Last Flight Out Photography

Another View of Petronas

2012-01-31T14:58:00.003+07:00

I tried just about every angle I could find to capture this amazing building...my wife thought I was crazy walking around the building for a couple of hours taking photos...but, I didn't want the standard, every day photo of the Petronas Towers...this is the last shot I took before giving up...

Watching The World Go By

2012-01-30T10:21:00.003+07:00

This kid was just sitting in his chair right next to the train tracks...life is relative, heh?

Textured Wall

2012-01-27T12:44:00.003+07:00

Happy Friday!!

I just loved this wall I spotted in China...check out the texture!! I am not sure why this kind of stuff always catches my eye, but it does...

Have a great weekend, and see you back here on Monday...

Barn By The Rice

2012-01-26T13:01:00.003+07:00

It has been awhile since I posted an HDR shot....so here ya go...

Black n White or Color...Can't Decide

2012-01-25T10:32:00.003+07:00

... and another example of which version to post...

I took this photo this past weekend at Pelabuan Ratu (a beach about 4 hours south of Jakarta), and processed it last night. I just can't decide which version I liked better...this time, I have posted the B&W one first...what do you think?

Check Out THIS Guy's Stuff

2012-01-24T14:22:00.002+07:00

I was just reading Scott Kelby's "Best of 2011" list, and he voted BlameTheMonkey.com as the best new blog for photographers, so I had to check it out...if you thought Trey Ratcliff was good at HDR, check out Elia Locardi's photos...he is awesome! Here is the link to his site...

I had a great weekend this past weekend....took a couple of photos, but not many...

Below is a shot from my photowalk a couple of weeks ago to the train tracks...

A Nice Climb

2012-01-20T10:48:00.002+07:00

Happy Friday!! ...and better yet, it is a three day weekend for me!!

My buddy and I decided to make the trek up to the top of one of these "hills" to get a great view of the town below. It was a tough climb, but we made it. I took this photo at a point 1/4th the way up, and the view ended up being better here than at the top because of the haze...all that energy ended up being a waste...ha ha...

Have a great weekend, and see you back here on Monday or Tuesday...

Farm House

2012-01-19T16:46:00.002+07:00

On one of my photowalks, I got a driver to take me to a remote village that not many tourists visit. I could tell they didn't normally get tourists by the way people stared at me wondering why I would be there...they were all very nice, but they had a look on their faces like they were saying, "why the hell would you want to come HERE?"

Why? Because this village had buildings left over from the early Qing Dynasty...the early 1600's. It was an amazing little walk...just wished the weather had been better....there was a constant drizzle of rain while I was there making for some muddy conditions.

In any case, this is a small farm house just outside of the old part of the village...

Jurassic Park

2012-01-18T11:13:00.003+07:00

Here is another from our cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo...I can't decide which one is better...the color version or the black n white version...so have included both.

Video From Nikon's New D4 By Bill Frakes

2012-01-17T15:27:00.002+07:00

Have you seen this yet? I got this from Scott Kelby's website...

Normally, I would be all excited about a new camera from Nikon, but now that I am happy and content with my Leica, it is nice to not be all hyped up about a new camera...I am just fine with what I have...BUT, the video part would be nice....

No, no, no, Scotty....don't go there...

Istanbul from Straw Hat Visuals on Vimeo.

A Room With A View

2012-01-17T14:41:00.003+07:00

We stayed at the Yangshuo Mountain Resort...this is the view from the front of the hotel...and our room was in the front facing the river...the view every morning was incredible!!

Homework

2012-01-16T12:52:00.003+07:00

I guess any place will due...why go inside and sit at a desk? Outside on the curb works fine...

Kids By The Tracks

2012-01-13T14:38:00.004+07:00

A couple of days ago, I posted a video of a photowalk I did in Jakarta with my buddy, Butch. This is one of the shots from that walk. Really amazing how so many people have built their lives around the railroad tracks. You would never see something like this in the States...people are so blase about the trains passing within inches of their homes...there is not much warning either...there were a couple of times while I was walking, a train would suddenly appear, and I felt lucky I wasn't hit...it is second nature to the people down here...they can "sense" when a train is coming and instinctively get out of the way...these kids are a good example...they were sitting on the tracks posing for a photo and chatting with us...without hearing anything or saying anything, all of the kids got off the tracks and stepped a few feet back....within seconds, a train came from around the corner and flew by us...Butch and I looked at each other with a big "whoa" on our faces...but the kids casually walked back to the tracks and sat down again like nothing had happened....wild stuff...

