Liisa Roberts Photography

IN THE ROOM - Episode Three

2010-03-09T08:39:00.008-10:00

Just a quick clip from the production company that was here last November / December documenting my creative process. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have been able to work with Carriage House Media. Lots of laughs along the way. More info to come regarding the show. Enjoy. :)

IN THE ROOM from Carriage House Media on Vimeo.

More behind the scenes footage of my Military Spouse Magazine - March Issue shoot can be see at: Military Spouse Magazine - March Issue - Behind the Scenes Video.

You can also view the gallery of Photographs on my site at:
Military Spouse Magazine - March Photographs

Military Photography - Lanikai Sea Stallions

2010-03-03T21:54:00.000-10:00

Happened to be on the beach shooting a couple when two Marine Corps CH-53 Sea Stallion Helos buzzed the Mokes during a training exercise. Pretty cool to see.

Photography - Fashion - MUAs Greening Your Kits

2010-02-25T22:19:00.001-10:00

I recently read an article that lists green cosmetic companies that are willing to partner up with MAU artists and offer free samples in order to help alleviate the cost of greening your MU kits.

GreenMUA

Please take a look ~ I hope this helps out. As I prep for my upcoming shoots, I will choose to collaborate with those creative professionals that are currently practicing or shifting to more socially, ethically, and environmentally responsible business models.

Photography - Greening My Business

2010-02-25T21:58:00.001-10:00

Most people that know me understand I have a true passion for our natural world. I have had many conversations with individuals from varied industries regarding my wish to "green" my photography business. I proudly support and donate a portion of my proceeds to the World Wildlife Federation and the Natural Resource Defense Council but feel that I can do so much in order to operate a more socially and environmentally conscience business.

As 2009 rock and rolled into 2010, I set some important goals for my business. First, I wanted to streamline and update my portfolio and website to showcase images and areas of focus that I want to continue shooting. Organization seems like an unattainable dream but I know taking baby steps will get me closer to a more streamlined and efficiently run business and a more polished portfolio site.

Second goal, if I continued to shoot fashion, It became imperative that I aligned my green values with eco friendly designers who are using sustainable resources, recycled and upcycled fashion. Making the decision in finding industry professionals that share the same values regarding zero energy, waste, sustainability, and the environment, fair trade has alleviated much of the mixed emotion I have had about even shooting fashion. The search is still on for a local makeup artist using cruelty free, all natural products.

And finally, I will fully review my venders and their green practices. I am currently making a switch with my fine art print lab. I will be working with Fine Print, Inc out of Fort Collins, CO. Fine Print is 100% green powered, support artists and photographers that are using their craft for environmental conservation through grants and printing services. They provide sustainable and eco friendly print services and sponsor the Art for Conservation Program.

As I accomplish these New Years goals, I will add new ones to my ongoing list. Greening the business is a pretty significant undertaking but so worth it.

Any photographers out there greening their businesses? What have you changed or are you thinking of changing? Would love to hear your best practices.

New Cell Phone Art Web Gallery

2010-02-24T16:40:00.002-10:00

I have created a new Phone Art Gallery on my website. I am really loving my new HTC Hero Android phone.. The 5 megapixel camera is a huge upgrade from my last cell camera on the Blackberry Curve. It does not have flash but that is ok. It has metering, iso, brightness, effects, etc options that more than make up for the lack of flash besides I am not a flash kinda gal anyways. The lack of flash will force me to better my natural light shots as well as get creative on how I will light these snapshots..

Thanks for viewing! I look forward to adding more to these images.

Peacock Feather in Vivid Color

Peacock Feather in Black & White

Negative Clouds

Black & White Clouds

Android phone blog post test

2010-02-14T09:49:00.001-10:00

Testing Sprint's HTC hero phone with my Blogger account. So far I can say that I love the phone and life will never be the same!

Fashion Photography - April

2010-01-18T05:29:00.002-10:00

Click here or on each image to view entire gallery.

For better or worse, I styled this shoot using all thrift store finds. Repurposed Fashion. Make-Up by the amazing and talented Racine Mower from Los Angeles. Just so thrilled that we were able to pull this shoot together last minute.

Photography - First Magazine Cover - Military Spouse Magazine

2010-01-08T19:21:00.002-10:00

There comes a time in our lives where we reach certain milestones whether first words, first steps, first boyfriend or girlfriend, -fast fwd- first car, first kiss, first etc etc professsionally - first job, first promotion, first client and for me as a photographer - First Magazine Cover.

I think I have had a ton of firsts and this one seems to be a super big feather in my first cap. I hope to reflect on this first in the years to come with many more covers under my belt but for now I would just like to take a moment to enjoy my humble beginnings and having a first national ( well international if you consider all the international bases ) magazine cover. Thank you Military Spouse Magazine for my first tear sheet.

