welcome to the club




These past two days have been great for some of us in SK. For me just being here and being able to capture some of what is happening is enough, but the icing is being able to share some of it with someone else, somewhere. Many of us go through life seeing but not observing. I suspect that after viewing some snaps here some of us are now more observant. That helps us to better appreciate our world, and could motivate us to work with and help others to improve upon it.

I do not think we are ready to welcome the whole world of photography to SK as yet, but we are getting there slowly. The system takes the heat for everything that is not totally right, but the real truth may be that the "people" that are expected to "do the right thing" either do it wrong or not at all ... and I believe it is our duty [if we are Nation-ally serious] to "kick some butt". But we can't wait for every five years to do that, we must do that every day. We have to eat every day. So much for that.

Thursday saw the cruise liner the Queen Elizabeth at Port Zante. We saw a display at the archway to the National Museum. We saw visitors involved in and enjoy their holdiay in Liamuiga, a Kittitian holiday. I am yet to understand why some of us living in the "multi" blessed 68-square mile island cannot allow ourselves to enjoy even one day like our tourists and visitors. Some people say "it is the politics that cause that".  I do not know that to be so, because I am living like a tourist in SK, and when I visit Port Zante, some Taxi operators want to take me on an "island tour" or "To the beach", so I must really look and dress like a tourist too. I still have not found the right way to inform the guys that "I am a local, born and bred Kittitian, and not one who has lived outside SK for 3, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 years. I have respect for our folks who have been forced to live out of SK for so long, everyone has their business to see to, and have to do what they must.

For some time I was stuck with having to shoot almost everything with a Canon EF 75-300mm lens because my seven [7] Canon EF lenses either had a mold or stuck iris. Changing to the EF 20-35mm for a snap was a bother, and missing the focal length from 35-75mm wanted to send me up to the white ward of the JNF Hospital. Well I got rid of all that stress, anxiety and whatever, by finding myself a Canon EF 28-200mm lens on eBay. That is now my only walkabout lens. It is working for me. When I upgrade to the EOS-1DX the EF 28-300mm L IS USM will be my walkabout lens, so I am practicing now walking around with a "hand of bananas" in my camera bag ... it also helps boost the blood sugar if needed ... worst case scenario, I may employ an assistant to carry the lens.

Walking about I am now missing the 300mm for that extra reach and if santa drops anything in my Piggy Bank next weekend I am heading for that EF 28-300mm L IS USM, the EOS-1DX will have to follow later. Before I forget, they have some people in SK [not calling any names] like they want me to run a photography class, course or something of the sort. That is not on my agenda, nor do I think [for now] that it is one of my lifetime assignments, but I hear you, and will give the idea some thought, run it by some associates of mine, and maybe something can be forthcoming before 2013. Of course I am open 24x7 to helping anyone with any aspect of photography, that I may know about [and that is very little]. Actually all the photography info and theory that someone may need to know is available on the Internet for FREE, but if someone wants it structured, just register with a reputable photo school.

One of the most important things in photography is to know your photo tools. Know how to set your camera for what you think you want to capture. If you did not capture what you wanted, research why not. It is all about light. The camera electronics are designed to give an "on the money exposure" every time. You have to know exactly what the camera is seeing. Then you determine if the camera can handle "the light" by itself, or you need to manually readjust it, to record the light as you see it, and wish to capture it on film. Then you are home free. All it takes is a little time and effort, and almost anyone can produce "professionally" acceptable photographs.  These days I am not shooting for pay so I shoot like an amateur, "set it and forget it", but I am still shooting RAW and downstream. I considered Photoshop and Lightroom but with the 2012 Adobe upset, not me. If you want to shoot for pay you may need them. I am looking for stats of how many Asians, like Chinese and Japanese, are using Adobe photo editing products.

I dashed down to the Bay Road at sunset to take snaps of the QE while at Port Zante, but I missed that. I did not feel like lugging the heavy tripod back up the hill so I grapped a monopod that I had in a corner for over four [4] years and never used once. Maybe I don't know how it works, but I was totally not impressed by it. Maybe it is me. Hand holding the camera at 1/8-second I could do better. Congrats to all who swear by a monopod, but I am now looking for an ultra light tripod that I can walk a mile with ... back up the hill. Better I had just jam the camera against a lamppost .... I know that works 100%. I see monopods for hundreds of dollars, maybe they come with stabilizer and anti gravity attachments. I am going to give the monopod a break and try it out again. I saw an advert somewhere for a monopod with a tripod foot, that looks interesting. Maybe I can engineer one.

All my $500 canon flash units are dead, so I am forced to use the built-in camera flash unit, with its inherent difficulties. I am not complaining because I can still bring home something shot in the dark, I just have to be more creative. As long as the lighting is good enough to get a hand held snap, that is all I need, but in these parts of the world the lighting is not set-up for photography, but for the spectator's viewing, and even for that it could be inadequate ... even the video guys are forced to use their on-camera lights. Show organizers are not learning, the quality of reproduction could depend on the quality of the "light".

So it is Carnival time, plenty to see in the days ahead, but the big days are Jouvert on 26th December, and New Year's Day on 1st January 2012. On these days all the cameras will be on the street, all the photographers will be on the move, from big names like Canon and Nikon to cell phone cameras. SKN is now a nation of photographers ... it is only my phone is camera-less, for now, but maybe Santa will fix that next week. Some photographers forget that batteries do run down, and need checking, charging and replacing. This year don't wait last minute, and be calling me about camera battery. I am not answering any phone calls about any camera battery this carnival. Pity I can't set my dog on you through the phone. Check cameras and batteries early.

Today is my off day... no cruise ships in Port.

Port Zante is the 'lime' for next week. Not telling you that is where to find 'the gifts', but for once in you life, maybe you need to step outside your box and live life in SKN like a tourist, and if you can do that .....

"Welcome to the 'club'."

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