A perfect time to learn something new or expand our capabilities
Suggested courses:
Nikon
is offering FREE online courses and I have already watched and learned from many of them
Photography Challenge Day 3 - Self Portrait
This challenge is not about a selfie taken on your iPhone. However those iPhone users can learn very good techniques by following some of the tips in this challenge.
One of your self portraits must include something related to the coronavirus and what is happening in your own personal space.
My suggestions for self portrait set up include:
backdrop
at least one external flash or strobe
camera mounted on tripod
use of remote trigger or self toner mode on camera. I set my camera for nine shots with a three second pause between shots which will assure my strobes recycling time and a different pose
manual focus on a pre-designated spot
F-11 or even more shut down to improve chance of in focus
Use of 1 or more external props
take many shots for a better chance of getting the exact shot you want
For drama try a black backdrop
Points awarded for participation in this challenge:
Five points for three or more submitted photos using at least six of the techniques previously defined
One point for one submitted photo
10 points for best self portrait of the group. I get to be the judge and jury LOL
I have included a few images from my practice session yesterday in my home studio in Delray Beach Florida.
My setup for the following shots:
2-3 Paul Buff Strobes, Black and Blue Backdrop, Nikon D850 Camera, 35MM 1.8 Nikon and 85 MM 1.4 Sigma Lens, SNOOT, 18” OMNI Reflector, Light Meter, Tripod and others
Photographer Challenge #2 - Know your Camera
I call this GET TO KNOW YOUR CAMERA CHALLENGE. I am convinced after watching many photographers struggle with their equipment they have NOT spent the time to KNOW their camera. Knowledge is POWER and confidence give you the freedom to SEE the shot and GET the shot and receive the DESIRED results.
I am a very fast typist on the keyboard, clocked at more than 105 WPM on a standard typewriter in High School. Why am I so FAST? It’s simple, proper technique, and NOT looking at your fingers or hands while you type. I know where the keys are instinctively. Your challenge is to get to know your camera that intimately.
HERE is your TEST:
IN the DARK, with no lights on, can you adjust the following settings without taking your eyes from the viewfinder in under 5 seconds:
Change your FOCUS from Manual, to Continuous, to automatic
Change your focus SPOT from Single point to multiple point/Wide
Change your ISO from 100 to 400
Change your ISO from 100 to Auto ISO
Turn your Flash or strobe on or off (on your camera, not your FLASH)
Change your shutter speed from 1/200 to 1/1000 to 1/30
Change your F-Stop from fully OPEN to totally shut down, and back to F8
Change your MODE from Aperture Priority to Manual, to Shutter Priority (S mode on Nikon) and back to Aperture Priority
Change your White Balance to Auto, then to Cloudy, then to 5200K and back to Auto
Replace your battery on your camera
Replace your batteries on your FLASH (this is a HARD one!) - I’ll give you 60 seconds on this one
On my NIKON I MUST KHOW where the following keys/buttons/switches are and my fingers must find them with my eyes closed:
Camera on/off switch
ISO button
Camera mode dial (M/A/P/…)
Display button
AF on (Auto focus button - I use BACK BUTTON Focus)
Info button (i)
OK button
Main Command dial
Sub Command dial
TIP: You can program your buttons and view finder displays to your specific needs. For example I program the following programmable buttons:
F1: White balance
F2: Auto Focus modes allowing me to switch from AFC/AFM/AFS
Nikon Tip:
The Display button toggles various displays available in your view finder and on your display. This button is VERY helpful in DARK shooting
The Info button (i) show’s your current configuration of very important settings and allows you to change them on the fly by rotating your COMMAND dial.
Practice, practice practice. I did not learn to type 105 WPM on a manual typewriter by reading a manual!
While watching TV I often grab a camera and play these GAMES with it. My challenge is although I only shoot Nikon, all cameras are slightly different. When I switch cameras I have to cheat for a while because the setup is not only different but the buttons and knobs are also different. This is ONE REAL reason to stick with one camera BODY! I have a Nikon D850, D500 and Z6, ALL different and special in their own way.
If you can do this with your camera in the DARK you KNOW your camera and can concentrate on the composition and capture. If you don’t you may miss it.
My challenge: Practice this UNTIL you have it, maybe just 15 minutes a day, in the DARK. No cheating, you are allowed to look at the display in your viewfinder but NOT on your back screen!
Points awarded: - you can have up to 13 days to complete, practice up!
5 points if you can do ALL the above items in less than 5 seconds each
3 points if you can do at least 6 of the items in the list
1 point for trying and putting up with my BLOGS
2 points extra credit if you can do at least 6 items in under 2 seconds
NOTE: points are only awarded with your active participation on my BLOG entries. You MUST put your achievement and points earned in the comments section of the blogs.
Photographer Challenge - 14 day challenge
Photographer challenge - Lets all improve while we are all cooped up from Covid-19
In an effort to keep not only myself engaged but to also help all my photographer peers I have decided to create a BLOG entry each day for 14 days. These entries will all have a DAILY challenge with some additional resources and helps from me and other photographer peers who want to participate. Each challenge will have points attached to your level of participation. The winning 3 photographers will get:
1 FREE Photo session at my home studio in Delray Beach Florida with your client(s) - up to 2.5 hours in the studio. With or without my help and advice.
1 FREE second shooter (ME) at any of your local (South Florida) events in the coming 12 months.
A BIG pat on your back from your PEERS.
Challenge Day 1:
Reach out to a fellow photographer today and tell them why you love their work.
3 points for a personal phone call, FaceTime or Messenger Video chat
1 point for a text message or IM
1 point extra credit: ask your PEER for 1 TIP to improve your photography or photography business.
