IP Photography

Nat Geo Wallpapers

2011-12-28T08:33:00.000-08:00

Hit the link, Photography - Desktop Wallpaper - National Geographic Magazine, and you too can download gorgeous images from National Geographic.

Not all are desktop type images but all are thought provoking and that's more to the point, ya know?

Explosive Sunset over the Santa Cruz Boardwalk

2011-10-25T11:35:00.001-07:00

Explosive Sunset over the Santa Cruz Boardwalk, a photo by fenriq on Flickr.

One of my recent and favorite photos. The fiery sunset, the beach, the boardwalk. It's all here and it is all awesome.

Here's How To Piss Off Your Customers

2011-09-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a lesson in how to insult and alienate your customer base and come off like total assholes in the process! Well played, Nikon. Or not.

Nikon’s Facebook page is blowing up with comments. But not for the right reason Giant camera manufacturer Nikon has found itself the subject of scrutiny on the web, but not for the reasons the company might have hoped for. In yet another example of how social media doesn’t always work in your favour, Pixiq points to a post on Nikon’s Facebook page which reads:

A photographer is only as good as the equipment he uses, and a good lens is essential to taking good pictures! Do any of our facebook fans use any of the NIKKOR lenses? Which is your favorite and what types of situations do you use it for?
Needless to say, the post didn’t go down well with Nikon fans, or photography fans in general. The backlash on Nikon’s Facebook page has been brutal with over 2,000 comments on the post, most of which are critical. And the post has been the gift that just keeps on giving, with additional comments on Nikon’s Facebook page in the past 12 hours questioning the thought process behind the post.

While some are under the impression that this is all one big publicity stunt by Nikon, going by the adage, any kind of press is good press, others feel that insulting your userbase isn’t going to gain you any points.
Most photographers are highly insulted by the statement that implies that the camera does all the work for you, or that you can only take good photos if you use expensive equipment. It is also this kind of misguided marketing which makes people believe that all it takes is buying a DSLR camera to turn them into a professional photographer, or that the number of megapixels make a huge difference. The reality is, your camera is not what makes you a photographer.
One commenter, Chad Hudson, succinctly got his point across in two words, and we have to agree:
eye > lens
It’s been 12 hours since the unfortunate statement was posted, but so far Nikon has kept quiet, and has yet to respond to the backlash.
It would seem that there are many more lessons to be learned the hard way in social media. Despite the fact that it has become an intrinsic part of any company’s marketing strategy, the boundaries, risks and mistakes that can be made are still very much an issue that companies will have to continuously deal with.
What do you think? Does Nikon need a lesson or two in social media or are people over-reacting to the statement?

Quick Draw Camera Holster

2011-09-21T09:14:00.000-07:00

Everybody knows that something you can wear in a holster or in a quick draw style off your waist is cool. It just IS one of those things that is beyond debate. That said, I'm not so sure I want to wear my mildly expensive DLSR on my hip. I can see how useful it would be for quick draw shooting. But really, in that instance, I've got my camera around my neck already.

Notwithstanding the lack of a strap to help prevent the dreaded "Dropsies" where you go to grab your camera, almost get a full grip and pick it up only to have it slip out of your hands and towards the nearest rock hard surface it can find.

Also, this issue would be exacerbated by the use of a larger frame DSLR. It might be more doable with one of the new small frame mirrorless cameras though.

This solution seems to be asking to whack your camera into stuff when you forget its there. And that whack would be an expensive and painful one. Precision optics and getting slammed into hard objects are a bad mix.

While I think its a good idea, it also has some flaws but I suppose the type of person that would end up whacking their camera in a rig like this would probably be about as likely to smash it in a car door or otherwise destroy their camera.

Is This Sexy?

2011-07-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

So, one of the few pleasures I still have left to me these days is checking in on Chick and Bikes, a pretty basic blog that does nothing but post pictures of women and some aspect of bicycles. It isn't rocket science but there are some rather compelling images posted from time to time. This was one of the posted pics and it got me to thinking about whether this was sexy or forced or both?

What do you think?

My own opinion is that its too forced and posed to be sexy. Her leg is up way high intentionally to show off her white panties and she's looking into the camera knowing you are looking at her crotch and not her face. Its an interesting image but I'm going to vote it as not sexy.

It could have been incredibly sexy if she were not looking into the camera and had been nonchalantly tying her shoe with her foot on the handlebars and the panty peek was semi-accidental.

via Chicks and Bikes

Lens Shaped Pillows? Awesome!

2011-07-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

What photography buff or pro wouldn't want to have one of these awesome telephoto lens pillows? They've also got some primes if you're not a zoomer type.

I, for one, have totally loved the rise of awesome photography related goodies.

