An ode to NYC and NJ after Hurricane Sandy.
Shot from the rooftop at the Hyatt Regency Jersey City, in September 2012.
NYC: The Guggenheim: Picasso, Black and White
While in NYC I took in Picasso's Black and White exhibit at The Guggenheim, a museum I hadn't been to in years, remember THIS throwback Monday?
The exhibit is expressive, robust and void of color, as Picasso claimed,
Color weakens.
Thus, I present my vision of the Guggenheim in black, white and shades of gray....(with a bit of Central Park thrown in for good measure).
Black and White runs until January 23, 2013
San Diego: Desert Garden, Balboa Park
Ah yes, I'm taking you back to San Diego today, for a visit amongst some wild specimens. At the Desert Garden at Balboa Park.
Come and smell the roses with me...
10 Tips On How to Make Your Instagrams Better
I don't know anyone who's not addicted to Instagram, do you?
With more Instagrams taking up our Twitter feeds, I thought I'd share a few tips on how to make your Instagrams better with some examples from my own feed (@hoggerandco) to illustrate some things I've noticed since I started using the app. And if you're on Instagram, give me your handle so I can follow you!
1. Minimalism. Less is more. This is a common theme of many Instagrammers I follow. The negative space around a subject often times proves more interesting. This is common in landscape shots. More sky, less building.
2. Self-portraits. Adding one or two self-portraits in your feed gives your followers a glimpse of YOU. I enjoy getting a glimpse of what the people I follow look like. Of course, that's to say, not dedicating your entire feed to a self-portrait party. And if you prefer to remain annonymous, more power to you.
3. Good lighting. Good light is important in getting the attention on what it is you're taking a photo of. If you're in a dark restaurant, you're not likely to get a good shot of what you're eating. But with more light, the easier it is to showcase your subject.
4. Good shadow. Shadow is equally as important as good light. The two work well together in creating interesting compositions.
5. Speaking of which. Composition. Composing a shot into an interesting array of subject matter can elevate the mundane. Remember the rule of thirds, that not everything has to be in the center of the frame. Having a focal point and having everything else in the shot direct your eye to the focal point is a good place to start.
6. Shoot from above. Many of the people I follow have some of the best Instagram photos because they shoot from above the object. Give it a try...you'll look silly doing it at the time, but you'll love the result.
7. Crop. Don't be afraid to crop your shot down. Getting rid of distracting objects on the outskirts of the shot make it more interesting (here I cropped out the cabanas).
8. Don't zoom in. Don't zoom into the subject before taking the photo. You'll end up with a pixelated shot. Instead take the photo and then crop it. If you're too far away from your subject, you're better of forgetting about the subject altogether rather than using an overly pixelated shot just for the sake of it. (Here I got up close instead of zooming into the fish, I decided to keep the cooler in the shot).
9. Blur is your friend. If used properly, the blur tool can really highlight your subject. The "spot" blur is great for really focusing on something, whereas I like using the "bar" blur for creating semi tilt-shift scenarios.
10. Silhouettes. Sometimes a silhouette is all you need to tell a story.
Was this helpful? Would you like to see more photo tips on the blog?
August: Art to Inspiration
This month's A2I post features artist Lara Harwood's "...now imagine all the thick birdsong thick as a forest"
Harwood's watercolour paintings are sublime, the type of work that could enhance any space with their bright, vivid colours, illustrative nature and minimal subject matter.
This jungley image from Harwood's sketchbook of watercolours from India, 2009, is a piece that really took me back to my own journey through Kerala's backwaters in Feb 2010.
The composition of heavy greenery vs the simple silhouette encapsulates the very nature of Kerala's scenery.
Today, Harwood's watercolour has inspired me to reminisce...
Last month's Art to Inspiration featured my own work (thanks Sups!): July
Want to join Art to Inspiration? Just click here!
July: Art to Inspiration
I'm beside myself that Sups from Chevrons & Éclairs has chosen one of my photographs for this month's A2I!
I thought I'd give a bit of background to this image, which is one from a series I shot for Aarti when she was starting up her yoga company, 'Healing Yoga with Aarti'.
I love this quote from her practice:
"Health is wealth, peace of mind is happiness, yoga shows the way" - Swami Vishnudevananda
Aarti was looking for yoga photos that weren't conventional (ie. sun-set-silhouette-type shots) but more of something organic with interesting body shapes and unique backdrops. She was really open-minded so we tried some really cool things, like this shot of her in her beautiful lehenga out on the skating rink at the Harbourfront Centre across from our condo and the CN Tower in Toronto. Here, some other shots from her shoot.
Thank you Sups for choosing one of my pieces for this month's Art To Inspiration!
You'll be able to see the full A2I gallery over here.
Want to join Art to Inspiration? Just click here!
Miami: Fontainbleau Hotel
What a glorious stay at Miami's Fontainbleau Hotel.
Not only is it one of the most beautiful hotels in South Beach, it also has the best service I've ever encountered, both indoors and out, not to mention the incredible Hakkasan restaurant.
After I was stung by a jelly fish one afternoon, the Lapis Spa staff's immediate concern and quick response helped ease the pain (and who knew vinegar is the solution!) and allowed me to get back into the ocean soon after.
We're immensely thankful to the kind staff of the Fontainbleau, who generously donated the luxurious Lapis Spa products for the Nashua Soup Kitchen. We were happy to bring back a giant box of mini shampoos and lotions, that we distributed at the NSK this past weekend.
Thank you so much Fontainbleau, we'll most definitely be back!
Greece: Ferry from Santorini
Goodbye Santorini! Hello Sunset!
Greece: Santorini, Goodbye
Guys, it's finally time to say goodbye to Santorini, and Hotel Sunny Villas, easily one of the most unique hotels in the world.
Here's a last look.
Greece: Santorini, RGBY
After our hike, and surprise encounter, there was time for a last saunter through the village for souvenirs and THIS!
*RGBY = Red, Green, Blue, Yellow, the colours that summarize this post.
Greece: Santorini, Cat and...
Dog.
That was what this cute cat was intently gazing at.
Wasn't at all fazed when I went right up with my camera.
Greece: Santorini, Skaros Rock
Certainly one of the most unique places to stay would be inside a cave, wouldn't you say?
Hotel Sunny Villas, with its incredible caldera and sunset views, was one such place and with it being situated in front of the famed Skaros Rock, it was an ideal location for a morning hike.
Now, I'm not a hiker, and not an adventure seeker, either, so seeing a well-trodden path on Skaros made me feel confident about this type of hike.
Then we met a group who had just done the hike and were resting at the foot of it, amongst them was an older lady with a cane.
They told us that there's a hidden CHURCH on the other side of Skaros Rock, that is only accessible if you hike over some fallen rocks, which, when you approach them, appear to be the end of the road. However if you hike OVER these trecherous rocks (with a sheer drop on the other side) the path continues on down to the church. With an incredible view.
And a closer view of Heaven I thought, if I slipped.
BUT.
The old lady did it.
So we gave it a go, and of course at the pile of fallen rocks, the camera was put away, but you can see that they were right.
Totally worth it.
Heaven, on earth.
Greece: Santorini, Oia
Have a wonderful weekend!
Greece: Santorini, Oia's Sunset
The crowd has gathered. Everyone's settled in for the big moment.
The time has come.
Sunset over Oia.
Greece: Santorini, Dogs + Photogs
The sunset in Oia brought every tourist to it's tip, each person vying for a comfortable spot to enjoy sun down.
Then, there was this dog, like the Lassie of Oia, leading the way for tourists, and braving great heights for a photo op; finally settling down in a nook that stuck out way over the water.
