NEW SITE

Please visit my site at www.storiestoldbythecamera.com

Thank You,

Michael

Santa Monica Pier 2

On January 6^th I wrote about the great photogenic Santa Monica Pier.  I went to the Pier on a late afternoon to photograph the sunset.  After the sun went down, I got into a conversation with a gentleman about life, photography and the greatness of Southern California.  About to head back to my car, I spotted a couple in full wedding attire.  I stayed an extra 15 minutes and got this beautiful shot.  You just never know what you will see when you visit the pier!

Vacation Photography

This article was passed to me from a co-worker and I felt it was necessary to pass on.  The article has four rules that are hard to live by, but are a must in photograpy.

http://www.latimes.com/travel/printedition/la-tr-advice27-2009dec27,0,7564405.story

Rule 1:  Self-restraint

Rule 2: Take shots that aren’t trite.

Rule 3: When you get your photos home, be brutal.  Edit down all the pictures.

Rule 4: Don’t reflexively adopt the notion that you must present a chronological story though your photographs.

Breaking the chronological order is hard to do, but the rewards are higher and it does look better when presenting it.  Second, the article talks about editing in the camera.  I recommend DON”T DO IT.  Save the editing for the computer.  When editing on the “big screen”, a shot you might have erased on the camera might look amazing full size.  ONLY edit in the camera if space is an issue, but be careful.  If this issue comes up repeatedly buy another memory card.  They are cheap.  Plus, editing kills the battery life of the camera.

Most importantly, take a vacation!

Quinceañera

The invitation to attend my good friend’s niece’s quinceañera was sent a year and half before the date.  I was so excited to attend my first quinceañera.  In addition, it might have been my first time in a church.   For what I could understand, my experience was very memorable.  It being all in Spanish left me with so many questions.

Canon or Nikon

Vote Now

January: Los Angeles Arts Month

via PIX Feed LA

http://www.pixfeedla.com/2010/01/january-is-la-arts-month.html

http://www.laartsmonth.laartshow.com/

Polaroid

Saturday, January 9th in Santa Monica the Instant Gratification event will take place. A few of my Polaroid shots will be in the show.

The shots are part of a series I took in the summer of 2006 when I worked at Camp Chi. On Night Duty, I grab my trombone and the Polaroid camera and the fun started. Courtney, my partner while on night duty and I drove around the camp looking for people who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Upon finding someone we would hand them the trombone and snap their picture. We then drove off without explaining a thing. Night duty can sure be boring but not on this particular night, it was a blast. My favorite photograph is the one of the security guard…she had a “classic” response.

If you are in the LA area, come and share in the dying art of Polaroid pictures.

Saturday, January 9th, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.

Bergamot Station, Copro Gallery, 2525 Michigan Ave T5, Santa Monica, CA 90404

RSVP: http://www.ISMcommunity.org/RSVP