1
Jul 2018 : Sunday
filed under  #80Stays, Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Japan, Okinawa

Perfect Colors in Okinawa

Back to Japan in July?

Maybe so! I might be going back with Ethan to explore some possible places he could get a job after high-school. He’s keen to teach English there, so we need to figure out a way to make that happen. I think it would be an amazing first job. My bestie Rene Smith did this, and I guess he turned out to be okay, He’s like the okayist guy I know.

Daily Photo – Perfect Colors in Okinawa

This is the top level of the Ritz-Carlton there in Okinawa, Japan. What a beautiful spot! The whole property is poised high on a hill so you can see all around the island. The first time we came here with the kids, we spent quite a bit of time down in the beach area. There was this big floating playground out there that the kids loved. Actually, we loved it too. It's hard to explain, but it invited lots of jumping and dangerous moves. I started rough-housing with Ethan and I think we both ended up with a few minor injuries!

Perfect Colors in Okinawa

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-11-17 01:55:30
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time8
  • Aperture13
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length30.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias-2

23
Jun 2018 : Saturday
filed under  #80Stays, Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Japan, Okinawa

Tane doing his usual thing, being half naked and eating yogurt in traffic

Post-Processing the Pretzel Man

Speaking of men with Pretzel-like-qualities (see today’s photo), here’s video where I show how I edited this photo from Cairo, Egypt. We were right by this lantern shop in some ruins (now a bazaar) and this man walked through with this tremendous stack of pretzels. It proved a little difficult to process.

Daily Photo – Tane doing his usual thing, being half naked and eating yogurt in traffic

When we went back to Okinawa for the second time, we decided this is one photo that we didn't quite have yet. Luckily, Tane is up for this kind of abuse and he seems to welcome it with reckless aplomb. I can only imagine what all those Japanese people were thinking about as they rolled by in their cars.

Tane doing his usual thing, being half naked and eating yogurt in traffic

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-11-15 20:29:55
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time1/500
  • Aperture4
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length45.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias+2

21
Jun 2018 : Thursday
filed under  #80Stays, Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Japan, Osaka

Bridge Crossings in Osaka

Exciting News from Patrick Rothfuss

Okay this is pretty niche stuff… but I am a huge Rick & Morty fan, and it turns out that Patrick Rothfuss (author of The Name of the Wind) is also a huge fan! Well, they are about to make a new series of comic books for Rick & Morty and Rothfuss is going to be writing them… I can’t imagine this mix of two of my favorite things!

Daily Photo – Bridge Crossings in Osaka

This is quite the target-rich area of Osaka! I would just criss-cross the bridges and walk up and down this little river to get as many photos as possible. And, it doesn't seem to matter which one I process, as they all come out looking pretty good! One “slight” problem is they all come out looking quite similar as well. But since they're all pretty good, I just pulled a random one here for you to see.

Bridge Crossings in Osaka

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-07-19 11:12:31
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time23
  • Aperture32
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length45.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

20
Jun 2018 : Wednesday
filed under  #80Stays, Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Langkawi, Malaysia

Staring off into the sunset

The Hasselblad X1D Quick Review Video

You can read my full X1D Review here on the site, but just now I am adding this video to it as well. It shows some of my first impressions with the camera. Note that in the time since I made this video, I now shoot with the Sony a lot more. You can see my Sony A7rIII Review here as well.

Daily Photo – Staring off into the sunset

Langkawi delivered a great sunset every night! This is something I remember distinctly from my first trip there about ten years ago. In my ongoing quest to ATTEMPT to take photos with people in them, I saw this a great opportunity on the edge of the infinity pool. There was just this window of about 30 seconds when the close-up water and the distant ocean were the exact same color.

Staring off into the sunset

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2018-04-04 00:37:39
  • CameraILCE-7RM3
  • Camera MakeSony
  • Exposure Time1/6
  • Aperture10
  • ISO200
  • Focal Length44.0 mm
  • FlashOff, Did not fire
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

19
Jun 2018 : Tuesday
filed under  #80Stays, Barcelona, Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Passport, Spain

Exploring Gaudi’s Masterpiece

A new workflow for RAW Photos

Today’s video just for Passport Members shows a slightly improved workflow for RAW photos. I’m always tweaking my workflow this way and that, and this seems to work out pretty well!

I used to just take the RAW file and drag it into Aurora. I still sometimes do that, but I find that I like making just a few tweaks in Lightroom first. You can see how in the video below!

