rota photography

May 7th, 2014 – Wednesday

Tinian
Chopped up Lemai

Chopped up Lemai

Pre Cybuk Le’mai (Breadfruit) preparation on the island of Tinian. This type of tree was crucial for the existence of the Chamorro people because it was their “carbohydrate” to fuel and nourish their bodies every single day. There are different ways to prepare this specific stable crop. One way is to simply put it into a fire and let it cook on the outside. Once cooked, its almost like a baked potato but much more tasty. Another way to prepare Le’mai is by cutting off the exposed skin of the crop then chopping it into cubes (as shown in the picture). Boil it in water and coconut milk and then you’ll end up with cybuk. Stay tuned for the finished product!

May 6th, 2014 – Tuesday

Tinian
Fire Preparation

Fire Preparation

I recently made a trip to the island of Tinian to hang out with some friends during the 2014 Tinian Fiesta. Immediately upon arriving at the dock (took my cousin’s boat which was an hour boat ride), we went straight up to the ranch to begin preparing for the evenings feast. This was the fire that was prepared to roast a small-medium sized pig. One of the “local” delicacies is roasted pig. Once the fire is prepared, it is spread around in a circle, surrounding the pig on a spick. The pig is then evenly roasted by turing the spic for several hours. Stay tuned for more pictures!

April 2, 2014 – Wednesday

Long Exposure, Saipan
Banzai Cliff

Banzai Cliff

Banzai Cliff, Saipan. It puts me in awe how a specific landscape can have many different appearances. This was taken at night. I was hoping for some star action to light up the horizon, but was refused by the mercy of the weather.

March 21, 2014 – Friday

Saipan
Laulau Bay, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Laulau Bay, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Laulau Bay, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. One of THE nicest places on Saipan, Laulau Bay is located on the South Eastern side of Saipan. Growing up, Laulau Bay was the place where my family would gather and hang out at the beach, bbq, and have fun in the sun. In my teenage years, this was the place where I learned how to spearfish. Now a days, it is a place where I go to relax and get away from “everything”. Sitting by the cliff side, one can hear the constant crashing of the waves upon the ancient coral reef. White noise, which changes the frequency of the mind to a channel that embraces peace, calm, and tranquility. Thoughts of “stress” vanish into the ocean mist phasing out, as the ocean tide recedes.

March 20, 2014 – Thursday

Uncategorized
Mt. Tapochau Sunrise, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Mt. Tapochau Sunrise, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

A view of the Northern part of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. I made the attempt to photograph the moon setting into the West. The photographs didn’t turn out very well due to clouds in the distance. As I packing up my gear, I noticed that the Sun was making its ascent. This picture was my favorite because of the colors. You have the silhouette of Saipan contrasting with the orange, red, and yellow hues.

March 19, 2014 – Wednesday

Uncategorized
Matson Mana, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Matson Mana, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Matson Mana, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Matson Mana, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Matson Mana, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. This ship was recently chartered to transport Matson containers via Guam to Saipan. These man-made structures are amazing to gaze upon due to their size. I question my ability to embark on a long distanced voyage in such a vessel and what situations a crew member would experience (normal and rare occurrences). I imagine being on board while trying to rough out huge swells and how that experience would feel. 20-30 ft waves would make this boat look small out on the open ocean. In the end, Mother Nature always seems to get the best out of us.

March 18, 2014 – Tuesday

Beach, Long Exposure, Saipan
Bird Island, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Bird Island, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Bird Island, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. The island looks as if a giant had placed a huge rock in a tiny embayment on the North Eastern side of Saipan. On one side of the island, it is surrounded by a reef structure raging from depths of three to six feet. On the other side, is the open ocean. Bird Island sits in the Bird Island Marine Protected Area making any fishing activity illegal. Its a very nice spot to take a 5-10 minute hike and bask in the ambiance of Mother Nature. If you are lucky, you can sometimes find baby black tip reef sharks swimming by the edge of the beach.

March 17, 2014 – Monday

Beach, Long Exposure, Saipan
Wing Beach, Saipan Northern Mariana Islands

Wing Beach, Saipan Northern Mariana Islands

Wing Beach, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Attempted to do some night time photography this past weekend due to the full moon. However, the sky was partly cloudy with scattered showers. I managed to take a 5 minute exposure of Wing Beach. At first glance, you could quickly assume that this picture was taken in the day time. However, small details of the picture will tell you otherwise. Since it is a long exposure, anything that is “moving” will show movement in the frame. If you look at the clouds, you can see how they form streaks across the sky (just as stars would in a long exposure).

March 15, 2014 – Saturday

Beach, Saipan
Banzai Cliff

Banzai Cliff

A view of Banzai Cliff, Saipan. During WWII, Banzai Cliff was one of the last points of retreat for the Japanese. When the Americans took over the island, they started from the South working their way towards the Northern part of Saipan. Instead of choosing to surrender, a large portion of the Japanese military jumped off this specific cliff to meet their end. Fast forward 50 years, you can see where the ancient limestone cliffs meet the fluid ocean. During the Winter time, the ocean can be very treacherous with huge waves that pound against the cliff side. If your by the edge, you can literally feel the power of Mother Nature.

March 14, 2014 – Friday

Beach, Saipan
Managaha

Managaha

A panoramic shot of Managaha Island. If your ever visiting Saipan, it is a MUST to take a trip to the beautiful island paradise. If you’ve never tried it, go banana boating, parasailing, or snorkeling. Great island attractions!