South Beach Miami

I have visited just about every other major city in Florida, except Miami.

I felt like there was something here that the universe did not want me to see. So when I learned that our jumping off point for Havana was Miami Airport, I knew my time had come.

I booked a room in the Harrison Hotel on Washington St. in South Beach. Being a few blocks from Ocean Drive, it was affordable for my budget, but still within walking distance to all the action. Mostly Spanish and English overheard here. And I find myself conversing in a odd mix of both.

The best part of my room is, well, location. It's Spartan. But there's a mini refrigerator and everything is clean. So I'm happy here.

My first exploration of Ocean Drive was Friday late morning. I was scouting for the evening ahead. I'm glad I did. Not so much to ensure good shooting for later, but because it was fun.

On one side of the Drive are street vendors selling wares and delicious food such as arepas (hot, sweet cornmeal cheese sandwiches), BBQ chicken, sausages, and lemonade. With the ocean park behind them, it's a combination of alluring smoke and sea air that's impossible to resist.

Across from them are the art deco hotels and restaurants. Here's where you can treat yourself to a sit-down meal, colorful tropical drink, and music. Tables line both edges of the sidewalk, so you're actually walking through the restaurant as your explore Ocean Drive. It's the best marketing possible, because you can see the food, drinks, and help without making an immediate commitment.

Walking in general is easy here. Miami closes off the Drive to cars between 6th and 14th (or so). So you can stroll down the middle of the road, street vendors to one side, restaurants to the other, music everywhere. It's like a wholesome Bourbon Street.

I had a BBQ chicken skewer and an arepa for lunch. I could have had more, but I was working. By 2:30 pm the light was flat, so I headed back to the room to process the images and plan my attack for the evening. 

After a nice break and a bottle of water, I was back on Ocean Drive by 5pm, ready for twilight and neon. My favorite night shots aren't really at night. They're at twilight, with some color in the sky just as the building lights come on.

I was shooting with my OM-D E-M10, switching between the 17mm f/1.8 and 75mm f/1.8 prime lenses. Ocean Drive did not disappoint. Color, music, people, food, drink, and street shooting. I finished off the adventure with an Americano at Aroma Expresso on Collins Ave.

Now I know why the universe had denied me Miami. This is a special place for photographers.

And one that I can now fully appreciate after all these years.

-Derrick

Author's Note: It often pays to be lucky. I just learned from Fred, one of our readers, that I landed in South Beach on Art Deco Weekend. I walked right in to a festival, and didn't know it. The good news is that this happens every year. Plan accordingly :-)

62 Pounds

At first, 62 pounds seems like a lot.

I’m thinking about this because 62 pounds is how much my luggage weighs. I know it for sure. I put the suitcase on the bathroom scale, and the readout was 44. I then tested my backpack. There’s another 18. Total: 62 pounds.

As I fly east over the heart of America, 62 pounds is the sum weight of everything I own: shirts, socks, flashlight, camera, laptop, and phone. Items at home in the closet doesn’t matter. They can’t help me here.

It’s a weird feeling having everything you think you need in two stylish containers with padded grips. I think about such things when I walk by the man curled up behind the Radio Shack. His stuffed shopping cart of indistinguishable content is at his feet. For someone sleeping on the concrete, he looks content. Is it because he believes he has everything he needs?

I’m probably wrong about this.

In my case, however, it’s true. I’m ready for anything. Rain? I reach for my compact umbrella and Eddie Bauer hiking jacket (thanks dear!) Medical misadventure? My personal first aid kit is fully stocked. Amazing photo op? You know I have cameras.

In this light, 44 plus 18 doesn’t seem like much. New cities, new adventures. And with fingers tightly curled around each handle, me and my 62 pounds

are ready for the world.

-Derrick

What We Leave Behind

There are always decisions involved with leaving.

The starting point is figuring out what to take. I usually start with gear, because those are the more complicated decisions. It doesn't do any good to bring your favorite camera on an extended trip if you forget its battery charger. It's like a puzzle, and you need the right pieces.

