bob@bcphotography.com 928-300-0535 coatesart.net
As usual I am chasing birds with my camera… Adding a twist I turn the pelican, yes these images are based on a pelican. I call these mandalas…
Pelican Mandala fine art image by yours truly, Bob Coates Photography 
Pelican Mandala fine art image
Pelican Mandala fine art image variation.
Hard to post from the ship. More images upon my return.
Yours in Photography, Bob
Metal sculpture in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. I think she’s kind of cute!!
Here’s the guy to go with her. I like the ‘Day of the Dead’ feel I got with the Impressive Art
setting and skewing the white balance to black and white with the GX7. I always shoot in RAW plus jpeg when using the settings so I can get back to the original information that was presented to the camera.
Cabo San Lucas is a very good sport-fishing port as evidenced by the people showing off their catch at the dock.
As Internet is pretty expensive on board the ship I won’t be posting as much as I like but I’ll get more to you upon my return…
When I last posted from my blog it was highlighting coverage from the Sedona International Film Festival. Kinda left you hanging didn’t I?? I left there and jumped onto a plane in order to take my wife on a cruise to the Mexican Riviera on board a Princess Cruise ship. I will share some more of those images and coverage upon my return.
Meanwhile here are a few images to help tell the story of a few ports we have already visited…
Here was the view off the rear of the ship as we left our first port of call San Diego, CA.
It was quite beautiful and the GX7 held up well in creating the panorama in camera.
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico lovers beach view from the ship.
The Lumix GX7 is my camera of choice for travel as well as my everyday camera. My entire kit with camera and 4 lenses weighs just a bit more than my DSLR and a single lens making it an awesome choice for travel. The files hold up when I try to push them upon my return. Yahoo!!
More tomorrow…
Yours in Photography, Bob
I love this guy (or is it gal?) Anonymous. Seems to come up with all kinds of great ideas…
Here’s the thought starter for today’s post. “When you use a camera, not as a machine but as an extension of your heart, You become ONE with your subject.”
If I may make a recommendation based on today’s thought for you as a photographer – it’s to really learn your equipment. Today’s cameras are awesome machines with lots of possibilities and settings. Read your manual. Try all the different settings. Practice. When you are watching TV have your camera with you and practice finding the settings you need by feel. When you are on the bus or the plane practice setting the camera for different situations without looking at the camera. The better and faster you can set your camera for different situations the less you need to think about it the more in touch you’ll be with your chosen subject. Practice every time you get a spare moment and try to keep your camera with you all the time so when you see a new or interesting lighting situation you can capture it and see if your eye matches what you thought you were capturing with your camera.
And that my friend will make a huge difference in the images you bring home.
By the way did I mention that you should practice??
Your in Photography, Bob
PS – I’ve been finding that with the micro 4/3rds mirrrorless camera system it is much easier to have a camera with me all the time. My preferred model for everyday use is the Lumix GX7 accompanied by a very small ThinkTank Photo pouch of lenses.
Media room time at the Sedona International Film Festival saw Randy Murray in the hot seat fielding questions about his movie the ‘The Joe Show’ about Arizona’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
From the Media Room at the Sedona International Film Festival Randy Murray shares stories
and thoughts about his movie ‘The Joe Show’.
Murray in a more serious moment explaining that if you like Joe Arpaio you will like the first half of the movie and if you don’t you’ll tend to like the second half of the film showing there are two sides to this story told in ‘The Joe Show’
Headline star Stefanie Powers was featured at the Sedona International Film Festival including a meeting with the press in the media room and audience Question and Answer session ‘An Evening with Stefanie Powers’ at the Sedona Performing Arts Center.
When working with capturing expressions when people are telling stories you almost have to pretend you are shooting sports or wildlife. Study how the person moves, when they pause, what happens when they laugh. Do they throw back their heads or gently smile? When people are sharing stories they will often look up or down when trying to find the story inside their brain. Eyes don’t stay open as long etc. When photographing anyone but especially celebrities you want to make sure you are getting the optimum moment so they look their best. The Lumix GX7 was a great help in capturing expressions from this interview. NO lag time on focus and when necessary you can turn on the fast capture and get 10 fps. Even then you need to fire at the right moment to get a pleasing expression.
Timing was extremely important in getting good expressions during this interview.
View of Stefanie Powers from behind the streaming video cameras in the media interview room at SIFF.
To see more of Stefanie Powers photos fro the Film Festival go to my commercial web site bcphotography.com
Yours in Photography, Bob
If day two had a great theme and hero it would be Ed Asner winner of Golden Globe and Emmy Awards. He was invited to help introduce the movie ‘The Letters’ at Sedona’s Performing Arts Center during the Sedona International Film Festival. Asner was extremely funny and carried his visit over to the party held at the Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa. So I’ll dedicate this page to Ed!
