17.9.09

Moving....Again

This is the 3rd time I have moved. But I will not be deleting this blog. It shall remain because it has some sort of meaning and value to it. I've moved on to a more professional and streamlines blogging service. I'm sorry if this causes any inconvenience for you. my new blog can be found at

Kidyosh.com

All of my photographic post have been imported to it.

Well blogspot, our relationship was nice while it lasted and I wish you only the best of luck in the future and may your next relationship be one of happiness.

13.9.09

Post 100

I haven't forgotten about this blog. I just knew with a post as big at the monumental 100 it had to be something epic and worth while. Regular posting will resume quite soon.


So with the help of twitter I was able to find an old friend of mine from high school. Her name is Ashlay. I posted up a few weeks ago that I was looking to do headshots to add to my port. Which we did are on my flickr account. But She brought with here a few extra tops. So after we did the head shots it was time to have fun. This was my first shoot back in the Studio since I shoot Schae.Love a few months back so I felt pretty out of place but after the first few frames I got everything down solid and was happy with the results. We did glamouresque head shoots then some full body. But the she pulls out this leather half jacket. Low Key, High Contrast was my first thought and that's we did. After shooting and looking at everything I said it looked like something you'd seen for H&M. We're both super excited with how they looked in colour and once I put one in Black&White. Our jaws drops and I knew at the moment the back half of the shoot was gonna be monochrome. I light all the photos with a single AlienBee 1600 with a 36in Softbox attached. Enjoy the photos. More post are coming soon and remember to check out the full site www.kidyosh.com

30.8.09

HORSE

So remember back when you use to play HORSE with your friends seeing who could pull off the coolest looking shot. Well I've started that same thing. But with Photography. While the idea sounded odd at first but as the contest has gone on we're produced photos that have pushed both of us to see what we can do with out camera. The results so far have been outstanding. From my end of the contest I've had to start truly playing with my all of the settings on my camera more so then normal. Out of this contest I've started using my flash in Manual instead of TTL. I've had to become creative in how to place flashes around subjects while shooting at f/1.4 without blowing out my entire frame. I'd started playing with random light sources around my home and the objects laid around. It started out as a game to see who's the better photographer but neither of have called a letter yet. I don't think we will. While we treat it as a contest to out do the other its become more of a creative outlet see what we can do. We might hit clsoe to 20 photos before one of us even gets an H. And you know, I'm ok with that because its all in fun.

17.8.09

Migrating Moon


So this a photo I took a few days back of the moon. Yes that's right the moon. I'm goign to discuss how I pulled off this shot for those of you still wondering how I did this.

First off you will need the following.
-DSLR
-Zoom Lens
-Tripod
-Clear view of the Moon
-Patience


So The first thing I did for this was adjust my tripod so that the camera was at eye level. Once I had my tripod ready I went ahead and got a view of the moon at full zoom on my lens(which was 55mm) and then another view with my lens at its widest(17mm for me.) Doing this allows me to make sure that the moon will be a constant element in the frame. Once I knew the moon would be a constant I checked out how the landscape looked since I knew it would be visible at 17mm.

At this point I have everything framed up so I lock my tripod in place. Now its time to play with the camera abit. I knew I wanted to make this a 30 second exposure. I set my ISO to 100 to insure a nice crisp photo. Now to select my aperture. For this one i chose to go with f/5.6 mainly because it was the highest aperture I had in the range of my lens, and I knew it would give a fairly sharp photo. I set my lens to 17 for the final framing.

ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture all where set. Now I hit my shutter release and started to count to 20. At 20 I adjusted zoom from 17 all the way to 55 which was done slowly over 5 seconds and with the last 5 seconds the lens sat at 55mm. Now there is a ghost in the image which is something I do often. How that was created will not be discussed.

15.8.09

Social Groups.

"Picking up a DSLR does not make you a photographer. It makes you the owner of a DSLR"

Social groups are a very important tool for new and emerging photographers. It allows us to share information and learn from those who we would never come across in our local market.

Twitter- Using twitter I talk to about 15 different professional photographers from around the world going from LA, to Toronto, England, China, and other countries of the world. I can send them a message asking what they think of my work and get a reply within a few hours depending on timezone differences. And they do the same. I'll log into twitter and see their work posted up asking what people think of it or them just letting people know something new is on their websites.

Flickr- Flickr is in my opinion the best website for anyone who wants to share their photos with the world. Within this website there are a mulitude of groups you can join. Some of them are limtied by region of the photo, lens used, camera used, and etc. I belong to a group where you submissions must have certain colours in them. There are many groups on there also which are run by the Camera companies themself.(I belong to 4 different Nikon groups, one of which Nikon USA sponsers)

Blogspot- Blogspot is a great tool to share ANYTHING with the world. As with my blogspot I post varying information regarding photography. I post samples of my work time to time within my posting and have links to my other websites on the side. I treat blogspot just as equally important as I do my main website.

