The Eye.  This past weekend I introduced Shot Archives to my mom.  I couldn't be more grateful for the support and trust she has always instilled in me.  In my previous blog post, I mentioned how my mom is a creative mastermind, a true artist, and the one who filled my crazy head with the "only stupid people get bored" mindset.  She taught me the beauty of creation, the importance behind perception, and how to cook a sunny side up egg to perfection (slightly runny in the middle with a golden crisp edge). 

During our conversation, my mom mentioned how she had recently watched a show on a photographer who was asked about the new age of cell phone cameras and the closing gap between amateur equipment and professional setups.  Most photographers would start going into detail about their manual settings, camera specs, and editing software, but let's be honest, it really is amazing how good camera phones and your everyday editing apps have become.  The photographer in the interview responded that the main difference between her work and others is her eye- the ability to see the potential in a shot.  I agree.

There are 3 things that happen when I take a photo:

1. I take a shot and love it as is. 
2. I take a shot and hate it, but still save it.
3. I take a shot knowing it has potential and save it. 

The photo above was taken on October 15th and was a photo that I knew had potential. It definitely isn't the most original photo by any means, but I knew the clouds, the lighting, and the variance of colors would help create a warm dramatic tone (something fit for Halloween).  Sometimes, the direction of a photo takes time to develop and most of them won't see the public eye, but make sure to save your photos in case that day comes along.  I'm glad I did with this one.

I hope you take away some positive points from today's blog.  First, I hope you surround yourself with people who will continue to support you unconditionally and continue to help you grow and evolve as an artist.  Second, your eye and ability to recognize a potentially great shot is your best counterpart.  There are so many photographers who obsess over the latest most expensive gear, but that doesn't guarantee anything.  And last, but not least, continue making the effort to snap photos on a regular basis and save them along the way.  The added experience will help you develop your style, craft, and train the eye to better identify your future masterpieces.

​Keep creating my friends and Happy Halloween.      

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Creation.  It is defined as the action or process of bringing something into existence.  Wouldn't you agree the power to create is an empowering concept?  Excuse the formalities behind this first blog post, or lack thereof, but I hope that by introducing myself it will shed light on why I created Shot Archives and my motives moving forward. 

My name is Brandon Miyasaki and I did not go to school for photography or videography.  Just a few years ago I was still designing graphics on Microsoft Paint and Microsoft Publisher, which should tell you two things about me.  First, aside from my iPhone and Apple Watch, I prefer PCs (no Apple dongles for me).  Second, in the past few years I have had to overcome some daunting learning curves to get to where I am at today.  I have probably read over a thousand forums and watched 99% of the instructional videos on Youtube ranging from "What are the best muslin clips on the market?" to "What the heck is chromatic aberration?"  The more I learn about photography, videography, and graphic design, the more I respect the process and the professionals and amateurs who fill my Instagram feed with stunning creations.

Clients will often ask me why I got into these art forms and I offer 4 responses.  

Response #1: After graduating with a business economics degree from UC Irvine (zot zot), my Dad entrusted me with helping him and his colleagues run operations and boost marketing campaigns for start-ups and corporate companies.  It soon became apparent that many companies struggle with creating quality marketing content and I saw this as an added opportunity to help these businesses grow and resonate with their prospective clients and consumers.

Response #2: I was immersed in art at a very young age from my mother who is a creative mastermind.  She would tell me and my eldest sister that only stupid people get bored. I hated hearing it at the time, but it taught me to appreciate different perspectives and "think outside the box".  Today, when I shoot an object, film a scene, or edit a photo, I make sure to capture multiple angles and try different variations because I often find my original vision isn't always the best.

Response #3: Story telling is a very underrated art form.  In today's modern society, everyone has a camera on them whether it be a professional setup or a camera phone.  There is something special and gratifying if a cameraman is able to tell a story just from a single photo or bring out emotions from a video clip.  It is my responsibility for my clients and my own body of work to capture the best story through my lenses.

Response #4: It is therapeutic. I think we can all agree that sometimes life can take its daily toll on us and the camera allows me to refocus my energy on something that I am truly passionate about. 

As Shot Archives further develops I hope to share my creations with you, learn from you, and provide a resource for others to draw from.  I am excited. I am nervous. I am ready to create.

This is just the beginning. 

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