This week we had a family trip to our local Tōkyō Dizunīrando and as someone who has been to Disneyland or Disneyworld no less than a half-dozen times or so, I’d honestly love to go somewhere else sometimes. The first couple of visits were cool, but the ever-increasing ticket prices, paying top dollar for cafeteria food, and long lines, seemed to wear me down.
When I started shooting stock photography a few years ago, I would set out with a goal to shoot one subject only and had blinders on the to rest of what was around me. My whole approach is different now, keeping in mind that these flag photos may be the real money makers.
Shoutout from the Shimoda Black Ship Festival
Shoutout from the Shimoda Black Ship Festival
What I didn’t realize was how tall of an order it really was to shoot a subject so famous, and so well documented, like Mount Rushmore in a new way. I came up with this bright idea to shoot it at night, which in theory seemed easy but the execution would prove problematic.
I was trying to capture this semi-historic house, or part of it, in a different way that could also show it’s place relative to the Hotel Del Coronado which by the way is the real gem. I’m not sure what the connection of this house to the Hotel Del Coronado could possibly be beyond…
Back in 2012, I began looking for another way to connect my camera to camera straps, wrist straps, and tripods. The problem was this, if there was a strap to keep the camera safe from accidental dropping, it almost always interfered with the tripod plate. That’s when I discovered peak design gear, it to appeared to solve all this. If it worked as advertised, it would mean no more fumbling around with equipment and no more straps that didn’t work with other products.
Shouting really loud to Mrs. Madrids 3rd grade class from the Taiko Drum Festival in Narita, Japan because it’s really loud here!
Here’s a shoutout to Mrs. Reynoso’s 4th graders at John Drugan School in El Paso, Texas! Today we were at the Taiko Drum Festival in Narita, Japan.
Returning to Naples became more of a hobby than a military reassignment, somebody thought it would be fun to keep sending me back, and I loved just about every minute it.
Yesterday we travelled to the Chureito Pagoda near Mount Fuji, Japan’s tallest mountain.
Yesterday we travelled to the Chureito Pagoda, along the way we stopped to shoot this for Mrs. Madrid’s class.
I drove about 30 down the road to Hayama and the location of this selfie in Inamuragasaki, Japan to shoot photos of Mount Fuji. Today was definitely a great day!
Last year, realizing it was just plain foolish not having a back-up camera, I began researching a second camera. It needed to be smaller, take decent quality photos, and not break the bank. Looking at just about anything smaller in size, all name brands, the search narrowed after a few days. While considering other Canon cameras, there was also Fuji, Sony, Minolta, Lumix, and a host of others to review. Then, one camera began appearing more and more…
My girls were playing at Kannonzaki Park the other day, here’s another shout out to Mrs. Madrid’s 3rd graders at Hurshel Antwine Elementary School in El Paso, TX!
Today I was shooting at the Jōgashima Lighthouse at the southern tip of the Miura Peninsula in Japan!
When the folks at Geekoto approached me about testing a tripod, at first I was flattered. However, later I was actually a little scared because I wondered what I would do if it just wasn’t very good? Then what? Fortunately, that wasn’t the case as this tripod was a pleasant surprise!
I have two daughters and don’t always carry a camera, but just about always carry an iPhone. This is similar to that adage for people who carry a concealed weapon; if you ever need it, that small gun you’re carrying will do you more good than the big gun locked in the safe at home, same thing here.
It was at this point I decided that I’d never buy another bag without…
Shooting today while on a family trip to the Great Buddha of Kamakura. As much I hate shooting on blue sky days, I may have gotten some keepers! Photo at the top of the page by Amanda Chizek.
Shooting at Mikasa Park this morning, a beautiful 19th century battleship in Yokosuka, Japan.
In the summer of 2017 we moved from Coronado, CA to the Washington, DC area. I was so floored by everything around us in the northern Virginia/DC area that I completely let the blog fall by the wayside…
In 2017 we moved to the DC area from Coronado, CA and I didn’t keep this blog going. I’m starting again, my initial goal is two posts a month plus postings while out shooting. The blog is now running with all the old posts and I’ll start posting again soon. Sign up for updates on […]
My eleven months with Sony was not what I had hoped for, I missed my old 6D almost from the minute I sold it.
