Well it’s been a few days since Michael Jackson died, and I’m now able to reassess my take on the Sunset Vigil assignment I photographed on Thursday.  It’s really amazing how powerful and transcending music can be–MJ’s death has thousands and thousands mourning all over the world.  Anyhoo, here’s some photos that weren’t used in our Friday edition.  Enjoy, and live like you mean it…

Wearing R.I.P.MJ t-shirts, from right, Rene Tengan, Anita Motte, and Star Miranda hold candles as they observe a moment of silence during a sunset vigil for pop star Michael Jackson Thursday, June 25, 2009 at Ala Moana's Magic Island. Michael Jackson died Thursday afternoon from complications with cardiac arrest in Los Angeles. The vigil was put on by radio DJ Doc Roc of Hot 93.9. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin). Canon EOS 1D Mark III, EF 16-35 2.8L at 16mm, Exposure mode: Manual, 1/30 sec at f3.5, ISO 1600, daylight whitebalance.

Kapolei resident Karen Kimokeo, right, thumbs through some of the memorabilia belonging to Nanakuli resident Uilana Arasato, left, during a sunset vigil for pop star Michael Jackson Thursday, June 25, 2009 at Ala Moana's Magic Island. Michael Jackson died Thursday afternoon from complications with cardiac arrest in Los Angeles. The vigil was put on by radio DJ Doc Roc of Hot 93.9. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin). Canon EOS 1D Mark IIN, EF 16-35f2.8L at 16mm, Exposure mode: Manual, 1/320 sec at f6.3, ISO 200, Daylight whitebalance.

A shaka is raised along with a portrait of Michael Jackson during a sunset vigil for the pop star Thursday, June 25, 2009 at Ala Moana's Magic Island. Michael Jackson died Thursday afternoon from complications with cardiac arrest in Los Angeles. The vigil was put on by radio DJ Doc Roc of Hot 93.9. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin). Canon EOS 1D Mark III, EF 70-200 f2.8L IS at 200mm, Exposure mode: Manual, 1/1000 sec at f2.8, ISO 800, daylight whitebalance.

Photographed a perpetrator in Circuit Court today.  Court is always touchy because of several factors.  One, you don’t want to interrupt the proceedings with your loud shutter.  Two, chances are, the person you are photographing does NOT want his/her photograph taken while up there.  Three, the photographer is relegated to the corner of the exit door because the jurors are taking up the whole other half of the courtroom, which means a side view shot.

…Of course, all of the above happened to me today.  But I managed to line up Pulu Mataalaeli, who is accused of attempted murder for allegedly tossing his 7-month old child around in a van during an argument with his girlfriend, with one of his lawyers for a graphically sound image, almost Stonehengey in look.

Canon EOS 1D Mark III, EF 70-200 2.8L IS at 280mm (with a 1.4 extender), Exposure mode: Manual, 1/320 @ f4, ISO 3200, tungsten whitebalance

I also had the privelege of chatting and meeting KSSK radio personality Larry Price the other day to photograph him for our Centurions tab for UH Football.  The two hours spent with him were amazing–the stories and recollections he had from his days as a player and coach were so interesting that I caught myself just holding my camera because I was just intently listening to his conversation with Dave Reardon.  Here’s my favorite photo of him from that session, which didn’t run unfortunately but I thought I’d share with all of you.  Enjoy!

And, for the record, I’m back in effect! Sorry for the hiatus!

Larry Price, former UH Football player and coach, is reflected on the Clark Shaughnessy Trophy, the only piece of memorabilia he owns from his days as UH Football coach Monday, June 15, 2009 at the KSSK Offices in Iwilei (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin).

Was on a mission for wild art yesterday and decided to visit a place my father used to take me as a kid to watch planes.  I just got there, and a trio of U.S. Airforce F-15’s were taking off from the Reef Runway.  Armed with only a 70-200, I parked and tracked them as they took off, and was lucky enough to catch this gentleman covering his ears in my frame during my pan motion–wild art mission:  accomplished!

Rick Swazey covers his ears as an Air National Guard F-15 Eagle takes off from the Reef Runway Tuesday, June 16, 2009 at Keehi Lagoon near the Airport. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin).

…Well, not really, but for all of the gear heads out there who are curious as to how I travel with my gear, this post is for you!  Being that I went to Maui on Saturday to cover the scrimmage, and the many who ask what I carry with me when traveling, I’ve photographed my bags as they are packed, and I’ll describe what’s inside.

