Marin Headlands, a missed opportunity at Point Bonita Lighthouse, & Rodeo Beach

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of shooting in the Marin Headlands with fellow photographers, Kevin Ash, and Justin Chase. After photographing the Marin Civic Center the same day, we decided to shoot in the Marin Headlands.

Originally, we'd hoped to see the Point Bonita Lighthouse. It had been some time since I'd gone to the lighthouse and was hoping that we'd get some good shots there. However, the path to the lighthouse was closed off. FYI - The tunnel to the suspension bridge/lighthouse is open Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 12:30–3:30 pm. However the lighthouse is not accessible due to the suspension bridge closure. Currently the bridge is due to be replaced and open to the public in the Spring of 2012.

Since we were unable to shoot the lighthouse, we shot towards the east in the direction of Hawk Hill, the Golden Gate Bridge, and some of the abandoned piers. It was not quite yet time for the sun to set, so I decided to shoot a few long exposures with my trusty Singh-Ray Vari-ND filter. The Vari-ND allowed me to slow down the shutter speed to get a 2 sec exposure on the photograph below. Kevin let me use his 70-200mm lens in order to get a bit more reach out of the scene. Thanks again, Kevin.



As sunset approached, we decided to drive down to Rodeo Beach. We shot from the footbridge. There was a nice light reflecting on the lagoon, and coming over the hillside. For the wide angle shot, I used both a 2, & 3-stop soft graduated neutral density filter. They worked like a charm and allowed me to capture the golden color illuminating the clouds.




While Kevin stayed on the footbridge a bit longer, Justin and I hauled it over to the coastline. Although the three sea stacks are shot all the time, the three of us decided that it was simply too good to pass up. At high tide, I'm not sure it would have been wise to go much further anyway. By this point, I found that the light at the horizon was a bit too harsh. The two shots below were shot utilizing a 2-stop reverse graduated neutral density filter to balance the foreground, and background light.

Center For Photographic Art, Dametra Cafe, Michael Kenna, and Point Lobos in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Last Saturday, I was like a kid in a candy store. The day was filled with friends, laughter, good food, and photography. Some friends/photographers and I made plans to view Michael Kenna's exhibit at the Weston Gallery in Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA. We were fortunate enough to have the weather gods on our side, because the day was absolutely beautiful.

I arrived in Carmel quite early and met up with my friend, Chia Wen at the Center for Photographic Art to view their juried exhibition for 2011. The exhibit will be on display until March 31, 2011. So be sure to get over there beforehand if you were hoping to see it.

Prior to Michael Kenna's exhibit and book signing, my friends and I decided to have lunch at Dametra Cafe. The cafe's menu features Mediterranean cuisine of excellent quality. The ambiance is quite warm and familial, and I'd say the same for the owners Bashar Sneeh, and Faisal Nimri. They were very welcoming and took great care to ensure that everyone had a good time. Be ready to dance, and clap along to the musical numbers that the staff and owners put on throughout the day.

After lunch, we walked over to Michael Kenna's exhibit and book signing at the Weston Gallery. Although the gallery is relatively small, they offered a nice reception for all attendees. The line to get Michael's signature was nearly out the door. As always, the

work was amazing and truly inspiring. I've always been a great admirer of his photography. I found Michael Kenna to be extremely nice and seemed to be enjoying himself. Of course, I was not able to have a very lengthy conversation with Mr. Kenna, I appreciated that he took the time to learn and correctly write out my rather long name on my book. Lol. My friend, Jing Yu, was nice enough to send a photo of me posing for a shot with Michael Kenna.

Following the book signing, my friends decided to head home. We left the event earlier than I expected, so I decided to try and catch the sunset at Point Lobos. I chatted with the park rangers before going in just to make sure everything was cool along the coast. I figured it would be smart to check in since this was just two days after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The park was open, so it may have been overkill, but it could never hurt to be sure. As I suspected, the rangers reported that all was well. I had about 45 minutes to shoot in a few locations, and managed to get a few shots that pleased me.

Yosemite - One Year Ago

As photographers, we're always excited about the next scene we are about to capture. I'm certainly no exception. However, I do find it useful to slow down a bit, look back and review what has already been done.

Just over a year ago, I set out for Yosemite with my friend and fellow photographer, Minh Ly. I've photographed several locations in multiple countries, but this trip bears special meaning for me as it was my first real photo expedition. Our only purpose was to take photographs, and I learned a lot about planning ahead for these kind of trips. Minh & I followed local weather patterns weeks in advance, purchased extra batteries, filters, and winter gear in preparation for the trip. Each day, we left our hotel room in complete darkness. We took extra care to be in place at our desired location well before the dawn. Until then, I never realized how cold you can get just standing still in snow, despite my thermals, Gore-tex lined shoes, and multiple pairs of winter socks. It wasn't too bad though.

