chasing light...

The morning of the fight of the year... Manny Pacquiao and his quest for #7

2009-11-13T20:24:00.000-08:00

Joining an elite family of Nike Athletes, such as Michael Jordan, Lance Armstrong, and Kobe Bryant, Manny Pacquiao continues the legacy of "Just do it..." work ethic.

On November 14, 2009, Manny moves up to the 145 lb. welterweight division and vies for an unprecedented 7th title in 7 different weight divisions. I wish for a successful outcome for Team Pacquiao and the overall well being of both fighters.

These images were shot during the last training session before the November 14th fight date. Simultaneously HBO's 24/7 filmed their final episode and called for dim lighting with only natural available light to influence the tone of their presentation.

Images shot with the K7, DA*200, & FA 35 f2

Huntington Beach from a local perspective...

2009-11-13T08:28:00.000-08:00

In the October 2009 issue of Mabuhay Travel+Lifestyle Magazine I featured an article detailing the summer experience in my hometown of Huntington Beach. I wanted to feature an in depth review of how locals enjoy our beach and provide a guide on the what and where to do while visiting the city.

The only way to really live…

By:

Mark Dimalanta

There isn’t much in this lifetime that comes close to the joys experienced when Surfing is your lifestyle. No other city in Orange County defines what life is truly like, here in Southern California, than Huntington Beach. It has become the major hub of the surfing world, epitomizing all things cool, casual, and fun. So much so, that it has been appropriately named… “Surf City.” Not only from a business standpoint, where the surfing lifestyle is a raging and multi-billion dollar per year industry, Surf City is where it all started. Many of the most prolific icons of surfing can trace their roots back to Surf City in one form or another beginning when Hawaii’s proudest son, Duke Kahanamoku, brought Surfing to these shores.

With a dynamic sunny Mediterranean climate and idyllic setting, it is home to more than 200,000 residents. Surf City takes pride in its eight miles of scenic, publicly accessible beachfront and year-round surf. All of which, make this destination a surfer’s paradise. It boasts the largest stretch of uninterrupted beachfront on the West Coast. With over 11 million visitors annually, beach tourism sustains much of its bustling economy. Guests flock to Surf City during the summer for professional sporting events like the US Open of Surfing, the world’s largest surf contest, and the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball tour. Shopping and casual dining are in abundance along downtown Main St, especially during the weekly street-fair bazaar, where one can purchase fresh organic produce, arts and crafts, and be entertained by street performers, amidst a carnivale atmosphere.

But above all, it is the call of the surf that makes life here truly special. Waking at the crack of dawn, to surf with your best mates, practice yoga on our white sands under a golden sun, or to take a simple stroll/bike ride along the boardwalk makes life here truly unique. Surfing at its simplest is essentially celebrating life. Each wave has a beginning and an end, and we are the ones who dictate what happens during the middle. If I were to advise of only one thing in this lifetime, get out there and experience what it means to truly surf. It is never too late to bask in one of life’s greatest joys.

Only a 30 minute drive from Downtown LA, and a stone’s throw from neighboring Newport Beach and South Orange county, HB provides the perfect hub from Orange County to all of Southern California.

Entering from the south on Pacific Coast highway, the gateway to downtown HB

The Iconic HB pier. The largest pier structure on the west coast hosts a platform to view the surf, coastline, or go fishing.

The view of the lineup from the pier's perspective

With year round surf and vanilla skies during the fall months, Surf City provides idyllic views of what life should be like...

Tourists and locals-alike flock to downtown Main St. for a Tuesday evening bazaar otherwise known as "local nights"

Nathaniel Curran wins the 2008 US Open of surfing

Misty May-Treanor wins the 2008 AVP Huntington Beach Open

Morning Surf sessions are a daily ritual

Yoga on the beach with local surfer Charlotte Dellea

Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational – October 21-27, 2009

2009-10-16T01:13:00.000-07:00

Reigning Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational champion Edito ‘Peso’ Alcala (Philippines), who rode barrel after perfect barrel to beat 2007 title holder Wade Goodall (Caloundra, Qld, Aus) in last year’s final, will don a competition vest to defend his title in this year’s event. Image: Jake White / Surfing Australia

D-Day Looms for Surfers in Next Week’s Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational

(Friday 16th October, 2009): D-DAY is looming for an international cast of surfers with the Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational in the Philippines less than a week away from starting.

'Cloud 9', a powerful, hollow right-hander located on Siargao Island will again be the focus of the global surfing community with entry confirmations from some of the world’s hottest surfers including pipeline master Jamie O’Brien (Hawaii), 2007 runner-up Nick Vasicek (Coolangatta, Australia), 2006 champion Ryan Hipwood (Gold Coast, Australia), New Zealand's first ever World Champion surfer Jay Quinn(Gisborne, now Gold Coast, Aus) and Hawaiian surfing royalty Makua Rothman.

An invite to compete in the 2009 competition was made all the more attractive with USD $20,000 on the table and the allure of flawless, barrelling waves.

48 surfers from Hawaii, Japan, Australia, Indonesia, South Africa and 12 local wildcards will compete in a specialised format, which culminates in man-on-man heats from the quarterfinals.

Reigning champion Edito ‘Peso’ Alcala (Philippines), who rode barrel after perfect barrel to beat 2007 title holder Wade Goodall (Caloundra, Qld, Aus) in last year’s final, will don a competition vest to defend his title.

Local ace Alcala, who learned to surf at the revered break, will again prove tough competition for his international riders after putting in plenty of practice at Cloud 9 in the past month.

