Articles tagged ‘San Diego’

San Diego Animals

Written on June 16, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations


Splish Splash: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 400mm f/5.6L

I’m finally getting around to post-processing my non-pelican animal shots from San Diego and La Jolla.  Most of the bird images were taken at San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park, a fantastic venue to watch animals in their “natural” environment.  The opening image of the blog was taken at the La Jolla Cove.  I just love that blissful expression on the seal’s face as the splash of water engulfs her.

Roller: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS

Superb Starling: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS

White-Headed Lapwing: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS

Masked Weaver: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS

Mocking Bird: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS

Cormorant: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS

Cattle Egret: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS

African Male Lion: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS

African Baby Elephant: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS

  • 7 Comments

Ann & Dileep Bhandarkar: wonderful, love your new lens! Ann

--> Mahesh: Ann, thanks for the comment! The 600mm was a hoot to use. I've since sold it and am toting the 800mm now. :D

Dianna Wachtel: Mahesh, these are stunning as usual! Love the blue eye of the cormorant, and the languid pose of the male lion. Thanks for sharing.

--> Mahesh: Dianna, great to hear from you! I love that shot of the lion too. At the Wild Animal Park, they have a broken down Range Rover in the lion exhibit, and the male loves to rest on top of it. :D

Chris Budech: Really cool, I'm a bird watcher of sorts--like the White-Headed Lapwing. Audubon could have used your services! I just read a biography of him.

Bev: These are the best yet--I love the baby elephant, his face really is a baby face. Nice lens work.

--> Mahesh: Bev, thank you! It looks like you're an animal lover...nice! :D


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Night Photography in San Diego

Written on March 26, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations


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

  • 5 Comments

Conrad Tan: Dude that little panny rocks! Nice set man!

--> Mahesh: Conrad, thanks, bud! Ya, it's so nice to carry that little camera around. :D

Peter Johngren: Really nice images. Just got the GF1 with 20mm and the the 45 - 200. I have the 14 - 45 on order. Love the camera and was wondering about the 7 - 14. Your shots are striking. Thanks!

--> Mahesh: Peter, thanks a lot for the comment and stopping by. The 7-14mm is wonderfully sharp from corner to corner. I couldn't recommend it enough.

Pauline Vasquez: Very vivid images. They really do capture the still, and the motion, of downtown San Diego at night. Pauline Horton Plaza


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Glory, Glory Ha La Jolla!

Written on March 25, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 400

Another blog from sunny San Diego. The pelicans of La Jolla are world famous. I knew my trip to San Diego would be incomplete without seeing these beautiful birds up close. They were the sole reason I lugged my 600mm lens down here. Before the trip, I received a plethora of great advice from other photographers around the web about when and where to photograph the pelicans. I woke up early and drove down to La Jolla before sunrise. Below you’ll see a Google map of exactly where I was standing when I took these photographs. I set up my tripod and camera/lens gear at one location and enjoyed the show put on by my feathered friends.

The early morning hours are best and relatively free of other visitors. If you plan to photograph from the same place I did, I suggest you get there around sunrise. I parked in front of “The Cave Store” which has a few 2-hr parking spots (2 hr parking starts at 8 am, which will give you plenty of time to capture great light). The store is located at the corner of Costal Blvd. and Costal Walk.  From the parking area, a dirt foot path leads slightly northeast to a viewing platform.  I walked a little beyond the platform, and set up my gear.  When I arrived, I had the place all to myself. If fact, I didn’t see another person for at least an hour. If the parking spots infront of The Cave Store are full, there are others along Costal Blvd. If you look closely in the zoomed up view of Google map you can see cars parked along Costal Blvd, just northwest of The Cave Store. I shot for about 1 1/2 hrs and came back refreshed and alert to San Diego to attend the Radiology Conference.

