A quick one on rain, being tired, and football.

After what seems likes weeks of shooting for Frommers (well..it has been weeks) I finally am wrapping up my three island tour of Oahu, Lanai, and Molokai. I have a story brewing on my trip on Molokai and I should put something up soon. After a four days/three nights grueling trip I returned on a Friday only to have a scheduled UH football game to shoot the next day for AP.

Saturday morning proved to be tough as as anything as I had only slept about 4-5 hours tops each night on Molokai. Strange beds, odd environments, and the constant pondering of the next day never makes for a good night's sleep.

Storm clouds covered all of Oahu on Saturday and I could feel I was going to be in for a tough evening of shooting rainy day football. The lack of sleep and stress were really wearing on me. And the dread of shooting in the rain.

Most professionals constantly fear rain no matter what their camera makers tell them. A Canon rep recently stated to a group of us that Canon Japan tests their pro camera gear in rainy conditions up to 7 inches an hour. For some reason I'd like to believe my camera can take a dunking but when its your dollar on the line, you best take precautions.

I never could figure out the proper way to really ensure my cameras/lenses would be safe in a rain storm, heck, even a sprinkle. I've seen and used everything from trash bags to zip lock bags to keep cameras dry. There are several camera outfitters which sell super expensive raincoats for long lenses and camera bodies. Most are well though out and seem very handy to use but the costs, over $150 dollars for some kits like Aqua Tech are hard to swallow. I do have to pay for all my gear and accessories so thats lots of money for once in a while use. I mean how often am I forced to stand in the rain to get a shot?

A few years ago, I fould quirky Rebecca B fooling around with a long camera lens and a pair of rain pants pulled over the lens, I mean, the leg of the pants slipped over the lens hood with the waist over the actual camera...get it? She basically draped her pants over her camera and viola! a raincoat for cheap. Rebecca is the origin of my current rain suit pants concoction on my 400mm lens. She is the OG of the lens raincoat pants thang.



Thank you Rebecs for your good idea and creative way around keeping your camera dry. I must say you inspired me to create my own!


Istead of cutting up a good pair of rain pants, I purchased a stanky old pair of army surplus green pants from God knows when they were made. The good thing is the military makes things to last and short of the stench of what ever, the pants proved to be perfect. They slipped over the lens hood snuggly and after a snip or two, it works perfectly.

And the OD green keeps me completely camouflaged from irate golf pros and mean looking security agents.



What I never could figure out was how to completely keep my camera body from getting wet. I've tried several options including a now discontinued Nikon soft camera pouch used to silence or rather dampen the shutter slap of a camera. The sound aspect was never the best but did dull the metallic snap thus keeping my shutterbuggery (ha--its my new word you bastards!)

Hell today I am changing my blog post title! Welcome to Shutterbuggery.

Anyway, back to the rain...

So it took a sharp Chinese guy, yes, you George F Lee, to completely show me the light on how to keep the rain at bay.

As George will quickly admit about himself and his Chinese decent, they are patient, will observe closely, and thus attack accordingly. He didn't say it in so many words but I think you get the picture. At the game I saw George and his big camera lens all wrapped up with a clear garbage bag, and his camera eye piece stuck over the bag thus covering the and solving my problem. As my picture suggests, the back of the rain pants comes over the body completely and yet, a surgically placed cut into the material allows you to peer into the view finder and the eye piece diopter keeps all in place. George readily admits he stole, no copied the idea directly from Aquatech.

So thanks George for your sharp observations and wit to figure out a simple problem to keeping the rain away from cameras and lenses.

I should point out that George's use of a clear garbage bag allows full "chimping" or reviewing of images. I'd like to limit my "chimping" of images keeping my mind focused on the task at hand. Editing should come later!

Now on to football and the shot of the week:



Yes, this is the catch that won the game for UH and to tell you the truth, life can be tough as a lone wire photographer. In all honestly, the glory days of Hawaii and their odd bid at a Sugar Bowl title are long gone...and so is the strong media attention. No one really cares about UH football nor of their opponents in the WAC. Games starting at 6pm in Hawaii start at midnight on the East Coast. All news editors are gone for the day and the night crew is just pushing through images to the wires. UH football is sadly just another image to push. How can UH compete with Texas or USC for attention. We are just a small state with a small team.

Yet this does not stop the job I have at hand. I have to visually tell a story within reason and send out images to make West Coast sports deadlines so all is not in vain. My first initial shots of the opposing team from Nevada or where ever that team on the West Coast may be will surely be used by the paper and their website.

Now with rain pouring down for almost the entire game, its truly hard to concentrate on a game. I am in a constant hunt for the all telling shot that conveys the entire game and most of the time, that shot never really appears nor or it just happens just beyond where you are. In brief, if you are a lone wire photographer, you can never predict which way a sports event will turn. You can be downfield when a fumble takes place and the winning shot runs away from you. You can station yourself left of the QB and he will pass to the right. The running back can get the ball and run straight towards you and quickly change pace and snap the other way. Action is unpredictable. Its never where you need it to be.

Hence we come to the shot...

Its seconds left when the UH quarterback needs to make a touchdown to win the game or go into dreaded overtime. He pulls back out of the pocket runs directly opposite of me and throws the ball to the furthest corner away from me and the receiver makes the catch. Quick thinking and a hail mary burst nails me this shot. A little shabby once you see the original but I had to drop the long lens act and option for the shorter lens as you never know which way they'd run or throw. I just so happen to be quick on the draw and, thanks to razor sharp optics, Canon digital technology, faster than light focusing, I got the shot. Oh, I forgot to mention a little post production.



I could have taken this shot with a longer lens, the 400mm, but at the time I didn't or couldn't predict which way the receiver would have run. I was just lucky I got the game telling shot.