Weight plays a critical role. For example, I love the functionality of a laptop computer. But relative to the other things I bring, it's heavy and bulky. If I can get by without it, I will. Tripods fall in to the same category.

Then we get to the suitcase itself. Here too, I only pack what I think I'll actually need. My thinking is that if I forgot something, I can always buy it on the road. One of my favorite sayings is, "It's not like we're going to Cuba." I might have to modify that for my departure this Thursday.

For my trip to Havana, I need to have everything I need. I can't go to the corner drugstore and buy insect repellent or Ibuprofen. That has to be with me. So, in the same fashion as packing my gear bag, I have a checklist, and I'm starting the process early.

This next part is closer to home. Every time I walk out the door, I leave my family behind. To be honest, I would prefer that they come with me, especially my wife. But that's not practical for them. I'm the one who wants to explore. They have their jobs, school, friends, and responsibilities here, not there.

I realize the risk that comes with adventure. Something could go wrong. I try to comfort myself by saying that things could go wrong anywhere. But even if everything runs smoothly, I'm still disrupting the rhythm of daily life.  And even while visiting the most beautiful places on the planet, I think of them.

The fact of the matter is, what we leave behind

is more valuable than what we bring.

-Derrick

If I were a Lightbulb, I'd be Glowing

I try to temper my expectations before stepping through the doors at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. 

What I'm hoping for is innovation that will make my world brighter and more fun. But it's really a copycat's paradise. For example, in the realm of photography, it seemed like everyone felt that they needed to offer an action or 360 degree camera. So in 2015 we'll see dozens upon dozens of cameras that you can clip to a helmet, position in the nursery, or dangle overhead while crossing the river via a rope bridge - because that's how we all get to work in the morning.

Photography in general was disappointing this year. Basically, what we saw were reconfigurations of existing technologies. New cameras by Canon, Nikon, and Panasonic felt more like product cycle releases than innovations. 

"What are we going to release at CES?"

"Hmmm... let's look at the product roadmap. We could push up these compacts."

"Perfect, let's do it."

What was interesting to me was the world of home automation. It's finally coming of age. And many of the announcements were both clever and useful. Things like the OORT SmartSocket, the Smarter coffeepot, the netatmo Weather Station, and the entire ecosystem building around Nest Labs is truly interesting. 

Being able to better control my home environment, save energy, and possibly protect what's inside my house is good stuff. Along with the development of Bluetooth related technologies and the evolving car, I felt that this was the area of CES that met my expectations.

My final thought probably won't surprise you. I love lighting. And what's happening with the common lightbulb is fascinating.

These were my shining knights in Vegas.

-Derrick

Second Doubts

Right now, I'm really missing my OMD-E-M10 with its beautiful 17mm f/1.8 prime. Here's why.

I'm logging a lot of miles on foot in Las Vegas right now covering the CES show. For this type of work, I like a small messenger bag with a camera, extra lens, iPad mini, and a nano tripod. That's all I need.

Backpacks are terrible at trade shows. They are just too damn big. And their owners don't factor in the added girth as they cut in front of you and swing around a few times. So I need cameras that fit easily in a messenger... like my E-M10 with a prime lens or two.

The reason why I'm lamenting this is because I fell in to the "I'm a professional photographer" trap and brought the wrong gear for this trip. I have the largish E-M1 (by mirrorless standards) with the PRO 12-40mm f/2.8 zoom lens. Great camera. Fantastic lens. Too big. Too heavy.

Already, just after one day here, I'm reaching for the Samsung NX3000 with its diminutive 30mm f/2.0 prime lens. The tandem is as light as a feather and fits easily in my shoulder bag. It's what I'm shooting with.

What I should have packed also is the smaller E-M10, 14-42mm power zoom pancake lens, 17mm f/1.8 prime, and 45mm f/1.8 telephoto. But alas, they are back at the studio in the lens safe.

It's funny, I do great work when I'm not being a pro. I'm free of gear pretenses and just shoot with what I want.

Something to keep in mind as I prepare for Cuba.

-Derrick