On Aug. 14th/20th I posted these photo's on twitter @DannyBaker0  https://twitter.com/DannyBaker0 and Google Plus https://plus.google.com/111828165923685267441 Photographing a subject from different angles can produce dramatically different results. I like both photo's but image 2 is much more creative than the other. Positioning and Composition are both essential to successfully make a photograph.

Image One Shinjuku

Image Two Shinjuku

Learn One Thing New Everyday

Imagine if you applied everything you learned about photography over the period of a year. As a challenge I will attempt to learn one new skill about photography everyday. Is this a challenge than I am able to meet. Maybe, but even if I fall short of my goal and learn 33% or 121 new tips/tricks about photography, just think how improved my skills as a photographer will be.

This idea came to me while browsing through a book about iPhone photography. I've taken several photo's with my iPhone and have used the panorama and HDR features, but didn't realize I could also zoom in on a subject.

Now this may be a Duh! moment for some, but I think most of us have done this at one time or another; realized there was something we could have been doing all along but haven't.

To zoom in, place your index finger and thumb together on the touch screen and spread them apart. To zoom out pinch together.

Also, a zoom bar will appear on the bottom
of the screen.

Another feature is to focus on a particular part of the subject, tap on the screen and a square will appear by tapping where you want to focus the square will automatically move.

By reading and studying you will find small tips and tricks to improve your skills, "I learned from that".

Photographing Small Animals at Eye Level.

On Sunday I drove to the North Shore to photograph the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle; even though I knew it was going to rain. Sure enough when I arrived it began to rain. I grabbed my gear hoping there would be a short break when the rain would stop; and  walked to where I knew the sea turtles would be relaxing. I hunkered down beneath a small tree with my poncho draped over me and my gear, and waited. A small window of opportunity arrived and that's when I was able to capture this picture.

Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle

Because the turtle was facing the ocean this would assist with adding character to the picture. I needed to turn my back on the ocean, which is breaking the rule of never turn your back on the ocean, and dropped to my knees so I would be eye level with the turtle. When photographing small animals or children, instead of photographing them from the dominant position, (basically standing above them), take the photo at eye level. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

What's All The Buzz About Social Media

As a participant in social media, whether it's Twitter, Google+, or Facebook, I often ask myself, what's all the buzz about social media. As a photographer I mainly use Twitter and Google+, so I only gathered some facts about these two platforms. Facebook, Linkedin, Stipple, Pinterest and several other social media sites are worth a look.

The purpose of this blog is informational only. Here are some interesting facts to generate discussion; or  just to get you thinking. 

(Disclaimer: It appears the sources I cite are reputable and may be a little dated, but I'm sure they are not too far off the mark).

Twitter 

- In the U.S. there are over 140 million users, Hong Kong is the fastest growing, and in the U.K. there are over 10 million users.
(Source: Media Bistro and Infographics).

- 69 % of tweets are suggested by friends, whereas 47% are on line searches.
(Source: Web Analytics World).

- The average user follows or is followed by 51 people. 16% have no followers, no tweets, and no friends.
(Source: Diego Basch Blog).

Google +

- Web sites using the 1+ button generate 3.5 times the visits than those without the button.

(Source: Hub Spot).

- Google + users average 12 minutes per day per visit.

(Source: Jeff Bullas).

-Google + is used primarily by college students and software developers. 63% are men.

(Source: Remcolandia).

Patience of a Hunter "I learned from that"

Wildlife photographers and hunters have a lot in common. One of the similarities is patience. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience". As a wildlife/nature photographer it is the essence of what I do. Whether waiting for the afternoon light, feeding time, or waiting for mother nature  to present the beautiful wildlife she has created; it is patience that allow me to capture my most rewarding photographs. It is important to have patience, but it is equally important to learn the habits, and habitat of the wildlife you will be photographing.

While on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii USA I had to wait several hours to capture this photograph of the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle; commonly known as Honu in the Hawaiian language. Timing and lighting were essential, but more importantly, patience. After several hours of basking in the sun, the sea turtles’ shell will become very dry and it isn't as appealing as when its’ shell is wet. There are two occasions when you are able to capture this moment, when the sea turtle first arrives on shore, or prior to going back to sea. Coming on shore it’s obvious the shell will be wet, but returning the turtle moves slowly, and the incoming waves will splash over the turtle, which will allow you enough time to capture one or two shots. Sitting and photographing the sea turtle for hours,and learning their behavior was essential. It was patience that taught me this valuable lesson.  “I learned from that”.

Photographers Insanity, I Learned From That

What is the definition of insanity? "Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results". In life this is true, but as a photographer I realized I can photograph the same scene or subject, and get different results every time.

                                    

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Both photo's were taken at the same location, but at a different time of the day. The first photograph was taken in 2006 the second in 2013. Each photograph evokes a different emotion. By changing the position of the two small islands in the frame of the picture, it will naturally produce different results. Weather also plays an important role. The reason I decide to blog about this topic, sometimes I say to myself, I've photographed this before, I want new material. But in reality I haven't even begun to scratch the surface of this location. If you asked ten photographers to photograph this scenic location you would get ten different interpretations. And that's the beauty of photography. "I learned from that".

Photographing Snow Monkey's Japan 2011 Photo Project Part V

This is the final blog of my five part series about my Japan 2011 Photo Project. I hope you enjoyed reading about my adventure as much as I had writing about it.
The final leg of my journey was going to Nagano Prefecture to photograph the Japanese Macaque, also known as the snow monkey. The snow monkeys are mainly found on the islands of Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. I went to Honshu to Joshin-etsu Kogen National Park, in Nagano Prefecture.

Shibu Onsen

The day my wife and I departed Tokyo, it was cloudy, and it seemed rain was imminent. We were traveling approximately 3 hours from Tokyo, and I was hoping the weather would be better. As we rode the train it seemed luck wouldn't be on my side. However, the closer we got to our destination the sun began to break through, but when we arrived, it was raining, just as I believed it would.

Japanese Macaque

We walked around Shibu Onsen a small village near the park, and decided to eat some cold soba. Zaru Soba is a Japanese noodle served on a zaru (draining basket made from bamboo), with a chilled dipping sauce, green onions and wasabi. We rode the bullet train from Tokyo to Nagano, changed to a local train, which took us to Shibu Onsen. Was this going to be the highlight of our long trip. As I pondered while eating, my wife said we should push on and go to the Jigokudani Yaen-Koen Park where the snow monkey hangs out. Not sure how much further we needed to travel my wife asked the waitress for directions and she suggested we take a taxi to the park entrance, from there we would need to walk the remainder of the way. The reward was much more than I expected. At first I was reluctant but decided to listen to my wife's advice and can say I'm glad I did. "I Learned From That".

Japanese Snow Monkey