Author: Alik Griffin

Hermosa Pier Sunset

This shot is of the Hermosa Pier right before the sun went down. The sun is there but very small in the shot because I’m on a really wide lens. This photo is just before the sky turns to a deep purple color, which created a totally different look from the one found in my…
Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8L II USM Sample Photos and Review

Consider this review a great example of what kind of images you’ll be able to get out of the Canon 16-35mm f4L IS but imagine the images being a bit sharper, especially along the edges and corners. If you’re still looking for a lens in this range that is faster like for those that shoot…
Beneath the Hermosa Pier

My experience photographing the Hermosa Pier was much better than when I went to the Santa Monica Pier. Parking was much easier in Hermosa, with fewer people and photographers crowding around. I basically had the whole purple hour to myself. The purple hour is the hour after the sun goes down when the sky transitions…
Canon EF 24-70mm f2.8L Review and Sample Photos

My review and experiences using the original Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 L series lens. My favorite lens for a long time, and definitely the most versatile.
Best Samyang / Rokinon 14mm Review With Sample Photo

A review of the original Samyang 14mm f2.8. An old lens that still produces amazing images.
Downtown Los Angeles City View

This is a view of Downtown Los Angeles from the Griffith Observatory. It was one of the rare clear nights—we’ve actually been having a lot of them lately. It’s very nice weather this summer. If you plan on making a trip to the Griffith Observatory at night, prepare for a crowd. It can be hectic…
Grand Canyon – Mather Point

One of the great views of the Grand Canyon, Mather Point. This was the only point I had time to look at last time I was at the Grand Canyon. We got there very late in the day and the sun was only out for about an hour. Luckily for us, this was one of…
Griffith Observatory – Los Angeles

The Griffith Observatory is a pretty sweet spot in Los Angeles. It’s incredibly crowded and almost impossible to get a photo of without people everywhere. It’s incredible I pulled this off. I stayed a little longer after the park ranger told everyone to leave and got about a minute to myself.
1800’s Canadian Barn Exterior

A few weeks ago I posted an image of the interior of a barn. The landscape north of Toronto Canada is spattered with old 150-year-old barns like this. People still buy them, maintain them and use them. This one has an attached garage and a built-in studio for the owner’s musical instruments. I wish I…
Fixing Color Banding in Photos and Video

One of the things you’ll notice if you’re a photographer, videographer, or motion graphics designer is color-banding artifacts when converting your work to 8-bit web formats. This happens because each color of an 8-bit image only has a color range of 256 values. So, say you have a sunset that’s orange and shifts into purple…