Generally speaking I can’t stand pictures of myself. I have fairly asymmetrical features and am accustomed to my mirror image, so I never feel like photos look like me. I’m also almost always the person behind the camera on any kind of travel or general photo opportunities, so rarely am I captured in photos. For the NOLA/Florida trip, Jer actually brought a camera as well (an Olympus PL2), so for the first time in a long time, there are actually photos of me from the trip.

Here are the best ones: (more…)

I fully subscribe to the theory that good photographers can take a great photo with any camera. I also believe that most of the people who preach that statement tend to have a large collection of amazing cameras and lenses.

About 6 years ago when I was going to art school I started to become interested in photography. At the time DSLRs were relatively new, and being a student, I was poor. I bought a D40X with money from a tax return, and was blown away by the difference between it and my old Kodak point-and shoot. I didn’t buy a kit lens—but I also didn’t buy an expensive one. I knew my limitations. No amount of lens was going to make me not suck as photographer.

Over these past 5 years, I’ve become more comfortable with a camera, and while I’m by no means good, I’m getting to the point where I’m starting to feel limited by my 5 year old entry-level DSLR. The small sensor and pathetic ISO make it very unsuitable for hand-held shooting in low light, as I became painfully aware of when trying to take shots at my friend Kyle’s wedding this past weekend.

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Tonight I went to the final Whitecaps game at Empire field before they move to their new stadium. They lost to the Seattle Sounders in a shoot-out, 3-1. Sounds more like a hockey score, I know.

This was my first live soccer game. I was completely fascinated. Not so much by the gameplay—I know it’s cliche, but I find the game to be slow. Although I’m amazed at the talent and footwork out there.

I was more fascinated by the crowds. Fan participation in soccer is so organized, so active. I felt like the whole evening people were telling jokes in another language and I never knew when or what the punchline was. The chants, the songs, the rhythms—all so foreign to me. And man do people get into it. That part makes it fun.

Overall I enjoyed the evening. Best chant I heard was a follow-up to a group of Seattle fans who were chanting “U-S-A”, a group replied with “We have healthcare, we have healthcare!”

Can’t really argue with that.