Day 171, Niece, Niece, Nephew.

Day 171, Niece, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Low Light and Kids don't really mix well. But I was able to rescue a few of the shots from the Birthday Dinner for my youngest daughter. Don't view these in a large format. I will shoot these again with better light, I like the idea, just sharper would be better. 

The tough part about shooting with my DSLR is the fact that I miss that the shot did not work. I have been using my laptop to check myself when I am shooting portraits. When I shot the wedding last month, I had a few shots that I was excited about only to get them up on the big screen and find that I didn't have what I thought I had. These are exactly that. I loved them on the little screen, but when I put them up on my iMac, they were just too blurry for prints. I loved them in a small format, so I put them here. Examples of mistakes, that were going the right way.

I will shoot them again with better light.

By the way, these three are triplets. Cute, Really Cute Kids!

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture:	f/1.4
Focal Length:	50 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 170, Daughter with her Electra Rosie, Happy Birthday!

Day 170, Daughter with her Electra Rosie, Happy Birthday!, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

As I have already posted, we love Electra Bikes. Here is my youngest with her new Electra. It is a Rosie. She is so proud. She is a 'Big Girl' now since she has a bike like her sisters. I must say, that of my three daughters, she is the quickest at learning to ride. She has training wheels, but I think that she will be the youngest to lose them.  

Since these are not a current model, It was great to find it on craigslist for a great price.  I must say, I have really found some great deals on craigslist and ebay.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture:	f/11
Focal Length:	47 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 169, Common Sagebrush Lizzard, Caught by my daughter

Day 169, Common Sagebrush Lizzard, Caught by my daughter, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

My daughter can catch lizards. She is quick and not afraid of being bit. She got me to promise her that she could have a lizard if she caught one. I mean, it wasn't that bad a deal, what little girl catches lizards? My daughter. So we let this one go and bought some Bearded Dragons. I am so proud!

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture:	f/9
Focal Length:	34 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 168, Electra Townie 8

Electra Townie 8, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I finally got around to setting up the garage studio for a while. This is my Electra Townie 8, another item heading to ebay. Electra builds such a great bike. These are not the roadie racing rigs that I usually work on to keep from being the fattest guy on my block. Electras are built for the cush ride and style crowd. They push the seat back and pedals forward to allow you to put your feet flat on the ground when you stop, yet still get a full leg extension when you ride. You ride sitting up, not stretched out over the bike. For the family stuff and going to races, there is nothing better. I can tool around with the kids (they have Electras too, I will shoot them soon) or just cruise around the stuff at the Tour of California. Sadly I have 3 Electras (i binged a little) and I am going to thin the herd to one. I am going to keep the base model Townie 3 and sell the Townie 8 and the chopper inspired Steam Ride. So these will go up on ebay and Craigs List when I get back from the business trips coming up.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture:	f/2.8
Focal Length:	50 mm
ISO Speed:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 167, For ebay, My Sector Sport Dive Watch

Sector Sport Dive Watch, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I have a pile that I have been building for a while now, and I keep telling myself that it is OK to buy whatever I want on ebay since I am going to fund it with the pile. So anyway, that has been the story for about a year. I bought one of those tabletop picture setups to shoot all of this stuff and get it up on ebay. So these two watches are going up and I am somewhat satisfied with the results. I did find the need for a polarizer, even with the tabletop set up. I added a vignet in Aperture. I seem to be doing that a lot lately. It has become a crutch that helps me overcome a lot of glare and keep the photo focus where I want it, mostly. I am thinking that I will have to make the move to Photoshop eventually. The more I learn, the more that I want to have more control to work with the images. Well that won't cost much...

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	1 sec (1)
Aperture:	f/16
Focal Length:	53 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 166, Airport Seating, Oahu, Hawaii

Day 165, Airport Seating, Oahu, Hawaii, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I guess it is time to come home. We have actually been home for a few days now, I just wanted to stay in Hawaii. In a way, I have. I had a lot of pictures to go through and some editing to do. So here we have the end of the Hawaii run. There were some others that I wanted to post, and maybe when I have nothing to post I will throw them up.

The thing about airport shots is that there can be a mood based on how you feel about your direction. Going to a great trip? Color and excitement. Coming home finally after being away and homesick? Color and excitement. Going home and you want another week or two? Black and White.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture:	f/2
Focal Length:	50 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 165, Skylight, Marriott Ihilani, Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii

Day 164, Skylight, Marriott Ihilani, Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

A few shots of the resort. This was actually a lot harder then it looks. The white balance was all off and I made a somewhat dumb mistake, I left the polarizer on. The white balance was an easy fix since I shoot as much as I can in RAW. But don't zoom into the windows at the top of the skylight, the white fuzzies are not clouds. They are artifacts from the polarizer on the treated glass. Ever look at a car window with polarized glasses on? Same thing. You see the effects of the treatments that they put on the glass. The cut in glare is great, but the mistake was a little rookie.

