Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 17-40 f/4L, 26mm, f/22, 1.2 sec, ISO 100

What a great weekend for an art show!  The weather was sunny on Saturday and pretty decent most of Sunday.  It rained a bit towards the end, but stopped by the time we had to pack up.  Thanks again to everyone who came out and supported the local artists.  I had tons of fun, made a few sales, and saw some breath-taking artwork!  The most memorable aspects of the show for me, however,  were my interactions with other artists and customers.

One particular connection stands out in my mind, and I would like to share it with you.  It was early Saturday morning, and the day was just beginning.  Customers were walking in, looking around, and smiling like kids at a carnival.  Nick, a young man probably no older than 18 or so, steps into my booth, looks around, and introduces himself.  He says he’s helping his father at a nearby booth.  He looks at my work with interest and tells me he has a strong interest in landscape and nature photography.  I offer some advice about technique, gear, and the business of photography in general.  We exchange a few pleasantries and he leaves my booth. Throughout the day, as Nick passes my booth, he says a quick hi or waves his hand, every so often stopping to re-examing my photographs.  I forget exactly when, either at the end of Saturday or on Sunday morning, Nick buys a few greeting cards from me, one of which is the opening image of this blog.  Just before Cindy and I close up shop on Sunday evening, I see Nick again.  He’s holding the Mt. St Helens image in his hand with an eager expression on his face, like a student who know the answer and can’t wait to give it.  With a thrill in his voice, Nick tells me that he had bought the picture for his mother, because, for some odd reason he couldn’t describe, it strongly reminded him of her.  Nick had discovered from his father later that day, Mt. St Helens erupted on May 18th, coinciding with his mom’s birthday!  It did my heart good to see such joy in Nick’s voice as he recounted that experience.  He was smiling from ear to ear as he walked back.  Interactions such as this is what will remain with me, more so than any sale, profits, or losses.  I don’t know if Nick will ever read this blog, but if he does, I hope he leaves a comment and describes his feelings himself.

The next show is July 17th/18th, and I can’t wait!

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14 f/4, Photograph by Cindy Thapa

Yesterday was a great day at the show.  Thanks to all who came out to support the local artists.  There is still one more day left if you want to stop by.  You’ll see beautiful 2-D and 3-D art, enjoy live music, and eat some delicious food.  My booth is A4, located very close to the entrance.  Come by and say hi!

Click HERE to obtain more information about the show (time, dates, how to get there, etc.) and to obtain a coupon for $2 off the admission price.

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

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

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

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

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, 14mm (28mm 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

On a nice day, I love driving on the 520 floating bridge in either direction.  You have beautiful views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, the Olympics and the Cascades.  I especially love clear winter or spring days, when the mountains are still snow capped.  On the east side, there is a road/bridge that crosses above the 520 and offers a wonderful view of the distant Olympics with the floating bridge in the foreground.  Last Sunday morning I went to this point and shot the picture you see below.  If you want to capture this scene, here are a few pointers:

• Directions:  If you’re traveling east on the 520, take the 84th Ave NE exit and turn right.  Take the 2nd right onto NE 24th St and drive about 1/2 a mile to 76th Ave NE/Evergreen Point Rd.  Turn right on this road and you’ll arrive at the bridge in about a 1/3 of a mile.  Just before the bridge, there is a park and ride on the right side.  Here are the coordinates:  47.637248,-122.238659.  See map below.
• Clear winter or early spring mornings are best, especially after a rainy day.  The precipitation tends to “wash away” the haze.  Snow capped mountain tops always look better than the bland peaks we see in the summer and fall.
• Bring a long lens.  Recently, there has been construction on the 520 bridge.  Ugly metal bars have been placed above the road, and florescent orange construction signs litter the foreground.  A long lens will allow you to exclude these distracting elements.  It will also give a great “compressed” effect to your picture.  By this, I mean the distant mountains will appear much closer to the bridge.  My photograph below was shot at 400mm.
• Use a polarizer to minimize glare from the surfaces of the bridge and water.  It will also increase contrast and give better definition to the mountains.
• Black and white or color is personal preference, but for my shot, I liked the look of black and white better.

