EATING THROUGH JAPAN

a little over a year ago i was fortunate enough to go on my dream trip and visit the wonderful country of japan.  ever since i was a wee little samurai, i have had an interest in everything japan had to offer. i can't pinpoint exactly what drummed up this interest within me but if i'm speaking honestly it could be a lot of cliche things that my grade school self thought was truly authentic "japanese" - ninja's, sushi, white faced geisha girls, bonsai trees and mr. miyagi.

over the years, i learned that japan is so much more and for whatever reason i still kept pushing it out in the future in favor of other destinations around the world.  and even in visiting these other exotic locales (sometimes more than once) my mind wouldn't let go of the idea of the need to go to japan, even if it was by myself. so in the early spring of 2015 i packed my bags and ventured out on my own to discover the wonders of the land of the rising sun.

now i could go on forever about how awesome the trip was and how each passing day only added another day of proof that i needed to visit again. but instead of using my words, i'll let the photos do the talking.  at first i wanted this photo essay to be my big embrace to japan and all its storied history, culture and people but then i realized that should be a work in progress and i'll never capture it all in one slideshow.  so instead i focused my attention on one particular aspect of the country that had me buzzing from the moment i stepped off the plane in tokyo to the minute i landed back on canadian soil....FOOD.

this is by no means an attempt to flood your senses with emotional, beautiful photographs the way someone like Peter Lik or Steve McCurry would (those will come later on in a future post) but rather these images are only intended to make you salivate and tug at your tastebuds for the savory sweet art that is japanese food.  in fact, many of these images are captured directly from the iPhone and still you can get a sense of how simply inspiring dining is in japan, let alone how delicious it is.  from sushi to curry and ramen to rice bowls, the only way to really enjoy authentic japanese food is by going there yourself and spending yen at the nearby izakaya, the local hole in the wall noodle house or even the closest 7-11 or lawson's.  and if after you watch the slideshow and you still have absolutely no cravings for a succulent piece of tuna nigiri or a piping hot bowl of ramen, i feel sorry that you have no heart.  go enjoy a bowl of cheerios and ice water and talk to me when you want to enjoy life again.


have any questions or comments? did i miss out on something that i should enjoy the next time i'm there (and there will be a next time). find me and drop me a line on either facebook, twitter or instagram.

de jesus. irasshaimase! and then out.
  

FREE (YES...FREE!) STUDIO PHOTOS FOR YOU

WHO: me, you and a camera

WHAT: FREE business headshots for your professional network profile (i.e. LinkedIn)

WHEN: december 19th (10am to 4pm)

WHERE: a studio in downtown yyc - message me for details (see contact info below)

WHY: an opportunity to pay it forward this holiday season and help those who are working hard at finding work.  a professionally done profile photo will boost your marketability to potential employers and expand your professional network

HOW: photos will be done in a professional studio and selected high res digital images will be provided FREE of charge

studies have shown that professionally done profile photos increase your presence on social media sites and gets you noticed.  whether it is online dating or professional networking sites, a good current profile photo makes the difference on whether someone wants to take the time to learn more about you or not.  more specifically for those looking for work, a clean and accurate visual representation of you will likely lead to increased views on your profile which contains all the important information about your work experience and education. in a tough economy such as this, why would you not consider doing everything possible to make people notice you?

here are two articles which i think adequately explain the value of good profile photos for professional networking sites such as LinkedIn:

Why it's smart to have a profile photo
Why it's smart to have a GOOD profile photo

i personally have an affinity for LinkedIn because my networks helped me with two opportunities in my career, one when i wasn't actively looking for work and the other when i was.  i believe that building a professional network starts with being personable and putting a face to the name.  being faceless means being ignored and being ignored is not why you signed up to be on a professional networking site in the first place.

too often i have come across profile photos that are either non-existent or poor quality. think about some of the memorable profiles you have come across on LinkedIn...and now think about what their profile photo looked like. chances are you remember them because their photo stood out and then you took the time to read more about them out of the hundreds of other profiles you could have looked at.