UH won the game 38-31. If you didn't get it, he did...catch the ball, that is.

I wanna be a Cowboy...or maybe just pretend.

Lanai Cowboy...a real one

Funny...I've gotten really rave reviews on this image yet the first thing my journo friends ask, its it posed....? What the hell do you think? You think magic like this happens by chance? Am I Steve McCurry? Sorry, I gotta make my art...it doesn't come easy.

I wanted to give this image its own space as I find it deserves it.

Feeling oddly old, full of red dirt, and having good times.

Big skies in Lanai

You'd never think, knowing how big Lanai is, and know what's there, rather whats, not there, that you could fill your time being on such a small island, an even smaller town, and enjoy a somewhat siren-less, traffic jammed, noiseless place.

With no stoplights, two, maybe three restaurants, one gas station (Oct 18 price: $5.39/gal) Lanai might drive some insane...at least I figured I go that route. I didn't...strange to say...but might quickly lapse into a state of vegetation due to the lack of stimulation.

I don't think I could easily live in a small town as such as I'd piss off too many locals with a bad New York attitude or just plain loose my mind for whatever reason...(What? NO McDONALDS???) Well, to set the record, McDonalds isn't the best of food but its nice to have options.

As far as nature, its hard not to miss it...with spiders, quails, deer, and other critters and creatures of God running around the island. I didn't see deer but heard they are abundant as Islanders hunt them for food and fun. (what the hell else you gonna do on an island if you are male, got a gun, and a 4x4 pick up?)

Found lots of interesting folks, good stories, and fun times among the locals. I guess you can equate the friendly quality with the fact that you can't beef with anyone in a small town. Surely you just can't close your door and hope not to see that guy/girl ever again...I mean, the town is only 3000 or so...thats how many people live on my block, if not more! But to me, you seem to just take people for what they are, try not to judge and live as you can with everyone in a good old fashion way. Make sense? You just live, and something more important, share yourself.

Kevin and his wife Beth, along with the extended family of friends, co-workers, and neighbors make up a great cast of characters. Kevin, along with many others, are a group of people I met on Lanai on a job I shot in April. In many ways, they all took me to be part of their oddly working extended family and I quickly fit in, quirky as I can be. All normal sense of making friendship went out the window as I immediately became part of the pack. I found anyone in the group would have done about anything for me, regardless if they knew me well or cared anymore than just a "Aloha, how are you?" handshake.

So maybe life on the little rock isn't all that bad. Life can get back to what it used to be. No Real World, not E TV, no Presidental debates, or other foolishness. Just life...as it maybe should have remained.

I did find a bit of oddness from both Hawaiian natives and mahilinis, or newcomers to Hawaii. Some natives still hold an odd reverse racism towards white peoples, or haoles. Haoles, in many minds, came and stole the land. Sure, if you look at the situation in Hawaiian eyes, whitely came and stole it all.

One Hawaiian guy told me the white man came with laws and rules unfamiliar to them. They make and made sense but in a way didn't quite make sense to natives. He told me that in the old days, Hawaiians buried their dead with their "legal" documents or as he said, papers, so once they were buried, those rules became oral history. The white man had proof, not just words. So when land was sold, it was a done deal.

I mean, much of the land was sold legitimately in the old days, but no different than the Dutch purchase of New York from the natives. Hey, both parties got what they wanted, even if you can look back and say one got cheated. That's history. Sorry, no do overs or give me backs. I think we'd all like to do over what our ancestors did because hindsight is 20/20.

It isn't any better on whitey's side either. The regret and bitterness, in many ways, creates a tough situation, or relation among the white people who own and run the island as well as those who move here and do nothing but self absorb themselves into Lanai society.

Whitey, regardless of what many say, did bring organization, laws, and structure to an unorganized society. I mean, things worked well in Hawaiian society, and I could be making uneducated statements, but lots of Hawaiians want the land back and want to reinstall the king. Well, a King means all belongs to him and nothing belongs to the peoples. Its well known surfing was for the Kings and royalty...not the peoples. And besides, what Hawaiian native is gonna admit he is just a pure landless peasant who owns nothing and follows the King. I think anyone with a smidgen of brains would run around and state he is the King's cousin...etc...

Sure I sound ignorant, maybe a bit racist (Can Mexicans be racist...?) but a bit realistic. I don't know...do i care?

To get back to the mahilinis, the odd problem on Lanai just might be those new arrivals who set up shop to sell their jewelry junk, paintings, photos, etc...to rich tourist stopping buy, yes buy, for the day from Maui or stay over at the exclusive ($$$) Four Seasons. Surely you know I don't bad mouth the artists who make crafts and such for life, but so much of this can be seen as a self absorbent selfishness to proclaim "HERE I AM! BUY MY ART!" behavior that's so quickly found in so many resort type societies. Don't get me wrong, lots of people really do make art for art's sake but trinkets and junk sell so well on islands.

Ironic, here I am criticizing my brothers and I am nothing but a Xerox machine stealing what runs around me. How, my dear readers, do I make a difference? Maybe its not criticism but more of a reflection of myself.

The affluent visitors who come to places like Kauai, Lanai, and other "artists" havens create galleries and whatnot to sell their wares but sometimes it seems these types could do so much more for society as a whole of they did more than just scribble their false sense of art and humanitarianism onto a canvas. Let the ferral cats sort themselves out...they surely don't need your colonialist sense of being or wellness. Locals are demanding more restaurants and services but the mahilinis only bring themselves, jewelry and trinkets. Locals...step up! "We sailed anywhere around the globe just using the stars!" one Hawaiian proclaimed, sadly, his brothers couldn't put down the ice pipe. All natives were given their vice, sad to say.

Anyway, onto the better things in life other than my rambles...


Garden of the Gods, sunset, windy, and cold.

