Ryan Sakamoto Photography

The end? I certainly hope not!

rsakamoto808 — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:20:25 +0000

Howdy everyone, with the advent of Facebook & Google+ I’ve decided to stop this blog & just use the social media applications. You can still find me on…

Facebook, I’m slowly moving away from FB for one reason & thats because of the it handles my images. FB optimizes each image before posting, or I’d like to call it, degradeing the pixels. I don’t appreciate anyone screwing with my pixels.

Google+ On G+ I’ll be posting (hopeful) an image of the day everyday. I love the way G+ displays my images without degradeing them like FB! You can view my G+ page but you won’t be able to comment or +1 any post without a G+ account, sad but true. I have a ton of G+ invites, so if you want one let me know.

Much Mahalo to everyone for following me on this blog & hope to see you on FB or G+ …Aloha, Ryan

Return to China Walls Sunset

rsakamoto808 — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:44:02 +0000

On the spur of the moment I went to shoot the sunset on Saturday at China Walls in Portloch. To my surprise a wedding reception on the shoreline cliffs! These images turned out to be some of my best sunset images I’v taken, I hope you will enjoy them as much as I had taking them! Aloha, Ryan

Full rez images can be viewed on my website.

Click to view slideshow.

Rain Jacket for your camera update

rsakamoto808 — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 06:03:34 +0000

Here’s a twist on a less expensive alternative to a rain jacket for your camera, I won this at the Da Car Show this year, it’s a nylon reusable grocery bag from…

nothing much or special but, I bought a can of Scotch Guard and sprayed the entire bag from top to bottom, now it waterproof. Here’s the tricky part, see image below. The bag has a tiny little pocket inside of the bags trim on the top, and you can fold or stuff the entire bag into a little ball to leave in your camera bag or in your pocket, instant rain gear for your camera in a snap!

I don’t think you can buy this bag at any store, but I saw something familiar at Foodland. It’s a grocery bag with their logo on it folded into a smaller bag.

Top 10 thing to consider before Shooting sunrise @ Haleakala

rsakamoto808 — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:35:54 +0000

Sunrise at Haleakala

‎10 thing you should consider before you go to shoot the sunrise @ Haleakala…

1-Dress Warm!!! If you have a knitted pull over beanies caps plan on wearing them. The 1st part of your body that you will loose feeling is your hands then your ears. you’ll be able to keep your hands a little bit warmer by sticking them into you pockets or under your arm pits, but your ears will exposed without a beanie cap.

2-Wear gloves, your camera body & the tripod legs will get so cold you won’t want to touch it with your bare hands! I lost the feeling in my fingers & had to look as the shutter button to be sure I was pressing it.

3-Use a wired or wireless remote

4-Use a tripod

5-Weigh down your tripod, very important. In my shots a lot of the images was soft due to the fact that I didn’t weigh down my tripod & with a consistent 20-30mph wind blowing directly into your face & camera will introduce camera shake.

6-If you have a ND filter or polarizing filter use it. The sun seems to be brighter up there, not sure if I’m imagining it?

7-Get there early, about 45 minutes before sunrise.

8-Stake your claim & don’t back down to anyone, there will be a lot of people up there. If you move you will loose your spot!

9-Bring your backpack & whatever equipment with you. I forgot my backpack in the bus, I was afraid that if I left I’d loose my spot or that my tripod would go flying.

10-If you have a game plan to get certain shots, write it down & keep it in your pocket. I did have a game plan but, I didn’t write it down & because I was so cold I forgot to do a lot of things that I would normally do, such as bracketing some of my shots.

Hope this help anyone who is planning to go to Haleakala in the future. If there is something I missed I’ll add it on later=)

Highway Streaking Lights

rsakamoto808 — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 01:03:36 +0000

To view the complete set of ”Streaking Light” go to my Website Gallery…Enjoy

Rain Jacket for your camera?!

rsakamoto808 — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 03:22:44 +0000

It started off as a beautiful sunny day that ended up in a light rain which wasn’t that bad, but do you really want to expose your DSLR to rain? The second shoot just happened this past July 4th, the family & I went to Hawaii Kai to shoot the fireworks, it was overcast day but for the most part it stayed dry all the till the last minute of the fireworks show, when the clouds just opened up & rain just came down in huge drops! Anticipating rain I had my storm jacket, see image below, for my camera ready & continued to shoot during the downpour! It’s a small investment but well worth it!

Her’s a picture of the fireworks from Hawaii Kai at Maunalua Bay.

Independence Day, Aloha Tower Fireworks

rsakamoto808 — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 23:36:51 +0000

This image is dedicated to all of our Brave Men & Women in the Armed Forces who serve & protect our Freedom! Happy 4th of July everyone!

How to shoot fireworks

rsakamoto808 — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 17:53:06 +0000

Here are some great tips on how to shoot fireworks from TWIP.

Low ISO
Small Aperture f16-f22
Focus to infinity
Tripod
Remote cable release
If your closer to the fireworks a wide angel lens will work
If your father away a zoom 70-200 may work better

If you haven’t already join the Oahu Photography Meetup Group, it’s a place where like minded people meet to do what they enjoying doing best, get up, get out & shoot!

Here are some shots I took last Independence Day @ Hawaii Kai Maunalua Bay…

Click to view slideshow.

Floating Lantern Ceremony @ Ala Moana Beach Park

rsakamoto808 — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 04:23:07 +0000

I’ve always wanted to photograph the Floating Lantern Ceremony! Finally this year, with a little help from the Oahu Photography Meetup Group I packed my camera & gear & drove out to be part of the estimated 40,000 people at Ala Moana Beach Park. The many emotions that filled the air, anticipation, excitement, sadness, happiness, respect and above all the Spirit of ALOHA for all the friends & families who have lost loved ones! For myself just being there was an amazing & emotional feeling to absorb & try to capture all the emotions through my lens. There was an estimated 3000 floating lanterns released. Here are some samples of the images I captured at this event. If you woud like to see larger images, http://bit.ly/jrJS7J …enjoy & Aloha, Ryan

Click to view slideshow.

New Photographers

rsakamoto808 — Tue, 17 May 2011 06:54:49 +0000

This a call out to all photographers on Oahu…Young, old, newbies, advanced amateurs, pros, point & shoot cameras to dslr shoters, if you want to shoot & meet like minded people please check this website , The Oahu Photography Meetup Group . This is a GREAT bunch of people come out & make new friend talk story & do what you love shoot pictures! Mo better than stayin’ home & staring @ your computer wishing you could do what that other photographer is doing with his/her images. You gotta get out & shoot to get better, that is the bottom line!

Here’s some images form our last meetup…

Click to view slideshow.