de Alba Photography - Mind in the Shutter

The many face(t)s of Jason

2012-01-25T19:45:00.000-08:00

My latest studio shots. Set up with two continuous light softboxes (on left and right), with a Speedlite firing into an umbrella on camera left.

SmugMug

2012-01-25T19:42:00.000-08:00

Another great SmugMug meeting last night with Adriene Hughes. The topic: Video With Your DSLR.

Get Lowe

2012-01-25T19:39:00.001-08:00

I've got some more exciting stuff in the works with Lowepro - stay tuned...

Lightroom Enlightenment

2012-01-25T19:36:00.000-08:00

A great time last Wednesday night at the PUG San Diego Photographer's User Group. It was an Adobe Lightroom presentation held my Leon Sandoval, the founder of Colorati. Thanks Leon! You have enlightened me on certain techniques in Lightroom - pun intended ;-)

Lowepro Project

2012-01-25T19:34:00.000-08:00

I had a great time last Saturday during our Lowepro shoot downtown. Thanks to Bryan, David, Angee, Tracy, Andrea, Steve-o, and Greg for participating and making it such a fun experience!

Old Skool

2012-01-04T11:55:00.000-08:00

More photos from Calaveras County...

Old Abandoned Building

2012-01-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

I took a trip up to Northern California to visit friends and family over the holiday break. I spent a day cruisin' around Calaveras County (near Valley Springs) and was able to get some great shots. Here's a few from an old abandoned "Express" building from 1859...

Scout time

2012-01-03T10:33:00.001-08:00

Today I'll be scouting out areas for an upcoming photo shoot with Lowepro (maker of innovative camera bags). I couldn't have picked a more perfect day ;-)

1949 Ford

2012-01-02T14:51:00.000-08:00

A moment in time I was able to capture of an old 1949 Ford up in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

HAPPY 2012!!!

2012-01-02T14:47:00.001-08:00

PetSmart - volunteer photo shoot for charity

2011-12-18T22:18:00.000-08:00

On Saturday I donated my time and services to take photos at the Santee PetSmart. For every $10 photo sold, $5 of that went to San Diego Animal Rescue, which is a non-profit that provides foster care for homeless pets awaiting adoption. It was a huge success and I had a lot of fun meeting and playing with the animals ;-)

Lowepro - it's my bag, baby!

2011-12-18T22:09:00.001-08:00

I just hooked up with Lowepro (the maker of innovative camera bags) for an exciting project! I'll be testing and photographing some "top secret" new products that are yet to be announced. In addition, I'll be coordinating and organizing a collaboration between Lowepro and the SD SmugMug Photographer's User Group to get other photographer's involved. This IS my bag, baby! ;-)

Photo Love

2011-12-18T22:08:00.000-08:00

I'm in the process of updating my portfolio. Since I went pro about 5 years ago, I've accumulated thousands of photos. I love siftin' through my art and reconnecting with photos from the past...

Photographers Photographing Photographers

2011-12-18T22:02:00.000-08:00

Windansea Landscape Shot

2011-12-18T22:00:00.000-08:00

Taken during sunset at Windansea. 4 second exposure with off-camera flash at right to bring out details in the foreground.

On-line Photo Album

2011-12-18T21:56:00.000-08:00

Hey friends! Here's an on-line photo album featuring some of my work. Wait a minute - I'm not sure I'm vibin' with that word "work". Here's my photo album featuring some of my "play". Ahhh, much better ;-)

www.mindintheshutter.com/de-Alba-Photography-10x10-Album-online.pdf

Photo Album

2011-12-18T21:53:00.000-08:00

Hey all! I put together a de Alba Photography Photo Album, and wanted to share one of the pages ;-) This was a wedding party shoot from last year...

Kid Shoot

2011-12-18T21:51:00.000-08:00

Some photos from my latest kiddie shoot...

New Lighting!

2011-12-18T21:46:00.000-08:00

Just got some additional, travel/portable lighting equipment to add to the arsenal ;-) Here's a few quick shots of my first test. Both shot during dusk using a single light strobe about 10 feet away to camera right, using a 45inch reflector for diffusion and balanced with the ambient light. Stayed tuned as I take the equipment out on my off-site shoots for some high-end pro shots. ;-)

The Viking

2011-12-18T21:41:00.000-08:00

Here's some photos from a recent shoot out on San Diego Bay. The yacht, "The Viking", was for sale, so I was hired to capture interior and exterior shots to be used for the listings. I love my job! ;-)

It looks like a bebe!