Hey, have a great weekend!! It's FRIDAY...enjoy it!!

Bridge In Guilin

2012-01-12T12:00:00.002+07:00

This park in Guilin was fun to walk around...there were lights everywhere...in the trees, in bushes, and on this bridge....the lights on the bridge would change colors every 30 seconds or so, but I like this combination of colors the best...

Caught on Camera

2012-01-11T10:46:00.003+07:00

My buddy and I went on a photowalk on Christmas eve (during the day), and he brought his flip video camera with him, and I shot still photos...I always love the reaction of kids' when they see themselves either on video or the back of my digital camera...

Below is the video my buddy (Butch) made from the day...sort of a "behind the scenes" video of a typical photowalk I do...

Inside A Cave

2012-01-10T10:40:00.003+07:00

I have been in a few caves before, but this one was truly amazing...

Back From China!! Happy New Year!!

2012-01-09T10:43:00.003+07:00

Ah, good to be back...but always so much to catch up with when coming home from a long trip.

We came home to find our security wall of our house had fallen over onto the lot next door. Not good...going to cost a small fortune to fix, and after spending that fortune in China, I have no money left...arrrrrgggh....happy new year, indeed.

China was awesome, but the weather was not good. I knew it would be cold, but I did not expect it to be as hazy, drizzly and foggy as it was. If I had known we would not see the sun for 10 days, I think I would have chosen a different spot to vacation. I somehow managed to get some decent photos despite the weather, but it would have been so much better if the sun had shown its face. No sunsets or sunrises...

If you decide to travel to Yangshuo, China, go between May and October...don't go during the winter. We stayed at the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat which was awesome!! I highly recommend this hotel if you go to Yangshuo...and be sure to take the cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo. The photos below were taken on that cruise. Even though most of the mountains were shrouded in clouds, the scenery was spectacular....I can only imagine the scenery with some light casted on the hills...I was constantly complaining about all of the clouds, but when I got home and started to edit my photos, I kind of liked the "mystical" look the photos have with all of those clouds...so, not all was a loss...but still, it would have been better with some sun.

I couldn't decide which photo I liked better...color or black n white....I posted both...which one do you like better? I hardly did any Photoshop with my photos this time around....I didn't take a single HDR photo...that painterly, softness look to the photos below was the way it looked...seriously...

Back On Monday!!

2012-01-06T15:59:00.002+07:00

This is the last of the archival photos...actually, since my Drobo failure last year, I didn't have many photos left from the old days...I was never able to recover those files. Don't buy a Drobo!!

I am back from China, and now looking over my photos...have a great weekend, and I will see you on Monday!!

From The Archives #10

2012-01-05T15:56:00.000+07:00

This is the island of Kri...where I go diving the most often. A true paradise!!

From The Archives #9

2012-01-04T15:53:00.000+07:00

Sand and water...doesn't get much better than this...

From The Archives #8

2012-01-03T15:50:00.002+07:00

This was the first time I ever got a photo of a Ghost Pipe Fish...Still like this shot...

Happy New Year!!

2012-01-02T15:45:00.003+07:00

Happy New Year!!

I sure hope you have the best year of your life this year!!

As for me, I turn the big Five-O next month, so I want this to be a great year, and have lots of plans for my 50th year on this planet!! More on that later...

I will arrive back in Jakarta from China in a couple of days...hopefully, with some cool photos...

My Last Post of 2011

2011-12-30T15:39:00.000+07:00

Well, I am still in China...having a great time. I was talking with Tika (my wife), and we were saying how great this year (2011) has been for our family...it really has been a great year. Of course, every year being alive is great. We have so much to be thankful for. I am hoping for some new things on this blog next year...and hope to expand my traffic...word of mouth is always best, so please don't hesitate to share my website with your friends and family if you like my photos...

I hope you all had a great year, and have even a better year next year!!

From The Archives #7

2011-12-29T15:36:00.001+07:00

I remember taking this shot while on my safety stop at the end of the dive. I saw the snake come out of a hole, and dived down for a quick shot with only a couple of breaths of air left in my tank...got lucky with this shot though...

From The Archives #6

2011-12-28T15:34:00.001+07:00

One of the fantastic reefs in Raja Ampat...