The above captures me with a 14mm, fast gushing winds, and red dirt. Red dirt stains like no tomorrow. Havoc on the shoes, clothes and anything else that it touches. As I reflect on Lanai, I do see myself in a different light. I feel older, as my picture portrays. I am facing heavy winds and a dust cloud but this mortal picture makes me feel my age...all of 37 next year February. The way I lived in the past, I never thought I'd make it to this age...well thats not exactly true but we all tend to forget how quick time flies. I don't actually feel or look this bad. But its funny to peer into the future.

Back on the J track, again...

Those of you who follow my blog, yes, all three of you, might think I am totally obsessed with Asians as my last posts have been very Japancentric...I am, in many ways, obsessed with Asians, tourists, that is, as I find them to be the most animated, exciting, and fun. How many tourists will you find in Hawaii acting like life is just one big anime?

hmmm.....I will explain this later.

Oh, on the picture, I was doing some work on Waikiki Beach when I spotted these two girls, probably and most likely Japanese taking pictures of themselves. One would pose and the other would jump in the air, legs and arms, and hair flopping around like...a cartoon, no a Japanese cartoon character...anime.

So I spotted these girls doing this for a few seconds when a group of tourist guys walked up to them and boldly started taking pictures of the girls taking pictures of themselves. I think they were either Chinese tourists or Koreans but I doubt they were Japanese. They were not dressed nor acted like young Japanese guys...in other words, they seemed a bit dorky. Well, I shouldn't say J guys don't act dorky...but you have to trust me on this.

After a few jumps the girls finally snapped out of their completely obsessed world and noticed these strange men taking photos. They awkwardly fumbled themselves back into reality but the Chinese/Korean (whatever) guys asked if they would jump some more so they could take pictures themselves. To my eye, it girls didn't quite know what to do but obliged, most likely due to their self absorption. One guy got down on his knees and snapped away.

Funny these moments you can find when strolling down Waikiki.

Not Japanese!

Food...

I am editing some older images as I am creating a library using a new storage system...a Drobo. Interesting concept yet expensive.

I learned to shoot food and still life the old school way with a view camera, heavy lights, and patience...the latter being not part of my personality.

I shot a job for the Grand Wailea on Maui and had to shoot several great dishes at their restaurant.

We found this piece of wood work and stuck the food down.

Voila!

J Bride

god...another Japanese story...



As I continue my quests for those perfect images from Waikiki, I wandered through the entrails of the Hyatt after shooting my usual randomness when I came across the usual Japanese bride in a rental dress being hustled by the wedding brokers from ceremony to limo to photo session to dinner to whatever for a fee...most likely a large fee...as wonderful weddings in Hawaii don't come cheap.

She was no different than any Japanese bride I've seen at Ala Moana or Waikik...but the light flowing from the open corridors of the hotel caught this bride-to-be in a very beautiful way. I don't think I captured her how I saw her as she seemed a bit unsure of what was going on...I mean, I walked in and she is sitting in the lobby dolled up in her wedding dress. No one is talking to her, no one is with her. I almost felt as if she got a dress, got dressed, and went down to hang out in the lobby.

The light streamed in from the street and caught her nicely. I approached her after circling a bit and slowly asked if I could snap a photo of her. I must have looked odd and/or pervertish for taking her shot but she was really nice and smiled big.

She told me she was from Osaka and I bowed to her a thank you and congratulations.

Nice moment from a stranger.

UPDATE...

I did notice her hands...they were gripping her dress. Uneasiness? Needed a cigarette?

Or was it me, the fat guy with a camera?

hmmmm........

A Japanese splash

A loss of words fills my empty head on this image. I'm not sure why but I really caught something unique to my eye. A bit papparazi, voyeuristic, yet to me beautiful. A young beautiful girl caught in the crashing surf of Waikiki.

Happy Birthday Yukako!

Its Yukako's birthday today (9-26) and my mom made a card.

Ain't they cool?

Umbrella

I've been working on a stock project for Frommer's guide books on Oahu and have shot like a madman over the last few weeks. I been all over the island, seen and done many things I normally would not have done. Amazing how we locals forget how wonderfully beautiful Oahu is.

But in my eyes, sometimes life isn't like a postcard or some beautiful stocky image you typically see in guide books. Shooting stock is challenging and I seem to always find the unique in what is around.

I walked down Waikiki beach hoping to catch some nice light and good looking people strolling or what not...I never expected to see something fun. I stumbled upon an older beach goer wrestling with a stubborn umbrella while standing in the sand during the sunset. I think the photo says enough.

Enjoy.

Photog as a model? Can you spot me?

As I recall, about seven years ago, I assisted NYC photographer Michael Prince on an ad job for Toshiba. The job was to be a multi-ethnic cast of your white, black, brown, and yellow crowd. I was part of a three man crew which included Sean Murray and Alfred Yan and we set up cameras and light for the shot. It was very easy and didn't really seem out of the ordinary for any of us. It was quick and painless from what I recall.

After hours of hair and make-up, light tests, and arrangement of the furniture, the models lined up and pictures were taken. However, the art directors were not pleased...something was missing...an element they couldn't figure out.

Whispers and fingers were starting to point around the room and all of a sudden, fingers were pointed at me. I got asked to a model in the ad! I figured they needed the Hispanic/Jewish/Mediterranean brown guy in the shot. I was thinner, carried myself well, and people noticed. Sean, surprisingly wasn't asked and he was an ex model for Bruce Webber! He was much better looking than me but I guess they had their white guy in the shot and the same for Alfred as he's Chinese and the token hot Asian girl was already staged. Hence the camera turned on me.

I got a quick haircut from the stylist, a boring sweater type jersey, and off I was on the set, pretending to engage in conversation with the model looking guy across from me. I recall being nervous as hell even though I am quite the ham in front of any camera. But a few moments later, I emerged as the hero of the shot and was even told by the photographer "...you pretty much made that shot."

