2012 is ending...now what!?

The new year is among us. I started this blog literally two years ago and I can see my progression as a photographer. Even though I don't do too much serious stuff, I'm starting to see my style now. I just love carrying my camera during events. I want to be able to look back at old photos. When facebook and instagram is dead, my blog will still be around. I want to be able to show my kids how cool their dad was. I've seen friends come and go, but i'm very fortunate to have met everyone along the way. I look forward on meeting new people in the near future too. I'm also glad some people from the past was able to be part of my present as well. I know a camera can only capture a fraction of a second, but it's the memories that are behind each click that means something. My photography isn't necessarily the prettiest, but its for myself and anyone else willing to look.

What's next for Flow Fotography in 2013? I've had so many goals for this past year that I have not accomplished. I guess my new years resolutions and goals are turning into a bucket list for photography. Hahaa. It's all good. Maybe I was a bit too ambitious to think I can afford an L lens. I love all my gear and the subjects/models in front of my lens.

One thing I definitely want to improve on are my slideshow presentations. Hopefully I can afford a new computer which can handle my needs. Looking at building a computer I guess. My slideshow game needs to picked up. I just received my 40D so it'll be my main squeeze for 2013. More trips this year. Aiming to go to Texas, Fiji, Oregon (again), and maybe Hawaii. Let's see how well I do this year. Fiji...Flow Fotography is going international. I'm needing to try new things too...finding new projects, models, techniques, equipment. Everything will fall in place in due time. One other thing I need to work on is actually printing my photos. They can't be stuck in a computer/internet. I want to be able to look back through albums, the ones that you hold. Not the one's people make on facebook.

2012, you've seen the good and the bad. Thanks for sticking around. If you have any suggestions, I'm always open. I don't care if you shoot or not, you know whats pleasing. Make it happen, leave a comment.

Like always, Thanks for looking. Happy New Year.

Oregon Again and Again!

I went to visit my Vietnamese family in Oregon late November til early December. I was just there in past April. Yeah I went again. So what. This time I was able to see a Pete and Steph in their own environment, uptown Portland. Everything was literally walking distance. When I say everything, I mean bars. Pete was introducing me to more scotches, filling me with knowledge. I enjoy blends but single malts are pretty fresh too. Keepin' it G even up in hipster Oregon.

What did I do up there? Ate, drank, played video games, drank some more, and just spent quality time with family and friends. I was able to see their new cars. Kiet got a badass Tacoma and Steph got her cool looking 4WD Subaru Outback. Yeah, we still saw Diego. It was great to see their new apartment. We were able to walk to the Holiday Ale Festival when Khiem got the evil eye from a chic cause he saw her trip. HAHAA! I think thats the only time I drank beer. Everything else was shots or scotch. Wait, I also watched the Chargers lose to the Bengals. That was depressing. After all the drinking, I fell asleep in the bar. It was alright, they had a couch and they let me. You can't do that in Cali.

Another thing you can't do in Cali is experience a true winter. The cold breeze and walking throughout the city is amazing. Architecture was fun to shoot with the seasons changing. I can shoot Portland all day if the weather would let me.

One of my favorite things doing in Oregon didn't even involve going out. It was hanging out in the apartment and talking about life with Pete and Steph. One question that still strikes me "Are you happy?" Such a simple question being so deep. I still talk to Pete on the regular, but in person is a whole different story. Thats why its important for me to visit them. Hanging out with their family was a lot of fun. Chillin' with Mother, mafia Dad, Partner in crime Kiet and Khiem, and it's always pleasant to hang out with Jessica. Like I said in a previous post, it's all about being present. I can't wait to visit Oregon again. Steph and Pete are great host. Thank you guys for everything!!! I miss you guys already.

Camera Info: Canon 20D with either 50mm 1.4 or the 28mm 2.8 and trusty 430ex during indoor flash use.
Since this trip was mostly for me, I doubt people will save these pictures besides Pete and Steph. Check out the photos individually on my Picasa page.


Oregon Trip AGAIN!!! from Ryan Florido on Vimeo.

Sushi with Sushi Chef Francis

It's still the holidays. New Years is among us. We have some visitors among us, Trinh from Montana, Austin from the Army, and Francis from The Colony! He has a treat for everyone. Making some fresh rolls for everyone post Christmas evening. It was an amazing turn out. Having fun isn't hard to do for us. It's a formula: Alcohol+Food+Friends=LEGENDARY!!

I had a blast seeing everyone since a lot of people are moving down south in San Diego, in the military, out of state, or finishing up their masters. Yeah I have smart friends. Hahaa. It was so refreshing to see everyone under a roof. you can tell from my photos that I was getting more buzzed based on the sharpness of the photo. The flash can only do so much. Francis certainly gave everyone a treat while taking shots of Crown or   drinking on a beer.

There is so much to say about that night, but I'm too tired to mention it. The photos don't do it justice. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Stay safe everyone.

Like always, thanks for stopping by. To download some of the photos which are only good for web use (72dpi) can be found via Picasa. Click here for the link.  As a Christmas gift to myself. I bought a vimeo plus account so I can upload faster and more. HD slideshows! Keepin' it WEST COAST!!!!

Photo info: Camera Canon 40D, shot in RAW. ISO 800. Shot in aperture priority mode set to f/3.5 on Canon 28mm 2.8 lens. Canon 430ex with light diffuser on ETTL.

