More Football coverage!

Prep football is going full steam ahead and the team at ScoringLive.com are working their butts off every week to provide outstanding comprehensive high school sports coverage!

2010-09-14

Moving on, looking back

It's been three months since the Honolulu Advertiser closed its doors. Three months of planning to move. Three months of self definition and rebranding.

It feels like a year.

When I started at the Advertiser in 2006 I had grand dreams of finally getting into the big time. It would be the star of my resume, the attraction that would open the door to better opportunities. My plan was to use the Advertiser as my 3 year stepping stone.

In retrospect, what I had planned as a stepping stone turned out to be a building block. Journalism was never in my agenda, but once you've worked in the industry it changes you. I can't write for beans, but I now feel compelled to document life around me. Everyone has a story. Everything has significance to someone.

How do you see the world around you?

2010-09-01

Friday Night Lights

As summer heads to a close, high school football is off to a great start! Although not really a sports nut, I enjoy covering the events and am lucky enough to help out friend, and fellow otaku, Brien Ing with ScoringLive.com this year.

For myself, the major obstacle in covering high school football is the lack of light on the field. Low light isn't new to me, but it's always challenging! Back when I used to work in the wedding industry you could often use your own lighting, whether on cam or with field lighting. So there was a moderate amount of control over properly lighting your subject. High school sports coverage on the other hand can't justify high dollar lighting solutions or will not allow the use of such options.

So how do all the professional sports photographers get away with it? They use damn good glass and some mad skills, that's how! How am I learning to get away with it? Moderately slow glass and cross my fingers. Luckily my Canon 7D has the ability to push ISO 6400, so that helps capture a somewhat usable image, albeit noisy. But when it comes down to getting a shot or not, I'll take noise any day over no shot at all.

Unfortunately, the 7D is having a few problems. Somewhere, power isn't consistently getting from the batteries to the camera. So, off to Canon it goes. I'm glad it's still under warranty! 2 weeks without the 7D is gonna be a bit of a struggle for coverage, but that's just how the cookie crumbles. Maybe I should look into a backup 7D? hmmm ...

2010-08-26

Haleiwa Jodo Mission Bon Dance 2010

Obon (お盆) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed spirits that has been celebrated for more than 500 years. With a large Japanese American community in Hawaii, there's always an abundance of Bon-Odori, or Bon Dance, to attend during July and August.

This year, I ventured to the North Shore of Oahu with the Ing family to attend Haleiwa Jodo Mission's Bon Dance and Toro Nagashi. The highlight of the evening is the Toro Nagashi, paper lantern floating, in which paper lanterns are set afloat in the sea, or river, with the belief that they will guide the spirits of the deceased to the next world.

Okage sama de, although the literal meaning is different, in Hawaii this phrase is translated to "I am what I am because of you." It roots from Chinese confucian ideals of filial piety, but is a concept followed by many cultures. Obon is a time to reflect, remember and respect one's ancestors. For many, the hard work and sacrifice of parents and grandparents have allowed us to live better lives. For that, I am grateful.

2010-08-09

Manfrotto 351MVB/501HDV

I've been long overdue for a decent set of sticks with a usable video head. So after lurking the cinema5D forums for suggestions, I decided on the Manfrotto 351MVB2K/501HDV combo.

Once I've run it through its paces I'll do an in depth review on how the combo works for me with my Canon 7D. In the interim, here's a short I did one Sunday afternoon in my back yard with my 5 year old Pembroke, Lucy.

2010-07-13

poketako.net is alive!

After sitting on the shelf for a few years, poketako.net has found new life! Thanks to Brien Ing of basicdc.com and his wonderful new content management system I can once again spew forth useless information! Stay tuned for new and almost exciting content!

2010-07-13