So cheers to many more firsts to come.. Here are some cell shots of my seeing for the first time, my first cover on the magazine rack at a store. Oh and for good measure, the first time purchasing my first cover from the store. heheh. :)

2010

2010-01-04T06:18:00.000-10:00

After a fantastic year of creative exploration and hitting some milestones in my photographic journey, 2010 will be the year to sculpt and shape my style as an artist as well as grow my creative network.

Moving forward in 2010, look for more location, location, location from my shoots, more natural elements, softer imagery and use of a wide variety of cameras, techniques, and a hodge podge of diy accessories. Available light will still be my favorite flavor of illumination. More messages and meaning to be woven throughout story lines.

My focus over the next couple months will center on building a strong portfolio while adding to my tear sheets. Keep an eye out for a new look and feel to my website and blog as well.

Here's to taking another step forward as an artist in the new year. Not just walking more sure footed but skipping, leaping, dancing and twirling. Celebrating my family, fellow artists, and my dear friends that have encouraged me along the way.

Mahalo

Kiitos

Gracias

Danke Schön

oh and Thank you!

Makapu'u Lighthouse - Hawaii Beautifully Bent Series

2009-12-29T16:25:00.003-10:00

Makapuu Lighthouse

Click here or on image to view larger

Check out my Hawaii Beautifully Bent gallery.

New Photo Gallery - Hawaii Beautifully Bent

2009-12-27T22:22:00.003-10:00

Hawaii Beautifully Bent is a collection of photographs taken around the Hawaiian Islands. Bent is the light, the lens distortion and color palette. Photographs were captured with Nikon D200, Nikon D700, and various toy cameras. I used ultra wide angle lenses, regular zooms, old manual Nikkors and modified toy camera lenses mounted on my D200. On camera filters were used including COKIN and Hoya to Adobe Photoshop filters and texture overlays.

These images represent my mixed media interpretation of Hawaii.

DIY - Kodak Instamatic 33 Lens Modification - Nikon Mount

2009-12-27T14:01:00.004-10:00

DIY Lens Modification of a Kodak Instamatic 33

Click here or on image to view larger

This is the resulting image using my Nikon D200 and a modified Kodak Instamatic 133 plastic lens. I have been crazy about the look and feel of the Holga toy camera images and want to try everything on my D200 and D700 to see if I can get the dreamy, grainy effects of the toy cameras. I am bummed that I can not do an in camera 1:1 ratio. That process will have to remain in post processing for now.

My husband modified the lens pretty quickly and well roughly but it works.. we will try again with another $1.00 plastic cam find.

In Camera:

I set the Tone Contrast to High, Sharpening to high, BW mode, ISO 1250

In Adobe Photoshop CS3:

I punched the curves a tad to brighten my highlights and darken my shadows. Selective high pass sharpening and cropped to 1:1 ratio.

Check out some of my other DIY Posts.

Holga Mokes II - Lanikai Beach

2009-12-27T09:06:00.004-10:00

Holga Effect Mokes

Here is another Holga effect processing test.. (First test click here)I could create these all day long. I tweaked this image quite a bit from the original action I used by rawimage. I am reading about holga modified lenses for the Nikon. Hopefully I can use the nikon mounted Holga and do a square crop in camera. Happy camper I would be.. Anyone know how to do this please share... :)

Holga Mokes - Lanikai Beach - Kailua, HI

2009-12-26T19:39:00.002-10:00

Holga Mokes

Click here or on image to view larger

I am getting ready to pick up a Holga camera in order to check out the cool effects and light leaks sans the digital darkroom. In the meantime, this is my cool action test: HolgaRoid Generator by rawimage

Dreamy Mokes Take Two - Na Mokulua - Lanikai Beach

2009-12-25T14:24:00.002-10:00

Dreamy Mokes Take Two

Here I added a texture overlay and some grain to my original Dreamy Mokes Photograph. I prefer this one and I would consider this image complete.

I used an Olympus Stylus 550WP - 10MP and shot partially submerged.

Stocking Stuffers - Hawaii Linen Note Cards - Photography

2009-12-19T10:07:00.000-10:00

Mele Kalikimaka ~ Merry Christmas

Great stocking stuffers ~ Linen Photography Note Cards... Taken all around Oahu and the Big Island. If you are shipping as a gift, please let me know at the time of ordering and I will gift wrap before mailing.

Mahalo~

Check out my Etsy shop for my images.
Fine Art Prints also available.

