic Range

HDR from a single file into three back into one.

Here is another shot taken while out with my family on a hike in the woods.  An experiment with the HDR has led me to this.  A simple shot in the woods.  Photoshop CS5 has some awesome effects and capabilities.  Standby for some more effects...

For those that wish to visit, please visit this site for some more detailed information.

Camera Stuff: Canon 5d Mark II with 17-40mm

A Walk in the Woods

You can't see the forest...

Ant - Canon 100mm Macro

Canon 15mm Fisheye

So there I was, just walking through the Aeia Loop Trail and I happened to stumble across a few little photogenic areas.  A simple walk that we couldn't complete due to my real job calling me back to reality.  That, and Eli was just due to go down for his nap in a bit, so we had to head home.  Here's to next time...

Camera stuff:  All images were taken with the Canon 5d Mark II.

The Hills

I was on a walk with my son.  It was a pleasant evening, with mom away, for father and son to spend some time together.  He slept while I walked.  During that time, I was looking around and saw this developing behind us.  I only wandered into the middle of the street for a short moment while I composed this shot between some houses and power lines.  It's a nice reminder that the sun sets on the other side of the island producing shots like this.

Camera Stuff: Canon G10 set on full auto.  

Slacking off...

Two images from a hike with the family today.  Simple is sometimes the best.  I know Hawai'i isn't known for it's light houses, but at this point, who cares!  It's here and it's a fun hike.  

Camera Stuff: Canon 5D Mark II with 100mm and 15mm.  Guess which one is which?

Always remember, never forget.

These images were taken yesterday, 10 Sept on the eve on the most historic day in our generation's history.  They were taken at the Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor.  The memorial dedicated to those who died on a day of infamy.  My humble tribute to those I didn't know, but will never forget.

First Photo shoot

A friend came to visit my friend and they let me take their picture.  This is my first actual photoshoot with people posing for me while I worked as fast as I could to keep up with my camera.  Her name is Trish and she was wonderful.  His name is JTcashstack.  Both are straight money.  Her exuberant personality was more than I could capture in one single outing.  His taught me more about modeling and positioning then I gave him credit for.  I learned so much from these two, I am so very thankful for letting me take your picture.

Goofy camera stuff: Canon 5D mark II, various lens to include 15mm fisheye, 100 macro and 17-40 wide angle.  

Time on the beach

Pictures from the beach, during an evening photoshoot with my family.  

Canon 5D mkII with 100mm macro lens.

Not just filler...

As my computer RAID Array fails, I am forced to bring back some older picks from my Philmont trip.  It's time like these that make me cherish my other RAID array.  The mirror one, not the stripping one.  Now if I could just get past this Vista problem...

Camera Stuff: Canon G10 set on full auto.  

Beach Evening

Took a simple walk on the beach with the wife this evening.  I noticed the first shot.  She noticed the second.  If you've ever met my wife, you would realize she is not a technical wizard.  This is okay, as in moments like this evening she very efficient at pointing out this excellent picture above.  It was during this moment that I realized that experience isn't necessarily linked to that specific topic, but rather the ability to recognize was is being witnessed.  

Camera Stuff: Canon G10 set on full auto.  

Just a slice

A smaller slice of the greater beauty that was New Mexico.  This was an incredible view in the early morning.  

Camera Stuff, Canon G10 set on full auto that caught this image at f4.0, 18mm at 1/1000 sec.  

Inverted

I think this is one of the few pictures I have done well.  And I really like the part about it being upside down.  

Another picture with the excellent Canon G10.   

A Reflection of a Path Less Traveled...

This was taken by my little Canon G10.  The more I use this camera, the more I'm impressed with it.  It's ability ability to fully capture the moment in time is phenomenal.

This was taken during the first day in a trek through the New Mexico back country.  It might have been one of those times when an outstanding situation occurs and doesn't reoccur again for a while.  

Field

I went to New Mexico for 2 weeks and all I got was this one lousy B&W...

Worry not, as I have many more images to bring to the table.

Camera Stuff: Canon G10, (set for full auto).  B&W conversion in Adobe Lightroom3.

Fruity

I'm hungry for some fruit.

Sometimes I'm in the mood for something more artistic, sometimes it's something less artistic.

Right now, it's just deliciousness.

There is an "E" in "Snorkeling"

Justin, this picture you took, is FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!  Thanks!  

Camera Stuff:  Canon G10 set on Full Auto.

The path ahead...

Technically a well composed image utilizing the 3rds, proper exposure and balance of lines, but I'm not sure if it really exhibits the qualities of a nice piece.  

Camera Stuff: Canon G10, f / 4.5 at 1/500 sec at ISO 80.  

If you were to ask me what camera would I like to test out, I would say the new Canon S90.  And of course some accessories...

The "Path" Not Taken...

Dear Robert Frost, 

You write a helluva poem. 

-Billy

Camera Stuff: Canon 5D Mark II, at 28mm for 1/15sec at f/6.7 with ISO 100.

Tricked'em...

Figure if someone is going to take the time out of their busy schedule to come see us out here, I should, at the very least, be ready to accommodate him.

Cheers!

Camera stuff: 5D Mark II, 50mm at f/2.0 for 1/45 sec, ISO 640.

On the beach...

Went to the beach.

Found a crab.

Took it's picture.

Already, this beach is way cooler than the last beach were we near.

Canon G10 set on full auto.

This Weekend

This was during a swap meet adventure.  

Camera stuff, 5D Mark II, at 28mm for 1/125 sec at f/19 at ISO 400.

Lost in yellow...

I was lost in this field for almost an hour and it wasn't even bigger than a tennis court.

5D Mark II, 135mm at 1/180sec at f/13, ISO 100.

More to Come

Yeah, I've a few more  of these before we move onto the next set...

Camera Details, Canon 5D Mark II w/ 28-135mm at 90mm.  ISO 100, F/13 for 1/125 sec.

Flower Field

It's been a while...

I took this shot while still in California.  If you can believe it, I was less than ten feet from a very busy intersection.  More pictures to follow as I resume the pace from before the move...

Camera stuff: 5D Mark II, 28-135 at 135mm, ISO 100, for 1/350th at f/5.6.

Got Clipped

For those of you who know what clipping is, it is apparent within this picture.  

The vehicle is a rented Mini Cooper.  If you haven't driven one, then your missing out.  The top end is anything to mention here, but the compactness and ability to maneuver within traffic is substantial.  I will purchase one later, as soon as I can afford one.

My first post with input from my new 15mm Fisheye lens from Canon.

ISO 100, f/8.0 at 1/90 sec. Canon 5d mark II.  

Hats are Awesome

Hats are awesome.  They can cover you.  You know, if you were in need of cover...

And if you need to cover yourself and you don't have a hat, use a big external hard drive.

Camera info: Droid by Verizon, taken by JTCashStack.  

Hat by Ikea.

Senior Casa

Spent the weekend in Houston, TX.  Learned many things.  What I learned was that the more people change, the more they stay the same. 

This is my friend, who received a total candid shot during my other friends wedding.  

He's also got a blog that talks about video games.  As a tribute to him, I would like to recommend one. 

Picture details, Canon 5D Mark II with 50 mm f/1.8 at ISO 1600.  The best part was the use of the off camera flash (580EX II) controlled by Pocket Wizard Flex TT5 and MiniTT1.  These are my new camera favorites. 

The recommended game is Borderlands, by 2K Games.

My fridge has bricks

Camera used = iPhone

Beers served = all of them.

Potato Salad = is always good because it never goes bad.