nothin new. i am always trying to find new ways to make a photo look different. it can be the same photo that i have already edited, but i will revisit the photo and challenge myself to create a completely new mood for it. i don't have a specific style per say, i just do what i feel when i feel and i think that's the beauty of being a creative that doesn't really give a fuck. so many people these days are out to impress by imitating trends. it's all garbage to me. art should be a life learning process that we all should be passionate about. we learn so much from pushing self boundaries creatively, and it's something i feel strongly about. what really are you learning from imitating someone else's work or style of work? how are you growing from it? everyone is too concerned about numbers of followers. a friend and i spoke last night and we discussed how it's gotten so bad that its becoming the number of followers you have that defines you as a creative. it's fucked up really. if you aren't creating for yourself, then you shouldn't be here. there's people out there who are putting in mad work to really leave something behind, and then there's these people who just want to eat off them and ruin everything. take today to ask yourself.. who you are as a creative and what does your work mean to you?
"do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
ralph waldo emerson
as i dangled my feet 7,500 feet above, i get this weird feeling. it's excitement, it's anxiety, it's satisfaction, it's calm, it's fear, all at once. that feeling isn't really describable. it just feels funny. i've learned the worst thing to do is doubt at a time like this. the second you doubt yourself, you're fucked. your knees begin to shake, sometimes even buckle. you lose your balance. you feel nauseated. you get scared and freeze. all that is asking for something really bad to happen. confidence is important and knowing what you're capable of is a matter of life and... very bad news.
there is always an adventure within an adventure, and those always turn out to be some of the best because you totally did not see it coming. on our way into yosemite, we crossed this pretty cool looking bridge with crazy vibrant colored water running under. bridge? water? yes please. the fun is always the part where you have to figure how you will get from point a to point b. you see point b, but now how exactly will you get there from point a. stand there and observe your surroundings. what looks safe? what looks difficult? is there an alternate route? where do you go after that first step? everything needs to be accounted for but that's what makes it fun!
i remember the first time i caught the milky way. it was one of the most satisfying feelings i've experienced. to not only capture it on camera, but to see it with the naked eye. it was insane. i'm am obsessed with what's beyond our atmosphere, and also deep deep into the ocean. like i mentioned before, something about the unknown is so interesting to me. the fact that even the smartest and bravest people don't even know what's out there for sure. next, I'm after the aurora.
the timing couldn't have been more spot on when we got to yosemite. the sun was just starting to set as we parked. we booked it to the very edge of glacier point to soak in the views of a true yosemite sunset. the colors were amazing, the clouds rolling in couldn't have came at a more perfect time, and sitting on the ledge just listening to the wind was definitely an experience. the thing that excites me most about taking photos is that i never know what I am going to get into. the unexpected and known is a thrill. you can visit the same spot time after time but you will never get the same view, the same photo. that's the beauty of it.
We are stoked to announce that we will be holding the second Mighty Killers Explore Instagram Meet on Sunday, December 14th 2014. Explore II will be held in the Sausalito/Mill Valley area. We took some time debating where to host this next meet and we finally decided that this was the best location for many reasons. It's far away and secluded from the hustle of San Francisco, but not too far where it becomes an inconvenience to get to. It's completely surrounded by amazing views of the beach, lagoon and cliffs. There is, what seems to be, an endless amount of distance to creatively explore. Plenty parking so you won't have to pull your hair out driving in circles. Of course, infinite photo opportunities.
As a creative, I know that seeking inspiration and motivation is an ongoing challenge. This is one of the main reasons we chose to start Explore. We want to bring out people from all over, of every background, with all sorts of talents, beliefs, styles, etc. We want people to be exposed to other creatives and to take a breath of fresh air together. Our goal for Explore is to be a catalyst for inspiration and motivation to do something we're passionate about. We all get lost in our lives with doing things we need to do and end up losing sight of the thing we love to do. Exploring can be therapeutic; we tend to find things we didn't know existed... in nature, in our world, and within ourselves.
took a lengthy hiatus, i'm back.
every creative goes though these phases where they feel a huge lack of motivation or inspiration and it really brings them down to a point where it seems all the creative juices in your system just deplete. you feel as if you don't have any more innovative ideas or just hit a wall. times like that you really just have to roll with the punches and just accept the fact that... at that very moment in your life, you just have to tell yourself it ain't gonna happen. never force it. some of the stuff i am most proud of are things that just come natural. i've learned that constantly being on the move helps a lot. breaking out of a routine. going out and seeking adventure. you get a breath of fresh air, literal and metaphorical. it keeps you on your toes, it keep your brain moving a mile a minute, and soon enough, you just feel you have more ideas than you do have time. at that point, pump the brakes before you burn yourself out player.
photo by: nikk la
me and her... we got this.
