February 2012
3 posts
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The Past 5 Days
Moving is not like a 1-day holiday that you can easily mark off your calendar with a pen as if it’s something you no longer have to deal with once you’ve settled at your destination.
We were told by close friend that depending on the size of the house, we’re unlikely to see and enjoy our new home for what it is for at least 2 weeks after because the unpacking is just as brutal as seeing stacks...
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On Self-Promotion & Being Uncomfortable as a...
A New York photographer by the name of James Maher once wrote a guest post on the popular Digital Photography School website where he shared a few pointers on how to be a successful freelance photographer. The tip that stuck out to me the most was when he said that “The jobs that scare you s***less are the most important ones” and I’ve held on to this true statement.
After reading the article, I...
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January 2012
15 posts
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“I firmly believe that to get great photos that will leave a lasting impact you...”
– Firm advice from John Carey on how to improve the mentality you have with what you do with your camera. Imagine a travel writer anxiously wanting to piece together compelling travel stories without first having taken the chance to live through lifelong experiences first so as to validate what their...
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Parade-Goers at Lunar New Year Celebration
The easiest way to not be disappointed when shooting a parade is to avoid the expectation that you’ll be able to capture every single aspect of the chaotic backdrop that surrounds the celebration. For me, it’s like walking up to a buffet. You can either cram your plate with everything in sight and not feel that you tasted anything substantial or stick to tasting something you already have an...
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“I think 99% of the people think that professional photography is travel and...”
– Advice from Michael Nichols on the question of How do I get published in National Geographic magazine?
When I read this, it instantly reminded me a lot of when I was a retail manager. The associates I worked with may not have voiced it but from an outsiders perspective, I assumed they deemed the...
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Among Attendees at Coffee Common NYC
One of the reason I wanted to attend Coffee Common here in New York was for the learning aspect. I’m not a coffee freak. I don’t roast, grind or treat my coffee making process like it’s a science experiment and it’s not that I thought less of people that do but I was merely oblivious to all the other brewing methods that existed, so it was easy to characterize anything unfamiliar as weird.
To...
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“Go after stories you have genuine interest in. Don’t go for stories just because...”
– Advice to young photographers by Justin Mott regarding visual storytelling. The reason I’ve never developed an enthusiasm for the conventional photo assignments you’re somehow expected to experiment with when you’re just starting out in photography is because it’s difficult to be motivated towards...
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Instagram For December 2011
In continuation with the Instagram Series where I essentially take 12 of my favorite photographs from the previous month and publish them on the site, here’s the snapshots that made the cut for the month of December.
Professional photographer Penny de Los Santos recently wrote about how much Instagram has influenced her photography and it’s inevitable not to find yourself nodding to...
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Lisa Bettany's Trip Around the World →
Not only is the website beautifully designed but I’m just as fascinated with the entire concept and significance of Lisa’s adventure around the world. She’s opted to leave her professional gear behind and will be equipped only with her iPhone 4s to document the journey of visiting 5 continents, 15 countries in 50 days.
I, along with other photo enthusiast had the opportunity to meet Lisa Bettany...
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11 Random Thoughts From an Amateur Photographer
You can’t be oversensitive about your work, especially if you’re just starting out. It’s ok to embrace the memories and feelings you felt when you took the photographs but along with that should come the confidence to share them regardless if they’re praised or criticized.
Stop glorifying every single new camera that’s released. That can only lead you to think less of your current setup and...
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Photographer Spotlight: Collin Hughes
Collin Hughes is a lifestyle, portrait and wedding photographer who calls New York home when he’s not onboard a plane traveling. He also works at Wantful, where at its core, it’s a service about bring together exceptional products and showcasing them through gifting. He’s in charge of delivering and directing all of the companies exceptional photographic material along with help...
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Birds of Unusual Vitality: Shinning A Light on... →
Perhaps you wouldn’t be able to tell what it is based on name but Birds of Unusual Vitality is this charming and inspiring site ran by Eileen P Kenny where she features intimate portraits of “baristas, roasters, farmers, pickers, workers and essentially everyone involved in the process of coffee production from start to finish.”
When describing the purpose of the site, Eileen...
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Photography, Thoughts & New Year
What started as a vague idea over a quick breakfast at our kitchen table in 2010 has somehow evolved into what you see today.
