I don’t think its much fair to snap pictures of homeless or the disadvantaged but I couldn’t help myself when I found a woman on Hotel St. in Chinatown putting an entire box over her body. Its like a true to life Jackie in the box.
Jackie in the box
Category: Honolulu
A few tearsheets
Its been a very busy few weeks and I just wanted to post a few new tear sheets to my growing list of clients and images.
The above shot was the Spring issue of Modern Luxury. I sat atop a secret hill top and shot the city at dusk and waited for magic. I had to do this three times as one day was good, the second day was cloudy, and the last day was magic. Its just amazing how much we can’t control when we do outdoor shots. A cloud rolls in and the day is over. These things take time, luck and a little skill. Not much skill, but a little.
I’ve had the chance to photograph the owners from Fighting Eel a few times and this shot happens to be one of my favorites. I’ve not had the easiest time photographing them as they seem at times, slightly uncomfortable with themselves (or maybe it was just me) and I haven’t nailed a great shot of the pair. But this pix seems to really be what I would call the shot. I like it. Thanks Rona and Lan.
Having been dressed by the Hawaii Five O duo for my shining start on the Rick Springfield episode, Five O costume designers Michelle and Anthony, were surprised I put them behind the camera this time. Erika, the handler of all handlers, coordinated a great time, location, and helped set a great image of the two. I think of the shot, along with the Fighting Eel girls as a portfolio piece. Its another great environmental shot. Both shots were for the Spring issue of Modern Luxury.
My last tear sheet is actual an image from the LPGA Lotte Championship Golf tournament held in April at Ko Olina. The winner happened to be Japanese golfer Ai Miyazato. She led the last round and kept steady and focused. She stayed par the entire time but nailed the last few holds to win the four day tourney. Unbeknown to anyone, even her, she started doing a hula with the hula dancers during the award ceremony. She danced really well and surely deserved the dance.
“ITS ABOUT DAMN TIME!”
Oh how tide does change. I never would have figured my hometown newspaper would call me to do a freelance gig for them. Out of the blue (brah!) Kevin from the San Antonio Express News calls me inquiring on my availability for a quick job the next day. His southern drawl caught me off guard warming me with memories of family, BBQ, and those spring days only found in San Antonio. I quickly jumped at the job and proceeded to tell him of my sorted past with the SAEN and my time shooting for their community newspapers. Sadly, he said, The Sun is no more.
I wrote a while back about my humble beginnings and shooting for the community newspaper ($25 per assignment!) so to get a job from the actual newspaper took me back to my days of desire…days of longing for a staff job at the only reality I knew at that time. In little ol’ San Antone! Leaving to NYC was a distant dream and to think I’d end up in Honolulu was unheard of! I mean only Magnum, Danno and surfers lived in Hawaii, not me.
Kevin and I had a few chuckles as I told him I’d been sitting by the phone for the last 20 years waiting for the Express to finally call.
The job was to cover the change of command ceremony at one of the military base’s where San Antonio native U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Jim Rendon would take over the top position here in Hawaii. The story can be seen here. The ceremony was the usual ho hum of long speeches, a little pomp and some circumstance all topped off with a brass band playing all the old favorites! At the end I grabbed Adm. Rendon, his wife and his parents and posed them for a really informal picture for the paper. After a few snapped, I told they they were all in Hawaii and I needed to see some “shakas.” Sure enough….
and the smiles they produce!
At the end I told the Rendon’s there isn’t much Mexican food on Hawaii but she countered it would all be made in her kitchen. Sadly as the job was over and I drove away, I realized I should have given her my number. Ah the missed opportunities of home cooking!
Aulani Magazine
A few weeks ago, I shot a great story on Paulette Kahakepuna, a Hawaiian lei maker who makes Lei Hulu, or feather leis, worn only by Hawaiian royalty. Using mostly natural feathers and materials, Kahakepuna wove amazing leis and tales of her work and seeing some pieces she’s made, its easy to understand why some would be considered priceless.
You can see the story and magazine here starting pm page 16. The link is to Oahu Publications on line magazine where you can page through the actual mag online. Alternatively, you can stay at the Aluani, if you have the bucks.
I must say, I was super impressed the photo editor was able to pick out the first image as a cover. It surprised me as I just didn’t expect it nor see it in my edit. Clearly a nice piece of photo editing.
Hokulani Bakery
It seems like such a long time ago although I shot the images for Entrepreneur Magazine in 2008, but the shot of Tushar and Ana Dubey of Hokulani Bake Shop remains one of my favorite pictures mainly because I think I clearly captured their existence at being: Tushar with the frosting on his nose and Ana with her nose for baking. The picture took no more than a few swipes at his nose for their relationship in business and love to clearly shine through.
Entrepreneur really knew their stuff as they spotted Hokulani Bake Shop as an up and comer. Amazing their writers spotted and predicted they would go to the top.
Tonight we attended their celebration and screening party for their bakers and bakery, Hokulani Bake Shop for winning the recent Food Network’s Cupcake Wars. It was great to see their little bakery started at Restaurant Row gain national and possibly international attention for having some of best bakers and cupcakes in the Pacific.
Let the victorious eat many a cupcake and may they sell a million more.
SALUDOS! and BADHAI HO! (I hope that means congrats in Hindi as I hope I didn’t call Tushar a donkey…well, maybe I really meant to.)
If you’ve never had one of their cupcakes, please visit one of their three locations, Restaurant Row, the Hyatt Waikiki and at downtown’s Pioneer Plaza. At their website (http://www.hokulanibakeshop.com/) you can see their audition tape where their bakers, Angela Chandler and Nicole Ferriman, made it big for the shop.
I hope this shameless plug gets me a cupcake or two!