Ricky Oliveras

Blue

2012-02-04T09:29:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's been over a month since I've posted anything here. To be honest I haven't had a lot of time to go out and shoot photos or video b/c of my job. It keeps me pretty busy. I am primarily an editor right now, but I get to spend some time shooting. Over the next couple months I will be starting the fun part of my job...TRAVELING! Details to come in the future.

Anyway, I don't usually endorse other people's work on my blog (although I constantly watch and admire it). But the reason for this post was to inform people of the recent online release of an amazing short film produced by some of my film friends at Southern. It's called "Blue." When I saw this film at the School of Visual Art and Design showcase last year, I was blown away. This is a really powerful film about the struggles of cancer that is sure to cause misty eyes. I'm really proud of the work done here and I hope you will watch and appreciate this film as I do.

Go Pro Hero 2

2011-12-20T10:25:00.001-05:00

I'm glad I waited to get a Go Pro b/c waiting allowed me to get the Hero 2. Go Pro made some upgrades between their first camera to their current camera. I will be using this probably most for water and timelapses.

I also got the LCD screen to be able to see what I'm recording. I think that will come in handy. Hopefully I can get out to test it soon!

Fun Accessories

2011-12-13T20:34:00.000-05:00

I got a few smaller things this week. First of all, I finally got an intervalometer! Man, I really procrastinated on that one. I could've used it so many times but at least I got one now. I'll use it primarily for timelapses. Since I already have a wireless trigger I don't really need to use it as a trigger. I've used them before so I am familiar with it, but I can't wait to gain some more experience with creating timelapses. Here's an example of my first timelapse called "nooga."

The second thing I got was a polarizer filter. I've been wanting to play with one for a while now. I decided to try it out to see if I could really notice the difference. I got a 52mm polarizer to fit either on my macro lens or my 50mm. Nothing too exciting but I'm sure they will provide me with joy and education! I already have something else coming in the mail that I'm much more excited for. Until next time...

Inner Harbor

2011-12-10T20:12:00.001-05:00

I took a trip to the Baltimore Inner Harbor to test out my new wide angle lens. It was freezing (literally) so I didn't stay out there too long. Here's an example of one of the photos I got while out there.

You can subtly see the ducks blurred in the water. I don't know how they stay in the water when it's so cold!

Gummy Bears

2011-12-09T19:19:00.001-05:00

I bought a pack of gummy bears and decided to take a picture of them on the sunroof of my car. The only camera I had was on my iPhone but I think it turned out just fine.

Wide Angle

2011-12-09T12:59:00.001-05:00

I love shooting with a wide angle lens. I've used one over the last couple years but I finally got one of my own. It's the Canon 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 lens designed for crop senor cameras. This lens allow me to shoot ultra wide and get a cool perspective of objects or wide view of landscapes. I'm happy with my purchase from B&H.

Testing Out My iPhone 4S Camera

2011-11-28T14:27:00.001-05:00

I got the iPhone 4S when it came out a couple months ago. By now I've had some time to play with the camera so here's my 1st impression. I'm quite impressed on how it shoots for being a cell phone. Having 8 megapixels in your pocket is actually relieving to me. I always want to have my camera with me so having the iPhone 4S allows me to leave my 7D at home sometimes.

I feel comfortable with the images and happy that I have it as my primary point and shoot camera! Of course this is not and never will be a replacement for my Canon, but I'm really happy with this little camera!

All 4 of these pictures were shot and processed through a tilt shift generator app. I wanted to give it a little bit of a different effect than straight out of the camera.

Amish Country

2011-11-19T22:03:00.001-05:00

I got to spend the day in Lancaster, PA. It's a very unique place because of the large Amish population and beautiful scenery. There were so many picture opportunities. Here are a few of the ones I like. Enjoy and come visit again soon!