“It’s been pumping for weeks,” said 20-year old Alcala.

“We’ve been experiencing plenty of typhoons that have created some great waves. Hopefully it’ll continue into next week.”

What separates the specialty event from standard competitive surfing is that invited contestants are involved in deciding what conditions they will surf in.

With only two full days required to finalize the competition and a seven-day competition window, organizers have the luxury to wait for ideal conditions in which to run the event during Cloud 9’s prime swell period.

Due to Siargao's proximity to the Philippine Deep, big swells from the Pacific Ocean roll in from the second deepest stretch of water in the world to create flawless,hollow barrelling waves.

The 2009 tournament will run from October 21-27,2009.

The tournament contest site is Siargao Island’s 'Cloud 9', a powerful, hollow right-hander that has been frequently compared to the renowned surf of Hawaii and Indonesia.

The Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational 2009 is proudly supported by Billabong, Province of Surigao Del Norte, Stoked Inc, Von Zipper sunglasses, Nixon, Kustom footwear, Friendster, and Sagana Resort.

www.billabong.com<http://www.billabong.com/>

MIZU, Today for Tomorrow

2009-09-22T08:23:00.000-07:00

The Mizu line:

a great look, with sturdy construction
a beach-goer filling up his Mizu
Kale Gray, a pretty sick photographer and one man operation kept the crowds rehydrated.

"We are mizu, because we believe in living life today in a way that will give you the tomorrow you would like to see."

While shooting at the Hurley Pro 2009, I got a chance to meet Kale Gray, a representative for the Mizu water bottle company. What struck me most was their sincere and clever conservation concerns regarding the wasteful use of bottled water.

Mizu provided colorful stainless steel bottles for purchase which you could endlessly refill for free during your visit to the ASP tour stop down at Trestles, San Clemente, California. There were people even filling their generic bottles, all at an attempt to limit the number of littered plastic bottles that end up on beaches and landfills. It was all quite a refreshing sight, and it did have a great impact on the level of trash you typicially see after a surf event.

Kudos to the boys at MIZU, very progressive and conscious thinking!

The speed of the Pentax K7 at the 2009 Hurley Pro

2009-09-18T21:06:00.000-07:00

One of the milestone improvements of the Pentax K7 is the Faster frame rate. For those of us who shoot action, photojournalism or even street candids, FPS rate tends to be important because the precise moment can be varied by milliseconds.

I shot these photos this morning down at the Hurley Pro 2009 Trestles, in San Clemente California. After returning home from the concrete jungle of NYC, there was nothing more I wanted to do but return to the beach and surf. Just a few days prior, Pentax Imaging was on site at the International Center of Photography in Midtown Manhattan holding a press release for the launch of the Pentax KX.

I was fortunate to be invited to the launch and showcase my Surfing Lifestyle Imagery. What I wanted to add is that my present photography is far more improved with the overall faster performance of the K7. The Entry level KX, is also pretty fast with a FPS rate of 4.7

Kai Otton spraying a big fan...

Heitor Alves Sequence...

A Phoenix Rising: The Launch of the new PENTAX KX

2009-09-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

Key Features: 12.4MP CMOS
2.7 inch high resolution LCD
720P 24FPS HD video
fast 4.7 FPS
affordable price-point: 649.00 with DA-L 18-55 Kit lens
Available in black, red, white, & blue

Chris Pound, Product Manager showcasing the gear:

For the first time in several years, Pentax Imaging Company USA held a press conference to break ground for their new entry level 12 mp KX. The event took place at the New York International Center of Photography. The Gallery was buzzing with amazing iconic imagery from Richard Avedon (1944-2000), packed with media representatives, distinguished guests, and a slew of Pentax equipment for demo. It was my pleasure to be on hand to showcase my imagery shot with Pentax glass and talk shop with the guests, let alone sample the tasty hors d’oeuvres.

Pentaxian Photographer Mark Dimalanta showcasing images and "talking shop" with the press.

The company’s executives namely; President Ned Bunnell, Bill Zani, Vice president of Marketing & Sales and John Carlson, Senior Manager each discussed the future of Pentax & Hoya Corporation, a restructured sales strategy, and the product features of the new KX, respectively. The overall buzz in the air was of an energized and focused direction of the New Pentax.

President Ned Bunnell discussing the New Pentax and Hoya's Strategy

Vice President Bill Zani detailing the Business Strategy

John Carlson, Senior Manager, Product Marketing & Customer Support unveiling the KX

The excitement of a re-energized company and the launch of the KX, an unprecedented entry level DSLR are a foreshadowing of a Phoenix Rising.

Stay tuned for an update which will include detailed notes from the press conference. The following are just a collection of photos from the event. For detailed specs of the KX refer here:
http://www.pentaximaging.com/
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0909/09091703pentaxkx.asp
Drew Barrymore of the cover of Time Out New York for the main feature which showcased celebrities shooting NYC.

Ned Bunnell's photo from his presentation detailing what he carries in his Billingham, the compact nature of the Pentax System:

Claudia Gramley, Executive Assistant to the President, enjoying the "red" KX. One of the many color variants of the new KX

More images and notes on the event to follow...

A day in Malibu with the Pentax K7

2009-09-01T10:21:00.000-07:00

Some random lifestyle images shot with the Pentax K7 while at iconic Malibu, California.

Original image shot and re-sized for web

Image stylized in camera with watercolor and retro filter

Processed using in camera digital filters: green filter, base parameter adjust to increase brightness, and custom filter to create the white vignette (the blue in her hair is not CA, her hair is in fact blue)

In camera processing using crop feature and custom filter for white vignette

In-camera retro filter for border and softer hue

100 portraits in 100 days.