I walked away from that job with an assistant rate plus a fat modeling check! I quickly figured out lifestyle modeling might be the new career, I can see myself now...exotic locations, model girlfriends, waiter jobs on the side, airports, botox, champagne, flashing lights...ah...the good life. Alas, the road to success remained on the other side of the camera where my face will never get the action it deserves.

New York Review

After living in New York just under 8 years, I can kinda say I, we, became New Yorkers. The fuggitaboutits slid off the tongue easily and quickly, didn't have to read a map to know which exit to take to get to 25th St and Ave of Americas off the N/R line, and acquired tastes for bagels with a schmear, good pizza, and Indian.

You can only imagine what a change it was to trade cement for sand, hot dowogs for ahi poke, and snow for constant sunshine. But we did and we made it.



NYC/NJ was an amazing place to call home. It took lots of patience and time to get used to Hawaii. You can't anything you want in Honolulu but who needs it?!?! After living here, it was overwhelming to be around so many jackasses and knuckleheads. Everyone has somewhere to go and they gotta get there quicker than you. Funny enough, after living in New York so many years, I found the most obnoxious people were those that were not born in New York. They were transplants from Minnesota that decided the only way to fit in was to be an ass and do really rude things. So many times, I would encounter some dumb broad (sorry, its my New Yorker comming out!) cut me off on the sidewalk holding a latte while chatting with her friend back home in Nebraska on her cell. I mean just plain rude but an affected rudeness that even natives would laugh at. SoCal dudes who traded their board shorts for boardroom dress huffing past as if they mattered more in the world than you. I could go on.

I don't think I every really took on a Jerky Boy attitude although some may say different, but after living there so long, just gets under your skin.



So much has changed in five years and its quite amazing to see how neighborhoods have transformed in what seems like overnight. Rich hipsters wearing designer Glass and steel towers sit between century old brick walkups. Where guys wearing Puerto Rican flags and do-rags in their hair now walk blonds with babies, Starbucks, and dogs.



New York has changed for the better to some as its become more homogeneous, if I can use that term. I don't know if there is a term for homogeneous where race doesn't matter but money does. Make sense? New York's poor, or those who can't afford high rents, fled making way for glass towers, hotels, and $5 expressos.



I'm making general statements but I did see with my own eyes, the color of New York is evaporating. I really didn't see the waves of ethnicity that once overwhelmed me. I can't believe how different New York has become. Its seems they, ethnicity fled being replaced by blonds walking their dogs, holding a baby, and drinking a Starbucks. I can only think the boom in real estate drove prices up which pushed taxes up forcing those on the edge to fall. It happened here...all you have to do is look at how many lower middle class and lower class citizens of Hawaii are living on the beaches. Those on the mainland at least can escape to the suburbs or other parts of the city for more affordable living. Hawaiians have no choice.



NYC proved a great trip. Had a really nice time seeing, eating, and being a New Yorker again. I'd entertain returning to the city that never sleeps but after living in Honolulu now for close to five years, its gonna be hard to escape this place.



But as much as I ragged on the changes of New York, I do have another NYC moment...

With my 35mm film camera dangling from my shoulder, I walked past a black guy selling his own self-made hip hop album at the N/R entrance at Union Square. He approached us with a swagger asking if we'd buy his album. I New Yorkerly said "no" in that firm don't push it confidence. He then copped a look at my Leica asking...

"Is that 35mm film?"

"Yeah," I snapped.

"Well...youse gots to step it up to digital, babe" flashing his Nikon Coolpix at me.

That was it...he was gone.

I only regret I didn't get his cd.

A New York moment...

Just got back from a two week trip to New York. Saw several friends, ate great food, had loads of fun, saw lots of changes, and made lots of great memories. More on this later...

I just had to write about a New York moment.

We stopped in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Boro Park and walked around the uniquely Hasidic Jewish neighborhood. Most of the stores are Jewish owned for Jewish customers. We stood out like sore thumbs among the black coats, long beards, and peyos (the distinct curly sideburns). I am not sure if the really anyone took much attention to us but no one really talked to us or seem to welcome us wandering around the block. They all seemed somewhat standoffish and rude but this is New York and most everyone can be standoffish and rude.

We ate pretzels and meandered through the street and stores. Funny enough, I noticed most of the workers besides the Jewish shop keepers were Latinos. Mostly Mexican in my view but probably from all over. Immigrants from Mexico and beyond are found working everywhere. Its amazing. I wonder what would happen if the Mexicans stopped working for a day.

As we wandered, I didn't take too many pictures as I didn't want to draw much more attention to and kept a low profile but I kept my Leica around my shoulder. I mean we really stood out.



We walked past a street musician playing a violin while two men chatted. The violinist transported me back to an old time, Eastern Europe at the turn of the century...melancholy and comforting.

We walked down the street and stopped in this grocery store which was run by a rude Israeli who didn't care for us. As we browsed the lox and schmaltz, these three young Hasidic kids, brothers, no doubt, took an interest in me and my camera. Their little curls bounced back and forth as they stared and slowly surrounded me. A fourth older kid wearing a dark overcoat and heavy brimmed hat hovered next to me but never said a word to me.

The kids didn't say anything to me and they just kinda stared. Their father talked to them in what I think was Yiddish but the kids really didn't pay much attention to him. I figured the kids wanted to stare at me as I just didn't belong in the neighborhood and tourist generally don't run down and hang out with the Hasidum.

