Thursday, October 30, 2008

Praying Mantis, Yellow Gel Modeling Light

Eliza decided to do a photo project as well this year for the PTA art contest. She captured this praying mantis and then we set it up for a shot. We put some leaves in a bucket and then the mantis on those leaves. We set up one of the modeling lights from my studio set and then we played with the color gels. In the end she went with the more natural one. It is a good thing that the lens I picked up a few months ago has a vibration compensation since it was an extream close up and Eliza does not have the steadiest hand. I think that they came out pretty cool.


Praying Mantis, Red Gel Modeling Light

Praying Mantis, Blue Gel Modeling Light

Praying Mantis, Modeling Light


Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture:f/6.3
Focal Length:300 mm
ISO Speed:200
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Light Painting, Orange Groves, Riverside, CA

Here are some of the images that Hannah did with me for her project. We went into the Orange Groves with our friends and used three different flashes. One with red, one with blue and one with green gels.

I think these are really cool. Now I want to try to get some shots like Troy did in his book, Night Vision: The Art of Urban Exploration.

Light Painting, Orange Groves, Riverside, CA

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:118 sec (118)
Aperture:f/5.6
Focal Length:31 mm
ISO Speed:100
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Light Painting, Trampoline, Riverside, CA

I really like the work that guys like Troy Pavia has done with colored gels and hand held flashes and flashlights. He uses full moons and long exposures to get some of these cool images. This is my first attempt. I tried under the trampoline and the second story of our house. My oldest daughter stayed up to do this with me so that we could try it out for her school art project. She got the fun job of firing the flash about 60 times to paint the area under the trampoline and in my bedroom and bathroom.

I think these came out cool.

Light Painting, Second Story, Riverside, CA

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:106 sec (106)
Aperture:f/5.6
Focal Length:21 mm
ISO Speed:100
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Girls White Rosie Electra Bike

OK, last day of the girls bikes. This is my youngest daughters White Electra Rosie.

Girls White Electra Rosie Bicycle

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture:f/4
Focal Length:50 mm
ISO Speed:100
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Girls Pink Hawaii Electra Bike

Here is my middle daughters Pink Electra Hawaii.


Girls Pink Hawaii Electra Bike

Girls Pink Electra Hawaii Bicycle

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture:f/4
Focal Length:50 mm
ISO Speed:100
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Girls Blue Electra Hawaii Bicycle

This is my oldest daughters Electra Hawaii.

Girls Blue Hawaii Electra Bike

Girls Blue Hawaii Electra Bike

Girls Blue Hawaii Electra Bike

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture:f/4.5
Focal Length:34 mm
ISO Speed:100
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Electra Girls Bikes

I have mentioned in the past that I have a bit of a bike addiction. My girls are being well groomed to carry on the tradition. There is just something so cool about the smooth and efficiant form of a bike. They put out what you put into them. That is weather you build them or ride them. Here are some pics we took when the studio lights were set up in the garage.

Electra Girls Bikes

Electra Girls Bikes

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data,

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture:f/4
Focal Length:50 mm
ISO Speed:100
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Monday, October 20, 2008

Cool House Just Outside of Joshua Tree

I went to see the Doctors that I call on in Yucca Valley. There are only two, and they were in a meeting. It is pretty remote, so I tooled around waiting for them to finish so I could see them. Yucca Valley is right by Joshua Tree National Park. As I was driving up to see the park, I was surprised by the house that I saw, they were really cool houses. Here are a few.   I wonder if you can rent them, it would be fun to stay there and then be close to explore the park early and late....

Cool House Just Outside of Joshua Tree

Cool House Just Outside of Joshua Tree

Thanks for looking.

EXIF Data:

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture:f/11
Focal Length:34 mm
ISO Speed:400
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Chair, Sundown, Abandoned Service Station, Vidal, California, Revisited

As I went to Needles the other day, I was running late, so I came back by Vidal when the sun was setting. Here are the pics I took as I revisited the abandoned service station in Vidal California.

This Picture is an chair that was out front. I did not pack a flash, so I turned the car headlights on to illuminate the chair instead of silouet it agains the setting sunlit sky. I think it came out pretty cool.

Here are a few other pics that I took as well.

Sundown, Abandoned Service Station, Vidal, California, Revisited

Sundown, Abandoned Service Station, Vidal, California, Revisited

Pink Room, Abandoned Service Station, Vidal, California, Revisited

Abandoned Service Station, Vidal, California, Revisited

Abandoned Service Station, Vidal, California, Revisited

Thanks for looking.
EXIF data:

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture:f/4.5
Focal Length:60 mm
ISO Speed:400
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Down Town Riverside, CA, from Mount Rubidoux

I thought that pic should be on its own and not part of the walk up Mount Rubidoux. I went Black and White to bring out the sunlight on the down town area while the sky was filled with the rain clouds.  I wish I had carried with me a split neutral density filter to bring out more of the clouds.  Well, shoot and learn.

