Alik Griffin's blog

Golden Mudstones of Death Valley

Located in the Badlands of Death Valley are these eroded mudstones. The actually location for these is at Zabriskie Point.

It's kind of amazing what nature is capable of. These mudstones look almost like a close up of some insects shell or some alien structure. Walking on them even feels weird. Almost like the ground is hollow or very light. 

Today's Photo - The Golden Mudstones of Death Valley

Golden Mudstone of Death Valley. At Zabriskie Point in the Badlands of Death Valley are these eroded mudstones. It's very strange even walking on them, it feels almost like it's hollow or that it's very light. I imagine if it got more rain here these mudstone hills would just disintegrate.

My Experience with the HDR Software Photomatix

If you're looking to get into doing HDR photography, I recommend trying out Photomatix. It's easy to use and fun to play with if you're looking for some new photography techniques.

You've probably noticed I do a lot of HDR photography, but really I think only about half or maybe 60% of my photos are HDR. A lot of times I get that HDR look out of a single raw image since you don't always need to take three shots to get the Dynamic Range you need. And I often do it in either Photoshop or Lightroom. Photoshop has a nice Shadow/Highlights function that helps compress an images dynamic range to give that HDR look. I use that often times when I'm doing a single raw, like a long exposure on the beach where I'm not able to shoot bracketed shots. But Photomatix works great too even on single raw images. 

Be sure to check out my Photomatix Pro Review it's really a great software for HDR photography.

Sample Image from the Photomatix Review

To get this look I used Photomatix Pro for the HDR look then used one of my Lightroom Presets.

This photo is from the Ricefields of Bali Indonesia. 

Palm in the Fields, Walking through the rice fields of Bali was an awesome experience. Everywhere you looked it was so beautiful and clean.

Mesquite Dunes - Death Valley

This is one of my first photos from Death Valley that popped out to me while going through my Lightroom catalog. I wasn't planning on visiting the Mesquite Dunes but since they were just right off the road we stopped by. It actually took a bit of wandering around to find some peaks that hadn't been walked all over. I probably walked about a mile into the dunes before finding these. Glad it wasn't crazy hot. I quickly learned it's not easy walking through sand dunes.

The Mesquite Dunes in Death Valley

Mesquite Dunes - Death Valley, If you haven't been to Death Valley there are about four sets of Sand Dunes. These are the more popular Dunes since they are right of the road. I really wanted to go to the Paramint Dunes since I hear they are the coolest, but it's a three mile hike through raw desert and I didn't have time. This work for me though. A lot of Starwars was also filmed on these vary Dunes.

Yumiko Lost in the Dunes

This is of Yumiko (my wife) in the Mesquite Sand Dunes of Death Valley. We just got back Monday night and I've finally started processing some of the photos. It's a pretty awesome place. Some of the photos I got here are my favorite I've taken so far. It seems this time of year is really good to go since it's not too hot. It was hot mid to upper 80's but was nothing extreme like in the summer. We were a little bummed that the flowers weren't blooming very well this year. Maybe next time.

The Mesquite Sand Dunes seen in this photo is where a lot of Starwars was filmed. Some of the first one where R2D2 and C3PO were lost, and some of Return of the Jedi. I couldn't stop thinking about the sand monster in Return of the Jedi that Bobofett fell into. I forget what it's called. I always thought it was amazing that Bobo Fett was killed by a blind Han Solo. Either Han Solo is truely that awesome, or Bobo Fett just sucks. Haven't decided which one to go with.

Today's Photo

Yumiko Lost in the DesertThese are the mesquite sand dunes of Death Valley. The same dunes a lot of Starwars was filmed at.

Venice Beach Pier - Blue Infinity

This shot is another one from the night I went to Venice Beach. I go to Venice a lot, it's kind of my get away beach, but the other night I went there specifically to take photos. Might do it again this week sometime since my auto mechanic is down there for my wife's Saab. We'll see.

I've been really shooting more photos with a 2:1 or even 3:1 crop in mind. This was one of them. It's not cropped here but I did crop it for my Google+ page. It looks better cropped in my opinion but I figured I wouldn't crop it for my smugmug portfolio page because someone can just crop it on checkout to suit their needs. I've usually only been forcing a crop when there is something in the image I'm not happy with. It's one of those tough decisions us photographers have to make especially when not shooting Medium Format.

And yes, I use Google+. Not sure what kind of future it has since it seem my followers are going inactive faster than I can get new ones as of late. Seems only to be really useful for those photographers Google blesses into their recommended system where they get 4 million followers in a year, essentially advertising thier presents. The rest of us have to go around and add everyone we see, or engaging in their posts hoping they will follow back and engage in our posts. The interesting thing about Google though, is your friends of G+ who do Google searches will see your blog posts that hit those keywords before anyone else. So if your a blogger that Google's blessed you into the system and you have 4 million followers that could triple your sites traffic over night and make your site instantly rank over everyone else. Lucky them. That's why it's always good to participlate in all the new stuff that's out there because you never know what will happen. The world and success all revolves around getting lucky. 

Blue Infinity at the Venice Beach Pier

I used my new LIght Craft ND 500 for this shot.

Venice Beach Infinity, Long exposure at the Venice Beach Pier. The light was very magical as it defused through the clouds.

