Articles for ‘Photography Locations’

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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Seattle Sunset from Columbia Tower

Written on June 6, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations


Glorious Seattle Sunset: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 50mm f/1.4

Tonight’s annual UW Radiology graduation banquet was held again at Columbia Tower in downtown Seattle.  I’ve been going for the past nine years, camera in hand, and praying for great light, as the view from the 76th floor is nothing short of amazing.  Each year, I leave disappointed, but not tonight.  I was fortunate enough to witness an unbelievably fantastic sunset.  The evening was even more special, because this was my first year as Fellowship Program Director for Pediatric Radiology.  It was a great evening, and congratulations to all the graduates!

Mt. Baker Over Seattle: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 50mm f/1.4

Congrats to Class of 2010 UW Radiology Residents!: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II

  • 10 Comments

Ann & Dileep Bhandarkar: spectacular is an understatement!

Kalpana Kanal: Beautiful as always! You were lucky to have all that sunshine.

Chris Budech: Mahesh, Great shot of Seattle in all it's glory. I'm considering the Panasonic DMC-ZS7. Amazon has a good price on it. I't not the GF1, but what do you think a good deal at a little over #300--what do you think of the GPS function is it intersting to have? Thanks, Chris Budech

Som Prabhu: The photographs are truly exquisite!

--> Mahesh: Chris, thanks for the comments and questions. I have no experience with the Pany ZS7, but I've heard some good things about it. I wish my GF-1 had a GPS function on it. Currently I carry around a the AMOD device which is a small GPS recorder. I sync the times of the AMOD and GF-1. When I download images from my camera, I match up the times of the two devices, and geotag all my shots. It would be great if the GPS was built into the camera already. So, I think the GPS function of the ZS7 is a great feature, provided it doesn't drain the battery too much and it's fairly accurate.

--> Mahesh: Som, thank you for the kind comment. I'm glad you enjoyed my shots.

Chris Budech: Mahesh, did you use layering in the digital darkroom to obtain the rich purplish water and golden sky in Glorius Seattle Sunset. I've never tried any layering. Do you use a layering technique quite a bit?

--> Mahesh: Chris, thanks again for the comment. I often use layers in Photoshop to blend multiple bracketed exposures. It's a wonderful technique to expand the dynamic range of a photo, without introducing noise.

Chris Budech: Hi Mahesh, quick question: I ended up getting the Panasonic Lumix Zs7 and had fun trying it out at my daughter's HS Graduation last night. I'm curious to see how the digital movie comes out. Anyway question is, do you download your pictures onto the software provided to you with your cameras, or do you download directly oto Photoshop. We now have cannon software and Lumix and also have the entry level photoshop, and not sure if the lumix software should be the default for Lumix and the canon default for Canon--and then choose photos to work on in Photoshop--or just go directly to photoshop. Sorry for what turns out to be longer question than thought. thanks, Chris Budech

--> Mahesh: Chris, thanks again! I think I answered your question when last we spoke, right? :D


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Fun Along the Columbia River Gorge

Written on June 4, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations


Crown Point Sunset: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS

I’m just getting around to processing my images from last weekend’s trip to the Columbia River Gorge.  Yes, it was wet and overcast, but that made for excellent waterfall photography.  Also, one evening we were blessed with an awesome sunset (opening image).  Spring is a wonderful time to visit the Gorge, as the greens are vibrant and the cascades are absolutely gushing! You’ll also avoid the crowds of summer and the cold of winter.  Fall is another great time to visit, as the deciduous trees change to brilliant shades of yellow.  I try to make at least one trip in the spring and one in the fall to this area each year.  Every time I visit, I discover a new composition or different perspective on the same subjects. It’s like reading my favorite books over and over again.  If you haven’t visited this magical place, now is the perfect time, and if you have been there before, why not go back!

Sunset Reflected on Vista House (This is the same sunset as in the opening image): Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II

Red Rider: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II

We started out at Troutdate, OR and drove the tortuous historic Columbia River Highway, as it followed the twists and turns of the Columbia River.  We stopped at almost every waterfall along the way, but the standouts were Latourell, Wahkeena, Multnomah, and Horsetail Falls.  After Horsetail Falls, we hopped on I-84, and head a few miles east to exit 40, where we parked our car and went on a beautiful hike to my absolute favorite waterfall of the area, Wahclella Falls.  Wahclella Falls is in Tanner Creek, next to the Bonneville Dam on the south side of I-84. The trailhead is located at the end of the parking lot. There are a few other paths right off the freeway, but the one you want is hidden back a few hundred feet. Several types of parking passes are honored here, including the Federal NW Forest Pass. If you don’t have a pass you can pay a $5.00 day use fee at the trailhead. We spent two days in the Gorge before heading back to Seattle. I hope you enjoy the images!

