Riz Crescini » portraits

Photo Shoot with Hazuki: Kitakyushu, Japan

Riz Crescini — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 07:10:20 +0000

My friend, Hazuki, used to live in Kitakyushu but due to her husband’s job transfer, she and her family moved up north. Hazuki and her daughter were back in town last weekend for a quick visit. Shortly before their departure, I had a chance to do a photo shoot at her request. She is a yoga instructor and has started a small business. She naturally wanted profile pictures for her blog/website and that’s where I come in. Hazuki was great to work with and I believe the images we captured that day reflect her fun and engaging personality. I am sure that future clients that visit her site will notice this right away. Happy viewing, everyone!!

We found this empty park with beautiful fall leaves and decided to do a couple "yoga" images.

Before their train departure, we found one more location and came away with beautiful portraits of Hazuki.

Here are some behind-the-scene shots of Hazuki with her cute daughter.

Photo Shoot with Shuming: Kitakyushu, Japan

Riz Crescini — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:15:14 +0000

My assistant, Shouten, and I put in some shooting practice time earlier this summer. Our model for this photo shoot is Shuming from China. Thanks, Shuming! You did a fantastic job!

Play and Practice: Hibikino Campus

Riz Crescini — Fri, 27 May 2011 04:02:59 +0000

What do you do when the wife is teaching an evening class? Take your kids to their favorite park. They play and I “play” and practice my off camera flash technique. Win-win!!

What gear did I have with me? I brought with me my Canon 40D. Haven’t used the 40D in a while so I decided to give it some love that night. The only lens I brought with me was the wide-angle 16-35mm. Now, because the 40D has a crop sensor, the effective focal length range is 26-56mm. It was wide enough for what I wanted to shoot and also, no distortion even at the widest focal length. I only used one flash, the Canon 580 EXII, which I set on a Manfrotto light stand. Why didn’t I use a second flash? I normally do but hey, I’m taking care of 3 girls!! This was their time, not mine. Lastly, for off camera lighting, I happily use the Scott Robert Lim triggers. I could have used a diffuser, such as an umbrella, to create “softer” light, but again, I was there to play with my girls. The few shots I took of them was strictly bonus. When you start hearing, “Daddy, let’s play hide-n-seek! Daddy, push me on the swing! Daddy, help me climb the slide!”, then it’s time to put away the gear. Enjoy the images!

Spring Inspiration Shoot: Wakamatsu, Japan (Green Park) Part II

Riz Crescini — Fri, 20 May 2011 07:56:29 +0000

Well, as promised, here is Part II of the inspiration shoot that took place last weekend. If you missed Part I, go here.

My models were Anne Crescini and Marla Ayatsuka. One of them’s my wife To be honest with you, my shots didn’t do any justice to the beauty that these two women have. God made them both beautiful on the outside. But the beauty they have on the inside is just as attractive. The strength and character of these women are something to behold. So, forgive me that these images fall short of truly capturing who they are.

I wanted to create a little bit of drama using the sun flare and a texture.

Thank you, Jessica, for designing the bouquets and head pieces! You're the best!

Location: Wakamatsu, Japan

Hair and Makeup: Marla Ayatsuka

Floral Design: Jessica Kondo

Florist: Chimoto

Assistant: Zhengtian Pan

Models: Marla Ayatsuka and Anne Crescini

WPPI Part 2: Family Session with My Sister

Riz Crescini — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 23:21:52 +0000

One of the treats of going to Las Vegas every year is not related to photography at all. I get to see my sister! Her family lives in the San Francisco Bay area but they make the trip to see lil ol me. It’s not ideal as I have WPPI all day long but what a great time I have with them in the evening! I don’t often get to play with my niece, Elle, as I live in Japan. So imagine the fun I have playing with this sweet angel!

On their way back home and before my platform afternoon class, we had a short time (and I mean short) to go out to the desert to capture some family shots. Next year, I want to set aside a whole afternoon to shoot them at Red Rock Canyon. Until then, enjoy the pictures below.

This is my beautiful niece, Elle!

With her Daddy

I love this one. You can see Elle’s smiling face behind their kiss.

Elle: Ummm…why was I put inside this tire? Is that a scorpion I see?

Okay, break out the flash and see if we can do something dramatic.

Sad to say but at this point Elle wasn’t cooperating anymore so Mommy and daughter went off to explore while Edgar played the eager model.

This cool DJ/sound engineer has no problem posing for me. Ha ha ha!

Edgar had his own idea for the next couple images

Edgar: Don’t mess with me!

It was time to go but not before I got a shot of my beautiful sis. Love you, Fern!

Coming up…my thoughts on my experience as a volunteer for WPPI’s Print Judging Competition.

Snow Day

Riz Crescini — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 01:02:26 +0000

We Will Miss You!

Riz Crescini — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 01:47:26 +0000

After three years living and working in Tokyo, Anne’s older brother, Mike, and his family are moving back to the States. For my family, it has often been a challenge to share and have people understand what it is like to live in a different culture, especially a culture as different as Japan’s. So when Mike and Elle moved to Japan, we were excited to have family near us. They shared with us and understood the joys and frustrations of living in this beautiful country.

I’m sure if they had their way, they would stay here longer but new adventures await them in the States. And they are ready to embrace them! We are sad to see them go but we will see them again. Their love for Japan and its people will assure future visits from them.

Mike, Elle, Claire, Alex and James: thank you for the awesome memories! We love you so much and we will be praying for your transition. Enjoy your last few days in Japan!

Bond between Father and Son

Riz Crescini — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 02:17:08 +0000

Mike and Tiffany

Riz Crescini — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 00:06:37 +0000

Anne has a second cousin, Tiffany, who lives just outside of Tokyo. Tiffany, her husband (Mike), and their two children came out for a visit. On our way home from lunch, we stopped by a neighborhood park and let the kids play. Here are a few snapshots I took of Mike and Tiffany at that park. I am committed this year to shoot as much as I can and take advantage of every opportunity. This afternoon was one of them.

Scott Robert Lim Workshop – New York City (Part II)

Riz Crescini — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 19:48:29 +0000

Sometime after the workshop in New York City, I went to a service at a church that Anne and I used to attend when we lived in the States. I had to use the men’s room and as I entered, something struck me by its very absence. The huge bathroom mirror was entirely gone! I don’t know if it was damaged or if it was being replaced but it felt strange looking at a bare wall.

At the workshop, Scott invited three of his former students to share with us. All three challenged us to look at things in a whole new way that, if not practiced, will seem strange by its absence (similar to the mirror). Junshien Lau challenged us to dream big and to work towards our dream. Marie Lyssa Dormeus challenged us to consider our dream as not a destination but as one to be lived out moment by moment. And finally, Tauran Woo challenged us to be proactive, to think thoughtfully on how to compose our images. Dream, journey, composition…all three, in my opinion, have an essential element: thoughtful and careful reflection. These require some serious “soul-searching” if we are to excel in both photography and life. A missing mirror is not a big deal but a missing “self” is a big deal when we don’t find the time to examine our lives. Socrates once said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”