Author: Alik Griffin

Afar – Death Valley

This is another B&W print from the Mesquite Dunes of Death Valley. For some reason, I get a strange grain structure when converting my images taken with a 5Dmkii to Black and White. It gives this very digital-grain look. I’m unsure if it’s a combination of noise reduction, sharpness, and clarity mixed with a ton…
Pinnacles of Trona

The Pinnacles of Trona are just outside of Death Valley, California. This was once an ancient lake bed. The pinnacles are formed from ancient hot sprints that crack through the lake floor to combine with the mineral-rich waters, forming calcium carbonate. The Pinnacles are huge! This was a very popular location for sci-fi movies before…
Sandisk Extreme Pro SD Memory Card Review

There is no question that Sandisk makes some of the best SD memory cards in the world, and the Sandisk Extreme Pro is their flag ship top performing UHS-I memory card. With in-camera performance and speed it almost always out performs all other brands, making the Sandisk Extreme Pro U3 memory card the best card…
Shores of Laguna

A rare and beautiful sunset on the unique shores of Laguna Beach. I remember visiting these beaches as a kid to skimboard along the beach breaks. I feel like no other place in Southern California has waves and beaches like these. It’s such an awesome place with a unique Southern California Vibe. For the last…
APS-C vs Full Frame Sensors – Here Is Why It Matters

There is often this idea around the interwebs that an APS-C camera is good enough for many professionals and that the difference between a full-frame and an APS-C sensor is almost negligible. So why would I want a full-frame camera vs an APS-C camera, and what is the difference?
Japanese Temple Near the Gokasa Gawa

I’m not sure the name of this site exactly, but it was just outside the Takachiho Gorge along the Gokasa-Gawa (river). This is an important place in ancient Japanese culture and beliefs, near the cave where Japan was born. This is one of my texture HDR photos, which you’ve probably seen me doing more and…
Rice Huts of Bali

In the middle of these rice fields in Bali, about two miles from town, is a small all-organic restaurant called Sari Organik. It’s pretty cool because you’re surrounded by these rice fields filled with these small little huts. So we ate, napped, and took photos until the rain clouds came in. It was a pretty…
Valley of Yosemite

Looking down at one of the most epic and breathtaking places on Earth. I wanted to come back here at night to get some galaxy shots, but you know how it goes when you’re traveling. I got sidetracked shooting other locations. Next time I go to Yosemite, I hope to catch a little bit of…
Sunset at Tanah Lot

This view is from behind Tanah Lot, looking out into the ocean as the sun begins its descent. We were sitting at a restaurant eating a quick dinner/snack and having some drinks while I took this photo. I was literally at our dinner table when I took this. Pretty cool view, huh? To process this…
Tanah Lot The Sea Temple

Tanah Lot is one of the Seven Seas Temples located around Bali. It is a popular tourist spot in Bali, Indonesia. Here’s a fun fact: In 1980, Japan donated approximately 180 million to repair the temple’s rock face and other significant locations around Bali. One-third of this temple is made up of artificial rock. For…