Latourell Falls: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II

Path to Paradise: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II

Wahkeena Falls: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II

Forest Wildflowers: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II

Wahclella Falls: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II

Wahclella and Wildflowers: Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L II

  • 16 Comments

Ray Still: Mahesh Very nice some great comps here a place I have to get to. FYI Sol Duc is running awesome right now was out there with Tim and Martin yesterday Ray Still

--> Mahesh: Ray, how ya doin' bud! Actually I visited Sol Duc last weekend also. I agree...the normally terrific 3 headed waterfall is an unbelievable 4 headed fall now!

Conrad Tan: Outstanding work as always Mahesh! Your images ROCK!

--> Mahesh: Conrad, thanks man! We really missed you up here...well that's not totally correct. We felt like you were right with us the whole time, especially given all the text messaging between you and Ant. LOL! Seriously though...you have to come in the late summer for wildflowers at Rainier. It's gonna be a blast!

Po Wu: Wow...that looks like a stained glass window reflecting that sunset.

Linda Lin: *Gorgeous*

--> Mahesh: Po, thanks for stopping by, bud! I had the same thought about the window reflection when I photographed it. Glad you saw it too.

--> Mahesh: Linda, thanks much! Glad you enjoyed the shots.

Victor Mellado: I cant wait to make it out to the northwest...great shots bud!

Khun Hans: Brilliant shot of the falls and water. Comes sure with overcasting/rainy whether. Like your website very much because of the style and particularly because of the Info button at every photo. Hans

Beverly Wood: Way to go, Mahesh

--> Mahesh: Victor, thanks for the comment, man! Let me know when you're here...we should go shooting together.

--> Mahesh: Khun, thanks for the kind words. I'm glad you like the layout of my website. It took me a while to decide on how best to present my photos and share my knowledge. This is what I finally decided upon.

--> Mahesh: Bev, thank you! It's always wonderful to hear from you.

Bev Wood: Mahesh, you are an artist! Beautiful images.

--> Mahesh: Bev, thank you! I appreciate your kind comments.


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Palouse, Take Two

Written on June 1, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations


Palouse Tree: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

Since my first visit of the year earlier in April, I promised myself a return trip to The Palouse to capture more of the spring greens.  This Memorial Day, I fulfilled that promise.  Cindy, my friends, and I drove down first to Palouse Falls and then to Steptoe Butte.  It was nice to take a break from the constant rain we’ve been having for the past week.  While at the waterfall, we hiked down to its base, and I was able to capture a not-too-often photographed view.  The image was take at mid-day, but I really liked the wide-angle perspective and the white puffy clouds in that sea of blue sky.  I hope you agree.

Looking Up at Palouse Falls: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14 f/4

We were also blessed with good light at The Palouse.  The recent rain had minimized the atmospheric haze and the brilliant spring greens were breathtaking to behold.  I tried to stray away from the “typical” shots and concentrated on creating some unique compositions.  As the sun went down, the overhead clouds turned a nice shade of pink just before a downpour rushed towards us.  All in all, this was a fine day!

Red Barn, Green Fields: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

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

Pink Over Green: Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200 f/4.5-5.6

  • 9 Comments

Nicole: I love this one. When I first looked at it I thought I was looking at the ocean... Something about the way the sky looks with the rolling hills... Beautiful.

--> Mahesh: Goldie, thanks for the comment. Long time no see. I really like that image too. That color in the sky lasted for about 30 second, then it was gone.

Ann & Dileep Bhandarkar: beautiful, we loved them all but the silo really grabbed me. what side of Steptoe was that taken? Ann

Ann & Dileep Bhandarkar: Also, I love the falls perspective, where is the trail down? when we were there last October we couldn't find a trail down. thanks, Ann

--> Mahesh: Ann, thank for the comments. The silo shot was taken from the northwest side of Steptoe Butte, about 3/4 way up to the top. As far as the fall, there is a trail leading down from the South end of the state park, by the railroad tracks. On the day we were there, a local volunteer told us about the trail head. The path is a little tricky at a few places, but nothing you can't handle with a little care. Also, there is poison ivy along the way, so be careful.

Anthony Whitmore: Your unamed friends had a very good time : ) Still processing images and fighting it all the way... Hows the new Subaru buddy? Signed, Unnamed

--> Mahesh: Ant (oops, I mean Mr. Anonymous), thanks for the comment. It was our pleasure to show you around our beautiful state, even though the weather was less than ideal. Come back in the summer for the wildflowers of Rainier and the Olympic beaches. :D The Subaru is running great, BTW!

--> Mahesh: Khun, thanks for the comment! I didn't understand a word of it until I visited the site you listed and entered your comment into Google Translate. I appreciate the sentiment. Danke! :D


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Forest Photography

Written on May 31, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations, Tips and Tutorials


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

  • 4 Comments

linda: as always, i love to see the photos of your adventures. the shots certainly convey that feeling of dampness and hidden mystery just beyond the next trees...