Ed with Mary Fisher in the Green Room waiting to hit the stage for the intro.
SIFF volunteer Marin giving Ed a hand on stage and they are having a good time getting there!
Asner regaling the audience with stories while warming up for the intro to the movie. Long time Asner friend Patrick Schweiss, President and Executive Director of the SIFF share the stage at SPAC.
SIFF board member Linda Goldenstein of Goldenstein Gallery greets Ed as he joins the party in full swing at Sedona Rouge Hotel.
Ed Asner – life of the party holding court and visiting with all the guests.
As you know I was hired to help cover the Sedona International Film Festival for the organizers.
One of the assignments was to grab some images from a live stage performance. There was some grief from a previous performance being disrupted by flash being used and disturbing the audience. I assured that wold never happen during my capture of a show. Using built in features of the Lumix cameras makes it possible to be extremely stealthy. I always work toward being low key in capturing images at events. I jumped up in the esteem of the President/Director of the Sedona Film Festival because of a couple features on the Lumix GH3 and Lumix GX7.
Here’s the inside scoop.
Feature one – Using the auto bracket on the cameras allows you to capture the large dynamic range of the scene by blending the various exposures together. You have the choice of three, five or seven image brackets in 1/3, 2/3 or full stops at the twist of a button or a quick visit to the menus depending on which camera you are using.
Bright white rooms with lighted accents and dark table dressing can be difficult to get detail in all areas. The multiple exposures makes sure you can find the information and put it to use. This is the party room at the Sedona Rouge Hotel. Scene of the SIFF party on night two.
Feature two – Silent Mode. Being able to turn the camera to perfectly silent mode has been a feature I’ve always wanted to have and now it’s available. I was standing right beside the guy who hired me capturing the scene. When we moved out to the lobby he asked when I was going to get the photos. I told him I already had and showed him some on the back of the camera… He said, “You are amazing! I didn’t hear a thing…”
This was photographed in the Mary D Fisher Theater in pretty much a dark setting with high contrasting stage lights. Recovered using multiple exposures. Shot in Silent Mode available on the Lumix GH3 camera to not disturb the audience.
I keep finding more and more reasons to choose the Lumix Micro 4/3rds system and loving it!
Continuing coverage of the Sedona International Film Festival still on Saturday… Opening day festivities include eight movies, ribbon cutting, and opening day party.
A packed house at the Sedona International Film Festival at Sedona Performing Arts Center with performer ‘Paolo’ warming up the house for the movie Redwood Highway.
Entertainer Paolo on stage at Sedona Perfoming Arts Center during SIFF
Let’s get this thing off the ground!! SIFF Board at official ribbon cutting to kick
off the Sedona International Film Festival.
The kick-off party for SIFF was held at Sound Bites Grill a the Hyatt Pinon Point in Sedona.
Estaban & Teresa Joy stop in for a few songs at Sound Bites Grill during opening Sedona Film Fest opening party!
PS Regular performances starting March 1st!
Sir Harrison & his band perform with dancers at Sound Bites Grill.
End day one at the festival. More tomorrow!
Yours in Photography, Bob
WOW!
The Sedona International Film Festival is on. I am helping to cover the events as one of the Festival Photographers and this is quite an event.
Covering this event has been much easier now that I am sporting lighter gear. The Micro 4/3rds format is awesome. I know with my full DLSR kit I would come home from a day of coverage with sore arms, hands and shoulders with a bit of lower back pain thrown in… The Lumix DLSM’s GH3 and GX7 that were hanging from my shoulders yesterday left nary a dent.
Sill frame form movie ‘The Girl On the Train’ by Larry Brand with audience at Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
Larry Brand and audience following a screening of ‘The Girl On The Train’ at Sedona International Film Festival.
Aron Camisano fields questions from audience after his short film ‘Chocolates’ was screened
at the Sedona Performing Arts Center.
Jeremy Levin answers questions following the showing of his new film ‘Girl on a Bicycle’ at the Sedona Film Festival.
Patrick Schweiss, President/Executive Director, presents Jeremy Levin the Excellence in Screenwriting Award on behalf of the Sedona International Film Fest after the screening of ‘Girl on a Bicycle’.
President/Executive Director Patrick Schweiss addresses a packed house at the Sedona International Film Festival at the Sedona Performing Arts Center on opening day…
More coverage to come in following posts. I’ll be covering this event through Friday morning.
Yours in Photography, Bob
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