From The Archives #5

2011-12-27T15:30:00.002+07:00

I remember this spot so well because the current was REALLY strong. I remember just sticking out my arm with camera in hand snapping this photo as I held onto a rock for my life...

From The Archives #4

2011-12-26T15:25:00.002+07:00

I took this photo on a reef named after me..."Scotty's Reef"...we may have been the first people to ever dive in this spot, and I liked it so much, my friend Max named the site after me...incredible corals!!

From The Archives #3

2011-12-23T15:20:00.002+07:00

This was actually the first underwater photo I had published...from one of my favorite dive sites called, "The Passage"...

Have a great weekend, and of course, Merry Christmas (on Sunday)!!

From The Archives #2

2011-12-22T15:17:00.002+07:00

This was back in the days of many Mantas...last time I was at this spot, we only saw one Manta...in the old days (5 years ago), there would be 15+ Mantas swimming around...not sure what has happened to them...

On Vacation...From Archives #1

2011-12-21T15:10:00.002+07:00

Sorry for not posting anything the last two days...I have no internet at home.

I am off on vacation until the 5th of January, so will post some photos from my archives the next couple of weeks until I return from China with some new photos.

Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Sunset From The Cliff

2011-12-16T10:09:00.002+07:00

Just a short hike up a small hill on Pulau Kri, there is a small bench where you can sit with a cold beer and watch the sunset. After the afternoon dive, I would take a quick shower, and go up to this spot...a different view every night...

Have a great weekend!!

I am off on vacation the next couple of weeks, so will be posting some photos from the archives...hopefully, I will return from China with some new photos!!

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

Sorido Pier

2011-12-15T16:27:00.003+07:00

Not sure if you will like this or not...I am still playing around with Nik's Silver Efex Pro 2...what do you think?

Gold Fish

2011-12-14T13:45:00.003+07:00

A combination of Nik's Silver Efex Pro 2 and Nik's Color Efex...

Cool Nudibranch

2011-12-13T09:12:00.002+07:00

Not sure how I missed this photo when I was browsing through my latest underwater stuff...but somehow I just "swam" right by it which is usually what happens underwater...

Hidung Merah Circus (Red Nose Circus)

2011-12-12T12:36:00.002+07:00

I have a buddy that has started a little circus. He offers clowning lessons for kids that live in some of the poorest villages in Jakarta, and then gives a big show for the community...the TV channels come, and usually a big crowd of people. What he does for these kids is priceless...below is a photo of the youngest group of kids in his troupe...too cute!!

Papuan Kids

2011-12-09T09:10:00.002+07:00

Bring out your camera in Papua with a bunch of kids around, and this is the kind or reaction you usually get...pretty funny...I like the two little puppies in the corner of the frame...

Hey, it's Friday!! That means the weekend is near...woo hoo!!

Have a great weekend!!

Another Black n White

2011-12-08T12:11:00.001+07:00

On a roll here with Black n White....why not another one?

This one also processed using Nik's Silver Efex Pro 2...

Gili Air in Black n White

2011-12-07T09:18:00.002+07:00

I don't do a lot of black n white, but from time to time, I like it. I have been using the new Nik Silver Efex Pro 2, and it is awesome...such a variety of presets available, and you can then adjust the presets to something you like...

A Swarm of Fish

2011-12-06T10:08:00.002+07:00

I have been watching a series on the BBC about "Swarms"...they have some amazing footage of swarms of fish, birds and insects and talk about the behavior of the swarms as a whole....really interesting stuff. I couldn't help think about that series when I saw this school (swarm) of fish around this reef head. They all acted as "one"....really amazing stuff...

Is this photo too "tall" for your monitor? It fits nicely on my iMac, but don't want you to have to scroll up or down to view it...let me know in the comments if it is too large, and next time, I will re-size photos like this...

Glass Bottom Boat

2011-12-05T10:11:00.002+07:00

I had accidentally left my camera set at ISO 2500 for this shot, but amazingly enough, it didn't come out too grainy...but don't ya hate it when you forget to change the ISO back to "normal" settings?

Mike's Point

2011-12-02T12:34:00.003+07:00

Happy Friday!! Don't you just love Friday's??

This is a shot from one of my favorite dive sites in Raja Ampat...Mike's Point, named after my friend, Max's son. The currents can be fierce at this spot, but currents bring with them big fish and lots of them. On this particular day, the currents were fairly mild, and I was able to sit next to this big rock that had fallen from the island above, and watch the schools of fish stream by...I could have sat there for hours...

