Hopi House Closeup - After Once in a Decade Storm

While Visiting The Awesome Grand Canyon a few Years ago. We stopped by the Hopi House for a few shots.

Old Man Winter had stormed to town the night before. Unleashing one of his once in a decade spectacles. The Hopi House was covered in Snow and Icicles like right out of a Norman Rockwell Painting. I was in Awe of this circa 1905 building.

The Hopi House was built using local materials, just like the native peoples of America have done for many millennia. Designed by Mary Jane Elizabeth Colter for the Fred Harvey Company. It was very refreshing to visit a building with native American influences. I so love Hopi Architecture.

Those terraces artfully covered in snow, the little windows, the beams protruding from the stone work with icicles dangling down. Bristlecone Pine trees shading the southern exposure.

Man’s Artwork and Craftmanship complemented by Mother Natures, Bravo to both…

There are twelve different tribes that called the Grand Canyon Home, I especially enjoy the Hopi Tribe. While researching the Hopi House I found this Great Website with stories of the peoples that Called America Home Many, many Millennia before the arrival of the Europeans.

The Hopi’s and the Legend of the Snake Clan:
http://www.firstpeople.us/FP-Html-Legends/The_Origin_Of_The_Hopi_Snake_Clan-Hopi.html

Date Taken: 02-05-08  10:22 AM HDR Photograph taken in 0 Degrees.
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:1/5 seconds F-Stop:f16 ISO:100
Focal length:18mm Lens:Tamron 11-18 Wide Angle

New York City Skyline at Night with Mom

I was in awe of The New York City Skyline this trip. The unique weather conditions had blown out all the stuff normally floating in the Air around “The City”. This visit we enjoyed a totally unobstructed view of the city for the first time ever, Both Day and Night…

The sunset this night was incredible… (Photo’s to follow in a Day or Two)

This was the Last Photo of the Night. I was in the mood for an artsy shot. So I asked mom to Pose with her camera and that unbelievable skyline. In the Lower right is my shadow with the camera pointing towards the Empire State Building. Those long white streaks in the shot are passing Helicopters. If you look close at the railings you can see the graffiti…

This was my favorite Photo of the Trip…

HDR Time Lapse Photograph Taken on: 04-17-09 7:49PM EST
Model: Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera
Shutter Speed: 180.6 Seconds  F-Stop: F18  ISO:100
Focal length: 20mm Lens: Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens

New York City Skyline at Night… What can I say…

New York City Skyline at Night… What can I say…

After Two weeks in the Hospital, Mom was in desperate need of some fresh Air. I thought a quiet dinner at the Charthouse in Weehawken, NJ then a few photo’s from the pier would be fun. It offers unobstructed views of the NYC skyline and especially The Empire State Building. Dinner with a View. what Fun… Click Here for Map.

I have never had the opportunity to work the NYC skyline at Night. After Dinner I took two Photographs, Both the same Photo, second one as a backup, just in case. Then we headed home. After all it was Mom’s first day out…

HDR Time Lapse Photograph Taken on: 04-15-09 7:44PM EST
Model: Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera
Shutter Speed: 45.1 Seconds  F-Stop: F18  ISO:100
Focal length: 18mm Lens: Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens

2009's First Sunrise - God Light and Waves rushing over Blowing Rocks

2009′s First Sunrise – God Light and Waves rushing over Blowing Rocks

Here is another photo of 1/1/09′s Sunrise with the waves crashing in on my position. Taken two minutes after yesterdays Photograph.

The God light blasting out of the clouds in all directions.
Saying Welcome to 2009…

Tomorrow, I post a shot near that big rock in middle right.

HDR Photograph Taken on: 01-01-09 7:34AM EST
Model: Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera
Shutter Speed: 1/500 Second F-Stop: F11 ISO:100 Aperture Priority
Focal length: 18mm Lens: Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens

2009's First Sunrise - Blowing Rocks

2009′s First Sunrise – Blowing Rocks, near Jupiter Inlet, FL

Lori (In memoriam 9/13/60 – 11/30/08) and I had been planning, well Lori had been planning this trip to the Jupiter Inlet. We planned on Photographing the Lighthouse, Blowing Rocks and The Breakers. Time permitting, the Loxhatchee river area.
I managed to Photograph the Lighthouse and the Blowing Rocks.

Today, I wanted to show the sunrise shot from Blowing Rocks. Being the spiritual person that I am, I guess I needed a sign as to what 2009 portends. I guess maybe Lori sending me a signal from above.

Well…. The God light has never shown so bright for me as this morning. A full 360 degrees, no less, in every picture…

It’s a sign…

Tomorrow, I show more shots from 2009′s first Sunrise on the Gold Coast.

HDR Photograph Taken on: 01-01-09 7:32AM EST
Model: Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera
Shutter Speed: 1/100 Seconds F-Stop: F11 ISO:100 Aperture Priority
Focal length: 95mm Lens: Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Sunset

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge at Sunset

Here is the Sunset Shot that Matches Yesterdays Post: http://www.awesomephotographyblog.com/twilight-photography/the-sunshine-skyway-bridge-in-twilight/

I have always found the Sunshine Skyway to be one of the most elusive Landmarks to Photograph. Getting the right lighting, clouds, and weather plus getting the lights on the top of the span to all cooperate is a full time job.

