Fern Detail

Some where green, some yellow, some where orange and some were just a bit faded looking, which I like.

Early Fall Ferns

I was wondering if it was going to be an early fall this year right before spotting these ferns. Unless it was just a fluke I think that these guys are proof enough. I say every year that I am going to catch the fall colors but it seems like something is always going on during that time and I never end up getting to the places I want to be. Fortunately this year I was caught by complete surprise. With the exception of a few lost images made in high school, this is my first real fall color image.

Where Are We Going?

Wait, what?

Rain on Lupine Leaves

Playing around in photoshop today and thought of John O'Connor's post: The Many Shades of Green and made me wonder how that was processed beacause I love it. After a lot of editing and feeling a bit stumped I was able to get kind of close, regardless, it's amazing how so much can go into a photo. An image can be completely different than the original file once it's processed. Sure; in our digital age we have it a lot easier, but there is now a whole different realm of processing with all of the software that's floating around out there. It's takes an incredible amount of learning to use these tools and I still do think composition is number one. But it leads me to a question I would like to get some feedback on. If anyone or in this blog's case: maybe someone would like to join. Let me know what you think.
-How much of being a good photographer do you think has to do with image manipulation or post processing?

Continuation

I have always been a big fan of aquatic scenes and I can say that water is probably one of the main reasons I photograph. Water flows: and that's simple. How that function happens is an extremely complex action that draws me in every time and inspires me to take out the camera. When I think of the material world, we have tons of different goals and destinations while my friend, the river only has one. Observing this flawless movement with nothing stopping it's course is a metaphor we can all learn from or at least admire. By the time the camera and legs are packed up, the section of water just photographed will be miles away and where it exactly originated from is anyone's guess. Just that fact alone is a heavy influence on me. With that in mind, I'll say that it is pretty difficult to not look back from whatever path you're on, possibly stumbling on conceptions along the way. It's impossible to never fail and it's unlikely to move toward one universal purpose. In other words, no matter how hard one can try, we can only dream of having the characteristics of rivers or flowing water. I guess opposites do attract.

Just in Time

A while back I took a nice nice photo trip down to Big Sur with a good friend. We were pretty overwhelmed as to where we should be for the magic hour since we only had one day. Upon driving around frantically, chasing the sun and almost crashing the car, we had to stop and clamber down to the beach to at least get something. To our surprise we ended up at this place, which I have seen in other photographs before and I would like to say it's Garrapata beach but I'm not sure. Just as luck would have it I was able to set up just before the sun went down to catch a nice highlight on the edge of these rocks. This image was made with Fuji Velvia 50 and could not have asked to be in a better location especially since we did'nt know where we were going in the first place. I have always enjoyed this photograph but never really considered the luck of it and indeed it was luck. Sometimes your planning just has to give way to adaptability and flexibility but if you can think quick enough, then you're in. So I took the luck when it offered itself. Probably not exactly what I would have wanted to get but enjoyed making the most of the situation in an amazing spot.

South Tufa at Mono Lake II

My first time going over Tioga Pass. The landscapes on the way up are enough to render a fellow like myself speechless. The massive granite beasts of mountains all around, left me overwhelmed as I tried to take it all in. I went on this nice day trip with my wife and mother in law and I will tell you everything about what we just did was awesome. Mono lake is a very terrestrial place indeed. Although I have never been to another planet, at least I don't think so, this is about the closest one might come to that without leaving Earth. Another thing I enjoyed about this trip was the small town of Lee Vinning. The vibes were right as well as the people. The little town seemed to be happening and humble high above the smog. One of the employees at the famous burger spot was even kind enough to give me a free drink (thanks). This panoramic was shot right before I would of had to use a bulb setting, needless to say the light was fading fast.What a challenge trying to time my exposures with the descending sun. I was in the right spot the only thing left to do was to wait for the desired light & I like that wait.

South Tufa at Mono Lake

This image was made about 20 minutes before the last.

Darkness Through Barkness

Decayed, withered & swayed . Played, watched then fade. A breath ceased but the beast will still preach to me & reach to me. I promenade in the shade as I address the crest: your a perch, an art piece, a home, a fuel, a silhouette inspecting crimson upon horizons. You reincarnate your energy through my lens to make a mends. So thanks bro!

