A Photo Chick's Journal in Paradise

Project 365: Day 275 - Frankie the Mo'o

It's easy for me to get caught up in post production or admin work on my computer. Sometimes, I hate to admit it, hours go by without me getting up to stretch because I'm so involved with what I'm doing. In the meantime, the computer is zapping all the life force out of me.

Well, today was one of those days where I was busy editing and processing.  When all of a sudden I felt a "plop" on my head.  I automatically  touched the top of my head, felt a soft little lump and looked up toward the ceiling and there he was!

This little gecko or mo'o clinging to the ceiling beam in a vertical manner! I saw him staring at me. Not moving. Just staring. I think he was sending me a telepathic message.  This went on for 20 minutes until I finally gave in!!!

The message?  "Stop what you're doing! Step away from the computer and GO OUTSIDE!!!"  Seriously! That's what I think he was telling me!!! He was basically telling me to "RELAX!" 

So I did. I stepped away from my computer for the rest of the day, went outside and became one with the aina (land) by planting Ti plants.

The aina never takes energy away from you. It gives to you when you give to it. It's a beautiful nurturing cycle....that's just how Mother Earth rolls!

I've nicknamed this wise little Mo'o, Frankie. Frankie who tells me to relax. And from time to time, I'll look up and find him there, staring at me... that's my cue.  To stop, step away and relax...

MAHALO, Frankie!!!

Old friends....

I'm so fortunate to have had so much support since I founded Hokuli'i Images in Hawai'i back in 1999.  So many beautiful family, friends, colleagues and clients who have helped me through the years. They continue to help me do what I love to do! 

Along with the human support, I need to pay props to my other main peeps.... my equipment!  

While going through my archives I found two documents that reminded me of my hard working tools.  I felt a little pang in my heart as I really loved and miss these toys.

Here's my former 35mm FILM gear:

And, my beloved, Nani...my Contax 645 and her posse:

I have been told by my friends who have nicknamed me "Monica" from the TV show FRIENDS that I tend to be a little Monica-ish when putting together stuff like this.  But look!!! If I didn't, you and I wouldn't be able to see the cool toys I had!!!

Yep, I could not have done this alone, that's for sure. No equipment, no photographer!

So THANK YOU to all of my hard working cameras, lenses, flashes, cords, reflectors, CF Cards, computers, card readers, and hard drives for doing what you do!!! MAHALO NUI LOA for helping me to capture the magic...

 

The Eva-Dry Mini Dehumidifier

Living in Hawai'i can be beautiful and tricky! The tricky would be pertaining to our humidity and moisture here which can affect our equipment and hair (well, for some people)!

I use this little REUSABLE dehumidifier which I found on-line:

I store it mainly with all my hard drives and important photos!

I love that you can reuse it by recharging it with it's handy dandy electrical plug! 

Like I said earlier, I ordered mine on-line. And then after I received my shipment found that also LONGS has them for sale as well!

Fortunately, this Eva-Dry  could be a really good solution for your humidity issues with technology.

Unfortunately, I don't think it will do any thing for your hair if you have crazy humidity hair issues. :) 

Hokuli'i Tip #2: Quality of OLD CD/DVD Holders

While looking through and organizing my archive of old CDs/DVDs, I was soooo bummed to discover that a lot of them had this yucky film over the readable side of the disc!

The discs that I'm pertaining too are older discs that I burned starting in 2001.  I was told to make sure you burn your stuff onto a reliable CD/DVD. Which I did. And then I carefully stored them in what I thought at the time was an archival holder. I thought this because the manufacturer said it was!!!

And I also used this type:

Since I discovered the unfortunate consequence of these holders, I started using Tyvek holders a while back.  Even better, I recently joined Greener Photography and completely switched to these wonderful earth friendly holders by Rebinder!!!

I love Rebinder! I was so happy to find out that they're also based in the Northwest, my former home!

If you love seeing your old images or files, may I suggest you start storing or transfer your CD and DVDs to a more reliable CD/DVD holder? Check to make sure that your older holders, circa 2000, are holding up and not secretly damaging your data!