Last Light on New York. Taken from the top of the Rock: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Please click on images to see larger versions. I recently came back from a four-day trip to the Big Apple.  The weather was unseasoably warm, with beautiful light and wonderful scenes.  I traveled light with a small but capable micro 4/3rd system.  I had the Panasonic G3 camera body, 7-14mm (for ultra-wide scene), 25mm f/1.4 (for low light candids), and the 14-45mm standard zoom lenses.  Here are a few images from the trip I hope you enjoy.

Fall in Central Park: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

View-box. Taken at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA): Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

The Big Apple: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

To Coney Island: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Purple Walkway. Highline Park: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Social Animals. NYU: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 25 f/1.4

Mass Transit: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 25 f/1.4

Fun with Bubbles. Central Park: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Lost in Thought: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 25 f/1.4

Fashionable: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 25 f/1.4

Bookworm: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 25 f/1.4

Atlas Shrugged: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Graffiti: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Leashed: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 25 f/1.4

Sliders: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Moment of Silence:Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Easy Rider: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 25 f/1.4

Handi-capable: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 25 f/1.4

Controlled Impulse: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 25 f/1.4

Sunset at Point of Arches: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

A few friends and I went on a fabulous camping trip to Shi Shi beach and the Point of Arches last weekend.  The weather was warm, and the light was sublime.  I planned it so we’d arrive at low tide during the early mornings.  We had tons of fun exploring the tide pools, climbing rocks, and relaxing on the beach.  I hope you enjoy the shots.

Point of Arches in Monochrome: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Beauty Reflected: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Starstruck: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Star Warp: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Skinny Dipping: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Ocean Giants: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Somewhere Beyond the Sea: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Monochrome Monoliths: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

A Time to Reflect: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Tidepool Tentacles: Panasonic G3, Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f2.8 ASPH OIS

Beach Grafiti: Panasonic G3, Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f2.8 ASPH OIS

The Dive: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Me, Myself, and I: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Late Snowmelt at Mt. Rainier: Pentak 645D, Pentax-A 645 75mm f/2.8. Below Mt. Rainier is Tipsoo Lake, just beginning to thaw.

Please click on images to see larger versions. I’ve been up to Mt. Rainier a few times this year, most recently last weekend.  Snow and ice are still plentiful, with wildflowers unlikely to bloom at all in the meadows.  Summer, in general, has been pretty nonexistent so far in Seattle and surrounding areas.  However, a late (or no) thaw does have some photographic advantages.  I hope you enjoy these two shots.

Unnamed Waterfall: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6. Found this nice cascade by the side of the road.

Path to God: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

I have been in Tucson for the past week working with the American Board of Radiology (ABR) to develop some exam questions.  Cindy and I arrived a few days early to photograph Saguaro National Park and the surrounding areas of Tucson.  I hope you enjoy these images!

The opening image of this blog is of the famous, Mission San Xavier del Bac, located just south of Tucson.  It was established by Father Kino in 1732.  It still serves as an active place to worship for the Tohono O’odham congregation.  It’s magnificent design and intricate interior artwork have earned it the nickname, “The Sistine Chapel of North America,” San Xavier is perhaps the best example of Mission architecture in the United States. [1]

Heavenly Artwork: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Watched Over by a King: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6

Tree of Life: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6

Distant Mission: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Holy Water: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6

Icons: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.5-5.6

We also visited the Tumacacori National Historical Park, located just a few miles south of Tubac (a burrow located 44 miles south of Tucson).  By the way, Tubac is the oldest European-settled city in Arizona.  Mission San Jose de Tumacacori was first listed in 1961 as an outlying settlement by Father Kino and is one of the oldest in Arizona. [1]

Tumacacori: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6

The Granary at Tumacacori: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6

Cindy and I had a great time exploring, photographing, and learning some Southwest history.

Ancient Art: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Wanted: Dead or Alive: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.5-5.6

Saguaro Mountains: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.5-5.6

Moon Catcher: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.5-5.6

Careful Where You Sit: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Last Light: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Purple Majesty: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6

We finished off the journey with a visit to Old Tucson Studios.

