October in Hawaii

  Just like on the Mainland, October is a transition month in the Islands. Unlike the Mainland we don’t have foliage changing colors.  Instead, we have a period of muggy weather because the trades go away.  Usually the result of a storm to the north of the Islands that will eventually reach the Pacific Northwest. Which means the North Shore is the place to be if you’re a good surfer.

I do mean good.  North Shore surf is not for the beginner.

 

 

                                                                               This how it looks out my back door when it’s dead calm.

Black and White Sunrise

Umbrella

The North Koreans have been in the news a lot recently. What with launching some missiles, withdrawing from the Armistice they signed to end the Korean War.  Now they want to add to our July fireworks by firing a missile towards Hawaii.  Since there’s not much I can do about it, I’m not going to get too excited.  If I were in charge, I’d simply tell the North Koreans I’ve got some bunker busting bombs with Kim Jung-il’s name on them.  Which will get delivered if any missile came within a thousand miles of Hawaii, Alaska or any other part of U.S. territory.

As a result of this the Pentagon has sent out the sea based X Band Radar that has been sitting in Pearl Harbor docked at Ford Island.  Its been getting work done on it for the past few months.  In January I visited the Utah Memorial.  It’s an out of site – out of mind place because it’s on the opposite side of Ford Island from the Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri.  The radar built on top of a twin-hulled oil-drilling platform was tied up at a dock next to the Utah Memorial.  I’m sure those who work on the radar couldn’t help but consider the juxtaposition of the rusting hulk of a Navy Battleship destroyed for want of an early warning system. 

 

 

A Challenge

Every June Hawaii celebrates the first ruler of the Hawaiian Kingdom, King Kamehameha I.  Friday afternoon is the Lei draping ceremony on the King’s statue in front of the State Judiciary Building – Aliiolani Hale in Honolulu.  The Royal Hawaiian Band provides music to start.  A Hula Halau dances in celebration accompanied by a local musical group.  While Hawaiian civic groups present 13 foot Leis for draping  over the statue with assistance from the local Honolulu Fire Department Ladder Company.  It’s usually a beautiful afternoon with good light for taking pictures of the ceremony.

There in lies the challenge.  First, in the strong afternoon light blown highlights are guaranteed to show in your photos given the bright white in the base of the statue plus the  golden robe and headdress on the King. Then the angle of the sun puts the Judicial building and the people standing in front of it in shadow.  So how do you expose to cover both extremes?  If you concentrate on just the statue it’s easier to expose for the brightness.  I like to add context to the picture and show more of the surroundings.  This means finding the sweet spot where both the brightest and darkest areas have enough data in them to allow you to adjust the image in post processing.  In this photo it means being able to reduce the brightness to bring out the texture in the base and lighten the shadows without noise becoming prominent and reducing detail.

A graduated filter attached to your lens helps you to balance the exposure before you record the image.   The latest version of Lightroom includes a Graduated filter which allows you to create the same effect.   I find it better than the adjustment brush.  The Adjustment Brush has a narrow range of effectiveness.  Too much adjustment on the white base turns it a pale gray instead of reducing the brightness.

 

Crashing Surf

 

College Baseball is about to start!!!

Moment before the tag

This Friday is the opening weekend for college baseball in Hawaii. The University of Hawai`i baseball team opens its 2009 season this weekend (Feb. 20-22) when it hosts UC Irvine on Friday at 6:35 p.m., Saturday at 1:05 p.m. (doubleheader), and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.

If your in the area it’s inexpensive entertainment. The most you’ll spend is $8 per person for a ticket to get in. The food is good and cheap and the seats are brand new. What more could you want outa life!
Well some good pics would be nice!

Now a shameless plug for Hawaii Tourism

Driving around the eastern end of Oahu gives you a lot of great spots to view the coast of Oahu and across the Molokai Channel to Molokai and West Maui.  This time of the year the lookouts are filled with people hoping to see whales cavorting in the local waters.  You might see a small geyser of water spraying into the air as a whale exhales through its’ blowhole.    When the surf is kicking up you can see a geological blowhole in action at the Blowhole lookout. I took this photo recently from nearby Sandy Beach.

 

Mele Kalikimaka

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say,
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day,
That’s the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway,
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright,
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night,
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii’s way
To say “Merry Christmas to you.”

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say,
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day,
That’s the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway,
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright,
The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night,
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii’s way
To say, “Merry Christmas,
A very Merry Christmas to you.”

Honolulu Marathon

The 37th Honolulu Marathon is coming up this Sunday Honolulu Marathon 2008 | Powered by EventsOnline.ca Since I live along the race course getting pics is just a matter of walking out my front door. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate. We expect some rain over the next few days. There’s nothing like watching 20,000 people go strolling past your door. The Japanese are great participators. They bring there own cheering sections and some dress up in strange costumes.

Don't Ask

NAPP

No, this post isn’t about the virtues of taking a nap. Although I heartily recommend you take one on a regular basis. This is about the National Association of Photoshop Professionals.

Being a bit of a computer geek since the mid 80′s I knew about Photoshop and it’s reputation as the top graphics and image editing tool. Since my needs in that area were decidedly modest I had no need or desire to spend the considerable amount to get the program. Then digital photography came on the scene along with a timely discount offer for Photoshop 7. Talk about serendipity.

Using Photoshop for the first time is like getting thrown into the deep end of the pool, without getting swimming lessons first. I quickly came to realize the Photoshop motto should be “Why do it just one way, when a half dozen different ways will do.”

This is where NAPP comes into the story. I bought several books to help me but NAPP had short bite size tutorials designed to show you how to create a specific effect in Photoshop. Learn by doing. What’s more the website had video tutorials that you could watch! Neat!

I created the border around the picture you see below by watching a video by R.C. Concepcion on the website. Thank you R.C.

While I’ve found Photoshop useful in my photography, Lightroom really greased the wheels of my pursuit of improvement. As I’ve mentioned in previous posts. NAPP has plenty of resources to help you with Lightroom as well.

There’s a lot more available to you so take a look and if you like what you see click on this link to sign up.
Refer a Friend You’ll get “The Best of Photoshop User: The Tenth Year” DVD as a bonus gift.

One more thing, I realize it’s called National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Therefore, you need to be making a living using Photoshop. Nope. You just need the desire to improve. NAPP will help you do that.