New Gear

2011-11-18T13:13:00.002-05:00

I got a few new things to add to my equipment list. First, I upgraded from my small Lowepro Toploader 65AW to get a Lowepro Pro Runner 350AW. A very much needed upgrade! I'm happy with the bag so far and will be more happy with it when I start traveling. It's dimensions were designed for international travel.

My other recent purchase is one of my favorites! I got a Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens. Over the past year or so I've had extensive use of Canon's beast...the 85mm f/1.2 lens. Although the f/1.2 is amazing, I could not justify the price difference. The f/1.8 is extremely sharp and has a lot faster focusing system. I'm so happy with it and I've already been able to shoot one event with it. No regrets with this lens. Well worth the investment.

Josh & Leila

2011-11-17T21:39:00.003-05:00

Jacobson Wedding

2011-11-14T06:51:00.002-05:00

I was able to be in Maryland for RJ & April's big day. It was such a nice wedding with a cozy feel to it. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your wedding day and I wish you guys the best!

Skateboarding with C-bolt

2011-11-10T14:26:00.002-05:00

I spent a morning at the YMCA Skatepark in Kennett Square, PA. My good friend Chris works there so we had access to the park when no one else was there. I had a good time shooting this just for fun. For more details on gear visit my Vimeo page.

Big Changes

2011-11-06T08:02:00.000-05:00

So, a lot has happened since my last few posts and I thought I should clarify. I decided to relocate myself from Chattanooga, TN to the Baltimore/DC, MD area. This was a big move for me and so far it's been very good.

What does this mean for my freelance business? Well, I plan on continuing freelance. I will now be based in Baltimore/DC for most of my projects, but since Chattanooga will always hold a place in my heart, I will be doing bigger projects (such as weddings) in the Chattanooga area. So don't cross me off the list if you live in Chatt-town.

I love what I do and will be happy doing it where ever I go. Thank you to everyone for your support and encouragement. Please feel free to get in touch with me with any questions or comments. I look forward to starting a new page in my career!

-Ricky

rickyoliveras.com

NYC

2011-10-25T21:30:00.002-04:00

Longwood Gardens

2011-09-29T20:55:00.001-04:00

A day trip to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA with my good friend C-Bolt.

Ludine

2011-09-28T23:53:00.001-04:00

A fun shoot with Ludine on the North Shore of Downtown Chattanooga. Special thanks to Winder Binder Gallery & Book Store for letting us take pictures in the store.

Family Visit

2011-09-28T23:20:00.001-04:00

I got to go to New York to see my family and it was great seeing how big my niece and nephew have become! I also have to say they are quite the models.

New Website!

2011-08-09T08:34:00.001-04:00

I actually launched my new website design last week but here's a link just in case you didn't know. Thanks for stopping by! rickyoliveras.com

The Sky is a Wonderful Thing

2011-08-08T01:58:00.002-04:00

We've had some crazy skies this past week in Collegedale. Here are a few examples of the sky from the week. The day pictures were last weekend and the lighting shots were from tonight. The weather is unpredictable!

Stephen & Ivana

2011-08-03T02:02:00.003-04:00

I had a great time shooting this wedding with Ian Zinner. Ian and I traveled up to the northern tip of Michigan (almost Canada) to see Stephen & Ivana get married. They are an amazing couple with a lot of happy years ahead of them. Thanks for letting me be a part of your special day!

Time Lapse Stills

2011-07-20T11:04:00.001-04:00

Here are some of the still images from my timelapse video! It took me one day and a lot of walking to shoot all of it. 'nooga!

'nooga

2011-07-16T09:11:00.003-04:00

My first official time lapse video. Shot it all within one day. I'd like to shoot more but I have to get an intervalometer first. Thanks to Brian C. for letting me use his! Enjoy!

Shot on Canon 7D

song: OxyMoron
by: KCentric

rickyoliveras.com

My Very Own 'Stache

2011-07-11T22:06:00.003-04:00

I generally don't just post pictures of myself but I'm proud because I now have a MUSTACHE. I wish it was cooler but that's all I got. I'll let it grow a little longer and see what happens.

