Brighter Than the Sun

My new camera accessory came in the mail today...a neutral density filter.  WHAT IS THAT?!?!  Well, a ND filter is a filter that reduces and modifies the intensity of light coming into the lens. The purpose of a ND filter is to allow the photographer to do things like:

• Enable slow shutter speeds to record movement in subjects such as waterfalls, clouds, cars, etc. (this is how you get the silky waterfall or the smokey-looking waves in the ocean)

• To decrease depth of field by allowing wider apertures to be used, which helps separate subjects from their background (which is extremely hard to do in broad daylight)

Anyway, today's photos will demonstrate the second bullet. These pictures were taken around 6pm while it was still very sunny. There are two photos for each subject. Notice in the first photo how overexposed the shot is without the filter and in the second photo how shallow the depth of field (blurred background) is on the images with the filter on.  

ISO 100, f/2.8, shutter 1/15

ISO 100, f/2.8, shutter 1/15 with ND filter

ISO 100, f/3, shutter 1/20

ISO 100, f/3, shutter 1/20 with ND filter

ISO 100, f/3, shutter 1/8

ISO 100, f/3, shutter 1/8 with ND filter

This ND filter is pretty darn neat.  I think I'm going to have a lot of fun experimenting with this new accessory! 

Sophisticated Hula

Every year since 1978, the Moanalua Gardens Foundation sponsors the Prince Lot Hula Festival. This is the biggest non-competitive hula event in Hawaii and is held to honor Prince Lot Kapua'iwa (later known as Kamehameha V) who reprised the once banned hula in the district of Moanalua. This was my first time attending the event. It was really awesome to see such beautiful performances by so many hula halau and the many spectators who came to enjoy the performances.

ISO 800, 0.7 EV, f/5.6, shutter 1/200

ISO 800, f/6.3, shutter 1/250

ISO 800, 1.7 EV, f/5.6, shutter 1/125

ISO 800, f/5, shutter 1/125

ISO 800, f/5.6, shutter 1/125

ISO 800, 1 EV, f/8, shutter 1/80

ISO 800, 1 EV, f/7.1, shutter 1/80

ISO 800, 1.3 EV, f/5.6, shutter 1/200

ISO 800, 1.3 EV, f/5.3, shutter 1/200

Firework

Every Friday night at about 7:45pm, one of the hotels in Waikiki, the Hilton Hawaiian Village, sponsors a 3-5 minute fireworks show. Prior to my NYC trip, the one thing I wanted to do most was to photograph these fireworks. But, for various reasons, the opportunities to do so were always foiled! This past Friday, I was FINALLY able to do it! Reese and I had gone over the concept of how to shoot fireworks months ago.  During one of our lessons, he used moving straws to demonstrate how the "bulb" setting would capture the movement of the straws, which were supposed to represent the fireworks being shot up in the sky and exploding. The demonstration made grasping the concept a piece of cake...the hard part about photographing fireworks though, is the timing. In order to capture nice fireworks, you have to know when to close the shutter. Also, white/yellow fireworks are terrible to shoot because the image gets blown out. Therefore, when you see a lot of those exploding one after another, the probability of that photo turning out great is slim. 

I think I need more practice shooting fireworks. Good thing there are at least 52 opportunities each year to try!

All photos shot using ISO 100, f/8, shutter set to "bulb"

Don't these fireworks look like palm trees?

You Can Call Me Al (...or Mabel)

Every summer, Foster Botanical Garden hosts a Twilight Summer Concert Series featuring different musical performers. One of Reese’s friends, "Mabel" suggested that we go to one of the concerts.  The concert we attended was called “The Teddy Bear Picnic Harp Ensemble”. This concert was catered more for children. There were kids of all ages dressed up as fairytale characters dancing and singing. Though photo opportunities were few at this concert, I did have a great time listening to the music, meeting new photogs and eating ono kine grindz after.  :)

ISO 100,  -2 EV, f/6.3, shutter 1/50

ISO 100, -2 EV, f/6.3, shutter 1/20

ISO 400, -1 EV, f/5, shutter 1/50

ISO 400, -0.3 EV, f/4.2, shutter 1/80

ISO 1600, f/4.5, shutter 1/25

ISO 1600, f/3, shutter 1/40

ISO 1600, f/4.5, shutter 1/30

ISO 1600, f/4.5, shutter 1/40

What Hurts the Most

About 2 years ago, I woke up with a backache that lasted almost 1 week. Later, that turned into sciatica which lasted 9 months! It was one of the most painful things I've ever experienced. The pain extended from the hip and down the back of the thigh and surrounding areas. 