1.  Carry-on bag, INSIDE Lowepro Vertex AW backpack:

1-Canon EOS 1D Mark IIN Body, battery attached

1-Canon EOS 1D Mark III Body, battery attached

1-EF 400 2.8 lens

1-EF 16-35 lens, hood detached (more on that later)

1-EF 70-200 lens, hood detached

1-1.4x II teleconverter

1-2x II teleconverter

1-580EX speedlite with omnibounce attached

1-ST-E2 wireless transmitter

1-Canon right-angle finder

1-each, spare battery for Mark IIN and Mark III

Think tank pixel pocket rocket CF card wallet with 16 gigs worth of cards/SD

Inside of my carry-on.

2.  Carry-on bag, OUTSIDE:

-Mac Powerbook 15″

-Laptop security lock

-Power supply for laptop

-Think Tank Cable Management pouch containing the following:

2-CF card readers, firewire and USB2

2-SD card readers

1-Verizon EVDO aircard

1-telephone cable

2-iPod USB2 cords (for iPhone)

1-Calculator (for expensing in the field)

1-2 gigabyte thumb drive

Outside of my backpack. Not shown: iPod shuffle, Listerine mist spray (because I like to be charming to my seatmate on the plane! Nothing worse than breathing fire, especially on long flights))

3.  Check-in bag, small roller:

2-Aquatech sports shield rain covers, for 400mm and 70-200mm

-All lens hoods, 400, 70-200, and 16-35

1- Gitzo carbon fiber monopod

1-Pacsafe security net

1-Extra set of clothes (just in case of stranding, which has happened to me)

1-Think Tank Changeup wastepack with Think Tank Whip it Out pouch attached

Optionally, I also pack the chargers for camera batteries, although on day trips, I don’t take it.

My philosophy on checked bags is taken from many of my colleagues.

A few of my mentors and colleagues say it best when it comes to traveling.  Basically, you carry-on EVERYTHING you need to shoot the assignment/job.  Anything that can be replaced at your destination, small items such as monopods, etc. are checked.  Lens hoods are not essential, and take up room in the backpack so they are checked in also.

That’s it!

Greetings from Maui!  I shot today’s Hawaii football scrimmage here at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, Maui.  It was a fun time, shooting football in the middle of spring.  The stadium definitely had character, and the vibe in the air from the fans who came to support Coach McMackin and the Warriors was a good one–very warm and generous.  I got there about an hour before practice was scheduled to start, and immediately noticed the visual aesthetics of War Memorial–steel bleachers, a two-story pressbox, and uber-friendly staff.  Of course, I’m here to photograph the sports action, but my mind was already beginning to simmer with ideas.  One of them is my lead photo above.  Warmups and drills were the pre-cursor to the actual scrimmage, so I shot a lot with my new angle finder from ground level.  I knew that if there was going to be any rushing touchdowns later on, it’d be a great perspective.  Here’s a shot of drills with the angle finder attached.

Running backs coach Brian Smith watches drills during the Hawaii Warrior football's 2009 spring scrimmage, Saturday, April 11, 2009 at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, Maui. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin).

 The scrimmage began, and let me tell you, I was kinda rusty!  Amazing what two and a half months of not shooting football can do to your shooting ability!  Thank you, auto-focus!  I was concentrating on quarterbacks, and made this really intense frame of Steele Jantz.

Quarterback Steele Jantz eyes an open receiver during the Hawaii Warrior football's 2009 spring scrimmage, Saturday, April 11, 2009 at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, Maui. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin).

The scrimmage went on, and the hour just flew by so quickly!  I got some fairly decent frames of the action, despite my apparent rustiness. 

S

Hawaii receiver Royce Pollard reaches for a pass during the Hawaii Warrior football's 2009 spring scrimmage, Saturday, April 11, 2009 at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, Maui. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin).

Hawaii running back Inoke Funaki plows over defender Rykin Enos enroute to a 22-yard touchdown run during the Hawaii Warrior football's 2009 spring scrimmage, Saturday, April 11, 2009 at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, Maui. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin).

Hawaii DB Kenny Estes makes an interception during the Hawaii Warrior football's 2009 spring scrimmage, Saturday, April 11, 2009 at War Memorial Stadium in Wailuku, Maui. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin).

Look for more photos in tomorrow’s edition of both our online edition and our print edition.  Enjoy!  When I get back, I’ll blog about what was in my bag and how I travel, for all the gearheads:)

Yesterday I photographed the deployment of approximately 150 Marines and Sailors with the USMC 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment as they left for a seven-month deployment to al Asad, Iraq.  As often happens, the page designers don’t always run the photographs I feel best tell the story visually, so I’m posting my two favorite photographs from this assignment.  

I don’t recall ever photographing a deployment–all my previous assignments have been Army Soldiers or Marines returning home.  What I did see and feel was an immediate thickness in the air.  Sadness and grief were all around me.  I saw lovers holding each other tight.  Three and four-year-old children swinging from their father’s arms without a clue of the gravity of the situation.  Genuine moments–precious moments ticking away–between a soldier and the one he loves.  I wanted to be as tasteful and discreet as possible without interrupting these moments, so I found my photograph in a car window.