(De)motivational Poster

2011-07-09T10:22:00.001-04:00

My friend Rob, who is a paramedic, is beginning to volunteer at the local fire department. He recently got his uniform for the fire department and wanted to take a picture to celebrate. I called a friend and got a baby to enhance the picture. The tag line for this (de)motivational poster was Rob's idea.

Abandoned

2011-07-09T10:12:00.001-04:00

I've seen this house and been there once. It's in a random location in a field in Florida. I went with my friend Jason to take some pictures before we left the area.

My New Toy

2011-07-05T09:15:00.002-04:00

I recently purchased a new lens & I'm really excited to use it. Not that it's anything revolutionary or anything, but I'm just happy to have it. I got the Canon 50mm f/1.8 MARK I....that's right mark I not mark II. This lens is kind of a rare find. Made for only 3 or 4 years, Canon discontinued it in 1990 so there is only a limited number of these. I decided to get get this because I like the construction with metal mounts, distance meter, and focus ring in the middle (as opposed to plastic mounts, no distance meter, and focus ring in the front on the 1.8 mark II). I don't want to discredit the mark II by any means. It's a sharp lens for the price, but I got this because I value those small things (on a budget). Wow I hope I'm not too nerdy. Can't wait to try this out!

Down the Street

2011-07-05T09:02:00.002-04:00

Rob, Stella, and I had some time to kill so we went down the road from my house to take some pictures before the sun went down.

Independence Abstracts

2011-07-04T09:40:00.001-04:00

These are some photos of the fireworks in Collegedale for the 4th of July celebration. I decided to take just a few normal shots of fireworks and take more light painting shots of the explosions. I like how some of them turned out so it was work experimenting. Happy 4th of July!

The Georgia Storm

2011-07-04T01:57:00.001-04:00

On the way home from Camp, Brandan and I hit some crazy weather. We saw soooo much lightning and both of us being photographers, couldn't resist trying to capture a few on camera. Here's one I got in front of an antique shop. This was somewhere in Georgia. This is 3 strikes combined into one photo.

More from Camp K

2011-06-30T12:41:00.002-04:00

A few lost pictures from week 1 at camp!

Camp K Sites

2011-06-25T00:36:00.002-04:00

Some of the scenery that I've been able to enjoy over the past month.

Camp Kulaqua

2011-06-22T10:48:00.001-04:00

Here are a few more pictures from my time at Camp Kulaqua. A great place to be in the summer!

The Blob

2011-06-21T23:26:00.001-04:00

The blob offers both campers and staff hours of fun and entertainment at Camp Kulaqua.

Family Photos

2011-05-22T13:38:00.001-04:00

A fun session with the family.

Quick Trip to Florida

2011-05-17T08:01:00.001-04:00

A few pictures from some of the places I stopped to see in Florida.

Stephanie

2011-05-06T12:15:00.001-04:00

I took some photos with Stephanie recently and it was a lot of fun! She made my job easy and we got some great photos. And thanks to Mistique who helped out with this shoot A LOT!

Yora, Grace, & Ludine

2011-05-06T09:11:00.001-04:00

Yora and her roomates, Grace and Ludine, graduated and wanted to go out to take a few pictures to hold on to the memories.

Wow. I graduated!

2011-05-06T08:55:00.001-04:00

I just officially graduated from college. I got my degree from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, TN. I earned a B.S. in Mass Communications-Media Production and I have a strong background in photography...only 2 classes away from earning a minor in photo. It feels good to be done but also makes me a little nervous. The possibilities are endless from here so I need to figure out where I want to be and go there. I know as I pursue what I love, the doors will open.

Photo credit goes to LEO MACIAS. Thanks Leo!

Sugar Sugar

2011-05-03T13:49:00.001-04:00

A random pic of Mawa eating an apple for her breakfast.

