Last year, I took this scraggly plant from our balcony to throw out in the garbage but on second thought, I decided I'd re-plant it in a huge pot outside and placed it under the Phoenix palm to shelter it from the sun. That was the right combo...it didn't disappoint me. As I was admiring it this morning it felt like this was it's unique way of saying "thank you braddah!"
If at first you don't succeed, it's okay, you don't have to try again as there are usually no second chances anyway. You can fix it through a photo-editing software. Apparently it's normal for serious amateur and professional photographers to do some post-processing work on their images before they publish them online or put them in print, even if they had the perfect composition and the best camera gears.
Today I played around with my new software called Lightroom 3 and I'm convinced that post processing could well be as significant and crucial as the photo-shoot itself. Well, maybe, specially at my beginner's level. I could use all the help. So I purposely overexposed an image of my favorite flower and did a few basic clicks with this photo-editing software and it works really good. This is going to be fun from here on! The only caveat however is that I may have to upgrade my computer to feed this processor-hungry application. Hmmmm...that new Apple Quad-core iMac 27 is looking good. I may have to postpone my next pro lens purchase.
By the way, one image below was taken with a $2300 lens and the other with a $700 lens. Can you tell which is which? Conclusion: With what this photo-editing software can do, I guess I don't need to buy any more pro lens for a while......maybe
Like the title says it's Worldwide Photowalk Day today. More than 33,483 photographers all over the world were out shooting pictures to celebrate this yearly event. Our 39-member Maui group covered the South Maui beaches from 6:30 am through 10 am. We concluded our photoshoot at a Skim Boarding competition at Big Beach and we were not disappointed with the show.
At our final briefing our group leader told us we should aim for a beach-image that would typically portray Maui. In other words if you are making a postcard of Maui, what image would you put in there?
I've learned very quickly that in photography, you can capture something beautiful, or exciting, or even heart warming out of anything of your own choosing if you make the effort to discover these passing opportunities. I think this can be applied to how we look at our lives and our relationships - always looking and finding that special moment by focusing on what matters.
We have bromeliads in our yard that had been flowering every now and then for the past ten years. Yes I've noticed the flowers before but this time around I stopped for a second look and immediately took my camera out. As I peered through the lens and zoomed in, I discovered, to my delight, one beautiful moment in that flower that I will cherish for a while. Life can be like that.
We thank the Lord for blessing us with their dedication and commitment to Jesus' great commission:
"Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And lo and behold: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Next time you look at a picture in a magazine, be aware that a lot of work was put into those pictures. From the perspective of a beginner photographer (just over a year now) I tried to replicate how much is involved in these photoshoots and I can tell you it's a lot of work. The cactus picture that I shot below was a two hour exercise including the post-processing of the image in the computer. Here I took my time in setting up the tripod, the camera, and the flower pot and I kept thinking - what if I was dealing with a live model under time constraints, I would be fully stressed out. I think I will remain a beginner for a while
Movie credits to Jay who used his iPhone 4 and imovie app to produce this video
Happy Fourth of July! As we sang this song in church today, like many others, I was in tears. America needs God more than ever as the majority is starting to lean toward the extreme left, abortion is still and will continue to be protected by the government, it's illegal to invoke the name of God in public schools, the ACLU is progressing successfully in suing everyone that displays the cross in public places, our once powerful US military is fighting a losing battle in Iraq & Afghanistan and unable to get out, the national debt is way past bankruptcy levels with no end in sight, and most Americans would rather see Jerusalem to be part of Palestine Hamas (aka Iran) instead of Israel. "But make no mistake" (borrowing from Obama's rhetoric) Americans and immigrants in the US still love America more than ever. Praise the Lord for America!
Princess Hannah is in full control of our home and our lives during the next three days Click here for more pictures.
Feel as thorny as you want but in the eyes of God, you are a beautiful creation (Sharing my photoshoot of one our balcony cactus plants)
And it works like a charm. This is a grandparents dream indeed. While talking to Hannah, the camera was switched to the front to show Nala which drew a quick reaction from her. The iPhone has a camera on both front and back that can be switched at anytime during a video chat.