The Mokes Note Cards - Set of 6

Description

Na Mokulua at Lanikai Beach, Oahu

Signed By Artist

Quantity: 6 with envelopes

Size: 5.59" x 4.33"

Paper Stock: Premium, 80 lb. (215 gsm) card stock. Elegant Linen Finish

Inside Card Bottom Right Corner Reads:

Na Mokulua - Kailua, HI
liisa roberts photography
http://www.liisaroberts.com

***watermark will not appear on note cards***
***Will also create a mixed bag of Na Mokulua note cards***

50% Chance of Juicy Grape Skies and Lemon Drop Showers

2009-12-18T13:38:00.001-10:00

Check out Red Headed Wonder Image. Working through a personal art project. More to come.

DIY - Heart Shaped Bokeh As Overlay

2009-12-17T20:29:00.001-10:00

In this image I used the heart shaped bokeh filter I created here as an overlay for this Creative Purge on one of my family sessions.

Again, I am loving the dreamy feel of my recent posts.

Click Here or on the image to view High Res Version

Dreamy Mokes - Na Mokulua - Lanikai Beach

2009-12-17T10:05:00.005-10:00

Dreamy Mokes

Click here or on image to view high res image

I used an Olympus Stylus 550WP - 10MP and shot partially submerged. The waterproof feature is proving to be fantastic for an alternate perspective I have not use when shooting the Mokes. I absolutely love the dreamlike effect with this image. I can see this print hanging on my wall soon.

Military Spouse Magazine - Sneak Peek - March Issue

2009-12-16T15:06:00.014-10:00

Here is a sneak peek of the Military Spouse Magazine March Fashion Editorial regarding:

"What To Wear To Homecoming"

(Military homecoming)

Coming soon, Video from the actual shoot and commentary regarding the challenges of putting this shoot together and how the challenges were over come.

USS Crommelin / HSL 37 DET 4 Fly In - Marine Corps Base Hawaii

2009-12-15T19:01:00.003-10:00

A short clip of our little family reunion from today's fly in at HSL 37, Hangar 3.

LT Brian Roberts Fly - In, DET Four
CARAT / WESTPAC 2009
with the
USS Crommelin FFG 37

Brian's first homecoming with HSL37 was last year with USS Gridley DDG 101. He returned to port (Pearl Harbor) aboard the Gridley. This year he was able to fly the helo right into Marine Corps Base Hawaii and HSL 37.

We missed him so much and are relieved and overjoyed with his return.

I will post still photos once we receive copies. Thank you Tess!

Red Headed Wonder

2009-12-15T14:45:00.001-10:00

First image from an idea that has been brewing in my mind for almost a year. Savannah could not have been more perfect for the idea that I wanted to photograph. More images to come. I have also added the fantastic interpretation of this image by a wonderful lady who just seems to get my images. Thank you Nancy. Thank you Kristin and Dan for allowing me to photograph your wonderful daughter for my project.

Click Here for larger image

Irish Coppertop can keep on going and going and going and going...feminine? Yes, with my twirly pink crinoline tutu but you wouldn't like me when I'm Mad...I've got the wind to my back and with the Sun above me, I can cross anything that falls in my path...Dont be fooled by the knobby knees and purple pansied twinkle toes, these legs have crossed oceans of time to hear and to watch and to feel Everything! Small that I am and Pale that I am, I got my Big Girl Panties on and I'm not afraid of You. Bring it World!

~Nancy Kerby Turner

Chinaman's Hat Sunrise

2009-12-07T11:29:00.002-10:00

MD and I headed out for a quick morning paddle to Chinaman's Hat (Mokolii Islet) yesterday morning to show the IN THE ROOM crew one of our favorite spots hyaking (hiking + kayaking) spots. Was hoping to have some beach to land the kayaks on but no luck even with the two rabbits I acquired at sunrise. Rabbits.. Don't ask. I think we found a home for them, at least.

Click here to view higher resolution image.

He'eia Kea Boat Harbor

2009-12-04T21:18:00.002-10:00

A look at He'eia Kea Boat Harbor today.
Overview

Click here to view High Res Image

A Closer Look

Click Here for High Res
Not even a fraction of the litter along Kaneohe Bay near Heeia Kea.

All Content Copyright ©2009 Liisa Roberts Photography and may not be reproduced without expressed written permission.

Makapu'u Winds

2009-11-29T16:17:00.002-10:00

IN THE ROOM is finally underway. Wow. Getting used to being wired (mic) and having a camera in my face is not so easy. Hopefully I will forget over the next few weeks that they are even here. After our morning hike, I was able to sit down and watch some footage from over the past few days and got a great laugh at myself. I have always wondered what the Mikko-Dakota and Mommy side show conversations sound like. Really hoping to be able to post some snippets. I am at Rob and Kelly's mercy but I can always ask.

Makapu'u Lighthouse hike was great as always. Only one mongoose but no whale sightings. Gale force winds and a great workout. It was fun.