Somber Symphony

I know it has been a long time since a new post, so here it is! Went on a camping trip with some friends to Iron Lakes had an excellent time. Thought a lot about how a place like this is very hard to capture, especially through a photograph. I have been there once a year for the last 7, but this time figured it would be nice to show at least a big chunk. There are so many words to describe this area: diverse, serene, strange, beautiful and vast. One of my favorite places on the list for sure. The view from the top of the trail at Iron Lakes put together with a series of 8 exposures.

Merced River

Aquadic Rush

Merced River.

Aquadic Brush

Merced River right before El Portel on the 140. Three image composite.

Elephant Ear Triptych

Original files: no Photoshop adjustments... Triptych

Wet Sunflower Leaf

Glen Alpine Creek, Tahoe Ca

John and I were briefly talking about how it's good to sometimes go back and take a second look at images that may have gotten stored away or forgotten. So this post and the next four have reemerged straight from the archives. This is the river that flows into Fallen Leaf Lake in Tahoe California. Went there on a family event and was able to sneak away for a bit to share this with you.

Lambent Life

These flowers were basically in the dark right after twilight so I exposed accordingly leaving the background with no detail. Taken on the way back from a hike in Big Sur.

Sunset Reflection on Hensley Lake

Took a drive to this lake once and snapped a picture of the water, I'm glad I did.

Ebb & Bo

Eustacy

Sometimes you just gotta shake your items.

Back Tail

Trying out the old screw on fish eye, the image quality is a bit low but it's fun seeing the results from such a wide angle. Sean Sullivan backside tail slid this thing first shot.

Sunset Madera County Looking East

Some strange weather we have been having. My friends mother told him that it hadn't rained on her birthday in the whole time they had lived in fresno, which was quite some years. This was the day to break that record. A little volatile, yes but it definitely creates a nice canvass to work with. I have always looked at this lone tree on the side of hwy 41 heading north. I have wanted to photograph it for a while now and lately I couldn't pass it up. Maybe not the way I would have visioned it but it's a start.

Clouds

Lupine leaves with rain drops

Made this image on a camping trip at Grey's Mountain just after the thunderstorm had cleared. John O'Connor was also there, and i'm sure he has some amazing shots you might see soon. A nice day day and a good rinse! sorry about your shoes pat!

untitled

My wife and I took a nice little stroll up toward Nelder Grove and this was taken on the shadow of the giants trail. Beautiful Dogwoods and giant grandfathers everywhere!. The colors and foliage we saw walking the trail were definitely worth going back soon. Happy A-day Sara!

Lewis Creek Rock Formations

This shot and the next, were taken off the trial at lewis creek. The trial had cut one way and I decided to go the other. Glad I did though, cause it was a nice spot away from the usual hikers. I waited here for a couple hours just enjoying the atmosphere until the sun crept it's way below the trees. The one small spot of sunlight mashing through, provided an interesting golden glow.

Lewis Creek Rock Formations II

Plant Detail

I was glad to capture this light while I could because it only lasted a few minutes. It's interesting to me to study how volatile the light can be at a place like this. It's easy when you just have a horizon, but when you throw trees, bushes and rock formations into the mix, you are left with some exciting changes. Although I had shot the light a few different ways, this happened to be my favorite. This plant also had pink, bell shaped flowers that looked to be near their end. I decided it's leaves were just as nice if not better than the actual flowers. If any one knows what this is I would love to hear.

Dogwood

What can I tell you about spiders, well first of all I was covered in them creating this image. It seemed everywhere I looked there would be a nice one looking right at me. So I had to just run through the crowd as quick as I could. If there were anyone witnessing this, It would have been a spectacle indeed. Besides the presence of the eight legged buddies, this shot has a interesting tale behind it. It was almost the end of my stay at Lewis Creek, so I was loosing light fast. I had spotted about four huge trees with blooms all over them, and it kind of was my mission to shoot some dogwood during this trip. So when I spotted them I had to be quick. It did seem almost impossible to get above the blooms. I probably should have just walked across the river but I decided to cross over a thin fallen tree which almost sent my gear down stream, luckily it did not. The only way to shoot from this angle, would be to get above, but there were no higher options with the lens I had. Long story short: I climbed up the tree and was still able to render the stream cloudy with a branch mounted 5 sec f22 exposure at iso 100. Thanks tree! Some of my favorite shots have been nature mounted. Rocks, trees, dirt, it all works. This was last Saturday and blooming was still happening so if you would like to shoot some dogwood: get up there!