Magic Hour

2011-04-25T14:27:00.001-04:00

I love the sunset b/c of the kind of light it has. It looks so nice :)

SONrise: Walking Through

2011-04-24T09:24:00.001-04:00

SONrise is a huge reenactment of Jesus' the last few days here on earth. It is a powerful message to remind us what He has done for us. Here are a few of my friends as I walked through.

Elizabeth & Matt

2011-04-24T09:07:00.002-04:00

I did a recent shoot in the art district of Chattanooga. Great people, great fun.

Updated Business Card

2011-04-13T20:24:00.001-04:00

I kept it simple with this new business card. This shows the front and the back.

Move for Uganda

2011-04-11T09:05:00.002-04:00

The Move for Uganda 5k downtown. A "village" was set up in Coolidge Park with booths, stands, huts, and other areas to promote awareness and raise money for the tragedy occurring in Africa. The event included speakers, organizations, live music, and a race to finish things off. It was a lot of fun and a great cause.

Jabbing for Jesus

2011-03-27T19:27:00.001-04:00

Some of the faces in the West Side Boxing Gym and a promo video I made for the West Side Knockouts!

West Side Boxing Gym Promo Video

Candid Curiosity

2011-03-27T18:57:00.001-04:00

Here's a shot from the West Side Boxing Gym, downtown Chattanooga. This obviously is not a boxing picture, but the gym offers an after school program for kids to come hang out, do their homework, and just take a break from the rest of the world. A candid moment captured.

Bubble Car

2011-03-26T09:32:00.001-04:00

I took this picture mostly to show how cool the clouds were and also because the wide angle lens is fun to use. It makes my car bubble out to give it almost a fisheye look. Taken at Harrison Bay, TN.

Industrial Sunset

2011-03-15T21:52:00.001-04:00

I had to stop on my way home from the boxing gym to capture the sunset. I love this kind of cloudy sunsets.

Orlando

2011-03-03T22:21:00.000-05:00

Some more HDR experimentation in Florida.

Saturday in the Park

2011-03-03T09:19:00.000-05:00

A fun day spent in Coolidge area, Downtown Chatt. Ahh I love being on spring break...

Spontaneous Coffee Shop Shows

2011-02-27T18:24:00.000-05:00

I love spontaneous situations. My entire day was left to go with the flow and everything worked out really well. Some friends and I ended the night listening to the melodic sounds of Alex Thompson, a local artist in Chattanooga.

“Spontaneity is the quality of being able to do something just because you feel like it at the moment, of trusting your instincts, of taking yourself by surprise and snatching from the clutches of your well-organized routine, a bit of unscheduled plea”

Out My Window

2011-02-25T19:27:00.000-05:00

The Broken Building

2011-02-24T09:03:00.000-05:00

I pass this building almost daily and I've been waiting for the right morning to take a photo with the clouds. The day finally came. I actually woke up early to take this photo. Apparently it was an old gas station that shut down. I think it has a lot of character to it.

Morning Anticipation

2011-02-23T21:26:00.000-05:00

My sugar glider watching the sunrise this morning.

Down by the River

2011-02-22T23:32:00.001-05:00

I was downtown so I decided to take a few shots while the the sun was about to go to bed. Downtown Chattanooga.

Southern 6

2011-02-22T20:51:00.001-05:00

The "Southern 6" happened this past weekend with the amazing weather we've been having. It turned out to be a great race with lots of competition and support.

Walk in the Woods

2011-02-21T13:58:00.001-05:00

I FINALLY had a day to just relax and hang out with friends. We went over to the new Volkswagen park and walked around 'til it got dark.

Aaron Roach in Chatt.

2011-02-21T13:46:00.001-05:00

A small concert put on by Aaron Roach. The seating and lighting weren't the best for taking pictures but I snapped a few from where I was.