So always remember that if there is no one in your local area there is always the internet to reach out to, and its waiting to answer.

11.8.09

Don't Get Rusty

Recently I've been talking to alot of photographers I've been hearing, "I haven't had time to shoot anything in a while" or "I've just been so busy I haven't picked up my camera in a while. "
Pick up your camera everyday, even if you just take a photo of your lens cap. I do it myself time to time just see if i can find a different way to get the photo. Shooting at a f/1.4 or f/16. Shoot it macro non-macro, fisheye, super telephoto from across to house to see how steady your hand it. I take my camera with me EVERYWHERE. I'll offer a free photoshoot to anyone who catches me out of my house without my camera. I treat my camera like its my life. I've walked out of my house no wallet, no money, no cell phone, but I had my camera. Take your camera everywhere even if its just to lunch with friends you never know the pictures that will ensue. Everytime I hang out with my friends I bring my camera. Its the best time to not only practice but have fun with your camera. Everyone's house is lit different and setup different you can better understand what lenses you can use, what ISO works best with certain brightness, how slow you can get your shutter before its nothing but blurs. Having fun with your camera is the best way to learn.

8.8.09

Cost of Being a Photographer

Being a photographer without an agent is quite a challenge. Mainly because I don't have someone seeking jobs for me where pay would be 5k+. I have to go out on my own and find clients and convenience them that I am worth the price I market myself at. And i get asked often why my price is where it is. Where I'm going to break down my cost for you so you can better understand why i charge what I consider a fair amount.

Equipment
  • Nikon D40x SLR Kit with 17-55 Lens - $ 600
  • Nikkor Prime Lens- $200
  • Sigma Telephoto Lens- $ 200
  • Nikon Flash- $400
  • Basic Filters for 3 lens $60
  • Advanced Filter- $35
  • Extra Battery for Digital SLR- $50
  • Camera bag to hold gear- $80
Only in hardware so far, and this is 3entry level hardware I've already hit $1600. Now lets talk software.

Software
  • Adobe Photoshop CS3- $500
  • Adobe Lightroom 2- $200
  • Plugins For Photoshop and Lightroom- $300
Software is at $1000 bring my total to 2600. But wait, I need a digital workspace.

Computer Equipment
  • Apple Imac- $1800
  • External Harddrives- $250
Computer Equipment total is $2050 bringing my Grand total to $4650.

Now while $4650 is a large amount I have other friends who have also started photography companies and their upstart cost are around 8000. They've purchased more advanced top of the line gear and hardware.

Ok i've spent 4700 dollars. I'm ready to start yes?...no. I have to let the local market know about me and show samples of my work. But if I'm just started I can't charge for something no one has seen yet. Would you buy a car if you've never seen it, heard of it, and none of your friends have? So now you have to talk people into paying you for a blind service, or do a few shoots for free to show what you can do on a constant.

So now you're out and you're marketing. You now run into Marketing cost.
  • Domain name - $20
  • Website hosting $100
  • Business cards- $30
And there's always Gas and Time spent which can't be put into a cost.

Getting into Photography isn't just a quick hey i'm gonna do this and it's gonna be cash cow industry. While yes with the switch to digital the cost of being a photographer has gone down since you no longer need to buy film and pay to process it. But it is still a very costly industry to get into, just like any other profession. You wouldn't walk into a 5 star restaurant and say, "You know this is awesome, but we only wanna pay you this much for it." Just becuase I dont have a set building downtown with a whole staff doesn't mean you can lowball me for what I do. This is what I do and order to try and pay my bills. I don't walk into your job asking for discounts and haggleing prices, so why do you do it to me?

6.8.09

Aperture and Depth of Field

So as a beginning photographer the connection between Aperture is Depth of Field isn't always taken into account. As a beginner we mainly think Aperture only effects how much light is let into the lens. I'm going to show you a few photos i took in my home with a static-ish camera never changing focus, only changing Aperture and bumping lighting as needed. For these shots I started at an aperture of f/1.4 and went up to f/16 as that's the range of my Nikkor 50mm f/1.4.

Before I show the photos i want to explain Aperture just a little more to give a better understand of it and how it works.

The aperture of a lens is how wide it opens to let light in. Aperture can range from (on average) f/1.2 to f/32 depending upon the lens. The lower the number the wider the aperture [ f/1.2 > f/3.5] And also the the lower the number the faster. Now when the Aperture is wide open is drastically narrows the field of focus. This happens because of how the images enters the lens and is distorted by the wideness of it[ see this picture taken from wiki for a visual]

Shot at F/1.4 Yoshi is clearly in focus or within Depth of Field. While Mario and the bottle of water are outside of the range of focus



















When shot t f/2.8 Mario is still out of focus but you can see he is coming closer to focus with this photo.
















f


Here at a wide open f/16 Yoshi, Mario, The Bottle, and all of my sensor dust can be seen.



