Resources:
PHONE: USE IT, like days of old…. call and let them HEAR your voice
My number: 954-439-1999
IPHONE: Face Time - Even better than a phone call - I am an IPhone and apple user
Facebook: Instant Messenger, Video and messaging
My Facebook profile: Tom Schmuki
Instagram: Messaging and Video messaging
My instagram profile: thomas_e_photography
Skype: https://www.skype.com/en/
My Skype name: tom.schmuki
WhatsApp (Facebook Messenger): Video and Messaging
My WhatsApp profile: Tom Schmuki (954-439-1999)
Hangouts: Google’s messenger: Video and Messaging
My Hangouts id: thomas.e.photography@gmail.com
WOOF - where is my bridge?
Want to laugh at or with me, go ahead and read on. Yesterday during a happy moment eating jelly beans I noticed something hard in my mouth. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Must be a hard candy in the mix of jelly beans. Wow it is hard. I pulled it out of my mouth, looked at it and it seemed like a strange long skinny candy. Back in my mouth again. Crunch, crunch. Forget it. I pulled it out, looked at it and put it one the center console of my coffee table.
Moments later I noticed my mouth felt dramatically different. Sure enough there was a big whole in my gums. OHHHHHH, that was my temporary crown that came out. How embarrassing, I could not even tell what it was when I looked at it.
I immediately called my dentist and set an appointment to glue it back in my mouth. I confirmed with the dentist it was not broken and set an appointment in 15 minutes. Went out to my coffee table, and sure enough it was GONE. Couldn’t find it anywhere. Now I knew or suspected one of my DOGS jumped up on the coffee table and ate it. I would be finding it in their POOP later. NOOOOOO. I looked and looked, hoping I was wrong. Sure enough it was on the floor near the dogs kennel.
I asked the dentist to sanitize the temporary bridge and it is now back in my mouth. WOOOOOF!
Kennedy Space Center Trip - Rocket Not Launched - ABORT, ABORT!
Yes my few fellow fans, I do have a bucket list. Attending and photographing a rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center was on my list.
Play the 30 second video below!!!
I have been to Kennedy Space Center many times in the past and frankly much prefer it over the them parks in Orlando. Once I found out there was a scheduled launch Tuesday December 18th at 9:30 am, I decided to go. I could not convince any family or friends to go with me. Not even a tease of a model shoot in the area.
In any case I found out the gates open at 6:30 am for the shoot and that meant I needed to get up before 3:00 am in order to assure my on time arrival. 3:00 am, what am I NUTS?
When I arrived on the grounds of Kennedy Space Center, it was about 6:15 am. There was a terrible long line of cars ahead of me, all of us in the dark and waiting for the Gods of the center to let us in one by one.
Unfortunately because of my standard lack of planning and “shoot by the hip” persona I had not reserved a space in advance so I could actually observe the rocket on the ground and see the entire take off. Those spots had been sold out for months. I purchased General Admission tickets which allowed me on the grounds of the center.
I was surprised the limited quantity of people who had arrived with me. There were more people at Jingle Ball. Hey, it just meant I had more space to photograph the launch.
When we were T-3 minutes and counting, me along with thousands of anticipatory guests, the ABORT call came out. It was over. No launch today, and no explanation as to why. I understood the risk of my travels and the possibility of an abort, but I went anyway. What a disappointment.
On my travel back home, I had realized I was getting really sleepy. I knew I needed to find the next rest stop and take a nap. I did not know I was dozing. All of a sudden my Honda Civic technology stepped in, BEEP, BEEP, and vibration on the steering wheel. The car woke me up. I was veering off the left side of I95. WHEW. Thank you technology. Guess I was not used to getting up at 2:45 am.
Will I attempt this trip again, probably not unless circumstances are different.
— tom
My Trip to North Carolina on a Motorcycle - Episode 2
I am very pleased to hear many people have read and enjoyed my first episode of my motorcycle trip to North Carolina last week. This is episode 2 of X and may get a little more interesting, spicy, nauseous, etc. Get your barf bag out lol.
If you have not yet read Episode 1 of my BLOG you may want to read that first:
Riding motorcycles on a long trip is really not anything like doing a road trip in a car or a flight on your favorite air lines. You would not dare fall asleap, eat crackers, nuts, popcorn or gulp down a soda while driving 80 miles an hour on the highway….. or would you????
Tip # 1 riding motorcycles
3 Lanes in a lane
There are actually 3 lanes in each lane on the highway, left, middle and right. Your lane choice must be chosen carefully based on highway conditions, traffic conditions, and weather conditions. It is common that the left and right lanes have ridges and bumps created by all the CAR traffic. The middle lane is often the smoothest. I often choose the lane that gives me the best visibility of traffic ahead. More motorcycle riding tips may follow.
For those who have not ridden on a motorcycle or even worse yet never ridden a Harley. Let me describe the experience for you from a drivers perspective. I understand the passengers perspective may be entirely different. Harley Davidsons are primarily AIR cooled which means the air/wind from speed create keeps the engine cool. The slower you go, and the more stop and go traffic may be, the hotter the bike gets, to the point of almost seizing entirely. Ever wonder why you see motorcyclists driving entirely off the road when traffic is stopped? Often times it is because they are afraid their motorcycle will seize in the heat because of lack of air flow to keep the engine cool.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the RUMBLE
My Harley, a 2015 Ultra limited special is ergonomically set up to fit my body and arm length. The highway pegs or some call them forward pegs allow me to stretch my legs out, and most times I ride with my feet on the highway pegs, of course after I have gone through the gears and I am cruising in 6th gear. I often changes my leg and foot position from the highway pegs to the standard food pegs/boards on the harley. This gives me multiple positions to keep limber and loose.
At a stop the Harley vibrates the most, and I am told by my passengers that the vibration is almost unbearable at a stop. For me as the driver of the bike, I sort of enjoy it. I really only feel the vibration on my handle grips. Once I begin to roll on the vibrations reach for me a level of 0 very quickly and I am told the same is the case for my passengers. Other motorcycles I have owned and enjoyed do NOT have the Harley rumble, NOR the Harley vibration. You want smooth and quiet, don’t get a HARLEY! My Honda Gold Wings (owned many) were smooth and quiet.