Actually, they "gotcha" me. Today at my favorite annual Maui Slack Key Festival I was not allowed to go in because of my camera. This year they have a new rule to allow only pocket cameras. The 4 hour Hawaiian music festival is free to the public and attended by thousands of residents and tourists. So this time around I willingly turned around (like many of the disappointed photographers), drove back home and took a long nap instead. Yes, that's mo' betah! (Can you tell I'm a little bit ticked?)
Sharing Don's sermon at their church last Sunday and more specially Lynnette's (his wife) moving testimony about her Mom. Click here to see video. Lynnette's testimony is at the 30 minute mark.
We had a one day trip to Honolulu for our five minute, yes that's right, five minute fingerprinting appointment at the Immigration & Naturalization Office for our citizenship application. Thank goodness that's pretty much it for Uncle Sam's requirements and we suspect that we will be part of the traditionally large group of new Americans that would be sworn in this coming July 4th.
And of course the rest of the day was a brief stopover at Ala Moana Shopping Center and then our special time with Hannah once again!
Here Hannah was trying to pretend she is on the phone and mumbling some words that only she can understand; and a playtime shot with her Lola and "brother" Chai
For Apple's iPhone 4, the future arrives June 24, 2010. Hopefully we'll have one too.
I've been trying to get a good shot at these birds in our backyard for the longest time. Either the stray cats chase them away almost immediately or they just simply fly out at the slightest movement from anywhere. Finally, today it was bullseye! This time around I was also armed with the right lens - my super fast F2.8 70-200mm Nikon
Sharing another shot at Waiehu Beach today. I was enjoying my lunch when the outrigger regatta sailed by and I caught only the last two boats after a quick 1 minute drive to the beach.
While doing my photoshoot at Waiehu Beach Park today I was aiming for this kite surfer doing air. Many of them usually do this type but this one had no foot straps in his board while doing jumps!
Compared to this guy with a board properly equipped with foot straps
In Hawaii Birthday Number 1 is traditionally a huge and very special event. I believe it. Jay and Dawn had over 150 guests, larger than their Wedding reception! More pictures click here
Last year, our whole family, friends, church groups, prayer groups, and bible study groups cried out to the Lord for Jay and Dawn to have a miracle baby. Today our Angel granddaughter is One Year Old. We thank and praise God from the bottom of our hearts.
Happy Birthday Hannah!
Starting a major makeover of our backyard to get ready for Hannah's future "monthly" visits to Maui starting on July 4th.
If you are planning for a surgical procedure for a "butt lift" make damn sure your Doctor knows what he is doing! He might overdo it......
Y'know somebody should ask this girl to cover her ass.
Credits to my cousin Carmelita who sent me this email.
I'm in heaven, almost. Feeding my passion before I die (hey, I'm 65 years old and retired) - life is short, blah, blah, blah, (my $2,250 rationale/alibi! bwahahaha)
Started my Sunday at 6:30 am by driving Evelyn to the Airport (to visit Hannah in Honolulu), stopped by at Kanaha Pond to do some photoshoot, finished off with coffee and doughnuts at Krispy Kreme nearby (yes!), and then to Hope Chapel later in the morning.
Every Thursday, I lead a Bible Study group at Christ The King Catholic Church at 6 PM. We have a very small group, between 6 to 9 people that attend regularly. Sometimes I wonder why I do not have a larger group and one day someone asked me why she should read the bible and I did not have a ready answer. After a short pause I hastily just told her that the Bible is the word of God. But every Christian knows that and still do not read it.
Why Read The Bible?
Saturday afternoon with the Maui Classic Car Club members. My devotion to my Classic Jag is nothing compared to how these guys baby their cars and the amount of money they spend to keep them looking awesome for "show and tell" car shows and monthly motorcades. In contrast I drive mine almost regularly on two conditions - sunny days only and there is ample parking where I am going. In other words, Shopping Malls are off limits (Click here to check out the latest photo-shoot of my toy)