2009-09-01T09:14:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine, and fellow Pentaxian Diego Jose inspired me to start a new post entitled: "100 portraits in 100 days"

The basis of this project was originally inspired by www.100strangers.com.

A project wherein we attempt street photographs with 100 new people and post on a daily basis. It is aimed to spark new encounters and to learn something new about each of our subjects.

My first sample is a young girl selling cherries at the side of the road from the back of her wagon. This was shot during the Pentax West Coast Viral Tour of the K7, somewhere between Seattle to Portland off the interstate 5. The cherries were harvested earlier that morning, and when I saw how large of a bag they were offering and at such a low price, I couldn't resist. I ate them for days and recall that they were the sweetest I had ever tasted.

Image shot with the Pentax K7, DA 35 macro and processed in camera using the retro filter to create the border and shift in the hue.

EGG: The Best Breakfast in Town

2009-08-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

While exhibiting some work at the Photo Plus East Photography tradeshow in 2007, I had a chance to meet up with some cousins living in Brooklyn and sample what I believe to be the best breakfast in NYC.

A simple, yet cozy table that may be found within.

Egg, or the pig & egg located at: 135 North 5th Street, Brooklyn New York 11211 is a simple train ride on the L to Bedford Avenue, then walk two blocks south to North 5th Street and Voila, you are there...

By Car: Take the Metropolitan Avenue exit from the B.Q.E., drive west on Metropolitan to Berry Street, then turn right and follow Berry Street to North 5th Street. Turn right on North 5th.

For a detailed menu click here.

2 Eggs any style . . . $7

Served with organic white or 5-grain toast and hashbrowns

drinks:

French press-brewed sustainably grown coffee . . . $2.25

* perhaps the most memorable part of the entire experience was the fresh taste of the coffee. Possibly the best cup I had ever tasted.

**more expensive then your average quick breakfast, but once you factor in the fresh ingredients and the hearty portions your palate will quickly remind you that it's the best money spent. I often think about this place whenever I try a new spot, in a new town. I will often remark... "Never as good as Egg"

For reservations or more info phone: (718) 302 5151

Video Samples from the Pentax K7

2009-08-14T01:44:00.001-07:00

Diego Jose, A very good friend, colleague, and fantastic Pentaxian Photographer from the Philippine Islands has posted an excellent video on Vimeo using the HD video feature from the K7.

Take a look here: K7 Video Sample

or simply watch here:

Cambodiaaaa from Diego Lorenzo F. Jose on Vimeo.

Also, My assistant Aya Garcia and I will be shooting this weekend and testing our the HD feature of the K7, be sure to visit here often for the video updates.

Cheers,

Fun Filter Effects with The New Pentax K7

2009-08-09T08:54:00.001-07:00

During our recent tour I met a fellow Pentaxian, Chris Davis at the Irvine Tour stop of the K7 Viral Tour.

visit her blog here: The Fabric Bolt

We were stunned at her proficiency at "in-camera" digital filter tricks. Essentially you can do all of your post processing in camera. This is especially useful if you are out in the field without a computer and images are needed on the fly.

It inspired me to attempt my own style with in-camera filter effects. Here are my shots while in San Francisco this morning:

base parameter adjust: +bright, +contrast & retro filter

base parameter adjust: +brightness, +sharpness; monochrome filter; custom filter: burned edge, & retro

Color filter: Red; Base Parameter Adjust: +bright, ++saturation, +contrast, & +sharpness
base parameter adjust: +bright, ++saturation, +contrast; color filter: blue; retro: border

The Pentax K7 Viral Tour

2009-08-08T02:57:00.000-07:00

Eric D. Winner of the K7 at the Redondo Beach Tour Stop

Anyone can win...

The Clear View K7 with attached BG-4 grip (seals are visible in red)
Pentax's John Carlson demonstrating some of the menu features:

Pentax is coming to a town near you to showcase their latest Flagship, the K7. Undoubtedly the best SLR from Pentax to date. Come visit the next tour stop to test out all the latest gear, learn about the cameras, and have a chance to win your own K7. Each tour stop will have a daily winner.

I will be on site during the west coast tour stops to highlight the features that I appreciate and talk about how I use the K7.

from Ned Bunnell's Blog:

Thursday, August 6th
5:30pm to 7:00pm
THE PORTOFINO Hotel & Yacht Club
Pacific II Ballroom
260 Portofino Way
Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-379-8481

Friday, August 7th
5:30pm to 7:00pm
HILTON Irvine/Orange County Airport
Crystal D Room
18800 MacArthur Blvd
Irvine, CA 92612
949-833-9999

Saturday, August 8th
2:30-4pm
Hilton San Jose – Santa Clara Room
300 Almaden Boulevard
San Jose, CA 95110
408-287-2100

Sunday, August 9th
10am to 11:30am
Marriott San Francisco Union Square
480 Sutter Street
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-398-8900

A proud day for Hawaiians, Keanu Asing Wins the Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure

2009-06-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

Like a silent assassin, Keanu Asing of Ewa Beach Hawaii claims the Nike 6.0 Pier pressure. With a come from behind advance during his semi-final heat, Keanu went on to a commanding win during the Finals. Fresh from his Quiksilver ISA world championship title win this last April in Ecuador, Keanu is doing more than his fair share to bring world championship titles back home to Hawaii.