2011-08-22T10:54:00.000-07:00

Here's a collage of some of the photos from a recent shoot. Thanks to Natalie and Scott for trusting me and opening up, allowing me to capture some of these intimate moments ;-)

Lens Crafter

2011-08-18T08:58:00.000-07:00

Here's one of the shots from my latest assignment. The client (PTI) was looking for a close-up, creative shot of a lens, with reflection on the glass and dark surroundings. BAM! ;-)

Me and famous Photographer Rick Sammon!

2011-08-03T22:53:00.000-07:00

Tonight I went to a seminar by photography guru Rick Sammon! He's one of my favorite photographers and I got a chance to meet him afterwards!

Set Point!

2011-07-25T23:20:00.000-07:00

I recently went on a shoot to create stock photography images with a tennis theme. Thanks to my buddy Eldred for letting me use his cool racquet and tennis balls to stage the shots. Here's a collage of some of my favorites...

That's Me!

2011-07-25T22:20:00.000-07:00

Some shots of me at my latest photo shoot. Photo credits go to my assistant for this job, Steve Marshall, aka Steve-o!

Product Shots!

2011-07-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

Here's a few of the final product shots from the Zero Waste USA photo shoot. For each product, I masked out the backgrounds in post-production. Thanks to Steve-o for being a great photo assistant and a big thanks to Tony (owner) for hiring me!

Portraiture Lighting

2011-07-25T22:14:00.000-07:00

I recently upgraded my studio lighting set-up!!! It's been a long time coming. Here's a collage of some initial test shots against a white background...

Muskles

2011-07-25T22:12:00.000-07:00

I was recently commissioned from a client to do male back and shoulder shots. Here's some of my favs...

Dandelions in the backyard!!!

2011-07-25T22:09:00.001-07:00

Fun With Balloons!

2011-07-25T22:05:00.000-07:00

San Diego Nightscape

2011-07-25T22:01:00.000-07:00

A shot of downtown from the bridge at Balboa Park - and having more fun with creating stars!

Flag Footballin' it up!

2011-07-25T21:58:00.000-07:00

I brought the camera out to a local flag football game. I thought I'd have a little fun and practice some sports photography. Although I wasn't using a zoom lens on this one, I still managed to capture a few cool shots.

Moon on the Bridge

2011-07-25T21:54:00.000-07:00

Havin' a little fun with compositing here. I captured two separate shots - one of the moon, and one of the bridge. I composited the two shots and created the "halo" effect around the moon. Then I created a 3rd composite layer of pure black, and applied a noise filter for the stars. I merged the 3 layers using masks and a "screen" blend with the stars. All in Photoshop. ;-)

Shape and Form

2011-03-13T12:40:00.000-07:00

I love how the shape, form, and grid harmonize.

Experimenting with Color and Texture

2011-03-13T12:38:00.000-07:00

Mushrooms in the Front Yard!

2011-01-18T16:05:00.000-08:00

Mushrooms in the desert? Couldn't be, could it? I guess when you get dumped on with as much rain as we did here in San Diego over the last few weeks, weird things happen. It kinda makes me wanna go down the rabbit hole...

The Conger Family

2011-01-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

Here's a collage of one of my recent shoots out at Mission Trails with the Conger family; Jeff, Amy, and Talon.

A Tuesday at the Beach

2011-01-13T12:35:00.000-08:00

The Pest Control peeps came today to spray the place for bugs, so poor me had to evacuate the house and spend 3 hours down at the beach. Of course I couldn't resist taking the camera - here's some of the photos...

Yoga Supreme

2011-01-03T12:34:00.000-08:00

Here's a collage of some samples from my latest photo shoot. Much thanks to Brooke for hiring me - and much thanks to Brooke for being such a great model and such a good sport! ;-)

Pond Sunset

2010-12-14T12:03:00.000-08:00

Over Thanksgiving, I was traveling from the Sierra Nevada foothills to Sacramento along the rural highway 16. The sun was just setting as I passed by this pond in the middle of some farmland that caught my attention. It was a two-lane highway, and the Thanksgiving traffic was crazy. I wanted to take a photo, but I had no safe place to pull over, so I decided to keep heading to Sacramento. I kept driving for another 2 miles when something inside compelled me to turn around. I eventually found a safe turn-off and headed back. I'm glad I did...

Ken and Company

2010-10-25T23:03:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I shot my very first wedding! Thanks to my new friends Ken and Lexy for hiring me. Here's a sample shot of Ken and his groomsmen/groomswoman. For this particular shot, the idea was to have a gritty, and hyper-contrasty "band" style.

