You Might Not Understand This, But You May.

This is Talitha Anyabwele, a client from May. I was fortunate enough to photograph her while she was in Miami on business. We set up at the sexy Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key. She’s a great spirit and is a theater actress of her own show called Black Girl Speaks. Go to her website to learn more about the performance and locations!

I was feeling pretty damn artistic the day I decided to take this specific photo in a different direction. The original actually looks fairly different from the end result. I don’t know exactly what I created, but it looks more like it could be Talitha’s Avatar, minus the blue scaly flesh. I don’t want there to be a misconception: all of her shots were not edited to look this way. I decided to experiment on this one to see what I could create. This editing style is definitely a premiere to my Eyecandy Portfolio. Perhaps only the open-minded will be able to view and understand such an image; it’s not the typical shot.

Lakers! Love you guys and the entire front office! I’m looking forward to the 3-Peat run next season! ^_^

It’s More Than Just a Slideshow

A goal that has been 12 months in the making, this is the sole reason why I continue to taking photography so seriously. I’ve worked and progressed tirelessly to establish portfolio.xynntii.com and it is finally here for everyone to consume! I call it Eyecandy because this portfolio is remarkable and includes a variety of neat features! First off, it opens up with slideshow that displays a handful of fan favorites (and some of my personal favorites too).

Don’t be misled! The slideshow is just an appetizer. The following screenshot details how to navigate to any of the 6 genre gallery’s. Here, I’ve neatly organized all my images based on the genre they fall under. Like many of you already know, I take a crazy amount of different shots, so I make sure to categorize them for a user-friendly viewing experience!

Buy Your Prints Directly w/ in the Portfolio!

The greatest feature of Eyecandy is the ability to Buy Prints with just a couple clicks while you browse the different genres gallery’s. Head over to the Buy Prints page where I included an easy-to-follow screenshot guide on how to choose your prints, the sizes and paper finishes. Sizes range from 4×6 to 30×40 canvases! I was surprised myself on how diverse the size selection is. Here’s the remarkable part: Prices Start at a Jaw-Dropping $12! The massive size variety will be able to accommodate all requests.

Enough of my jaw-flapping; go check out my Eyecandy Portfolio now! The best thing to happen for :xynn tii imagery thus far!

It Feels So Real Up There!

Well, during my time near the runway strip I got stopped by airline security as I tried to snapshot the American Eagle Jet that flew me from Miami to Pensacola, Florida. Guess I wasn’t sneaky enough and too far away from their sights, but there’s always a next time. ^_^ Because I didn’t get a shot while on the ground, I made sure to take full advantage of my window seat! I’ve never really looked out at the clouds while being level with them. There’s an ironic feeling that hits you in the gut once you notice how much of a contrast there is above and below the cloud beds. Such a tranquil vibe seems to exist where humans don’t reside, this case being up in the sky. Then of course you have the world that exists under it where we as a people implement countless strategies on polluting the air, but cannot find one successful way to stop a damn oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. Everyone say “awkwardly pathetic” on three!

Photographer or Photoshopper?

The other day I received an excellent question from Danilo over at my facebook profile. He asked: “Are you a photographer or a photoshopper?” Alright, so let me get right to the point. Asking a photographer that question is the same as asking James Cameron: Are you a filmmaker of a CGI-er? [Cameron is writer and director of Avatar.] To answer Danilo’s question, which I gratefully appreciate him asking, I am a photographer and I’m not sure exactly what it means to be a photoshopper. If by using the Adobe program Photoshop at least once in life deems me as a photoshopper, then… okay and whatever, sounds like fun to me. =D

What I do know is that software and technology have escalated beyond our years, providing endless possibilities within the realm of visual arts. If one is to notice the post production techniques used on photos, you can’t help but see similar techniques used in film as well; our levels of creativity are evolving. This all plays into the part of :xynn tii imagery‘s slogan – have an open mind – and not limiting yourself. But of course, this is simply my opinion.

Sour, Then Oh-So Sweet.

If I told you that this masterpiece didn’t have my heart, mind and soul, then I should be slapped…then shot in the face! ^_^ I love you Sweden!! Sour Patch Kids has got to be the best invention called candy…ever! Believe me, I wouldn’t advertise it for free if I wasn’t seriously speaking from the heart. >_< I’ve been eating them since 1st grade, and I consume a 1lb bag every week. It’s just oh so necessary.

Do This Now ↓

If you haven’t experienced the ‘sour, sweet, gone’ orgasm, then please be more practive with your life and buy sour patch kids. Swedish Fish [the manufacturer] better not ever go out of business or I’m never taking photos again.

0_o Okay, so finally another horizontal image makes its way into the portfolio! Some of the fans were getting quite upset with all of my vertical shots, which wasn’t showing any diversity whatsoever. =/ For that I apologize. While shooting some illegal digital images for my film photography class during the fall ’09 semester, I had get a shot of my favorite candy. Not surprisingly, my ego wanted to include the xynn tii imagery.™ cards in the  frame as well. I shot this image in the privacy of my condo in dwntwn Miami.

The course assignment was; shoot a self-portrait, without physically being in the frame. =/ So I decided to shoot a couple subjects that described my taste for life: the candy and my company. c;

This is Not an HDRI

I’m giving that artform a break for a couple more updates. c; Silver Efex Pro, an excellent photoshop plugin, converted this image to monochrome. This plugin is also responsible for the split tone, giving the image a yellow-blueish tint.

I hope you enjoy! & I also hope you’re enjoying all of the meaningful tweets via xynn tii imagery.™ twitter. Receive consistent links of other photographers who are inspirational to the hdri world by following xynn tii imagery.™ now! There’s also some social media involved. c;

No, seriously, it really is!