One of the benefits of living in a surf town is that the access to the event and athletes are a mere walking distance. With the surf barely hanging in at a mere 1-2’, with barely a 3’ set wave, I chose to watch the event from the comfort of my laptop while lounging at home.

As the quarters and semis approached, I noticed that Keanu was silently taking charge. Having lower wave counts but garnering higher scores by maximizing with powerful turns and consistent “to the beach’ surfing.

As the finals wrapped and Keanu named champion, I grabbed my camera and hopped on my bike for a quick ride to the beach. I said to myself… “This kid may one day bring the ASP world title back to Hawaii, I’d better document his path every step of the way…”

Official ASP Press Release

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California (Monday, June 29, 2009) – Keanu Asing (Ewa Beach, HI), 16, won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Grade-4 Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure presented by Jack’s Surfboards at South Huntington Beach Pier this afternoon over fellow finalists Dillon Perillo (Malibu, CA), 19, Evan Thompson (Jacksonville Beach, FL), 17, and Chase Wilson (Newport Beach, CA), 18.

The Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure is the only ASP Grade-4 event on the 2009 calendar, making the premier contest an integral stop in all surfers’ campaigns in their quest for qualification for the ASP World Junior Championships. All regional surfers are out to compile their top four results this year in hopes to finish within the top three on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series to earn their shot at an ASP World Junior Title.

Asing battled through the tough conditions on offer at South Huntington Beach Pier this afternoon, blasting strong outside turns on the set-waves and managed to work his way through the infamous reform, finishing each wave with strong maneuvers.

“There weren’t too many waves, but I just tried to wait my turn and get the best waves I could,” Asing said. “Luckily it worked out.”

Asing, who was a finalist at the ASP Grade-3 Arnette Pro Junior last month, earned his first ASP Pro Junior victory of the year, cementing him as the top Hawaiian in the regional ratings.

“I’m really happy with my results this year,” Asing said. “I’m getting on a roll this year and I just want to keep it going.”

Asing’s victory was almost cut short. The talented regular-footer earned his Final berth with a last-minute effort to advance out of his Semifinals heat, which proved to be crucial in his Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure victory.

“I’m so excited,” Asing said. “I never thought I’d make the Final, but I just kept chipping away and did what I had to make the Final. I was a little bit frustrated, there were no waves, and I knew there had to be one wave. Everyone had low scores and I knew I could get what I needed to advance. I just did what I had to do to make that heat.”

Perillo overtook the lead early in the Final with two massive fins-free forehand turns on a Pier bowl right which earned him a seven-point-score, but was unable to find a backup wave to overtake Asing for the win and finished runner up at the premier event.

“You had to make sure to get the set-waves and be in the right spot,” Perillo said. “If you’re too far to the left of the bowl, behind the bubble, you can’t get the waves,” Perillo said. “I was in position for the set waves, but I just didn’t get in to them, it’s my fault.”

The impressive result by the stylish regular-footer marks his third Final appearance of the 2009 ASP North America Pro Junior Series season. After missing the Arnette Pro Junior due to unfortunate circumstances, Perillo has now been a finalist in every event he’s entered this year.

“This result will help me because I finished above everyone that was ahead of me on the ratings,” Perillo said. “It’s good to have made the Final in each event so far. I’m hoping I can do well again at the U.S. Open.”

Thompson was a top performer throughout the event’s entirety, but was unable to find a rhythm in the Final, finishing third overall and the Floridian talent was thrilled to capitalize on the heightened points available at the Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure.

“I’m super stoked to have made the Final in a Grade-4,” Thompson said. “It’s hands down the biggest event of the whole year and to make this Final, you’re guaranteed to walk away with so many points. To make the Final in this event, it’s really hard, there are so many good guys and I never thought I would have made it.”

The explosive east-coaster utilized his familiarity of the small mushy conditions on offer in Huntington reminiscent of his home in Florida to earn the crucial result while topping standout performers such as defending ASP North America Pro Junior Series Champion Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), 20, on the way to his crucial result.

“These conditions remind me of home,” Thompson said. “It’s small and mushy and it’s really a dogfight for waves out there. There are not many waves and everyone is scratching for them when they come. I guess I’m pretty used to it, the small waves and the bumpiness, but it’s hard for everyone. No matter how good you are it’s really hard.”

Wilson also turned heads on the way to his fourth place finish. The Newport Beach local earned his first ASP Pro Junior Final at the Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure, significantly helping his cause on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series after a Semifinals finish at the ASP Grade-3 Arnette Pro Junior last month.

“This is my first Pro Junior Final ever and it’s a Grade-4, so I’m so stoked,” Wilson said. “I made the Semifinals in Newport and now I’m in the Final so this is really going to help my rating. Hopefully I’m up there now.”

For all of the Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure pres. by Jack’s Surfboards highlights look below.

For additional ASP information log on to aspworldtour.com or aspnorthamerica.org.

Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure Final Results: 1- Keanu Asing (HAW) 13.00 2- Dillon Perillo (USA) 11.00 3- Evan Thompson (USA) 10.20 4- Chase Wilson (USA) 9.50

Having fun with an assortment of Pentax cameras. The Pentax K7 deep in the jungles of the Mentawai Islands

2009-06-13T21:24:00.000-07:00

I got a chance to shoot the Billabong Malaysia Team Riders in the Mentawai Islands. Good waves, Good times, and Great food!

Most of the images shot with the new Pentax K7 with a variety of lenses. The K20 and Optio w60 were also used. These are a sample of teaser images. I will upload full resolution samples as soon as the production firmware is released.

