We Gotta Track This Dude Down

This photo was taken September 4, 2013 at a Sea Turtle release.

It's always a good idea to arrive at events like this, before the action takes place.

It was the first time, I ever saw anything like this so, I went a few hours early.

The guy with the big camera showed up just a few minutes before it all started.

More than likely, he's done these things before.

He had all kinds of waterproof gadgetry for photos and video.

Camera Nuts Are a Special Breed of People

 

 

Easily bored, while waiting for things to start, we find ways to entertain ourselves.

The dude started pointing his big camera at me.

When I noticed, I pointed my lens towards him.

And, we shot each other.

No harm done; we were just shooting photos.

Then the Fun Began

 

 

Once the little turtles are turned loose, it's every cameraman for himself.

In and out of the surf and sand go the baby critters and the cameras.

By the time the last turtle disappeared into the sea, it was dark.

We chatted a bit, before leaving the site.

Being the poor folks we are, neither of us had business cards to exchange.

Now, I have to track this dude down so, I can give him his photos.

And, I want to see how my portrait turned out.

I bet my hair was a mess !

How to Smooth Talk in a Papaya Field

 

You Can't Just Walk in and Shoot Papayas

 

Back in August when we ran across these little papaya trees I had to shoot them.

Months earlier, I had taken a photo of me standing next to a big papaya tree.

It had been a long time, waiting for the right weather to get a photo of these little papaya trees.

It was time to do some smooth talking so I could get this done for my blog. 

I wanted to show a comparison in the sizes of these trees.

RyukyuRusty had to stop the car and let me out.

Before setting up a tripod, I asked the farmer's permission, to take a photo.

That way, we wouldn't look like some sort of criminals, just tresspassing.

Rusty got the shot of me by the papaya and I went over to talk the the farmer.

What I didn't know was:  The rascal kept on shooting while I was over there.

There I was flailing around telling the guy what nice trees he had.

And showing him how a typhoon came along and broke my first papaya tree.

Matsuda thought I was some kind of foreign dancer, I bet.

That's because, I wiggle around a lot when I get excited.

He had a good laugh.  And, Rusty was probably laughing, too, while he was shooting.

 Before I left, I had to ask Matsuda, again, what his name was.

That's because I hear about as good as a rock, these days.

So, he yelled "Matsuda".

 Then, I thanked him for the fruit he gave me and told him not to worry about my ears.

It comes in handy when you get old.

If you can't hear, you don't have to sit around the house listening to the wife yapping away.

We had a blast.

Everybody should try smooth talking in a papaya field, someday !

RELATED POST: 

Tree Photos: Papaya the Tree That's Good for Your Health

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Sometimes Shooting A Band Drives Me Crazy (Photo Essay)

Here's the Live House I went to take photos at last Wednesday night.

Right close to the stage is where I like to set up and take a practice shot.

When they start playing and singing I have to be ready.

There aren't too many split seconds where anyone on stage holds still.

Watching the subject's eyes is what I always do.

The girl's eyes, I made my subject.  That's mostly because I'm a guy.

But this girl, she likes to jump around a lot.

Like a chicken that knows his head is gonna get cut off.

So, you have to really concentrate, if you want to catch her eyes.

It might take over 300 shots just to get a few dozen good ones.

After awhile it was driving me crazy so, I got away from the stage.

Over by the bar, you can smell the beer.  And just shoot the TV monitor.  Hah !

Then, when the band is ready to leave, catch them outside.

And, if they won't hold still there, here's what I do.

Get a hold of the boss man. He's the guy in the black cowboy hat.

THAT'S BOSS

He got most of the band members to hold still for a photo.

AND, QUIT DRIVING ME CRAZY !



VISIT MY WEBSITE FOR THE PHOTO OF THE DAY

PHOTO EXHIBITION

There's lots more involved in being a cameraman than most people realize. Just loading up a bunch of cameras, lenses and accessories then going out trying to capture the Photo of the Century is only a fraction of the job.

Shooting, as we call it, that's the fun part. Getting your photos recognized, that's work. But, your pictures won't get noticed if you do what I used to do when I had a film camera. I'd get them developed and fill up empty shoeboxes with them. See, I was recycling way before it became fashionable.

Every now and then, a photo would strike my fancy and get stuck in a frame or mailed off to someone. A collection of OK shots might have even got put in albums, something that might be worth passing on to the family, but the majority of my film shots are still in shoeboxes, somewhere, weighing the shelves down. The negatives may or may not be with them. But, what the heck, none of the photos were taken professionally.


Nowadays, I know better. Every shot has to be taken professionally. There's no more snapshooting.  Every click of the shutter is preceded by deliberate calculations. Lighting conditions, compostion, exposure, point of view, simplicity, focus, making the subject look its best; that's my sole purpose. And I love it. Taking the picture isn't work for me. It's a challenge but, it's also a pleasure. I love it.

The work part of the job comes when the camera is downloaded. Instead of dropping off the film at a drug store or kiosk somewhere to get processed, it's me and the computer going round and round. And there are many more hours spent in front of a monitor than there were behind the camera. But, the finished product doesn't get stuffed in a shoebox to be dragged out whenever there's a family get together. The original files are stored on DVDs, external hard drives and other places much safer than a shoebox in a closet.

Tiny, web-versions are sent to online publications, entered in contests or emailed to friends. The creme of the crop, they get special treatment. Printed, framed and hung out to dry, they go on exhibit. They get to hang out at places I'm not even comfortable hanging out at and when arrangements are being made the folks email me and call me an artist!

When I go to hang my pictures I try my best to look presentable. Showered, dressed up in slacks and a shirt with sleeves and even put on real shoes, instead of my flip-flops. Then as soon as the photos are hung and we leave the air-conditioned building I tell Doc (Designated Driver), "Lets get outa here and go someplace comfortable, quick"! Its all part of being a cameraman. And I love it.