Also, the sun rise from looking across the open interior.  It seemed since I wanted the focus to be on the light coming in to the open structured resort, black and white was the way to focus on that.  Also the entry table from above.  The circles and sunburst pattern were really enticing.  I have some others of this, but this one without people rushing by was my favorite.  This really was a nice resort. The rooms were quite comfortable and the views were well done.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.01 sec (1/100)
Aperture:	f/3.5
Focal Length:	18 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 164, Pool Chaise Lounge - Marriott Ihilani, Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii

Day 163, Pool Chaise Lounge - Marriott Ihilani, Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

So I was up early shooting. As I come to the pool to head back in, the staff are setting up all the lounge chairs. The put out these little flowers and roll up the towels just so. It was a shot that was taylor made for me. Thanks Marriott staff.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	50 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 163, Sunrise Beach Hammock, Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii

Day 163, Sunrise Beach Hammock, Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Well, the trip is about over, but this always happens. I want to get a bunch of shots done, but I do it the last day, right before we leave. I intended to take more of these kinds of shots but it was raining so much while we were here that it didn't really happen.

In fact, the plant shots were all taken at the airport. Yes, I said the airport. We were waiting and I wanted to take some pics of plants, this was about the only time that there was not wind or rain. The Honolulu Airport has a garden that you can go through while you are waiting. So we had lunch and I ran down to the garden for 20 minuets to pull of some shots. How funky is that, plant shots at the airport.

This is not the airport, this around the resort that we stayed at for the last part of the trip. The Marriott Ihilani, it was very nice. Hope you like these.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Day 162, Well, How about the Green and Red...

Day 162, Well, How about the Green and Red..., originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Last plant post, I promise, until tomorrow....

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture:	f/3.5
Focal Length:	50 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 161, No Wait, The Reds...

Day 161, No Wait, The Reds..., originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Here are some Reds to go with the Greens.

Thanks for looking.

EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	300 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 160, Oh The Greens...

Day 160, Oh The Greens..., originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Here is another cool thing about Hawaii, stuff grows everywhere. Southern California, especially when you go a little inland is mostly desert. Riverside is desert that has water. Stuff grows, but it is all on you. Our normal colors are shades of brown. Except for a few months of the year, usually around December or January to about March. When the rain comes down, everything gets green. I love it in that it makes everything look so different. But then it all dries up again.

Places that have a lot of snow have a lot of names for snow, Eskimos in Alaska, I have heard, have like 20 different names for snow. We have "Hot" and "Dry". Some folks don't like it. I love it. There is a smell when I get a run or ride in the early morning during the summer, it is hard to describe, but it is the dew on the dry brush and grass that as it evaporates brings with it this earthy dry smell. It is sweet, and mixed with the warmish cool air, it is refreshing. About 3 or 4 times a year there are great Orange blossoms, and they really smell great. The other thing that we smell here, jasmine. It seems that everyone plants star jasmine, and that is a great smell as well about 3 or 4 times a year.

Hawaii it seems is visually stunning, and sometimes in the resorts can smell very nice. The ocean breezes help. But for all the green and color, there seems to be this native plant that everyone grows. I am not even sure which one it is, but it stinks. It smells like B.O. So I love the colors of Hawaii, but I love the colors and smell of home as well. I need to learn to take pics of the dry as well as the wet.

Thanks for looking.

EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture:	f/1.8
Focal Length:	50 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 159, Hawaian Laysan Albatross, Kaena Point, Oahu, Hawaii

Day 159, Hawaian Laysan Albatross, Kaena Point, Oahu, Hawaii, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

What was cool about Hawaii was the wildlife. It is there for you to see. Also at Kaena Point is the Albatross breading grounds. There are these very marked paths that you must stay on to walk the point since the breeding grounds are protected. The cool part is, there are a lot of chances to see the birds just from the paths. There are pics of the birds and one of a chick. I think the chick looks like a Muppet since it has not yet gotten its true feathers, but what do I know? Here is blurb from wikipedia. It is a little interesting, they really don't seem that big until they fly.

"Laysan albatross are very large birds. Their wingspan can reach to 13 feet (three meters) and they may weigh as much as 25 pounds (11 kilograms). Its range extends to most of the north Pacific Ocean.

Albatross live from forty to sixty years. They can stay out at sea for as long as five years before returning to the same island on which they were born. They have elaborate courtship dances, and once mated they tend to remain faithful to their mate. In adulthood they rendezvous each year with their partner at the same nest site. Nesting time is the only time they spend on land, and each year the pair stays just long enough to hatch and raise a single chick. "

Thanks for looking.

EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	1/2500 sec
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	300 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

158, Golf Ball, Tee, Ko Olina Golf Course, Ohau, Hawaii

158, Golf Ball, Tee, Ko Olina Golf Course, Ohau, Hawaii, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Well, I did get one round of golf in. I shot a 52 and 49, for a 101. I don't get it, just because I haven't picked up a club in nearly 4 months, that doesn't mean that I shouldn't play great. I mean, I have been playing nearly 2 or 3 rounds a year, but I can't seem to break 100 anymore. Just because I don't get to play 2 to 3 times a month anymore, that doesn't mean that I shouldn't still be able to shoot in the high 80's, or even break 100.

I wonder if that bum shoulder is playing any part of it. I did get another cortisone shot, the second one in 4 months, and it helped some. I think it might be more then a little bursitis. I hope not, but the cortisone doesn't seem to have the strength it did. At least the cracked tail bone seems to have healed. I didn't have the stiff back that I did when I played at Christmas with my brother-in-law. When I ride the racing bike it only hurts like it should, because I am riding a racing bike and I am starting over on the conditioning that I lost for the 4 months I was off. I wonder if the 20 lbs. that I gained during the 4 months off is playing a role as well. Well, at least I am getting better at photography.

I love this shot. I had to lay down on the tee box to take it, my playing partners had stopped at the bathroom, so I was on my own. I used the biggest aperture that I could. Since it was overcast, I could go bigger then if it had been a beautiful bright sunny day, like you want to play golf.  I love the shot of the sand trap.  The contrast of the uniform cut green grass and the perfectly raked pink of the sand with the rake like the hand of a clock all seemed to be a composition that was ready made, almost zen like.  The yardage marker was just fill since I didn't get as many shots as I wanted.

Still, you would think that I should be able to break 100.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	1/4000 sec
Aperture:	f/1.4
Focal Length:	50 mm
ISO Speed:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 157, Hawaiian Monk Seal, Kaena Point, Ohau, Hawaii

Day 157, Hawaiian Monk Seal, Kaena Point, Ohau, Hawaii, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

We rode out to Kaena Point on the garage sale mountain bikes, and we walked out on the rocks there. As we came over one mound of lava rock heading out to the very point, we came upon this Hawaiian Monk Seal. There are only about 1200 of these left and they are on the endangered species list. I didn't know this, and it didn't matter since we did not come out to harass it. We just happened upon it and so we backed off. Before I got too far, I took a few shots. I also switched out lenses to give the animal some space and so these are all taken with my 70 mm to 300 mm lens.

As you can see, he doesn't look too good. I felt that the animal had come up to rest or just maybe that the animal had come up to die. It didn't even have the ability to bark at us, just a muted, almost pained whimper. It seemed to have an infection in its eyes and there were more then a few scars on the animal. There was no sign of pups, which would have made me nervous. As a diver, I know that one thing you do not get between is a Seal, or Sea Lion and its pups. They may seem playful and fun, but they can take you apart pretty quick.

There were some local spear fishermen coming out of the water at the same time, they said that they would call the authorities about the seal. We headed back from the rocks and did not go out on them to the point to give the seal some room. I hope that I was really wrong and the animal was just tired. It is still amazing that you can come face to face with a creature like that in what seems a very remote place. That there are still places like that is really a grand thing.

By the way, my iPhone worked perfect on the beach at the point. I checked email and voice mail. As soon as we were back at the road an in the rental car I tried to make a call, no signal. How is it that a place as remote as that can have great full strength signal, but the civilization part drops the calls? Go figure.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture:	f/5
Focal Length:	210 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 156, Lava Rocks on North Shore

Day 156, Lava Rocks on North Shore, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

We decided to try to explore a little the North Shore. We always go to Kauai or Maui or the Big Island, we never seem to make it to Oahu, so we wanted to explore a little. What I love about those Islands is the reason that we have avoided Oahu, the open and quiet feeling. One walk down Waikiki was enough for me to know that I was never coming back if I could avoid it. It is a fine place, I am not a hater, I just like peace and quiet, space to roam a little, and that is not Waikiki.

We decide that we are going to head out to Kaena Point, the north western corner of the island. As we are riding some garage sale mountain bikes along the shore, we stop a few place to look around. We use the (Island Name) Revealed series of travel guides since they are really well done. The authors do a great job of working around each island and give honest opinions about what they find. They don't announce themselves as reviewers, they just go, do and report. We have found some of our favorite spots from their great work.

As we are going out I find interesting the sharpness of the lava rocks. Some are really like cheese graters that must really take the flesh off if you misstep. Others are so sharp and jagged that they seem instruments of torture. It was overcast with a light rain every now and then. Just the conditions to force me to stick to the plan, a 50 mm lens, big aperture and what I think are some interesting shots. They are abstract, but you get the point that these could do some damage.