I often ride on cruise control, as a matter of fact every time I get a chance. This allows me to relax both my arms and even take either hand off the grips to relax and or change my position. How many of you drive a car with one hand. Same thing exactly! Stop and go traffic is not only tough on the engine but very tough on the hands and wrists constantly fighting the clutch, maintaining balance at a low speed, etc.
Balance and Weigh of a Harley Davidson
I don’t have the official dry weight specs available, but I believe my Harley weighs with no gas and no one on it between 1,600 and 1,800 pounds. Add my weight (210+) the weight of my gear, and or the weight of a passenger, you could be balancing 2,600-2,800 pounds between your legs. Balance is only a problem when you are going slow, when you are riding with a passenger who is clueless how to lean and when the curve of the ROAD is opposite the natural LEAN angle of the motorcycle. The hardest thing to do on a BIG bike is to BALANCE at low speeds, curvy roads, and roads that are slopped the wrong way or any way for that matter. This is the very reason the drivers portion of a motorcycle license test, test balance at a low speed with many turns.
I say publicly I have NEVER gone done on a motorcycle. Only partially true, I have gone down 3-4 times on a BIG bike going less than 2 miles an hour or even at a complete stop no less.
Beware BIG BOYS and GIRLS, if you are NOT an experience motorcyclist, NEVER buy a BIG bike as your first bike for the main reason of BALANCE. You will lose balance, and you will go DOWN!
Music, Iphone, and texting
Music I have 4 speakers on my Harley and most of the time I am listening to either Rock and Roll or current POP music. As the speed of the Harley gets faster and faster my music automatically gets louder and louder so I can hear it with the increased noise level created by the wind.
Don’t text and drive: I attach my IPhone to the right handle grip of my Harley. I am able to at least see texts or calls come in and determine if I should pull over to deal with the situation.
Well there you have it, the setup of my bike.
Did I mention my HARLEY was so overloaded on this trip I had unsafe front end wheel wobble? I finally corrected most of this by putting my heavy bag on the passengers seat behind me, which also gave me a back rest. A very nice position, leaning back on the bag, feet forward stretched out on the highway pegs. I am almost stretched to my max in that position. Hey, eventually you look for multiple positions to avoid the stiffness and cramps of long rides.
I left about 7:45 am in the morning, and arrived in Savannah Georgia at about 7:00 pm. In my next blog I will discuss my disaster with my GOPRO, the RAIN storm from HELL and other things.
Stay tuned. Hoped you enjoyed this and learned a little about motorcycling the Schmukiiliscious way!
—tom
My Trip to North Carolina on a Motorcycle - Episode 1
The few faithful followers and readers of my blogs will know that motorcycling is and has been in my blood for many years. I guess you could say it is almost a drug to me. I have also mentioned in my blogs and in my BUCKET list posts riding my motorcycle all over the United States and even possibly the world is ON my list.
A quick reminder of some of the reasons I love motorcycling so much:
The tremendous feeling of freedom
The ride is like riding in a convertible car * 10. Why? More visibility, more vulnerability, more, more more. I know I owned a white mustang convertible GT. A car I loved to drive. Why did I sell that one?
The sound of the Harley. Nothing compares to that sound. I often turn my loud radio off just to hear the beautiful sound of the RUMBLE
The LEAN. Don’t get me started. You cannot LEAN in a car. One of the main reasons I will resist getting a 3 wheeler until my health demands it.
The silence
Time to reflect, enjoy and believe
I love being spontaneous rather than planful in my NON business life. This drives my family and friends (?) nuts. Many times for the longest period of time I would go out in the garage, start up my motorcycle and pull out in the street not knowing yet where I was going to go. My first thought is NORTH, SOUTH, EAST or WEST. My next thought is how long do I want to drive, hours, all day or even potentially over night. I have gotten on my motorcycle, thinking I may take a 1-2 hour drive and end up driving to Key West (213 miles and good 6 hour drive) and spending the night or even just having lunch and riding back the same day. Many of these decisions are made after getting on my motorcycle.
My trip on my Harley Davidson to North Carolina was not much different than previously described. Not planned, not well thought out, not knowing where I am going to stay, how long I am going to stay, and not really even knowing the weather at my proposed destinations. For the first time in my life my non planning strategy sort of bit me in the fanny.
I knew I wanted to go to visit two places to visit family and loved ones. Family I may have not seen for years. My son David and my 2 1/5 grand children…grandpa, that must sounds wrong lives in Fuquay-Varina NC which is just south west of Raleigh Durham. My sister who has a lot more in common with me than we ever knew. Tina lives in Rockvale Tennessee which is about 1.5 hour drive south of Nashville.
I packed up my Harley Davidson, and loaded it with as much camera gear as I could fit. I had hopes that perhaps I may do some professional shoots along the way. My Harley was LOADED, and probably over-loaded with weight. I noticed immediately while driving how the bike responded differently and had a slight if not prominent front wheel wobble because of the weight or the “inproper weight distribution”.
My Harley had just been fully serviced approximately 1,000 miles ago.
I had not even decided which destination I would go to first well into my first day of travel on my Harley.
My brother in law Robert Cranfield warned me before going on the trip to look at the weather report because the weather was unpredictable and “dicey” this time of year in Tennessee. Not to worry I thjought, I have ridden in many a snow storms in Colorado and Utah. I am tough, I can handle it, and surely if anyone knows how to handle a motorcycle in wet/slick driving conditions it is me ….
Off I go from Delray Beach Florida. Weather is beautiful, almost too hot to ride in blue jeans and boots. Feet up on the extended foot pegs, listening to my favorite rock and roll music, sun rising to my right (East). I am OFF. Time to enjoy the LEAN of the motorcycle.
We will find out I should have listened much more carefully to my brother in law Dr. Robert C.