Its been some time since I had the opportunity to photograph Yosemite, but that trip marked a major step forward in my comprehension of light, patience, composition, and overall understanding of photography. If I had the chance to be there at this moment, I'd certainly do a few things differently. I scrutinize my work a lot more now. At the same time, I can appreciate it for what it was, and the lessons I can take with me. Below, are a two images that have been recently re-edited.

San Francisco - Part 3 - Port of San Francisco & The Palace of Fine Arts

Amongst the many things that fascinate me about San Francisco, is the way the city appears at twilight. Its one of my favorite times to make photographs. The first of these images was taken while I was walking around the Embarcadero with friend/colleague, Edward Chuck of Edward Chuck Photography. The remaining photographs were taken at the Palace of Fine Arts. In case any of you were unaware, the scaffolding has finally been taken down. At least for the time being. So if you've been hoping to catch an unobstructed view of the palace, now is a good time to go.

Finalist - "Photographer's Forum" magazine's "Best of College Photography 2011"

Earlier this week, I received a letter confirming that one of my photographs (Mono Lake) will be published in the Photographer's Forum Magazine hardcover book, "Best of College Photography 2011". This will be my 2nd published image. So yes, I am quite excited and honored to have made it this far. My entry is in the finalist selection group, and is in the running for higher honors (First through Fourth Place or Honorable Mention). I thank you all for your continued support of INFIN8 Photography!

The Crown Jewel of California's Coast - Point Lobos

If I were ever pressed to name a single location that has led me pursuing photography as a profession, it would be the Point Lobos State Reserve in California. Located just south of Carmel, this state park is often described as the crown jewel of California's coast. It has served as inspiration to numerous writers and artists such as Robert Louis Stevenson, Robinson Jeffers, Ansel Adams, and the Weston family.

I can spend hours just staring at the waves whenever I visit. Whenever I have friends and family visiting from out of town, Point Lobos always makes the list of must-see locations. So much of my childhood was spent at the park that I know my love of the ocean and sunsets was born here.

This past week, I had the pleasure of visiting twice. I was fortunate enough to witness a few spectacular sunsets. Here are a few images from my most recent shoots at Punta de los Lobos Marinos | Point of the Sea Wolves.

Being In The Moment - Four Mile Beach

I've heard many photographers speak about the difficulty in balancing family life with photography. Over the last 3 weeks, I often noticed beautiful photographic opportunities while en route to functions that didn't allow me time enough to stop and shoot. The more I let myself get frustrated about that, the more I seemed to experience it. I had to force myself to re-evaluate my outlook and remind myself to live in the moment. Usually, I'm pretty easy about things like this. But I definitely had a setback. Luckily, I was able to get back on track in time to really enjoy my holiday season and spend quality time with friends and family.

Now, if I have a personal commitment or engagement that does not involve photography, I'll just leave the camera at home and embrace the decision. Occasionally, I'll whip out my iPhone as a way of documenting an idea that I might have for a later time. In most situations, there will be another opportunity to take photos. Photographic scenes are abundant. I truly believe that something just as good, or greater will present itself if you are able to pay enough attention. This pretty much mirrors my outlook on life.

Yesterday was pretty much the first time that I had a real opportunity to go out and take some photos. It all happened very naturally, which is ideal for me anyway. I had the urge, I had the time, I hopped in the car and enjoyed being in the moment.

Below, are a few examples of my shoot from yesterday at Four Mile Beach, which is just north of Santa Cruz, CA.

Carmel Beach Sunset

While hanging out with my girlfriend in Carmel, CA ... she got the urge to go shooting at the beach with her new Canon S95 (her photos came out beautifully). Since I'm not one that needs to be dragged to the beach, I shot a few frames. This was one of my favorites out of the few I took.

Award of Excellence Certificate :)

I received word a few months back that a photo of mine was to be published in the Photographer's Forum Magazine hardcover book, "Best of Photography 2010". Although I have shot an album cover in the past, this marks the first time that I've been published amongst fellow photographers. Yesterday, I received a certificate for making it into the finals of the Photographer's Forum Magazine's 30th Annual Spring Photography Contest. If anyone wishes to purchase this photo as a holiday gift, I have discounted the price by 25%. Click on the photo if you wish to purchase. You will see the option to buy on the right. The offer will expire on January 1st, 2011.

San Francisco - Municipal Pier & Aquatic Park

Whenever I decide to walk around San Francisco and take photos, I often find that some of my more interesting shots of the day come from unintended subjects. My friend and colleague, Edward Chuck, and I decided to shoot in the area around Fisherman's Wharf this past weekend. We only planned to hang out in the area until just before the lights turn on in the city. We had hoped to capture the orange light illuminating City Hall in support of the San Francisco Giants. Neither of us seemed to be paying much attention to the time. We decided that we would just continue walking towards Aquatic Park, and the Municipal Pier. That decision was rewarded with gorgeous light. The bay was lit with orange, pink, and touches of yellow and purple. I can't imagine there being too many areas in the region that got such spectacular light.

