My favorite set of 41 photos from the 41st International Taiko Festival pictures is here:
http://www.rfman.com/Taiko/41st-International-Taiko/Best-Of/
The whole set if here:
http://www.rfman.com/Taiko/41st-International-Taiko/Nov-14-2009/
November 18, 2009
Taiko and the Art of Flying
November 15, 2009
The 41st International Taiko Festival
I am fortunate enough to photograph the 41st International Taiko Festival again this year. Seiichi Tanaka O’Sensei and the SF Taiko Dojo performers are at the top of their forms. Many more photos to come, but seeing that Ryan is a very popular performer (I wonder why?!!!), here’s a teaser picture.
November 11, 2009
The Darkroom is Alive…
Darkroom has been dying since the onslaught of the dSLR. For Fine Art photography though, there are reasons to continue to use film and have a darkroom setup. This is not a “Digital vs. Film” question, keep in mind is that B&W film printed in the darkroom is a different medium than inkjet prints. It’s not necessarily better, but give you a different way of expressing your creativity. Moreover, with prices dropping to the floor, you can pick up a medium format setup, including a camera system, plus a darkroom, for pennies on the dollars. If you go with the medium format route, the bigger negative size of medium format would give you much more details and tonal range than most digital solutions, at a much lower cost. High ISO also excels: Delta 3200 on a 6×7 neg look as smooth as a good ISO 200-400 35mm film.
You can also set up a darkroom with some of the state of the arts tools with little cost. For example, I have the following:
- a 4×5 enlarger with a color head, bought for $250. New they go for $1200 for the enlarger and $500 for the head.
- rodenstock top of the line enlarger lens for ~$100 each. New they go for $400-$800!
- a nova print processor for a couple hundreds. It keeps the chemical fresh for months and are smaller (but taller) than a 13 inch printer.
- a F stop timer
Those plus a few trays, safelight etc. and you have everything you need to print.
Do keep safety in mind of though. Some of these chemicals can be quite toxic, especially certain types of developer (for film). Keep the room ventilated, avoid touching any of the chemical, whether it is in liquid, powder, or vapor forms. Use tongs or gloves. Basically, be sensitive. These are chemicals, and you will likely be Okay.
November 5, 2009
When Two Thousands People Join Hands
Reclaiming Spiral Dance is one of annual “must-go” event for San Francisco area paganfolks. This year is the 30th anniversary of the event and when two thousands people join hands and dance the spiral, magic happens.
October 23, 2009
October 17, 2009
Two Thinkers
Sometimes when I feel like I need a mental recharge, I just drive over to Stanford and just walk and photo the Papua New Guinea Sculpture Garden – again. A small spot bound by parking lot, dormitory and roads, it’s a little magical place:
Of course I also can’t resist photographing the other thinker:
The sign says something about “Use the Water At Your Own Risk,” and “Do not Dive” etc., but I doubt there’s any danger of that.
October 10, 2009
Megetsu Taiko Festival
Last weekend, I spent 3 days shooting 4 Taiko concerts – the 2nd annual Meigetsu (Harvest Moon) festival. Each concert is different,
with may be a dozen groups altogether. ISO1600, 1/40 @F2 is not uncommon. I just keep remembering Ted Grant’s words – “if you can see
it, you can shoot it.” I shot ~6000 frames, for the performers, I culled them down to ~1200. Obviously the complete set is only of interest to the performers.
I culled 72 of my favorites. Perhaps you would enjoy them:
http://www.rfman.com/Taiko/Meigetsu-2009/Best-Of/
The innovative dance + taiko group
October 2, 2009
Because I Was There, Photographing At Yosemite
As I was carrying two cameras hiking down the Panoramic Trail in Yosemite, one of the oft-heard comments was “you can’t take bad pictures at Yosemite.” A couple times, I jokingly replied, “yes, but I can try!” In all seriousness, while taking bad pictures is hard at Yosemite, how does one convene the scale and immensity of Yosemite? Besides, Yosemite has been photographed by everyone from Ansel Adam to a grandmother with a Kodak Max. It is almost discouraging to raise the camera to your eyes, and then think, “Why bother? This shot probably has been done before.”
In the end, you take photographs for your own enjoyment. The world through your eyes. So in the vein, here’s my images of the Panoramic Trail, ending with a few pictures from the Tuolomne Grove. Enjoy.
http://www.dragonsgate.net/pub/richard/PICS/Yosemite09-2/
and the earlier color photos at:
September 28, 2009
There and Back Again, Yosemite Panoramic Trail
While Burns’ series “The National Park” started on TV, my friend and I went to Yosemite to do some hiking. We select the 8+ miles Panoramic Trail from Glacial Point down to the Valley floor. The hike is on a high end of moderate to low end of difficulty level (Half Dome hike is very difficult and the death march to El Capitan would be “insane.” I plan to do El Cap one day). What I did not realize was that while my friend walks a couple miles a day, she has no prior hiking experience per se. The uphill portion gave her some trouble as the air is thin and the vertical climb is steep, but she soldiered on and really did a great job. It was a great hiking experience.
I shot about 100 pics on the Leica M8.u, and about the same amount on the medium format slides/BW. The latter set will have to wait for the film to develop and to be scanned in, but here’s the set from the Leica. The M8.u suffered a fall onto the concrete flooring in the Housekeeping cabin as we were rushing to catch the bus to Glacial Point. The filter and hood are a goner, but the camera and lens seem to be OK. I suspect it will cost a few hundred bucks to replace the front ring retainer of the lens 
Enjoy the slideshow here: http://www.dragonsgate.net/pub/richard/PICS/Yosemite0909/
and a sample pic:
September 25, 2009
Families
Some families you are born into. My family pulled up root and immigrated to USA 34 years ago. We were poor and without much chance of upward mobility if we were to stay in Hong Kong. I probably would not have progressed beyond high school, due to the lack of funds. In 2009, Father has 11 grandchildren, with 4 grandchildren getting higher education currently and probably all grandchildren will go to colleges. America is truly the Land of Opportunities and Diversity. Unfortunately, our mother passes away before the first grandchild was born, she would be proud.
OTOH, some families you make. Before we moved to California 15+ years ago, our good friends took us to a Lakota Sweat Lodge ceremony of which he is the pipe carrier. In the presence of the Stone People and the Elder of his tribe, we declare that we are Hunka family, adopted to each other. We only see each other but every 3-4 years, whenever we can manage a visit. The way we connect though, is as if we have never left.
To our Families! Cheers!
