Behind the scenes

Digital UAV Video

Why I have not been posting much.

Posted on by gdotarroyo

I know I have gone off schedule.

I have not been posting weekly updates to my blog, not sharing with my readers.

I could make up some excuse, I could say I went on vacation, or even make up some other reason.

I have been sharing on my 2 different Instagram accounts.

I have been working on my video production. Editing a lot of video and working on a project. Here is a sneak peak. Make sure you keep an eye on my YouTube channel and subscribe so you gt early notice when I upload something read more

Digital Film G.Arroyo

Some Essentials

Posted on by gdotarroyo

Take a look at a couple of the essentials for my photography workflow.

Apple Macbook Pro 13″
Rolleiflex Automat Medium Format Camera.

When I shoot medium format film, I keep a hybrid workflow. Thngs stay analog up still the negative is developed. From there, I scan the negatives in and use lightroom and my Canon 9500 Mark II printer to print the photos.

Feet in both worlds digital and analog.

Digital G.Arroyo

Each Week I Struggle

Posted on by gdotarroyo

I am not a writer. I will be the first person to tell you that writing, is one of my weak points. Why do you think I try to tell stories with my photos? Each week I struggle with coming up with a topic for this blog. Once I have a basic I then provide to struggle writing the post. Yet each week I try, I fight with my nemesis and write something.

Why do a bother? Why do I constantly fight to write a blog post each week?

Two reasons:
One, I want to improve as a writer. I can’t improve if I don’t practice, if I don’t make attempts to improve. This is true with every skill. You cannot master a talent or skill without practice.
Two, has to do with marketing. Regular blog posts increase you search engine ranking. By making regular posts my website actually shows up higher in a Google search than if I didn’t have a blog or didn’t post to it. read more

Digital G.Arroyo

Statue of Liberty

Posted on by gdotarroyo

Whenever you visit a place as iconic as the Statue of Liberty it is difficult to come away with pictures that you have never seen before. There are tons of tourists and now everyone has a camera. I always try to do something a little different when I see lots of cameras come out. As we came around the front side of the Statute everyone on the top level of the ferry was snapping shots and looking at Lady Liberty. What did I do? Being more interested in people, of course, I turned around and took a photo of everyone looking upon the Statute for the first time. read more

Digital G.Arroyo

Adam

Posted on by gdotarroyo

Adam and I have known each other for a few decades now. It may sound corny or sappy, but I’m glad to be part of his story and happy that I get to continue making history together. There are two people pictured here, of course my friend, but also myself.

I stole this candid photo of him while we were getting ready to take photos for his engagement. I’m happy that my camera was ready to shoot and I am skilled enough to nail the composition and focus without having to think. Otherwise this moment would have only been captured in my mind. read more

Digital G.Arroyo

Yale

Posted on by gdotarroyo

One of the reasons I label myself an urban photographer vs. a street photographer is that I love to shoot architectural features. Seeing a cool building is as exciting as coming as finding a great street scene unfolding. Much like street photography, taking images of these structures captures a moment in our history.

The photo above is a yet to be completed building on the Yale campus. It is a stark contrast to the other buildings lining the streets.

For my photographer friends this was shot with my Fuji XE-1 with an old Minolta Rokkor lens attached. It is also a jpeg straight out of the camera. read more

Digital G.Arroyo

New York

Posted on by gdotarroyo

As a true blue (red??) Chicagoan this next sentence is very hard to type. I love New York. Ok, there, that is out of the way. Now I can breathe again. I’ve had these feelings about NYC before, there is something in the air in that city, something that is exciting. I really love visiting New York. Would I leave Chicago? Not a chance, I need the hot dogs and proper pizza that we have.

Did I mention that New York is a street photographers paradise? It is!

Events

Christmas in July

Posted on by gdotarroyo

Want to check out some great artwork created by Puerto Rican artists? Enjoy some of the best food? Listen to music?
Join me and my fellow artists at Christmas in July Summerfest in Waukegan this weekend. Presented by the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance, Puerto Rican Society of Waukegan, and the Waukegan Park District.
I will be bringing framed and unframed work, including prints from my recent trip to San Juan.

Don’t miss this event!
Bowen Park
39 Jack Benny Dr.
Waukegan, IL
July 19th 1pm -8pm read more

Digital Film G.Arroyo

Too many “How To’s”. Not enough “Why’s”

Posted on by gdotarroyo

Personally I think that the photography world is filled with too many blog posts that explain “how to”. Yes a how to is an important part of learning your camera, developing, your software and using gear, but shouldn’t there be more.

Why should I use a softbox over my strobe? Why would a reflector help my natural light photograph?

The answers you know are still really technical, what I find is missing is an explanation of why a photographer would do a certain technique. What emotion were they trying to elicit, what was the intent of capturing the photo. read more