Not so much a fan of the camera cakes (I am not a fan of destroying art, I know, call me crazy) but there are so many other awesome things that folks have come up with. I could go broke a dozen times over happily!
via Plushtography

Gonna Get Some!

2011-06-20T10:06:00.001-07:00

Gonna Get Some!, a photo by fenriq on Flickr.

Nande and I got some beach time together yesterday for Father's Day. She made the absolute most of it! And I was able to keep her from rolling in the huge dead seal halfway up the beach for the bonus!

Fujifilm X100 Leica-Lookalike

2011-02-16T19:51:00.000-08:00

Classic looks, new technology: Fujifilm's X100 gets release date and pricing

The X100 looks like a classic old film camera but it also looks quite a bit like a Leica M9. Which is most definitely a compliment. I wonder if could be called a Leica-like?

Fujifilm says:
"The true enjoyment of photography begins with the thrill of seeing the world through a viewfinder," says Fujifilm. "The new Hybrid Viewfinder has been developed to reintroduce users to this essential camera experience. It combines the window-type 'bright frame' optical viewfinder found in rangefinder-type film cameras such as the classic 135-size or medium-format cameras, with the electronic viewfinder system incorporated in most compact or mirrorless digital cameras."

Now, I don't know if my true enjoyment of photography involves squinting through a viewfinder personally but I get what they are saying. I rather enjoy using the screen on my pocket cam to frame a photo and not just because I don't particularly care for mashing my face up against a camera body (I have to desmudge my DSLR regularly or it looks NASTY!).

It has a pretty impressive list of features which is should since it retails for a whopping $1200. If money were no object then I'd strongly consider getting one of these nice little cameras. But, honestly, if money were no object then I'd be snapping up one of the utterly gorgeous Leica M9 Titanium for a mere $29,000! I'd also expect a camera this price point to have an interchangeable lens system like the new Four Thirds standards or the EVILs.

Sunset Splashing at the Beach

2010-11-11T19:10:00.001-08:00

Sunset Splashing at the Beach
Originally uploaded by fenriq

Twitter: All Photos Are NOT Belong To Us

2010-10-21T10:21:00.000-07:00

This is not Twitter's property.

Recently there has been a bit of a furor over a post by one Scott Bourne, a fairly famous (and famously abrasive) photographer, regarding Twitter's Terms of Service in regards to ownership rights, exclusivity and content. Basically, the post said that Twitter's ToS agreement followed Facebook's way, way over reaching power grabs, that any media posted across Twitter's site becomes the property of Twitter to do with what they like including selling them and keeping the profits for themselves.

In the case of a tweet about finding a kitty cat in a box by your front door this is not such a big deal. But in the case of someone making their living (or supplementing it) with digital media such as a photographer, musician or videographer, this could be an absolute game changer. I am merely a semi-pro photographer and there's no way I'm signing over any rights to my photos to anyone without proper compensation.

As usually happens in these cases, the investigative photographer got it wrong. Badly wrong. And I'm reminded of why I stopped following Scott Bourne on Twitter. And why I continue to follow and appreciate posts by Petapixel, who breaks down the post, the ToU and why digital media types need not worry (besides the fact that Twitter isn't anywhere near close to being as evil and douchebaggy as Facebook is).

The crux of the issue regards the definition of content. Bourne presumed content to mean any media crossing Twitter's servers. The reality is that content, according to Twitter, is anything stored on Twitter servers, that is, tweets and possibly digital media at some point in the future (apparently there was a short lived Twitter photo hosting service, yes, Twitter does have rights to anything posted there).

Here, go and read Michael's (that's Petapixel's real name) post: Twitter Photo Rights Controversy is Much Ado About Nothing which was partially compiled from ReadWriteWeb's Twitter Gets to Use Your Photos, for Free? (Updated)

This issue highlights another problem, that is that Scott Bourne refuses to allow any discussion that isn't in complete agreement with him. That is, agree with him or he will block you, probably delete your comments and pretend like he's still right. His perspective is wrong and his attitude is misguided though his intentions are still good (protecting his intellectual property from dilution and royalty free distributions).

In the end, I'll keep posting links to my photos I post (and host) on Flickr or other sites.

Getting After It

2010-10-10T20:26:00.001-07:00

Getting After It
Originally uploaded by fenriq

A rare non-Nande dog pic on the beach. This is Cinder, my buddy Mike's hound chasing birds or just having fun in the shallow surf yesterday evening.

Was a wonderful evening!

Things A Photographer Will Never Learn In School

2010-07-27T07:28:00.000-07:00

8 Things A Photographer Will Never Learn In School

Wish I'd seen this a few years ago when I was putting together a photography business on the side. It would have saved me a lot of wasted effort.

But it will still be useful moving forward.