Sciatica usually occurs when something is irritating the sciatic nerve.  For instance, you may have a slipped disc in the vertebrae, swelling that may be pushing on the nerve or even tweak a muscle that pinches the nerve. 


Anyway, today I woke up with a slight backache which later in the afternoon was so painful that I couldn't stand up straight. I wasted no time and went to see the acupunturist who cured my first bout of sciatica.

This acupuncturist doesn't take appointments.  I had to wait 30 minutes.

Not only is he an acupunturist, he is also a Chinese herbalist.

Watch out!

Rows and rows of herbs!

Do I REALLY want to know?  

This is a machine they attach to the acupuncture needles.  It sends little pulses of electric current down the needle to give you what is similar to a deep tissue massage, only much deeper.  I like it cranked up!  It's a good kind of "pain".

I'm still hurting, but at least I am able to stand more upright and be mobile right away...unlike this afternoon where I had to get up and wait a couple of minutes to allow my back to straighten out before I could move.

Who Let the Dogs Out?

A longtime volunteer of the Hawaiian Humane Society asked me at dinner one night if I would be interested in taking photos of the animals at the shelter. They wanted "professional" looking photos so they could post them on their adoption website. At first, I thought, um...I'm still learning...I dunno know if they'll turn out any good. So of course, I suggested that Reese take the pictures and I would assist him. When we got to the Humane Society, I was prepared to be the "assistant", but Reese tells me, "Where's your camera?" I told him, "Um, in my bag." Then he tells me, "Well, how you gonna take any pictures if it's in the bag?" So, here are my pictures...

ISO 800, f/3.5, shutter 1/400

ISO 400, f/4.5, shutter 1/125 with flash

ISO 400, f/6.3, shutter 1/200 with flash

ISO 400, f/6.3, shutter 1/200 with flash

ISO 400, f/6.3, shutter 1/200 with flash

ISO 400, f/6.3, shutter 1/200 with flash

Let me just say, taking photos of animals is REALLY hard. The only animals that didn't move an inch were the guinea pigs. Dogs and cats are the hardest. Dogs want to play and sniff everything. Cats are trying to figure out a way to escape. They were all so cute and I hope each and every one of them gets adopted by a loving family soon!

Secret Garden

Today's field trip was to Foster Botanical Garden. I think the one and only time I've ever been there was for a school field trip when I was 7 years old! And even though I grew up barely 2 blocks away from the garden and worshipped at the temple adjacent to it, I only went there once in my life. Can you believe it? Anyway, the reason for going to the garden on this HOT and sunny day was to play around with my new 40mm macro lens. A macro lens allows you to shoot things close up. For a 40mm (non-macro) lens, you need to be at least 1 - 1.5 feet away from your subject in order for the camera to be able to focus. A 40mm macro lens allows you to get up close and personal with your subject. The minimum distance is only 6 inches. Being able to get up close and personal lets you capture lots of detail. The last few shots in this post should give you a better understanding of what macro photography is.

ISO 200, 0.3 EV, f/6.3, shutter 1/60

ISO 400, f/5.6, shutter 1/320

ISO 400, f/9, shutter 1/80

ISO 400, -0.7 EV, f/8, shutter 1/400

ISO 400, f/8, shutter 1/25

ISO 400, -1 EV, f/8, shutter 1/100

ISO 400, -1 EV, f/4.5, shutter 1/50

ISO 400, 0.7 EV, f/9, shutter 1/125

ISO 400, f/8, shutter 1/400

Up close and personal with the itty bitty fly

I Say a Little Prayer

I have lived in Hawaii practically all my life and I am actually a little embarrassed to say that I have never been to a Bon Dance.


"Obon" or "Bon" is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. At a Bon Dance, a commencement prayer is read and attendees bow their heads. After the prayer is done, the Bon Dance begins. Participants wear kimono or happi coats and dance around the yagura (a high wooden scaffold/bandstand) where musicians and singers perform songs honoring those no longer with us.


I had a great time at my first Bon Dance!  Though I did not participate in any of the dancing, it was fun watching people of all different ethnic backgrounds come together to enjoy the festivities.

ISO 1600, f/1.4, shutter 1/160

ISO 400, f/4.2, shutter 1/200

ISO 400, 1 EV, f/5.6, shutter 1/200

ISO 400, 1 EV, f/5.6, shutter 1/200

ISO 200, 1 EV, f/4.2, shutter 1/200

ISO 200, 1 EV, f/4.8, shutter 1/200