All in all, it was day and night from the returning parties I’ve covered a number of times before.  But despite the sadness and morale of the loved ones being left behind, the Marines were in high spirits–some even laughed light-heartedly and joked amongst each other.  But it really hit me hard when the buses were loaded up, and the Marines opened the windows to wave goodbye and blow kisses.  The harsh reality of it is, that some may be waving and blowing kisses to their loved ones for the last time.  It’s sad, and it’s pessimistic, but it is the consequence of war.  This hit me really hard, and tears started to well up in my eyes after I made this last frame.

Baseball is one of those sports where sometimes the action can be sparse at best.  Luckily during today’s final game between Hawaii and Coastal Carolina, I managed to grab a couple of shots I was actually HAPPY with–meaning no play at second, no pitcher shot, and no shaking hands after a scoring a run.  Haven’t done that in a loooooooooooooooooooonngg time.  Enjoy!

Hawaii's Landon Hernandez misses the plate while being tagged by Coastal Carolina catcher Jose Iglesias in the bottom of the fourth inning of a college baseball game between the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and the Hawaii Rainbows, Saturday, March 28, 2009 at Les Murakami Stadium. Hawaii held on to win 4-3 and captured the series after a disappointing game one earlier in the week. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin).

Hawaii thirdbaseman Vinnie Catricala breaks his sunglasses off a line drive double from Coastal Carolina's Taylor Motter in the top of the eight inning of a college baseball game between the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and the Hawaii Rainbows, Saturday, March 28, 2009 at Les Murakami Stadium. Hawaii held on to win 4-3 and captured the series after a disappointing game one earlier in the week. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin).

This past Monday, I photographed the Project DisFUNKshion fashion at Windward Mall.  As always is the case, I was pressed for time, as I had a baseball game to shoot immediately after in Aiea.  A nice setup, metering of lights, and location scout is always a luxury I seldom ever have, so I compensated by using both ambient and speedlites to shoot my portraits.  The three models, Nalani, Marc, and Mandy, were wonderful to work with and very cooperative.  Here’s three shots to illustrate the variety of approaches when shooting a fashion assignment such as this.

LIT:

Mandy McGarry, left, and Nalani Ravelo wear spring fashion by Wet Seal, photographed Monday, March 16, 2009 at Windward Mall, part of the 2009 DisFunkShion show. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin). Canon EOS 1D Mark IIN, EF 15 f2.8 fisheye, 580EX speedlite x 2, triggered with a Canon ST-E2 wireless transmitter. Exposure mode: Manual, ISO 50, 1/250 @ f8.0, daylight whitebalance.

AMBIENT:

Mandy McGarry wears spring fashion by Hot Topic, photographed Monday, March 16, 2009 at Windward Mall, part of the 2009 DisFunkShion show. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin). Canon EOS 1D Mark II, EF 24-70 f2.8L at 50mm, Exposure mode: Manual, ISO 50, 1/200 @ f2.8, Daylight whitebalance.

MIX OF BOTH:

Marc McGarry wears spring fashion by Hot Topic, photographed Monday, March 16, 2009 at Windward Mall, part of the 2009 DisFunkShion show. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin). Canon EOS 1D Mark IIN, EF 16-35 f2.8L at 16mm, 580EX speedlite triggered with ST-E2, Exposure mode: Manual, ISO 50, 1/250 @f5.0, Daylight whitebalance.

Mixing it up allows the page designers plenty of variety, much like preparing a multi-course meal.  Situationally, shooting in the crowded mall is always a challenge.  Everyone is watching as you work.  Using the lights to isolate the subject eliminates the cluttered mall background.  For a few of the shots, I was looking for an urban look to match the clothing the models were wearing–that was as easy as wandering outside, around the corner, and into the service entrance alley!  After about 50 minutes of solid shooting and 6 different outfit changes, it was off to baseball.

Volunteers Randy Kawamoto, left, and Keith Sakoda are silhouetted in the smoke and morning sun as they flip a rack of hulihuli chicken during the Taste of Hongwanji Bazaar, Sunday, March 15, 2009 at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin in Nuuanu. Along with the hulihuli chicken, the bazaar featured Osaka Tako Balls and KC Waffle Dogs. (Jamm Aquino/Honolulu Star-Bulletin).

I went to the Honpa Hongwanji’s food bazaar on Sunday and thought it was spot news!  Turns out, it was the smoke from the hulihuli chicken.  I had just thought about the position of the morning sun and assessed the surroundings when these two gentlemen started flipping the chickens over, one grill at a time.  Perfect timing!  A different take on hulihuli!

For those who aren’t aware yet, I’m a Tweeter now, so you all can follow me on assignment:

http://twitter.com/jammaquino

@jammaquino