Bubble Sunset

2010-06-25T08:38:00.001-07:00

Bubble Sunset
Originally uploaded by khosey1

Truly beautiful photography by Kimberly Hosey. This photo is simply stunning in every way!

Seascape Tiltshift Miniature

2010-06-17T23:30:00.001-07:00

Seascape Tiltshift Miniature
Originally uploaded by fenriq

Might have posted this already but I like it so much I'm just going to go ahead and post it again. Not that it really matters since IP Photography isn't visited very often by anyone (heck, I don't even visit the site very often, I just post to it every once in a great while).

Leap

2010-01-08T11:11:00.001-08:00

Leap
Originally uploaded by fenriq

One of my favorite photos from a recent trip up to the snow (which is becoming a tradition) over the holiday break. This is one of those photos that gets better and better the longer you look at it.

Some of the things I really like about it, the matched colors of background and Grady's outfit, the stop action moment where Grady is clear off the ground and about to land in the fresh untouched snow, his shadow off to the right, the streak of red on his boots.

Really it just makes me smile to see my little big guy having such a great time in the snow (and knowing that he melted down about a half hour later which forced us to pack up sooner than expected).

Puppy in a Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-30T09:49:00.001-07:00

Puppy in a Pumpkin Patch
Originally uploaded by fenriq

I love the dramatic effect of using the color accent setting on my camera. Combined with my son in his Halloween costume, I just love this photo all the way around.

Capitola Wharf TiltShift

2009-09-13T20:25:00.001-07:00

Capitola Wharf TiltShift
Originally uploaded by fenriq

I'm rather happy with how well this photo came out. Especially since I took this one specifically to create a tilt-shift miniature out of it. We went to the Capitola Art & Wine Festival this afternoon and had a quite nice time enjoying some tasty wines, some impressive arts and the boys got to play in the sand so they were thrilled.

All in all, a good way to spend a Sunday!

Wedding Photography - Lessons Learned

2009-07-27T14:49:00.000-07:00

Some excellent advice and guidelines contained in this Tutorial: Wedding Photography - Lessons Learned.

Life in Miniature

2009-07-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

I've really been enjoying Plastic Life - a set on Flickr. Maybe you will too.

Interactive Aperture, Shutter and ISO Explanation

2009-07-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

This is an excellent interactive tool to learn How System Cameras Work: aperture, shutter and iso value. Play with the sliders, watch the image change in real-time depending on what you do. Each adjustment can be counter-adjusted by another slider.

For beginning photographers this could be an invaluable tool to learn by painless doing rather than risk missing an important shot while out at a shoot.

I got very adept at adjusting my shutter speed on the fly this last weekend to account for the many different lighting situations I encountered at the two weddings. My general preference is to err a little on the high side (a step to the right of center) rather than too low.

This is a really great tool!

Impressive Storm Photography

2009-06-18T12:12:00.000-07:00

Photographs: Storm Chaser by Jim Reed

Pretty Violet Flower with a Dagger

2009-06-01T09:22:00.001-07:00

Pretty Violet Flower with a Dagger
Originally uploaded by fenriq

Yep, another flower macro. I like flower macros, actually, I like macros and happen to like flowers. This one is a little unusual because of the coloring of the stamen and pistil cluster in the center. Very pretty but also very easy to miss in our busy running from one thing to the next lives.

Tiny Bubbles

2009-05-15T07:08:00.001-07:00

Tiny Bubbles
Originally uploaded by fenriq

Every so often I take a photo that really makes me happy. I happened to notice my bottle of water on my desk last night had created this wonderful pattern of tiny droplets. So I turned out the lights, set my camera on macro and used the television behind it to light it up.

And I'm pretty darned happy with the results.

Blue Skies, Blue Water, Blue Sand?

2009-01-27T15:13:00.001-08:00

Blue Skies, Blue Water, Blue Sand?
Originally uploaded by fenriq

We had an unexpected day out at the beach last week. I'd gone photostrolling with Grady in the slough but my wife called and nearly demanded we join her, Sully and Nande. It was a good call because it was truly amazing out on the water. Warm sun, not too much breeze, almost nobody out on the beach and big, heavy crashing waves.

Nande got a fantastic run, twice. And was spent by the time we were ready to head for home.

There are truly some wonderful aspects to living so close to the ocean. Now if we could only live within walking distance...

Getting Splashy

2009-01-05T08:43:00.001-08:00

Getting Splashy
Originally uploaded by fenriq

From a recent and chilly trip to the beach. I love the depth of the blues, Nande's focus on the rock making the neat splashy spout of water and the crisp splashes behind her.

We had a wonderful time at the beach that day!