Stay tuned for episode #2. It gets much DICIER from here …
The struggle between honesty, transparency, and marketing
This may be one of the most difficult blogs to compose, and perhaps even more difficult to read. Family and friends, please do NOT be offended by my brutal honesty in this BLOG. Hey, it may be my last blog depending on the results.
A previous peer who I have not heard from for maybe 25+ years, fellow co worker and friend who has been silently following my works, my blog and my photography reached out to me yesterday. Reggie thank you for reaching out to me after all these years.
Reggie was very complimentary of my photography and my commentary, and even my blogs. Her comment haunts me … “I see a touch of sadness in your words, but thats understandable ….”
I learned a lot from her commentary. First of all, I just may have followers, silent ones who read my words, appreciate and admire my photography, and perhaps even enjoy some of it. Based on the lack of clicks, read throughs, and commentary, I always assume no one is seeing, no one is reading, and this whole thing is just a platform for a personal/public journal that only generations in future may see. Perhaps I see it as personally therapeutic.
My next door neighbor yesterday stopped her car while I was washing my motorcycle and told me how much she enjoyed and appreciated my journalistic commentary and photos of my motorcycle trip to North Carolina. Again, I had never known she was watching, stalking from afar so to speak. It made me happy.
To get better context to my commentary, you may want to read or review the following blogs:
The Shy man with a Camera
https://tesphoto.squarespace.com/blog/2018/8/16/the-shy-man-behind-the-camera\
My Birthday Wish
https://tesphoto.squarespace.com/blog/2018/9/11/my-birthday-wish
Ten things you probably don’t know about me
https://tesphoto.squarespace.com/blog/2018/9/17/ten-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-me
The moment you find out your child is schizophrenic
https://tesphoto.squarespace.com/blog/2018/9/21/the-moment-you-find-out-your-child-is-schizophrenic
Five things you probably don’t know about me
https://tesphoto.squarespace.com/blog/2018/10/14/5-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-me
Yes Reggie, you are 100% correct, there is a tone of sadness to my prose.
So back to the title: The struggle between honesty, transparency, and marketing
I have always known from day one that one of my biggest flaws is my transparency. I tell the truth, my face and expressions tell the truth, sometimes it is brutal and hurtful. This transparency made me a great manager and boss in almost any arena. I would be quick to compliment, be thankful and get in the trenches with my staff. This transparency also comes at a cost in business and in all areas of life both personal and professional.
Here it is: I struggle with sadness and depression, and have for years. I can hardly remember what it feels like to wake up each day with a smile on my face. I blame no one or nothing for my struggle nor my feelings. It is NOT your fault. This is the one thing I know! For me depression is loneliness. It does not matter if I am physically alone or in a crowd of dozens or hundreds of peers, family or friends. I work very hard every day, every moment to mask this loneliness and depression.
My motorcycle ride to North Carolina was done alone. No family member wanted to go with me. Hey, they are the smart ones. The ride outside of Florida was miserable, lonely and COLD!
What makes me happy? It is very simple. Feeling truly appreciated. Feeling I have provided something of real value to someone. Something that lasts more than the “click” or “like”. Photography makes me happy. Not the specific click of the camera, but more about the experience of the shoot and most importantly the value of the product I created. I yearn for my work to be valued in a real way. I ache to leave a legacy of work that will be cherished by generations. The reality of falling far short of those expectations is part of my daily struggle.
This commentary is the opposite of marketing. It is 100% truth. Those who read this will probably agree with Reggie at even a higher level.
I ask if you silently read my blogs, or silently view my photos, please once in a while reach out to me and let me know. It has more meaning than you will ever know.
Tom
Retirement Month 1 - Where did the 30 days go?
So how is your retirement going? Thought you would never ask.
My last day at Motionpoint as a full time software development manager was Friday October 5th. I would say, I went out with a whimper. A number of my fellow developer peers took me out to lunch at Santos Japanese Steakhouse. All you can eat. My office was empty and I gazed at my computer for the last time. I realized my career in technology as most assuredly over, unless of course I get an offer ai cannot refuse ….
Don’t forget my retirement was retiring from working for someone else for a “steady” paycheck. I am certainly not at the stage of playing dominos at the park in Hollywood beach. I am not even ready to play tennis, golf, or ride motorcycles every day. I am ready for 24x7 photography.
So lets start with what I did do during the month:
Studio shoot with Dylan Pinnell. This was so fun and I am positive Dylan is off to a very exciting and promising career in modeling.
Christmas Mini Sessions at Delray Beach Country Club. A great experience. I photographed 9-11 families and had a glorious day. So fun, the kids came in dressed to the nine, new hair cuts and beautiful smiles on their faces.
I was then invited to be the photographer for the VIP Emergency Management reception at the Wyndham Hotel in Boca Raton. Thank you Samantha Jay for your confidence in my work and the great experience of photographing some of the most influential leaders and educators in emergency management.
Just a few weeks back I was invited to be the photographer for KK Swimwear’s BIMINI photo shoot. So much fun, and such a great experience. Natalia Garcia, your designs are incredible and you are such a joy to shoot with. Samantha Guiterez and Sofia Trujillo such poised and talented models. Not to forget one of the most talented makeup artists I know Virgina Velez. This was a whirlwind of work with no time to anything but pull the trigger on my Nikon.
I then took a trip to Halloween Horror Nights in Orlando Florida. This has become a tradition for me and my daughter Allison. I got some great pictures that night and did not even get sick, perhaps the first time ever for me at an Orlando theme park.
I followed up the night at Orlando with a studio shoot at Adorn Studio in Ocala Studios with models Abigail Coquilla and Xiomy Canela. This was a very fun exercise in how many looks and scene changes can we squeeze in to the 3 hour time slot at Adorn Studios. I think the results were fantastic.
Last but not least was Halloween itself. I had so much fun photographing my neighbors in Delray Beach. I think I surprised my neighbors with something new, exciting and worth while for the participating Halloween walkers.
