A Year in Review

As today marks the last day of this year 2010, I thought I would take some time to post quick highlights from this year. Ive actually been looking forward to the new year. With that being said I do not mean Im not thankful for 2010. I think all the ups and downs have some sort of play in our life- and gets you grounded.

This is my last of self-portraits goals -shot with a Nikon D90 on the last day of the year. My family and I were vacationing at Santa Barbara/Solvang. This was shot just as the sun was setting and I just took a few minutes to enjoy it and soak it in. It is beautifully blue!

I had set a lot of goals for 2010 and I would say I have not completed most. I realize sometimes life can take you in an unplanned path - good or bad we wont know until we reach the end. So I want to just share the good from this year:

• doing a photoshoot with models - working with people your not use to
• getting a job in a studio - learning the work flow
• being able to pour my heart out in tiffinbox - i got a lot of good response
• a new light - opens new doors in photography ;]
• and getting in front of the camera with self portraits- always a good way to build confidence
  

I didnt want to do too much of a detailed post since I want to keep the new year open to change. Here's to the new year...cheers! ;]

Merry Xmas!

Wishing everyone a very Happy Holiday season and Merry Xmas! Here is the Grinch's dog stealing Xmas! No not Max but its our dog Amigo! :)

Lighting with McNally

Attended my first ever workshop today! Its was none other than Joe McNally. I was amazed at how many people turned out to this event. It just shows how much photography has become a serious business. All I can say from this is if you ever get the chance to see one of his workshops- TAKE IT! I learned so much and cant wait to try it. So I just wanted to share my experience and say he probably one of the best teachers when it comes to lighting. and hella funny as well! ;] makes it quite an entertaining workshop! I will share with you guys each set up as I do some test shoots. takecarez

Fall in December

Although Fall is not celebrated much in California because of our beautiful sun we still get the occasional color change. This year Fall came late in Southern California. And I was waiting for it with a camera in hand ofcourse. ;] here are some pictures from a local park:

Self Portrait - November

Shot with lens flare at our neighborhood park. It was a total fun day in the park playing with them. Thought this would cherish that moment. Sometimes we are all children at heart. I wish we could spend most of lives enjoying such small wonderful things.

Model's Shoot: Lighting set up

Here is a quick share of the lighting setup from the model shoot. As you can see it was a very simple set up - one light! :]

Happy Diwali!

:)

Self Portrait: Month October

Ive started to feel that self-portraits have become a commitment. :] Not that I am not up for it but being creative on a target deadline has been tough, especially juicing my brain. Ive looked onto others for ideas but still I do not want to copy something that which i do not feel or have nothing to do with. So here is a simple shot in my studio (my room) with a grey drop. This was just after the models shoot and I thought this might be a nice portrait. Thanks for all the support guys! Much appreciated :]

Published!: Guest Post on Tiffinbox

Hey Guys
Just wanted to let you guys know that Ive guest posted in a really cool blog called Tiffin Box. Yup that's right...the one you probably remember carrying to school filled with yummy mummy food. :)


Anyways, Tiffinbox is produced by Seshu, a Connecticut based Documentary Wedding & Portrait photographer. He is a hardworking person who finds in an already busy schedule just enough time to help others by organizing guest posts. Its a really cool concept where photographers and artists can share any valuable information and tips that might help other upcoming and professional photographers. I have posted on the subject of Passion turning to Photography. I hope the words are inspiring! So DO check it out! My post and others! :) Thank you guys for being so kind.

Guest Post Link: http://tiffinbox.org/3-things-to-consider-when-photography-turns-into-passion/

Much love.

Models Photoshoot

This month I prepared a shoot to start building a Portraiture/Fashion portfolio. I was planning for weeks, I could even say several months before for lighting and camera techniques (looking thru fstoppers/famous fashion photogs websites). I had signed up on a Model search websites to select models to come in and also figured out ideas for the shoot. After planning for weeks I had called in two models on a certain Friday morning. I wanted to do it right so I got a Make-Up artist and a Hair stylist to come in for a TFP (time for print) style shoot. I really think that the MUA's and Hair make the most of the shot. They were able to translate whatever I had in mind very well on to the models and really made each shot! Anyways, I have to say it was definitely harder than I expected to do a fashion photoshoot! Like all planned events, everything was falling apart the day before the shoot. The models I had initially called in started to cancel on me and decided to tell me the day before. And so began the quest for choosing the models all in the last minute. I must say I had some kind of blessing since the models who did show up and work with me were the easiest to work with and the kindest. I think they gave some wonderful looks. The themes were set to smoky headshots and beauty headshots with pearls. Its was a fun day and I think I got some great results for my portfolio. A lesson well learnt is that everything can fall apart especially in the last minute but may be its for the best to come through! And its not easy doing fashion shoots! But now that ive gone thru the experience I just cant wait to try more. Here are the beautiful shots from this day. They have been color corrected and photoshopped like all beauty shots. :]

Techniques: One Light AB800 and teathered shots
Models: BrieAnna and Chrissy Mae
MUA: Diana
Hair stylist: Jennifer

Blogged!: Of Indian Origin

One of my photographs from India was featured on a beautiful blog by Nisha called 'Of Indian Origin.' Its a really sweet blog with beautiful thoughts about art in the form of writing, style and imagery. The photograph was featured in a post called "Flickr Love" on her sunday special. And I thought it was awesome since today is the end of my first year of Flickr pro account. So it was a cherry on top of a delicious cake to see it on the same day. So check out her beautiful blog and get inspired! :)

