a trip helps to inspire.

Well, I haven't been very active in my photography recently (as my prior posts illustrate), but I recently went to Kauai, HI, and as any photography-lover would do, I took my camera along. Kauai was wonderful and I got a lot of great shots! In fact, I was so inspired that I charged my point and shoot and threw it in my purse. I'm hoping that if I have it on me, then I have no excuse not to take pictures! Hopefully, the sunshine and inspiration of Kauai while linger on even in the rainy days of the Pacific Norhtwest.

Anyway, I'm going to make the majority of this post about the photos for once. Here they are!

This was the path to the beach from our beach house rental. If I lived there I would walk to the beach at least once every morning and once every evening. The view was beautiful.

I love the ocean!

Every evening the Geckos came out. They really enjoyed hanging out on our window screens.

Red ginger flower. Beautiful!

Lihue, Kauai airport. This photograph was taken from a helicopter ride.

Na Pali Coast, Kauai. This photograph was taken from a helicopter ride.  

Great mahi mahi tacos! mmmm....great...

We had a full moon for the first couple nights. It was beautiful!

Nighttime on the beach. LOVE IT!

Palm fronds.

Love the fresh papaya! Love it! MMMMMM!

Any place that has lawns littered with plumeria blossoms is alright with me. 

Plumeria is one of my favorite scents. Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. 

Shave ice with ice cream and snow cap. Can't be beat!

I like all of these signs. Every one of them.

This was the trail to the top of Sleeping Giant. 

Meet our spider neighbor, he was great fun to watch and photograph. 

Starfruit. Beautiful and delicious!

Surfer. He was great fun to watch!

Taire Tahiti (Tahitian gardenia). One of my other favorite scents!

Tidepools on the south shore.

Beautiful waterfall with my future home at the top :)

Can you find the chameleon?

Amazing breakfast of farmer's market papaya, passionfruit, starfruit, mango and poached eggs on toast. 

Very good, despite a slightly odd texture. 

Very strong pina colada!

Very strong Mai Tai!

websites?

Everyone has a website right? Well, I'm working on mine too! Since I think there is nothing better than feedback, I'm posting screenshots of my work-in-progress website. Please tell me what you think, but please be nice. :) 

I've developed the site in flash, with low resolution files for quick loading. All the square thumbnails along the right hand side are roll over buttons for navigating the images. As the mouse rolls over the low opacity squares the active buttons change to full opacity, indicating an active button. Meanwhile the main menu options are along the top and bottom and include people, places, plants, pets, and things, along the top, and about, contact, and blog links along the bottom right.

Each image has it's own unique description under the image. The descriptions explain the who/what, and where of each image. Other than that, blue and black are used to break up the white background and match the title. 

Overall 78, photographs are displayed through out the site. These include portraits (human and pet), product, and business photography, of which I am available for hire. 

The 'about' page has scrollable content that tells a little about me, my life, and my photographical pursuits and interests. Also, my qualifications are briefly discussed, but I'm still considering adding a link for a .pdf resume. 

The 'contact' page has a fillable form that sends a message to my email with the info. Also, if a section is skipped it won't let you go forward without it, that way I can't get a bunch of half filled out forms.

Finally there is a linked photography blog. Powered by blogger and titled Peggy Coburn photography always people to follow me on the journey that is my interest in photography. If you are readying this, then you have stumbled upon my blog site. Here you can see the things that inspire me and what, in turn, comes out of my head. 

I hate to say it....

BUT... I'm still in a rut. Seriously. I went downtown the other day and decided to take my camera along. I thought maybe I'd get a couple of shots that made me happy, but when I decided to pull it out and see if something would come to me. That's when it hit me, my battery was dead. Tragic, right?

So in the long run, I still haven't taken any new photos, but now my battery is on the charger and I've been prowling the internet for inspiration. And I think I've found it! I only say think, because I'm not sure how successful I'll be, but I'm sure I'll have fun! I'm going to do some light photography (a.k.a. light graffiti, light painting)!

I figure I have an entire art room full of random stuff, I'm sure I can figure out some interesting compositions. Also, I'm hoping that by working with light I'll be able to develop my skills and understanding of shutter speeds. We'll see, as it's after midnight I'll have to work on this tomorrow...

For tonight though, let's look at some interesting examples. To begin with, I found the flickr group light painting- the real deal. Via this group I found some very inspiring images, that I would love to share with you, but there was so many that you should just check them out yourself.

beginning in a slump

Ever since my parents gave me my first pink, Barbie, 110 camera, for Christmas when I was six, I have been taking pictures. There are periods of my life where I do nothing but take pictures, and then there are times when I barely pick up my camera. Unfortunately, right now is a time when I've barely picked up my camera. I'm in a slump. So, I figured, maybe if I begin blogging about it, I'd be motivated back into taking pictures.

Recently, I've experienced a couple of professional automobile photo shoots. The first was for my roommate Eddie's Mark two Toyota Wagon. I was really excited to go along for this shoot

which was for Super Street, and with a photographer that had come from LA to the PNW to shoot this car. Unfortunately, the photographer wasn't as friendly as I had hoped and wasn't very willing to discuss his photography, or photography in general.

However, by being there and observing I learned a lot more about car photography than I had known prior. The main thing I learned was how to take a rolling shot (without using another car or going at fast speeds). After seeing how it was done, I became interested in the process and the use of the instruments on general, so I looked up a tutorial:

http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=490505

-keep in mind this tutorial is over 250 pages, but it definitely answers some questions. Now I'm left wanting a set of two Avenger Pump Cups and some Manfrotto equipment (really, I'd be happy with anything Manfrotto). Well, now that I've well versed myself in the ways of automotive rig I'm going to start making myself a rig (probably with cheaper d.i.y. materials than Manfrotto, but who knows what the future may hold :) ).

The second photo shoot I went to recently was for my boyfriend's VIP/GT Toyota Previa. This shoot was great! We organized with the owner of an abandoned door factory to use the facility in the evening and had a great photographer drive up to shoot the car. The photographer was Mike Gilbert and not only was he a pleasure, but his pictures are breathtaking.

check it out:

http://therealmikegilbert.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/shawns-vip-gt-previa/

Mike was friendly and clarified a lot of photo questions I've had forever (everything from lighting to rolling shots), it was great! Best part is I didn't even have to ask questions, he was more than willing to explain his work as he went along. I highly recommend him to anyone looking to get photography of their automobiles!

On that note, I'm going to end this inaugural post with by saying that while I haven't been taking many photos recently, I have been thinking about photography and I'll update when I move forward with my rig! Thanks for reading! :)