I’ve tried blogging in the past but the thrill continually dwindled as time went by. You can say the process was somehow similar to that typical nameless photograph that comes tucked inside a newly purchased wallet. The wallet may already be yours but the appreciation for...
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Everything You Need to Know About Buying a Camera →
When friends approach me for buying advice on a camera, the first thing I ask them is to consider how often they believe they’ll use it because at times, they send me links to really expensive cameras that I would never pay for if meant just taking it out twice a month. I didn’t mind paying $1,200 for my D90 when it was first introduced because my wife can vouch for how inseparable as...
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“You have to always reflect and remember what it is that made you love...”
– 1 of 8 lessons for the New Year that Tracy Zhang wrote about back in 2010 but which can very easily be applied to any point in time. This is the type of straightforward advice that carries a lot weight because with photography, it’s very easy to feel that you should be shooting certain subjects in a...
December 2011
13 posts
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A Short Time in Chinatown, Flushing
It didn’t fully sink in until my wife oversaw me editing some photographs from my visit to Chinatown but she pointed out that a lot of the images I brought back weren’t the typical collection of shots she would expect someone to capture after having spent a short time in such a touristy neighborhood.
I have this thing about going places and taking photos. A slight aversion if you will about...
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In Your Bag Series →
Bellamy Hunt, aka Japancamerahunter runs a series on his site where people like you and I are less likely to place a halt to this ongoing obsesion of wanting to know what’s inside a photographer’s bag. It’s already a given you’ll find camera gear but it’s all the other stuff like Field Notes, unique pens, pocket knives or even the bag itself is what ultimately interest me because I feel you can...
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Do You Really Want to Make a Living Out of Your...
Something I’ve discovered over the period of anxiously venturing out alone during any type of weather with my camera is that I’m more passionate about the act of photographing than I am thinking about whether I would ever want to do this professionally.
They say that when your hobby becomes your business, there’s potential for you to loose that artistic essence which attracted you to this...
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“Sit down and look at f-stop, aperture, ISO, and all of those kinds of things as...”
– The more statements I read like this, the more I’m convinced that being a photographer has always been less and less about what’s in your camera bag and more on the subject of learning about others and yourself and it’s a mistake to think that it’s about anything else. At least this is my...
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Print Giveaway For You
Every so often, the folks at Mpix run 50% off promotions on 8x10 prints and even though I may not necessarily be seeking to purchase additional prints to embellish our make-shift photography wall in our apartment, I take advantage of offers like this to load up on prints so I can use them as a token of gratitude for people like you.
I have five 8x10 prints of my work that I would love for...
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On The Topic of Talent
I generally have very mixed feelings about being told “you’re talented”, largely because I don’t feel talented. Talent is the natural ability to do something for which people may think there’s not much effort put into accomplishing something and that’s simply a result of people not always being previewed to what you go through to do what you do.
I probably shouldn’t mentioned this because it’ll...
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Instagram For November 2011
Far more than text updates about work, travel or anything else, Instagram has created this huge platform for us to share parts of our lives to people by making the straightforward process of framing, shooting and editing fun. For me, the app is a reminder that our lives is a work of art and it’s challenged me to look for beauty and balance in the everyday.
Perhaps not everyone is going to...
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“Don’t worry about being better than anybody you know personally or whose work...”
– Advice from Bill Allard as he explains on how he became a National Geographic photographer. I suspect we’ve all gone through this feeling of not liking ones own work and the times I’ve done it, I can’t recall anything good ever coming from it. The consequence of it can go either...
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Top Photography Websites of 2011 →
Bryan Formhals puts together a collection of his favorite photography related blogs, magazines and websites which he holds a tremendous amount of respect for and now I do too. Some of them I’m already subscribed to and others I’ve added. What’s interesting about all of his recommendations is that none of them are the type that make me cranky. By cranky, I’m referring to the...
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Obligatory 2011 Holiday Gift Guide for...
Despite declaring my disregard for anything tangible this year as far as photography gifts, this still continues to be the time of year when friends come out of the woodwork asking for suggestions on what to get for their photography-loving people in their lives.
If you’re the “photography person” in your social circle, I find it funny that people instantly assume you have this...