this is where i hope to be of service.  like many other professionals who have 9 to 5 jobs, i also moonlight as a photographer and i want to be able to help out where i can.  i'd love to be able to hand out jobs to people who are looking for work, but that is not realistic. but through this special FREE event, my goal is to offer up my time and expertise to help others improve their profiles and get them noticed online.  who knows - that could be the first small step in finding employment again. it's not a guarantee, but it does check off that box that asks, "are you doing everything possible to make people notice you?"

space is extremely limited so book early to reserve your desired time.  limited spaces will also be available for those people who are employed and looking for a current professional headshot, but i will be asking that we use the honor system and request a cash donation to be made on the day of the event.  all collected donations will go to the Salvation Army on your behalf.

email me at d.dejesusjr@gmail.com to make a reservation and do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions/concerns.  did i mention that this event is absolutely FREE?! what do you have to lose?



de jesus. FREE professional headshots. out.

LIFESTYLE SHOOT: ANNA

you may recognize Anna from a previous client project where she was dressed as a stunning young bride back in the summer of last year.  this time around she changed her formal white dress for the more comfortable, less suffocating stretchy garments of colorful yoga gear.  Anna is a talented, hard working yoga fitness instructor here in town and wanted to be able to showcase some of her work with some professional photography. 

of course i was happy to oblige and i have to be honest in saying how easy a shoot this was.  i usually have to coach my clients to pose in certain ways to make sure their best features are accentuated while deviating away from the standard elementary school studio portrait sessions.  with Anna however, her poses were all unique and very natural - allowing me to just simply move my legs around her to find the composition and press the shutter button.  here are just a sample of the images we were able to capture which highlight just how amazing the human form is and the skill required to manifest such beautiful poses of strength and tranquility.

please check Anna out at the hotshop at the calgary NW location where she teaches yoga and spin classes and also at studio revolution where she teaches surfset yoga.  be sure to tell her i sent ya (but don't get excited, i can't get you a discount...besides - quality instruction is its own reward isn't it?)

de jesus. namaste. out.

WEDDING SHOOT: RHODA and CORY

wedding photography will always have a special place in my heart - it is guaranteed to be a happy occasion and often times involve loved ones from all around the world.  even when plans for a creative shoot outdoors goes by the wayside because of an oncoming prairie monsoon, it is always good to know you are working with people who are genuinely excited to be there and eager to make light of any situation i put them in.  going to plan b sometimes works just as good and all of the credit goes to happy couples like Rhoda and Cory as well as their bridal party for making the most of a rainy day.  i know we met our goal of capturing great images, sharing a lot of laughs and fun memories.  thanks for the great fourth of july weekend!



de jesus - always have a plan b. out.

FROM THE VAULT: ABSTRACT PORTRAIT

sometimes when i'm doing client work i'm able to squeeze some personal work to play within my creative space and enhance my portfolio.  for this particular shoot, our model Vanessa was hired to create an ancient far east theme to the shoot where she would wear traditional robes accessorized with a replica samurai sword. and although it may be cliche to put these elements together, with the right hair and makeup it helped create some dramatic images that weren't so tongue in cheek.

photo credit: me

for this photo, i wanted to create an abstract which demonstrated the dramatic effects lighting, exposure and composition can have when showcasing images side by side.  a thematic play of dark and light with eyes closed and open help create the mood and balance which is absent when the photos are shown individually. choosing to display the images in black and white only intensifies the shadows - especially when the sword is being utilized this way.  i tried to give this ancient look a modern twist by giving it high contrast between the dark and the light and using mirrored symmetry as the focal point.

client photography often times restricts my creativity to certain conditions and expectations.  no complaints from me - after all, i am hired to perform a certain task and obtain certain images at the client's request.  but never lose sight of your creative side and try and work within your client's parameters to see something that you could take away as well.  this work allowed me to compose an image i enjoy - it may not serve a specific purpose or be used for a magazine ad, but it's a creative space that i was able to explore and produce an abstract portrait i might have not otherwise been able to.

de jesus. photography is art. no debate. out.