All that being said, I look back at my first month of retirement as spending 90% of my waking hours from 7:30-11:30 at night in front of my computer. Editing pictures, creating business plans and strategies, marketing, etc. I thought I would get away from the 40 hours at my full time regular job and 40 hours in photography. Now it is 80+ hours in photography, and way too much time in front of my computer. This needs to change but fast. Perhaps more motorcycle rides, tennis, and maybe even a round of golf or 2.
— tom
Halloween Horror Nights - pictures and commentary
Going to Halloween Horror nights in Orlando Florida (HHN) has become a tradition with me and my daughter Allison. Does it become a tradition if you have done it 3 or more times?
The trip to Orlando from Delray Beach is about 3 hours or less if I drive like Mario Andretti. For all those who know the drive on the turnpike to Orlando, it is a boring one. Nothing to really look at one the road but sawgrass, flatlands and road kill. Always have to keep an eye above for the cops in the SKY in fear of a TICKET sent in the mail by the sky rangers. Yes, they do that in Florida, I know someone who got a ticket from sky patrol cop. How they can peg your speed limit, and read your license plate from the sky is a “wonder of technology”.
Lets get real here, Orlando is all about theme parks. They are every where. You have Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Universal Island of Adventure, Universal Studios, Disneys Hollywood Studios, Seaworld, Epcot and many others. As a general rule I HATE theme parks. Firstly, you pay oodles of money for travel, tolls, parking, tickets to the park. Once you are in the park, it is normally extremely HOT, HUMID and you wait in lines for 1+ hour per ride in the scolding HUMID heat. Everyone is sweaty, stinky, kids are crying and miserable. Finally you get on the ride, and it is over in 2-5 minutes. On to the next ride. Worse yet, with my motion sickness and slight vertigo problems I get very sick after even the first ride. FUN, FUN, FUN. Also I must mention the price and quality of the food in the parks is mind boggling. $12 slice of pizza? $15 hamburger? these are not gourmet offerings they are bland, tasteless and hurt every $2 bite. This is why in the past I dropped the family off at the parks and played golf on the glorious golf courses of Orlando.
HHN, was massively crowded and the scenario I just painted was pretty much the same, but because it was at night time the climate was totally tolerable and almost NICE. So as a good DAD, Grandpa, OLD FART as I am, I sat on the sidelines as Allison went on her favorite rides. In the mean time I took pictures of the cast of characters at HHN. I also attended a fantastic show as well as my climax of the evening was going to the STRANGER THINGS haunted house. I am a Stranger Things fan, watched every episode of every season. Hated it when the last season ended! This place was awesome. The character actors looked just like the real ones on the show. The coolest room was the room with the lights on the wall and the mother hacking away at the wall with an AXE. Was very realistic and very much like the real show.
Allison insisted we stay till the bitter end; 2:00 am. So we did. The final picture of me in front of the Universal Studios Globe was taken on our way out of the park.
So do I recommend HHN? A thumbs up for me. My recommendation is to go on OFF nights and early in the season so it is not so crowded.
Now, to establish more traditions….
Tom
Five things you probably don't know about me
A number of people have told me their favorite blog was my “10 Things you don’t know about me”. Well, here are 5 more
I was asked to try out for the Donny and Marie Osmond show as a backup singer. I was not interested in being anything but the LEAD singer with mike in my hand and a whole band around me.
My generation is the first generation in the USA without a mandatory draft to fight in a world war or major war. I missed the draft of the tail end of the Vietnam war by the skin of my chinny chin chin. My father fought in World War II in the Navy on a destroyer. He observed fellow ships go down and watched dozens if not hundreds of sailors get eaten up by sharks in a feeding frenzy as their destroyer went down to the bottom of the ocean. His ship was hit by multiple Kamikaze planes and my dad to this day rides with his Purple Heart license plate from his Kamikaze war wounds - shrapnel right in his derriere. He can’t talk about his experiences in the war, too painful much like I cannot talk about the loss of my son Eric. His ship was very similar to the picture posted in this blog. My grandfather Augustine Schmuki fought in World War I.
For the real techies out there I started programming in Oracle version 3 with a release date of 1981. To install Oracle Development version I had 70-100 CD’s to install, one by one, only to find out # 48 of 70 is bad, have to order it and start all over when it arrives. My how times have changed.
I grew up using a rotary dial telephone. My first cell phone was a Motorola Brick. Motorola’s first cell phone cost 4-5 thousand dollars and had about 30 minutes of talk time. For the record that first phone was NOT the Motorola Brick, but was more like the Motorola Elephant! I just purchased Apples new iPhones 10s max that has more processing power than many main frame computers I grew up staring down in the raised floor data centers. Motorola dominated the cellular phone market for years, and my kids have never even seen one.
I played tennis with Bjorn Borg once during the inaugural year of the Tennis Champions tour. I enjoyed surprising him with my play. Ok I know he was just toying with me. For those who don’t know who Bjorn Borg is…. He is a Swedish former world No 1 tennis player widely considered to be one of the greatest tennis player of all time. He won 11 Grand Slam singles including six French Opens, and five consecutive Wimbledon Championships.
There you have it. Hope you enjoyed it.
Tom
Retirement Day 1 Oh My
For those who have been interested in or annoyed by my count down to retirement. It is officially here. I am typing this BLOG on Tuesday, my second day off from work. Here are some of my feelings and emotions.
Money
I realize every penny I now spend may not be replaced by a “regular” pay check. My whole psyche of spending and saving money has already changed. No more buying a new car and or motorcycle every 3-6 years. No more going out to lunch every day and spending on average $15 including tip. Soup and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches a flashback from my college days. This is currently my prevailing thought over the past few days.
What I would love to do:
I would love to fill my time with everything about photography. Taking photographs, teaching, mentoring, learning and documenting. Travel the world and somehow make enough money in my photographic work to pay for a good portion of that travel. On my short list of hopeful places are: Orlando, Saint Augustine, New Orleans, Chicago, New York, Denver, San Francisco, France, Italy, Dubai, India, Thailand, China, Australia, Hawaii, the MOON. Just checking to see if you are still reading.