Nande Charges in Sepia

2008-12-30T07:43:00.001-08:00

Nande Charges in Sepia
Originally uploaded by fenriq

An old favorite pic redone yesterday. It turned out to be a gorgeous day, warm and sunny with not much wind but that water is very, very cold!

Bikes + Puddles = Heaven

2008-12-23T16:12:00.001-08:00

Bikes + Puddles = Heaven
Originally uploaded by fenriq

Grady and I went out for a little bike ride this afternoon and found some nice big puddles to ride through. Again and again and again. Then he decided to stop pedaling and just sit in one (his training wheels kept him from falling over). Good, good fun!

Plus, I really just like this photo of him on his bike in a puddle with his reflection below.

Bulls-Eye

2008-12-21T11:13:00.001-08:00

Bulls-Eye
Originally uploaded by fenriq

Bath-time can be fun time and photofun time as well. We've been using food coloring in the water for years now (way, way cheaper than those fizzies from Crayola that do the exact same thing). And it's always fun to break out the camera and see about capturing some of the good clean fun.

Sunset Through Giant Wheat

2008-12-07T22:33:00.001-08:00

Sunset Through Giant Wheat
Originally uploaded by fenriq

I don't know what these plants are really called but they look like enormous sheafs (sheaves?) of wheat. Anyway, this is the view from Sand Point above Aptos at sunset. I ended up having to boogey back down the hill or risk getting stuck in the woods without a light (I know, stupid of me to forget it). But it was a good little ride and I really, really needed it!

Morning Dew on Spiderweb

2008-11-06T23:41:00.001-08:00

Morning Dew on Spiderweb
Originally uploaded by fenriq

Timing is Everything

2008-07-31T09:55:00.001-07:00

Ceissy
Originally uploaded by Devilstar

This photo perfectly illustrates why timing is everything in photography. You can have the most perfect scene arranged, you can have the most perfect light ready but if your players aren't ready to perform or you are a moment too late then shots like this will be lost forever.

To help capture these kinds of moments, I tend to set my camera to take sequential photos and will just hold down my shutter button. It requires more cleanup afterwards but if you end up with a winner like this then it is most definitely worth it.

Welcome Wagon into LolDog

2008-07-15T09:14:00.001-07:00

Welcome Wagon
Originally uploaded by fenriq

The good folks at one of the LolDog sites left a comment that this photo had been made into a LolDog. Check it out. Some other pretty funny pics and captions to enjoy there too.

Osprey

2008-07-05T18:59:00.001-07:00

Osprey
Originally uploaded by Finiky

This is art. Just came across this fantastic photo in my contacts stream and am in love with it. The focus is perfect, the Osprey is intense, the half a fish is gruesome and the waiting babies are hungry. I not only favorited it but I made it my desktop picture as well.

I want to take these kinds of photos but I need a stronger telephoto with some image stabilization to get there.

No Signal

2008-07-05T09:39:00.001-07:00

No Signal
Originally uploaded by fenriq

Probably not a big deal in this day of everyone and their dog having a cell phone but still kind of odd to see both phones completely torn out of their mounts. By the way, when we pulled up to the gas station these were in, there was a dad with his son having a bonding moment while the little boy took a leak into the bushes on the right. I waited until they were done before snapping some pics lest they think I was a nutcase.

Flower Buds

2008-06-21T07:55:00.001-07:00

Flower Buds
Originally uploaded by fenriq

Taken yesterday morning at my school before the heat came up and before someone started a fire on the side of the highway near my house. There's something about this photo that I really like alot. The curving progression, the potential growth and blooming of the buds. It may not be art but I like it.

So Full of Win!

2008-06-16T11:04:00.000-07:00

The Eye-Fi is a paradigm shifting product because it wirelessly uploads photos from your camera to your computer and onto your photo site. You don't need to hook up cables and download the pics first, you shoot, you shoot some more and the pictures just magically appear where you want them.

The absolute coolness of this product cannot be overstated.

I've even heard a story about someone with this card in their camera who had their camera stolen. They were able to follow the thief and identify them because the photos the thief was taking were being automatically sent to Flickr and the owner's computer. Which is totally sweet!

I am saving my duckets to buy a card, that's for sure!

Red Tail Hawk vs Baltimore Oriole

2008-06-14T20:09:00.001-07:00

Red Tail Hawk vs Baltimore Oriole
Originally uploaded by sgs4566

Seen in a new group I was invited to submit a photo. This is exactly the kind of picture I love to take and I'm rather jealous of how beautifully this came out. Definitely a favorite!

Smoke over Amesti

2008-05-23T12:07:00.001-07:00

Smoke over Amesti
Originally uploaded by Johnny Huh

Taken yesterday morning just outside the lab at one of my schools. Kind of a crazy day especially after the school was shut down and evacuated.

