Gear or the Photographer?

Now that is the question! (My old Nikon FM sitting in London)

I believe in the vision of a photographer first and foremost. The passion, the energy, the inspiration, the pure drive...that comes before any gear. But, IT IS a little of both. I look at how much 'better' my images are SOOC of my D300 vs my D70. So, of course, gear helps you realize that vision, however, if you don't have the vision in the first place you might just come up with a very sharp and clear snapshot with that fancy smancy super duper expensive camera (and there's nothing wrong with that if you've got the money, knock yourself out).
(Taken in NYC Late 90's with above camera! Excuse the quality, it's a photo of a photo!)

Of course if all the stars are aligned and you have your vision, your style, you equipment. Yes, absolutely, you are going to rock that gear and work it for all it's worth! But, you don't need a super duper expensive all newest camera in order to shoot and that's my point. Don't let the fact that you don't have the latest and greatest gear spoil your love of photography... (Photo by daughter April in Little India, Singapore with her point and shoot. Not bad!)

The camera companies are businesses and they will ruthlessly market their product to make you think that you NEED to have the newest upgrade, even though a few mths ago that there camera you have that you now think you should upgrade was being marketed as the next best thing since sliced bread. It's a psychological game that could leave your wallet empty and creativeness squashed in the endless pursuit of following the crowd and the keeping up with the Jones mentality that is everywhere. It's like the argument Nikon Vs Canon, photoshop vs lightroom. blah blah blah. Everyone thinks differently. You just do what is best for you and YOUR vision. Don't follow the herd if it doesn't feel right otherwise you will just look like everyone else. Follow your heart and your VISION and what I always say to myself when I feel I am swaying away from my true self 'To thy own self be true'. Brings me back to centre. (Go, April!)

The other thing to remember is: if you aren't there, you can't shoot it. So, get off the computer and get shooting LOL even if it's 'just' with your iphone!
The PhotOkinawa group on Okinawa is very active on FB, so come out and join like-minded people and shoot what you love with what you have! (Macro of Okinawa shells) “Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph. – Matt Hardy

A quote that rings true for those of us 'stuck' on Okinawa:
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes.”
Marcel Proust

One more quote that one of the group members posted. So true. Note the date!
"The fact is that relatively few photographers ever master their medium. Instead they allow the medium to master them and go on an endless squirrel cage chase from new lens to new paper to new developer to new gadget, never staying with one piece of equipment long enough to learn its full capacities, becoming lost in a maze of technical information that is of little or no use since they don't know what to do with it." - Edward Weston 1927

Bugs, bugs, bugs!

The micro madness all started in Feb when I got my Nikon Micro 105 VR lens (Macro)...

Not only is it a fantastic portrait lens, but it has allowed my to further open my eyes in a different kind of way when looking for things to photograph. So, if you see me crouching down, staring into a bush, I haven't gone crazy, I am looking for bugs! This tiny butterfly was up at Ryukyu Mura. They are very flitty, so I was lucky to capture him! I Love the striped antennae!

I never imagined I would find so many cool creatures to capture photographically out here. It's a new passion (along with the sunsets, the people and oh, just about anything!!!)...One of my fav's so far, the bubble blowing fly...

This wet butterfly was actually in this position all night and I got the image in the morning up at Okuma. This was Feb.

Here's another of the rained on butterfly...

Oi, what's all that noise out there. Yep, summer is here in Okinawa when the cicada's start singing! It's loud, but I kind of like it!

Punk Rocker Caterpillar...This guy was on the move! My neighbour brought me another (bigger) one over in a jar, but before I could photograph it, it had made a cocoon! Texture courtesy of the brilliant Skeletel Mess!

These guys are really cool. They are black and white polka dots. It was funny because the day I took this photo (at the start of summer), I had bumped into a friend and said I want to take some bug pics, and this thing landed right on the wall as we were coming up the stairs to the house. April kept watch on it as I instructed her to 'not let it fly away' as I ran in the house to get the camera!!! I just found out it is called an 'Asian longhorn beetle' Thanks to PhotOkinawa! Come on in if you are in Okinawa!

This next one was at Okuma too. The kids found him for me. I think this was the first macro use of my new lens! Sometimes I feel like I've walked into an Eric Carle book!

Front view! Wassssup!

More bugs coming in a later post. I am super behind on all the blogs I want to get done! The Nikon 105 isn't cheap. Before this I was using my 55-200 VR zoom (about $200 but IMHO a decent lens) with a nikon 'close up lens' attachment (about $20). I have gotten some great images with that combo too, especially of sakura. So, even if you can't fork out $800 plus for a lens right now (trust me, it took me a while to save and DECIDE) you can still go macro/micro for less and if you have a passion for macro you can finally get a dedicated macro! These are all handheld in good light and zoomed to 200% on the computer for sharpness in the eyes. Trust me I got lots of blurry shots! Thank God for digital! One day I will go out with the tripod!

Sneak Peek and what's new!

Hello people, just one sneak peek from a recent session, look at this cute little boy, he was great to photograph and just look at those eyes. Love. Thank you Trish for joining me too.

So, it's fall (or Autumn from a UK point of view). In Okinawa, it's really neither since it is still so flipping hot! But, let's just pretend it is for arguments sake! Here is April and I during the recent Typhoon Kompasu...

Anyways, That means my kids are back at school and people are booking sessions for the holidays or just because. I already have some sessions booked for Sept/Oct/Nov but am available for more dates. If you are in Okinawa, I am working on a special, similar to my spring special so watch this space or email me, maybe it will give me the kick up the bum I need!

I am also trying to write up some photography blog posts, I have been getting a lot of emails this year about how to do this, that and the other, what camera to use, lenses, etc, etc. I claim to be no expert, but I am drafting some fun posts about photography. I am a bit of a procrastinator, that's for sure!

Also, again Okinawa photo peeps, don't forget about PhotOkinawa. Here's a recent pic that Shannon of www.sme-photography.com took last week at her starbucks meeting. 9am first Thurs of the mth. See you there! Camera not required, but can come in handy for spontaneous moments like this!
My fellow Brit friend/photographer Chris Willson, shows us how to strike a pose! He's as nuts as I am LOL. Must be a Brit thang!

Yeah, we have a few laughs that's for sure! So, please come along! I'll end with my fav colour: Rainbow!

See ya!