Ryan: I recognize "Mossy Cascades" as the creek on the Sol Duc Falls trail. No waterfall photos this time?

--> Mahesh: Linda, thank you! That was the message I was trying to convey with these photographs...damp but certainly not dreary. I glad you enjoyed 'em.

--> Mahesh: Ryan, thanks for the comment. I did take some waterfall picts, but wasn't terribly happy with any of them. I may post them at a later date when I blog about how to do waterfall photography.


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Painted Hills and Bruneau Dunes

Written on May 16, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations


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.

  • 16 Comments

Jeremiah: Third image is one of the most unique Painted Hills photos I've seen. Very Nice!

--> Mahesh: Jeremiah, thanks! The 3rd image was taken from the top of the Carroll Rim Trail. It's a less popular but equally beautiful hike, IMO.

Victor: I love seeing what my little GF-1 is capable of! Keep it up Mahesh!

Chris Budech: Great Photos and an area I wasn't familiar with. Is the GF- 1 an slr?

Aaron Cowan: That's quite a trip heading all the way over to my neck of the woods for Bruneau Dunes. I really like the reflection shot of the dunes...all the painted hill shots are very cool too.

--> Mahesh: Victor, thanks for the comment! The GF-1 is a little wonder. The more I use it, the more I love it. The quality Panny lenses deepen my love evermore!

--> Mahesh: Chris, thanks! The GF-1 isn't quite an SLR and it's not quite a point and shoot. Some have dubbed it an EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder, Interchangeable Lens) camera. It's small, lightweight, and thoroughly enjoyable.

--> Mahesh: Aaron, thanks bud! I didn't know you lived out there. Next time, I'll shoot you an e-mail before heading out.

Conrad Tan: Nothing less that spectacular Mahesh! These images are stunning! The painted hills are my picks. Woo hoo!

Anthony Whitmore: Wow what a kewl shot Mahesh!! Great landscapes and I may have to put this on my List of "Things to photograph" for a future trip!! See ya in a few weeks my friend Ant

Chris Budech: Thanks mahesh. I've had SLRs in the past film era. But have only had small Canon's in the digital era. Maybe the GF-1 is the way to go? Enjoy your photos very much. You get to some very cool places. Chris Budech

--> Mahesh: Conrad, thanks bud! When you come up here, and if we have enough time, we'll visit the Painted Hills. You won't believe your eyes!

--> Mahesh: Ant, thanks for the comment, bud! See ya in a few weeks. The Palouse and the Olympic coast wait for us...

--> Mahesh: Chris, no worries! I think you would enjoy the GF-1 very much. It's my preferred camera for travel and landscape photography where I have hike/backpack.

meg parisi: Unbelievable!!! Your photographs make me want to visit ths area immediately, if not sooner. Keep up the great work.

--> Mahesh: Meg, thanks! Always nice read your kind comments.


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Cactus Chronicles

Written on May 10, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations


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!

  • 8 Comments

Barb Michieli: I went rock climbing here back in the early 90's. Your photographs brought back memories of this beautiful place!

Conrad Tan: Dude looks like you had a rockin time at J-Tree man! You're 400mm is looking like its shooting sharp as well! Great landscapes as always bud!

Linda Lin: Beautiful!! My fav is the rabbit :)

--> Mahesh: Barb, thanks for the comment. It looks like you've been everywhere! I saw a few rock climbers and was wondering how hot it must be for them!

--> Mahesh: Conrad, thanks bud! The 400mm is a real gem...much easier to hand-hold than my other Canon "monster."

--> Mahesh: Linda, thanks! That little one is pretty cute, huh?

Ray Still: Hey Mahesh, awesome captures I can smell and feel that dry desert air, very cool takeaways and awe ha you are the one that bought Henry's 400

--> Mahesh: Ray, thanks for the comment, bud! Ya, I got Henry's 400. It's a beaut! Tack sharp and in superb condition.


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Union Bay Slough

Written on April 28, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations


I recently sold my Canon 600mm f/4L IS lens and replaced it with its big brother, the 800mm f/5.6L IS.  The 800 is a beautiful piece of glass and is actually lighter than the 600.  The new lens arrived yesterday.  Of course, I was compelled to take her out for a test run.  I drove over to Union Bay Slough, adjacent to UW Husky Stadium.  The light was nice, and I captured a few birdies.  If you haven’t been to Union Bay Slough, I highly recommend it.  You’ll see various species of birds, including the ubiquitous Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Ducks, Herons, and Wrens, just to name a few.  Yesterday afternoon, my best images were of a Killdeer and a Sandpiper.  I hope you enjoy the shots.