Finally, the youngest asked me if what I had around my shoulder. His brother then answered that it was a camera and asked if it was from the 17th century. Then, the older unrelated kid all of a sudden quipped if that was the camera Einstein used. It was as if everyone was really staring but was afraid to talk to me. Then the younger kid just reached up and took the camera from me and started to fiddle with it. Pointed it at me and started snapping away. His older brother then wrestled the camera away from him and started to fiddle with it as well. Unrelated, as I will now call him, asked why I had such an old camera and pulled out a shiny Canon powershot from his coat pocket as if bragging he was was more up to date than me.

Funny--all these Hasdium with their turn of the century fashions and customs were bettering me with camera technology! Ironic, no?

As the wrestling kept going on over the camera between the two brothers, I feared the camera was going to crash to the ground so I took the strap and placed it around the youngest ones neck. Their father, who was dressed in dark knickers, coat, and black socks, snapped at the kids to leave me alone but they persisted despite his protests. I then was absorbed into a conversation by Unrelated who wanted to know where we were from. He was probably in his mid teens and had a voice which made him sound like Brando with Seinfeld's NYC Jewish accent. I told him we were from Hawaii and he had a look of amazement on his face as he probably searched his mind's map to find out where Hawaii is. He then said he'd just read Obama's biography and asked if I liked him. We then talked quickly about politics as my attention was focused on my Leica and the fear it would come tumbling to the ground. The younger brother figured out focus and snapped a picture of me.



Unrelated continued the political talk on Obama and said remarked how the US military supported McCain and how it would be difficult for Obama to win. I asked him if the Jewish community supported Obama and he took a look concern stating he didn't think many would support him. He was quite young to know so much about politics and I was impressed with his level of education.

Finally the father of the three won the battle and the kids gave me back my camera and ran off. But not before I was able to snap off a quick one of the three Leica tormentors. My camera survived the Jewish attack and I walked away with a great little picture of a funny New York moment.

Wall on Waikiki

My Leica and myself have been spending time at the beach. A little creative photoshop and I am developing a nice view of what I encounter on a sunny afternoon.

I keep thinking film is better than digital but in all aspects, digital wins hands down for its versatility and ability to capture detail film isn't able to get. However, film still retains that je ne sais quoi digital can't capture. Sure I played with the film scan in photoshop but there is something to it that makes film a bit magical.

Maybe its the fact that its not perfect...the exposures are not always spot on or what not. The Leica is also hard to use. Can't focus quickly, load film easily but something about the camera, film and feel just make a sunny day a splash.

London in a Kimono

I'm going through some old files and scanning negs and old photos and found an old photo of Yukako. I think she was about 3 or so and she thinks the photo was taken in London. What heads she must have turned walking down the street.

Obama Visit summed up...

http://starbulletin.com/2008/08/16/news/obama/

Photo Ed George Lee at the Star Bulletin called to thank and tell me about how my work is part of their multimedia slide show released today.

Its a great show showcasing work from Denis Oda, Burley, Jamm, and Alex the AP staffer and myself. Its a good look back at Obama's vacation here.

Please have a look.

Paparazzo!

Sunrises in Hawaii are phenomenal. A blue blanket of darkness warms to an amber glow slowly filling the sky with a brilliant sea of light. Dark ocean waves become bright blue brilliance. Yes, too poetic but nonetheless, its true. Just ask anyone whose been lucky enough to sit on the beach at sunrise. Its great.

However, sitting on the beach stalking someone for a shot is unnerving! Sea spray sticks to your skin and cameras and the windward side breeze blows sand onto everything. Sand starts sticking to your legs, arms, and hands, getting in your ears, pockets, and mouth. Everything you touch gets sandy.

And its just murder on the cameras. Brutal!!!!!!

But this is what I had to endure to get a shot of Barack Obama. Three days of (legally) stalking presidential hopeful is not fun. Obama arrived in Hawaii for a week long vacation to get away from it all before the campaign starts to heat up and the nominations are set.

I got assigned by the Associated Press to sit and wait on the beach where Obama's vacation rental house is. I had to sit, wait, and hope for an appearance. Its not a fun job. At first I was keen on being on the beach hoping to catch him swimming or just hanging out on the beach. I knew I couldn't get too close to him as Secret Service and HPD were all over the place and I surely wasn't going to hide in the bushes to catch a photo of him. The more upfront and honest I was about myself meant no one would stop or bug me as long as I played by the rules. I mean, this isn't Paris or Brittany...I think they be more dangerous to photograph as celeb bodyguards are mostly hired meatheads. They don't know or care for rules or laws hence I'd be in a loosing battle with 'em. A presidential candidate with Secret Service is a different animal. One wrong move and I could end up in prison if not worse.


Snapped off my by Blackberry Curve!

Here I am laying on the beach with my 400mm camera lens hidden under a raincoat. Secret Service had already made me and twice came up to me and asked me who I worked for and what I did. I kept my gear out of sight for several reasons, one for a bit of secrecy but mainly to keep all the elements off the electronics.

I don't want to claim I am or do paparazzi work because I never have nor do I wish to. I don't care to sit on the beach or stalk around town for some silly celeb of the moment. It just doesn't appeal to me. Sure the money might be nice but I have to live with myself afterwards.

Obama had already been photographed on the beach once several years back and he wasn't pleased. I mean it wasn't a bad photograph. He looked in good shape and gave the appearance of youth. Not some straggly old man struggling in the rough sea. He almost looked Kennedyesque.

So...Obama didn't want to be caught on the beach. He wants to ensure his image is strong and powerful, not one who vacations and slacks off on the beach. As I sat on the beach waiting for him, I knew I was going to have a struggle and sure enough, a long wait.

But I had to make sure I followed all rules and not do anything to piss off the Secret Service. Polite, respectful, and out of their way is the standard rule. No aiming lenses over bushes, through windows or anything you see on TV. You don't stand in front of his motorcade surrounding Obama's car and snap away. That kinda stuff with get you a flight to Guantanamo Bay.

