I upgraded my camera to a Nikon Z6 (more on that later). As I was setting it up I took these photos of my pups.
Fort Point
One of the challenges with travel photography is that many locations are closed during the best light. This means you have to get creative or take advantage of other weather conditions such as a cloudy sky. Fortunately, San Francisco has a lot of fog (affectionately named Karl the fog) which can make for dramatic photos.
Photos From The Marin Headlands
A couple weekends ago, I took a trip to the Marin Headlands to see the Point Bonita Lighthouse. Normally, I would do something like this early in the morning or later in the afternoon to get the best light but the lighthouse has very limited hours, only being open Sundays and Mondays from 12:30am to 3:30pm. I stoped by the welcome center and unfortunately found out that the lighthouse was closed do to a landslide on the walking path so, change of plans. I took advantage of being in the beautiful Marin Headlands and got a few photos.
Prague: So many photos to edit
I am back from my trip to Prague and will be posting photos as soon as I can. It was amazing and I got some beautiful photographs. I am diligently editing and culling to put together an album but there are a lot so it will be a few days. I’m also going to be doing an article on my workflow while traveling and possible one covering my thoughts on DSLR vs. Mirrorless. So stay tuned.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
I knew it was a good opportunity to take photos; I didn’t know just how good though. Despite how challenging it is for me to wake up this early, I headed down to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival at 4:30 in the morning. I wanted to get there before sunrise. For $15, photographers can enter the tulip farm 1 hour before sunrise and take advantage of golden hour and it was well worth the hour drive south from Portland. Read More
Portland’s Japanese Garden may be one of the most photographic places in town
Portland is a great place for many reasons, but one of them is how seamlessly the city gives way to nature. I think about driving down Burnside towards the west hills. One minute you are in a thriving city, then you go through a stop light and are in the middle of a forest. It’s easy to forget you are a 10 minute drive from downtown Portland when visiting the Japanese Garden. It is peaceful and meticulously cared for. Whatever the season, whatever the weather, the Japanese Garden is always absolutely stunning. Every time I visit, I get amazing photos. It is a must visit for anyone and is on my list of places to bring guests. Read More
I’m a lazy photographer and that might be a good thing
I don’t like to wake up early. I don’t use a tripod as often as I should. I forget my flash all the time. I don’t like spending a lot of time editing. I don’t title or tag my photos; Worst of all, I’m a homebody at heart. This is why I’m a lazy photographer, but all of this can be a good thing. Despite calling myself lazy, however, I will do what is needed to get the photo I want, it’s just not always easy. Read More
For a short excursion near Portland, check out the Cedar Creek Grist Mill
About 45 minutes north of Portland, after a scenic drive through the country, you will find the Cedar Creek Grist Mill. Built in 1876, the mill was restored to working condition by The Friends of the Cedar Creek Grist Mill in 1989 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a great place for photos with a rushing river, scenic foliage, and a covered bridge. I visited in the early spring and it was still wet and overcast. The clouds help make the light better for photos as the mill is only open mid afternoon on the weekends.
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Portland’s Pittock Mansion
When I first moved to the pacific northwest, I lived about 10 minutes from the Pittock Mansion. The contrast from Florida made it fascinating to me and It quickly become one of my favorite places to visit in Portland. It’s close to the city, the grounds are free to visit, and the view is amazing! It’s one of those places that I go back to over and over agin no matter the time of year. Frequently, if I have an extra 30 or 40 minutes, I’ll head over to Pittock just to take in the view or get a few photos of the various flowers blooming. Read More
Coffee
I am a fan of coffee… actually let me rephrase that…I am a fan of coffee culture. What’s the difference? I am not a coffee expert, the way I drink coffee would probably offend coffee purists; I put too much sugar in it sometimes and don’t get overly concerned about what region it came from or the “toffee notes” etc. that are present in this one verses that one. I do know when I like a particular coffee or when I don’t. All that being said, I love coffee shops and appreciate good independent coffee shops of all types. This really came into focus upon moving to Portland.