Great Beach Shots

Originally uploaded by yosigo!!!

Got this from the Flickr blog. I really like that the photographer kept these shots simple. Coupled with the muted tones these photos are amazing. Great composition. I've never seen beach shots done this fresh.

Going Dark

Took some snapshots outside the house of Aaron and Patrick after a long day of setting up the studio and clearing out the garage. Played with the high ISO setting on the MkII. The amount of noise is ridiculously low for ISO 12800.
I was inspired by my roommate to go dark with these shots. So I went the moody b&w high contrast route. Maybe I'll do more like this.

Patrick Kawahara

Aaron Shiosaki

Experimental Stages

Experimental Stages

Set up a temporary studio in the garage w/ a discarded seamless. Still have to work out some kinks with the lighting. One of the strobes failed so we had to set up an SB 800 w/ the umbrella, and a dedicated strobe in the softbox.

Random Photo Hour

Got out to the Sutro Baths and the park by the Cliff House to take random photos with the roommates.

The 5D Mark II is Amazing.

A few shots from last night. Mostly shot at ISO 6400.





Just a simple crowd shot, but definitely my favorite shot of the night. Definitely shows the high ISO capability of the Mark II.

24Karat Weekend.

Here's a few more shots from the weekend.

Planet Asia and Evidence at Turntable Lounge.


Downtown Spinnin'.


Here's a preview for 24karatmilkcrate's Blasssssted section.

Road Trip

Took a road trip down to LA to handle some business with Josh from 24karatmilkcrate on the way down we got caught in the smoke of a fire by the 5 South. The fire produced some funky color in the different shots. As you can see the photos shot directly into the sun had a bit of a darker tone than the others. More pictures from the weekend coming up. You can check the rest at 24karatmilkcrate.

Distractions

Got caught up checkin out the Walrus blog while I'm trying to write papers. But this one is definitely worth sharing. Took it from the Upper Playground Blog. Estevan speaks the truth and I've never met the guy, but he seems humble as fuck from this interview. Catch him on the Run Up.

"Everybody thinks you just focus the lens, and you push the button. What's so fuckin' hard about it?" - Estevan Oriol. Estevan hits the nail on the head with this interview about photography and the hustle.

Fort Funston Hang Gliding Multimedia

The Fort Funston Hang Gliding multimedia project is finally up. I have to say I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Hang gliding photos were done by me. The video was shot and produced by Phil Marshall and Dave Miers.

Chiaroscuro

This looks like a great show. I wish I was in LA for it.

Photos up...

from the past couple shoots on OhDangMag.com and 24KaratMilkcrate.

Hollywood Holt
Curt@!n$

Its Curt@!n$ for All You Other Rappers

Another photoshoot for OhDang/24KaratMilkcrate today. I had a simple light set up planned with the 580ex II, a light stand and a pair of pocket wizards, but I forgot the light stand with the flash attachment. So I pulled out the dyna light kit with the soft box and made these images. Curt@!n$ was extremely easy to photograph. The guy was a natural character. These were shot in the Fifty24SF gallery. Artwork by Hush. More photos on Flickr.

Catch him performing tomorrow night @330 Ritch w/ Mickey Factz

24Karat Milkcrate Presents...

Took some photos last night at the 24Karat Milkcrate Show. Hopie Spitshard, JBillion, and Hollywood Holt performed. The lighting was bad for photos as most concerts are, but I still managed to get some good shots in between the drinking and the dancing. Props to everyone that rocked the show.

Here is one of my favorite shots of the night. Hollywood Holt brought some mad energy. Check the rest on Flickr.


Check out http://24karatmilkcrate.blogspot.com/ for the aftermath.

Lighting Set Ups

Lately I've been stuck on playing around with lighting. It's the foundation of a great photo IMO and when you can control the light you're one step closer to making a better photo. I found this on the Flickr blog and decided to steal... err share this this link. http://www.flickr.com/photos/polvero/

I've been pretty stoked by the prospect of getting more lights and gear. I helped my roommate Patrick in a photo shoot for J-Billion and http://24karatmilkcrate.blogspot.com last Friday. We were struggling with the flash when I noticed live plugs in the area we were shooting. Luckily I brought the light kit I borrowed from school, set up some strobes and we were able to rock some great shots.

Check out the 24Karat blog for the full set, and Patrick Kawahara dot Com for some great photography.

