Sunset Over Wharehouse One - The Day is Done

I tend to work long hours and often the sun is setting or has already gone down by the time I leave my office on Terminal Island. Occassionally I will snap a quick photo of these sunsets. Here the sun is setting over LA Wharehouse One, and you can also see Catalina Island in the background. Wharehouse One also marks the location of the LA Pilots station, and is also the original site for the LA Marine Exchange. This was a very clear evening, as evidenced by the fact that Catalina Island is twenty-three miles offshore, but is clearly visible in the photo. This photo was taken with my point and shoot G10 (F/3.2, ISO 80, 1/2o sec).

Time to go home!

Finding Beauty In Unexpected Places - The Port of LA

I live in San Pedro, and work on Terminal Island down in the Port of LA. This area is an eclectic mix, being solidly blue collar and industrial, but also having many eye-catching spots. One of my goals is to take beautiful pictures in a place many would not normally think of as "beautiful". So far, I have missed the best opportunties to catch some amazing sights in the port, but I will continue to look for opportunities. I took this photo with a very simple point and shoot (Canon SD700 IS) that my wife now uses as her camera for casual photos. It takes pretty good pictures at night for a fairly inexpensive camera you can easily carry in your pocket. This photo shows the Vincent Thomas Bridge lit up in its usual blue lights over the LA Main Channel, and an Evergreen container ship conducting cargo operations at the Seaside Transportation Services Terminal. A dinner cruise boat is also passing under the bridge. This picture was shot while trying to balance the camera on a pier bollard from Pier 87 (f/3.2, 1 second exposure, +2 exp compensation, flash turned off). The VT bridge is quite stunning to see at night, whether you are just looking at it from afar or actually driving across its span. Its blue lights create a calming blue glow on the waters below.

Another Great Photo Spot - Manhattan Beach Pier

Another favorite spot of mine to take photos is the Manhattan Beach Pier. One reason is that Manhattan Beach is such a great place to bump around for a few hours. It has great shops, coffee houses, and restraurants. Taking pictures there is an added bonus. Situated at the base of downtown MB and looking west over the Pacific Ocean, the pier is a nice place for sunsets. This particular moment was a wonderful evening. The colors in this photo are 100% mother nature, I did not increase the saturation here at all. I took this photo with my 10D on a tripod (f/9.5, ISO 100, exposure 30 seconds). My wife was shopping for swimsuits while I took this, a win-win photo shoot! :)

Point Vicente At Dusk - A different Look

On a different occassion, I took my sister Lisa to visit the light. I also took my 10D with me, hoping to take a few photos while we were there. She was patient enough to let me take this photo as darkness set in. It was a windy evening, and we were getting quite chilly while I took this using a tripod and remote shutter cable release (ISO 100, F/9.5, 30 seconds). You can see the wind in the waving flags, branches and clouds.

My sister Lisa in the lighthouse.

One of My Favorite Local Spots - Point Vicente

Point Vicente is one of my favorite spots to take photos. The old Coast Guard lighthouse there is set on a bluff above the Pacific Ocean and is surrounded by palm trees. I took this picture there in the fall the same day that a large brush fire occurred nearby in Palos Verdes. The Santa Ana winds had blown the layer of smoke high into the sky and it made for great color at sunset. I took the picture with my G10 point and shoot. I also used a sunset mode in the camera to intensify the colors a little, and it turned out better than I expected (ISO 80, F/4, 1/320 sec). I caught this "wave" by dumb luck. The real reason I was there was to show my brother-in-law Bret, who was visiting from Virginia, the lighthouse. It just happened to be a great photo opportunity as well.

Bret in the lighthouse. You can see the smoke from the fire high in the sky. Also just barely visible is Santa Catalina Island where the sea and sky meet at the horizon.

Tools of the Trade - Camera Gear I Use

I thought I would quickly list the gear I am using. For the last five years or so, I have been using a Canon 10D digital SLR with a Canon 28-135 mm F 3.5-5.6 IS USM zoom lens, a Tokina 12-24 mm F 4.0 AT-X PRO wide angle lens, and a Tokina 80-400 mm F 4.5-5.6 zoom lens. The Canon and the wide angle Tokina have been my workhorses. I also have several circular polarizers that I use often with these lens. I have a graduated ND and several ND filters as well, but have used them much less. Beyond that, I have used a small tripod and a remote trigger release.

Recently I upgraded to a Canon 50D, but have not yet taken it out to take pictures, so I have a new toy to experiment with. I also upgraded to a much nicer Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 carbon fiber tripod and an Induro DM-12 ballhead. I am looking forward to working with the new camera, tripod, and ballhead.

Lastly, I have a Canon G10 point and shoot that I take with me all the time for impromptu shots when unexpected opportunites come around. It does not have the same quality as the DSLRs, but you can't beat the convenience, or the advantage of having a camera handy when you would otherwise not. Under the right conditions, it takes excellent photos!

From the post, you might think I am a Canon fanboy. In reality, I am neutral. I got started with a Canon DSLR and never looked back because of the investments in several lens. I know many people who use Nikon (and other brands) that work just as well or better. Its more about the photographer and less about the gear.