Below are a few shots, and if you want to see more, click here.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS, f/7.1, 1/2000 sec, ISO 400

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS, f/6.3, 1/2000 sec, ISO 400

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS, f/4, 1/2000 sec, ISO 400

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 600mm f/4L IS, f/6.3, 1/2000 sec, ISO 400



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  • 14 Comments

Kalpana: Absolutely gorgeous!!!

--> Mahesh: Thanks, Kalpana! Glad you enjoyed the birdies. :D

Rachael: I had no idea pelicans had so many intricate color patterns and I have seen plenty of them. Thanks for being the early bird and passing these along. I can smell the salt air!

Stan: Glad you made it out to La Jolla and Coronado. The pics are awesome!

--> Mahesh: Rachael, thanks for the comment! Usually pelicans have drab, bland tones. However, in the winter and early spring months (mating seasons), they display some nice, bright colors. :D

--> Mahesh: Stan, thanks a ton! Ya, there was no chance I wasn't gonna use my monster 600mm lens, especially since I lugged it all the way here. :D

vivek: Wow ! Love the detail and colors. And wild flowers as well...

--> Mahesh: Vivek, thanks for the comment, bud! Ya, San Diego is in bloom...what a great time to visit! :D

Susan: Absolutely gorgeous!

Conrad Tan: I can't believe you lugged the 600mm all the way down there bro! Great IF shots :D

--> Mahesh: Thanks, Susan! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. :D

--> Mahesh: Conrad, that 600 is a bear to carry around, but I can't get over the quality of the images I'm getting. Every time I think this is just way too heavy a gear to lug around, I just look at the images I'm getting at 100% magnification and I'm floored! :D

Orion: Dude, I'm so jealous, that 600 is SO rockin the bird shots!! beautiful spot on pelican shots, the first one is by far my favorite for the dynamic waves, way to go, not easy to catch the in flight when you're zoomed so far in!

--> Mahesh: Orion, thanks a bunch, bud! I'm currently in SF and didn't see your comment till now. It was so fun to shoot the pelicans. I had a total blast! :D


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San Diego Skyline

Written on March 24, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations


I’m in San Diego this week, attending a Radiology conference.  The city has a dazzling skyline, and I wanted to photograph it tonight.  I scoured the internet and contacted a few local photographers.  My investigation yielded two possibilities:  Coronado Island and Harbor Island.  For no particular reason, I chose Coronado Island.  Perhaps I’ll visit Harbor Island tomorrow evening.  I arrived about an hour before sunset, allowing myself plenty of time for exploration and to scout out potential spots.  The visibility wasn’t the best, and the skyline looked a little hazy while the sun was still up.  Once the sun set and the building lights came on, the emerging scene looked more promising.  I found two spots that included interesting foreground elements.  On the first shot, my tripod was very close to the ground, as I wanted to feature the lovely purple and yellows wildflowers scattered in a bed of green vegetation. On the second, I included some beach rocks, illuminated by overhead sidewalk lamps. Luckily, the Coronado pedestrian ferry was docked, and I was able to incorporate it in the midground.

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14 f/4, 12mm (24mm equivalent), f/8, 4 sec, ISO 100



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Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, 14mm (28mm equivalent), f/8, 5 sec, ISO 100



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  • 8 Comments

Conrad Tan: Dude these images rock! Glad to see you've been out shooting and enjoying your new rig man!

Jeremiah: The first image is fantastic. Did you combine a couple of exposures or is that a single exposure?

--> Mahesh: Conrad, thanks bud! I've told you this before...the little Panny is a gem, man...at any price! :D

--> Mahesh: Jeremiah, thanks! Both shots are single exposures. For the first, I was lucky the flowers didn't move too much during such a long exposure. Had there been any kind of breeze, I would have had to ISO bracket. :D

sandeep: wowww!!! man these are great

--> Mahesh: Sandeep, thanks a lot, man! San Diego is a great place! :D

JoAnnadana: Wow Mahesh! This is a virtual treat!! Thank you!

--> Mahesh: JoAnn, thanks for the comment! I'm glad you enjoyed the shots. I still like Seattle's skyline better, but SD also has a very nice one. :D


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