Killdeer, Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS, Canon 1.4X TC

Sandpiper, Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 800mm f/5.6L IS, Canon 1.4X TC

  • no Comments


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Best of the Palouse Trip

Written on April 11, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations


I’m finally back in Seattle.  Joel and I had a wonderful time at The Palouse.  The weather was mostly pleasant, punctuated by occasions of freezing winds.  We spent hours driving the back roads of this beautifully sculpted landscape, looking for dilapidated barns and abandoned farm machinery.  Be sure to have 4 wheel drive, especially for the primitive roads after rainfall.  Steptoe Butte offers a great vantage point for dawn and dusk photography.  I found the best views were possible by driving about 1/2 way up the butte.  At the very top, the breadth of the landscape is stunning, but the hills begin to lose some of their definition, as though one were looking down on them from an airplane.  As I mentioned in a previous blog, the fields are probably 2 weeks from peak spring color.  Schedule willing, I’ll be returning to capture more of that breath-taking beauty.  Below are my favorite images from the trip.  I hope you enjoy ‘em!  If you want to see additional photos and read more about the trip, please see my previous four blogs.

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200mm (90-400mm equivalent) f/4.5-5.6

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

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 7-14mm (14-28mm equivalent) f/4

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

Panasonic GF-1, Panasonic 45-200mm (90-400mm equivalent) f/4.5-5.6

  • 14 Comments

vivek Manchanda: Flawless !

--> Mahesh: Vivek, thank you very much for the kind words, bud! I'm glad you liked the images. :D

Joel: Great pix. Love the crispness and the sky of Palouse Falls, and the colors and contours of the rolling hills. The red barn adds snap to the picture, and makes it stand out from the other (beautiful) field pix.

--> Mahesh: Joel, thanks bud! We had a great time, didn't we? You and I are gonna have to go back in August again, when the wheat fields are ripe.

Kalpana Kanal: Wow! Fabulous. Where it this place?

Conrad Tan: Duuuuude these are sick! So very very nice Mahesh. I'm diggin the waterfall and the mulicolored fields.

George: Mahesh: Your sense of composition is flawless and puts the rest of us mortals to shame!

--> Mahesh: Kalpana, thanks a bunch! This is Eastern Washington, about 60 miles south of Spokane and a 4 1/2 hr drive from Seattle.

--> Mahesh: George, thanks for your very kind words. It's difficult to take a bad picture in Eastern Washington. :D

--> Mahesh: Conrad, thanks man! I'm glad you saw these. The scenes will be even better when you and Ant come for a visit! :D

norm: You have amazing talent, Mahesh. Seeing your photos is a wonderful way to start the day. thanks for having me on the list!

--> Mahesh: Norm, thanks a lot for stopping by and commenting. It's my pleasure to bring a little joy into your busy day. :D

Ann & Dileep Bhandarkar: Mahesh, you are the best! love your incredible new lens' pics and the Palouse are magical. Your eye sees things the rest of us miss but looking at your work gives us inspiration and teaches us to look more carefully. Thank you for that. hope to see you soon, Ann & Dileep

--> Mahesh: Ann and Dileep, thank you so much both for the comments here and through e-mails. Photography is a strong passion of mine, and it's wonderful to know I have a few fans out there. I hope to see you out in the field again very soon. As requested, I'll add your e-mail to my mailing list.


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Another Morning at Steptoe Butte

Written on April 10, 2010 Posted in Photography Locations


Canon 1D Mk IV & Canon 600mm f/4L IS

It was another great morning atop Steptoe Butte.  Unlike yesterday, there was almost no wind to speak of.  It was comfortably cool, rather than miserably cold.  Joel and I took our time, composed our masterpieces, and clicked away.  After about an hour of shooting, we headed back to town.  We ate some breakfast and sat down to process the images from the morning.  After this blog I’m taking a nap.  This seems to be our daily routine now.  I could get used to this!  I’ll write more tonight if I capture anything worth sharing.

Canon 1D Mk IV & Canon 600mm f/4L IS

Panasonic GF-1 & Panasonic 45-200mm (90-400mm equivalent) f/4.5-5.6

Panasonic GF-1 & Panasonic 45-200mm (90-400mm equivalent) f/4.5-5.6

  • 4 Comments

Aaron Cowan: Mahesh, Great images from the Palouse! I love the sets with all three blogs. I'm moving up to Moscow ID in August to finish my Masters and I'm looking forward to being a short drive away from this area.

--> Mahesh: Aaron, thanks, bud! I'm almost jealous of your move. I love The Palouse, but I don't think I'd want to live here in the summer. It can get pretty hot. Keep in touch, and good luck with the move.

Ray Still: Mahesh Beautiful takes from the Palouse, looks like it is way ahead from last year at this time, one of my favorite places to shoot Ray Still

--> Mahesh: Ray, thank you kindly for the compliment, my friend! I hope to return soon to capture this landscape covered in Spring greens! :D


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