During all of these photos which can be seen here the camera was never moved, focus was never changed, and the subjects where never moved. The only thing changed was the aperture of the lens. I think my next photo guide blog will be on shutter speed and action. See you guys when i get back from Seattle...if I ever make there.

3.8.09

I'm Back

So after getting home unpacking, unloading photos, and doing laundry...in that order. I'm here to post up a photo. This is one of my faves from my trip and i named it "うさぎ" which is Japanese for Bunny.[bonus points is you know the reference] i just loved how dark and evil photo looked. Its part of this park in St. Louis full of Sculptures[there is a similar park in Minneapolis] If I don't get Lazy. I'm gotta post up a blog on Aperture in a bit shooting from f/1.4-f/16 to give a better understanding on it.

















( f/2.2 @ 1/4000 ISO400 Manual Focus)

28.7.09

Gone till Next Week

I'm getting better at this updating thing. Well i'm about to embark on a roadtrip with no laptop cause moms has it in seattle right now. sooooo i'm leave you with some shallow DOF goodness before i leave so you have something to droll over till i get back.

( f/1.8 @ 1/50 ISO800 Manual Focus)





















































(i'll post something in colour when i get back promise)

26.7.09

Bokeh


Bellagio Garden-1, originally uploaded by 'Sa Jamil Hogan.

Bokeh (derived from Japanese, a noun boke 暈け, meaning "blur" or "haze") is a photographic term referring to the æsthetic quality of point-of-light sources in an out-of-focus area of an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field

A few days ago i went to the Bellagio Garden in Las Vegas for some photographic therapy. Each time I go i try to give the photos a different feel. This day i wanted to shoot everything in f/1.4 giving me a nice shallow depth of field.

Shooting this shallow is a nice way to isolate objects in the photo due to the immense blur of the background. I noticed while i was there that several other people where trying to get a similar effect. While it is possible with a good selection on lenses its easier to achieve this effect with Prime, Macro, and Telephoto lenses. and the reason being

Prime Lenses: They have no zoom and only change range of focus and many come with extreme low apertures (f/1.2 f/1.4/ f/1.8 etc)

Macro Lenses: these lenses are many to focus on a very small range even at apertures as high as f11

Telephoto Lenses: With range like 70-300 anything not in the direct range of focus with be blurred similar to how the eye works.

While you can do this on a lens with a smaller soon range such as 12-24 or 17-55 it is possible if you have a lower aperture or you're at full zoom and about 2-8 inches from the object.

13.7.09

Formula Drift Round 4

So this weekend was Formula Drift Round 4: Las Vegas. It was quite the weekend. From Vaughn Gittin Jr smashing into a wall and coming back to place in the Top 32. And Turek getting his car AIRBORNE it was quite the weekend. Only downside to the weekend was my 70-300 dieing. But I did get some killer photos regardless and I learned the importantace of auto-focus when it comes to subjects moving at 80mph. I used my none-AF 50mm for a few photos and the ones in foucs can out very nicely. I'm really looking forward to that D300s now. But at the end of the night Tanner Foust and his NASCAR V8 powered Scion tC won. Congrats to Foust and the Rockstar Team. See you guys in Washington

You can see more of the photos on my flickr acount.

30.6.09

Twitter

Twitter isn't the newest social site. in reality its been around since 2006. but in the last 6 months it has exploded to the top of the social networking sites. The site allows its users to post a 140 character message for the world to see. They define it as "Microblogging." I see it a massive SMS/MMS system.

The basic concept of twitter is you join and start posting and soon people will follow you because they like what you have to say, they know you, or you have something in common. You'll also do the same giving you a list of Followers(people who follow you and see your updates) and Friends(the people you follow and see the updates for.) I have to say its a brilliant system. I myself am a member and I will admit my A.D.H.D has me addicted. At current I have:
71 friends- the people I follow
321 Follows- the people who follow me
3924 updates- the number of times I've posted

I love the way twitter allows me to network with people I would otherwise never be able to contact. I am able to ask photographers in China, Canada, England, and all over the world for advice and different tips. The use of twitter has also shown me how small my local social circle is also.

28.6.09

VD012

So i'm getting back into this blog and this is the first post of doing so.
--
Vegas Drift Tonight hosted their 12th event and the first one to be done at night.

IT WAS A HIT!.

IT was hosted out at the Bullring part of The Las Vegas Motor Speedway but this event had more to it. This event added a car gallery, live music, and a roach coach!!! its not a West coast event without a Roach Coach.

Here's a sample photo of events from the Evening




































That all you get for the time being, but as soon as I finish editing the photos I'll post a link off to the gallery so you'll be able to see the rest of them

28.5.09

Everyday...