Photo by Patrick Kawahara


Also check out J-Billion this Thursday @ the Rickshaw Stop

NBA Finals

NBA Finals started today and I can't wait to see the Cavs and the Lakers in the championship round. This is gonna be great.
My pics for the first round in the west are Lakers over Jazz, Blazers over Rockets, Mavs over Spurs, Hornets over Nuggets.

And in the East Bulls over Boston, Magic over Sixers, Heat over Hawks, and Cavs over Pistons.

API Smash

I got to shoot this concert held by the Asian Student Union and the Manalo Movement on campus called API Smash. API Smash stands for Asian Pacific Islanders Supporting Mexican American Super Heroes, I think. Check out the photo on Flickr.




This is the slideshow on xpress.sfsu.edu click the bottom right corner for full screen.

Seatbelt Camera Straps!!

These remind me of the bus seatbelts we used to steal to make belts. Looks pretty cool, and comfortable.

From Photojojo.com

Wedding Photos

I got a chance to photograph my first wedding. It was my friend's parent's 25th wedding Anniversary. I came into it not knowing what I had to do and never having shot a wedding so I was pretty nervous. Overall I think they turned out okay and I'm thankful that they look much better in black & white. I'm glad I had this opportunity, it actually gave me some confidence to try and tackle a bigger wedding. Hopefully next time I'll have other shooters.

Gliders @ Fort Funston

One of the last things did before spring break was shoot some hang glider pilots @ Fort Funston. I was fortunate enough to have nice weather on my side for some good even lighting. I got some great shots that might even be portfolio worthy and I think I might be able to score a ride on one of the tandem gliders.




Check out the rest on Flickr

Rugby Photos

It was fucking cold so I didn't get too into the practice photos.
I think I got some decent shots considering I haven't shot much this semester.



check out the rest on my flickr

The Wackness

If you grew up in the 90's, lived partially in the 90's or just love 90's hip hop. This movie is for you.

Burning out

Lately photography has become a second priority. Almost the last thing I kinda look forward to daily. I'm burning out. I need to take photos for myself and find new angles. I was looking at Estevan Oriol's work again. I got inspired. I don't wanna be an Estevan clone but his work is undeniably good.

http://upperplayground.com/blog/estevan_oriol

http://www.estevanoriol.com/streetlife.htm

Medicine for Melancholy

I'm really digging the trailer for this movie. I hope I get a chance to support it and watch it in theaters.

Philippines

I've only been here a little over a week and so far its been great. Its been tiresome, exhausting, interesting, and heartwarming at the same time. I've seen family I haven't seen in 18 years and its really humbling to find out I've been missed all these years. I've seen places that I only know as distant memory flashes and I stayed in places that I used to call home but bare no recollection.
From the moment I stepped off the plane everything has been a strange trip. A jeepney owned by my uncle came to pick us up. I've only seen them in pictures and I could swear I rode them when I was a kid but to have it was the first thing to pick me up was awesome. The first few minutes were a culture shock. There were so many cars and motorcycles on the road all fighting for space and no one gives a shit about lines on the road or traffic laws.
The culture shock came when I saw the conditions that people lived in the first few minutes outside of the airport. Small shanty towns by the river, shanty towns along the road. This is Manila this is the middle of the city. Out here poor is poor and when you think its rock bottom you take a drive down the road and well its gets even poorer. Still I'm amazed how people stay self reliant and improvise, and just how they get along their day to day lives.
Anyway I'm getting off into a tangent. Basically living here has been pretty comfortable save for the bathroom situation ahah. Bathing consists of using bucket of water and small basin. If my relatives weren't so nice I'd have to use straight up cold water like they do here but they've been nice enough to boil water for me.



The bathrooms are okay although most places I've stayed dont usually have toilet paper and no working plumbing to flush. You just gotta get creative sometimes and use your imagination. I haven't even used a public restroom. Be fucking thankful for what we have in the US. Just picture the worst bathroom you've seen then take away toilet paper and a flushing mechanism. Welcome to Philippines.

So far the people have been great, the food has been awesome.

Except I've gotten a couple fevers and well I ate something that demolished my stomach. Im still having a great time.

In the meantime check out my flickr. I got some goodies up for everyone.
Flickr

Battle Hooch!!

One of my last assignments was to do a Multimedia piece on a band called Battle Hooch. They're an eclectic band with a pretty off beat style. I haven't heard their usual songs but the night I covered them they did some Beatles covers as part of a theme night. They had the best set of the night. Unfortunately the producer botched the audio. So enjoy the pictures, don't blame the audio on me. Check out the group @ myspace.com/battlehooch


Battle Hooch!