IE 2010 INSTRUCTORS LIST !!!!!!!

Hey everyone ,

if you are a photographer and have a huge desire to learn and grow with your photography, then come check out Image Explorations.

We have just launched the official 2010 IE INSTRUCTORS LIST.

If you have any questions please do message me and I will give you the 411 on all our instructors.

Blessings,

Rockie

10 Things to get yourself out of a Slump !

Everyone gets into a "slump" every now in then. You know... when all your creative juices just seem to dry up and everything you shoot seems to look and feel the same old, same old.

Well here are 10 things you can do to get yourself out of that "slump".

1. Don't touch your camera for a period of time. Then after a while pick it up. You might find yourself hungry to create.
2. Chose 1 Prime Lens and spend a week or month just shooting everything with that lens. Or Relearn how to see by using that one prime lens, and photograph one common subject for a good month. And build yourself a good body of work.
3. Go WIDE ! Get yourself a Wide angle lens like a 35mm or 24mm or 15mm and go out shooting with that. Might have you seeing life alot differently.
4. Start a Project. Sometimes as photographers we are so busy doing "CLIENT" stuff that we have very little time for "ME" stuff. So plan and start a project. One that will take a good year to complete.
5. Take a vacation. Go on a cruise and travel the world. Packages are cheap right now and usually comes with all inclusive food and lodging.
6. Read some new and inspiring books.
7. Read some new Photographer Blogs
8. Move to a different country for a good while to get a change of pace and life.
9. Got to see an EPIC MOVIE ! As you watch, observe the lighting and camera angles. Gain some ideas through it. (movies like: Last Samuri or Pride and Prejudice)
10. Attend a PHOTOGRAPHIC Workshop. There are a ton of great workshops out there that are being taught by some truly inspiring photographers. Take some time out and sow into yourself by attending one. You will be surprised at how it may inspire you.

Happy Growing.

Rockie

Ruby Lau - Crouching Tiger like !

Hey all,

So I am finally starting to get caught up on things. But I do say.... "starting to" ! But here are 2 great images from a model shoot I did with Ruby Lau.

These images were very simple to create. So if your interested here is the techy info on it and if your not interested just enjoy the images.

Techy info:

1. single mono head with white "shoot thru" umbrella

2. light was high on camera right

3. f/8 @ 1/125th (100 iso)

4. there was a silver reflector underneath her to bounce light back up to face

5. and a commercial grade fan at camera right blowing hair.

6. background was White Seamless paper, and distance was about 8 feet away from the background so the light fall off will make the white paper turn GREY !

Furniture Fit for Photographers from IKEA

So if you have been following my Tweets, recently I have been remodeling my office space at home. One of the many things I needed was a much better shelving unit to contain my new work flow, books and general stuff.

So I went to IKEA and found this great little unit called the "Expedit - book case"

These shelves are so great because they come in this med size of 8 Cubes or a smaller size of just 4 cubes. They're deep enough to stack Cd's and DVD's and yet tall enough that you can easily fit books and magazines upright in them. The best part about them is the flexibility it gives you in designing your workflow. you can have them horizontal or vertical and they can be stack ontop of each other to build a much bigger unit.

For me I purchased 1 of the 8 cube units and then 2 of the 4 cube units and then just stacking them.

Then to top this off I purchased these handy tote boxes and the double drawer insert for the Cubes to store my archieval DVD's, client orders, and stationary stuff.

These units where easy to build, looks great and best part was it all came in under $400.00 for everything.

So if you are looking to remodel your office/workspace to improve your workflow and working atmosphere. Check this things out at IKEA.

Cheers,

Rockie

4 Things a photographer should wear in Asia when it Rains

I have been wanting to post this one for a very very long time. In fact this post comes with literal experience.

(edit notes: This pic of Korea is not mine. Found it on Google images. But it is exactly where I was. If you read further you will understand why it was not my image. )

I was in Korea and Singapore in April 2009 this year, a part of Asia I have never been too. Images will be coming soon. Anyhows, when I got there to my shurgrin, it was raining. Go figure.

Now I know what some of you are thinking. Asian guy from Vancouver, photographer... I should be used to the rain ? WRONG ! Because this was not just rain, it was a freakin DOWN POURING !

Lets just say that in the the first hour of my walk down this street on the right, I caved in and actually bought an umbrella !