10 Legality Commandents of Photography

2008-03-19T13:02:00.000-07:00

The Ten Legal Commandments of Photography and what you can legally do when harassed or detained. I might just print out a copy to put into my camera bag.

I. Anyone in a public place can take pictures of anything they want. Public places include parks, sidewalks, malls, etc. Malls? Yeah. Even though it’s technically private property, being open to the public makes it public space.

II. If you are on public property, you can take pictures of private property. If a building, for example, is visible from the sidewalk, it’s fair game.

III. If you are on private property and are asked not to take pictures, you are obligated to honor that request. This includes posted signs.

IV. Sensitive government buildings (military bases, nuclear facilities) can prohibit photography if it is deemed a threat to national security.

V. People can be photographed if they are in public (without their consent) unless they have secluded themselves and can expect a reasonable degree of privacy. Kids swimming in a fountain? Okay. Somebody entering their PIN at the ATM? Not okay.

VI. The following can almost always be photographed from public places, despite popular opinion:

* accident & fire scenes, criminal activities
* bridges & other infrastructure, transportation facilities (i.e. airports)
* industrial facilities, Superfund sites
* public utilities, residential & commercial buildings
* children, celebrities, law enforcement officers
* UFOs, the Loch Ness Monster, Chuck Norris

VII. Although “security” is often given as the reason somebody doesn’t want you to take photos, it’s rarely valid. Taking a photo of a publicly visible subject does not constitute terrorism, nor does it infringe on a company’s trade secrets.

VIII. If you are challenged, you do not have to explain why you are taking pictures, nor to you have to disclose your identity (except in some cases when questioned by a law enforcement officer.)

IX. Private parties have very limited rights to detain you against your will, and can be subject to legal action if they harass you.

X. If someone tries to confiscate your camera and/or film, you don’t have to give it to them. If they take it by force or threaten you, they can be liable for things like theft and coercion. Even law enforcement officers need a court order.

Very, very good stuff to know.

Playing with PicLens

2008-03-11T18:12:00.000-07:00

Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite

A Horse Wanders By

2008-02-10T23:55:00.001-08:00

A Horse Wanders By
Originally uploaded by Johnny Huh

Dramatic Washout

2008-01-11T22:42:00.001-08:00

Dramatic Washout
Originally uploaded by Johnny Huh

I like how this one came out even though it was originally not close to what I was intending. But then, sometimes its good to give your mistakes a closer look before discarding them, sometimes you can find a gem in there.

Excellent DSLR Information

2007-11-30T14:37:00.000-08:00

Master Your DSLR Camera, Part 1: Program Mode and Master Your DSLR Camera, Part 2: Manual Mode and More

Some excellent information about how to get the most out of your camera by taking it off automatic mode and actually starting to work the camera.

Flickr View Tracker

2007-11-11T10:37:00.001-08:00

This is pretty cool, its a widget that tracks picture views on Flickr.

Since I just started it there won't be any data until tomorrow but I'm curious as to how many views I get each day.

Art from Trash and Light

2007-10-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

The shadow art of Tim Noble & Sue Webster is incredible and fascinating and amazingly awesome.

I'd love to see these pieces in person.

Found via Intellectual Properties

Babies Taste Good

2007-10-09T18:40:00.001-07:00

Babies Taste Good

I kind of wish Nande's butt wasn't dead center above Sully and the pup but I really love how the pup is licking his finger and looking at me with my camera. These were some super cute little puppies and it was alot of fun to play with them.

I may just keep uploading more and more of them since I took nearly 200 pics while we played with them!

Eye Popping Dahlia

2007-09-15T12:05:00.001-07:00

Prize Winning Dahlia
Originally uploaded by Johnny Huh

A nice macro from the Santa Cruz County Fair we went to yesterday. There were plenty of other dahlias but this was one of the best I saw. I love the graduated colors and the delicate petals opening to show their white interiors.

And I'm really quite happy with how nicely my XTi shoots flashed macros!

Photos from Space

2007-09-13T21:13:00.000-07:00

Check out these Photos from Space, the clarity is phenomenal and the final photo, of Hurricane Dean apparently, is pretty amazing.

Actually, all of the photos are pretty amazing.

Expired Flower

2007-09-04T11:31:00.001-07:00

Expired Flower
Originally uploaded by Johnny Huh

Even in death, mother nature can make something beautiful and captivating. I came across this flower in the forest near our local dog park.

Moody Ferris Wheel

2007-07-06T16:46:00.001-07:00

Moody Ferris Wheel
Originally uploaded by Johnny Huh

Taken at the Alameda County Fair as dusk fell. I'm learning the ropes with my new camera and finding that I really like Bulb exposures where I control how long the shutter stays open to capture as much or as little of the available light at the expense of the subject's sharpness. I think I struck a good balance between lighting and crispness here.