For two days, I arrived at the beach no later than sunrise, set up camp on the beach and waited. Almost immediately, I was spotted by Secret Service and/or HPD. As I'd set up camp, security would slowly saunter up and check me out. Its a bit scary to know Secret Service know has my name, they have my number! SO you don't mess around with this level of security. You play by the rules.

First day...sat on the beach. Talked to lots of beach walkers and gawkers who think I am some friendly guy and want to talk about photography and tip them off to Obama. If you are one of the gawkers reading this blog, please, don't talk to photographers when they are working! Its hard enough let alone want to be asked about our camera lenses and compare your point-and-shoot to what I have. We don't care!

The sun started to rise and get hot. Someone mentioned being on the beach is like sitting in the desert. Water everywhere and not a drop to dip in. Its hot, windy, yet cool. Its nice sitting on the beach but its no fun when you are trying to get a job done. And the most worrisome part of it all is you are never sure if you are gonna get the shot.

So after the first day, I got one Obama sighting. He quickly peaked over the bushes to meet someone coming on the property and was visible for about four seconds. Its not enough time to aim, compose and snap. Besides, Sonny from KITV was chatting my ear off so I lost concentration on the task at hand. I finally got info Obama had left the house and it wasn't a minute too soon. Being on the beach at 6AM until 1PM isn't fun. I was tired, sweaty, a bit sunburned and generally worn out. I was dreading my failure and predicament of having to return the next day.

Second day equaled more of the same. I was a bit more prepared by wearing jeans and a long sleeve shirt. The sand became more bearable and I wasn't covered with grit within three minutes of my arrival. I got to the beach much earlier as I had been tipped Obama had taken a swim on the beach at 5:30 before the sun rose. I got to my spot earlier but found even if he had been on the beach, a shot would have been nearly impossible as it was way too dark.

Nothing happened again. Just security around the house and the same gawkers asking silly questions. Again, Obama peered out of the house for a few seconds but nothing. It was another fruitless day.

The third day proved to be magical. I knew I couldn't just arrive and sit on the beach for an entire day so I ended up arriving after six, made camp and read a book. It wasn't much more than a pretty day on the sand. Again long pants and long sleeve shirts, floppy hat, sunglasses, water, sunblock, and a snack of dried mangoes to make the day go smooth. I was getting used to the waiting and in all honesty, sitting on the beach isn't all that bad. I mean, hell, its Hawaii!

I started to doubt he'd come out and I also realized he and his staff knew I was out there on the beach waiting. I doubt he'd come out anyway so I decided to just leave and come back a bit later in the day.

Sure enough, when I came back, Obama and his daughters were just walking out the house for a nice walk on the beach. I, being a consummate, readied my camera in an unhurried manner, set exposures, and fired away. I kept a respectable distance and also introduced myself to Secret Service who also kept their distance. I shot with my 400mm 2.8 lens and really took control of the situation. Nothing could have been better as everything just lined up perfectly. The slow walk with his daughters in the surf, hand holding and just general coziness with his kids. It was almost planned but I know it wasn't.



After following him with lots of respect and care, he finally seemed to notice me but I wasn't sure if he got irritated. He met people, shook hands, and signed autographs. He was cordial and polite to everyone as he is running for president of the United States.



At one point he raised his sandals towards me and muttered something but couldn't hear if it was at me or at people behind me. I was the only pro on the beach (EXCLUSIVES!) so I knew he was aware I snapped photos. I started to feel funny and realized this is why I don't do paparazzi work. I knew I had enough and left him in peace.

Besides, I did rattle off a fair share of images.



But after a long three day stake out, all suffering is put to rest when you get a special moment like this. Obama and his kids made great art and I am glad I suffered like I did. I am sure his people will like the images as it portrays him as a caring fatherly figure. I kind gentle man who spends times with his young kids. I think the images are defining and surely do not harm his image.

I got on the tele!

Seemingly at being at many big events in Honolulu, I find myself on tv. Yes, it's a bit gratuitous to show myself on the tele but sometimes I just can't help myself.

Obama visited Honolulu today and AP sent me out to cover the event as a secondary photographer to the staffer who travels with Obama as part of the permanent press corp. I had to arrive at the welcoming reception center at 10am and wait for Obama's arrival which ended up being close to three pm. What a wait. My forearms are sunburned!

You can see what AP along with Reuters put on on Obama's visit at news.yahoo.com. Search for Obama or Hawaii under the news search. You can also search at Google for images of Obama's welcoming event.

I did get a great (relatively speaking) lunch by walking down the beach and found a Samoan type of festival. There were several tents which were selling Samoan barbque and it was pretty tasty but couldn't all they served. For ten dollars, I got a entire leg of BBQ chicken {yum!) along with salted brisket, bananas, turkey tail, chicken long rice, and a pork quisantes type of dish. Way too much food. The salted brisket was odd and tasted like spam but with a beefy taste. The turkey tail was really tasty...a odd mix of dark meat and cartilage. The bananas were not edible. Odd, dry, yet smoky. Not a taste I liked.

Interesting day.

Dancing Tejanos!

San Antonio Express News
West Side Section
circa 1995?

As a budding photographer I had to take many jobs I would never consider taking now but sometimes cutting teeth is more important than making a decent living. The San Antonio Express News community section hired me as one of their freelancers to shoot stuff around town their staff wouldn't touch as it was community work. You know all real photojournalist only shoot pro sports, fires, and press conferences. Never do they dip into the community section. Hence that was my opportunity to get published in a big daily. Little did I know images like this mean so much more than the said real journalism. Pride and prejudice get in the way of making good judgements and make us not realize how important photography is...not just to the hardcore element who have to sit in mud up to their necks in Africa but to the viewer who's life is so much better than they get a chance to see themselves in the pages of the city paper.

