ThrowPro

Concrete Layback

Fort Ord Bike Ride

**Last shot I took with my GoPro Hero3 Silver Edition before I replaced it with the Black Edition thanks to REI's awesome (but not as awesome as it use to be) return policy + sale. Haven't used the new one yet but expect some extreme resolution footage in the near future! Woo Hoo!

Marina Labor Day Parade 2013 Video

FotoWalk #3: Marina Labor Day Parade

It's been a while since my last FotoWalk. An opportunity to go out on my third escapade (check out #1 and #2) arose this past weekend during this year's Labor Day Parade in the little town I live in called Marina. Rather than attending the parade and taking pictures from the side (which, I did do eventually), I decided to go to the start line two hours prior to the parade for the setup. The idea to capture moments during the preparation of an event came from one of my first mentors, Dana Barsuhn. He is an accomplished street photographer based in Los Angeles and someone I look up to artistically and personally (check out his work here).

I tried something new during this edition of FotoWalk: I took out my GoPro camera to capture some video footage as well. I got a lot of attention with a little HD video camera attached to my head, including the Mayor of Marina, Bruce Delgado. I'm in the process of editing a video, which Bruce said he'll put on the City of Marina website. I'll post that here once I finish. In the meantime, enjoy some of the shots I captured during this warm, festive day!

 

Emerald Peak(s)

First Surf in 6 months

Here are a couple screenshots from this morning taken with my GoPro Hero3 Silver Edition mounted on my 6'0 Pearson Arrow Mini Longboard.  There's a slightly bigger swell tomorrow so stay tuned..

Recovery Layback Carve

FotoWalk #2: 4/14/2013 Pacific Grove 55th Annual Good Old Days

I finally got around to the pictures from last Sunday's FotoWalk. Doing little photo-editing is nearly impossible when you have violent coughs due to bronchitis. This edition was from Pacific Grove's Good Old Days festival on Sunday April 14th, 2013. I've never heard of it but from what we experienced it might be the best family festival in the County. Enjoy!

2:08PM: "Checking his Pulse" - Even though I've lived in Monterey Bay for 9 years this was my first time going to this event.  There were tons of venders, food, multiple live music stages, rides, and a firefighter competition.  A bystander checks the dummy's pulse after it was carried and dragged all over the place.

2:17PM: "Feather Hat" - Kelly trying out a hat. She is a fan of fancy.

2:20PM: "Missy" - This gentleman is a volunteer for the Peace of Mind Dog Rescue Home in Pacific Grove. It's basically an organization that finds new homes for senior dogs. This little one is Missy and she's blind due to glaucoma.

2:35PM: "Eyebrow Lemonade" - His expression is just too perfect.

2:42PM: "Set Teardown" - A member from the previous act hurrying offstage moments before the next group starts.

2:43PM: "Eye of the Crowd" - Student Dancers from UC Santa Cruz finding their own space amidst a large crowd.

3:15PM: "Modern Tradition" - Native American Flutist taking a break between his sets.

3:18PM: "Up" - This looked like a lot of fun. I totally would have done it if my leg wasn't messed up.

3:56PM: "Street Zumba" - Zumba is already intense but it's a completely different beast when its done outside in the middle of an intersection.  It was so high intensity.

4:04PM: "Boys will be Boys" - Despite how it looks both brothers were having a blast. They're at a street fair, it's gorgeous outside, and they have inflatable hammers. What more could they ask for?

4:08PM: "Diversity" - I was surprised at how big this event was. People were here from all over the universe (bada-ching!)

4:14PM: "Tiger Snack" - This cat was walking all around us completely in his own world. At one point he sat down right next to Kelly as we were eating.

FotoWalk #1: Monterey

Recently I acquired a used Nikon D60 from my twin sister.  I've always been interested in photography for as long as I can remember, probably because my grandfather was a professional photographer in Japan and my father constantly had either a camera or video camera in our faces wherever we went.

In order to get used to my new equipment (including two lenses: AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR and a AF-S DX VR Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G IF-ED) and street photography I decided to start a new project called FotoWalk.  In each installment I plan to use my eyes and my photography to deliver interesting perspectives of the locations I am visiting.  For my inaugural FotoWalk session I decided to take the bus downtown and immerse myself in the busiest tourist hubs of Monterey.  Enjoy!

10:49am: "Dolphin in the Sky" - Walking to the Marina Transit Exchange to catch the bus downtown.  Marina's beach scene isn't really like that.  Most people visit the beach donning winter coats.  They walk maybe 50 feet onto the sand, take the mandatory beachscape picture to share to 'everyone', shiver for a couple minutes, and leave as fast as they arrived.

11:32AM: "Spirit Finger" - This shot appeared immediately after I got off the bus in front of Monterey Municipal Beach.  What looks like a high school cultural club was waiting for the camera guy to set up his gear.  The male coach did a little jig but only a few were paying attention.  

11:46AM:  "Flaming Chinese Yo Yo" - With a large event going on behind him, this performer can only dream to have a crowd like that appreciating his art.  Nevertheless, he went on with his routine on this strangely warm and humid Monterey spring day, hoping for people to notice.

11:50AM: "Bop Bop" - I walked along the Monterey Harbor toward the Fisherman's Wharf to immerse myself in the tourists.  Coincidentally, The Next Generation Jazz Festival was taking place at the Monterey Custom House Plaza.  I didn't know at the time, but they were the best young jazz musicians from all over the world all competing for a spot on stage at the world famous Monterey Jazz Festival.  

12:01pm: "Next Trip 1:30PM" - At one of the few whale watching cruises at the Fisherman's Wharf Monterey.  Spring is an amazing time to go whale watching; on any given day visitors can witness wild humpback whales, gray whales, Risso's dolphins, and even orcas for the lucky ones.  I hope she made it to the next tour.

1:52pm: "McAbee Beach Fishing" - Not much fishing being done in these water adjacent to Cannery Row these days due to its status as a State Marine Conservation Area, but if you look around there are reminders of old Monterey and its customs.  

3:03PM: "Fiancé Trader Joe's Restroom Portrait" - My fiancé met up with me and we stopped by Trader Joe's to grab some snacks.  I'm not a fan of portraits because I generally prefer to stumble into situations to take photos of rather than setting up a shot.  This one was somewhere in between; we were both waiting in line for the restroom when I saw an opportunity.

4:06PM: "Accordion Girl" - As summer nears and the days gets (kinda) warmer and longer the street performers come out from their winter hibernation and display their craft to the passerby.  This is one of the more creative performers on Alvarado Street.

4:20PM: "Lost Silver Man" - This was my last shot of the day.  This silver gentleman was walking back and forth in front of the Old Cusomhouse - the first California Historical Landmark - for a little while.  It was slightly strange since I've only seen these types of street performers standing completely still.

Easter Storm

"Can You Come Play With me?"

Moonset

Moments: The Day Ghost Tree Woke Up