Big Bird!
I recently took a trip to Cambria, CA for the weekend, just to get away. While there, amidst relaxing and just taking in the relaxing surroundings, there were these large birds playing in the coastal winds (sorry, I don’t know what kind they were – maybe you can tell me!). They are incredible animals and it was awesome to watch them play in their natural habitat!
Mostly a black and white set, but I liked this color version below and wanted to share that one too.
A Girl and a Guy
Last post for 2012.
I continue to try to improve my portrait skills, so here is one of a pretty girl and a handsome guy! (my wife and me 
).
I am testing out some new software and re-processed my self-portrait. I like it quite a bit better.
Superman’s View
I imagine that when Superman does his thing and ‘up, up and away-s’ that he cruises around to views like this. I was able to grab this image tonight that really made me feel like I was up in the clouds too and wanted to share
Have a great week ahead!
The Garden Isle
My wife and I recently visited Kauai, HI. We went there for our honeymoon 2 years ago and loved it so much that we went back. It is so beautiful there, I highly recommend it to anyone who has not been! They call it the “Garden Isle” for a reason – 360 degrees of beautiful, raw nature.
While there I took my camera, of course, and attempted to capture they way I saw the island, the beauty. Below is a collection of those images. I singled out a few below and then put the rest in a gallery below these. I hope it gives you a sense of “Ahhh”
“Don’t” bring your camera on your wife’s birthday!
Took a trip down to La Jolla, CA last Saturday for my wife’s B-Day and I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day! Since I wanted to give all my attention to her, I didn’t dare bring my camera…. because once I whip that thing out, it’s “bye-bye Andy” and we can’t have that on her B-Day, right? Right. Well, what I wasn’t counting on, nor was she, was that my new phone has a pretty awesome camera on it… This was my first time really digging into it and I was really surprised at how good some of the shots were!
Well, after this discovery and wading knee-deep into the oncoming rising tide taking photos, I caught myself and waded back out of the water before I got cold from the water and the cold shoulder from the wife 
. I only kid about that part though, she has no problem with these little mini excursions – she was taking pictures of me out in the water trying to get the shot below.
Happy 4th of July!
Taken with HTC One X phone
Me as my sanctuary rock is quickly getting swallowed up…
Chillin on a Dirt Road…
While out in Colorado, I came across this random dirt off the main highway. I turned down just out of curiosity and I am sure glad I did. I felt like I was out in the middle of nowhere with a fantastic view of the mountain line at sunset. It was a gorgeous sight!
A Portrait with a Hat
This is the follow-up color photo relating to my post below.
I love this photo for a few reasons. First, the setting this took place and how it came about. This picture was shot on my apartment patio in a quick fit of creativity as me and my wife were heading out to run errands. The green backdrop is a table-cloth that I had forgotten on the patio from the previous week. I saw it and realized it was an opportunity to ‘spice up’ the photo and threw it over the laundry compartment door. I think this came out looking so interesting for how quick and ‘by-chance’ it all came together.
The second reason, is the hat. I bought this hat for my wife about 2 or 3 years ago, thinking it was cute…she thought it was cute too! But, alas, living in Southern CA does not give too many opportunities to wear Eskimo hats…She finally got to wear it for a purpose and now I have a great lasting memory of it in case she never wears it again ! The third, but not last, reason I love this photo is obvious, it captures my beautiful wife in such a lovely light. It is a memory I will have for the rest of my life.
My Wife
I love my wife and I think she is beautiful. That is the point behind this post (she hasn’t seen this photo and she doesn’t know I am posting this… hehe).
I captured this photo of her the other day and I really liked how it came out; it was such an intimate moment caught in time. I have a color photo from the same session coming soon, stay tuned.
This time, it’s for real…
This last week I was honored when a good friend asked if I would photograph his family portrait. Of course I said YES, that was a no brainer. But, with that answer, this was no longer a fun hobby to take “meaningless” pictures…I had to deliver for a family’s memories! So, needless to say, nervousness set in. I was pretty calm until the day of the shoot – the importance of not screwing up really set in!
However, this family is one of the nicest you could ever meet and made me feel like one of them. The atmosphere was very casual, calm, and playful as you can see in the photos. The time of day in these shots was a little later than preferred, making the light a bit harsh, but I think they turned out good considering that fact. After the “official” family shots, we all kinda just hung out on the beach during that beautiful CA morning. This gave way to the kids playing and the other family members getting involved. I was able to capture a few candid shots of a family just enjoying each other. It was awesome.
I think the family thought I was doing them a favor, but in reality they were doing me a favor by helping me to really focus on delivering something worthwhile. And for that, I say “Thank You!” Below is a sample of some of the shots. Click for bigger versions.
It was worth it…
This last Friday it rained most of the day. As the rain stopped and the clouds began to clear, my wife and I decided to take the dogs out for a brief walk. Now I live on the 3rd floor of my building so when I went outside I was able to see that the ensuing sunset would probably be awesome (I could only see enough sky to be teased at what might be)! So, at that moment I decided that I had to see what the full sunset turned out looking like – I went back for my camera and car keys and decided to bolt up to a high ground I know to see if there was a view. I invited my wife and dogs, but they wanted to stay and pee on things (primarily the dogs, that is).
After I was at the spot for about 15 minutes, shooting pics, it hit me that on my dash out of the apartment I locked the door because I fully expected my wife to join me! Mind you it was pretty chilly this time of day and my wife, who needs a blanket when it is 75 outside, was in a T-Shirt and pajama pants with the dogs… and now locked outside. So after it finally hit me that my wife was locked out, probably freezing and without a phone, I [took a few more photos] bolted back home. When I arrived it had been about 30 minutes since I left and she was out on the sidewalk giving me a look that seemed to say “well, what do you have to say for yourself?” I just rolled the window down and said “SORRY”… Turns out she was very understanding and didn’t care. Whew!
I reached my spot and had a pretty nice view for such short notice. The sunset/sky/clouds were amazing. The natural grandeur of a “simple” sunset after a rain is breathtaking. I wish I could have spent a bit longer out there, but I was happy with what I was able to see and the few photos I shot.
Sign out where I was shooting
Portraits
This was my first attempt a portraits. I definitely enjoyed the process, but have a ways to go. I can tell that this is a genre of photography that I can see myself really getting into! To start off with, I have easy access to a beautiful lady…my wife .
We had the idea for me to practice photos, so we jumped in the car one evening and just drove. We were looking for anywhere appealing outdoors just as an excuse to get out and shoot. Luckily we came across an undeveloped lot of land that looked out over the city, letting the sunset in perfectly. I think I got there a little too late because I did not have as much time as I would have liked to photograph. However, with that being the case, I am pretty happy with the way these turned out.
Learning to Appreciate
For Labor Day I visited my family. They live down in the desert of CA where a typical summer day is 115 - almost just as typical are 120 degree days. So after visiting I drove back up to Orange County and after the three hour drive, I arrived. The beautiful weather got me thinking how I do not appreciate the beauty of where I live enough. It was this thought that made me take a spontaneous left to Laguna Beach instead of the right turn that lead home. I drove down to the beach with my wife and two dogs and we walked along the beach. It was perfect timing – I drove straight to the closest parking and found a parking spot open – that alone is a miracle during the summer time! We arrived just in time to catch a beautiful sunset; I was able to snap a few photos – What a confirmation of thoughts!
This was a great lesson in appreciating the beauty that surrounds me.