FROM THE VAULT: BIRD'S EYE VIEW

when in cappadocia, it is highly recommended to do a hot air balloon ride at sunrise.  some travellers may grimace at the idea as it is the touristy thing to do, but as the saying goes, "when in rome..."  the beautiful natural landscapes of the area and awe inspiring views certainly make this a must do when visiting the area and i would definitely recommend it to anyone. having never been on this mode of transport and only mildly uncomfortable at heights, i did not hesitate at the opportunity to enjoy an early morning wake-up and ride in the sky to start my day.

cappadocia, turkey (2013)
photo credit: me

i really enjoy this image because of the contrast of perfect and imperfect lines that make your eyes dance around the image and the vivid pop of color from the balloon below which break up the earthy warm tones from the rising sun. by composing this image downwards towards the ground, i hoped to show that it wasn't necessary for me to highlight where in the world i am, but rather where in the moment i was - flying hundreds of feet above ground just like a bird would.

it truly is a unique experience to be this high off the ground and hear nothing but the wind - no mechanical engines, no flight attendants explaining how to buckle a seat belt, no kids screaming two aisles back.  occasionally, you might be snapped out of the calmness by the combustible roar of the hot air balloon intended to keep you afloat, but just as quickly you can revert back to the serenity and peacefulness of the breeze gently blowing through your hair and whispers of the wind speaking in a hypnotic silence. seeing our world from a bird's eye view brings a new perspective that helps us appreciate the colors and lines that our winged friends in the sky get to enjoy anytime they want.


de jesus just below the clouds. out.

WEDDING PHOTOBOOTH: RHODA AND CORY

the old saying goes, "give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime..."

Rhoda and Cory: just married

in wedding photography, "give guests a photobooth and you get some fun images. teach guests to enjoy a photobooth and you get really entertaining images..."

i've done the wedding reception photobooth a couple of times now and each time it has been one of the highlights of the day.  along with the bride and groom, the guests become a part of the event and have memories of the evening whether they are sober or not.  the photobooth experience provided by my studio is meant to be fun and given the right set of props and atmosphere, guests really come out of their shell to embrace the innocent playfulness it is intended to be.  

all we do is set up studio lights and a fixed backdrop, mark a spot on the floor and let the shutter fly. that's about it.  no need to get technical or worry about composition or perfect lighting.  guests decorate themselves, pose any way they want and let the image speak for themselves.

as promised to all the guests at Rhoda and Cory's wedding, the photobooth images are available on my website on a password protected client page.  click here to access my main site and please go to "clients".  from there, enter the following information:

username: rhodacoryphotobooth

password: (cory's last name)

here is a sample of what you will find in the album.  thanks to you all for embracing the experience and really having fun with it.  images are only as fun as you make them to be and you certainly did a wonderful job at that.  please enjoy!

  

    

    

   

de jesus - taking the "boo" out of photobooth.  out.

RECENT AWARDS

at a wedding shoot this past weekend, an adorable middle aged woman asked me where they could see my work.  naturally i directed them towards my website and then she asked me if i had won any awards for my photography.  odd question i thought, "honestly..." i said,  "not for my wedding work, but i have been fortunate enough to win a couple of awards for my personal work."  i have never submitted anything for my wedding work, largely because i'm still searching for that perfect image that i know represents my voice but i do on occasion submit images from my personal work.  i've always liked competition and i've always enjoyed my work being reviewed by professionals in the industry who have a trained eye and know what to look for.  often times their honest critiques have made me a better photographer and allowed me to explore abilities outside of my comfort zone.

photography is truly a subjective art much like paintings and poetry, but there is always something in each image that can connect with an audience.  something that allows it to stand on its own and sometimes stand up above others.   i would love to be able to capture images that fit this criteria all the time, but sometimes images are made in the moment, you just happen to have a camera in hand when it appears.  other times, it's a carefully constructed composition which balances the elements of light, shutter and aperture to create the mood the way it was intended in the photographer's eye. heavyweights of the industry like Peter Lik, Ansel Adams or Walter Iooss know how to achieve both and ultimately has made them successful in connecting with their fans through their work.