This year I decided to post nothing but my stock patriotic photos for the long Fourth of July weekend using photos of flags flying where I live in Coronado, California.
Very happy because my photo, Wisky, has been selected to display digitally in the “Black and White” Exhibition at Galeria6mas1 in Madrid, Spain. Opening night is July 20th! This is the battleship, USS Wisconsin (BB-64), in Norfolk, Virginia. https://gurushots.com/challenge/black-white/winners/exhibit-digital
I could have taken an incredible photo of this lady with the sun going down behind her as she sat on a blanket and an American flag pillow over her husbands grave, our conversation was better than any photo I could have taken.
Last January a friend suggested I try selling my photos as stock photography and suggested a few sites. I thought about it and decided to give it a shot. Like I do before I leap in to something, I sought advice from my close personal friend – the internet.
I made a decision to take photos of Coronado, the city; sure I’d shoot the San Diego skyline, the bridge, and yes, sunsets, but I hoped to shoot more.
Ok… Gurushots.com is gettin’ a little carried away. My pic made #2 on a new list of “32 Photographs With Negative Space Proving That Less Can Be More.”
My photo is #20 of “34 Vertigo Inducing Shots Of The Some Of The Tallest Skyscrapers In The World” with mine, Summer Night!
Since writing an earlier blog entry about photographing US history locations, the subject of European history and some of my older photos entered my mind. History combined with photography is my personal perfect storm.
A photo I submitted to Getty Images was used by The Daily Beast on March 14, 2017
My photo made Gurushots.com’s “30 Photographs Of Motion That Will Get Your Heart Pumping And Your Face Smiling” list!
While living in Europe, I purchased a very nice Sony DSC-TX20 pocket camera for the nights I didn’t want to carry my camera bag going out to dinner. I worked out well, it took great photos and had an excellent wide angle view. However, I didn’t own an iPhone then.
My photo, called Strawberry Slices, just made #17 in an article called “32 Delicious Examples Of Food Photography. Guaranteed To Inspire And Make Your Tummy Rumble” !!
A few years ago I began to test selling photos in other venues and putting my photography on items such as mouse pads, cutting boards, cups, and various merchandise.
My photo was selected for the digital exposition in Minimalism at the MIA Photo Fair in Milan, Italy!
Back in September (2016) I stated that if I had a mirrorless camera, “this would be my bag 24/7!” Well, I meant it, and after writing that post I actually ended up purchasing a Sony A7R mirrorless camera and decided to give the Everyday Sling a shot as my every day bag.
If you want a jolt of reality just go to Smugmug or 500px, search a subject you’ve shot and think you understand, then get ready to be humbled! If you really want to be brought down a few rungs on the ego ladder, search for your camera model and see the photography that has been shot with your camera. This will leave you wondering how they can get these incredible images, but you can’t.
One of my photos, taken almost four years ago, was featured today by the Gurushots.com website!
A photo of my girls, White Sands Walk, was taken at White Sands National Monument, NM and was featured today by the Gurushots.com website!
Returning to Norfolk with my family is now a priority, not just for visiting friends but getting our girls out and have some fun seeing incredible American History.
I needed to lighten up my camera bag recently because it was simply too heavy for my back after surgery in 2010. When I looked at where that weight was coming from, it didn’t take long to see it was my Canon 6D and the three lenses.
This isn’t an angry “screw Canon” sort of message, it’s actually a bit sad for me as I’ve been a loyal Canon user for eight years now. I have also loved every Canon camera I’ve owned, as well as their lenses.
Our oldest daughter was studying Mount Rushmore last year so when planning a trip to Wisconsin it seemed like a no brainer to stop in South Dakota. Long before leaving, a little research seemed in order.
When originally asked if I’d be interested in one of the new Peak Design bags I actually said “no”… Sometimes I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
I wanted something in the bag that could reach out to 300mm, if it was too big to carry it probably wouldn’t be with me when I went out. Then I read about the Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 L DO IS USM.
Only 30+ hours to get a new Peak Design bag at Kickstarter!
The Campania region of Italy, has an incredible history, generous people, spot-on vino, some of the best food in Italy, and is also completely underrated.