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data:

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture:f/11
Focal Length:18 mm
ISO Speed:400
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Friday, October 17, 2008

Daughters, Cross, Mount Rubidoux, Riverside, CA

Living in Riverside, you can't miss the cross that is on top of Mount Rubidoux. I have hiked the road up to there countless times. When I am training, I will ride from my house to Mount Rubidoux and up to the top and then back home finishing with the climb up to my house from Victoria up to Lake Matthew's.

A Cross has been at the top since 1907 when the first one was installed after Frank Miller had a graded road put in that went to the top. He originally planned to develop the property for expensive homes, but that did not work out. In 1909 the first Easter Sunrise Service was held at the top and it has been held every year since. The Boy Scouts started a path lighting service project for the Sunrise Service in 1922. The cross that is at the top now, was dedicated in 1959 as the Serra Cross. President Taft was here in October 1909 and dedicated a second plaque to Father Serra.

There are other plaques on the mount commemorating the Boy Scouts, Col Shunzo Kido, Frank Miller, and the original dedication plaque that named it Huntington Park.

Now it is a Riverside City Park, Mount Rubidoux Park. Great views of Riverside and the surrounding area can be found at the top. Every year there are fireworks from the top. It is a landmark and if you are out here, worth the walk.

Daughters, Mount Rubidoux, Riverside, CA

Chain, Mount Rubidoux, Riverside, CA

Cross, Mount Rubidoux, Riverside, CA

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data:

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture:f/8
Focal Length:18 mm
ISO Speed:400
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Picnic Table, Wiley Well Campground, CA

I have a big territory now for work. I sometimes have to drive to Blythe and then on to Needles. It is about 4 hours to Needles from where I live in Riverside. I call on a prison just before you get to Blythe, and there is a dirt road that goes past the prison out into the desert.

I have read that some of the best geode collections sites are out that way. So as I got off the freeway, it was threatening to rain. I thought that I could frame up a cool picture of the clouds in the desert, and I found this campground. I don't know what it is that I find so appealing, but there was a sense of the 50's here. It was empty, it almost felt like one of the abandoned buildings that I can not seem to resist photographing. It felt like I had stepped backward a little bit in time and these are the images that I took there.

Tree, Wiley Well Campground, CA

Picnic Tables, Wiley Well Campground, CA

Horseshoes Pit, Wiley Well Campground, CA

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data:

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture:f/3.5
Focal Length:21 mm
ISO Speed:400
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Roses and Wrought Iron

Another Image from the Redlands California LDS Temple. I thought the backlight for the roses was cool, but even better with the Framing from the wrought iron fence. Here are a few more from the same fence.

Roses and Wrought Iron

Roses and Wrought Iron

Thanks for looking,
EXIF Data:

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture:f/5.6
Focal Length:154 mm
ISO Speed:400
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Holiness To The Lord, LDS Temple, Redlands, CA

I have been on a bit of a kick with regards to LDS Temples and the images that are made of the Temples. I feel like members of the church who carry a camera can do more with our images of the temples then the standard view. There are some great details that are a part of the temples that the church builds. A lot goes into these buildings and they are really beautiful buildings.   I am not saying that I take the best images, I am saying that I want to do more with these great buildings to show their unique beauty and amazing grace.

Above is an image I made of the Redlands California Temple. I will include some past images that I made at the Newport Beach, Oakland and Washington D.C. Temples.  I love the pics of the doors on the D.C. temple and the dedication year on the Oakland.  But my favorite, is the shots with the Angel Moroni and Holiness from the Newport Beach Temple. 

Day 37, Holiness and an Angel

Day 32, Newport Beach Temple

Day 20, Corner Stone, Oakland Temple

Spires, Oakland Temple

Washington D.C. Temple Doors

Thanks for looking.

EXIF Data:

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture:f/5.6
Focal Length:154 mm
ISO Speed:400
Exposure Bias:0 EV

Monday, October 13, 2008

Independence Hall, Buena Park, CA

Independence Hall, Buena Park, CA

Independence Hall, Buena Park, CA

Independence Hall, Buena Park, CA

Before my family moved to Riverside, we lived in Buena Park. I remember my Mom taking us to the park outside of Knott's Berry Farm. We would drive to church and right by this every Sunday. Recently when we went there, I took the my girls for a walk to see this before we left. It was closed, so we will have to try again another time. Honestly, I don't remember ever going in there, but that was a long time ago. I was 10 when we moved to Riverside, so there are some fuzzy memories back that far.  

Oh, and they have Chickens!!!

Rooster in Buena Park, CA

Thanks for looking.
EXIF Data:

Camera:Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
Exposure:0.006 sec (1/160)
Aperture:f/5.6
Focal Length:154 mm
ISO Speed:400
Exposure Bias:0 EV