New update for many reasons
There are a couple reasons for this blog post. The first is to test a full post test format he iPad. And because updating the actual site is pretty work intensive I want to be able to update some galleries without having to write HTML code.
I’ve been pretty busy lately. I’ve shot and worked a lot. The Wendt wedding in Mexico was a lot of fun. My friend of many years, Gia, asked if I was interested in shooting her Brother’s wedding a couple months ago. It doesn’t take much convincing me to get on a plane to a new place so the answer was pretty easy. I flew into Cancun the day before the wedding and traveled south by an hour to Playa Del Carmen. A beautiful resort area on the riviera. The Royal resort was fantastic. And had I been a drinker, the all-inclusive feature probably would have got me in trouble. The room came complete with plenty of booze in the room. And a jacuzzi tub set in bay windows with a view of the ocean. The wedding was a perfect mix of tradition and no stress fun for all involved.
Then it was home and another wedding. My cousin Kim married her best friend Ernesto at a home in Chula Vista. This wedding posed a couple hurdles with shooting. There were a lot of background issues and overall cramped spaces. The images came out good and they were especially happy without the engagement images.
And most recently Rosie asked me to shoot some semi candid images at her place. She’s starting Rozy’s Tables from her home. She is an amazing artist and excellent cook. So she’s combining her love for art and food into business. After the business images we did an amazing portrait shoot. I love love these images!
So it looks like the posting works well from the pad. Other than not being able to add images ts should be a useful device on my next “treck”… Hint hint.
Good morning and happy Birthday
I haven’t posted much on this trip. I’ve been trying to keep busy. I spent the day in the water yesterday with my new snorkel gear and a turtle that I named Rico. I’ve got pictures and video to come.
I had a great night and met some very nice people from Sweden last night over diner and wine.
After a good night sleep I’m waiting for a table at Tropics. A little Birthday breakfast on the beach.
This white boy is getting color
The flight in was longer than I expected and I landed with a little indigestion from the $8 “snack pack”. But now I was in Hawaii. More specifically, the island of Oahu and heading to the beach of Waikiki. Not the most adventurouse trek I’ve been in but it’s affordable and I need to learn how to relax. The weather is to be expected, warm, dry and a slight breeze through the bright sky. The highways are cowded and the streets are packed. I’m staying with s friend at the Hilton Hawaiian Village which is a large compound of vacation paradise nestled right on the beach. With 7 pools, countless bars, and hundreds of smiling flower shirted staff waiting to make your stay as Hawaiian as possible.
I grabbed a bight and was in the water snorkeling within 2 hours of my landing on the this place. I used my underwater set up and captured a couple images of colorful fish. Got some sun and then explored the pool. Once the novelty of this wore off I was back to the room for a shower and end of my day.
Yesterday I woke and headed directly to Macs 24-7. This dinner was featured in the show Man Vs. Food and boasted a stack of 14″ pancakes that weigh in at 4lbs. of doughy goodness. Then Anthony and I were off to Turtle Bay for some more water fun. This drive was cut short by a distracted driver that decided to introduce his truck to our rental Mustang. After the police report and exchange of vehicle at Hertz we retreated back to the village. I spent the rest of the day bobbing in the water and sipping on an $11 strawberry pina colada called a Lava Flow. Then as the sun started to descend I grabbed my gear and trekked out to shoot. I wondered through the Ala Moana park and out on a jetty that allowed me to get some nice magic hour shots.
And then, a steak and glass of wine before this newly sunburned body hit the sack.
Swimmin with the turtles
Now that I’m full of doughy starch. I’m off to the North Shore to snorkle with the turtles.
Mac’s 24-7 14 inch pancakes!!!
I chickened out and got the Mac’s special. Anthony, however, took the plunge but failed. It’s good to know that all of the leftovers are sent to the pig farm. I finished about 85% of my plate but poor Anthony only managed about and eighth of the massive 4lbs. of dough.
I’ve never flown West from San Diego
I lucked out and got the only seat on the plane with an empty seat next to me. Unfortunatly it also has a damn electronic box at my feet allowing only one of my feet out to be free. The flight attendant explaned it was for the “in flight entertainment”. I use quote because a small fuzzy TV 10 feet from my seat doesn’t make me feel entertained.
What a ride
The folks with the D.A.V. Did a great job. Flying in this plane gives you a new appriciation of what it was like. Without the safety and comfort of quiet commercial airlines there is a sense of age. We took of and flew above the coast of San Diego. I was able to crawl up the narrow tunnel under the cockpit to the front gunner dome. What an amazing feeling. To lean into the glass and have a 180 degree veiw as you scream through the air. I crawled back and then over the bomb bay doors to the rear of the plane. I made it half way when the pilot announced we were landing.
A great treat and learning experience for sure.
Hierarchy
There’s definetly a little anymosity being brewed amongst the soon to be flyers. The check-in table has a brightly colored sheet describing the different aircraft for today’s event. And next to each picture are the names of the people designated to ride in said aircraft. Listed from the most intense to the more Disneyland tea-cup level the list displays the hierarchy of sponsorship. While the major news network stars and heavy spenders are riding in the Patriots jet or Red Bull Helicoptor. I will be flying in a 60 year-old flying museum.
The B-25
Waiting with other media members waiting for the safety brief.
Because my company sponsors the air show at Miramar every year, the MCCS group offered a ride in a Vintage B-25 bomber. Memphis Belle style!