Hobbies other than photography that I love and hope to fill my time with:
Motorcycle Riding
Maybe an across the country trip that may take months to complete. Trips to the Florida Keys, Tennessee, North Carolina are absolutely going to happen. Time to visit my son David and my 2 and 1/3 grand kids in North Carolina and my sister Tina in Tennessee.
Tennis
Time to play again, I have beautiful courts right at my house in Delray. Never even played there in the 2 years
Golf
My PING golf clubs are calling me and soon I will be out on the links, SPF 100 included. FORE!!!!
The GYM
I actually enjoy working out, mostly aerobics, but I most definitely need to do sorting like YOGA, I am SOOOOO stiff I can hardly bend down to tie my shoes lol. Now DROP and give me 50!
Videography
I am going to get deep into the video side, including editing. I want to be a better video editor than I am a still photography editor. DRONES, here I come. I am looking for a mentor and teacher to get me some flying time as soon as possible.
Bicycle Riding
I mean Road Bike riding. I have done this many times in my life and once I get back into it, I will be wheeling it around on my bicycle at places like A1A right in front of Trumps Mara Lago in West Palm Bech.
Cooking
Yup, I actually love to cook. Problem is, it makes me FAT!
Thats my short list. Hit me up and let’s do these things together!
Tom
My favorite places to ride a Motorcycle
It’s the Journey, NOT the Destination
It may be surprising to many that I am an avid motorcyclist. Fact is many people are surprised I ride at all. I don’t look like a motorcycle guy: no beard, no tattoos, no pony tail, and I don’t normally have a can of beer in my hand. I have actually ridden some sort of motorcycle since I was age 14 even though I never really looked like a rider. There have been times I have been without my favorite transportation and times when it was my only transportation.
Most of my riding in the last 30 years has been in the southeast and of course primarily Florida. As my future retirement unfolds, I hope to travel to many new and exciting places on two wheels.
There are certain places or environments that make motorcycle riding more enjoyable. Those include but are not limited to: the weather, the view, the traffic, the twists and turns (straight is way more boring), the slopes and or hills (flat is MUCH more boring), the music, the sounds, the silence, the companionship meaning other riders on their own bike or a partner on the back of mine.
This blog will focus on a few of my chosen special riding routes. Remember my opinion is also based on the combination of the above factors during the rides I have taken.
Key West: Interstate 1, favorite part is 7 mile bridge just southwest of the city of Marathon
A1A between Lake Worth Florida and West Palm Beach, Donald Trumps Mara Lago is always interesting to look into
Miami to Key Biscayne - Bill Baggs Lighthouse park at the end, State Road 913
Miami to Miami Beach - South Beach via MacArthur Causeway. You may have seen my video from GOPRO helmet
Homestead Florida to Everglades National Park via State Hwy 9336. One of the best rides in South Florida, lots of twists and turns and a perfect pace for a motorcyclist.
On Florida’s WEST coast, Sanibel and Captiva Island via Sanibel Causeway
Orlando to Leesburg and Mt Dora via 441 - a beautiful drive with some nice hills and twists
Daytona Beach to St Augustine via A1A- beautiful coastal scenery with a great destination - St Augustine
The Blue Ridge Parkway (Smoky Mountains) - North Carolina
Tail of the Dragon - 11 mile section with 318 turns
Colorado Rocky Mountain National Park
That is my short list, my actual riding list is MUCH longer.
Now that I will be retired as of October 5th, 2018, hit me up, lets RIDE.
The Motorcycle LEAN
Only a few will understand this short BLOG. If you have ridden a motorcycle or a CAR on a racetrack that is actually “sloped” like Daytona Speedway you will get this entirely.
I mentioned in a facebook post that what I like about motorcycle riding is “The LEAN”. Riding a motorcycle down a straight roadway involves no lean and therefore all the other joys of motorcycle riding come in like freedom, wind in your face, power, vibration, rumble, road noise and of course my rock and roll music blasting LOUD.
I am particularly focused on the LEAN. When I take passengers for a ride it becomes apparent right away if they know how to properly lean on a motorcycle. Its like they FIGHT the turn instead of naturally leaning with the bike. A proper turn of the motorcycle normally entails a LEAN and then a slight turn of the front wheel by the handle. As a matter of fact, the turn feels much more like a LEAN than a turn of the wheels.
Want to really have practice on the LEAN, ride the Tail of the Dragon in the smoky mountains in North Carolina and Tennessee. 318 curves with some close to a 300 degree pivot. You better know what you are doing if you are riding there. Many a biker have gone done. I found the hardest turns are those where the slant of the road is opposite the turn of the road. This makes the lean and the turn of the handlebar even more complicated and fun.
There you go, nothing about photography, go figure.
Tom
The moment you find out your child is schizophrenic
This blog entry will be very personal and only the strong should read. Your opinion of me will probably change in a negative way as you understand my words.
I think my BLOG is more like a personal journal that very few people read or care about. It allows me to put in words my thoughts and feelings, and I have hopes that others may benefit or enjoy reading it. I have a wife and 4 living children and I am confident not one of them has read one of my blogs even though I have recommended it.
This entry may be more of an introspective on “who am I” or maybe more importantly “why am I”.
My son Eric was born March 9th, 1984 in Denver Colorado. His mother was my previous wife Marilynn. I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. I saw the most beautiful child on earth. My heart and soul was full of love and happiness. He was beautiful and perfect in every way. I felt so blessed.
We moved from Denver to Miami Lakes Florida when he was still in diapers approximately 33 years ago. I moved to Florida primarily because of two things, year round golf and a wonderful job opportunity in a start up Stock Broker Dealer called Investacorp. I became nearly a founder of the company and a major contributor to the real success of that company growing it to one of the largest privately owned broker dealers in the country.
