Fun in the sun on a Sun...

After getting a blog post out of the way, I quickly fed the kids, dressed them and loaded up the car. Nothing like a fun little impromptu trip to the ocean to revitalize oneself. I decided we'll drive over to Solana Beach where Julie is seeing a few patients on a Sunday.

Julie's office is literally a stone's throw away from Fletcher Cove Park and Beach. Figured we'll play a bit and then invite her out to join us as she wraps up work. Not a bad way to end a Sunday.

I often find the best vacations are the staycation type. There's so much in the immediate area that we don't take advantage of and you can come home to your own beds afterward. Especially truth when you have kids in tow. ;) Anyways, enjoy this quick set.

Film: My boys...

Here's another series of photos taken with film I thought I'd share.

My two boys, Terrence and Jason.

Here, Terrence is trying to get his younger brother to look at the camera.

The shot immediately following the one above. My kids don't sit still for too long, and so I learn to be quick to capture the moments. Even when dealing with the slower operation of a film camera with no autofocus. :)

Film: Terrence...

Shooting with an old, all manual camera from 1983 with film and the outfit Terrence is wearing makes this image feel like it was taken in a different era. At least it does to me. This series was taken a while back, and I only recently gotten them back from the lab. With lil.T's haircut and outfit, it makes him look like a 3yr or older kid before he was ever one.

Lab scans...

I like evaluating and comparing things. From equipment and gears to services and techniques. I recently sent the same film in to two pro labs. My "local" pro lab NCPS that I have been using in San Diego and mentioned in an earlier blog post against an LA lab name Richard Photo Lab (RPL).

Though NCPS did very well in the past, the scans from RPL simply looks better in every way. I may do a few more scans from each lab in the future to make sure that NCPS wasn't just having an off day, but consistency is something I find very important in a pro lab.

RPL on the left, NCPS on the right. FujiFilm Pro400H via a Canon EOS-1V. As always, you can click on the image to get a larger view.

You can say that NCPS scans for both the highlight and shadow to be within a certain range as evident by the details in the skies still being retain. But I like to expose for the subject and in this photo, I exposed for Terrence's skin. Both digital and film can't capture a scene with the dynamic range of our human eyes, so the photographer has to make choices on what to expose for when shooting with natural light. I much prefer what RPL decide to scan for from the negative versus NCPS.

Here's a final comparision between film on the left, and a RAW processed digital file from my 5D on the right. Ignore the fact that the film capture is a better moment captured and that I didn't make this test scientific by any means. The differences in focal length and aperture used makes a difference in these two photos. But this example allows you to see how my digital processing has been refined as I revisit film and use that medium more and more. An advantage of digital is that it's file is so much more clean and noise free. But despite the evidence of grain, the film shot has so sharp details and a more natural gradation between shadow and highlight. Plus there is a vibrancy in the film file that would require additional fine processing in Photoshop for the digital file to compare. Film looks great once you receive it back and the lab did it's magic.

However, shooting any photos with kids at play, I definitely prefer the speed that digital allows.

Film...

Got back a few rolls of film today and it's always fun to see the photos on there. Especially when it's random, personal photos that you had long forgotten you took. Here are some of Jason at around 10months. We had just shaven his head and his teeth had just recently came in. This was about August 2009.

Edited to add...the film camera I used is an old, all manual 35mm Canon AE-1 Program from circa 1983 on run of the mill FujiFilm from Target. Nothing special. :)

A couple of rare sleeping ones of Jason. He has a special radar for me so I can't even think of him without making him stir. But I managed to grab a couple of shots in the near black pitch room. Hence the heavy noise.

Quick photo of Grandma

The last time I tried to have a session with grandma, she said she wasn't dressed and ready for it. This time, she fussed and complain that she doesn't look proper. Nancy mumbled something about never realizing grandma was so vain. LOL

We all want to look our best, no matter our age. My advice to grandma was to lose the oversize jacket she was wearing. As she took it off, she revealed a beautiful outfit that is more befitting this photo. I think this is my favorite picture of her now. But of course, I may be a tad bias. Let me know what you think?

Life's event documented...

One of the thing I appreciate more and more as I mature as a photographer is the historic record a photograph maintain. We hear that the years fly by faster the older you get. And I think it's more apparent when you have your own kids and another birthday arrives.

So despite it being some effort to try to document an event like I would on a paid shoot, I feel that the value of the photograph will be shown 10-20 years from now. And that's important enough to put the effort forth and capture moments and memories like these.

I have started shooting more and more film and my processing follow the beautiful, organic look of film. I am mixing in the best properties of each medium to evolve as a photographer and offer the best of the technology out there to my clients.

I love a properly frame candid. The symmetry of the colors adds to the frame.

Calvin ran off and met another group and came back with a slice of watermelon. Just about as good a food begger as Terrence and the dog from Bolt. :)

Just wondering, why is it so hard to work with family? They like to dictate where I take the photo instead of leaving it up to me to find the best lighting with foreground to background element that adds to the picture instead of compete. We are not taking vacation photos, so no, I am not gonna get the ocean backdrop or planted roses. Simply because the light is harsh in those direction. Please let me enjoy my craft. That way, you get flattering images like these out of the camera.

I love these next couple of images of the birthday boy and his grandparents.

I am never sure who is leading who when Susan's taking care of the kids. ;)

My youngest cousin. Such a cutie.

Family and friends, please dress you kids as cute as possible when you come to an event with me. My camera gravitates towards cuteness.

The mom and her daughter.