Have a great weekend!!

Red and Black

2011-12-01T11:44:00.002+07:00

Sometimes I get bored underwater...after over 4000 dives, it gets to a point when you have seen most of the stuff there is to see underwater...so, I give myself little challenges...try to get photos of only certain colors, or a combination of colors, or look for new and interesting patterns...etc, etc,...so, this is one photo I took for one of my personal challenges...I was looking for the colors red and black, and trying to make the most interesting composition I could find with those colors...I should start a contest with something like this...would be a cool challenge for a bunch of divers to do all at the same time...

Sand and Sky

2011-11-30T08:51:00.002+07:00

That is the island of Lombok in the background...Mount Rinjani, actually. Mount Rinjani is an incredible hike, but a tough one. When you get to the top, there is another volcano inside the caldera and a lake...I have not been there yet, but have seen photos...an incredible sight, and supposedly there is a unique ecosystem around the lake that only exists in that location...it is on my bucket list to climb...one of these days..

Reef On Fire

2011-11-29T12:17:00.002+07:00

Sorry for no post yesterday....we had a three day weekend out here.

Thanksgiving went well...hope you all had a great weekend as well...

Doesn't this photo look like fish running from a fire?

Happy Friday!!

2011-11-25T11:50:00.002+07:00

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving!! We had a great time last night, and all 70 or so people left with stuffed tummies! The turkeys were the best I have had!!

Here is the last of my underwater fashion series...I do have a couple more, but thought you might be getting tired of these...but if want more, I can share a few more with you...

Have a great weekend!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2011-11-24T08:02:00.003+07:00

Happy Thanksgiving for you Americans out there!! I know that not all of you are Americans, but even if you are not, it's still a great day to say, "Thanks" and enjoy a nice day with family and friends. I am hosting a big dinner tonight....I have over 70 people coming over. We have the tents set up at the house, and my wife, Tika, is picking up SEVEN turkeys this morning....I will start cooking at 1:00...we deep fry the turkeys, and each one takes between 30 and 40 minutes, and it is the most delicious turkey you have ever had....it is for sure the way to go...can't wait. In any case, I hope you all have a great day today...it is one of my favorite American holidays!!

To continue with my series of "Underwater Fashion"...here is round 4...one more tomorrow, and will then get back to my usual stuff....

Underwater Fashion No. 3

2011-11-23T08:24:00.003+07:00

On a totally different topic...are any of you on Google+ ? I am writing my thoughts about G+, and will share them in a post in a couple of days...my thoughts might spark an interesting conversation on Google+, so stay tuned...

Here is my third entry from my underwater shoot last Sunday...trying to get two models with their eyes open, no bubbles in their nose, not too much hair or scarf in their face, enough light on their faces, the right expression, etc. while they are holding their breath is no easy task....got lucky with this one...

Underwater Fashion No. 2

2011-11-22T10:13:00.003+07:00

I converted this one to black n white...you wouldn't even know it was underwater if it weren't for the pose...you would need an elaborate system of cables if you did a shot like this on land...

Underwater Fashion

2011-11-21T10:46:00.003+07:00

I was asked if I could take some photos of a couple of models underwater this past weekend. I am an underwater photographer, but this is the first time I have taken photos of "people" underwater, and in a pool. I am used to being in the ocean taking photos of fish and reefs. It was a great experience, and challenging. Taking photos of people underwater is not as easy as it looks...and it is even more work for the model...

This week, I will post my results starting with this photo of Nathasya below...

Article On Steve Huff's Website

2011-11-18T09:37:00.003+07:00

I can't believe I forgot to tell you guys about this...

A couple of weeks ago, Steve Huff published an article I wrote about the Leica M9. I had written a story soon after I purchased the M9, and this was a follow-up story about my first 16 months using the Leica. The article was well received, and it even sparked interest on the Leica Forums where one thread ended up being over three pages long. Most of the comments were about my style of photography and not about the article itself.

Leica users are a funny group of people. I would coin most of them to be more traditionalist who prefer no post-processing, and black n white images straight from the camera. Their Messiah is Henri Cartier Bresson, and images that stray from the "HCB Look" are not images worthy of a Leica. They have a diabolical hatred for anything HDR or anything even looking like HDR. They are the snobs of the Photographic world. Ok, I am kidding for the most part here...after all, I am a Leica user too. However, there is some truth to what I am saying here...and that was evident in some of the comments I received about my style of photography...