I imagine this shot is still saved somewhere in someone's scrapbook...yellowed and all. I am glad to have made that memory a good one.

San Antonio

The Alamo at sunset...

Thanks to Tracey W and Essence Magazine, I was able to escape to Texas for a long weekend for work (shot a feature for the mag) and see my parents who are still alive and kicking in San Antonio.

I've not been in SA since 2005 or so and every time I go back something has changed yet nothing is really that different. More corn tortillas are served over flour, there are spidery arms of highway stretching all over the city (HONOLULU TAKE NOTE!) and the city is a bit more browner than before.

I stuffed myself with Mexican food, BBQ and sadly not enough Shiner. The Mexican food, something that just doesn't exist in its proper form in Honolulu, is just fantastic. We went to the usual haunts like Blanco Cafe and Pico de Gallo, but the winner of the trip was the dirty little cafe at the Michoacana Grocery store at North West Center on Fredericksburg Rd. Unbelievable lengua tacos. UNBELIEVABLE!!!! I mean its like the stuff we ate near the Zocalo in DF. The lime, onion, and cliantro do the trick. What a surprise to snack on that...something you probably are going to find more and more around the US.

The BBQ is always fantastic. You just can't go wrong. And everything else about San Antonio makes it a wonderful place but a hard place to go back to after living abroad for so long. I mean, Texas is a great place and all Texans seem to know this and we all tend to be proud of who we are. Hugh the Giant once asked me...How do you know someone is from Texas? They tell you...sorry Hugh, no one cares if you are from North or South Carolilna, or is it Tennessee? Maybe Georgia? I can't remember...nor do I care...cause you ain't from Texas...but like I said, and as he said, Texas is pretty proud.

I just don't think I could go back. The weather was way too hot, photo work might be limiting, and life in general might be as tough as the scrub brush. Its not like life in pricey Honolulu is easy...but being a photographer might keep me away from the place I once proudly call home but who knows. And then having a Japanese wife...well, ,if she can't have her ramen...well...there is hell to pay.

Life is what you make of it...nah thats too much of a cliche...

I wrote a few weeks ago about a "...the only thing I can share with you while I am so far away is the moon... as it will always be the same... no matter where you are...the moon is always the same..." I think what all that means is that we are always the same no matter where we go or live our lives. I am still defined by where I was born, what I grew up eating, who raised me, what culture surrounded me...all to some extent mind you.

**********

One of the projects my Mom set out for me while I visiting was to throw away lots of old stuff that was cluttering my parents closet and garage. My Dad and brother have laid siege to the empty spaces of my parent's home with stuff that should just be thrown away. What good are old memories when they are gone? The present is sometimes much more pleasant that the distant past. Why hold on to a match book from a long gone date? Or a photo of someone I can't even remember? Even old awards and swimming medals are hardly something anyone would have a strong interest in seeing other than a sad me. Oh longing for youth and simpledom...

I trashed old love notes, letters, books, reports, and junk that needed to be tossed. I would like to be nostalgic but its just not practical. I can't drag 20 years plus of old stuff with me where ever I go...I threw away old school projects, creative writing, some old photos of people who don't exist anymore for me, and thoughts from a long time ago. I did save old photos of times I hardly remembered. I shipped those back and hopefully I will spend some time scanning some faded dirty negs and remind myself of what I've become.

Like I said, its not so much of where and how I am, its more of who I am and where I came from...no?



I shot my Dad in front of the mural at Pico de Gallo downtown. My Dad is probably singlehandedly the worst photo subject hands down. If he doesn't have his eyes closed, he just doesn't let us capture him. As a younger man, he peacocked his way through life with dandy clothes, slick hair, and a debonair flare that lacked substance but full of style. I am somewhat amazed that he actually came out pretty decent in this photo.

Overall, San Antonio proved to be a great trip. Lots to ponder, lots to miss, and lots to remember.

Thanks Tracey Woods!

TEARSHEETS!!!!!!!

On line is my tearsheet section. Please have a look and see some of my work in print!

www.marcpix.com

1997-2008

My father once used to brag about all the countries he went to with the Army. Lots of those new people my father encountered wanted to kill him and his buddies but thats the nature of traveling with the military. My travel adventures, on the other hand, (Central America, Mexico, Asia, Europe, etc...) rarely took the form of digging trenches and eating c-rations, although many of the things I ate made my father's MREs into candy. Dog, anyone?

My first encounters with Tokyo were absolutely amazing...nothing could have prepared my little shallow San Antonio mind for the mind blowing excitement of Tokyo. Bright lights, big city! So many people whose faces were so different than mine, fashion, trains, buildings, signs written in Japanese and none of it I could read! It was all so different. One of the most striking facets of Tokyo life was the barrage of advertisements: from neon billboards toting the newest J-Pop stars, to beer, to tea, to cell phones...endless amounts of selling in every imaginable place. And everything was larger than life ads. Huge photos pasted on walls, subway halls, hoisted on building, gleaming with that language I still can't understand. So unique. My first photo travails with my Nikon allowed me to capture and record human reaction with such advertisements. How small and little we are compared to these larger than life ads.


Shinjuku Station, 1997

I snapped this beer ad shot in Shinjuku Station and at the time it was the "cats meow." The ad for Suntory beer features a Japanese baseball player named Kiyohara. The sign translates roughly into "It tastes good...how about one?" "Supah Mah gu nam Duur eye! (Super Magnum Dry--I had to do the accent.)

At the time, I though I couldn't have taken a better photo. The timing, emptiness...the image itself growled back at me. I though I knew so much about photography and myself and I was ready to launch a career. But as I now work on a new portfolio showcasing images from Tokyo over a 10+ year experience, I quiet a different story and view.