All these one-way streets in the dwntwn area is what really pisses Miamians off! I complain about it on Twitter all the time yo!

Now, from an Everglades on the Bay vantage point, looking to the north, you just might see the legendary Freedom Tower, American Airlines Arena, Marina Blue, 900 Biscayne, Ten Museum Park or even the ridiculously luxurious Marquis Miami. But none of that is what makes dwntwn Miami just straight-up weird.

It’s the fact that dwntwn has an unusual look to it, or at least for right now it does. =/ With all this construction going on you could see it as a renovation period, or what architects are dubbing a “Manhattanization wave”. But that’s just half the story.

What’s my Point?: nothing is being done to expand the roads in dwntwn, which is a major mistake. As I mentioned in an earlier vlogcast™ image detail, so much money is being invested to bring traffic and residents in, but Miami is simply too damn small for this movement. Some might say the city is ‘too far gone’ meaning an excess of construction has already taken place, eliminating the opportunity or room for road expansion. =/ Would you believe that construction on Miami Beach has created the same exact problem? Ha, but who am I to say: I’m just a broke college student! Oh well.

Image Detail.

Another HDR brought you to via the Canon D7, my new Akemi >_< I actually didn’t have to edit this image too much; lighting was the main focus. Some artificial light was implanted on the main road [Biscayne Blvd] in the image to contrast it from everything else.

& yes, I have to admit the moon is fake, but give me credit; it looks pretty damn real. c; I added it using the selection tool in CS4 and it is placed behind the clouds. I also dodged the skyscapers to highlight them. I edited this image using the following software below.

NECESSARY SOFTWARE!

Photoshop CS4

Lightroom 3.0

Photomatix Pro

There are also several plugins for Photoshop which I also find useful. They will be revealed in the next few vlogcasts™ for xynn tii imagery.™ Anticipate progression and improvement from xtii™ in 2010!

HAPPY NEW YEARS!

to the entire fanbase over at the xynn tii imagery™ facebook fansite! Love ya so much for your interest. ^_^

Warning ↓

You may like this so much that you’ll want to BUY THIS PRINT NOW @ the xynn tii imagery™ storefront! c;

Wow, Everglades on the Bay just displayed the condominium Christmas Tree today! Getting a snapshot was a must. Although I was very surprised it wasn’t a palm tree, but instead the traditional pine tree. This is a really good look.

I sincerely wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a responsibly-celebrated New Years! c;

Join the fanbase via xynn tii imagery™ facebook fansite.

I’m officially in a relationship

…with my condo residence, that is. Ha It has begun. I’m now taking random hdr images of Everglades on the Bay. But it’s like a necessary-random, I think. This place has an incredible amount of eye-candy, especially the amenities level. But I seldom head down to this level for the 6 pools or the weight rooms. Why?

For one, we all know blasians don’t swim [ yes, I said it! and it's true >_< ] Secondly, there is still no one even living here, so the amenities level gives me that “I am Legend” feel. Awkwarrrrrddd. Although I do plan to check out that new spa that just opened. I’m secure enough with myself to say that busy men need massages once in a while. c:

OH & BY THE WAY: If you’re wondering whether or not this photo was taken in December… yea, it was, on a typically humid 85-degree day is good ol’ Miami, Fl. No snow, no breeze, no holiday feeling what-so-ever! Is this ridiculous? To me, yes it is. I’m used to having all four seasons [being from South Korea] and the humidity gets old after about… 10 minutes of living here.

So before you visit the Miami area during any part of the year, slap yourself for even considering to pack a scarf, let along a pair of jeans. c;

Whenever I pass through the lobby of my condo

residence in dwntwn Miami, I always take its scenery for granted, until today. It was around noon when I decided to take the front entrance of the tower I live in. [I had just come from class.] As soon as I entered I noticed something particular. It was so crazy how illuminated the lobby was; the sun was in the perfect place to cast shadows and brighten the indoor reflection off the marble floor.

I decided to go get my Canon D7

just to see what angles I could play with in the lobby. However, for about 10 minutes I got distracted with Jerry Springer, so the shadows started to disappear by the time I got back downstairs. Ha >_< & then I grabbed a snack too, so I’m grateful for what I was able to capture, despite my procrastination. I believe the reflection of the walls and objects within the area mixed in with the shadows creates a really good look. c:

So here is another HDR image I thought would be worthy of sharing. Also, I decided to grayscale another image I took from a different angle in the lobby as well. If you’re viewing this from the xtii™ facebook fansite, hop over the the BW&G album to see what I’m referring to. Stay tuned | see you soon. ^^

Image Detail.

I‘ve been meaning to upload this image for weeks now, as I took it in October for a school assignment. I really don’t like my film photography class at all [because I now despise film and its process] so I consistently find myself taking digital photos for homework. The professor gets really mad! Ha

I traveled a couple miles south of central downtown Miami to the Brickell district, where all of the true skyscrapers are located. There is a relatively new hotel/condo residence right across the bridge called the Viceroy Miami. The exterior and interior alike of the Viceory include an abundance of fine cosmopolitan art. Just off of Brickell Avenue are these awkwardly-figured statues, representing the theme of expression throughout the entire place. Swag-crazy !

I’ve attempted to enter the neighboring Icon Brickell condo residence to get some shots of the amenities level, but I keep getting rejected. =/ If you don’t live there [or don't know anyone who lives there, its hard to get access ] Regardless, when you’re in the Miami area, go check out these two masterpieces.

This image is an HDR, and I had to do several masking processes in Photoshop to get the lighting just the way I wanted. I also used ‘High Pass’ [a technique that I stole from my Miamian colleague Pedro Alvarez] to obtain the crisp detail within the statues.