Author: Alik Griffin

Looking up at the Yosemite Falls

I was lucky enough to get to go to Yosemite for the second time this weekend. One of the many great things about being married to my Japanese wife is when her friends and family visit from Japan, they always want to go on awesome road trips. We considered going to the Grand Canyon this…
Golden Mudstones of Death Valley

These eroded mudstones are located in the Badlands of Death Valley. The actual location for these is at Zabriskie Point. It’s amazing what nature is capable of. These mudstones look almost like a close-up of an insect’s shell or an alien structure. Walking on them even feels weird—almost like the ground is hollow or very…
Photomatix Pro Review and Sample Photos

Photomatix Pro is software designed to create stunning HDR Photography by taking several photos captured at various exposures and combining them together into a single HDR image.
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…
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. I might do it again this week sometime since my auto mechanic is down there for my wife’s Saab.…
Best ND 500 For Your Buck – Review and Sample Photos

After doing a lot of research and never being able to locate a Lee Big Stopper, I came across the Light Craft Workshop ND500. If you’re looking to shoot long-exposure photography mid-day, this filter is all you need. It’s crazy affordable, and the quality is fantastic. Best ND 500 For Your Buck Reason Why I Like…
Beneath the Venice Beach Pier

I have always been fascinated by Long Exposure Photography. It is a style of photography that makes the water and clouds look smooth and silky. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not attracted to it in a weird way. Well, maybe a little . . . Anyway, to do this style of photography, you need a…
ISO – The Simple Explanation!

In Digital Photography, the ISO is the setting that adjusts how sensitive your camera’s sensor is to light. It usually ranges from 100-64,000+ on most cameras. The higher the number, the less sensitive it is to light. This means that if your ISO was set to 64,000, you could expose a candle-lit dinner accurately. However,…
Kecak Monkey Performer of Bali

This is one of the monkey performers of the Kecak dance in Bali, Indonesia. He was quite the character during the performance, often interacting with the audience. A few times, he would jump into the crowd and take their sunglasses and put them on, which is, I guess, what monkeys do. He gave them back,…
Bali Plumeria In HDR

The Plumeria of Bali reminded me of Hawaii. They were so healthy and full and in bloom everywhere. We can grow some plumeria in Southern California, but they are never nearly as healthy-looking as they are in Bali. So, I took the opportunity to get a few shots when I could. This one I colored…