Agua Canyon

Bryce Canyon, Utah

October 26, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18 mm: ISO 360: 1/500 sec.: f/11

After Ponderosa Point, our fifth stop was Agua Canyon.  We didn't see any water so I don't understand the name, but the scenery did start getting more interesting and there were more hoodoos.

Ponderosa Point

Bryce Canyon, Utah

October 26, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 38 mm: ISO 400: 1/320 sec.: f/10

Our fourth stop was Ponderosa Point.  This location had the most shade and I was able to get a view of some early snow.

Yovimpa Point #2

Bryce Canyon, Utah

October 26, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 25 mm: ISO 200: 1/500 sec.: f/11

This was our second stop in Bryce Canyon.  Really it was part of our first as you just walk across the parking lot form Rainbow Point.  This stop was all about being able to see a long ways out as there were not any interesting rock formations.

Top 10 of 2013

      As I did for 2012, I am counting my 2013 photos as all those that I posted in 2013.  Since I usually run a couple months behind in editing and posting, my 2013 runs pretty much from November, 2012 through October, 2013.  That means my recent trips to Bryce Canyon, Victoria, B.C., Vancouver and Seattle will have to wait for 2014.
     This was an exciting year.  I spent a week in Thailand and a day in Seoul. I was able to take a couple trips to Washington, a weekend in Utah and a full day shooting in the Valley of Fire.  I enjoyed a relaxing week in northern Idaho and a weekend at the beach in Oceanside.  Below are my favorite 10 shots from the year.  It was a lot harder to pick my favorite photos than last year, but I hope I show some improvement.  These may not be my best technical shots, but they are the ones I like the best.  If you would like to see more information on the photo, click the link below the photos.

# 10--Krabi, Thailand

#9--Bridal Veil Falls, Utah

#8--Seattle, Washington

#7--Ayutthaya, Thailand

#6--Phranang Cave Beach, Thailand

#5--Kingston, Idaho

#4--Ayutthaya, Thailand

#3--Kingston, Idaho

#2--Seoul, South Korea

#1--Kingston, Idaho

Oceanside Shorebird 2

Oceanside, California

September 1, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 270 mm: ISO 100: 1/1250 sec.: f/6.30

See my other photo of a shorebird here.

Las Vegas Temple

    For Christmas, someone asked if I could get them a photograph of the Las Vegas LDS Temple.  The only direction I was given was the gift receiver liked black & white and sepia photographs.  I had about a two-hour window with which to work so I couldn't be picky with the conditions.  I ended up presenting the following 12 choices.  The first one was the ultimate choice.  It is a photo I took almost all the color out of, while leaving just enough to help the trees stand out from the temple.

Here are the remaining options I came up with.  It is only 3-4 different photographs with different editing on each.

Crow at Ponderosa Point

Bryce Canyon, Utah

October 26, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 270 mm: ISO 100: 1/125 sec.: f/6.30

At Ponderosa Point, there was a huge crow that just hopped around unphased by people.  You could get as close as you wanted (although the 4-inch beak was a deterrent) and he wouldn't move.

Ponderosa Point

Bryce Canyon, Utah

October 26, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 23 mm: ISO 320: 1/500 sec.: f/11

Yovimpa Point

Bryce Canyon, Utah

October 26, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 23 mm: ISO 250: 1/500 sec.: f/11

Back in October, we went up t Utah to watch a BYU football game.  We decided to take a day for the drive back to Vegas and go over to Bryce Canyon.  I have always wanted to go there and we finally committed after lots of talk.  We entered the park and decided to drive to the end and work our way back.  Big Mistake.  The first stops are by far the best and if you don't have all day to spend at the park, the later stops are good, but not essential.  This shot comes from Yovimpa Point, one of our first stops.

Bridal Veil Falls

Provo Canyon, Utah

October 25, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 60 mm: ISO 400: 1/60 sec.: f/8

Bellagio Fountains 2

Las Vegas, Nevada

July 6, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18 mm: ISO 100: 1/320 sec.: f/9

The Bellagio fountain show is definitely one of the best sights on the Vegas Strip.  Check out another photo taken the same day.

Old House in Provo Canyon

Provo Canyon, Utah

October 25, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 55 mm: ISO 400: 1/400 sec.: f/11

We were walking back to the parking lot from Bridal Veil Falls when someone spotted this old house in the midst of trees.  It was across the river and we didn't have time to go explore so I just snapped a couple shots.  I didn't see the promise in composition until i was looking on the computer.  Unfortunately, I had left my camera with a small aperature and I felt the shot really called for a large aperature.  I used photoshop to add the depth of field.  It was my first time doing this, and although I don't think it looks nearly as natural, I think it kind of adds a cool effect.

