CONTRIBUTED BY PAMELA OLIVERAS
Love photography? Like to mingle? Then you will want to know about the PhotOkinawa Ning group.
Back when I lived I San Diego, I joined a photography meet up group. My first meeting that I RSVPed to with them was a carpooling trip to the Anza Borrego Desert. Yes, I was a little nervous. Will they be friendly, snobby or just plain weird? It all ran through my mind. We met up in some car park near downtown San Diego, allocated cars and off we went. I do realize that I could have been taking a trip to the middle of nowhere with 20+ virtual strangers who could have been serial killers, but you have to take some risks in this life! I will never forget that trip, I was on a photography high for days, it was so much fun. All meetups with that group after that were very easy! I am actually still a member so when/if I go back, I am all set to go!
When I got here, I missed that group, so I decided to start one here.
Photo By Pamela Oliveras.So far we have been a a few outings and had models to photograph. Last year we went up to the Haunted Hotel a number of times with models in tow…
Photo by Pamela Oliveras.
Photo by Anya Schmidt.
Oh, and men are welcome too! Here’s proof! 3 monkeys after hanging photos at Sushi Zen last month.
Street photography your thing? You might even like to turn around and photograph some of the locals…Many people are happy to be photographed…
All are welcome, whether you are an amateur or a pro, new or old to the art or if this is a mild hobby or some kind of obsession (ahem)! In answer to a question about not having the ‘best/latest’ equipment: “if it makes photos bring it! No-one cares what equipment you have. At the end of the day, it’s your art and there’s more to it that the equipment. It’s composition, a feeling, what you like, a passion. Most of all, it’s about getting together with people who like to photograph a lot!”
In the works for 2010: more walkabouts, photograph the photographer, a night shoot, Ryuku Mura, Yomitan, what else? This is everyone’s group so join in and bring your ideas to the table. You never know, you might even make a friend or two.
Wow. This has me very excited about arriving in Okinawa. I will be there at next month meetings for sure!
Great post Pam and such a wonderful way to spread the word! Ahhhh…sighz…I miss the haunted hotel=) I hope I can meet up with you guys one day. In the meantime, I’m on the search for a model with really big hair…LOL=D
Jyllian–let me know if you need one with really really THIN hair! lol:)
anything on the weekends or evenings? would be great but stupid work always gets in the way
Wow- Now I REALLY can’t wait to get to Okinawa!
I’m by no means a pro and recently got a new camera that STILL has me scratching my head at times lol. But I can’t wait to tag along to learn and enjoy the company of people who love what I do.
I’ll keep checking back and will join a “meeting” once I’m there.
Hope to meet you soon!
My daughter is looking into photo journalism ( Seattle ,Washington yeah!!) and would love to tag along and learn how to take great pics of Oki before we leave (5 months). Do you have any weekend or holiday excusions she can venture on to get a feel?
Hi everyone,
)
The best way to get a shoot going for the eves/weekends is to post on the PhotOkinawa gp page and see if anyone wants to join you. I myself usually don’t go on weekend stuff as I have the kids and if I go photographing I just get up and go randomly! But, anyone can organize anything and whoever can go, goes. In the past as well, we have gotten models at the weekend and gone on a ‘model shoot’ which is really cool and fun.
Is there a photo group meeting set up for this Thursday, February 18th? If so where?
Pamela~
Just wanted to say again how much fun I had doing the photo shoot at the Haunted Mansion. That was such a blast with all you ladies! Hope to be able to do something again soon! Hope all is well!
Trish, not sure just yet, that is Shannon’s group, will post as soon as I know. Amanda, it was a blast, would love to shoot you again
)
does anyone need models? I would love to tag along on one of these and be one!
Hey Everyone! Im Pete, An Aussie pro wedding photog moving down to Okinawa from 8 years in Fukushimaken. I would really love to meet up with other keen photogs on the island pro or am. But looks from the photos this is an all girls group. No boys welcome? Anyway I’ll be coming to the island for a couple of days (17~19th march) to look for an aparto and check the place out. Hope to meet you soon! cheers, Pete. (petesphotography (@) gmail . com)
Hi Pete, we have boys, see monkey photo above and a few more!
)
Ah thats great thanks! I hope I can meet up with some of you if your shooting on the 18th!
I just got here the other day and currently in a hotel. Can’t wait to get settled so I can join you all!! I want to go camera lens shopping to get some more things for my camera!
Well, this seems like fun. Is there anything going on in the next few weekends?
If anyone is interested, Shannon is leading a photowalk this coming Sat (24th), all the info can be found at link to worldwidephotowalk.com
)
Type in Okinawa and the info will come up…
This will be great for all kinds of photographers who just want to get out and shoot some backstreets of Okinawa and meet other fellow photographers…
Cheers, Pam
Does this group still meet or has everyone PCS’ed. I am interested!
Hi Kayla, YES! we still meet and are going strong! In fact we are meeting tomorrow morning 9am starbucks across from Lester, hopefully we can sort out a cherry blossom meet up too! Hope you can make it!
Hey Kayla, I’m sorry. Next time for sure, it’s the first Thurs of the mth, same time and place. Next mth we are going North to see cherry blossoms though! Here’s out fb page
link to facebook.com
and here’s the ning group page
link to okinawahai.ning.com
We are also going to do some light trail shooting, I think next week, someone will post it on the pages asap (someone more organized than I am right now! JEN?!!! MISSY?!!!) Cheers!
Hahahaha! did you see me writing anything down or taking notes on my iphone?
No! I am the LAST person that should be called organised.