He's comin' right at me!

2010-10-25T22:57:00.000-07:00

A shot of my buddy Dave flyin' down the hill at Torrey Pines Park...

Sunset With a Lotta Terra Cotta

2010-10-07T16:54:00.000-07:00

I think every sunset is beautiful - but every now and then, we get something extraordinary. It must have been something with the weird weather patterns we've been getting lately, because this one was a topper. The entire Mission Valley was covered in this surreal red-orange hue. It was almost like a dream state. I was able to capture this essence in two photos: one looking west and the other looking east...

Makeshift Light Tent

2010-08-19T07:40:00.000-07:00

A client approached me in need of some macro product shots. I thought the products would look the best if shot in a light tent. The Challenge? I didn't have a light tent and the client needed them the NEXT DAY! Ok, I'm always up for a good challenge. After calling around town and not being able to find the light tent I wanted, it was time to put my ingenuity to work. I ran to good ol' Home Depot. For under $40 I was able to locate and buy 2 daylight balanced fluorescent bulbs (to match the Speedlight on camera flash), 2 reflector dishes, and a 2x4 ft. diffusion panel. I grabbed a large cardboard box from the garage, and cut out windows on the front and sides. I then cut the light diffusion panel into two pieces and taped them over the side windows (but leaving the front open for the camera). I then lined the inside with white paper to prevent any brown color cast. White posterboard was curled and used for the seamless backdrop. I used the flaps on top as a light reflector for the camera's flash. Voilá!!! My very own makeshift light tent! The shots were completed on time, the client was happy, and I felt just a little smarter ;-) Here's a few samples of the results...

Foto Graffy

2010-07-28T18:42:00.000-07:00

And I'm off! to my photographer's Smug Mug meeting. Should be a good one tonight!

♪♫ Symmetry oh Symmetry ♪♫

2010-07-14T16:46:00.000-07:00

Outside my home, in the nearby canyon, we have rows of these giant electrical towers. Not the kind I used to climb as a kid. I'm not sure what the heck these mammoth things are - but I'm glad that they somehow provide me with the needed juice to make light bulbs illuminate, watch tv, and play on Facebook. From directly underneath, looking up, you can get a great view of the symmetrical build. Just don't tell SDG&E.

Spotlight Photo

2010-07-12T17:11:00.000-07:00

There's a spot where Mission Center Rd. crosses the San Diego River that I always find fascinating. Something about the fusion of city and nature. I usually drive past this spot in the late afternoon/early evening when the sun is low in the western sky. This time, I felt compelled to bring my camera gear and attempt to capture some imagery. As I captured this shot, I was standing on the bridge directly above the S.D. River, and just underneath the elevated trolley tracks to catch the edge of the early evening sun.

Another Pepper Weekend

2010-06-10T15:09:00.000-07:00

Just when we thought is was safe to go back into the kitchen, we once again have the "Pepperdome" set up. Check out my earlier post called "Pepperoncini Weekend" to get a re-cap. Again we are dog-sitting Pepper - this time for a week. Stricken with age and some physical disabilities, Pepper is a very (to put in mildly) dependent lil doggie. One of Pepper's favorite things to do is poop - which is why I think we connect. The other day, I took Pepper out on the lawn so he could perform his favorite activity, and I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw Pepper with a big smile, and (clumsily) running around! How did Pepper get these powers? I ran in and grabbed my camera and got some shots....

The Twilight Zone

2010-06-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

I was jogging around the neighborhood at twilight (no - really!), when I came across this very cool scene. The streetlight was hitting the back of the stop sign and casting it's shadow on the ground. In the background, you could still see the deep, dark blue of the twilight sky. After finishing my jog (I swear!), I grabbed my camera gear and headed back to the spot. Another cool thing about this photo is the use of a small aperture to bring out the starburst in the street light and I actually used a flashlight to "light paint" the stop sign so the front would be visible.

New Baby Talon

2010-05-19T06:24:00.000-07:00

A new addition to the family is always exciting, especially with a name like Talon. Napoleon Dynamite would be pretty stoked. Here' a few of the final shots from the photo shoot. Congratulations to the proud mom and dad!

No Dumping

2010-05-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

I think it was the Five Man Electrical Band that said it best - "Sign, sign, everywhere a sign, blockin' out the scenery, breakin' my mind. Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?" Ok, I'll give some props to Tesla too. But, despite our rules-filled world, sometimes you just can't argue with Mother Nature...

