Last Saturday, January 29, Riverside hosted its first Lunar New Year festival.
The organizers of this one-day celebration hope to make this an an annual affair celebrating the diversity of the Asians and Asian Americans living in our city and the region.
In order that this becomes an annual event, I hope the vendors who participated found this worthwhile.
Community events such as this relies on financial support especially in its inaugural year.
What picture are you most proud to have taken?
When I was a staff photographer in 1999, working for the San Bernardino Sun, I was hired by a community newspaper in Sacramento to cover the Little League finals in San Bernardino.
The Sacramento Bee sent one of their best photographers and he was able to shoot from the field. Since I was shooting for Sacramento’s weekly newspaper, I was low man on the totem pole and I had to shoot from the stands.
The Sacramento team lost and I got a terrific photo of a young boy crying while his coach comforted him. In the background the winning team was jubilant. (see photo in gallery) I had the agony of defeat the joy of victory in one photo.
The Sacramento Bee photographer was not able to get that photo because he was on the field.
Continue reading Meet an amazing photographer Rodrigo Peña Part 3
Why do you think it’s usually the “usual suspects” that win those contests?
First of all, the usual suspects who win contests are great photographers.
Second, some have a formula for success.
They know that the “different” or unique photos are going to win.
Furthermore, some photographers duplicate what has won in past contests and execute it on their assignments.
I knew one photographer who turned in the same type of photo, shot in two consecutive months and he won in both months.
What does that tell you?
First of all, there is a strategy. Second, you have to be well-versed in what a contest-winning photograph is, so you can duplicate it in your own way.
Continue reading Meet an amazing photographer Rodrigo Peña Part 2
I’d like to share with you all the work and a recent conversation I had with my friend photographer Rodrigo Peña who works in the Palm Springs and Coachella Valley area. Enjoy!
How old were you when you picked up your first camera?
I was 12 years old when my Dad, who was a studio photographer, placed a camera in my hands. I used to help him in the dark room at the age of 4. My first assignment at the age of 12 was to photograph the National Date Festival Parade in Indio back in 1978.
Who had the biggest influence in helping you decide to be a photographer?
My father was always talking about the great Renaissance artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Peter Paul Rubens, Titian and also the French Impressionists. I remember sitting on his lap at a young age and we would look at art books.
He would explain the beauty of light in art. This is what developed my eye and my ability to see and appreciate the light that the masters used in their paintings.
Continue reading Meet an amazing photographer Rodrigo Peña Part 1