But, from what I remember (and I think my memory is working at the moment) we are going to get together on thursday, Jan 13th at 5:30pm at Toguchi Beach (near Torii) for the light painting. Then Thursday the 3rd of Feb we are going to meet at the USO on Kadena at 9:15 instead of our regularly scheduled Lester Starbucks appearance and go check out some cherry blossoms up north since it will be the season for it. Weather being cooperative and all.
Oh no I am just checking this, I missed the meeting, I hope I can get in contact with you guys soon, I would love to meet up and make lasting memories with you all.
For all you photographers and photography fans, there is a special exhibit of photographs currently on display until January 30.
This exhibit of 80 photographs (mostly black and white) taken by Mao Ishikawa (石川真生) from June 2009 to July 2010 is called “FENCES, OKINAWA II” (フェンス OKINAWA II). It captures images of a variety of people who reside near the fences surrounding U.S. Military bases in Okinawa.
I suggest you search the internet and read some information about Mao Ishikawa before going to the gallery.
Please note, if you bring children, there is one photograph of a nude Japanese woman with tattooed body, but it is not too graphic (it is much less graphic than some of the photographs in her ‘Life in Philly’ collection, some which can be seen on internet sites).
Mao’s personal blog (in Japanese) is: link to blog.livedoor.jp
This is the final time this collection will be on view in Okinawa, previously it was on display in Naha City and Nago City.
Gallery M&A
Okinawa City, Chuo district 1-23-15
Open 11:00am to 6:00pm (closed Mondays)
FREE entrance; a few of Mao’s books are on sale at the Gallery.
Gallery owner is Hitoshi Akitomo.
From Kadena Base Gate 2, drive down Gate 2 Street (Route 20), after a few traffic signals and before Koza Music Town, there is a MAYCO Optical shop on the left side (Fujiyama’s is on the right), turn LEFT. After 2 short blocks on the left side of the road there will be a pay parking lot, then a Peruvian restaurant and the Gallery is on the next corner, across from an entrance to the covered shopping arcade.
The pay parking lot near the Gallery is 250yen for the first hour, 100 yen for each additional hour.
For some people it might be easier to park at the Kadena USO and walk to the Gallery.
This Gallery is very close (just around the corner or down the street) to these two places to eat and the popular obi and kimono shop.
Som Chai
http://www.okinawahai.com/2008/06/do-i-write-abou.html
Bamboo Cafe
http://www.okinawahai.com/2010/04/bamboo-cafe.html
Obi & Kimono Shop
http://www.okinawahai.com/2010/03/obi-kimono-shop.html
What is everyones storage routine for their cameras? I was at the camera store the other day and the clerk recommended my husband and I buy a dry cabinet. We’d never heard of these, are they necessary? We just moved from Idaho(not much humidity) so we haven’t bought one yet- we were skeptical. I was leaving our equipment in our Lowepro bag in our living room. Since talking to the clerk in the store I’ve relocated the equipment to my daughters room where there is a dehumidifier.
Sarah – we meet the first thursday of every month at the Starbucks across from Lester at around 9am. Currently we are working on a scavenger hunt. If you are interested in participating in that I think there is a copy somehow available on the PhotOkinawa facebook group, but I don’t do the FB thing, so I can’t say for sure how to get it that way. Otherwise, we also have a group on the Forum site and you can contact me via there and I can email a copy of it to you if you want to participate.
Hope to meet you soon!
Hello,
I am definitely an amateur but would really love to up my photography skills. I have read a few books on DSLRs but I learn through watching and actually doing but I can’t figure out what the terms mean in the books. I was hoping to tag along and possibly absorb some knowledge from more experienced photographers! When and where is the next meet up? Thank you and excited that there is such a group as this!! Can’t wait to start!
Hello,
I just purchased a Canon and I am very interested in photography. I wanted to take some nice pictures on a beach this weekend. Does anyone know of a good beach to take photographs?
Thank you,
Jill
Do you guys still have those meetings?
I’d like to attend
Hey Irina – yes, the group still meets. However, we are on a bit of a summer break at the moment. I believe September (1st) will be our next regular first thursday at Lester Starbucks 9AM meeting. There is an ongoing sumer activity through the FaceBook page that we discussed at the June meeting, so if you use FB just search Photokinawa on there and it should turn up.
Hope to see you in September!
Are there any meetings in the evening. Im active duty but cant get into a lot of things because I work….it sucks!
When is the next meeting I am looking for a group to join and learn from.
Our next meeting is tomorrow, Dec 1st! We’ll be at the same Lester Starbucks at 9AM.
Sorry can´t make that one have pay the bills. Do you have any meetings on the weekends
we just got to okinawa lke 10 days ago! i was wondering if you guys are still doing this meetings?
i would love to join you guys! i also do some modeling but i love to take pictres too!
I’d love to meet up sometime. I’m on Camp Schwab for now, but I can travel.
Yes, we do. Just had our regular monthly meeting last Thursday (current location is the Starbucks in Am Vil across from the ferris wheel, but same time) . Not sure if an activity was planned for this month, but you can check in with the FB group or the Hai Society group (same people in both).
I am new to the area, do you all still meet? I would love to join this group
I’m a new photographer–fresh out of class. I have 2 years left on island and would love to meet up with other photographers. Is this group still going? If not is there another?
Hi, I’m a photographer here in Oki, I’m pretty new here and I’ve already had quite a few customers but I love to explore and meet new people, especially photographers! Can someone email me or check out my photography page on FB and send me a message there when the next outing is and etc? this seems so cool
Hi all!, does this group still meet? If so, when and where is the next meeting.