Fast forward to 2021. I’ve had two major back surgeries, lost my clientele to Covid and made a major life change to Oregon to a small beach town with one of the famous Haystack Rocks offshore. With my change in lifestyle I will be blogging more to catch up on life in general. My approach will be helter skelter but at some point will make sense. The bottom line will be about the images and the art.
Equipment: Nikon Z6II, 14mm, 28-300 and an Apple iPhone 11
No simple way about it. My wife and I love to travel. We worked hard over the years, saved and looked for great deals to explore places we’d only dreamed of. One of the best solutions was to cruise. But the coronavirus has changed the industry. Details are still to come but they’ll need a lot of solutions before they can sail again. How are cruise lines going to convince 250 – 4,000 guests they will be safe. And what about the buffets, the big draw… Stay tuned.
Details: All images are from our cruise out of Ft. Lauderdale. I used a Nikon mirrorless Z6 camera with both a 16-35 and 28-300 lens.
Just prior to the virus outbreak and shutdown Patti and I took a 9 day trip to Kona, our trip to the final Hawaiian island on our wishlist. Just a short drive from our studio was a black sand beach. Once in the water though the clarity was one of the best from our many trips to Hawaii.
This video was my first effort with a GoPro8. Still learning how to edit and color manage it but the stabilization was very good.
#Kona #Hawaii #BigIsland #Snorkeling #turtle #GoPro8
Everyone has a special place. I think mine is Ketchikan, Alaska. I change my mind quite often. Sometimes it’s Kauai, other times New Orleans but for now it’s Ketchikan. I was introduced to the area by my great friend Charley Starr. Charley moved his family and photo business there 10 years ago. It is a small seaside city, population over 13,000 and is dependent on the cruise ship industry to survive and thrive. Charley has generously hosted me on four visits and on the fifth I finally brought Patti, my wife. The geography is unlike anything here in San Diego. We were able to see waterfalls, bears, eagles and the salmon were running. I wish I was a better writer so I could describe the area and community. Wherever we went Charley was greeted and the people were pleasantly friendly to us strangers. I’ve started to remember names and now know places to go. It’s truly a small town environment with a Walmart. I can’t wait to go back. Where is your special place?
More of my work can be seen at www.zwink.com
Father and Son ConversationJamison: Is Zoey a Dalmatian?
Joe: No. She’s a French Bulldog.
Jamison: But she has spots?
This is a quick exchange Joe (my son) had with his 4 year old son, Jamison.
I’m not a real descriptive writer. That’s why I’m a photographer, a visual artist. I let my images tell the story. Cubans were very friendly, interested and loved to interact. Tour guides loved to tell the stories of the Revolution and the strength of the culture. Owners of paladores wanted to not only share their tasty cuisine but the stories of their families. Street vendors along with the hustlers were happy to share their smiles. Others just wanted to enjoy their siesta.
Havana, Cuba is not New York City yet, but it’s streets are busy during the days. Predominately carefully maintained l1950s style cars, many with original motors and others that have been converted to Russian diesel motors with the telltale sounding diesel noise. We rode to a jazz club in a 1956 Chevy Impala with the owner styled and groomed to match his cherry red Chevy.
Delivery trucks, freight trucks, buses and horse drawn carriages are interspersed by the rare modern Mercedes and Toyotas. Road rage a rarity. It will come.
Personally, I would not mind if there was a basic certification to regulate the industry. The fact is there has been an increased interest from photographers, hobbyists and business owners to integrate into their offering. With the advent of gps in the “drones” it has become easier to fly. But stuff happens, how many pilots will know how to safely react and land without injuring anyone or damaging property? And if you’re flying without FAA knowledge or permission will your insurance still cover you?
I just wish the FAA would do their job and let us get back to ours.
Charlie
(This is a guest blog written by my oldest daughter Rhianna. “Rana” is our oldest, probably our most unique, well all our kids are Unique. But she has alway seemed to have a very eclectic mixture of friends. I met Charlie yesterday. Charlie just finished treatment for a brain tumor. He seems like a very happy kid. We’re not sure if it was successful yet.)
Allow me to introduce you to Charlie! He is 14 years old, loves soccer & snowboarding and has a heart of gold! How bad do you want to pinch his freckled cheeks?!?! Back in March, after 8 weeks of complaining of headaches and umpteen tests his family received a phone call that would change their lives!
Charlie was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor! After surgery to remove the tumor and several rounds of chemo & radiation Charlie is on his way to recovery! This poor kid has been through more torture than anyone should ever have to go through let alone a child!!
Charlie is the youngest brother of one of my closest friends, Chelsea!! They are 12 years apart so Charlie is more like a child to Chelsea than a brother. She absolutely adores this kid and will do anything for him! And he certainly looks up to her! Next to Mom, he wants Chelsea there with him for all the bad as well as the good throughout this journey. I am forever in awe of this entire family and their love & commitment to each other and giving all they can to help charlie through this nightmare!!
For more info here is a online fundraiser to help defray the exhorbidant expense of the treatment and surgery. http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/help-charlie-our-13-year-old-son-fight-brain-cancer/163010