While editing and choosing new images, I came across the original negatives (YES NEGATIVES!) and I re-edited the image. There were so many different angles I didn't blink an eye at and actually forgot about the scene.



My editings led me to see a variation of different scenes. Different angles, different thoughts. An unfamiliar look at what I though was one of my better images.



Mysterious blurs, people ghosting in the shot. I wasn't sure why my original "cat's meow" doesn't strike me any longer but maybe its my growth as a person, my experiences, all the things that have made me into a professional. I don't know.



My hero shot would now take a back seat to the others I think duly take the winning slot as a moment.


June 2008, Shinjuku Station

Oddly enough, my last trip to Tokyo this past May produced a very familiar image. It is not as if I though to frame this image as such but the poster, the look on the model, and the motion of the blurry Japanese girl truly captures a moment in Shinjuku Station Essentially its the same shot as my original. Different time, different medium, different me. Yet something struck me again about my life and how experience has defined me in my mid 30s'.

I remembered an amorous letter I wrote long ago during a trip away which I prosed the following: "...the only thing I can share with you while I am so far away is the moon... as it will always be the same... no matter where you are...the moon is always the same..." or some insane dribble about something or another. I doubt the validity of what I wrote back then but it made sense but it was the musings of a young romantic. A romantic before the reality of life took hold. (What? Charm can't get me through life?) I though U2, rum, and a dirty school bus trip through Nicaragua defined it all.

I guess what I am trying to get at is no matter how much I have changed as a person, I am still like the moon...meaning I am still me. I haven't changed nor has my view changed on what I see. Experiences have made me different but I am still me. I still see what I do and I capture what I want. Do I ever miss photos when I don't have a camera, do I miss moments? Sure but it doesn't matter cause I wasn't there to capture it.

So whether or not my moon musing holds water, I guess I do still am the same, see the same and shoot the same, sharing the same views as I once did with someone so long ago. Maturity and vision could be one in the same but then again...

Four on the Fourth

Last week, I put a roll of color film into my camera and didn't finish the roll before it got dark and kept the film in for next time. For that week the film lived in the camera, I was completely anxious and obsessed about seeing what I had shot. I did get about 14 images on the roll before it got too dark and left but I wanted to see it!

We've all forgotten (for good measure in many cases) the anticipation, and for some, the anxiety of having a half roll of film left in the camera. I didn't want to take the film out and waist the unused half. Penny pinching is important at times and film isn't cheap. Digital photography has taken away all this good (and bad) anticipation on waiting with excitement to see your images on the light table. You can see immediately your images on the back of the digital camera which in many ways has taken away the excitement of photography.

Imagine this...you take your film camera out, you see the shot of the day, you focus, snap, and smile. Now you got 35 more frames on that roll before it goes to the lab. Sadly, the sun goes down and you can't shoot anymore today. Throughout the week, you take more pictures hopping to get to the end. 12 frames, 22, frames, 33, 34, 35...oh finally! The end. After six days, you finally take the film out of the camera. You pull it out, get to the lab...the lab's machine is down until tomorrow morning. Argh! You drop it off while you curse under your breath and obsess about that first frame you shot...obsess all through the night. Its it sharp, was the exposure dead on, did she blink? On and on and on...

Next morning you get up thinking about frame one. After coffee and breakfast you are still obsessing. The lab doesn't start their first processing till 8am. Your film won't be ready till noon. Wait and watch the clock. Wait....wait...and finally, you get in the car and rush over to the lab. Pay your money and run home.

Rush inside, throw the film on the light table and bam! There it is...the shot!



This shot of the four teens on the wall at Waikiki struck me cause of the moment, time and place. Its really nothing special other than the moment in my eyes.

But the most important think about this image was the time waiting to see it. The simple anxiety of waiting to see your work that you took all so long ago. And like I said, looking at the back of my digital camera doesn't offer the same fun.

4th part 2

Went down to Waikiki with the Leica, the 35mm, and a pocket full of film. Actually it was only three rolls of film.



I came across two women lounging in the sand when I spotted their tiny little baby wiggling on the blanket. His size, serenity and pale skin amazed me. All this stuff was going on around him and he dozed away as if nothing else mattered.



Seeing what I shot most often than not is beyond me. What I mean is sometimes, the mechanics of photography, the focus, composition, etc...just flow around me and disappear into the mist of my subconscious. Yes, yes...this sounds like a bit of bull but I can't explain why I see and capture what I do. After getting film back from the lab and doing my edits, I find myself sometimes returning to this unique archetype of style that I see. I took an art class in University and the professor would remark at my graphical sense of composition. It was stuff I never understood or studied but opened my eyes to see what I saw.

Does that make sense?

Why I am struck by this picture of the kid crawling under the rails is not so much the starkness of the ocean, the emptiness of the beach, but the lines that all form and fall into place. I didn't see it...it wasn't as if I lined up the camera this way. It just happened. Something subconscious took place inside my head and I just pulled up the camera and snapped.



These two girls were watching the multitudes of swimmers swelling away in the surf near Queen's Beach. It was a nice day and the light fell really nice on them.



Now this girl was classic...she was a bit of an odd ball and I have seen her around a few times...at least I think I have. She's covered in a few tattoos and she was parading around in a very very tiny string bikini. Her front didn't leave much to the imagination either. We came across her and I first thought she was completely naked. Nudity isn't de rigueur on the beach nor are Brazilian bikinis. Most girls are a bit more modest if modesty counts on the beach and wear fairly fleshy suits but she really kicked it up a notch.

She was chatting with some guy entranced by her peep show. She must have known her g or string or what ever its called was slowly advancing to the point of no return. She couldn't have cared less. Neither did he.

4th

Fireworks at Ala Moana Park seen from my downtown digs...

talking

Waikiki, 2008