Grady Points Out an Object of Interest

2007-04-16T16:26:00.001-07:00

Grady Points Out an Object of Interest
Originally uploaded by Johnny Huh.

From our recent trip to a playground in Soquel which happened to be being overrun with kids on recess from the school next door. It made for a more fun trip for Grady if only because there were more kids to run around with.

We Have Liftoff

2007-03-06T16:38:00.001-08:00

Jumping for Joy (and Sand)
Originally uploaded by Johnny Huh.

Nande and I took advantage of the beautiful day today to head out to the beach for some exercise and sun. It was chilly but really nice out although the water was ICY!

The Best Gag Wedding Gift Ever

2007-01-28T23:00:00.000-08:00

Because sometimes you've gotta laugh and share.

Because I Like It

2007-01-23T22:22:00.000-08:00

Its not a great photo and maybe not even a good one but I like it and that counts for something.

Improve Your Table Top Photography

2007-01-11T21:49:00.000-08:00

Instructables has some easy instructions for making a Budget Photographic Lighting "Tent" that will markedly improve the quality of your table top small photography.

Basically, get a white (or near white) bucket. Cut a u-shape out of it, flip it over and light it from behind with a strong light. No light should shine directly into the bucket.

And.... done. Pretty easy, eh?

I will be getting a bucket tomorrow and playing around with this over the weekend. I will, of course, post results here.

Looking Out

2007-01-10T12:39:00.000-08:00

I spent the morning on New Year's Day chasing Grady all over the Pigeon Point Lighthouse park. This was a rare moment of reflection as he enjoyed watching the waves bash into the rocks below the lighthouse.

In addition to all his running around outside, he and his cousin ran around the inside of the hostel for, literally, hours on end. He must have run several miles by the end of the evening and then ran some more when he woke up the next morning.

Doesn't he know I'm a cyclist and not a runner?

Say, what's THAT?

2007-01-07T23:15:00.000-08:00

A friend's daughter confronts mortality with a smile. Simply awesome!

Pigeon Point Lighthouse

2007-01-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

Sully at the Park

2006-12-24T21:19:00.000-08:00

A soft portrait of my baby boy from last week when it was so chilly. He's got such wonderfully chubby cheeks!

Moving Out

2006-12-04T22:52:00.000-08:00

A macro I still love. Every picture tells a story and I like what this one was saying and still do.

Honeybee on Passion Flower

2006-11-23T10:56:00.000-08:00

Pumpkin Patch Color Accent

2006-10-31T23:46:00.000-08:00

Taken on Sunday's trip to the local pumpkin patch to pick out our victims for this year's carve-fest. I set the camera for color accent, selected the orange of the pumpkins and shot a few snaps. This one ended up being the best of the bunch and I really like how the orange "pops" in the photo.

I will have to play around with the color accent and color swap settings some more to see what kind of neat trick images I can generate.

Happy Halloween!

2006-10-31T23:43:00.000-08:00

Check that last post, this is my best pumpkin I've ever carved. It came out beautifully and is really pretty scary looking in the dark with the orange glow behind it.

It looks alot less mean in the daylight though.

My Best Pumpkin Ever

2006-10-26T11:42:00.000-07:00

Halloween is coming which means more pumpkin carving and I'm excited. I also get to play with my smoke machine and will get the stereo thumping out creepy music to freak out the kids (but not too much!).

I didn't used to like Halloween so much but I'm warming up to it as I get older and my children start to grok what its about and how much fun they have dressing up.

Meditation from a Tomato Cage

2006-10-24T07:35:00.000-07:00

This was more of the fun from Saturday when Grady found the tomato cages and thought they were a great toy. He looks like he's praying and stayed like this for about a minute. The video of him standing up in this and turning around and around is pretty funny too.

That kid is just an incredibly funny and inquisitive little guy, It was great fun to watch him work through how to get in and out of the cage. Great and amazing really. He's growing up so quickly that sometimes I just want to hold him and keep him just the way he is right now.

Cage Baby

2006-10-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

This was totally of his own doing, I happened to have my camera and snapped a few dozen photos and a couple of short videos. He thought the tomato cage was a great toy.

He's such a sweet and wonderful and funny little boy. Sometimes I wish we could keep him like this forever (not in the cage, the inquisitive and funny little guy part).

When we went to Ikea and he got out of the stroller, he was barrelling through the store like a bull in a china shop. And his run is a bouncing gait that just makes me smile thinking about it. He's a great kid!

MiniCards from Moo

2006-10-16T23:06:00.000-07:00

I got my free pack of MiniCards from Moo.com via their promotion for Flickr Pro members. today and they really are pretty neat and pretty and cool and all.