Aside from work, golf was my passion. I took Eric out with me as soon as he could swing a plastic club. He was a natural from day one. I taught Eric about the game I loved so much. By the time he was a junior in High School he was nearly a scratch golfer. That means he shot around 72 every time he played. I was his only teacher. We played and practiced together nearly every day. Eric had aspirations of becoming a professional golfer, and I could not be more proud.
Eric was approximately 14 or 15 years old when his mother and I divorced and he then lived with his mom in Orlando during his school time and with me every other weekend and during the summer.
By the time Eric began his junior year in High School things seem to start to change with him. His dedication to golf, school and life seem to be diminished each passing day. I had hoped it was just a phase he was going through. Eric played on the high school golf team but fell off a golf cart and broke his arm and was unable to compete with his school.
Eric was able to get good grades in school because he was a smart kid. However, I never saw him crack open a book and study it for his school work. School and golf became less and less important to him. He started “hanging” with the wrong crowd.
Golf, school and college no longer were important to him. Somehow he decided to go to the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando. His mother Marilynn supported his decision to live off campus his freshman year which I totally disagreed with. I am pretty sure the kids he was hanging with in college at his off campus apartment were “bad” kids. Drugs, alcohol, etc, were acceptable. We found out deep into his first semester that he was failing all his classes and was not even going to any of his classes.
Eric was becoming Non-Eric month by month, day by day. We had noticed a dramatic change in his personality. Very long story short, we received a phone call from a policeman in Orlando stating that he had Eric was in jail and he was stating that he was driving crazy, was drunk or drugged, and was going to take his own life. After a few visits to the psychiatrists and psychologists he was diagnosed “Paranoid Schizophrenic.” That was the day my life changed for ever. I will never forget it. I kept remembering the day he was born, so perfect, so beautiful. I remembered all the fantastic days of golf we had and his aspirations to become a professional golfer. This had all dramatically changed. I soon realized the diagnosis of most 19 year old boys with schizophrenia meant he would not live until he was 30 years old. I guess I at that moment knew it to be true. He lived until he was 28 and died in his sleep in his mothers home in Orlando just over 6 years ago. My heart and soul changed forever. My ability to love and be loved was now a thing of the past, never to be changed in the future. I became hopeless and frankly to this day feel that way.
Just to give you context of how our conversations went between 19 and 28. “Dad, I know mother installed a camera in my tooth and the whole world is watching everything I do. Just tell me it is true and I will finally trust you and believe you.” He described an entirely different world, very similar to the movie starring Richard Crowe A Beautiful Mind. It is like Eric lived in a 3rd dimension. I had to see this, observe this and father this for nearly a decade before he passed.
After all the good I had done in the world including serving a mission for the Mormon church, I had now realized there was either NO GOD, or HE had nothing but pain and anguish in mind for me.
I still want to do good. I still want to make people happy. I still want to create a legacy. My artistic photography is my conduit for that. I wish I could say I do photography for myself, but I would be lying. I do it for others. I hope to make them happy. I want to give them something that no other photographer can or will. I want it to have a lasting value for them and their family. I want someone else to be happy. I want to create a legacy of at least one thing I did right in my life. Something that lasts beyond my existence on earth.
I understand it is way too important for me to feel appreciated for my work. I cannot tell you how many times I have said to my photography clients …. “I hope you like it…” They have no clue as to the context of where I am really coming from.
Now you know what is in my heart and soul nearly every waking moment. I am not proud of it, but it is what it is.
I had lost my golf partner and I have not played since.
Tom
Ten things you probably don't know about me
I played the cello in junior high school, and quit playing because of PEER pressure
In High School I went dancing every Saturday night. Loved to dance with the “wallflowers”. They were better dancers. My friends would only dance with the best looking women.
At 15, I was a golf caddie (A rated) at Lakewood Country Club in Colorado. A very fancy golf course with snobby, rich, Bentley driving members. Sometimes I carried 2 big bags at once for 18 holes (4.5-5 miles) up and down the foothills of Colorado.
I swore (cussed) once in my childhood and my mother washed my mouth out with soap. I can still taste it to this day. Perhaps this is why you don’t hear me cuss, except for when I hit a bad shot on the golf course.
I am a father of 5 children and a grandfather of 2 1/3. My oldest son Eric died over 6 years ago. My youngest son Ryan is 14 and is now attending High School.
I went to Brigham Young University on a vocal scholarship and sang everything from classical to pop music. I preferred soft rock and vocal jazz the most. Nothing like tight harmony with a number of very talented jazz singers.
I am very proud of my accomplishments, but at the same time very humble. So many people are substantially more talented than me. I admit, I am sometimes jealous of those talents.
My 40+ year career was spent in technology (mostly software) and as a Financial Advisor for 2 major Wall Street Firms, Smith Barney and Merrill Lynch.
A am retiring in 18 days, on Friday October 5th, 2018. Actually I am changing careers to be a full time 24x7 photographer, doing what I love day and night. I don’t have grandiose financial aspirations in photography, but would like to be rewarded both financially and emotionally for my work and my talents. Please help me in my photography business!
I saved the hardest one for last. I suffer from depression. It is even hard to verbalize this, I guess it is humiliating and embarrassing. I think it started the day my son Eric was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and then escalated when he died in his sleep over 6 years ago. I struggle every day to make a difference, to feel valued, to feel friendship. I have to WORK to stay up, and I work hard at it. I blame no one for this “disease”, except for maybe God. Photography and the arts keep me going.
There you have it, 10 things you probably did not know about me. If you read this, please let me know. I have a sense that my blogs are only read by a select few. Perhaps it is the whole social networking, I am only interested in pictures not WORDS thing.
With Love and emotion:
Tom
My Birthday Wish
Photo taken by my son Ryan when the light hit me just perfect
September 12, 1955… the day I was born.
To give a little perspective.