Optio W60 mounted on the original Joby Gorilllapod. A group shot of the boys from California and Singapore the morning prior to our departure for Padang, Indonesia.

In any adventure, the quickest way to start is to dive headfirst. Luis getting it started. Pentax K20 & DA 10-17

The machine like perfection of the Mentawai islands. "Icelands" at a solid 10' face. Pentax K7, DA* 300 with intentionally long shutter to soften the lines of the wave.

Billabong Malaysia's Mamat Daud, doing an effortless air re-entry at "Bang-Bang's"

Frolicking in the small surf. On our last day, we chose to relax and have fun surfing smaller waves at "telescopes." Mamat spraying Khairil and Laurie on the multipurpose air mattress. The beauty of the K7 is it's speed. I was able to reel off 6 frames in a little over 1 sec to yield the precise frame that i wanted to display the peak moment.

The best way to experience any surf destination is to live among the indigenous people. Most people use charter boats and stay at sea. We wanted to immerse ourselves and exchange culture. Dr. Ed and Luis gomez strolling through town, Sipura Island, Mentawais. Pentax K7 DA* 16-50 f2.8

Locals stroll through the Main street. Pentax K7 and DA* 60-250

Keene going native, and harvesting a few coconuts. Pentax K7 & Da* 60-250

View of the local suburb. Pentax K7 & DA* 60-250

Khairil Satusuku initiating a laid back snap. Another example of the K7's speed and ability to precisely capture the most decisive moment. Pentax K7 & Da* 300 f4, taking in all the splendor of "bang-bangs" near Siberut island, Mentawais.

One of the rare photos of the "surfdoc" while trolling for Giant Trevally and Big tuna. The beauty of this trip was that we surfed all day, Fished by nightfall, and ate our catch over dinner.

Khairil exiting one of the deep tubes at "Icelands." Pentax K7 DA* 300 f4

Uh-oh, Luis getting snaked by Morgan. I like the compression achieved from using telephoto lenses. Pentax K7 with DA* 300 f4

Some aggro-charger from New Zealand who wasted a perfect barrel. I didn't bother to post the wipeout sequence (it looked too painful) Pentax K7 with DA* 300 f4

An empty perfect tube at Icelands. K7 & DA* 300
Joel Maguire staring deep into the teeth of the dragon. Nipussi's Giant right hander Pentax K7 & DA* 300 f4

Local security guard watching over the boards. Pentax K7 & DA 10-17 fisheye

The Mentawai Islands are deep Malaria Country. Thanks to Surf-Aid and their instruction of proper prophylaxis, the incidence of Disease has been well managed among the local population. Here the boys are using mosquito nets to deter the wicked Anopheles.

The dreaded Anopheles mosquito characteristically bites during dusk and dawn, coincidentally the best light for photography. Hence, there are limited shots during the Golden hours. Pentax K7 & DA* 16-50

Local Surfer. Pentax K7 DA* 16-50

Khairil's great catch. The Giant Trevally made for some delicious steaks!!

Morning breakfast at the homestay.

A Bintang celebration.

This was just a teaser, more action and lifestyle images to follow displaying the Weather sealed utility of Pentax Cameras and lenses. A big thanks to the boys at Billabong Asia, the beautiful people of Sippura, Mentawais and Pentax for delivering on the K7, a mold breaking camera that may ultimately cause a paradigm shift for professional photography as we know it. - the surfdoc, Mark Dimo Dimalanta

Initial Impressions of the Pentax K7

2009-05-20T05:45:00.000-07:00

It's the eve of my biggest photo/surf trip. I'm uncertain if the insomnia is from the worldwide press release of the new Pentax K7, or the excitement of the upcoming trip.

A classic look of the K7 mounted to the FA Limited 77 f1.8, supported by the Joby SLR Zoom Gorillapod.

Pentax K7 mounted to DA 15 Limited

Well it seems many “in the know”, or related to those in the know have taken the liberty to break embargo earlier than usual. Globally, as the official announce time neared, many sources started to leak info like that of a flood. I chose to break news at the official time. Discussion forums were buzzing, and servers were getting jammed up, and you could sense a New Era for Pentax.

By now, there are many sources (like DPR), which show size comparisons, detailed angles, and discuss specifications. So to avoid being redundant, I will make a few comments about my initial impressions, provide only web scaled small images, and highlight what I enjoy most about the new “K.” The info you find here is “official” and over the next few days, I will blog about how I intend to utilize this camera as I float through Los Angeles, Singapore, Japan, Sumatra, on into my final destination of Kandui and the Mentawai Islands.

Simplified setup for travel editorial assignments: Pentax K7, DA 15, DA* 60-250, DA 35, DA 70, Joby SLR Zoom Gorillapod, Tamrac Express 7 messenger bag, Tamrac N25 shoulder strap

I usually travel with 2 setups, one for water use and the other for land based shooting. This usually amounts to about 40 pounds of excess gear and a sore back. On this trip I will streamline the equipment to complete a travel assignment while in Singapore and using only water-based equipment for the Surfing end of the trip. I intend to use mostly the DA* lenses for their weather sealed designs which are a great utility whole shooting from the channel in a boat. In lieu of a traditional tripod and to save on weight, I will use Joby Gorillapods.

What I really enjoy:

1. The shutter is well dampened, nearly silent, and solid in its operation

2. 5.2 FPS (40 JPG Continuous Hi /15 Raw PEF, 14 RAW DNG)

3. Viewfinder with 100% field of view

4. Improved low light AF performance and AF algorithms

5. “Green” almost subdued focus assist lamp (it operates quick and efficiently and more subtle than a bright white light)

6. AF tracking in AF-C is vastly improved

7. The AF point selector toggles faster than on K10/K20

8. The mode dial locks in place with a centrally located release button

9. When in portrait mode, the rear LCD will orient itself in the portrait view as well. (No more tilting of head to read info.)

