I discovered my so-called gift when I was invited to attend a wedding in Oahu, Hawaii. My only camera was a Polaroid. "No, no. Must buy a camera," I thought. After doing tons of research, I purchased a 7.1 megapixel Sony Cybershot P-200 instead of the comparable Canon SD-500, reason being, it had more manual controls. All these particulars were a big deal for me since it was my very first camera.

 

Although I took very few photos of the actual wedding, my camera Oahu Hawaii Crescent Moon and I soon became new friends. The photograph that started it all was a crescent moon in the distance. I was walking to my destination one evening as she was rising. The sun was setting and had dipped down behind the mountains. It was past dusk, but I had my father's ancient telescoping tripod. I remember setting my P-200 Cybershot for long exposures using the manual controls, but after a few test shots, I just felt something was missing.

 

This is when it hit me. I could physically move my set-up and recompose the shot. Who would've thought? Move your camera? Okay. And that was that. It hit me like a train. My heart started pounding as if I were breaking the law. I remember situating my tripod about six feet from the base of a huge tree where the moon was visible, framed in the fork of the tree. Oahu Hawaii Crescent Moon and TreeThat eye-opening discovery woke up the artist and started my career as a photographer.

 

I do not label myself as a certain type of photographer but someone who enjoys all aspects of photography. I can't just jump in and take the shot as you might think. It takes patience and an empty mind. As an artist, I deeply and intimately submerge myself in the surroundings of that specific moment to feel what I have to see. Only then do I capture what my heart feels.


In an attempt to clarify, imagine driving your car to a place you randomly thought of. Of course you calculated the driving time of your randomly chosen location by using your road atlas. Once there, you're going to find a place to park, which takes more thought than not: Do I park at the bottom of the hill or at the top? On this side of the street or that side? Do I have an Adventure Pass? Did I bring my shopping bag to cover the parking meter? You know, all the busy thoughts which pass through one's mind.


At your random destination, you grab all the camera gear you can carry and start walking. You walk and walk and walk, and when you get too tired, you gently set down your gear and eat your trail mix you made the day before, along with an organic apple and two of your favorite energy bars. Of course you wanted to bring a bigger bottle of water to wash it all down, but you knew it was just extra weight. So you ration the remaining half of your precious 16 ounces of water. Who needs water anyway?


Sometimes you take these journeys and only click a few hundred photographs; other times, a grand or two -- point being, get out there and hit the dirt...or concrete if you're an urbanite. You need to get it all over yourself --under your finger nails, in your hair, on your clothes. Inhale it and exhale it. Truly live it to the fullest without fear or inhibition. This day is unique and will never exist again. Get your shot.



"There is beauty in all things."


"Take another photograph. Recompose. Then take another photograph. Recompose. Then take another photograph. If you don't like what you see by now, then take three to five steps in the same direction either to your right, left, in front, or behind of where you're standing. Recompose. Then take another photograph."