Event: Sankei Shodo-Kai Japanese Calligraphy

Today, I went by the San Diego Japanese Christian Church to see the calligraphy display and demonstration by instructor Sankei, Hirotaka Sakai. The amount of attention to detail, tradition, and commitment to the art is incredible. The exhibit and demonstration was held in a small room in the church, about 30-40 people were in attendance. The exhibit hosts approximately 30 pieces, most by calligraphy students and some by the master calligrapher. The master calligrapher gave us a beautiful explanation of what he was doing, of course in Japanese, and then created a few pieces for the room. In speaking to one of the church members, I found out that this man is one of the premier calligraphers in Japan, adding to the honor of having him show us his technique. He teaches calligraphy classes in his San Diego home when he's in San Diego (evidently he's one of many Japanese people who lives in San Diego during particular seasons and flies back for others). If you go to the church's website, I'm sure they have the information listed there. I highly recommend, this is an annual event and will actually be going on tomorrow too.

Photojournalism: Del Mar Del Sol Competition

I went up to the San Diego Botanical Garden the other day to walk around/take some shots and stopped by Del Mar on my way back to San Diego and came across the Del Sol Horse Competition. This, while still not super exciting, was much more interesting to me than the Dressage show I had been there for last week. These horses weren't as primed/prettied up at the Dressage horses (the Dressage horses had braided manes, fancy) but they were just as beautiful in their athleticism.

I wasn't expecting to be going over there, so I didn't have my telephoto lens with me. I happen to have my 18 - 55 mm handy, so that's what I used for these. Since I consider these types of things such "classic" proper sports, I did apply a filter to these photo to make them look aged. They just appealed more to me that way. :)

You own your photos and can get paid for their usage... right?

A big question (really, sad sad issue more or less) in photography surrounds around money: can we really afford to make a living as photographers? So many photographers have a 9-5, daytime job in addition to their photo exploits because the answer for most is no.

But why? Why can't photographers make a living doing what they do best? Many reasons, which go basically from how difficult it is to get paid work when every Tom, Dick, and Nancy has a friend or cousin who just bought a fancy camera and "for their portfolio" is willing to do the job for free to you, photographer, invested the $ in better equipment and in becoming an accomplished professional and then some bigger fish just comes along and uses your work without telling you or without your permission. That sucks.

I have recently started watching a lot of Current TV (great TV channel, by the way) but in a google search, I came across this post that just about made me gag. The story goes along the lines of a photographer, upon discovering that his photo made its way unknowingly onto the Current TV website, demanded some kind of action. He wanted to be compensated for the work that he had done which is fair, right? If a surgeon does a surgery, he/she expects to be paid. If a chef cooks a dinner, he/she expects to be paid. If an actor stars in a movie, he/she expects to be paid. That's the only way we, in a capitalist society, are able to have doctors, chefs, actors, etc. etc. - because they get money to allow them to keep doing the things they do for us. Apparently, photographers are somehow different. Long story short, a judge granted the photographer his $588 claim but Current TV appealed and ended up getting their money back on appeal.

What does this mean for us? This means that the quality of such an expensive industry to be a part of will continue to separate... one on end, the "working free" amateur photographer with the time and drive to be amazing but without the equipment and investment to really get there and on the other, the "working non-photographer" who can only afford to be in photography because another (time consuming) job pays for it. Either costs need to come down or pay needs to go up. And I'm not saying that talent is secondary to what equipment you carry - if you suck, you suck no matter how great and/or expensive your stuff is. But you can be the greatest DJ in the world and have the greatest mixing abilities ever to be seen - but if your mixer can't process the music and your speakers sound like crap, your final product will not do your ability justice. This is just one of those kinds of industries allowed only by advancements in technology and innovation. That is, unless we're all going to revert back to pinhole camera photography, try selling a client on that. But either way. a big thank you is owed to the photographer, Mr. Ken Light, for speaking up. It's pretty ugly how Current TV went about devaluing/not paying for someone's work that they used (stole), but if photographers continue to see this type of thing going on and don't say anything - it's only going to get worse. Stand up for your work, you worked for it.

Imagery: Belmont Fairgrounds

If you are a photo enthusiast in San Diego, I strongly encourage you to look up the San Diego DSLR Group. They're not some kind of meetup, but rather a really cool information center. Almost every week, they post info on events that may be interesting to shoot during the upcoming weekend and have group shoots. I have been checking their page pretty religiously and getting some really fun ideas from photos other members have posted. On their most recent "Group Shoot" I went down to PB with the hubby (for protection, it was dark) and took some interesting shots. But why even go on a group shoot? I have noticed how much attention being in a public place with a fancy camera can get. You get a little less attention when you have got 20-30 other people with big fancy cameras and tripods too. :)

Photojournalism: Del Mar loves their animals

Every time I go to Del Mar, it involves seeing some sort of animal. From horse races, to now a dressage show and surfing dogs, these people will ride their horses, get in the freezing ocean with their dogs, and then run and/or bike all over the place afterward. Talk about active! It's a different lifestyle up there but a refreshing one. Some photos from my last visit... :)

They play Polo too! The first lesson is free! Not sure though if you need to bring a horse... :P

Dressage Show. One picture. Yes, that's about as exciting as it got.

This dog was so scared.

They had Dog Surfing instructors there too!

This dog lost his wave, and has apparently learned to just wait on the board for someone to come get him.

Photojournalism: Charger Steve's Wild Rides Hot Rods

When I first heard about this, I was like "wwaaaa??!" But really, this is one of the dirtiest, country-est, coolest things you can go to in San Diego. And it's not even that dirty or country, but it's the best thing you're gonna get at the beach. But seriously, this I think (hope) will continue being an annual event. Yes, you can of course see hot rods and herbie the love bug replicas all over the place, but the best thing here are the people: these people sink so much time, energy, and $$$ into these events, you can't help but have fun. But what was my personal favorite thing that I saw there? Probably those Caberlesque Kittens!

Photojournalism: Philippine Cultural Arts Festival

The costumes were beautiful, the food was amazing, the dozens of hoodies and tshirts toting "PI Pride" were a sight to be had. These are some of my favorite shots from the festival, held in Balboa Park.

Photojournalism: Main Street America Car Show

I went downtown this past weekend looking for cars: hot rods specifically. I had done some research and found out there was suppose to be the Main Street America Car show at Seaport Village. I walked around for awhile at first not finding much: just the normal, unpretty cars you usually find on the roads and in parking lots. Eventually, BAM I found them. It was like finding a box full of kittens left in a garden of daffodils. These cars were parked all over the lawn in the Embarcadaro Park North. Really, the scene was something I would only and have only come to expect from San Diego: sail boats, green lawns, beautiful hotels, and shiny/chromed out/glittery classic cars. It was fun, looking forward to more car shows in the very near future...

Our Garden

Our Garden, per request. Our "former roomate" Natsu and her mom decided to create a garden for us in the backyard. I wish I had "before" photos, it use to just be a hot mess back there - some kind of wild, green monster. The previous owners had built a beautiful, slate paved floor with decorative concrete walls and a winding flower bed. But the months of neglect during the home's foreclosure process left the dirt unkept and ultimately, outstandingly green. Bunches and bunches of beautiful, green healthy grass has been replaced by this glorious little oasis. Both are nice in their own ways, but the latter much preferred and here's a little bit of what we have today.