Treasure

Every once in a while I will go through old photos from different locations, from various cameras. Every once in a while I find something interesting or something that at the time I couldn't imagine it being great but knew it had some substance. Sometimes I just try things. With the camera or with the subject. It seems everytime I go back I find something of great value. It never happens then, but way after. This photo is of a moving subway in Boston. I just recently started cataloging photos and even now I have trouble being organized with what is now over 15000 photos. Anyhow this was slow sync with with my SB-600 flash and Nikon D200 at 1 Second ISO 640. Amazing to me, and the Ipod ad is really cool. Enjoy, JP.

Wedding Unsaturated.

Some of my favorites from the wedding were the ones converted to black and white. But since they would have taken from the main photos I decided they needed their own post. A little more drama, a lot less saturation. Enjoy, JP.

Sharing the Love!

Last weekend I had the opportunity to explore a photographic avenue I have even considered; wedding photography. My long time friend A.J. Johnson asked me to be the photographer for his beach casual Key West wedding, which I accepted. I was extremely nervous about what I might come home with. The thing about weddings, at least the ceremony, is you only have one chance to get the shot. You miss... the moment is lost. This made me sweat more than usual. I was also alone which meant one camera angle, one shot, no help.
After I saw the photos I knew I had succeeded at least in clarity. I helped with the memories which is what matters but there is a bit of professionalism to the photos as well so i'm sure they will be appreciated for more than scrap books. The lighting at the actual ceremony was very bad; harsh with sharp shadows. It all came through though.
To A.J. and Sam, congratulations. And to myself a small pat on the back. Enjoy, JP.

For the birds...

I'm not a birder but somewhere along this trip it became the funnest part. Mostly because its extremely challanging. These are not all spectacular photos but show some of the worlds most unique birds. Enjoy, JP.

Continued...

Continued...

Fuji F30 Point & Shoot underwater Galapagos

Along with my D2x I took my Fuji F30 point & shoot with an underwater housing. The sea life at the Galapagos was the most dense i've ever seen. The Fuji was okay but nothing special underwater. The shutter lag made for alot of guessing with the fast moving animals. None-the-less it gave me a cheap way to bring home some diving pictures without a $4000 housing. Enjoy, JP.

The Shot "I" Got - Surfing Sea Lions

The last shooting day of the Galapagos trip our guides stopped us at the break of the jetties off the Island of Espanola for a special shot. As seen in the Galapagos series National Geographic recently aired the sea lions ride the waves into shore in small groups and as the wave begins to break they either ride speed under the break or periodically jump the face to have some fun. This shot was extremely difficult. Not many of got the shot and those who did freeze the action in time had time getting in focus. I have to say I was fortunate to have a long lense on my camera and have my teleconvertor handy. This shot was taken at 460mm with my D2x's crop factor. Enjoy, JP.

Simply Pleased...

I don't know how but one of my favorite 3 photos from the Galapagos slipped my mind yesterday. Maybe its cause the rest of the photos took so much work. The other photos needed to be developed very carefully. The climate there makes for very challenging photographs. Black lava, white sun, and mainly black or dark animals make for tricky metering. Although this photo had to be stopped down about 1.25 EV it was simple. One thing that the photographers on the trip had talked about is when they did other assignments they had a vision of the shot they wanted to capture. Most people had trouble this trip cause we didn't know what to expect.
The one photo i've always wanted is a breaking wave. Not a wave with a surfer. Or me surfing. Just pure liquid curl. Slick and clear with a perfect curve. This one had some added drama with a 20mph blowing the top of in the opposite direction.
I guess its easier to find what you're looking for if you know what it is you are looking for... JP

Galapagos 2007

With months in between posts i'm guessing my regulars are all but gone. Since moving to Key West i've filled my life with so much activity that anything computer or camera related as been taken off the back burner and placed in the icebox. Just under a year after booking a trip with Andy Biggs Photo Safari's the time has come... and gone. I have to say it was by far the most amazing thing i've done yet. Being that it is really the only thing i've done by myself that wasn't college or baseball related shouldn't be surprising.
The trip started by landing in Ecuador. The next morning the 18 of took a flight to the Galapagos Islands which arrived at around noon on Sunday. From that point on we jumped from island to island till the next Sunday morning when we flew back to Ecuador and stayed the night in the Grand Guayiquil Hotel. Tuesday morning we went our seperate ways and the rest is they say is history. And well documented history at that. Being on the conservative side of the group I snapped off right around 3700 photos.
The Galapagos Islands are the most amazing place I could imagine anyone would go. Anyone who likes nature anyway. I didn't intend for this post to be a recap of the trip. I want to give the basics and the rest can be backed by the pictures (which I am getting considerably better at developing).
I hope everyone enjoys the photos and I promise that the posts will become more frequent. I promise. Enjoy, JP.