In any case, have a read if like, and let me know what you think...

CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK...

Photo below courtesy of KenRockwell.com

Low Tide In The Gilli's

2011-11-18T09:33:00.002+07:00

My daughter, Kayla, said to me when she saw this photo..."Daddy, it looks like the Earth". Amazing what kids see...

Have a great weekend!!

Papua Sunset

2011-11-17T09:56:00.002+07:00

It's Raining Fish

2011-11-16T08:45:00.003+07:00

I was looking at this photo last night, and at first almost tossed it because of the over-exposed part at the top, but then thought it looked cool...it is like a "rain fall" of fish tumbling over the reef...what do you think?

Fun With Lightroom

2011-11-15T08:23:00.003+07:00

I processed this photo totally in Lightroom...I am getting close to the point of not really needing Photoshop...most everything I do can be done in Lightroom except masking and blending layers...still use Photoshop for that...

Another Healthy Reef

2011-11-14T09:11:00.003+07:00

There is all this talk about the coral reefs dying around the world, bombings, cyanide poisoning, and coral bleaching...it is true, these things are still going on, but rarely is the good news being reported. There are healthy reefs around the world, and reefs coming back to life...there is some good out there, and it should be celebrated...

Sardines Reef

2011-11-11T09:45:00.003+07:00

I don't know what it is about Bat Fish...they are just so cool, and fun to take photo of...some of them get real curious, and will come right up to you almost asking for their photo to be taken while others are shy and go a running when you approach them...I guess they are like people!

Have a great weekend!

The Reefs of Lombok Are Alive and Well

2011-11-10T09:53:00.001+07:00

Nuff said...

Storm Approaches Lombok

2011-11-09T08:59:00.003+07:00

Most of the time during my trip last week, the skies were void of any clouds...makes for pretty days, but boring photos...so, I was sure to pull out my camera when I saw this storm approach...

The Good Ole Clown Fish

2011-11-08T11:05:00.003+07:00

The Clown Fish is probably the most popular fish to photograph underwater. It is addictive. When I find a small anemone with clownfish, I will sit there for sometimes up to a half hour trying to get the perfect shot...they are quick little guys, and dart in and out and above and behind the anemone, so I set challenges for myself...can I get three in one frame, can I get them framed against the underside of the anemone, can I get them in a turn, etc...it is really fun, and it is really difficult to get a bad shot of a clown fish...they are all so cute...its kinda like taking a photo of a really pretty girl....tough to get a bad shot...

So below, are a couple of my challenges met...I was able to get three in one shot, but didn't like that photo as well as these...the top photo was my challenge to get two fish against the underside of the anemone...the bottom photo was my attempt to get a fish in a turn and against the underside of the anemone...

Back From Lombok

2011-11-07T07:36:00.002+07:00

The trip to Lombok was great...the weather was nice, the diving good, and a great escape from the hectic life in Jakarta...

Still going through my photos, but here is one I quickly edited...

Another Shot Inside The Egg

2011-11-03T14:35:00.004+07:00

Here's another shot inside the Egg on the ground floor. This was the last photo I took before being kicked out of the building...they closed at 5:00, and I begged the guard to let me take one last shot. It was dark inside, so my exposures were really slow...amazing how 12 seconds can feel like an eternity....I am sure it felt the same way to the guard who was standing there waiting for me to finish...but you know the best part about shooting in China? No-one bugs you about using a tripod...it is really nice. If I were in the states taking a similar photo, I would have been for sure been harassed about my tripod in a public place...what's up with that anyway?

Inside The Egg

2011-11-02T14:30:00.002+07:00

I couldn't get enough of this building...you had to pay to get inside, and I waited until the last hour to go inside. I didn't want a lot of people running around. They closed at 5:00, so I went in at 4:00, and pretty much had the place to myself...cool.

It is tough to capture this amazing place with one photo...you need one of those 360 degree cameras to capture it all..but wow, what an amazing place!!

The Forbidden City Moat

2011-11-01T14:17:00.002+07:00

I posted this photo on Google+ last week, and commented how I saw this scene and was reminded of a photo I saw on Trey Ratcliff's, Stuck in Customs Blog. I was wondering if it is cheating to take the same photo?? I remembered liking his shot, and when I saw the same scene, I wanted something similar. I am usually not like that...I like to find my own shots, but is it cheating in some way in taking the same photo that you have seen somewhere else?

