Karate Events in Hotel Conference Rooms

The last karate event was held in a hotel conference room, and the lighting was less than ideal for sports photography.

 For this event, I set my Canon R6 to Auto ISO capped at 25,600, which wasn’t enough to produce bright images when shooting at a 1/1000 shutter speed even when I was using my trusty EF70-200 L f/2.8. All my photos came out dark, and fixing them in post-processing was challenging because bringing up the exposure also amplified noise, which ruined the shots.

 In my usual post-editing workflow, I start by running all my photos through DxO PureRAW. This step helps clean up the files and prepares them for Lightroom Classic, where they’re automatically exported at the end of the process. In Lightroom, I fine-tune the exposure and adjust other aspects of the image, and for extra sharpness, I often send them through Topaz Photo AI. Normally, I don’t rely much on the DeNoise feature in Topaz Photo AI, but in this case, the amount of noise in my pictures made it necessary. It’s a good reminder that each situation requires flexibility in editing, even if it means stepping outside of your usual workflow.

 Another challenge is that in such large rooms, the lighting is uneven across the space, which often requires more frequent exposure adjustments during post-processing. This significantly increases the amount of time spent on editing.

I hope this gave you a better sense of what goes on behind the scenes, because photography is so much more than just pressing a button. For me, the joy is not only in creating the pictures, but also in sharing the journey with you.

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Karate: A Path to Strong Friendship

 

When I look at karate, I don’t just see a martial art. I see a place where friendships grow stronger than anywhere else.

In the dojo, I’ve watched people of all ages train together. At first, they’re strangers—unsure, maybe even a little nervous. But as the weeks pass, something special happens. The shared sweat, the discipline, the challenge of pushing past limits—those experiences bring people closer. Sparring partners become teammates, and teammates become friends.

What makes karate different is the respect it builds. Every bow, every handshake, every word of encouragement deepens trust. Even in sparring, where intensity is high, there’s no room for malice. Instead, there’s a bond—an understanding that we’re here to help each other grow.

I’ve seen friendships form in karate that last years. Kids who cheer for each other in tournaments, adults who encourage one another through tough times, families that come together around the dojo. These friendships aren’t casual—they’re forged through discipline, respect, and shared effort.

For me, karate is more than training or competition. It’s about the people, the friendships, and the sense of community that stays with you long after class is over. The punches and kicks may fade, but the friendships remain strong.