10. The dust removal system is now “hypersonic”, no longer a vibration, but a high frequency shake that is almost inaudible.

11. 3” TFT IPS LCD (it’s the same LCD technology used in the best color proofing monitors) improved clarity, anti-glare, and with 921,000 dot resolution

12. Longer battery life 900+ shots per charge

13. Magnesium alloy shell over stainless steel chassis (can operate at temps 14 – 104 degrees F)

14. 77 Multi Segment metering

15. EV comp is +/- 5

16. HD video recording at 720p (1280x720 resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio) at 30 FPS

A sample of speed & focus accuracy:

Sample shots with K7 & DA* 60-250

More to follow...

A Day at Disneyland with an Arsenal of Pentax Glass

2009-05-13T13:09:00.000-07:00

Since the waves have been flat, I took my family to "the Happiest Place on Earth" and shot casual family photos with a variety of lenses...

Rather than shooting brick-walls, or focus charts, I simply put the gear through its paces and if it suits my needs I am happy, if not I either synergize, adapt, or move on.

These are just random samples of the kind of shots that are usable for me in order to preserve the important events that happen in our lives. The one thing that makes Pentax a pleasure to use is the smaller size and compact nature of the equipment. I can see myself in the future taking along simply a K-? with an all new Weather Resistant Kit lens to suit all my shooting needs on a typical fun filled family day, especially for all the Water rides!! Happy Summer!

All images shot with a Pentax K20 and the various lenses listed

DA* 60-250, 1/250 f4.5 iso 560

DA 35 ltd, 1/125 f3.5 iso 400
DA 35 ltd, 1/1000 f2.8 iso 400
DA 35 ltd, 1/60 f3.5 iso 400
DA 35 ltd, 1/125 f3.5 iso 1100
DA 35 ltd, 1/250 f2.8 iso 800
DA 35 ltd, 1/45 f4 iso 800 + built in flash
DA 35 ltd, 1/45 f5.6 iso 800 (this was malia's expression after being told she was "too short" for the ride)
DA 15 ltd, 1/45 f5.6 iso 800
DA 15 ltd, 1/15 f5.6 iso 800 SR
DA 35 ltd, 1/10 f4.5 iso 800, built in flash
DA 35 ltd, 1/8 f4 iso 800, SR (HANDHELD)
DA 15 ltd, 1/8 f5.6 iso 1100, SR (HANDHELD)

Image Samples with Pentax's DA* 60-250 f4

2009-05-11T21:31:00.001-07:00

I have been playing around with my new all weather sealed DA* 60-250. Yes, this mythical lens does exist. I've actually had it for a while now, but only recently started viewing the images shot with it.

First off, it has excellent build quality, in-line with all of the DA* lenses, smooth rotating barrels with the perfect dampening feel, accurate and swift AF (I find the AF start to finish from near to infinity quick and responsive, much faster than the DA*300) and a useful tripod collar when the weight begins to bear down.

The gem about this lens, is its functional zoom focal length, perfect for outdoor sports, and for me it gives me more flexibility when shooting surfing from an elevated vantage point, such as a pier.

Being a telephoto zoom allows you to really take advantage of "compression"...

"Modern meets Classic"

Comparison of focal length extremes

60mm:

250mm:

AF tracking, and action photos to follow...

The Man who can unify the Philippines...

2009-05-04T21:29:00.000-07:00

Manny striking a pose “a la Bruce Lee” (my 2 all time heroes in one)

“Pound for pound, the greatest fighter of all time”. Prior to last Saturdays mega fight, (which apparently jumpstarted the American Economy, at least for Las Vegas and if only for a weekend) there were mixed emotions on such a bold statement. However, after seeing the “single greatest knockout punch of all time” –Emanuel Steward/HBO, it is far too hard to dispute this obvious fact.

Manny Pacquiao single-handedly saved the sport of boxing, revived pay per view, and gave Las Vegas an Economic boost as never seen before in previous fights. You have to consider that despite the economic slow down, a time for Americans to conserve, Manny was able to pack Sin City in a way like no other. For those who made the journey this past weekend, the traffic to and from could be an indicator of the weekend’s success. Even the CES, Consumer Electronic Show, the largest convention in the world couldn’t sell out Vegas, like what the Manny-Hatton fight achieved.

“Manny’s ability to land a punch and slip a punch at the same time, shows unbelievable coordination and timing... utterly amazing…” –Emanuel Steward/HBO Boxing.

One thing I noticed about Manny's recent training sessions beginning with the final of the Pacquiao-Morales trilogy until present was that he was attaining technical perfection. Not only is he the smartest fighter out on the mat, but he seems to be the most technically perfect boxer, and at his prime. As witnessed here, Manny successfully lands a punch while slipping one at the same time. It was the type of offense/defense combination that floored Hatton. If you get a chance to watch the HBO replay, or catch an online upload, watch the first knockdown punch in slow-mo. The way that he landed his knockout blow perfectly, and slips away from Hatton's left hook with finesse is utterly amazing.

