Lone Pine California

I took a little drive up to the Alabama Hills in Lone Pine California today to play around with my new mountain bike. This was break in the bike trip but I had to bring my camera gear just in case, after all its the Sierras. The bike was great the rider (thats me) was well how would I say it nicely without hurting my feelings? "You didn't fall off!" While I sat taking a break from riding I watched the clouds come up over Mount Whitney disappear reform and move on. Nature usually puts on the best magic shows. The entire sky was perfect!

Success Without Completion

It had been awhile since I headed out into the backcountry for more then just a long day. Since my achilles tendon surgery I have kept it to car camping. But this last week I finally strapped that heavy pack on my back and ventured out with fellow photographer Brett Holman in search of Mount Sill. I’ll spare you the long details and cut to the chase. I made it up over Bishop Pass and decided the best thing for me was to make camp just below in Dusy Basin. Although we didn’t make it to Mount Sill it was still worth the pain of the hike. With the entire basin to ourselves we accomplished just what we wanted, to get away. I hope you enjoy the photos. Oh and Mount Sill you aren’t off the hook yet I’ll be back soon enough!

A perfect spot!

I was out on location again with Center of the Universe productions (Michael Delano) and KBB to shoot a Car Review on the Mercedes Benz SLS AMG. What a beautiful car!

Its been awhile

Seems like a very long time since I posted and it has been. I have been busy. But I have a moment and an image from one of my favorite places Lundy Canyon in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Please enjoy and I'll do better at keeping everyone up to date. Be well.

Camping Near Zion

I travel alone quite a bit so when I have a fellow travel with me I enjoy the company. On this trip Juliet Hawk (my girl friend) came along and brought her wonderful voice and guitar. The night was perfect with a campfire blazing, good food, not a soul for miles and the little flies even disappeared with the sunset. After dinner I lit the campfire and stared up at the battle between the stars and the moon. As they competed to outshine each other Juliet sat down with her guitar and the night sky had another opponent. The night sky quickly faded to an afterthought and victory was claimed. Juliet paused for a moment grinned and shook her head as I snapped a photo to capture the moment. Company can be good but good company is great.

Mood

The mood of an image for me is directly related to my own personal mood. While I’m creating photographs I try to allow myself the freedom to create based on my mood much like a painter might do. When I’m shooting for a client I don’t always have that luxury. If they want bright and cheerful and I’m feeling dark and gloomy, I have to find a compromise within and shoot what they. However when I’m shooting for myself mood can also have a direct effect on editing my images and this is why I never throw slides, negatives or digital files away (unless they are just way off technically.) Again my mood plays a crucial roll in deciding which images I like and don’t like. Now just the other day I was doing a little organizing and I came across some images that didn’t make the cut the first time I viewed them. As I looked them over I thought ‘how did I miss these images.’ I knew I had viewed them multiple times and yet missed them up until now. I now realize the first time I was looking for photographs that calmed the power of the ocean. This time around I was feeling energetic so the images that stood out were the ones I found to mirror my current mood and that’s what these images were. I’m glad I forced myself to sit inside on a perfect San Diego day to edit!

Familiar Shapes

Inevitably you will find familiar shapes if you look long enough at the natural world. I did with these macro images of lichen. I couldn’t help but see the Angel that used to sit atop the family Christmas tree when I was a kid; or this dragon that reminded me of the cover of a Bruce Lee movie.

Macro at 1 PM

Normally 1:00 pm is the wrong time to break out the camera and start creating. But if the sky is filled with those fluffy white or grey clouds I say grab the tripod and find something small to photograph like lichen. If you are lucky and the clouds have been drizzling bring something to cover the camera gear but enjoy the saturated colors of a wet rainy day. Check back Friday for more Lichen fun

Sand Stone mornings

I enjoy finding turbulent places in mother nature and creating images that are serene. The ocean is a perfect spot to do just that. Long exposures can calm the explosives power of waves that bombard the shore line. Try cutting out the vastness of the ocean by zooming in and not showing the skyline. Watch for they rhythm of the waves as you compose your images, the waves won't hit exactly the same every time but you can learn to read them enough to time your shutter release.

Random splashes

Recently I found myself sitting on the California coast in San Diego. As the sun began to rise behind my shoulders I watched sets of waves crash energetically over rocks and create random works of art hung against the blue sky wall of morning. I couldn't resist the need to capture the skilled hand of mother nature at work. I hope you enjoy the random beauty of crashing waves. If you do or you don't either way get out there and experience it first hand.

Sunset Cliffs

If you spend long enough exploring a coastal city you can find some places that the masses stay away from. At Sunset Cliffs you can always find people walking, running and sitting on the top. But not everyone knows about the lower walk way that skirts the cliffs below the houses. Look north while down there and you can see the Ocean Beach Pier and all the way up to Mission and Pacific Beaches. But you better be careful during high tide because you will get wet and during storms you do face the potential to be swept away. Do yourself a favor don't just visit it during sunset get up early and check it out as the sun peaks over Point Loma and hits the water.

Cold and wet

It was cold the water was cold and wet and the rocks covered with a bit of ice. Note to self: hug a sheep next time you see one and thank them for their wool. And my foot slid into the drink, thank you for wool!!!!

Ice Ice cold

On a cold February morning I found myself exploring a familiar stream in the Eastern Sierras. I have spent time hiking this stream before but the last winter storm had drastically changed it. Snow covered banks and ice covered plants led me into a new world of frozen day dreams.......

Painting by flashlight

If you have ever found a beautiful place and realized that no matter how many times you have been there the light is never right? I have one solution for you, no don’t camp there until the light is right. That could take days or months. Its much easier then that, wait until the next full moon grab you camera and tripod and load your bag up with flashlights. Remember patience’s is key for this to work. Focusing at night is tough and trial and error is your best friend. I’ll share a few more tips later this month on the actual techniques of painting your photographs. Until then enjoy these two images of San Diego’s Mission Gorge.