Studio Church: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6

Horse Thief Shot Dead: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6

Carriage Ride: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45mm f/3.5-5.6

1.  Yamnitz J.  Explore the Southwest’s Spanish History on the Anza Trail.  Visit Tucson – Official Destination Guide.  Fall/Winter 2010. p. 22,23

Forest Greens: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

A couple of friends are visiting me in Seattle, but the weather has been damp and dreary.  Today we made the best of it by exploring Olympic National Park, including the Hoh Rain Forest.  The opening image and the shots below are my favorite forest photos from the outing.  A light drizzle can do wonders for forest photography.  The colors are richer, there are no harsh shadows, and the venue is typically not very crowded.

I almost always use a polarizer when doing this kind of photography.  It will significantly decrease glare from reflective surfaces such as wet leaves and rocks, providing more contrast and deeper colors.  Of course, a tripod is a must as the exposure times are often several seconds long.  I also recommend taking along a lens hood, if you have one, and a lens cloth. Chances are the wet climate will leave water drops on the surface of your lens or filter.  The hood will help minimize this, and the lens cloth can be used to safely wipe off any moisture that makes it on to the lens surface.  If you don’t have a “weather-sealed” camera, you may want to take something to protect your expensive gear.  A plastic or zip lock bag works great.

I hope you enjoy the images.  As always, you can click on the pictures to go to the original gallery.  Once there, you can see the images at larger sizes, peruse the shot settings (including GPS coordinates), and explore other galleries.

Inviting Trail: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

Mossy Cascades: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Friendly Ferns: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Vertical Forest: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Color in Crevices: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

A few friends, Cindy, and I made a whirlwind tour of Painted Hills, OR and Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park, ID over this three day weekend. Boy, what fun we had!  We left Seattle 9:30 Friday morning and arrived in Mitchell, OR 6 1/2 hrs later.  We set up our tents near Painted Hills and headed out to explore and photograph the area.

Painted Hills Unit is one of three components of the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument.  These colorful hills are located about nine miles northwest of Mitchell, OR.  The varying hues and tones of the hills are best seen in the late afternoon, but early light can offer dramatic backlit compositions for the creative photographer.  The yellow wildflowers were in full bloom, and lined several cervices, as seen in the opening image of this blog.  Below are three more images of this beautiful, ancient wonder.

Wild and Beautiful: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Painted Hills in the Distance: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

Painted Hills, Painted Sky: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

The next morning, we shot the sunrise at the same location and headed out to Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park, ID, another 6 hrs away.  We arrived in the late afternoon, set up camp and headed out to climb the largest single Sand Dune in North America, rising 470 ft above small surrounding lakes.  It was a short but tough hike.  Below are two of my best images from there.

Bruneau Dunes Reflected: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Late Light on Bruneau Dunes: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

The next morning (Sunday), we slept in and drove back to Seattle, 9 1/2 hrs away.  By 8 pm, I was post-processing and uploading images.

Star Trails Over Joshua Tree, Panasonic GF-1 & Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Last week I was down in San Diego for another Radiology conference.  After the conference, my buddy, Joel, and I decided to visit Joshua Tree National Park for the weekend.  The Park is about a 3-½ hr drive northeast of San Diego, and offers some of the most beautiful desert landscape terrain in the world.  In this blog, I’ll share with you my favorite shots from the short visit.

Home to picturesque, twisted trees and massive rock formations, Joshua Tree is sandwiched between the Mojave and Sonora Deserts.  Joshua Tree National Monument was established in 1936, and the Desert Protection Act upgraded it to National Park status in 1994.

We drove to Twentynine Palms, a gateway town to Joshua Tree, located just north of the park.  As an interesting bit of information, this town is home to the largest Marine base in the world.

We arrived late Friday afternoon and explored the park from the comfort of our air-conditioned car.  When the outside temperature became more bearable, we took a nice stroll through the Hidden Valley nature trail, where we saw fascinating rock formations and labeled desert vegetation.  Below is an image of a particularly interesting rock, which to me looks like the “Flying Elvis” logo found on the New England Patriot’s football helmets.

