It’s been a while since I took photos of anything worth while. I’m glad these turned out OK. Taken with Nikon D90, Sigma 70-300mm. My fingers are very numb still, from standing outside for about an hour. Tonight I found out how fast the Moon moves. Shots that were longer than 4 second exposure were blurred.

I love macro photography. It makes me more aware of the texture, curve, and shape of individual pieces of a greater whole. Then when I move my eyes from the view finder I realize how all these small details share the same design elements. I become more appreciative of the designer who made these things.

I absolutely love the Hirshhorn Museum in DC. I’ve visited the museum a few more times since I last posted about it. Below, you’ll find some selected shots I took over the past few months.

Many exhibits have come and gone. I find myself more in love with the museum itself, rather than the artwork it displays. I love the spatial arrangement inside and the overall architecture. There’s something about it that’s very soothing to me. Maybe it’s because of its round shape, or the openness I feel as I linger inside.

When I redesigned this blog, I mentioned that the Hirshhorn Museum was a big inspiration. I hope I have captured its tranquility.

If you’re ever in DC area, you should definitely check it out.

Some stats: Exposure: 10s, Aperture: f/11, Focal Length: 24mm, ISO Speed: 400. Cropped and resized in Photoshop.

I didn’t realize how hard it is to shoot candid shots until I attempted my first photo journal. It’s more than just pressing the shutter thoughtlessly. If you’re interested please take a look.

It’s been a year since I bought my Nikon D90. What an awesome camera it is. However, lately I find myself taking more photos with the 2 megapixel camera on my iPhone 3G. Technical spec wise, 3G camera is no comparison against the Nikon. But there’s something I love about the photos I take with the iPhone. It’s always with me, and it documents my daily life.

Last week I read photographer Chase Jarvis’s blog post promoting his new iPhone App, “The Best Camera.” Chase’s photography blog has been my favorite read, ever since I discovered his tips for taking great iPhone photos. If you’re into photography, I highly recommend his blog. Chase doesn’t talk too much about the techniques, but rather the essence of photography, and the photography profession.

In his promotion video for the iPhone app, one quote really struck a cord with me.

“The best camera is the One That’s with You. Images aren’t about dynamic ranges and megapixels. They’re about stories and moments.”

~ Chase Jarvis

I cannot agree more.

As much as I love my Nikon for its superb quality, I can’t carry it with me all the time. I can’t capture the unplanned details happening in my life. I mostly use my Nikon for photo journals I put a lot of fore-thought into. However, I always have my iPhone with me.

I’d be the first to admit, the iPhone camera isn’t the greatest. I remember how disappointed I was with it when I first bought it. But the more photos I take with it, the more aware I am about its limits and how to maximize it. Also because of its limits, I’m forced to approach the subjects in a different manner from my Nikon. I can’t do long exposure, field of depth etc; most of the time I’m at the mercy of poor lighting. So I focus on the subject matter instead. I challenge myself to make inert objects interesting, to make ordinary things extraordinary, to make moving forces hold still. Most importantly, to make photos to invoke an emotional response. After all, isn’t this what good photography is all about?

Too often, we find ourselves obsessing over the tools and techniques rather than essence of what we’re trying to do. Cameras don’t take photos, Photoshop doesn’t produce great graphic design, programming languages don’t produce great software, fancy clothes don’t make the personality.

Mobile photography is this generation’s Polaroid. It’s accessible, candid, intimate, instant gratification and timeless.

Here are some iPhone photos I’ve taken of things I see daily.

p.s. Mostly during my commute to work.

p.p.s. photos are post-processed with Camerabag and Toycamera apps.

In a ceremony on March 27, 1912, First Lady Helen Herron Taft and Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Japanese ambassador, planted the first two of these trees on the north bank of the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. By 1915 the United States government had responded with a gift of flowering dogwood trees to the people of Japan. In 1927, a group of American school children re-enacted the initial planting; the first festival was held in 1935, sponsored by civic groups in the nation’s capital. Suspended during World War II because of hostilities between the United States and the Empire of Japan, the festival resumed in 1947 with the support of the Washington, D.C. Board of Trade and the D.C. Commissioners. In 1948, the Cherry Blossom Princess and U.S. Cherry Blossom Queen program were started by the National Conference of State Societies.