Sculpture Thingy In Front Of Bird's Nest

2011-10-31T14:11:00.003+07:00

Happy Halloween!!

I am off in Lombok, so made this week's posts last Friday.

I chose this photo cause it kind of has the Halloween colors in it...actually, I should have posted this photo last Friday, and put Friday's photo today...The bird's nest has all of the Halloween colors...

The Bird's Nest

2011-10-28T14:02:00.003+07:00

It was a horrible, polluted night...but with all the lights turned on in the stadium, the haze was cut through allowing for some night photography...

A way cool building...wow, the Chinese have really stepped up their game when it comes to architecture...

I am off to Lombok for the week...a week of diving with my broken camera. I am hoping to get some shots, but I have not had time to get my camera fixed, so I might come back empty handed...we shall see...

Have a great weekend!!

Another Version of The "Egg"

2011-10-27T13:09:00.003+07:00

Here is another shot of the same building I posted yesterday...this is from the side, and you can see the reflection much better completing the "Egg" shape...

The "Egg" in Beijing

2011-10-26T08:28:00.000+07:00

Finally...made it to this incredible building in Beijing. The first time I went, the pollution was so bad, I could barely see the building, so ended up with some very hazy photos. The other thing that was confusing to me was the lights...they had these massive spot lights set up along the perimeter of the lake, but I never saw them turned on...I am sure the building would look even more spectacular with the lights turned on. I asked the people inside when they turned the lights on, and they said, "we turn the lights on when it gets dark"...BUT, the lights never came on...oh well...

In Hong Kong Waiting

2011-10-24T13:08:00.002+07:00

I have been in Beijing for the past 4 days. The weather was the weirdest I have seen anywhere when it comes to pollution. When we arrived, you could barely see the ground, and aircraft would disappear seconds after take-off. It got worse later. The pollution index reached a staggering 496 at one point...as a reference, I was told that Seattle, Washington, at its worse reaches maybe 40...it was so bad, you could not see the buildings across the street. This was bad news for me in regards to photography, but I still got out to get some shots. Yesterday, early in the morning, it was the same super hazy day, but by 10:00, it suddenly cleared up...I mean REALLY cleared up....the index dropped to 8. It was like the entire city was under the screen of a huge Photoshop Photo, and some God in the sky erased all of the haze...never seen anything like it...really weird. The bad part is that we had to leave just as everything cleared up....arrrrgh....talk about frustrating...the worst 4 days in the city, and that was the time I was there...

In any case, I am sitting here in Hong Kong waiting for my flight back to Jakarta...the only photos I have with me are my recent trip to Papua...so, did a quick edit of this photo...don't know what it is with these hand gestures little kids love to do when they get their photo taken...it is like the gangs of New York has reached the minds of kids in Papua...

The Hunt

2011-10-21T08:43:00.002+07:00

If I were a small fish, the guy on the block I would fear the most would be the Giant Trevali...those guys are always lurking about near a school of small fish, and they, with no notice, will suddenly dart into the school to grab a bite...

Have a great weekend!! I am now in Beijing, and will return late on Monday. I am hoping to get a cool HDR shot of "The Egg"...that very cool building in Beijing...

Bat Fish Under The Ledge

2011-10-20T08:38:00.002+07:00

If you follow me on Google+, you would have seen this photo already. I processed this photo using Nik's Viveza which is really an awesome Photoshop/Lightroom plug-in. I did some color balance first, and then did the rest in Viveza...

The Pier I Walked Down Each Day

2011-10-19T10:31:00.004+07:00

This was my view everyday walking down the pier to get on the boat...well, the sky was different every day, of course...

Yellow Tailed Fusiliers...My Favorite

2011-10-18T09:56:00.003+07:00

It is rare that these fish swim near me to get a photo. I usually see them from a distance, and can never get a decent shot. This time, however, they swam right next to me, and I was able to get some light on them for a cool shot...

A Great Trip

2011-10-17T10:40:00.002+07:00

A fantastic dive trip. I had some trouble with my new strobes, however, so missed a few dives dealing with the problem. On random dives, the strobes would suddenly start going off...I think the trouble is with the connection to the camera...but, I still got a few good shots from the week that I will share with you the next few days.

