I thought it would be nice to share my story on how I got to take pictures of the Super Blue Red Moon and to showcase some of my photos that I am proud of growing as a photographer ever since this blog was created back in 2014. For those who never seen my blog before, welcome and I hope you'll enjoy what you see what I have worked on.
January 31, 2018
I woke up at 5am, surprised that I was awake after going to bed at 1am. I found out about the Super Blue Red Moon from a church friend, and I was so excited to see a red moon after seeing one ......back in 2008, which is exactly a decade ago. (Man, I am old). I walked up to my co-op's roof and I could not find the moon until I saw a red dot in the sky. I was again surprised that it was red and that no one else joined me, but having the privacy gave me the freedom to take an hour by myself taking pictures with a plastic tray on a table, since I left my tripod at home (long story). I was frustrated at how steady the camera has to be and learned how to manually focus my camera on a zoom function, allowing me to adjust the camera's resolution until I got what I needed. Later on in the morning, I saw a few airplanes flying by and they look soooooo beautiful near the moon, but my timer and shutter speed did not match up quick right, so I was sad that I did not have picture of a Southwest airplane flying directly across the moon (It took me a few days to get over it), but I am happy I was able to get a nice shot of the moon. I then thought how it would be cool to have a super moon picture and juxtapose them together, which is the image below using Photoshop and my pictures. I did not know that I matched the two halves of the moon that well, so yippee!
I woke up at 5am, surprised that I was awake after going to bed at 1am. I found out about the Super Blue Red Moon from a church friend, and I was so excited to see a red moon after seeing one ......back in 2008, which is exactly a decade ago. (Man, I am old). I walked up to my co-op's roof and I could not find the moon until I saw a red dot in the sky. I was again surprised that it was red and that no one else joined me, but having the privacy gave me the freedom to take an hour by myself taking pictures with a plastic tray on a table, since I left my tripod at home (long story). I was frustrated at how steady the camera has to be and learned how to manually focus my camera on a zoom function, allowing me to adjust the camera's resolution until I got what I needed. Later on in the morning, I saw a few airplanes flying by and they look soooooo beautiful near the moon, but my timer and shutter speed did not match up quick right, so I was sad that I did not have picture of a Southwest airplane flying directly across the moon (It took me a few days to get over it), but I am happy I was able to get a nice shot of the moon. I then thought how it would be cool to have a super moon picture and juxtapose them together, which is the image below using Photoshop and my pictures. I did not know that I matched the two halves of the moon that well, so yippee!
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| Super Blue Red Moon |
August 21, 2017
I knew there was a solar eclipse coming so I got my welder's glass and looked up at the morning sky.....to see clouds blocking the sky. Dejected, I walked to my friend's house and occasionally glancing at the sky. A neighbor was standing outside and we both look at the sun peaking out, and I immediately spent a good hour (not the best idea in hindsight since my eyesight went blurry) taking pictures of the eclipse with the wielder's glass. I really like this alien like, sunrise picture that make the clouds appear like dark roaring waves.
August 13, 2017
I was simply walking along the Santa Cruz boardwalk with my parents and heard the sound of the seals. We gravitate towards the sound and saw how the seals congregate and bark at each other as they glide in the water. One of them gawk at me for food and I simply gave the seal my camera's attention.
August 6, 2017
I was told by the Daily Cal to take pictures of road construction on Bancroft Ave (which was already finished when I was given the assignment). After biking for a good 30 minutes, I was told to take pictures of Euclid Ave and spent time observing how the construction worker interact with their work place and co-workers . I really enjoy this one because you can see how he is diligently working with the unfinished road.
November 28, 2014
My first recognized photograph that earn me a student of the year reward from my digital photography teacher Mr. Farley back in my junior year. The idea came from a friend Samuel Sze about Gordon Park's photos which has an African American man holding a sign saying, "We live a Police State." Sam said we should make a sign saying, "We live in a G.P.A. State" and I thought the idea was terrific because my high school was known to be really academically focused to the point students often suffer mentally on whether or not they are capable of being successful or happy in life when we are always juxtapose by grades, rigor of extracurricular and courses and knowledge. I thought I could use my past report cards on the wall behind me as a backdrop since the poster itself was boring. (Yes, you can read them since my point-and-shoot was that clear). I spent an hour arranging the report cards and taking pictures on a tripod, and my teacher was blown away by my effort in this one photo and later photo assignments. His encouragement led me to continue pursuing photography.
I knew there was a solar eclipse coming so I got my welder's glass and looked up at the morning sky.....to see clouds blocking the sky. Dejected, I walked to my friend's house and occasionally glancing at the sky. A neighbor was standing outside and we both look at the sun peaking out, and I immediately spent a good hour (not the best idea in hindsight since my eyesight went blurry) taking pictures of the eclipse with the wielder's glass. I really like this alien like, sunrise picture that make the clouds appear like dark roaring waves.
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| Partial Eclipse |
I was simply walking along the Santa Cruz boardwalk with my parents and heard the sound of the seals. We gravitate towards the sound and saw how the seals congregate and bark at each other as they glide in the water. One of them gawk at me for food and I simply gave the seal my camera's attention.
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| Santa Cruz Seal |
I was told by the Daily Cal to take pictures of road construction on Bancroft Ave (which was already finished when I was given the assignment). After biking for a good 30 minutes, I was told to take pictures of Euclid Ave and spent time observing how the construction worker interact with their work place and co-workers . I really enjoy this one because you can see how he is diligently working with the unfinished road.
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| Construction worker on intersection of Euclid Ave and Hearst Ave |
November 28, 2014
My first recognized photograph that earn me a student of the year reward from my digital photography teacher Mr. Farley back in my junior year. The idea came from a friend Samuel Sze about Gordon Park's photos which has an African American man holding a sign saying, "We live a Police State." Sam said we should make a sign saying, "We live in a G.P.A. State" and I thought the idea was terrific because my high school was known to be really academically focused to the point students often suffer mentally on whether or not they are capable of being successful or happy in life when we are always juxtapose by grades, rigor of extracurricular and courses and knowledge. I thought I could use my past report cards on the wall behind me as a backdrop since the poster itself was boring. (Yes, you can read them since my point-and-shoot was that clear). I spent an hour arranging the report cards and taking pictures on a tripod, and my teacher was blown away by my effort in this one photo and later photo assignments. His encouragement led me to continue pursuing photography.
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| My junior year self posing for my high school's harmful grade mentality |