I am not a man of routine.
I am not a man who plans.
I am not a man with finish line.

In recent times it's occurred to me that my life has started to become something of a routine with slight variations here and there. I like the mayhem and the disorganization of things. I enjoy winging plans without any thought what so ever.

I enjoy random chaos.

It keeps life interesting. without this random disordered chaos and senseless acts life would be mundane. there would be nothing worthwhile.

I am of disorder
i am of randomness
I am of chaos


"I'm like a dog chasing a car I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it" - Joker

13.5.09

Goals

So yesterday I had two of the biggest signs that I REALLY REALLY REALLY need to stop dicking around

yesterday this was thw quite i got from tinybuddha off twitter
"The place where ou are now is vital. The path towards victory opens from where you stand" - Daisaku Ikeda

second one was his guy who comes into our store all the time who said he's always been happy with what he does and the money he makes because he's always made not only goals but gone into detail on how he was obtain said goals. So i've deciced this is what I'm goign to do. I've made it a goal to buy a D700 before September. 2995+S&H. I'm going to start sitting 50-150 per check aside into my back account and then on next check ima take whats left from the previous check and the 50-150 from the current check and deposit it. that and along with the money i should be making on the side doing photography should allow me to save the money i need and get to my goal sooner. Winning or placeing in a few contest along the way wouldn't hurt either.

12.5.09

Gotta Stop Dicking around

Hobby- an activity done regularly in one's leisure time for pleasure (where my photography current is)

Job- a paid position of regular employment (something i hate having)

Career- an occupation undertaken for a significant period of a person's life and with opportunities for progress. (where my photography should be)

I say it every month that i need to get serious. i'm really really really gonna try and stick to it this month. I need to...so i can move out...so i can progress...so i can get to where i want. I have a talent that i have fun with that I wouldn't mind doing for a career. I need to see it for what it is and stop toying around with it. I need to finish all this paper work i started and send it in. I need to start the rest of the paperwork and ENTER THIS CONTEST. Night World

11.5.09

Massive Attack

So im getting to a point where i can enjoy my myself...alot. I mean i still hate working a normal job and what not but away from work i'm smiles all day just about. I'm extrememly excited for next week. I'm going to Irvine, Cali next for the NIN/JA concert and a day on the beach with some friends. I'm really excited about it.

Friday I have a photoshoot set up for this contest i came across. I really really really wanna just place so i can buy my D700 kit and tokina lens. Just placing in this contest would be awesome for me. If i would I'd go APESHIT.

Saturday I'm going to the just drift event. I gonna spend some time really making sure i get key photos. So I can submit them off for the job i've been after for a while. Hopefully all goes well with that.

I'm gonna try and get back into the habit of using this website in conjuction with my twitter account. Look forward to future post coming soon. I'll try and keep them more modern events instead of the normal poetic justice stuff. lol

-Kid Yosh

10.4.09

FML

All week i've been saying..."This weekend i'm going to cali i'm staying for 3 days i may have a possible job with ELECTRONIC ARTS...

Dad tells me i'm not going...

4 hours later after serious threats, my bombing it 115mph and almost grenaded my engine in the process i finally got ONE of my parents to see the light...somewhat

I'm 20...my 33 year old has to fucking chaperon me on a trip to cali that was only gonna cost me....around 200 tops that's now made its way up to about 600 dollars....because

Hyundai Sonata Timing Belt: $300 for parts and labor
Hotel Room (since i can't crash at a friends house now that i have a chaperon) $120
Gas for a car that gets 250miles to the tank...$120-160
My brothers ticket to get into said event in which he has to fucking chaperon me to: $36

Sometimes i feel like i'm five again...and not in a good way....

FUCK MY LIFE!

8.4.09

a constantly repeating circle

Friday the 3rd.

"Dad I'm going to California for the day to take some pictures that I could possible seel off and will help me get my name out there as a photographer"

-"I dunno ask your mom"

"Mom, I'm going to cali for the day to take some photos"

-"what about the event out at Henderson?"

"This event in Cali is more profitable for me in the long run"

five min pause

Both parents come back with its too dangerous, to which respond
"Why?"
-You've never driven out there

I've driven out twice....

-You've never driven a manual out there

We drove stephs 5spd extra

-You're 4 cylinder doesn't have to power to do it

Stephs truck was 4 and so is everyone elses car who drove out yesterday....

Its too dangerous...

----

Saturday Afternoon

my mom calls and ask if i plan of goign to the event out in henderson since they refused to let me go to cali...i told her prolly not because everyone i know thats performing has pulled out and the chances of this event pretty worth it for me are serverly slim

"Whatever then...pay your own bills!*click*"

This weekend...i'm goign..ima gonna do some laundry back up Zabi and head otu friday night and get back sunday afternoon/night