Into the Sun

If you've noticed by browsing around my site you see I shoot a lot of travel photography. I don't try to be a travel blog but inevitably that seems to be what's happening. The reason for this is because I work a lot at my day job. It's usually a 10 hour day but for only ten months out of the year. So during the two months when I'm off I try to get as far away from L.A. as possible. Not because I hate L.A. but just because I want to see other places. So as I develop my photography and continue to learn and grow with the craft I end up with a lot of strange photos from all over the world.

When I have free time around town I like to take photos that are more of my interest. More often than not it's beach photography. I grew up with the beach so it just seems right.

This photo is from the Venice Beach Pier. This is where I've been surfing since I moved up to L.A. six years ago. It's not the best surf spot but I know how to find free parking and it's never crowded. And now I love shooting there too. I got a few more nice ones from this location I'll post soon.

Into the Sun at the Venice Beach Pier

Into The SunThis photo is a long exposure of the Venice Beach Pier during sunset. I love the Venice beach pier because nobody is ever around. Makes shooting there comfortable and easy. This is also my local surf spot. It's not the best wave but usually there aren't many people out. The waves were actually really good when I took this. I was kind of wishing I went surfing instead of shooting. But now I'm glad I shot instead.Check out more of my Beach Photography

Beneath the Venice Beach Pier

There is a certain style of photography that I've always been attracted to. Not like sexually or anything, well maybe. A little. . . Just Kidding. Anyway, it's known as Long Exposure Photography and it creates this effect where the water and clouds all look really smooth and milky. See, now you know why I'm attracted to it. 

To do this style of photography I've learned you really just need to get a massive ND filter. Just raging! And only ND filter powerful enough to do this that I knew of (and was of good quality) was the Lee Big Stopper. But this filter is always on back order. Always! And if you're anything like me, I can only buy camera gear on impulse. So I wasn't going to wait around no 6 months while I wait for the mail man to come by with that raging Big Stopper. So instead of waiting and spending an additional $150 dollars on mounts I decided to impulsively order the Light Craft Workshop ND500 MC+H.R.C 82mm. It's not 10 stops like the Lee ND but 9 is good enough for now. Actually one more stop would have been nice since I end up at around a 30 second exposure and an f19-f22 in mid day sun. I'd prefer to be at an f16 or lower but at least with this ND filter I can still see through my viewfinder to frame the shot. Barely, but it can be done. And if I want to go darker I could always screw on another ND.

Since I just got this Light Craft Workshop ND filter I'm going to test it out a bit more and then write up a better review. A real review. But so far it seems to be a great alternative to the Lee Big Stopper and I'm actually glad I bought this instead. Screw on filters are just more convenient and it only costs $100 bucks.

Here is my first photo from my first attempts using this thing. 

Today's Long Exposure Photo

This was taken with a 30 second shutter at an f19 and an ISO of 100. This is the Venice Beach Pier in Los Angeles California. 

Beneath The Venice PierThis photo is a long exposure beneath Venice Beach Pier. I finally lucked out on a day when the weather was doing something interesting. This was the first day I used a new massive ND filter, and I'll be writing about it soon on my blog.Check out Alik Griffin Photography

Behind the Niagara Falls

This show is taken from the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls. It's from when I was in Canada a year and a half ago. Never posted this one for some reason.

If you look close down next to the falls is a little group of tourists all wearing yellow raincoats on an observation deck. I always love when there are people in epic landscapes like this one because they help give you a real sense of scale to just how big the Niagara Falls really are. What's really amazing is back in the 1960's a boy went over the falls wearing nothing but a life jacket and swimming trunks and somehow miraculously survived.

Today's Photo

Under the Niagara FallsThis photo is taken on the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls. If you look close, down next to the falls there is a little patch of tourists wearing yellow raincoats watching the falls. Kind of gives you a sense of just how big the Niagara Falls are. See more of my Photography at AlikGriffin.com

Low Sunset at Solana Beach

This beach sunset photo is from Solana Beach which is in San Diego California. This is one of the coolest beach cities in North County San Diego in my opinion. It's just a different vibe than Oceanside, or La Jolla or Pacific Beach. 

This sunset was interesting the night of this photo. There were some unique clouds but only off in the distance which created very cool negative space in the skies. 

Today's Beach Photo

Solana Beach SunsetThis beach photo was taken in Solana Beach in San Diego California. The angle of the clouds were very unique that night, and the use of negative space in the sky made for an interesting perspective of this sunset. See more of my Beach Photography at AlikGriffin.com

Ave of the Stars

A night HDR photo of Avenue of the Stars in Century City. This runs right by the Westfield mall. A cool mall that's not too crowded it's kind of 'my mall' since it's only a few miles from my house. Century City is in Los Angeles if you were wondering. In the UCLA, West Los Angeles, Westwood area.  

This photo I had fun with. Many many blending layers mixed and matched in photoshop combined with an HDR effect. Came out kind of Matrixy sort of. Night HDR photography really isn't any different than regular HDR except you have to do a bit more blending of layers and noise reduction with some sharpening. I used my Find Edges Sharpening Technique. You can find a tutorial at that link if your into that sort of thing. 

Today's Night HDR Photo - Ave of The Stars, Century City

Avenue of the Stars - Century CityThis runs right by the Westfield Mall in century city. It's a night HDR photo of the street Avenue of the Stars See more of my HDR Photography at AlikGriffin.com

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