In retrospect I wish I'd chosen some different images but overall I really like how they look and really like the info on the back.

Now I just need to figure out what to do with them.

Nasty from Above

2006-10-12T11:40:00.000-07:00

This big ol' spider nearly dropped on to my head last night when I took the veggie waste out to the composter. And then it sat and let me snap a bunch of pics of it.

It is just under two inches from tip to tip and really looked mean and nasty.

I did not squish him though. He's far too valuable in helping to keep the fly population under something resembling control around the composter.

You Got a Problem?

2006-10-09T07:32:00.000-07:00

Almost a year ago now, Grady hasn't changed too much in the last year. He's grown up and added many new words but he's still the same wonderful and cute little kid.

Art Concept Photography

2006-09-28T09:28:00.000-07:00

Blind Camera Lets You Take Other People's Pictures

This art project by Sascha Pohflepp combines a Sony Ericsson k750i with a black case to let you take other people's pictures. The design works by recording what time you click the button to "take" a picture, then later on connects to the internet to scope out shots other people took with that same timestamp.

It takes a few hours/days for people to upload their pictures, so you won't be seeing anything instantly. But it's kind of neat, in a voyeuristic way, to what other people were up to when you were out being a dork using a camera that doesn't really work.

Now This is Hot Photography

2006-09-28T08:58:00.000-07:00

A good photograph is both expressive and imaginative. This is both, in spades and with a big extra measure of SPROING tossed in for good measure.

Its sexy without being trashy (or overly trashy) and damned if I don't just love it.

Luminescent

2006-09-19T21:55:00.000-07:00

Not much to add here, I just think this is a pretty nice picture of a flower.

Nande Air Flop

2006-09-06T09:20:00.001-07:00

Because it needs to be posted again from time to time, just to remind myself why I so thoroughly love my dog. She's gotten alot bigger since this was taken but her playfulness and fun hasn't diminished in the least.

She's a wonderful companion and friend and I wish I could more easily spend my days playing with her and my two boys.

Someday.

Beating the Heat

2006-08-21T21:02:00.000-07:00

Down the way from our hotel was this impromptu waterpark and this little boy was having tons of fun playing in the water. I wish we could have joined him since Reno is so hot and dry. It was nice to get home our evening fog and chill! And Grady really wanted to join him but was such a good listener when I told him that we couldn't!

Another Coolio Widget from Flagrant Disregard

2006-08-16T21:28:00.000-07:00

My friend I found this on thinks she's out of the loop because its been out for a bit now. But I'm so far out of the loop, I couldn't even tell you which direction the loop is in. Oh well, that's what kids, a commute and a lot of work will do for your in-looped-ness.

Better later than never though!

My Cute Goes to 11!

2006-08-10T21:48:00.000-07:00

And some days his cute even goes to 12. My little boy is just too darned wonderful for words sometimes.

Of Course Its All About Him

2006-08-06T22:31:00.000-07:00

From today's shopping/fun trip south to Monterey and CostCo. We went to Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey and had a blast there. Its a great park with all kinds of neat stuff for kids to play on, climb up, slide down and explore. They even have a little maze for the kids to explore in!

The moment I saw this metal tunnel with the slide off of it, I knew it would be a cool spot to snap some pics of my little boy. And I was right.

We had a great day, the last before I start back to work tomorrow morning. I will miss all of the extra time I've had with my family in this time off. But I will really enjoy having a paycheck coming in again!

Pressure

2006-08-03T23:24:00.000-07:00

Pressure and time can break anything. An important thing to keep in mind when shit is getting you down, its just a question of how long you can hold out. Long enough to stand back up or not long enough and you get pancaked.

Learning How to Laugh

2006-08-02T18:03:00.000-07:00

Sullivan at eleven weeks and learning how to laugh. He's a sweet little boy with a great smile. And his older brother loves him every night, he gives him kisses on his forehead and smiles from ear to ear.

I know it'll be some time before he starts rolling over and then sitting up and then standing up and walking. But I also know that the time between now and then will pass in the blink of an eye.

So I will make sure to capture as many of these moments as I can with my camera's eye.

Read Between the Lines

2006-07-10T09:40:00.000-07:00

This is a shot from Grady's birthday party over the weekend. We rented a bounce house with obstacles inside for the kids to bash around on.

This obstacle was too tall for Grady to climb over but he went under plenty and then started to go through the middle. In this photo, he was trying to get his hand over the top so he could toss his toy car over. He was successful and it resulted in this subtle and funny shot.

We had so much fun it was just amazing. His smile and joy has been seared into my mind and it makes me happy just to think about how much fun he had.

They Do Not Come In Peace

2006-06-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

This nasty looking fella nearly got me on my walk at the dog park the other day but he (or she) is only about an inch and a half across so I wasn't in real danger. But this little thistle looks mean enough to take on anyone or anything.