Flying Elvis Rock, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

We then headed up to Keys View.  Unfortunately, the visibility was poor and much of the distant mountain ranges were obscured by haze.  However, I did manage to capture an image of a photogenic lizard with a multi-colored underbelly, basking on a warm rock.

Joshua Tree Lizard, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

That evening we headed over to the White Tank Campground and hiked the easy Arch Rock nature trail, where I captured the image below of Arch Rock.

Arch Rock, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

The next morning we awoke before sunrise and headed back into the park.  The light was spectacular, and below are my attempts at capturing it.

Joshua Tree Silhouette, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

Standing Proud, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Two of a Kind, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Later that morning, we found ourselves in the Cholla Cactus Garden capturing wildflowers and Teddy Bear Cholla cacti.

Teddy Bears and Wildflowers, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4

Backlit Cholla Cacti, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

While at the Cholla Cactus Garden, a long-eared denizen popped out to pay us a visit.  She eyed us suspiciously for a few seconds, wiggled her nose, and hopped away.

Desert Jackrabbit, Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 400mm f/5.6L

By 8 am the light was getting harsh, and we headed back to Twentynine Palms, grabbed some breakfast at a local diner, downloaded our images, and took a well-deserved nap.  We awoke in the afternoon and headed back to Joshua Tree.  Around 5 pm we began a moderate 3-mile hike up to Ryan Mountain where we ate dinner and photographed the sunset.

Ryan Mountain Sunset, Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6

We then headed down the trail with headlamps illuminating our path.  On our way back to town, we pulled off the road to photograph star-trails.  We watched a 1 hr 40 min movie on my iPad while our cameras captured the celestial movements above Joshua Tree.  The opening image of this blog was the product of this long exposure.  I combined one hundred consecutive 1-minute exposures. During the first minute of exposure, I used my headlamp to illuminate the foreground. The camera was set to manual exposure at f/4 and 60 seconds on “burst mode”. I attached a cable release and locked down the exposure button.

The next morning we slept in, packed up and headed back to San Diego to catch a plane to Seattle.  I hope you enjoyed these images and thanks for visiting!

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm f/4, 7mm (14mm equivalent) f/8, 2.5 sec, ISO 100

I find people in San Diego love to talk about their great weather…and with good reason! Tonight was perfect for a walking tour of downtown and the Gaslamp Quarter. The city was truly alive with engaging street performers at every corner, mouth-watering aromas from nearby restaurants, and jovial chatter of others also enjoying the night. I happily explored the neighborhoods with a tripod over one shoulder and a camera over the other. I grabbed a classic shot at the entrance to Gaslight Quarter and stopped here and there to frame what I thought were interesting compositions. I don’t know how successful I was, but I sure did have a great time!

If you want to know where all these images were taken, click HERE to see them on a map.

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, 36mm (72mm equivalent), f/8, 2.5 sec, ISO 100

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14 f/4, 7mm (14mm equivalent), f/8, (1.3, 2.5, and 3.2 second bracketed exposures), ISO 100

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14 f/4, 11mm (22mm equivalent), f/8, 5 sec., ISO 100

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, 14mm (28mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, 1.3 sec.

One of Seattle’s most famous icons, Pike Place Market is a photographer’s paradise.  Neon lights, charismatic people, beautiful views of Puget Sound and Mt. Rainier…you name it, The Market has it.  I like to arrive especially early in the morning, preferable after a rainy night. The wet, slick brick road leading into the market will give off beautiful reflections of the colorful neon signs, and hopefully there won’t be many parked cars to spoil your foreground.  The traffic this Sunday morning was especially light.  I was able to set up my tripod in the middle of the road and snap a few shots.  I suggest you stroll up and down the market and surrounding neighborhoods.  Take your time, walk slowly and look for interesting compositions.  After you’ve finished shooting, stop by a local cafe or restaurant and grab a little breakfast.  There are also beautiful flower arrangements throughout the market.  Why not buy some for your home?  This morning, I ate at Lowell’s restaurant while enjoying views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains.

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 20 f/1.7, f/1.7, ISO 400, 1/125 sec

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, 61mm (122mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, 1.3 sec

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, 109mm (218 mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, 1/10 sec

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, 180mm (360mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, 1/8 sec