Pfeiffer Beach

Yesterday, I went to Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, CA., along with my friend and colleague, Edward Chuck. We hoped to get a break in the rain. Once we hit Castroville, things really started to look up. The clouds started to peel back just enough to let the sun through on occasion. Of course, the weather can change on a dime, but we were optimistic. Although we were both prepared to be disappointed, the weather turned in our favor.

Chasing Waterfalls

Although R&B group, TLC, advises us against chasing waterfalls (sorry, couldn't resist), a friend and I decided to do just that. For some time, I've wanted to see, and take photos of Mossbrae Falls. My friend, Thomas Barclay, and I decided to visit Mossbrae, Burney Falls, Potem Falls, the 3 McCloud Falls, and Boulder Creek Falls. Although I highly enjoyed all of the falls that we visited, I was most impressed by Mossbrae and Middle McCloud Falls. The locations were absolutely beautiful. The beauty of California never ceases to amaze. Of course, I believe that there is beauty can be found all around this planet. I just realize how fortunate we are as Californians.

Aside from the sheer beauty of Mossbrae, one of the more interesting parts of the experience was that it almost didn't happen. Thomas and I arrived in Dunsmuir, CA. quite early in the morning. The parking lot was practically empty. The falls can be found along tracks owned by the Union Pacific Railroad. Due to this fact, the path to Mossbrae is actually forbidden. It actually didn't even occur to either of us. Thomas and I were so busy looking at the lighting conditions, and making sure that we were paying attention to the path ahead (didn't want to trip while walking down the tracks), that we didn't even notice the very obvious "No Tresspassing" sign until it was pointed out by a railroad worker after we had returned to the parking lot. I wish I'd spent more time there, but at least we got our photos :). The location of thes falls has caused some conflict between the city of Dunsmuir and the Union Pacific Railroad, as several people have come quite close to getting nailed by the train (though I don't understand exactly how people didn't notice a train). This is a liability issue for the railroad, but the city of Dusmuir (and its hotels) continue to advertise the falls and how to get there. After we finished shooting, a railroad worker recalled seeing busloads full of children walking down the tracks, a wedding party of 400 people, and countless women in stilettos, and mothers pushing baby strollers. With this in mind, I can see how U.P.R. would worry, but it would be a shame if people were no longer able to visit these falls. I truly hope that the railroad company and Dunsmuir can come up with some kind of alternative solution.

Confirmed: Finalist in Photographer's Forum Magazine's 30th Annual Spring Photography Contest

I just received confirmation that I am a finalist in Photographer's Forum Magazine's 30th Annual Spring Photography Contest! I'm just excited for the chance to gain additional exposure!

Our photos will be published in a hardcover book, "Best of Photography 2010", by Photographer's Forum Magazine. The book will be released in late December, 2010.

Walton Lighthouse

Last wednesday was pretty interesting. After watching the brutally awesome, "The Expendables", with friend and fellow photographer Phil Richardson, Phil and I decide to grab a bite to eat before heading over to the coast. As we were just about to leave, I spotted a friend that I hadn't seen in about 12 years. The timing was pretty funny. Her car had been disabled by the dead battery in her remote. I spotted her right after she called just about everyone she knew. No one was able to help. So we drove her to a Radio Shack to get a replacement battery and back to the car. Fortunately, the car started. We said our goodbyes, and then Phil & I were off to the coast!

The day was beautiful along the Pacific. There were so many people out on the local beaches. Although we had several tourists blocking our shots at some of the most opportune moments (people really have a knack for that), it was still worth the trip. Phil and I managed to snap off a few decent frames. The breeze was light, and the light was fairly nice. The sky along the horizon was a little muddy though :-( I really enjoyed shooting in this location. I'll have to return soon and capture something a bit more dramatic.

Random Photo - Geneva

I missed a great opportunity to capture some great color in the sky. There were deep shades of orange, yellow, and purple. Unfortunately, I didn't make it out in time to capture the intense color in the sky. I was having a bit of fun with some friends, and hesitated for too long. No matter, I still had a great evening! I did manage to at least take one decent capture :)

Lac Léman at Dusk

Since my arrival back in Geneva, Switzerland, the weather has been great! At least by my standards (the locals have not been too pleased). True, it has been very hot. But not unbearable considering that I am from California. The humidity was so high around Lac Léman (or Lake Geneva), that the haze covered the surrounding mountains. Not very nice conditions for the shots that I had in mind.

This was a great opportunity for me to just enjoy this magnificent weather and play the role of participant instead of being the constant observer. Lol. Its a balance that is hard to achieve at times. In this alpine region, consistent heat is always sure to bring rain. Once I started noticing some interesting cloud formations, a slight drop in temperature, I took this opportunity to go out and try to capture a little magic along the left bank of Geneva.