Views from Loma Lighthouse

San Diego, California

September 1, 2012

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18mm: ISO 220: 1/500 sec.: f/11

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 42mm: ISO 200: 1/500 sec.: f/11

Balboa Park

San Diego, California

September 1, 2012

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 30mm: ISO 400: 1/320 sec.: f/11

 This is the Museum of Man.  It was by far the biggest building in Balboa Park.  However, it was way overpriced so we didn't bother to go in.

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 50mm: ISO 400: 1/500 sec.: f/11

This is the Botanical Gardens.  If you look in the bottom middle of the photo, you will see a turtle.  There were a few of them in the pond.  The Botanical Garden was free, but pretty boring.  In fact, pretty much all of Balboa Park was boring.  We spent most of our time there waiting for the free bus to take us back to the parking lot.

Lily Pad

Peterson Rock Garden, Redmond, Oregon

August 11, 2012

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 270mm: ISO 100: 1/250 sec.: f/8

Peacock at Peterson's Rock Museum

Redmond, Oregon

August 11, 2012

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 78mm: ISO 160: 1/125 sec.: f/8

Smith's Rock, Oregon

August 11, 2012

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 23mm: ISO 400: 1/400 sec.: f/11

 Smith's Rock, Oregon

August 11, 2012

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18mm: ISO 100: 1/8 sec.: f/16: Hoya ND 8

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

These shots were taken from the bridge crossing over the Crooked River.  Looking at the river, I really wish I would have used my polarizer.  The top photo was taken with my Hoya ND 8 filter at a slower shutter speed and smaller aperture.  The bottom photo was taken without the filter so I had to open up the aperture and increase the shutter speed.  Let me know which one you like better.

Smith's Rock, Oregon

August 11, 2012

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 25 mm: ISO 400: 1/500 sec.: f/11

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18 mm: ISO 100: 1/250 sec.: f/8

 Smith's Rock came highly recommended so we got the whole family together and headed out in the morning.  It was only about 20 minutes north of Redmond so the drive wasn't bad.  However, it was hot and we had lots of kids so by the time we hiked down to the river, everyone was ready to go.  That was okay because, although hiking through the rocks would have been fun, we have plenty of red rock around Vegas.  What we don't have in Vegas is red rock next to a river so I was able to get the shot I wanted.  I would have preferred to shoot this with a wider angle so I could have capture more of the windy river, aptly named Crooked River, but you make due with what you have.

Thanksgiving in Thailand!

We just booked tickets for Thanksgiving in Thailand! planning on spending 3 days in/around Bangkok area, 3 days in the Phi Phi islands, and then we get a 12 hour layover to go see Seoul, Korea!  It is a vacation with the wife so there may not be a ton of time shooting photos, but if anyone out there has advice on what to shoot or just general tips for Thailand/Korea, please leave comments!

Blue Belly Lizard

Smith's Rock, Oregon

August 11, 2012

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 270 mm: ISO 400: 1/100 sec.: f/8

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 270 mm: ISO 320: 1/125 sec.: f/8

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 270 mm: ISO 100: 1/250 sec.: f/8

We visited Smith's Rock in the morning and did a quick hike down to the river.  These Blue Belly Lizards were pretty easy to spot so I took a few photos.  The top photo is a lizard climbing on the wooden fence.  There wasn't much color so the photo was kind of boring, but I liked the grains in the wood and felt going black & white helped those to pop out.  I was surprised at the shallow depth of field on the middle photo considering it was shot at f/8, but I like how it draws you into the eyes of the lizard and also shows how camouflage they are as the back legs blur into the rock.  I am not a big fan of the bottom photo because there are grass strands that blurred in front of the lizard, but this was the only shot I got that really captured the blue of the lizard.

Tumalo Falls

Central Oregon

August 10, 2012

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 42 mm: ISO 100: 1/2 sec.: f/22: Hoya ND 8

I'm throwing this one in last minute as I had ruled it out earlier; however, the more I looked at it, the more I liked the tree in the front.

Tumalo Falls

Central Oregon

August 10, 2012

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 30mm: ISO 100: .30 sec.: f/16: Hoya ND 8

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18mm: ISO 100: 1/4 sec.: f/14: Hoya ND 8

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18mm: ISO 100: 1/5 sec.: f/16: Hoya ND 8

I didn't have a whole lot of time to hike around the falls and capture a lot of different shots, but these were my favorite close-ups of the falls.

Tumalo Falls

Central Oregon near Bend

August 10, 2012

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18mm: ISO 100: .30 Sec.: f/22: Hoya ND 8

 Tumalo Falls is a great waterfall just outside of Bend.  The picture below was taken from the viewpoint just off the parking lot.  For the shot above, I had to climb over the guard rail and climb down the steep hill and through a little water.  Knowing that I was going to shoot this water and that I wouldn't make it there in low light, I purchased a Hoya ND 8 filter and was excited to use it for the first time.  I was really pleased with the results.  With the filter I was able to slow the shutter speed down and capture the movement of the water without losing out on the colors in the bright sun.

Nikon D3100: Tamron 18-270 at 18mm: ISO 100: .8 sec: f/22: Hoya ND 8