Saguaro Glow. Saguaro National Park: Leica M9-P, Leica 18mm f/3.8

Please click on images to see larger versions. I was down in Tucson, AZ for a couple of days on Radiology related business.  Of course, I took the opportunity to photograph their beautiful desert scenery.  I briefly visited Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon.  Here are a few images you may enjoy.

An Oasis in the Desert. Sabino Canyon: Leica M9-P, Leica 18mm f/3.8

Rocky Sunset. Sabino Canyon: Leica M9-P, Leica 18mm f/3.8

Star of the Desert. Sabino Canyon: Leica M9-P, Leica 18mm f/3.8

The Hiker. Sabino Canyon: Leica M9-P, Leica Summarit 75mm f/3.5

Desert Drama. Sabino Canyon: Leica M9-P, Leica Summarit 75mm f/3.5

The Riverbed. Sabino Canyon: Leica M9-P, Leica 18mm f/3.8

Desert's Last Light. Saguaro National Park: Leica M9-P, Leica 18mm f/3.8

Cactus Color. Saguaro National Park: Leica M9-P, Leica 18mm f/3.8

Desert Beauties. Saguaro National Park: Leica M9-P, Leica 18mm f/3.8

The Melting Pot. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Please click on the images to see larger versions. Cindy and I just got back for a whirlwind tour of the Big Island of Hawai’i.  In 3 full days we covered volcanoes, waterfalls, endless cliff faces, and beautiful beaches.  The people were friendly, and the scenes were breath-taking.  Here are few images I thought were worth sharing.  Mahalo for looking and commenting!

A Little to the Right: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Paradise Found: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Endless Faces. Pololu Valley Lookout: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8, 8 Stop ND Filter

It's a Palm Jungle Out There: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

The Angry Sea: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8, 8 Stop ND Filter

Flower Fall: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

From Sea to Shining Sea: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

On Guard. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Lava Land. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Backlit Beauties: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Motion Emotion: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8, 8 Stop ND Filter

Mellow Yellow: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Forest Flow. Akaka Falls: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 50-135mm f/2.8

Monochrome Sunset: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Hidden Beauty: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Roots: Pentax K-5, Pentax DA* 16-50mm f/2.8

Fire and Ice - Kubota Garden: Pentax 645D, Pentax-A 645 35mm f/3.5

Please click on the pictures to see larger versions. As many of you know, the weather in Western Washington this week has been ridiculous.  Snow, hail, sleet, freezing rain…you name it, we got it in buckets.  While most people are trying to stay off the roads, I’m looking for places to visit for unique photo opportunities.  One of my absolute favorite venues for snow photography in Seattle is Kubota Garden.  After a particularly heavy snow fall, the red bridges look amazing and really “pop” against the white surrounding.  Remember the exposure can be a little tricky in the snow.  Usually, I overexpose the shot by 1 to 1 1/2 stops to ensure the white of the snow looks white and not gray.  Here are a few images from today, I hope you enjoy.

Stepping Stone - Kubota Garden: Pentax 645D, Pentax-A 645 75mm f/2.8

Bridge Over Calm Water - Kubota Garden: Pentax 645D, Pentax-A 645 75mm f/2.8

Pelican Sunset. Chacala, Mexico: Panasonic G3,Panasonic Lumix G X Vario PZ 45-175mm f/4.0-5.6

Please click on images to see larger versions. I was lucky enough to attend and photograph a good friend’s wedding over the new year week in Chacala, Mexico, a small fishing village located about 1 1/2 hr north of Puerto Vallarta. Here are a few images which you may enjoy. Happy New Year!

Rocky Chacala Sunset: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Last Light on Chacala: Panasonic G3, Panasonic Lumix G X Vario PZ 45-175mm f/4.0-5.6

Bar with a View. Chacala, Mexico: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Night Heron. Chacala, Mexico: Panasonic G3, Panasonic Lumix G X Vario PZ 45-175mm f/4.0-5.6

Night Waves: Panasonic G3, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Over the Shoulder. Chacala, Mexico: Panasonic G3, Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4

Eye Do. Chacala, Mexico: Panasonic Leica DG Macro-Elmarit 45mm f2.8 ASPH OIS

Live Well. Chacala, Mexico: Panasonic G3, Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4

The Final Steps: Panasonic G3, Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4

Backlit Embrace. Chacala, Mexico: Panasonic G3, Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4, Panasonic DMW-FL500 Flash

Fresh Fun: Panasonic G3, Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4, Panasonic DMW-FL500 Flash

The Happy Couple. Chacala, Mexico: Panasonic G3, Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4, Panasonic DMW-FL500 Flash

With the Girls. Chacala, Mexico: Panasonic G3, Panasonic Leica 25mm f/1.4, Panasonic DMW-FL500 Flash

Christmas Lights, Seattle Style. Alki Beach: Pentax 645D, Pentax-A 645 150mm f/2.8

Please click on the images to see larger versions. Merry Christmas, everyone!  Here are some holiday lights, sort of.

Alki Beach Sunset: Pentax 645D, Pentax-A 645 150mm f/2.8

Twilight at Bhy Kracke Park: Pentax 645D, Pentax-A 645 120mm f/4 Macro

Please click on the image to see a larger version. I recently learned of this view of Seattle.  Although Mt. Rainier is hidden, the perspective from Bhy Kracke Park offers another wonderful look at downtown Seattle.  I think late fall or early winter is a good time to visit this location because the Space Needle can be framed between the branches of the leafless tree on the right.  This image is a stitch of 5 vertically oriented shots.  I hope you enjoy it, and happy  holidays, everyone!

Here is a 90% crop to give you an idea of the awesome detail being captured by the 40 megapixel CCD sensor of the Pentax 645D.

90% Crop: Pentax 645D, Pentax-A 645 120mm f/4 Macro

Late Light on Leschi: Pentax 645D, Pentax-A 645 75mm f/2.8

Please click on the image to see a larger version. We had some beautiful late afternoon light today in Seattle.  In my never-ending search for great and unique views of the city, I found this perspective from Leschi.  I hope you enjoy the shot!

Going, Going, Going....Gone! Lunar Eclipse Over Seattle: Pentax 645D, Pentax-A 645 75mm f/2.8

Please click on the image to see a larger version. I woke up at 2:30 this morning to capture the lunar eclipse.  The clouds rolled in and obscured the 2nd half of the celestial event, but I was able to capture the 1st half.  The Rizal bridge was a perfect venue for this shot.  My friend and I were the initial ones there, but by the end, I counted a dozen photographers lining the bridge.  For this picture, I first captured the night lights with a long exposure (30 sec, f/11, ISO 100).  Then, I took several other short (1/125th sec, f/5.6, ISO 100) exposures, each about 8 minutes apart to capture the lunar eclipse and its course.  In the digital darkroom, I combined the exposures to produce the composite image you see here.

Marylin: Leica M9-P, Leica 18mm f/3.8

Please click on the images to see larger versions. Just a few images from downtown Chicago.  The last is a shot of Mt. Rainier as seen from the plane on my way back to Seattle.

Chicago Lights, Leica M9-P, Leica Summarit 75mm f/3.5

Stadium Lights: Leica M9-P, Leica 18mm f/3.8

The View from Up Here. Mt. Rainier from the plane ride back to Seattle: Leica Summarit 75mm f/3.5

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