Black and White for a Day

There's a lot of beautiful cameras worth lusting after these days, but one brand in particular never fails to draw my attention and affection- Leica. And, with their unconventional offerings of cameras without screens, autofocus, or even color rendering, it can be easy to see that Leica cameras are not for everyone.

Some of those who have shot with me might know that I usually carry a Leica M9 as my leisure camera for day-to-day use. So, when my local Leica store at Bellevue Square in Washington offered up a Leica Monochrom for a test drive, I couldn't resist trying out the black-and-white only version of the Leica M9, a camera which I love and use often.

So, how was it? In two words: eye opening.

The original Monochrom is a joy to use. Extremely fine detail renders beautifully even in the absence of color. It is the absence of color that actually aids in its sharp and detailed rendering of fine details. However, it is this lack of color that leads the photographer to train his or her eye to look for texture and patterns in order to properly utilize the Monochrom. Photos that rely on wild colors or basic composition fall through completely when using the Monochrom. This camera forces you to see the world for its patterns and textures, rather than what the human eye naturally expects to see.

Noah and Gabi

It's the first day of spring, and of course, here in lovely Seattle, it's raining. But, as luck would have it, we managed to have a day of overcast sunshine and warm weather- just long enough for a quick shoot with Noah and Gabi. 

For the longest time, I've shied away from taking photos for couples, weddings, etc. but, when my friend, Noah, approached me with the idea of doing a shoot for him and his girlfriend, I couldn't turn him down. And, I'm so glad I didn't. 

I've always admired the work of my favorite couples/wedding photographer, Gabe McClintock, but I had never thought of actually shooting with couples myself. This was my first time shooting with a couple, and I was initially unsure about the results, going into the shoot. But, a few shots in, and I knew for sure that this would turn out great. See the results for yourself: 

90% Chance of Rain

Maybe it's because I live in the warm, sunny state of Washington, or maybe it's just my luck, but lately, I've managed to accidentally schedule all of my photo shoots in the last month on rainy days. A couple of these shoots I've unfortunately had to postpone or cancel due to the fact that my clients wanted a warm, sunny day to shoot on (good thing we're in Seattle, eh?). 

However, some light drizzles and 20MPH winds can't stop me from shooting for my own enjoyment. Whether it be bearing the elements outdoors at a local farm, or enjoying the smell of old books in the library, there's no such thing as a bad place for taking photos. Of course, I'll always pray for a 70 degree Fahrenheit evening at golden hour. But for now, I'll happily deal with the mid-winter gloom.

In Memory of 2015

It's been three years since I first started photography, and it's seemed like each one has flown by quicker than the snap of a camera shutter. But it's at the end of every year, when I look back on my photos, that I realize just how invaluable photography has been to me. Photographs have provided me with memories, both bitter and sweet, and with hope that there will be better photographs to be made in the future. 

2015 has been a year of both love and loss, but also, the ultimate proof that love prevails in spite of misery- in spite of human violence and natural disaster. At the dawn of spring, I created new friendships that I still treasure to this day. At the end of my junior year in high school, I said goodbye to beloved friends as they left to start their new journeys in college. In the summer, I visited my grandparents, not realizing that it would be my last chance to see my grandmother.

Meanwhile, I had started to take my professional photography quite a bit more seriously. During my internship for the City of Redmond, I attended and photographed many events hosted by the City. Through each shoot, I gained experience in the art of street photography along with more ability in approaching strangers.

In addition to my internship, my senior portrait business gained traction as the class of 2016 entered its final year of high school. Shooting senior portraits was one of my best experiences of 2015- from photographing friends of many years to shooting with classmates that I rarely spoke to, I was exposed to the hidden diversity of my high school class. Through senior portraits and portrait shoots that I did for personal work, I observed both my compositional and editing skills improve.

As I prepared for my transition into my last year of high school, I started the dreaded college application process with uncertainty. In addition, the start of my senior year presented new challenges and adventures to face. To ring in my high school homecoming, I broke my only camera at the time, my Sony a7R, during a school assembly and was left with no professional cameras. I photographed for two months with the occasionally borrowed Nikon D750 (big thanks to Tommy Leers) and a Fujifilm Instax. It was through this time period that I realized who had true compassion and who was full of empty pity and nothing more. During the first few months of senior year and coincidentally, last few months of 2015, I met new people that would become dear friends within a short amount of time. 

However, I chose not to capture most of my time with loved ones because I realized that by spending time photographing every moment, I was actually missing out on them. Ironically, my obsession with creating perfect images ruined my chance of enjoying picture perfect moments. Nevertheless, I didn’t miss out on the moments that I thought were worth remembering with photographs.

Through the ups and downs of 2015, I’ve come to realize that tangible material (including photographs) has an expiration date, and to derive happiness from it is one of the most unfortunate things that can happen to any person. Photography is only one way of connecting with other people, but nothing is more satisfying than face to face communication. I wish I could've told my story to you in person, but for now, this is the only way to show my story alongside my favorite photographs of the year. Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed your 2015 as much as I did. Happy new year!

Christmas Eve

No one knows when exactly Jesus Christ was born. But does the exact date really matter when the advent of His birth can bring so much warmth and happiness to so many people? Evidently not, because each year, I am extremely blessed to have the amazing people I get to spend Christmas with. 

This year was no exception as I spent my Christmas Eve at Bellevue Presbyterian Church. The Bel Canto choir and orchestra filled the night with beautiful song, and I wouldn't rather have spent my Christmas anywhere else.

Moving Up

There's something special about the age, 18. It rolls off the tongue with a certain smoothness that either inspires or frightens the person that hears it. But after all, 18 is the year of adulthood, or so it seems. My birthday has now come and gone and I feel no older, even less so, more responsible. But for now, I'll just enjoy the fun I have left from my youth. And the birthday presents.

Life's a Beach

Some strange fog set over Lake Washington today, and it made for some interesting shots. Winter sunsets are always the best in the Pacific Northwest, and the strong yellow cast in the sky today amplified the warm colors of the sun.

Another Overcast Afternoon

Sunday afternoon in Bellevue, and it's dark and grey as per usual of mid-December. On the plus side, I've had more time to finish editing my shoot with Elisa Park. We managed to cover four different looks in a short two hours. Here are the photos with the three other outfits and locations.

Waterfront Blues w/ Elisa Park

With two hours to kill after school and before the early sunset, Elisa Park and I headed down to the Kirkland Waterfront to do a shoot that we'd had put off for months. I strayed from my usual style and decided to bring along a 35mm lens to try out some wide-angle portraiture.