Post edits: Lightroom 4. Basic edits. nothing crazy.

sushi night with francis from Ryan Florido on Vimeo.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from Flow Fotography!! aka ME!!! I really enjoy the holidays, the things that happen around it. I had my first love during the holidays. Even though we're not together, its a reminder of the power of Christmas. What makes the holidays amazing. The presents/presence. With my new job, I see more end of life than I care for. "I'm not afraid of death, I just don't want to be there when it happens." -Woody Allen. Even though we can't prevent our loved ones from dying, being there with our presence is the best thing we can do. I love it when I see family visiting loved one, plus it makes my job a lot easier too.

I always feel closer with people around me, whether it is family or friends. We can't control everything. However, one thing we can control is our presence. Just being there makes a huge difference. Having my family literally a mile away from me. My good friend Danh, literally a phone call away. My Oregon family of Pete and Steph, making my presence known with the visit (photos coming soon) and even my brother from Texas visiting SD for the holidays. I always have my revolution on my side too, good as gold. I'm glad I can celebrate this joyous season with the people I love. Bringing everyone close again. People who check this blog out.

I know I'm sharing private moments online, which I'm not necessarily a fan of, like facebook. But this is mostly for myself so i can look back. I haven't had the most time to edit pictures cause of my damn computer kinda failing on me. But I hope it'll hold up a little bit longer until I can afford a new one. Maybe even build one specifically for photography. I don't need the fanciest thing, but I sure do what something reliable that can keep up with my work flow. I just wanted to put some of my photos I have posted on IG. Cause IG will fade away like facebook one day. But hopefully I'll continue this blog for years to come.

This poinsettia is special to me, cause a patient of mine personally wanted me to have it. Even during her weakest points, she still had energy to care for the people around her. 

BOKEH

Its a shame the horrible things that are happening right before the holidays like the elementary school shooting and the gunman who killed two first responder victims. Prayers to those familys and anyone else who needs them. 

Charger BLACKOUT!

Happy Thanksgiving from FLOW FOTOGRAPHY aka just me. Hahaa. I hope everyone gave thanks for things we take things for granted, like awesome photography provided by FLOW re:MIX!!! jk jk. On the real, I'm thankful for a lot of things and I thank God every night for my own personal health, my job, food, roof, family, and friends. My blog is basically 90% of my friends then 10% my own photography. Whatever, I don't call myself a photographer. I'd like to think of it as a celebration of my people. Hahaa. I like to share my own private photos on this blog. Not on fuckin' facebook, but the true people who know my blog.

Anyways....this past Sunday was cool as hell. There were like 3 different tailgating groups meeting up. It was basically all esco. It brought back a lot of good memories from middle school to high school. I don't have to describe it, it was bad cool!!! Here are the pictures. This is strictly tailgating. Probably cause I couldn't afford the game so we just drank in the parking lot. LETS GO BOLTS!!!!!

All pictures were shot with the Canon 20D with the 20mm prime. It's growing on me. I can't remember the last time I shot with the 50mm. I think for events like this, the wide is a great choice. When I want to be artistic and focus tight, I'll bust out the 50mm. No complaints. I love all my lens in different ways. It's like picking your favorite child. You just can't. You love them all the same but for different reasons.

To download individual pictures, feel free to download off my picasa  I just ask you not to put them on facebook. I HATE facebook. AHHH!!! Follow me on Instagram though @flowremix. Like always....Thanks for looking.

Esco Charger Tailgate from Ryan Florido on Vimeo.

Carlsbad Sunset

I just finished a beach run. I need to get in shape. I can't be smoked when I have future competitors. I saw the sunset reflecting off the shallow shore. I had to run faster to grab my camera. I was sweating when I was taking these photos. It was nearly pitch black. A lot of the shutter of them were longer than a minute. Tripod, shutter remote, lowest ISO, f8-11, cool looking shots. It was a reward for me after the run.

 This was taken at the end of the run with my cell phone.

Feeling and looking tired after the run. I could barely smile.



You can see Oceanside Pier from there.

One of the inspirations for this photo and run. Funny/cute.

Time to catch up.

This past week has been fun and full of pleasant surprises. I'm training at my new job and I love it. Saving on gas, getting benefits (about time!). I attended a friend's engagement party, which those photos should come up pretty soon too. One of the other highlights were catching up with some old friends. I haven't talked to these kids in a while. They don't care for online communities, kinda like me. I do care, but not facebook care. I hung out with my buddies, saw their new house. During his tour of the house, he showed me some cool things. One of them was his dad's miniature boat. I don't know the scale, but the details of it is amazing. He was telling me how it took his dad a year to finish, its accurate, how it didn't come with anything besides some wood, cloth, and string. He had to assemble the entire thing. Its significant to him, because his father passed away and it was one of the few things he kept. At the end of the tour, he showed me his gun collection. Pretty intense. He had guns ranging from funny .38 acp handguns to beastly .308 Winchester rifles. One thing he kept special in his safe was a particular round. Him and his dad had a common interest in guns. One of his favorite rounds is a .308, pretty hefty bullet. His mom took some of his dad's ashes and pressed them into a .308 round. Of course he couldn't shoot it, but the importance and symbolism in it is amazing. RIP.

Had to show off the Double Black. Never bought a bottle for myself, but I really like it.