San Diego Sunset

I love this shot.  It was such a beautiful evening.  I have to admit that I had a little help enhancing the reflections.  But, I don't think those enhancements affected the integrity of the actual photo.

Majestic Lake Arrowhead

Shooting in the snow, I recently learned, is not easy.  Because the white of the snow reflects so much light, you really have to compensate by minimizing the amount of light you let in the lens.  So you really need to take your time to adjust your aperture and shutter speed accordingly.  Keep in mind that you might have to change the settings for each shot, depending on where the sun is reflecting and what you are trying to shoot.  Have fun experimenting...

  

Thinking of Maui...



Kapalua Shoreline, Maui



Wishing I was still there...



Iao Needle



Red Sand Beach, Hana




Lahaina Harbor



Wailea Sunset



Sunrise in Hana

My First Award-Winner

I submitted this photo for consideration in an amateur competition and it was ultra exciting to get 2nd prize.
The photo was taken at Puako Beach on the Big Island of Hawaii.  I actually just stumbled upon this beach following some locals down this little dirt road.  From the make-shift parking lot, I could see quite a bit of driftwood on the beach and the sun was about to set. 
I grabbed my camera and the wide-angle lens and walked down to the water.  I didn't have a tripod, so I had to improvise.  Grabbing another piece of driftwood and dragging it to the appropriate location, I was in business.

Playing with Special Effects

It's fun to try new and different things with your camera.  So, I decided to go shoot some pictures of the Balboa Boardwalk at twilight. I ended up taking the ferry across the channel to get better pictures of it.  Here's the shot that best captures that night.

Then it occurred to me to play around a little bit.  Using a long exposure while zooming out I got what I like to call the "warp speed" effect:

In case you were wondering, the white line in the sky is the moon. 

Within minutes, I was approached by people walking by wondering what I was doing.  Apparently, the camera mounted on a tripod did not provide a clue. I asked one of the inquisitors if she would mind helping me out with a little experiment.  Again I went with a long exposure but this time I popped the strobe every time she took a step or two.  The result is a ghostly one.  See for yourself:

The bottom line is: don't be afraid to try new things. You might end up with something really neat. This also good advice for life in general, by the way.

Crystal Cove Sunset

Living in Southern California is really a gift.  We have amazingly temperate weather, not to mention the incredible sunsets that can be taken in at any of our breathtaking beaches. 

Yes, life here can be hectic and we do spend an awful lot of time commuting.  But there is something to be said about the peace that listening to the ocean waves while watching the sun go down, can bring.

Before we fell back to Standard Time, I made it out to Crystal Cove and captured these shots.  Hope you like them.

Photographing Man's Best Friend

There are so many articles and video clips that remind us that a dog is man’s best friend.  How true!  We get so attached to our dogs that they become part of the family and as family members, we want to have nice pictures of them as well.  However, getting a good picture of your dog can be a difficult endeavor.  Here are some tips to help you out:

·    Make sure there is contrast – The color of your dog’s fur will impact your photo. For example, if you are photographing a dog with black fur, make sure he’s not against a dark background or he’ll get lost in it.  Conversely, if you are photographing a dog with white fur, make sure she’s not in front of a light colored background or she’ll simply blend into it.

·    Get your dog’s attention – Know your subject enough to be familiar with what get’s her attention.  What does she respond to? Treats? High-pitched whistles?  A squeaky toy?  Catching your dog responding naturally to what interests her will lead to a great spontaneous shot.

·    Avoid using a flash – We have all seen our human friends in pictures with red-eye.  Well similarly, dogs will get green eye.  Try using natural light when possible or bouncing the flash off of a wall so it isn’t aimed directly into the dog’s eyes.

·    Get creative with composition – Your dog doesn’t always have to be centered in the photo.  Some of the best shots are when the dog is off to one side of the photo travelling or moving toward the other side.  You can also try zooming way in to capture a certain aspect of your dog like an ear twitch or a wink.

·    Let the dog just be a dog – Candid shots can be surprisingly good.  They are natural and best capture your dog’s personality.  If he’s playing with a ball or another toy, try using the continuous shooting mode to catch all the different movements.

·    Experiment with different angles – Sometimes unexpected angles can lead to very artsy photos.  Also, different points of view can make for a good shot.  Try getting down to the dog’s level to take the photo or getting all the way down on the floor and aiming up at him.

Halloween Time

How does one spend such a night?  Attending a party?  No.  Going trick or treating?  Indeed no. Photographing a very disturbed woman in an abandoned house?  YES!

Best Hike on Maui

If you ever find yourself on the side Hana of Maui, you must seek out and hike the Pipiwai Trail.  It is 2 miles (one way) of lush greenery and bamboo forests and waterfalls which culminates at Waimoku Falls, which free falls over a lava rock cliff.  Amazing!!!

 

Banyan Tree about 1/4 mile in



Entering the Bamboo Forest

Bamboo Forest Path

Natural Swimming Pools

Me at Waimoku Falls