Chris' Daily Reminder

2011-02-16T19:42:00.001-05:00

Clear Winter Night

2011-02-15T10:09:00.000-05:00

Brian & Heather ENGAGED

2011-01-31T20:33:00.001-05:00

An engagement shoot I did with some of my favorite people :) Thanks Heather & Brian for being such great friends!

Sugar Glider

2011-01-30T00:50:00.001-05:00

My awesome new pet Magua. Here's the 1st picture I've taken of her.

wrx

2011-01-25T23:16:00.000-05:00

Chris' WRX. He wanted some interior shots so I took some stuff for him.

whoa.

2011-01-18T15:23:00.001-05:00

Something I encountered at the zoo during community service day. Whoa.

Winter Sky

2011-01-14T18:21:00.000-05:00

Chris is Good

2011-01-14T09:11:00.000-05:00

My bro playin' the drums at home

Skateboarding

2011-01-14T08:55:00.000-05:00

Chris, Matt, and I had an awesome day of skating. It was our first time going to the North Georgia Skatepark.

snow day!

2011-01-14T08:52:00.001-05:00

This shot was taken at 3 am from our porch in Tennessee. We NEVER get this much snow here! Feels like home in NY.

Home Sweet Home

2010-12-20T22:54:00.001-05:00

Dinner for Two (stop motion)

2010-12-13T18:58:00.000-05:00

one foggy night

2010-12-13T18:56:00.001-05:00

Bubbles in Chattanooga

2010-12-12T10:47:00.000-05:00

Bre's Grad Invitation

2010-11-24T09:51:00.000-05:00

I'm definitely not a designer but it was fun taking the picture and designing a grad invite for Bridgette.

nikki and alexa

2010-10-17T00:17:00.000-04:00

Oglethorpe

2010-10-15T22:58:00.001-04:00

The Great Outdoors

2010-09-27T11:19:00.000-04:00

An overnight camping trip with a few friends and a wide angle lens.

Pan Man

2010-09-01T21:47:00.001-04:00

My buddy Chris

Flat Bar

2010-08-31T14:08:00.000-04:00

2010-08-08T18:56:00.000-04:00

Officially, A Business Man...HA

2010-08-05T16:10:00.000-04:00

Being around professional people the past few weeks and feeling like I'm in the "real" world pushed me to design and print my own business card. I've handed out a few already.

Loma Linda Reflections

2010-08-05T15:53:00.000-04:00

My time here at Loma Linda has been really good! I kinda broke my own golden rule when coming into this whole internship thing. I've been trying to go into things having NO expectations, but I guess this time I did the opposite. My expectations of Loma Linda were pretty low before I got here. I figured this whole thing would just be a resume booster and I'd be glad when it's over, but my expectations were shattered upon arrival.

I found that I really like Southern California and working at LLU. But most importantly, I've really enjoyed getting to know the people here and making new friends. I'm not gonna name any names but everyone who I've met here is so accommodating and helpful. I'm glad I've had the chance to come here and spend the remainder of my summer in Brazil/SoCal. I feel blessed for all of the opportunity that God constantly provides and wonder if I even deserve all of it. Each time I take another step a new door is opened.

This summer has seriously flown by so fast I didn't even realize that it's almost over. It's definitely been one of the best summer's I've had. And FOR SURE has been the busiest/craziest summer for me in a while. It feels like I just got out of school and have to go back in just a few weeks. All I know is that I'm not gonna take this time for granted. I'm going to cherish each moment and adventure I face.