The highlight for the trip for me was flying. I was able to do two flights in the experimental float plane, and it was simply amazing. I will also post some photos from my flights this week or next...

Now THAT Is a BIG Hunk of Coral

2011-10-14T09:09:00.001+07:00

Happy Friday!

I am still in Papua with just one more day of diving left...will hopefully have some nice new underwater photos to share with you when I return.

Have a great weekend, and see you on Monday!!

The Silver Turns Pink

2011-10-13T09:05:00.002+07:00

Those fish in front look silver underwater until you put some light on them, and then they turn pink...mixed in with the Yellow Tailed Fusiliers, and they make for a nice photo...

Where The Fishes Live

2011-10-12T09:01:00.002+07:00

It always amazes me... the number of fish out here in Papua...I was diving in the Caribbean last summer, and saw nothing compared to what I see in Papua..I guess I am spoiled for life out here in Indonesia...

Baracuda

2011-10-11T08:57:00.002+07:00

As you know, I am in Papua now doing some great diving...for the rest of this week, I will post some of the shots I took (and just recently edited) from my last trip there. Be rest assured I am getting some new shots this week...

Sundah Kelapa

2011-10-10T08:53:00.002+07:00

This is the old harbor at Sunda Kelapa in Northern Jakarta. I really like this place as you can just imagine the old Spice Ships from the 17th century coming into this harbor to deliver their goods to the old Dutch town of Batavia...I am sure the docks have not changed much since those days...

Headed to Raja Ampat For A Week of Diving

2011-10-07T08:35:00.003+07:00

If you have been following this blog for some time, you know how I love Raja Ampat. This will be my seventh trip there, and I am just as excited as I was the first time I went there. I was just there back in June (where I got the shot below), and was hoping to do some flying while there, but the weather was terrible...raining and windy every day...I am hoping the weather will be much better this time around, and I will be able to fly as well as dive.

I will make some posts (now) to keep you entertained while I am away next week...

Have a great weekend!!

Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T10:25:00.002+07:00

A very sad day with the death of Steve Jobs...here is a really nice speech that he gave at Stanford University in 2005...

Boats At The Pier

2011-10-06T10:21:00.001+07:00

If you ever have a photo where the sky is a boring white, add a texture to the photo, and it becomes much more interesting...

Who is Watching Who?

2011-10-05T08:54:00.002+07:00

Whenever I go out with my camera, it seems the people I take photos of are just as interested in looking at me taking their photo as I am looking at them and their surroundings. We both have a story to tell when we get home...I talk about the photos I got during the day, and this guy goes home and tells the story of the crazy "Bule" (white guy) that took his photo...

Bikes

2011-10-04T10:16:00.002+07:00

Some fun with patterns...a few bikes lying on the ground formed a kind of nice pattern...

Jakarta Photowalk

2011-10-03T08:40:00.003+07:00

On Sunday, the 4th Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk took place. There were four walks in Jakarta, and I signed up for the walk that was centered around the Senayan Stadium. It was challenging to find good photos in this area. There were big crowds of people and lots going on, but I found it difficult to find creative photographs. I ended the day with about 4 keepers (one below)...I guess that's not bad for a two hour walk...

The best part of the walk was meeting some new people and talking photography. I met a few Leica shooters, and hope to meet up with them again sometime in the future. There really is a great photo community here in Jakarta!!

Old Trucks

2011-09-30T07:45:00.002+07:00

Hey, it's FRIDAY!!

In my family, Friday is movie night!! Not sure what we will see tonight, but something is playing!!

Found these two trucks sitting next to each other in Tennessee this past summer. I couldn't decide which truck I liked better, so I posted both of them below...which one do you like?

Have a great weekend!!

World Wide Photowalk on Sunday

2011-09-29T08:52:00.002+07:00

There is still time to sign up for the Scott Kelby World Wide Photowalk on Saturday and Sunday (I am going on the walk on Sunday). It is always a good time and a chance to meet new people that share your love of photography.

I took this photo on another photowalk in Jakarta...you think Jakarta has a pollution problem??

Saint Peter's Dome in Rome Now In A College Textbook

2011-09-28T09:45:00.002+07:00

People have said that HDR images have no place in the market place. I beg to differ...I just sold this photo to a Publisher in New York who will use it in a college textbook. HDR is no longer just a fad or gimmick...people are buying this stuff...