there should always be a story behind every photo. that's what makes a great photo, the story from one single image. that's what i believe at least. i look back at all my photos and i can tell you vividly my memories that lead up to the shot and the moments leading out. some of them are awesome stories, and some of them are boring but as long as there is a story, it makes a good photo. i feel that as of late, there has been a bunch of people that just go out and copy shots just for the sake of having that photo from that location on their instagram feed. it's become such a pissing contest that people don't value the time it took for certain people to get that shot. some people like myself spend some time in considering all the factors to each location in order to really get the best of a photo opportunity. i really lose respect for people that are just hitting up every spot they see on other peoples feed and i got a squad of fellow shooters behind me on this one. come on people, explore.. don't follow footsteps, create your own path. that's what it's all about it.
on our way back from yosemite, we decided to stop at one last spot before the long ride home and I'm sure as hell glad we did because i was able to capture this. a totally unexpected turn out for the milky way to sit directly over a tunnel. i think that's what makes photography fun; the unknown and the unexpected. we all know that we can't rely on perfect weather but thats what makes photography what it is. it's not something you can control, its an uncontrollable medium. you work with something that is constantly changing, for better or for worse, you have to learn to work with it. it's honestly a race against time, every minute that passes, it's a result for a different photo. you really have to know what you're doing in order to really make the most of your time or else you waste so much of it trying to get the right settings. different times, different locations, different angles, different exposures, different eye. it's all about finding your shot.
maybe it's just me but i feel like as you get older, you slowly start to not like summer so much any more. i think summer is one of those seasons where you only love when you're still in school because it means... no school. summer break is awesome, don't get me wrong but what happens when you're all done with school and you're not into the real world? you can't take summer breaks from your job. life becomes constant once school is over, there is no breaks. you just make time when and where you can, and make the best out of it. winter has always been one of my favorite seasons honestly. i love the cold, no doubt about that. i grew up in the midwest, single digits and blizzards were not out of the ordinary for me.
now, I'm more in love with the seasons that prepare for the big seasons; like fall and spring. simply because there is just so much drama nature at the peak of these seasons which makes for amazing photos.
many believe that instagram killed photography but that's dumb. if you feel like it killed it, then you just feel threatened by a new wave of creatives. coming from someone who has been shooting before instagram came along, i was fortunate enough to experience what it's done. as a creative, being able to adapt is a matter of life and death. if you fail to adapt, you fail to progress. that's just how i see it. although i do feel that instagram has given birth to a bunch of wannabes, it's also brought out potential from a ton of people and without it, i would not have met some some of these great shooters or i would not have been exposed to such great work. i think one of the best things that came out of instagram is the community it's created. it's dope being able to go out and explore with some of these guys, i always find it exciting to see what kind of photos they end up with in the end. you definitely learn a lot about a person just within a couple hours of shooting, and even more when you see their vision behind the viewfinder. i encourage everyone to just go out and shoot. you grow as an individual and you grow as an artist, that's important.
I think one of the dopest things about exploring and photography is the sense of accomplishment. theres a creative process behind the two from the very minute you lay eyes on a spot that you feel would be a killer shot. next you figure out a way to get there and usually, that is all the fun. theres no map, no instructions, no tour guide. just you and a bunch of huge rocks, figure it out. once you get to the spot, you stand there and just soak it in. the views is what does it for me. if there isn't a view to cherish at the end of all that hard work, then i probably wouldn't do it but the curiosity that there may be a view never fails, so when you find something like this, it feels damn good. i get to relive this moment, standing over yosemite valley from 3,000 feet above with this photo taken by potatounit.
when you have a view like this, life just seems less stressful. something about the sound of ocean water crashing into the huge rocks, the water washing up on shore, the ambient skies changing colors right before your eyes, the sun becoming an object you can stare into, at that moment you tell yourself it's all good.
I was deprived of shit like this growing up in the midwest. closest body of water we had was probably the great lakes and the closest to a beach we had was hoover dam so yea, trust that i am very grateful and blessed to be where i am today.
Yosemite has always been one of those places that i heard about all the time but never really came about to plan a trip to visit. I've seen many photos of this place, i knew it was a beautiful place but just never got around to visiting. so when the guys hit me up and told me they were planning a trip out there and they asked if i wanted to tag along... fuck yea. the lack of planning for the trip definitely made it a love/hate experience but nonetheless, it was fun and of course, we all got some killer photos.
when it comes to planning trips with my family, I'm the type to plan everything out to the t. i make sure everything is locked in as far as where to sleep, where to eat, places to visit, etc.. it's the man in me (pause) to do so, i feel its my duty to make it as easy-going and enjoyable as possible for my family. for this trip to yosemite with the boys was nothing close. we didn't have a place to stay, we didn't have food, we didn't have service, out in the middle of nowhere with less than 1/16th of a tank of gas, in the cold night.. and you know, i didn't mind too much. mainly because i didn't have to worry about anyone else. god forbid, if it were my family i was with, i would never want them to be hungry.. I would go hunt a bear to feed them if it came down to it but it was just the guys, they can starve for all i care. haha.