So you can imagine from this experience I "learned somethings" !



"4 Things a Photographer should have when your in any part of the orient !"


1. Tilley Endurables

• Completely Waterproof
• Light weight
• Easy maintanence
• UV protection from heat
• Floats on water !
• LIFE TIME WARRANTY !
• Insurance can be purchased also incase you lose it or it is stolen on your trip in some far out place.

2. LowePro Trekker Mini AW Camera Bag

• Waterproof and comes with a rain shell for extra protection
• lightweight on the back and comfortable
• carried all my gear for my whole trip: 2 bodies, long lens, med lens, wide lens, flash, cards...etc.
• plust the bungy cords in the back I use for bungying up my a jacket for extra security as I walk around busy unknown places.

3. Taiga Fleece Jackets

• New material makes this fleece so warm and light. Protects from harsh cutting winds and totally water proof !
• Side note: I have a shell that goes with this jacket but because it was going to be Hot in Korea and Singapore, I didn't bring the shell.
• But even after 4 hrs of walking in the rain, I was still completely dry !!!!!!

4. Merrill Shoes

• This shoe is completely water proof but has a breath-able material that works with the shoe. 4 hours of walking in the rain and socks were still dry at the end.

Well have fun y'all in your travels and Be Safe !

Cheers,

Rockie

I Think I photographed a Hollywood Actress: Do you know who "Monica Bellucci" is ?

Ok.

So I confess.

I really didn't photograph the famous actress "Monica Bellucci". But I swear the minute Megan Tealebi walked into the studio, that was what I thought. I was literally so blown away by her resemblance that I even called out to her as "Monica" a couple of times.

Well, she has been so patiently waiting to see some images from our session so I thought I would get a few finally up on the blog.

Check em' out.

Rockie

When A Life Ends Too Short (In memory of Angela Fisher)

Many of you follow me on Facebook and on Twitter and saw a posting I made a while back about me "feeling quite heavy that even bubble tea can't comfort me". Thank you all so much for messaging me and checking in on me. The following is the back ground story to why I was so "heavy".

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Many of you know I still work with kids. About 5 years ago I did a special Mother's Day Calendar for the parents in my child care facility. Something simple but also something I knew would make a simple calendar look stunning. My goal was to help the parents see their kids for who they really are. How their love and support has been the major influence in the development of thier child. Parents most times live their life 1 day at a time and miss out on the real growth of their child at times not any fault of theirs, because life can get busy can't it ?

One of the families that came to participate was a mother/daughter, Angela and Heather.

At that time Heather was about Grade 4 in our facility. Always had a great time with these two. Like most of the kids, I had the joy of watching them grow up before my eyes. Then about a year later Heather was old enough to move on and take care of herself. From time to time I would still bump in to Heather and see her mother Angela and chat about how they are doing.

S0 you can imagine the surprise when I was told just a short few weeks ago, that Angela had suddenly passed away.

Apparently Angela and Heather were summering up in the interior of B.C. and one afternoon Angela, while in the passenger side of the car, driving with her friend (Thankfully Heather was not in the car at that moment.) when an on coming car from the other lane swerved into their car and stuck them head on. Angela passed away immediately.

I have to confess that I sure have a soft heart for kids and when I heard this, how my heart just ached and my thoughts drifted to Heather. The sudden reality came now with Heather needing to live the rest of her grown up life without her mom .... really really hit me hard.

This sudden event in time really brought all things in a bit of perspective for me. Sometimes I think we really have hard issues in life and then something like this comes along and you realize that it really isn't all that bad.

LESSONS FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS

Lesson #1

• One of the many lessons I learned from this tragedy is just how privileged we are to capture moments in time for our clients. Moments that become both timeless and true treasures that no monetary value can ever be placed on it. Just think about it. If your house was going to burn down, what would you grab ? Or what do you treasure the most when a loved one near you passes away ?

I implore all who are photographers, take your career and passion as a professional photographer seriously with the sole desire to do the very best for your clients right at that moment. Live to tell their story.

Lesson #2

• If you have not done a family session for your very own family in a long time, then get your ass going a get your family out n the fresh air and hire a fellow photographer to photograph your family. You will not regret it. I promise you.

Thanks for reading along with me. I know this was a long one but one worth writing.

You all truly inspire me with your friendship, love and passion to capture true memories.

With Love,

Rockie