I have been following Manny’s career since the 90’s during my medical years training in my home country of the beautiful Philippine Islands. I always thought to myself, “if I only had enough Capital, I would promote this guy, myself…” It’s amazing to see the kind of fighter, but better still, the kind of Man that Manny has become.

more subtle details you might not know can be read here:

The Pac-Man "Ripple" Effect, Mark Dimalanta for Philippine Star Lifestyle

more to come in a series... "Manny Lights up Vegas"

Official Pentax K Images...

2009-04-27T19:36:00.001-07:00

With all the web-leaks prior to the official announcement, I keep being bombarded by images from people's workspace revealing the latest cameras. I know we are all eager for the next DSLR release, so much so, that it is the hottest topic over at Pentax Forums.

Some clues are intentionally blurred, some are laid in a series with prior Pentax models, and some are just hiding in corners of all places, like a jacuzzi from some fine chap's reading chair, amidst California's sunny skies.

Well, I said to myself... "Self... don't leave yourself out of the drama :)" So here goes, here are my additions to the leak pool.

"My Official K photos"

As you can see: "Pentax K" a retro-analog looking DSLR.

Rear view reveals a 2x2" LCD perfect for taking passport style pictures.

No, in all seriousness, I couldn't help but fuel the fire. I hope i didn't anger anyone. Lets just sit back and relax and wait for the new announcement. Something tells me its gonna be a whopper. In the meantime, lets get out there and shoot!

On a side-note, I apologize for not being too active over the web forums, because I have been enjoying all the precious moments with my 1 yr. old daughter.

Lately, I have been getting back into the swing of things. Some of us photogs. are working out there, but i do get a chance to browse the forums from time to time. In 3 weeks, I will be leaving for the Mentawai Islands to shoot for Billabong Asia and will post more landscape and extreme action surfing. Stay tuned...

Here is a shot taken today (4/27/09) of my all time hero who has been revered as the "best fighter pound for pound", the champion of champions, and the pride of the Philippine Islands, Manny Pacquiao. He fights Ricky Hatton this weekend in VEGAS. GO MANNY!

Pentax K20d, Pentax FA 35 f2.

Sample shots with the Pentax DA*55 f1.4 & DA 35 f2.8 macro ltd

2009-02-26T17:30:00.000-08:00

In 2005, after our honeymoon, my wife and I visited some friends in NYC and I took a visit to B&H photo and found new stock of the legendary FA* 85 f1.4. The Pentax specialist urged me to pick it up while they had them in stock, but I stewed on it overnight, returning the next morning to find that the 2 in stock were sold immediately after I left. I dreaded that day over the last 4 years.

With the recent release of the new DA* 55 f1.4, Pentax has essentially restored the beauty of that classic "85mm look and feel." Their new 55 mm, SDM driven, and weathersealed replacement delivers an 82.5mm field of view, considering the conversion factor. This new DA*55 will take the place for all the tasks that I would have normally assigned to the 85, full frame view.

Concurrently, I now use the DA 35 macro limited to restore the traditional "normal" field of view that a 'fast 50' did for full frame. The 52.5mm field of view simulates the nostalgic look of the normal full frame 50.

These 2 lenses have quickly become my prime "duo of choice" for walk-around and all-purpose photography.

All images shot handheld, raw and converted to 4-star jpeg using in-camera conversion and applying some of the creative built in filters of the Pentax K20.

DA* 55 In-camera raw to jpeg normal setting (1/60 , f1.4, focus pt at inner corner of eyelid)

DA* 55 using in-camera B&W conversion with sketch filter (1/250 f1.4, iso 400)

Original in-camera B&W conversion

DA* 55 using in-camera raw to jpeg, portrait setting (1/180 f2 iso 400) -this is image was shot while my daughter rapidly came near to the lens, AF-C and center point focus worked fine.

DA*55 In-camera raw to jpeg "bright" setting (1/60, f1.4, iso 400)

DA 35 ltd. In-camera raw to jpeg, B&W setting with cool tint filter (1/250 f6.7 iso 1600)

DA 35 ltd. In-camera raw to jpeg B&W setting with warm tint filter (1/1000 f2.8 iso 280)

The Pentax Optio W60... a camera for everyone's pocket!

2009-02-10T11:06:00.001-08:00

A great outdoor camera that is rugged and shouts go outside and have fun with me. The Pentax Optio W60 is not only a perfect point and shoot in itself, but also a highly versatile water camera that is the gem of the surfing world. Travelers and outdoor types are finding the camera a necessity and always finding new ways to enjoy and preserve their outdoor lives.

Whether it be surfing alongside your mates...

Pentax K20 + FA* 600

Taking cool snaps while in unique locales...

Pentax K10 + DA 10-17

Or simply, frolicking in the pool...

Pentax K20 + DA 10-17

The beauty of the Pentax Optio W60 is that it is compact, extremely versatile and fully waterproof up to 13ft.

As an international Surf Photographer, we are often traveling with an abundance of heavy and expensive gear. Each item serving a unique purpose to deliver the types of images required for surf editorials.

Prior to each trip, I find myself pacing the night before, wondering which gear to bring, and how to pack it in order to bypass TSA restrictions for weight and carry-on limits.

Taking a moment to relax after a long flight...

Once on site, I have to lug around the mighty FA* 600mm f4

If i go purely with only a water setup (laptop, housing, body, fisheye, & small telephoto), I still need a carry-on backpack that is a bit more streamlined, but when stuffed to its maximum weighs a ton. The best for surf photographers are the Tamrac Adventure 9 or 10 series. The beauty of this setup is that it is the only pack on the market that has a large enough front pouch to safely carry your housing...