Provo River

Provo River, Utah

October 25, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18 mm: ISO 400: 1/200 sec.: f/10

As we were walking back to the car, I saw this little spot that I wanted to shoot.  Unfortunately, I only had time to snap a couple quick shots so I ended up with a blown-out sky.

Bridal Veil Falls 2

Provo Canyon, Utah

October 25, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 21 mm: ISO 400: 1/160 sec.: f/9

See my first shot here and some much older ones here.

Jacob Hamblin House

St. George, Utah

September 14, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 32 mm: ISO 100: 1/60 sec.: f/14

We took the scouts on a camping trip last September.  After spending all night 4 wheeling, we grabbed a couple hours of sleep and then headed to St. George to visit historic sights.  This is in front of the Jacob Hamblin House.

Bridal Veil Falls

Provo Canyon, Utah

October 25, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18 mm: ISO 400: 1/60 sec.: f/8

In October, we made the trip up to Utah to watch the BYU football game.  Before the game, we made the quick visit over to Bridal Veil Falls in the Provo Canyon.  This was my first time there with some fall colors.

Transition to twilight in Oceanside

Oceanside, California

August 31, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 35 mm: ISO 400: 1/320 sec.: f/10

After the sun when down over Catalina Island, I hung out for just a few minutes to capture the last remains of the sunset and the blue sky and interesting clouds that replaced it.  

Oceanside Sunset

Oceanside, California

September 1, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 60 mm: ISO 100: .30 sec.: f/20

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Sunset at Oceanside Pier

Oceanside, California

September 1, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 120 mm: ISO 100: 1.30 sec.: f/18

This isn't your traditional sunset photo.  As I was shooting the sunset over the ocean, I noticed the dark skies over the pier with the colors of the sunset reflecting off the ocean and started shooting away.

Oceanside Sunset

Oceanside, California

September 1, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 240 mm: ISO 400: 1/160 sec.:f/9

Oceanside Pier

Oceanside, California

September 1, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 120 mm: ISO 800: 1/60 sec.: f/6.0

I took a somewhat similar shot the year before.  I like this one much better.

Twilight over Catalina Island

Oceanside, California

August 31, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 130 mm: ISO 400: 1/320 sec.: f/11

This shot was taken from the top of Ruby's on the Oceanside Pier just after the sun had set over Catalina Island.  See the last moment of the sunset here.

Oceanside Beach

Oceanside, California

September 1, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 50 mm: ISO 450: 1/60 sec.: f/8

Oceanside Sunset

Oceanside, California

September 1, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 92 mm: ISO 400: 1/125 sec.: f/9

Oceanside Sunset

Oceanside, California

September 1, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 140 mm: ISO 400: 1/160 sec.: f/9

On this night, the sunset wasn't as spectacular as the night before (see this), but I was able to set up the tripod and shoot for a half hour or so.

Sunset over Catalina Island

Oceanside, California

August 31, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 120 mm: ISO 320: 1/500 sec.: f/11

Another shot taken from the top of Ruby's on the Oceanside Pier.  As it was taken during dinner, I wasn't at liberty to pull out the tripod and get more creative, but the sunset was too stunning to not shoot.  Here is a minute before.

Seattle Skyline

Seattle, Washington

August 27, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 155 mm: ISO 400: 1/80 sec.: f/8

This is my final shot from my one two nights in Seattle last August.  My complaint about the Seattle pier was always there was nothing to do there, so I was pretty excited to see the new Ferris wheel.  I knew I had to get a shot of it, but just couldn't find a good view.  I finally settled for this quick shot I took from the West side of Safeco field while leaning out over the edge of the railing.

Oceanside Shorebird

Oceanside, California

September 1, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 270 mm: ISO 100: 1/1250 sec.: f/6.30

These birds came and went throughout the day, feeding on sand crabs.

Seattle Railroad 2

Seattle, Washington

August 27, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18 mm: ISO 100: 1.30 sec.: f/22: Hoya ND8

I tried a few times to get a good long exposure shot of this train, but it was moving so slow into the station, I could not get what I wanted so this is what I settled for because I was starting to get hungry and didn't want to wait around for the next train.  See the shot I did of the train first appearing in the tunnel here.

Mariners' Bullpen

Seattle, Washington

August 27, 2013

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 100 mm: ISO 800: 1/60 sec.: f/13

With a free night in Seattle and the Mariners in town, I had to go catch a game.  It was a great game that went to extra innings before we lost on a questionable balk.  In this shot, the bullpen is all hanging out before the game watching Hisashi Iwakuma warm up. Check out some of my images from a game I went to in 2011.