Thistle Flower

2006-06-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

A close up of a new thistle flower from my walk with Nande at the dog park the other day. I love the burst of color they give an otherwise very green landscape.

Brand New Baby Boy

2006-05-13T01:53:00.000-07:00

Sullivan Day Zero - Too bright and too dry.

Legacy

2006-03-24T21:15:00.000-08:00

Splashing

2006-01-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

Show Off

2006-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Best before 2015

2005-10-11T11:44:00.000-07:00

This is why I love Flickr. For photos like this that push the boundaries and explore new territory.

That and it doesn't hurt that Solea's a pretty beautiful woman with an excellent sense of "the moment".

I'm in awe of many of the folks on Flickr and this is one of those moments that make me wish I could devote myself to photography all the time to create images like this. Its so evocative and simple too!

Cross Section

2005-09-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

Found this at the Santa Cruz County Fair yesterday and had never seen anything like it. Pretty neat to look at and see how much wood comes out of a tree when its milled properly.

Legacy

2005-08-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

Large is cool but Full size is even better.

Just a neat macro that came out much better than expected. The lighting ended up being moody and dark which fits the subject nicely.

The item in the picture is the cap of a collapsible Soviet shot glass that travels with me everywhere (among other goodies).

Breakfast is Fun Time

2005-07-21T09:57:00.000-07:00

Breakfast is Fun Time,
originally uploaded by Johnny Huh.

This morning's breakfast go a little bit messy but that's alright because Grady had a great time.

I never mind so much as long as he's happy. And I love pictures like this where he's gotten raspberries on his forehead!

Seeing Things Differently

2005-07-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

Seeing Things Differently,
originally uploaded by Johnny Huh.

A nice example of how adults and kids look at the world in different ways. This is my brother and his son about two and a half years ago on a sunny day in November in northern New England.

Yes, he is a good looking guy.

Leap Dog

2005-07-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

Leap Dog,
originally uploaded by Johnny Huh.

Sometimes you've just got to post a picture of a leaping dog. Especially when that dog's your own and she was having a good time playing on the beach and in the water.

Are They Biting?

2005-05-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

Nande gets interested in the fishermen at Hidden Beach in Aptos.

Graydon Chillin' in the Sand

2005-04-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

Graydon Chillin' in the Sand,
originally uploaded by Johnny Huh.

Yeah, my boy looks sharp in his outfit and looks great with his grin. He's a sweet and wonderful little guy who's been having a great time visiting with his family and getting to play with his cousins.

I can't believe how big he is already and we're just getting started.

By the way, he can now say "Ma ma" and "Da da" and "Ba ba" (for his bottle). Not bad for a 9 and a half month old little guy, is it?

Sly Guy Grady

2005-04-12T09:51:00.000-07:00

Sly Guy Grady,
originally uploaded by Johnny Huh.

Could he be any cuter? Could he be any more photogenic? Could we have gotten any luckier with our little baby boy?

Nope, I don't think so. Teething issues aside, he's been a marvelous and true joy to craft our lives around.

One big smile from him is all I need to feel the cares of the day just slide right off of me.

He's the greatest!

DPChallenge - Accidental Letters

2005-03-30T10:47:00.000-08:00

This week's open challenge at DPChallenge is called Accidental Letters, where the image will resemble a letter or letters unintentionally.

Ought to be an interesting challenge but I'll go out on a limb and say that there will probably be alot of "O's".

God of Frolic

2005-03-29T08:39:00.001-08:00

God of Frolic,
originally uploaded by Just Jo.

"The dog was created specially for children. He is the god of frolic." - Henry Ward Beecher

Just Jo is a contact of mine from Flickr who loves to snap pictures of her dogs playing out on the beach.She has a knack for capturing pure action moments and this one is no different than the others except that its totally different.

She is an excellent photographer and I'd love to get my girl out on the beach to play with her dogs one day. Their pure joy is wonderful to behold.

God of Frolic

2005-03-29T08:39:00.000-08:00

God of Frolic,
originally uploaded by Just Jo.

Alex MacLean: Aerial Photography

2005-03-25T11:03:00.000-08:00

Alex MacLean Portfolio Page One

Two Men Say They're Jesus, One of them Must be Wrong

2005-03-24T09:33:00.000-08:00

Two Men Say They're Jesus, One of them Must be Wrong,
originally uploaded by Johnny Huh.

The title comes from a Dire Straits song that has always stuck with me over the years.

And I love the idea of a pack of wandering Velvet Jesus's. I wonder who they worship? Elvis, the king of all that is velvet?

Either way, this used to be one of my favorite pictures, I found it again the other day and still like it enough to put up to Flickr.