Reminiscing

This picture was taken on our trip to California last year. Sometimes I like to take a fresh look at pictures I’ve taken in years past. The drive along the coastal highway was one of the most exciting parts of the trip for me. My passion for photography was blossoming and the views were spectacular. So leaving the car to venture out on the seaside cliffs was a frequent occurrence. I’ve learned a lot about photography since then, but the pictures are still some of my favorites. I’ve thought about what I would do differently were I standing there now, with more “know how”, more sure of my techniques, more ideas, more swagger, more stuff to sift through in my head, more lenses, more pressure to perform more... more... junk! That’s when I remembered words I read a long time ago. Words to live by, not only for photographers, but for everyone. It was something like...If you want to take more interesting pictures, put your camera in front of more interesting things. If you want beautiful pictures, put yourself in front of beautiful places. If you want wonderful life experiences, put yourself into those memories. I look at it this way. Do the things now you want to remember enjoying when you reminisce in the future.

Nikon D5100 Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17mm f/11 ISO 100 1/180 sec

#TravelTuesday Point Sur State Historic Park

Beach week part two: Along the coast of California just off of the Cabrillo Highway lies Point Sur. The dangerous rock formations had taken their toll on countless ships in the area, so in the 1870’s petitioning the U.S. Lighthouse Service Board began in earnest. On August 1st 1889 the fully operational Point Sur Lightstation came on line. My wife and I were in California last year for the MotoGP race at Laguna Seca and we took a scenic drive down Coastal Highway to gape at the beautiful vistas of Big Sur. This picture was near the end of our trek to our dinner reservations at the Big Sur River Inn Restaurant which is inside the Big Sur State Park.
This is one of my favorite pictures from the trip because of the vibrant yellow flowers and deep blue in the sky; also how the lines give a great sense of depth to a two dimensional medium, your eye follows the beachline out to the lighthouse.

Nikon D5100 Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17mm f/8 ISO 100 3 image HDR

#TravelTuesday Big Sur

Between Los Angeles and San Francisco on the Pacific Coast Highway there exists a spectacular stretch of California. Ninety miles of rugged terrain line the western edge of the U.S. The Pacific Ocean crashes against the Santa Lucia Mountains in grand style at a place named Big Sur. Native Americans populated the area more than a thousand years ago. They harvested food from the sea and appreciated spiritual surroundings. Not only is the scenery breathtaking but its presence is felt on such a large scale that one can’t help acknowledge that a higher power had something to do with its design. Go here and drive the coast. Stop at the pull offs and take pictures. Breath in the salt air, and feel the laid back atmosphere of the west coast.

Big Sur​

Nikon D5100​ Nikkor 17-55mm f/2.8 @ 17mm f/8 ISO 100 1/60sec 3 image HDR