Old Pictures Randomly Found

2010-08-04T02:21:00.000-04:00

Children of the Amazon in Color

2010-07-20T12:09:00.000-04:00

Meet in the Middle

2010-07-18T19:34:00.001-04:00

I was able to meet up with Yora and had an awesome day at Niagara Falls...Somewhere between Buffalo and Toronto

General Conference

2010-07-02T22:07:00.000-04:00

the dome
awkward guy in the background
some unai chorale members
kim at the southern booth

2010-07-01T20:19:00.000-04:00

The drive home

The Journey Home

2010-07-01T19:49:00.000-04:00

I finally made it home from Kulaqua after a series of events. I left Florida after our going away staff party and it was a just a little depressing. But there were a few things comforting me as I drove away from "The Great Outdoors Restaurant" in High Springs...the 1st good thing was that I was driving home in a caravan of other staff members so I wouldn't be completely alone, 2nd I would be seeing probably over 90% of this year's staff at Southern next year lol, and 3rd I was going home for the first time since Christmas! woo hoo!

So after a 7 hour drive I got to good ol' Collegedale. It was good to see some of my other friends. I spent the night there and the next day headed out to ATL for GC (ha abbreviations). It was really good to hang out there and be around Atlanta. Unexpectedly I stayed up super late the night before my journey home. It was totally worth it but I was kinda tired going home. Chris and I left for Lancaster, PA and made it there that night. And that brings me to TODAY. I left Lancaster today and finally made it home!!!!!!!! And now I'm sitting here in my living room with the family...but only for a few more days. Wow I never update this much. I better stop. Chao!

KULAQUA

2010-06-27T00:43:00.001-04:00

A little bit of Life at Camp Kulaqua

skate sessions

2010-06-22T13:13:00.000-04:00

Chris, and Tyler, and I took our day off to go skateboarding and got super lucky. I brought my camera and another skater in the park let me use his fisheye lens so I had some fun with it.

Week 1: Success

2010-05-22T16:13:00.000-04:00

My 1st week at Camp Kulaqua can be considered a success. Despite uncertainty of how much we were supposed to accomplish, I think we did what we were supposed to. The video guys and I worked out some planning for the next few weeks. And the next few weeks will apparently be much different than this past (relaxing/chill) week. I'm glad I made it here and I'm glad I am here with some really cool people. More updates to come but to keep it short and simple...life is good :)

My 2nd Stop Motion.

2010-05-19T11:13:00.000-04:00

Little Drummer Boy

2010-05-13T17:32:00.000-04:00

I recently realized how much I miss playing the drums. I haven't been able to play in months because I have no room for my drumset here in Tennessee :( but it is something I am going through withdrawal of. Maybe next year I will be able to bring them here but for now I am building up the frustration of not being able to do anything about it. sad sad sad

2010-05-12T08:37:00.000-04:00

My Other Fish Friends

2010-05-11T10:13:00.001-04:00

RIP to my friend Mikey: you lived a good life :(

2010-05-10T16:10:00.000-04:00

mini golf adventures

2010-05-08T10:01:00.000-04:00

Last night was an adventure. Bridgette, Kim, and I were determined to enjoy the summer weather at night. We wanted to sleep outside so we searched high and low to find the perfect spot. Eventually we agreed upon a tiny little patch of green turf meant for practicing putting. We stayed up and talked and it was just fun to not worry about school the next day and spend time with some of my best friends. Such a little thing that hopefully represents how the summer will be. Unfortunately I won't be spending it with my friends in Collegedale :( One more week here then off to new things. I'm gonna make the most of what I have where ever I go.

Yum Yum

2010-05-01T09:29:00.001-04:00

Blacklights are Fun :)

2010-04-29T08:11:00.000-04:00

We had a night of fun with black lights...5 hours of fun actually! haha it seems like a long time but time flies when you're with awesome people. Mad props to Cory, Aimee, and Hanna :)

A break from reality

2010-04-16T08:27:00.000-04:00

Some friends and I took a few hours to go up to Sunset Rock on Lookout Mountain and it was definitely a nice break from being at school the whole week. A good way to spend a Saturday afternoon :)

Junk Yard!

2010-04-16T08:18:00.000-04:00

Christina and I wanted to go on a photoshoot so she had the brilliant idea to go a junk yard near the school (which I never really even knew existed there). But it was a lot of fun and I think it turned out pretty good!