Redondo Beach Pier
The different beach cities all along the coast of California all seem to have their own little vibe. And Redondo Beach is no different. For this shot, there was a…
Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8L II USM Sample Photos and Review
I've recently adopted the use of Ultra Wide angle lenses after strictly using the Canon 24-70mm f2.8 for the last few years.
There are two ultra wide angle lenses I picked up. This one, the Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8L II USM and the Samyang 14mm f2.8. So far they are both really nice. Compared to the Canon 24-70mm f2.8 the 16-35mm f2.8L II seems much sharper all around and it zooms out significantly wider.
I picked up the Canon EF 16-35mm f2.8L II USM for about $1,600 on Amazon. You can check the link below for current prices:
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 and there were way fewer people and photographers crowding around. I had the whole purple hour basically to myself. The purple hour is the hour after the sun goes down when the sky transitions from blue into the black starry sky. The combination of the blue sky and the orange and red sunsets turns the sky purple or pink. This is also a great time because if you set your aperture high enough you can get really nice long exposures that smooth out the water.
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.
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 the better views of the Grand Canyon. I've noticed it's kind of hard to get really great photos of the Grand Canyon. The scale is so huge, it just doesn't translate into photography very well.
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 had a barn. Unfortunately, something as simple as this would probably cost a million dollars in Los Angeles.
Orange Skies – Santa Monica Pier
This photo is of the Ferris wheel at the Santa Monica Pier Amusement Park.
I love sunsets when there are no clouds in the sky. You get nice even colors that are easy to tweak.
Shot with the Canon 5Dmkii and the 24-70mm f2.8L USM lens. I tweaked the exposure in Lightroom. Created a silhouette and shifted the sky to be more orange than it already was. A very simple composition and color edit leaning into what was already there.
Guide For Using UV Filters – When & When Not To Use Them
In this guide I'll cover several important reasons why you should use a UV filter on your DSLR or mirrorless camera. But also when using a UV filter is completely unnecessary.
UV filters are suppose to cut down UV light, but really modern lenses and sensors now have advanced coatings on them so it's no longer necessary to add extra filters for UV light. They were really more designed to be used with Film.
Using A UV Filter Really Depends On The Lens And Situation. Let Me Explain!
This is one of the biggest topics of debate when it comes to photography and lenses. Should you use a UV filter on your dslr? Well some big photographers do not. Some do. I do sometimes. Here is my experience and opinions on when you should or should not use them.
Santa Monica Pier – HDR
This was my first time shooting the Santa Monica Pier on my Canon 5Dmkii. It's a very popular spot for photographers but it's rare to get the timing of the lights right.
If you plan on going here to shoot the amusement park on the pier, the best time I've found is to shoot after the sun goes down. Unless of course there is an amazing sunset happening which only occurs a few times a year in Los Angeles. Most of the time it looks like this.