as an amateur photographer, i'm always happy to get a couple of memorable images i know that not only mean something to me, but to others as well.  the validation is not essential, but it is nice to know that these accomplished experts connect with your work and would honor you with an award amongst the thousands of amazing entries that get submitted.  so for that charming lady who asked if i had won any awards and for the few hundred people who follow me, here are a couple of recent awards i have been fortunate to receive from the good people at the Worldwide WOW Photo Competition, based out of calgary.

2014 contest - "eager to learn"

2015 contest - "downtown mosaic"

as per submission requirements there is a short description for each photo, but i can certainly elaborate more in a future "from the vault" post.  stay tuned...i think you will enjoy the story behind each photo.

i still feel photography isn't meant to be judged but rather appreciated.  the old saying, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" really does ring true, but if judges can appreciate and connect with an image when they see one, i'm not one to stop them from letting people know about it.  semi-colon closed bracket.

de jesus.  still searching for the superbowl-oscar-grammy-stanley cup-gold medal photo. out.

FROM THE VAULT: THE SETUP

tool of the trade

in the last few months, i've noticed that i spend a lot of time consuming content - that is, watching, reading and liking various things on social media and the internet.  we are a generation that has access to information at our fingertips at all times of the day.  inspiring, sad, funny, time-wasting, and at times even thought-provoking, the information we have readily available allows us to entertain ourselves anytime, anywhere, anyplace.

but in this phase of consuming content, i realize that i probably spend too much time consuming it rather than creating it.  as many of you know, i have a passion for photography and i do create images on a regular basis. i post mainly on instagram but those are only the snapshots i've taken with my iphone.  the posts i have shared on my blog are mostly work i have been commissioned to do and share with current and future clients.  i know i have the ability to create content but until now, i've kept a lot of it closely guarded for reasons i won't get into right now.

after a computer incident that almost wiped out some of my images forever, i realized that i want to share my photography and in doing so contributing to the creation of content - be a part of the community that inspires and entertains people (like me) who like to consume said content. thankfully, i have been able to recover most of my photos and have been ale to revisit some really amazing times in my life by looking back at some of the images.

and with that, i would like to announce a new feature on this blog which will hopefully be a regular staple that many of you might take interest in.  i will be calling it "FROM THE VAULT" (aka FTV) and will essentially be submissions of my photography (both personal and client work) that will feature an image from my collection of tens of thousands of images that has had some sort of impact on me.  i will share a story about the image which might provide some insight how my mind works (faults and all) and may detail some technical aspects as well.  it'll be free form and unstructured, with the chosen image as the central figure.  don't expect all the images to be nat geo-vanity fair type photography - this is strictly a personal project that lets me relive my past and journal the experiences (both good and bad) that have led me to this point.

i've always believed that images are intended to tell a story.  they are a snapshot of time frozen forever and have a story leading up to it and a fallout after it.  that is what has always fascinated me about photography ever since i was a kid and even more so today.  in looking through my libraries of images, i can honestly say i have thousands of stories to tell and sharing them with you brings them to life again.  i'm just a guy with a camera and words...and these are the things that help remind me that i've lived on this world and not just existed.

de jesus. here to share, not to scare.

WEDDING SHOOT: ANNA and MARTIN

weddings are an enjoyable event for the invited guests but i believe moreso for the photographer.  the photographer is able to gain "behind the scenes" access to the day and are the trusted eyes for the bride and groom, watching the story unfold before the day, to the wedding day itself and then again after the wedding is done.  the photographer is the storyteller and has the responsibility to ensure that these memories and the emotion behind them are as fresh as the day they were made.  as Anna and Martin's photographer for this special occasion, i am happy to share a collection of some of these happy memories with all of you.



de jesus - capturing special memories one click at a time. out.