In the 50’s houses cost on average $15,000, a brand new Chrysler New Yorker cost $4,500, and gasoline was about 25 cents a gallon. Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Patti Page and Tony Bennett were amongst the most popular musicians. Sit down in front of your black and white TV and watch Bonanza, Gunsmoke and the Twilight Zone. There were no computers, no internet, no NASA, no iPhone, and no Xbox 360’s.
So what do I want for my birthday, what is my real birthday wish? Here is a short list:
American government, FIX it. Come on, it has been broken for years. Can’t we come up with 2 presidential candidates we can all be proud of and not have to always vote for the best of two really bad choices?
In addition to WORLD peace, I want inner peace. Have not had it for years. My soul left when my son Eric was diagnosed Paranoid Schizophrenic when he was 19 and then died in his sleep over 6 years ago.
I want to feel like I made a real contribution to the world even in my own small way. What kind of legacy will I really leave?
I want my photography to be so unique, interesting and beautiful that I will be unable to keep up with the work.
I want my photography to be valued by more than a passing “like” or a single comment on social networks.
I want to feel young again. I am stiff, sore and inflexible created by a lifetime of sports and orthopedic surgeries. I won the battle of multiple club championships in golf and tennis but lost the war of flexibility. While I am wishing, how about single vision instead of double vision created by my health incident a few months back?
I want to hear one person whisper to another…… “hey, isn’t that Thomas Schmuki, the world famous photographer?”
Two months from now I want to look back and say, “MAN I SHOULD HAVE RETIRED YEARS AGO, now I can do what I really love 24/7 – Photography”
How about a real friend?
I know most of my wishes are unrealistic, but I do frequently think about these things.
That’s all I want….. But hey, there is always Christmas.
Tom
You need a permit for most photo shoot venues
I cannot tell you how many times I have gone to a venue with a model and my professional photography gear, began shooting and then being approached by a venue official stating we cannot shoot there WITHOUT a permit. Here are just a few of the places I have been asked to STOP shooting:
- Mid Town Miami
- South Beach
- Boca Town Centre
- Bayside Marketplace
- Hollywood Boardwalk and Beach
- Haulover Park
Photographer Takes Photos of Town Hall, Is Arrested Under Anti-Terror Laws
A few simple rules of thumb on a very complex subject.
- If you are shooting in a “Public Place” like parks, streets, museums, etc., your finished photos must not include any “distinguishable” individuals who have not previously signed a photo release.
- Do I need a permit to shoot in public? Maybe….. Contact your local government or municipalities to find out what process and requirements are as well as any fees you may be charged. I have listed some of the local municipalities contacts at the end of this document.
- If you are shooting on Private property:
- You should receive written permission to photograph on the property. The official document is normally called “Photography Property Release”.
Here are some helpful links for my photography and model friends:
www.ppa.com (Professional Photographers Association) has many sample release documents you can use as your starting point.
How to obtain an official photography/filming permit.
Each location and venue is different, but I would give the following general guidelines:
- At least 1 week to get permit approved
- Costs vary, but expect for MINIMAL shoots at least $150, and the more the shoot feels like a production the MORE it will cost for permit
- You MUST have professional liability insurance and normally provide the venue with a copy of that insurance
- You MUST have a clear game plane of what, where, how, who to present on the permit.
A few local links to obtain permits
Miami Dade County:
FilMiami administers the online permitting for Miami-Dade County and City of Miami Beach facilities, properties, and most other local municipalities. We require a minimum of 24 hours' notice for permits, a certificate of insurance additionally insuring the county and/or city(s) for $1 million of liability, specific information on locations, dates and times, budget information, and information about any other special arrangements that might be needed.
https://www8.miamidade.gov/global/service.page?Mduid_service=ser1486753745761198
City of Miami Film Office
http://www.miamigov.com/film-permits/contact.html
City of Miami Beach
https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Film-and-print-Guidelines-revised-2.pdf
Greater Fort Lauderdale
https://www.sunny.org/film-music-fashion-and-create/industry/permitting/permit-form/
Palm Beach County
City of Hollywood Florida
https://www.hollywoodfl.org/392/Film-Permits
Bayside Marketplace: Miami Florida
https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/apply-filming-and-photography-permit
Florida Keys and Key West
https://filmkeys.com/permits.cfm
Production permits in the Florida Keys & Key West are issued without charge.
If shooting is to occur on private property only, a permit is not required although all production companies are requested to notify the Florida Keys & Key West Film Office regarding their intentions, whether on private or public property.
Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
http://vizcaya.org/facility-photo-commercial-photography-filming.asp
Gold Coast Railroad Museum
https://www.goldcoastrailroadmuseum.org/photoshoot
Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park
http://www.filmiami.org/pdf/cape_florida_photo_film_shoot.pdf
What is your other alternative
Be descrete, carry minimal gear, don't act like a professional, pretend you are shooting family, hide, dodge and don't make a spectacle. All of these options are so very hard for me when I am the opposite of most of those things.
The Shy man behind the camera
I wrote the BLOG years ago and for some reason it is not on my web site.
I was always the party pooper that hated to go to parties. I felt so uncomfortable talking with people I never met before, will probably never see again. More important than that in my mind was that I was not the most interesting person at the party.
Now I have a camera to hide behind. I can go to parties with my camera. Those who know my photographic work are more likely too want me to take their picture. They actually look my direction and graciously thank me for taking their picture. I can almost feel their excitement and anticipation to see the end result. I now feel naked in public without my camera. I go back to my normal shy self and wonder why people won't look my direction. It is sort of funny because many people believe I am an outgoing and gregarious socialite. I guess compared to my nerdy software programmer peers I am.
If you invite me to a party without my camera I will probably say NO because I am so uncomfortable approaching strangers without my camera in my hand. Its such an ice breaker, sort of like a man carrying a child or a pet.
If you see me with my camera, look my direction and indicate you want your picture taken. If I am with or without a camera, take me out of my comfort zone and carry out a conversation with me.
Thank you Nikon for making me feel more comfortable in public.
Tom
TESPhoto
Thomas Schmuki Photography