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Daily Photo – Exploring Gaudi's Masterpiece

The first time I came to the Sagrada Familia here in Barcelona, I didn't go inside. There is a ton of construction going on, and I didn't even realize you could pay to get inside. And I would not have thought it would look so bright and colorful on the inside because the outside is very dark and gothic. It's too bad Gaudi didn't stay alive long enough to see it completed!

Exploring Gaudi's Masterpiece

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-04-30 08:23:27
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time4
  • Aperture8
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length30.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

23
May 2018 : Wednesday
filed under  #80Stays, Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Porto, Portugal

Beautiful Porto at Night

An Aerial Video from Porto!

This is a quick quadcopter video I made from Porto, Portugal for my friend Jose who has a photo-tour company there called Pictury Photo Tours. He didn’t pay me to do it or anything… was just doing it to be friendly! I love Porto so much, and if you ever end up going, definitely look up Jose!

Daily Photo – Beautiful Porto at Night

At the very end of the evening, we ended up down on the riverside with Jose and his family. We drank port right here along the river and took photos. That was such a fun time and the end to the perfect evening. After this, we somehow made it back to the bus then off to Madrid for another fun day!

Beautiful Porto at Night

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-04-25 21:10:42
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time8
  • Aperture4
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length30.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

16
May 2018 : Wednesday
filed under  #80Stays, Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Japan, Okinawa

Sake for Ethan

Behind the Scenes in New Zealand

I went out on a moody day to the end of the road past Queenstown to New Zealand. In this video, I talk a little about composition and trying to create an interesting photo in these moody conditions.

Daily Photo – Sake for Ethan

When I was in Okinawa, we visited this cave network that was full of aged sake. You can buy a bottle here and store it for a number of years. I have one waiting down there for me and Ethan for when he turns 21. It seems like the perfect chance for us to make another trip to Japan together!

Sake for Ethan

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-11-14 19:36:41
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time45
  • Aperture16
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length30.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias-2/3

10
May 2018 : Thursday
filed under  #80Stays, Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Porto, Portugal

Inside the Harry Potter bookstore

The Whole Staircase

Here’s another photo I posted last year of this same location. It’s a must-visit in Porto! It’s called “Livraria Lello”!


The Harry Potter Bookstore In Porto

Daily Photo – Inside the Harry Potter bookstore

This is a detail of the stairs from above. What a beautiful place, eh? I kind of was bummed out that the stairs were scuffed up a bit. If I owned this place, I'd make sure these stairs were always as red as can be. I was too busy taking photos to do any book shopping… besides, my reading list is already flowing over!

Inside the Harry Potter bookstore

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-04-25 18:45:40
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time1/8
  • Aperture8
  • ISO1600
  • Focal Length30.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias

4
Apr 2018 : Wednesday
filed under  #80Stays, Camera Gear, Hasselblad X1D, Japan, Okinawa

A Purple Night in Okinawa

Reminder for Passport Members

Remember you can log into the Passport Members home page and see all kinds of goodies in there. I recommend watching all the unreleased footage from Antarctica. There’s more of that coming too! 🙂

Daily Photo – A Purple Night in Okinawa

This was the little walkway at the Ritz-Carlton there in Okinawa where we returned every night. These islands often have incredible sunsets, and it was fun to combine them with the architecture. By the way, Ritz-Carlton doesn't pay me to post this stuff on the blog… I just do it because I'm a huge fan of those guys! We do partner up on other things… I just do these photos on the blog out of the goodness of my heart. I'm such a nice guy.

A Purple Night in Okinawa

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-11-17 02:01:29
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time45
  • Aperture13
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length30.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias+2/3

1
Apr 2018 : Sunday
filed under  #80Stays, Hasselblad X1D, Japan, Travel

A Monk in Kyoto

Netflix Suggestion

Try out Altered Carbon if you’re a sci-fi nut! It’s beautifully shot with an amazing storyline. It’s probably one of the prettiest shows on TV (except for the violence) as the new Star Treks.

Daily Photo – A Monk in Kyoto

This was my first Autumn in Japan. I've always wanted to experience Japan in this time of year, and it didn't disappoint. I was actually there about two weeks too soon, I think. There were a lot of colors out, but I didn't see a lot of the bright reds that I expected. Oh well, I guess that is another reason to go back! I also want to go back in the cherry blossom spring season as well and follow the sakura from the south to the north.

A Monk in Kyoto

Photo Information

  • Date Taken2017-11-06 17:25:02
  • CameraX1D
  • Camera MakeHasselblad
  • Exposure Time1/125
  • Aperture6.8
  • ISO100
  • Focal Length30.0 mm
  • Flash
  • Exposure ProgramManual
  • Exposure Bias-2

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