The hassle of lugging around gear, dealing with surfer prima-donnas, airline travel, & customs tend to make my mind drift off and dream of shooting an entire surf editorial with one of Pentax's Optio W cameras. I have shot with the entire line, from the WPi (which my wife and i used for our honeymoon, to the W10, W30, and most recently the W60 (my favorite of the lot).

View of the Banzai Pipeline, North Shore Hawaii

The following images display the feature set and were shot entirely with the highly functional Pentax Optio W60:

1. The Digital Panorama feature. A composite of 3 Images stitched together in-camera. Now you can preserve ultra-wide landscapes.

Image shot hand held and on location, Haunama Bay, Oahu.

Northwest Philippines

2. the W60 has a fast start-up time and a nifty high speed burst mode feature to capture a sequence of images.

Inter-island travel is so much easier aboard outrigger canoes, esp. when all you have is your board and waterproof Optio...

"Secret Spot", South China Sea

burst mode:

3. The Macro mode feature. The following images illustrate the rugged nature of the Optio W60. with the attached accessory silicon skin you can take photos on the beach, in and around water carefree, knowing that the camera is protected from the elements. The Macro feature allows you to get up close and personal with your subject...

4. the Landscape mode adds the right amount of saturation and stops down to suitable depths of field.

5. the "green" or "auto-pict"mode makes family snapshots easy for any novice...

*The 28mm wide angle feature allows for handheld self portraits that look more natural, as opposed to the "outstretched-arm appearance"

6. The Food mode helps to preserve the memory of the delicious food you had while on vacation. I like how the in camera help display puts it: "For capturing food. Saturation is higher to make it look appetizing."

7. Sport mode, this image was shot under tricky lighting conditions, using the predictive focus and fill flash to freeze the action:

The waterproof design allows the photographer to shoot with freedom to capture perfect moments, no matter how harsh the conditions.

A river deep within the jungles of Subic Bay

*I shot this image handheld while wading waist deep within a flowing river. with an extended shutter speed, i was able to drag the shutter long enough to display the flowing water, yet fast enough to preserve the subject in-focus.

*This image was shot while balancing inside the pool at the basin of a waterfall. The turbulence and intensity of the falling water created a mist that would have ruined other non-waterproofed cameras.

The compact nature, portability, and ultra fast startup time make it a perfect walk around camera for photojournalistic use, when needing to be discreet.

Coconut vendor Olongapo, Philippine Islands

To be continued to include High Def Video feature, Digital shake reduction, focal length comparisons, & all-weather versatility plus available accessories...

Malia is almost 1 year old

2009-01-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

By next week my baby girl will celebrate her 1 year birthday. She can walk, practically run, use sign language for dada, baby, book, dog, bath, sleep and many more, say a few words like 'dada' and 'nana', crinkle her nose, smile to show her 6 teeth and giggles whenever she does fun things like go to the beach, play with the kitty cat, and sing in the bathtub. The cutest thing is that she actually dances and has rhythm like her mama and gives big hugs upon request! Babies are great!

DAY ONE ACTION: RC’S KATIN PRO/AM TEAM CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY JACK’S

2009-01-20T22:54:00.000-08:00

Macy Mullen Wins Heat 11 of Pro/Am Round 1

Rob Machado wins Heat 10 of Pro/Am Round 1

Contest Venue Northside, Huntington Beach Pier

I woke this morning to near perfect surf, perfect sunny skies, and some of the best pro surfers in the world surfing my backyard. Standouts Rob Machado and Macy Mullen were best in their heats and advanced on to Round 2.

Other heat winners included: Local favorite Brett Simpson, Bruno Rodrigues, Shaun Ward, Adam Virs, Eric Geiselman, Jeff Deffenbaugh, Kolohe Andino, Ryan Carlson, Jesse Evans, Brandon Tipton, & Nick Rosza. Look forward to more action on Wednesday, that is unless the Surf goes flat...

All Images shot with Pentax K20d and DA* 300 f4

A Warm Day in Sunny California

2009-01-15T15:06:00.001-08:00

I know the rest of the nation is freezing, but here in Southern California, it is just like any other day. Warm Santa Ana winds, and an encroaching WNW Swell will make this weekend epic.

*all images shot with Pentax K20 and DA* 200 f2.8

The Best High School in the State of California

2009-01-15T13:17:00.000-08:00

This past summer, my wife and I attended our 20 year reunion and were happy to catch up with old friends. We took the time to take this photo in front of our Alma mater.

Just today, A friend of mine and alumni from the same High School forwarded this to my inbox. It's always nice to know that your roots continue to strive well after you have gone on. Whitney High School, in Cerritos California, continues to dominate the world of academic preparation continually being named one of the top schools in the nation, and consistently holding the prestigious title: "Best academic prep school in the state of California".

from Prashant Gopal, Business Week, January 15, 2009:

Do you know where the best schools in your state are? With home prices falling, this might be a good time for parents to start looking for a home close to a great school. We have some suggestions. BusinessWeek.com worked with GreatSchools, a San-Francisco-based nonprofit organization that rates schools and provides an online community for parents, and came up with the best high schools in each state in a number of different categories. We identified the best overall public high school in terms of test scores, the best public high school with an economically-disadvantaged population, and the Best Improved public high school. Here are the best high schools in the biggest states in the U.S.

California

Best Overall Academic Performance: Gretchen Whitney High School
Town: Cerritos
GreatSchools rating: 10/10

Best Low Income: Preuss School UCSD
Town: La Jolla
GreatSchools rating: 8/10

Best Improved: Palo Alto High School
Town: Palo Alto
GreatSchools rating: 9/10