I decided that they needed to be in Black and White to force the focus on the edges and roughness of the rocks. The contrasting grey clouds for the blackness of the jagged outcropping makes these stand out even more.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture:	f/5.6
Focal Length:	55 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 155, Long Exposure, Turtle, Turtle Beach, North Shore, Oahu,

Long Exposure, Turtle, Turtle Beach, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii, Sunset, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

I have been planning on a long exposure shot for a while now. I just have not had the chance, so where better to give it a shot then Hawaii. I was going to find some rocks or a jetty or a pier to try this. The long exposure of the waves while using the Neutral Density filters so that I can cut the light will give a misty almost surreal feel to the water.  It seems to work best if there is a sharp constant, i.e. rocks or a pier.  This shot was about 4:30. Yes that is 4 minutes and 30 seconds. But it was right as the sun was just set or setting for the others so there was a lot less light to begin with.

This turtle had come up to sleep and bask, He didn't move hardly the whole time I was there. Every now and then he would open an eye and then go back to sleep. We were as much a worry to him as the sun set or the calm ocean.  

It seemed a little poetic to do these long exposures as he just ignored us and went on with his life. The world was rushing buy just yards from the beach on the highway. Tourist and locals hurrying along to see the next sight and check off the next spot on the list or deal with the next task. The sea in its rhythmic pattern of waves breaking continued on, a subject of motion for the camera, a source of constant change. He was just basking, and would eventually just go for swim and eat some algae. No worries. What a constant.

The other shots came out really well, but this one just seemed more peaceful.  The first of the out takes has a Cokin Tobacco Grad filter on top of the ND filters and the second has a Cokin Sunset 2 filter added to the stack.  That is why they have a different look to them. they were both closer to the 30 to 45 second exposure.  They actually needed the extra filters to contain the light that was still a little bright.  The first was just after the sun had set, so it did not need the extra help.  

The Cokin filters worked well, and they give a little more freedom with the graduated filters, but they scratch easily, and are a pain to put on and off the holder that attaches them to the front of the lens.  I am using all "A" size, but I had to crop everything since I used a wider lens and the edges of the holder was in all of the exposures.  I will either need to switch to higher quality filters or go to the bigger "P" size.  

Thanks for looking,
EXIF data

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	271 sec (271)
Aperture:	f/22
Focal Length:	22 mm
ISO Speed:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 154, Lone Tree, Rainy Day, Turtle Cove, North Shore, Hawaii

Day 154, Lone Tree, Rainy Day, Turtle Cove, North Shore, Hawaii, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

So we are in Hawaii. Cool. But it is raining, not a little bit, but a bunch. We are on the North Shore, and it is after the big wave season, so there are no waves to see. There is rain, constant rain. But we are here and we are loving it.

Every time I come to Hawaii, for the first few days, I just soak up the environment. The smell of the plumeria, and sea breeze. The colors of the clear blue water and green everywhere. The soft cool feel of the occasional refreshing rains or light breezes that drift by. Some times there is more; lightning, thunder, and rain that comes down in sheets. Winds that whip the sand, or a humid heat that gets your attention. But then a little while later, it is changed again.

I am sure that the rain will pass. It is not cold or unpleasant. It just seems to wash away the dust and give clarity. Usually I am looking for that grand vista when I come here. But I think that I will run this trip on new confines. I am going to try to do a long exposure with some neutral density filters that I brought along. I will stick to mostly using the 50 mm lens and the discipline that it will make me use. I am going to try to avoid the touristy shots as well as the touristy destinations, and just see what I can find through the lens.  

I am looking for mood, or color, or detail.  I did bring a wide lens, 16 mm to 33 mm.  I have a 70 mm - 300 mm as well.  But there will probably be no shots of Waikiki, or Diamond Head.  I will be looking for wild life, but you won't see people in those shots.  I will try something with rocks, lava or coral since there is so much here.  And some green, to keep me happy when my desert comes back in So Cal. Later we will be joining some colleagues from my company since we are here with them on an award trip.  So that may change what I get chances to shoot.  Golf? Mountain Bikes?  Sun and Rain?  We will see.

It's Hawaii, if you don't like the weather, give is some time, it will change.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture:	f/5
Focal Length:	18 mm
ISO Speed:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV

Day 153, Engagement Portraits

Day 153, Engagement Shoot, originally uploaded by solostandfound.

Here are some shots from an Engagement photo shoot. They wanted something for the announcements. This holding hands shot is one of my favorites. It never makes the announcement, but I like it none the less. In fact, my favorites never make the announcements. They usually end up on the table at the reception. This is a great couple and they will go far.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:	Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:	0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture:	f/2.5
Focal Length:	50 mm
ISO Speed:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Flash fired, red-eye reduction