Working for a Studio

So I have just started working for a local photographer to get the knowledge of Studio style photography. Its at a wonderful location here in San Diego and the best of all the photographer - Jessica (my boss) is a very wonderful person to work with. She is very kind, teaches me photoshop techniques, shows me what I can do to improve on business side (which i have none of) and shows her work flow. It has been a great experience since I get to see from assisting at the shoots to doing the lightroom and photoshop workflow all the way to printing and handing it to the customers. Oh did I say she has the best models!! Babies! :) So here is her website: http://www.jessicadavisphotography.com/ check out the wonderful baby and family photography! :) thanks

Self Portrait: Month September

My Persona

This months Self Portrait (which doesnt have me) is based on flickr blog post on Personas - http://blog.flickr.net/en/2010/08/16/j-trav-persona/- It was a very inspiring idea. Your persona based on what u carry in your purse or valet. This was the day after my Jury Duty and thought I would capture all the stuff I had taken for my boredom. :) I still havent figured out what it says about me other than an over packer! What does your valet/purse say about you? :)

National Geographic : Daily Dozen

I take any part of making National Geographic serious. I know that there are probably millions of pictures making through the National Geographic but when I saw my photo make the Daily Dozen yesterday, I was jumping with joy. :] My dream is to make it on National geographic (just like any other photographer.) So here is the share: September 23, 2010:


also check out My Shot gallery and you can create your own as well! :]

September 11

On this sad day I wanted to share with you guys a picture shot by photographer Richard Drew from AP. Its the famous picture of September 11 attacks- called The Falling Man. It still gives me goose bumps from looking at this picture. I guess you could say it is one of those days that will be remembered for very long time in our history. I just wanted to write this post saying I still remember. Here is the picture:

peace & love

A New Light!

Ive been wanting to go professional and wanted to explore with more light. I saved up enough money from work and other gifts to buy myself a nice piece of Alienbees Light system! :] I had done some research and Alienbees seemed to be one of the most affordable and best quality. I got the AB800s with a 10'' light stand and a beauty dish. I choose the beauty dish (not a soft box) because i like the catch light in the eye. Hopefully I can arrange some shoots to get going on my professional portfolio. Here is how the light system looks! :]

Self Portrait: Month August

Small person in a Big World

This was taken on our way to Chicago as went through Arches National Park. I set my camera up and asked my brother to click it once I was there. It would have been very hard to set a timer since its a few distance on the other side. I just love how touristy this shot is and the fact that we are just visitors in this big world. :]

Chicago

Push - Chicago
Focal length: 105mm
Shutter speed: 1/320
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/4.0

This month my bro and I made a trip to Chicago and I must say I love Chicago! Its one of those places that have their things straight...other than the traffic. The downtown was beautiful with a gorgeous view from Sears tower or Willis as its called now. And it took my bro and I a while to realize that it was Lake Michigan not the Ocean. Coming from California we were so use to thinking a large body of water = ocean so we were pretty shocked with enormity of this lake! Anyways, I realized after I returned back to Cali that most of the shots from this trip was Street photography (which is basically trying to find the interaction of humans shot in a candid method or trying to show the "city" aspect). I found myself either looking for children enjoying the city just as much as the adults (like the shot above) or finding metal-jungle-feel of the city. Tell me what you think! :)

Chicago Downtown View
Focal length: 50mm
Shutter speed: 1/2500
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/2.5

Canal View - Chicago
Focal length: 35mm
Shutter speed: 1/125
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/8.0

Silhouette of a viewer- Chicago
Focal length: 32mm
Shutter speed: 1/160
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/5.0

The Train Station - Chicago
Focal length: 50mm
Shutter speed: 1/200
ISO: 320
Aperture: f/11.0

Windows - Chicago
Focal length: 32mm
Shutter speed: 1/13
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/16

Jungle - Chicago
Focal length: 50mm
Shutter speed: 1/3200
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/1.8

Green Pathway - Chicago
Focal length: 50mm
Shutter speed: 1/100
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/1.4

Arches National Park

Delicate Arch
Focal length: 58mm
Shutter speed: 1/1
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/8

Just a few shots from my quick trip to Arches National Park. It was taken on my drive to Chicago this summer. Was an awesome exercise to walk up to this arch, called the Delicate Arch, since the climb was challenging. But it was definitely well worth making it right before sunset. Next time hopefully I get to spend more time than just few hours. :)

Focal length: 32mm
Shutter speed: 1/25
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/13

Focal length: 24mm
Shutter speed: 1/40
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/16

Focal length: 55mm

Shutter speed: 1/50
ISO: 100
Aperture: f/7.1

Happy Independence Day!

I thought I would share this beautiful video on our Independence day of India! I love this song and the visuals are just gorgeous with all the beautiful women. Enough said..here is the video:

Lensbaby Composer

I just got the Lensbaby Composer from the $ i won for the Snapixel blur competition. I have to say Im in love with this lens.

Over the Hill

The Burning Sky

Part 2 was shot in the next couple days at Lake Hodges in Poway-San Diego. Its a serene lake with dry trees. I hope to shoot more there soon but here is the Lensbaby Composer tries. Enjoy!

Lake Hodges- August

Standing Still

Flooded

Self Portrait: Month July

A delayed self portrait because of so many things that happened this year. I really did feel lonely this year so here is a self portrait depicting that. Sometimes photography mirrors our emotions so this month i choose this topic. I know so many people do feel lonely but its mostly because of loosing trust with our friends and family. Anyways nothing more to be said. Take care! :)