While driving home from the office on Friday night, November 11th, 2008, we noticed that the clouds were tall and billowy. The light was exceptional. The weather was picture perfect. The Paint job and lights on the bridge were all brand new. After Years of chasing the Skyway with Lori (In memoriam 1960 – 2008), we finally got some awesome shots of this, the most magnificent of all bridges.

This HDR Photograph was taken from the South Fishing Pier just minutes before Sunset.

HDR Photograph Taken on: 11-12-08 6:05PM EST
Model: Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera
Shutter Speed: 2.5 Seconds F-Stop: F11 ISO:100 Aperture Priority
Focal length: 95mm Lens: Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Twilight

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Twilight

I have always found the Sunshine Skyway to be one of the most elusive Landmarks to Photograph. Getting the right lighting, clouds, and weather plus getting the lights on the top of the span to all cooperate is a full time job.

While driving home from the office on Friday night, November 11th, 2008, we noticed that the clouds were tall and billowy. The light was exceptional. The weather was picture perfect. The Paint job and lights on the bridge were all brand new. After Years of chasing the Skyway with Lori (In memoriam 1960 – 2008), we finally got some awesome shots of this, the most magnificent of all bridges.

This HDR Photograph was taken from the South Fishing Pier during the brief 24 minutes of Twilight we get here in Florida… with my dearest Lori by my Side…

Tomorrow I’ll Post the Sunset Shot.

HDR Photograph Taken on: 11-12-08 6:05PM EST
Model: Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera
Shutter Speed: 2.5 Seconds F-Stop: F11 ISO:100 Aperture Priority
Focal length: 95mm Lens: Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED-IF AF-S VR [Vibration Reduction] DX Lens

The Grand Canyon at the Moment of Sunrise

The Grand Canyon at the Moment of Sunrise

Yea, once the sun rises, so does your adrenalin level. I have never seen the Grand Canyon after a snow storm but all I can say is Wow!

Those trees in the picture are 25 footers. The Canyon was created by the Colorado River over 6 million years and is 277 miles long and ranges in width from 4 to 18 miles.  In places it is more than a mile Deep. The Grand Canyon is considered a holy site by The Pueblo people.

I hope on my next visit to get this shot from the Bottom of the Canyon.

Photograph Taken on: 2-05-08 6:34AM  Aperture Mode / HDR Photograph
Model:Nikon D80  Shutter Speed: 1/15 Seconds  F-Stop:f11  ISO:100
Focal length: 11mm  Lens: Tamron 11-18mm

Nojoqui Falls – The Little Dripper

I had the opportunity to visit this Cool Place in the Santa Ynez Hills called Nojoqui Falls. It’s Pronounced No-HO-Wee Falls. A vernal Fall (it only flows when it rains or snow melts), it’s the perfect place to visit with all the storms this Year in California. The local’s call these storms, “The Pineapple Express” cause they come from Hawaii. This morning the Falls were blasting like I have never seen or heard of before:

On a day like today the stream was gushing and The Falls were Blasting …

I had to stand back 30 or 40 feet just to keep the lens clear to get this shot.

Here is Parks Web Site: http://www.sbparks.org/Scripts/ParksDetail.asp?ParkID=14

The Nojoqui Park is beautiful. There is this fun trail that meanders back and forth along the stream flowing from the falls. Lots of Wooden Bridges, Mini Falls and tributaries to the main stream flow all around you. At the beginning of the trail there is this old Rock Water fountain from about 75 Years ago. All very Cool.

It takes about 10 minutes to hike up. It’s not handicap friendly.

More Pictures of our visit to follow another Day.

Date Taken: 1-24-08 9:57AM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:Aperture Mode F-Stop:f11 ISO:100
Focal length:18mm Lens: Tamron 11-18 Wide Angle

Sunset From Circle X Ranch - Santa Monica Mountains, CA

Sunset From Circle X Ranch – Santa Monica Mountains, CA

There is this really cool place in the Santa Monica Mountains called the Circle X Ranch. Picture this !, drive straight up the mountains on one of these skinny, violently twisting roads, to the Sandstone Peak Trailhead parking lot near the Peak. Walk on to the backbone trail: http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/circlexranch.htm

This hike goes 1.1 miles up to this Rocky peak called inspiration point. This day we did not make it there due to the timing of Sunset. This shot is about a quarter of the way up the Trail. This photograph was taken about 10 minutes before Sunset. The sun blasted thru a few cracks in the clouds, then was gone for the night…

We also heard the local Mountain Lion nearby just before we left the trail. Maybe she was saying goodnight. Here is the Mountain Lion calling US to come back…

Looking forward to retuning soon if the weather and clouds are just right like tonight. This is also my first High Dynamic Range Photograph (HDR Photography). I intend to focus a lot on this new exciting realm of Photography.

Photograph Taken on: 1-21-08 7:53PM
Model:Nikon D80  Shutter Speed: 1/2 Second  F-Stop:f11  ISO:100
Focal length: 18mm  Lens: Nikon 18-200mm  VR