The annual Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington DC took place in the past couple weeks. Last year when I attended the festival for the first time, I was amazed at the beautiful spring scenery. This year I was able to take some photos. Enjoy.

More photos on in my flickr set

One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for All.

Living in the DC Metro area, I can’t really say I take the vast art scene the city has to offer for granted, simply because I have yet to experience much of it. My time has been spent on work and a 2.5 hour daily train ride. The architectures that would typically whoa a tourist simply become obstacles in my commute, rushing to the subway.

This past weekend my friend Charlie, and his wife, Laura visited me from North Carolina. Playing the host/tour guide for them allowed me to experience the city a bit. The highlights were the visits to some of the museums. My favorite was the Smithsonian Hirshhorn Modern Art Museum. I’d like to share with my readers some photos from two exhibitions, the Panza Collection and Strange Bodies.

the Panza Collection

“Count Giuseppe Panza di Biumo is one of the world’s foremost collectors of American and European contemporary art. The Hirshhorn recently acquired thirty-nine works from Dr. Panza’s collection, all of which are on view this fall. As a group, the pieces provide an overview of the critical premises driving Conceptual, Light and Space, Minimal, and Environmental art. Created in the late 1960s and early 1970s by an international roster of artists, the works shed light on an era when many artists began to reject traditional media and aesthetic concerns. Instead, they redefined art in a broader range, from Conceptual works that favored ideas over the creation of unique objects to large-scale installations that challenge prevalent notions about the boundaries between an artwork and the surrounding environment.”

Strange Bodies

“An important strength of the Hirshhorn Museum is its holdings in figurative art. Strange Bodies brings together some of the most praised and popular examples of figuration from the collection to show how expressionistic and surrealistic impulses toward human representation have evolved from the early and mid-twentieth century to recent decades. The tension between the enthusiastic response that figuration often receives from general audiences and the loaded, at times dark content it can carry is also explored. Moreover, the installation allows an assessment of past collection building.”

]]> http://www.8164.org/hirshhorn-museum/feed/ 8 http://www.8164.org/michael-kenna/ http://www.8164.org/michael-kenna/#comments Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:02:25 +0000 Jin http://www.8164.org/?p=1088

There are many artists I admire. Mr. Michael Kenna is one of them. In fact, he’s my most favorite professional photographer.

You can check out his work at:

• Official Site
• Silent World – A Photo Compilation
• Michael Kenna – Short film on his life and techniques (via youtube)

Mr. Kenna’s photos exude sophistication through simplicity. You sense the solitude, the etherealness, and tranquility, as if you were in the scene yourself. He accomplishes this by masterful composition, light and shadow.

As a fan of simplicity in design and minimalism in art, I’m especially drawn to “Six Sticks” (pictured above). This particular photo entices me because of how simple and yet how telling it is. It captures the essence of a calm lake, without the inclusion of shore bank, trees, or anything else other than the six floating sticks and a subtle horizon. My mind fills the gap of what’s not there.

I often wondered what was going through Mr. Kenna’s mind when he took this photo. Sometimes the creative process is even more fascinating than the end result. It never occurred to me to actually ask him. Then I realized the internet has made the world so small, everyone, my idol included, is just an email away. I sent Mr. Kenna an email, asking him for permission to use this photo on my blog, and his thought process when capturing “Six Sticks.”

Much to my surprise, he returned my email. One of the best emails I’ve ever received.

Dear Jin,

Of course you may use the image on your blog

As for what I was thinking…

Perhaps it was an attempt to reduce the complicated, noisy, colorful, cluttered, busy, fast paced world, to something calm, simple and meditative. But I rather believe interpretation should be in the mind, heart and soul of the beholder. So, perhaps it is better that you think about it yourself : )

very best

Michael

Thank you Mr. Kenna, and internet.