Follow Me on Google Plus

2011-09-27T08:23:00.003+07:00

I am jumping on the band wagon while it is moving fast...I have signed up for a Google Plus account, upgraded my profile photo and profile, and even uploaded a couple of photos. I haven't made any posts yet, but will do that today. I am not really sure how this all works, but have heard so much about it, that I thought I should do it now rather than wait till later.

I don't have any followers yet, so how about following me?? There are things called "circles", so please add me to your circle...you can just do a search for "Scotty Graham" to find me, and then add me to your circle...once you add me, I will add you too...this could end up being something really cool...lets give it a try...

As for the photo below, it was taken under a pier off a really remote island in Papua...there were millions of these little fish swimming in formation...it was like a huge swarm of bees swimming in unison...very cool to watch...

The Kaki Lima

2011-09-26T11:36:00.002+07:00

In most places, you have restaurants, outdoor cafes, and sometimes small food stalls where you can grab a bite. In Indonesia, there is the Kaki Lima (five feet)...these little carts that sell food. In some places, there are many of them collected in one little area, and people sit around and socialize and eat...pretty low overhead and you don't have to worry about buying any property either as you are mobile!!

Nanjing Walking Street

2011-09-23T08:42:00.003+07:00

On Wednesday, I posted a night photo of the Nanjing Walking Street in Shanghai...this is the same place during the day. Unfortunately, the skies were really hazy during the day, so it was better taking photos at night where you don't see that boring white sky...but, a cool shot never the less...

Scroll down to two photos below, and you can compare the two photos...much better at night, right?

Have a great weekend!!

Hand Stands

2011-09-22T10:49:00.003+07:00

While I was waiting for a few of the volleyball girls to get their uniforms on for their team photo, a few of the girls were messing around...I liked this shot...

Shanghai Night Life

2011-09-21T09:47:00.002+07:00

There is this really nice walking street in Shanghai where you can stroll, people watch, shop, eat and drink. It certainly doesn't feel like any other city in China....feels more like Europe.

Hanging Out With Bikes

2011-09-20T13:13:00.002+07:00

A kind of "behind the scenes" look at Sunda Kelapa. I went strolling on the back side of the Bugis Schooners, and found these dudes just hanging out with their bicycles...

Monitoring The Street

2011-09-19T07:42:00.002+07:00

Not really sure what these guys were doing. One was sitting on a chair in the middle of the street, and the other guy was...well, I don't know...but looked serious with his hands on his hip...

Shanghai at Night

2011-09-16T10:54:00.002+07:00

Believe it or not, this is NOT an HDR image...these are the actual colors on this street...looks fake doesn't it? I had my head turned up almost the entire time I was walking around...just love all the lights on the buildings in this city...

Have a great weekend!! See you on Monday!!

Steve McCurry

2011-09-15T15:08:00.004+07:00

I saw this video on the Leica Blog...it is a slide show from one of my favorite photographers, Steve McCurry....check it out....some amazing photography!!

The Shanghai Tourist Tunnel

2011-09-15T12:44:00.002+07:00

This little tunnel was cool. It is a passage under the river from the Puxi side of Shanghai to the Pudong side of the Bund. You get in these little cubicles that run on their own through the tunnel with a fantastic light show. If you go there, bring your camera, and purchase a round trip ticket. I took these hand-held. Be sure to start your photo when there is a lot of light or your camera will take a super long exposure, but you can get some very cool effects with all the lights...

Fashion?

2011-09-14T14:12:00.004+07:00

I was thinking of doing a tight crop of just the guy sitting under the woman's legs, but the two guys in the same photo had more of an interesting story to tell...don't ya think?

The Shanghai Bund

2011-09-13T12:08:00.003+07:00

The trip to Shanghai was great...wish I had more time to wander around this city. The weather and light were terrible, but I still ended up with a couple of nice photos. I went to this area (called The Bund) four nights in a row, and it wasn't till the last night, I was finally able to get a photo...the skies were so hazy, you could barely see any of the buildings...it was cloudy on this night, but at least it was clear. Just so you know, if you visit Shanghai, be sure to get your night shots before 11:00pm...at 11:00, all the lights go off...

Just Back From Fishing

2011-09-09T10:07:00.003+07:00

The boats go out early in the morning...really early...like 2:00 in the morning. They return at around 7:00am or so...this "red, white and blue" boat had just returned...I like the little red bridge in the background...

Have a great weekend!! I will be back on Monday with some photos from China...I hope.