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, 200mm (400mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, 1/200 sec

Today was a vacation day for me.  It had been several years since my last jaunt to Silver Falls State Park.  It was time for a revisit.  The venue is located about an hour and a half southeast of Portland.  One of the largest parks in Oregon, Silver Falls State Park is home to ten gorgeous waterfalls.  Fall and spring are probably the best times to visit, as summer can attract a lot of foot traffic.

The day was overcast with light drizzle, perfect for waterfall and forest photography.  I left home at 6 am, grabbed a quick bite at McDonalds, and was at the park by 10:30.  I left my car at the North Fall parking area and did a relatively easy 3 1/2 mile loop that took me to Upper North Fall, North Fall, and Winter Fall.  I came across very few people and took my time enjoying the hike and views.  I don’t think I captured anything spectacular, but today was more about the journey and hike.  I stopped over in Portland and had dinner before heading back to Seattle.  By 8 PM I was downloading and post-processing the images from the day.

Here are a few tips and personal preferences for waterfall photography:

• I love overcast days for waterfalls, as the light is diffused, with no harsh shadows or overly bright sunlit areas.
• If at all possible, I try to not include a lot of sky in my images, as gray skies are dull, uninteresting, and often show up as bright, overexposed areas in my pictures.
• My favorite shutter speed for waterfalls is between 1/4 and 3/4 second.  Any slower, the water looks too much like shaving cream for my taste.  Any faster than 1/4 second, and the water isn’t blurry enough.  This is all personal preference, of course.
• I like to use a polarizer when shooting waterfalls, because it significantly reduce glare from things such as water surface and wet leaves.
• Because you’re working with such slow shutter speeds, a tripod is a must.  Don’t be lazy; carry a tripod.  I also recommend using a cable release and enabling mirror lock-up if your camera has the feature.
• Proper exposure can be tricky, as waterfalls are very white while the surround foliage, rocks, etc. are much darker.  I always exposure bracket my shots about 1 to 1 1/2 stops on either side of 0.  I then combine the exposures later in post-processing to get the perfect balance between highlight and shadow detail.  In the near future, I’ll write a tutorial describing how I do this.
• I often find myself getting very close to waterfalls, and keeping my equipment (especially the front of the lens) free of water droplets is a real challenge.  I carry a small lens cloth which I use to wipe down the front of the lens (or polarizing filter if you have it on) between exposures.  The trick is to have everything set up (eg, composition, f-stop/shutter speed/ISO values) first.  Then wipe down the lens and snap the image (or bracketed images).  A lens hood helps, as does a portable umbrella.

Here are a few shots from today’s trip.

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6 lens, 26mm (52mm equivalent), f/18, (2/3 and 1 1/3 sec exposures), ISO 100

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 14-45 f/3.5-5.6 lens, 23mm (46mm equivalent) f/8, 8 sec, ISO 100

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6 lens, 132mm (264mm equivalent), f/8, 1/13 sec, ISO 100

I was on call yesterday (Sunday) and it just so happened to be the first day of Daylight Saving.  I woke up extra early and looked out my bedroom window.  Noticing the nice quality of the developing light, I packed my gear and headed back to the University of Washington’s main campus.  I arrived just after sunrise and pretty much had the place all to myself.  The colors were excellent, and I snapped away happily.  By 45 minutes, I was satisfied with what I captured and headed to Children’s Hospital, refreshed and “eager” to start call.  That last part is probably stretching it a bit.

Anywho, here are a couple of shots from the outing.  If you look carefully at the first image, you can see the Space Needle in the distance.  I really love the pink hues on the blossoms.  I hope you do also.  Let me know what you think.

Panasonic GF-1, 14-45 f/3.5-5.6, 20mm (40mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, (1/15, 1/30, 1/60 second exposures)

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6, 45mm (90mm equivalent), f/8, ISO 100, (1/8, 1/4, 1/2 second exposures)