I Learned From That

  130.0mm 1/30 f/5.6 ISO 100                                                     

135.0mm 1/60 f/5.6 ISO 100

In Hawaii, we have many different cultures, that amazingly live in harmony; so I like to take advantage of the several festivals that are celebrated throughout the year. Although the Chinese New Year officially begins January 26, 2009, on January 24, 2009 Chinatown was celebrating the Chinese New Year; which by-the-way is the year of the Ox.

I grabbed my backpack and my wife in that order and headed to Chinatown. If you read my very first blog "Photographing Parades" I suggest scouting the area prior to the event taking place. But this was rather spontaneous. Because I live and work in Honolulu I am very familiar with the area; so it wasn't necessary for me to do this.

I quickly found a location that would be advantageous for me and immediately I began to prepare for the parade. I usually find a spot in front of the crowd, and get low because, most people are standing and photographing. 

In the short time I had to prepare I was checking the lighting, because in the late afternoon when the parade was being held the buildings block the sun. Also on this particular day it was cloudy. As a practice I normally leave the polarizing filter on the lens I was using.  However, after a photographing session I find I need to compensate 1 maybe 2 F/stops.

Although I know better, sometimes I tend to get too hasty and want to get right to work; and make the necessary adjustments after I download my photographs.  Leaving the filter on or not using a tripod/monopod, generally results in low quality photographs in low light situations. For whatever reason, I decided to remove my polarizing filter this time and I was quite pleased with the results. 

Most of my shots, the shutter speed was 80, and below. Anything less than 100 you either need a tripod/monopod, a lens with a stabilizer, or a very steady hand.  Had I failed to remove the polarizing filter I believe many of my shots would have been blurred because it's very difficult to use a tripod/monopod when things are constantly moving.  Even though I was using a Canon 28-135mm with an image stabilizer the results I believe would have been less than desirable.

From this experience I learned, follow your instincts, don't be hasty, and always put yourself in a position to get the best shot possible; even if it requires you to do a little extra work it's well worth the effort.

As always may all your photographs be what you want and if you have any comments or suggestions please submit them. You may also visit my website at www.dannylbaker.com

I Learned From That

I recently visited the Island of Hawaii, commonly known as the Big Island. I was hoping to shoot star trails.  I had planned a trip to the Big Island because it's one of the best places in the world to view the solar system.  I chose Volcanoes National Park because of its' isolation and very little ambient light. I had previously done my homework and checked when the moon would rise and set at www.stardate.org

Unfortunately when I arrived the weather was not cooperating, it was rainy, and the cloud cover was not going to allow me to photograph star trails. I needed to refocus my efforts.

Because I was only staying for two nights and the first night was a bust, I crabbed something to eat.  I decided I would rise before the sun and possibly get a few sunrise shots.  Afterwards I would drive to the northern part of the Big Island and photograph Polulu Valley Lookout.

When I awoke, the weather had not changed and I contemplated not going out as I had planned. Fortunately I had followed the advice of a commonly heard phrase in Hawaii, "If the weather is not very good stick around for awhile and it will change".  Even though this has proven to be true more times than not on this particular day, it would seem things were not going my way.

As I made my way from Volcanoes National Park, through Hilo, and up the Hamakua Coast; I continued to doubt why I even made an effort to get out of bed.  The low cloud cover did not allow me to get a good sunrise shot, so I continued my journey north. 

When I arrived at Polulu Valley Lookout I was pleasantly surprised and glad I decided to get out of bed and make my way north.  I not sure if the horses are horses, or the donkeys are donkeys, but they're probably a combination of both; and they really added to the composition of the photographs. 

 Even tho the weather conditions were not in my favor for what I intended,  I initially began to doubt that I would be able to get some quality shots.  However my instincts told me to go.  I could have easily chosen not to go and my trip would have been a bust.  I'm glad I went and the thought of not going out to do what I love will not cross my mind again.

I learned from that!

Finally if you've made it this far please send any comments or suggestion and keep shooting.  I hope all your photographs are exactly what you wanted and most of all I hope you've learned from my mistakes and potential blunders.