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What It Looks Like Inside Amazon.com →
You’re probably scratching your head thinking what’s makes a few photographs of endless amount of boxes so fascinating. Perhaps not much but I wasn’t so much analyzing the cardboard but more the actual environment in which it’s seen.
From a photographer’s perspective, my intrigue for these images stem from being representative of 2 essential ingredients that...
November 2011
19 posts
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The Value of Time for the Holidays
It’s likely you’ve managed to gradually put together a list of photography related items throughout the year with ambitions to be surprised with receiving a few of them for the holidays.
I do it every year, although the chances of my wife surprising me with any of it is small because it’s possible I’ve purchased it way before she’s considered entering a mall or navigating Amazon.
There’s a...
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On The Ari Marcopoulos Camera Bag →
Since it’s release, I’ve been pretty attracted to the sleek design of this camera bag. From the zippers, to the carefully crafted adjustable straps, all the way to every detail that’s exactly where you would want it to be. The problem is that I’ve never seen one in person to convince me how much I may need it even though I really don’t. I’ve read fantastic...
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“Ideas come from readings, and from an intellectual curiosity about a people and...”
– To say that a photographer’s primary function is to simply take photographs is a complete misunderstanding of the title nowadays because the option to take a photo is at everyone’s disposal and what would eventually distinguish ones work from another is its storytelling mission.
Jeremy...
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Photographer Spotlight: Brian Hirschy
Brian is a working photographer living in China who has a passion for teaching photography, participating in the growing photographic community, and doing good rather than complaining in an effort to give back and when he has the chance, he helps NGO’s in Southeast Asia communicate their stories.
1. How did your involvement in Cultural/Travel Photography come about and are there certain...
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The Leica M9: The Ultimate Street Photography... →
LA based and full-time street photographer Eric Kim, who happens to be currently traveling around the world conducting workshops on the genre, has recently written a practical review on the much coveted Leica M9 that he purchased.
I knew nothing about this camera until last year when I saw a segment on the Today Show where Ann Curry spoke passionately about her enthusiasm for photography....
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“I’m not particularly trying to make a living purely from photography but want to...”
– Very informative article that discusses photography apprenticeship vs. formal education. One class in college was enough to convince me that this would be a hobby I would be exploring way after class was over and up until now, I’m just as curious as I was years ago. I’m not particularly...
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Wooden & Bamboo iPhone 4 Case
There’s no argument that the iPhone is a beautiful and intuitive device and so the impulse to flaunt it was something that long subsided once it became as ubiquitous as small charming coffee shops in Brooklyn. By flaunting, I don’t necessary refer to the act of announcing that I owned one but more on the aspect of not caring to tuck away its aesthetic appeal by enclosing it in a...
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5-Minute Video of David duChemin's Backup Strategy →
With a title like that, there’s not really much else I can say other than admitting that I take pleasure knowing I’m not the only one who is borderline obsessed and paranoid about losing any of my photographic work.
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Photographer Spotlight: Yanidel
Yanidel is a passionate street photographer from Paris who considers himself as part of the Humanist tradition. He strives for capturing little facts of people’s daily by giving a surrealist and lyric dimension to his photographs. Recently he quit his job in marketing to go discover the world accompanied by his girlfriend.
1. How did your involvement in street photography begin? Was is a...
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Featured in Pictory Showcase "Beautiful People" →
Tuesday night I received an email congratulating me for having one of my photographs chosen for Pictory’s recent showcase entitled Beautiful People. The photograph was one that I took during the summer in Brooklyn with good friend Lorena who was more than encouraging when I asked her if I could submit it.
I can’t imagine the large volume of submissions they receive for every theme so...
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“At the end of the day, you have to get out there and create work if you want...”
– British photographer Chris Floyd describing his recent photography project 140 Characters which was inspired by the individuals he follows on Twitter. The project began as a means to put faces to the online names he’s become familiar with. I absolutely love the concept.
At the moment, I...
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Finding a Guide in a Foreign Country For Traveling... →
At this point, I’ve layed enough times on the living room couch enchanted by hours worth of No Reservations to realize that hardly any amount of travel is ever more worthwhile than when it’s been meticulously planned out and when you’ve had the opportunity to develop at least one connection with someone who’s indigenous to wherever it is you’re planning to visit.
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