Hidden Valley

31 March 2013:

This was taken on March 21 in Hidden Valley, Joshua Tree National Park. Nice place! This is Rika enjoying the view.

I forget how nicely saturated Fujichrome looks in full daylight. The blue sky here is just outstanding.

Hasselblad 500 C/M, Fujichrome 100

Desert ruins, in black and white

30 March 2013:

Both of these were taken on the trip to Joshua Tree earlier this month. The heater was found in the back yard of our cabin. The old truck carcass was found at the Wall Street Mill, an abandoned stamp mill used in the gold mining process. The mill is inside the park.

Hasselblad 500 C/M, Ilford 100

Before Sunset

27 March 2013
I wonder if I can repeat this. We went down to the Hermosa Plaza for dinner this evening, and I took this on our walk back home. The figures out on the horizon are intriguing. I am still experimenting with camera motion effects.

Canon 5D, three-stop neutral density filter.

Biltmore

23 March 2013:

This was our 'cabin' in the desert. It is called the Biltmore, because if a desert dweller needed more space they just built more. Rika, Tony and I tried light painting the Biltmore, and it actually worked. I thought it might be too big to paint, but I guess not. You can see stars in the background, including what I think is the big dipper above the second story.

Canon 5D (one tripod, 30 second exposure at f/7.1, ISO 800, and three flashlights!)

Hiking Joshua Tree Day 1

20 March 2013:

The four of us hiked two trails in Joshua Tree National Park today. Both of the images below were taken on the first hike, up to Barker Dam. Top: Rika and Tony photographing in the field. Bottom: A corner of a California Barrel Cactus. Both - Canon 5D.

Desert Stars

19 March 2013:
Tonight we sat out on the balcony of our cabin near Joshua Tree National Park and watched the stars. The half-moon made it a bit tough, but we got quite a show.

Canon 5D

Please do not eat our fish

As seen in a very good Thai restaurant on our way to Joshua Tree. Apparently a recent 'crazy' customer helped himself to one against the wishes of the owner!

iPhone

Huntington Library

16 March 2013:

Rika and Tony are visiting Southern California. Today, after picking up Rika's running bib for the LA Marathon (that's tomorrow), we went up to Pasadena and visited the Huntington Library. Towards the end of the afternoon I grabbed the camera for a little photography in the botanical gardens on the Huntington grounds. Here are two different views taken on that photo walk. The top image was taken in the open space between the Lily Ponds and the Australian Garden. There are a lot of blossoms out in Southern California right now. The lower image was taken on a bamboo-filled slope at the edge of the Japanese Garden.

Canon 5D

ET Surf

9 March 2013:

Late this afternoon I was planning on going for a photo walk by myself towards downtown Hermosa, and look for material for my photography homework. Lily, however, was in need of cabbage and green beans and she was also running out of time. So I modified my plans and did my photo walk down to the supermarket and back. I tried a different route, and was rewarded with a very different view of ET Surfboards than I usually get. This grungy collection of old skateboards, stickers, trash, and a patagonia sign facing a forlorn parking lot attracted my eye. So, you get a little street photography tonight. I like the way the rear half view of the bike adds some nice tension.

Canon 5D

Scattergood Steam Plant

8 March 2013
A very bright setting sun backlit the plume coming out of the Scattergood Steam Plant tonight in El Segundo. Taken on my brisk bike ride home. A departing cold low pressure system provided the nice dark clouds behind the plume.

iPhone

Easter Bunny

6 March 2013:

This is Lily's flower arrangement project from the Tuesday class this week. Wow.

Canon 5D, light painting.

Bandana

3 March 2013:

Susan sent me this bandana for Christmas. I wear it a lot. Navy blue, it is.

Canon 5D

Plum Blossoms

3 March 2013:

I am still searching for effective ways to use the Lens Baby zone plate. This afternoon I put it on the Canon 5D and shot through the new plum blossoms at a sky full of puffy white clouds. I then messed around with it in Nik Color Effects Pro 4. I kind of like it, but think it could be a lot better. Maybe it should be brighter?

Canon 5D, Lens Baby zone plate

8 March 2013: Lisa, is this better? It is certainly different.

Piano Practice

2 March 2013:

Playing around with the fisheye lens attachment for the iPhone.