Ever notice how most parents of first-generation Asian Americans all have this notion that their children were born with prodigious talent and would someday grow up to become world-famous concert pianists? My parents were definitely no exception. My sister and I both started playing the piano at a very young age, but it wasn’t until after I left home for college did I really learn to enjoy the art. I suppose it was because growing up I was forced to practice every day after school and instead of spending the weekends watching Saturday morning cartoons or playing in the park with friends, I was at my piano lessons with Mrs. Pfinning. As a small kid, I remember feeling even smaller every time I walked into her grand old country-style house. She had a quaint studio room especially dedicated for her lessons complete with a grand piano, an electric organ, a music stand for her violinists and an extravagant chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Off to the corner was a large, comfy, velvet armchair where I would sit to wait for my sister to finish her lessons before it would be my turn. Next to the armchair was a magazine stand filled with random children’s books and books on inspiration. One of my favorites was this little book entitled, All I Really Need to Know, I learned in Kindergarten.

I suppose in a way, I believe that it’s true… you learn the basics on life and human interaction in kindergarten to help you succeed in this world. According to the author, what you learn in kindergarten can be summarized into 16 major points and that is all you need to know on how to live, how to be and what to do in life. Fortunately, for us in the photography world, there are only three basic concepts to learn before you graduate from kindergarten, and they are ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. Just from these three concepts, we can derive exposure, depth of field, equivalency, and the metering system to finally arrive at the Sunny 16 Rule. And with that, you will be ready to head out and explore the world, fully-armed with camera in hand!

Growing up in the suburbs north of Denver, Fourth of July weekend always meant an outdoor picnic or barbeque at my cousin’s place, lots of watermelon, and fun lighting sparklers and spinners with the neighborhood kids. At night we’d all head out to Webster Lake to watch the fireworks. I remember this one year we actually missed the show because my parents accidently left the keys inside the house as we were all rushing out to beat the crowd. The only way in was through my parent’s bedroom on the second floor. And so, we called up my uncle and he brought over his ladder. My dad climbed over the fence first where my dog was on the other side very excited yet confused at the same time. Eventually, we all ended up in the backyard, pondering over who would be able to climb up the ladder and squeeze through the narrow opening in the window. My younger cousin jumped at the chance, but being five years older than him and hence, more mature, I was clearly more qualified for the task at hand. Because of my accomplishment that night, I can say today with full conviction that I, for once in my life, actually ’saved the day!’

This year I decided to relive my childhood days (without the drama of being locked out) and planned a picnic of my own at Burton Chase Park in Marina Del Rey. My three-course picnic included an apple-potato salad, ciabatta sandwiches with apricot jam, roasted chicken, prosciutto, fontina cheese, and watercress, strawberry-lime chiffon cupcakes with a mascarpone frosting for dessert, and Honest Tea’s Pearfect Tea to drink, which was pearfectly refreshing!

With a couple hours to spare before the fireworks show, I took some candid shots of the people at the park and practiced shooting with longer shutter speeds. Now, the trick to take pictures of fireworks is to use the ‘bulb’ function on your camera at inifinity focus, which just means you set your camera to ‘manual focus’ and look through the lens and locus the lens as far as you can see. The ‘bulb’ function on most cameras can be found by increasing the shutter speed until ‘bulb’ is indicated on the display menu. Setting the camera to the ‘bulb’ exposure allows you to keep the shutter open for as long as you hold down the shutter button and so the ‘bulb’ function is the longest shutter speed possible on your camera.

When you’re ready to take pictures of fireworks, simply cover the lens with your hand and press and hold down the shutter button. Uncover the lens when you see a good firework. Hold for about 3 seconds and then cover back the lens with your hand. Repeat this process for the next firework. DO NOT release the shutter button until you want to finish the frame. You can have as many fireworks in one shot as you wish with this method. You don’t necessarily need a tripod, but I highly recommend it. If you want to photograph a still object in front of the fireworks (e.g., Statue of Liberty, Washington Monument), you’ll definitely need a tripod.

So now that you know the trick, go ahead and give it a try next year or if you have the uncontrollable urge right now, Disneyland has their nightly fireworks spectacular all year long!

When I was about three years old, my family and I took a roadtrip to Chesapeake Bay and we stayed at this rundown motel along the beach, a vivid image in my memory still to this day mainly because our room actually came fully-equipped with a kitchenette!  In my young mind, it was the perfect pretend play kitchen made just for me… a tiny fridge, a small stove with only two burners, and a sink.  In fact, I do believe I actually ooo’d and aah’d at the sight of it the moment I stepped through the door.  I suppose even back then I had a particular fondness for all things culinary.

After we settled in, we headed out to the beach just before sunset.  This was the defining moment when I fell in love with the ocean and its sandy shores.  As protective as my parents were (and still are), my dad carried me most of the way and wouldn’t let me down until I begged him.  Even then, he didn’t let me get very close to the shoreline, and he stood directly in front of me so I wouldn’t get washed out to sea.  I was still able to stoop down and see through his legs and watch the glistening water flow back and forth as the sun slowly disappeared behind the city skyline.

I regret not being able to capture that moment on film, but it will always stay with me in my mind.  I think it’s true what they say about a picture being worth more than a thousand words… photographs have this awesome power of triggering emotions and memories long lost, and can take you to places you never knew existed.  Photography is truly an artform and I am a mere novice on the path to discovering the tricks of the trade.

I received my first digital SLR, the Canon Rebel xTi (as pictured on my homepage), as a birthday present last year from a very special someone and I’ve been taking pictures ever since.  If you’re new to photography, you’ll be amazed at the kinds of pictures you can take if you just practice, practice, practice!  When you take your camera with you whenever possible, you’re bound to get a lucky shot or two.  Trust me, some of my favorite shots were taken years ago with my old point-and-shoot when I had no clue what I was doing.

Earlier this year I decided to enroll myself in photography classes at my nearby community college taught by the chair of the photography department, Larry Jones, and this blog will serve as a means for me to pass on what I’ve learned.  Comments and suggestions are always welcome and if you have any specific questions on photography, I’ll try my best to get an answer back to you.  In addition, I’ll also post random thoughts and amusing discoveries from my everyday life.  Happy reading to you and here’s a toast to serendipity!