Spotlight Photo

2010-05-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! Hope you had a great weekend. I was recently inspired to fill an empty 5x7 frame we've had laying around. I wanted it to be something that was close and personal to us (myself and my girlfriend, Anne). In January, our hairless cat, Koala, who was a very big part of our lives, had passed away. I thought, a photo of Koala would be perfect, but which photo of her, and how would I portray her? Well, last week we watched a documentary called "The Buddha: The Story of Siddhartha". A VERY inspirational and captivating film on his life and his quest for inner peace and enlightenment. It reminded me of a photo I captured about 6 months earlier. Ya see, a friend of mine and his wife took a trip to China, and while visiting the Longhua Temple in Shanghai, they purchased an authentic Buddha statue for Anne and myself. Upon receiving this awesome gift, I set it up by the illuminated window to capture a series of macro shots. Well, if you know anything about hairless cats, they LOVE their sun - and the bright, sun-lit window sill just happened to be one of Koala's favorite hang-out spots. As I was capturing a macro shot of the profile of the Buddha, in the background, almost as if Koala had staged it, was her silhouette, in the exact same pose and profile of the buddha, almost like the shadow - a "reflection" of the Buddha and what he represents. This is the new photo in our 5x7 frame that sits on our dining room table...

Spotlight Photo

2010-05-04T23:44:00.000-07:00

Pepper the Chihuahua! See the "Pepperoncini Weekend" blog to get the story.

This photographic effect, which I call the "Hyperreal" look, was achieved through a technique of over sharpening and exaggerated detail enhancement. Then after a few local touch-ups, fixes, and a few kicks to the tires, we have our final image. Ruuuff!

Pepperoncini Weekend

2010-05-04T23:41:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we received the honors of dog-sitting "Pepper", our friend Riki's chihuahua. To say that Pepper is long in the tooth may be an understatement. Let's just say, if Pepper were in a tribe, he'd be the wise elder of the village. We built a barricaded living quarters for him in the kitchen, which I called the Pepperdome. Despite his new kingdom, he was very content to remain in his favorite bed (throne) most of the time. Early Saturday morning, I took the opportunity to capture the lil' guy. The style I created for these shots is a "painterly" effect, with desaturated colors, and exaggerated contrast. All Hail Pepper!

Maaahvelous

2010-04-28T22:54:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been dabbling more into what I'd call Intimate Portraiture Photography - a fusion of intimacy/lifestyle/glamor. This would include couples, engagement photos, pregnancy photos, newborns, glamor shots, weddings, etc...(no official weddings yet). Luckily, I have a girlfriend who's "easy on the lens" ;-) Because of all the rainfall we've been having lately, flowers have taken over San Diego. This inspired us to head out and create some of these Intimate Portraiture shots. Thanks Anne for being such a great model and such a hot mamasita! Here are a few from that day...

Spotlight Photo

2010-04-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Oh Sundays... A day of relaxation, slo-mo, and BBQ's. It was a beautiful day, and I decided to invite some friends over to hang out on the deck and catch some sunshine. So I called up my pals Jason, Jason, and Jason. I'm the one in the red shirt...

Brian & Jesi's "Preggers by the Fireplace" shoot

2010-04-14T14:17:00.000-07:00

We just finished up the 3rd and final shoot of Brian & Jesi's Pregnant photos. This last series was shot at Brian & Jesi's home, in front of their fireplace. The biggest challenge here was shooting in low light, and matching that lighting with the fire light. Complementary warm, orange tungsten lighting to match the same color temperature as the fire did the trick. And luckily I was working with two spectacular subjects (actually three!) with patience, could hold very still when necessary, and with great chemistry. Thanks Brian and Jesi for such a fun experience!

Spotlight Photo

2010-04-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

The other day I was visiting a friend of mine. We went out to his backyard to soak up some sun and chit-chat. Next thing I know, his neighbor's dog, Coco, came running up to play with us. Coco seemed so happy and full of life! I loved it - it was a great reminder for me to slow down, look around and also appreciate life. It's like the universe giving me a little nudge and saying "Yo Jason! You're never too old to experience life as if you were discovering it for the first time. Gratitude, Happiness, Reverence for Life!". Thanks Coco.

Spotlight Photo

2010-04-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

I was cruisin' through Poway the other day when a section of the road came to this intriguing dead end. It contained a fence and reflectors blocking the entrance to an old and beat-up dirt road which screamed "stay out!". Photo op maybe? Curiosity took me over - and I'm no cat - so I figured I'd be safe. I pulled over, and grabbed my camera. I walked up this steep, deserted road, following it's twist and turns for about 100 yards. When I reached the top, this was what I encountered. To me, this image leaves open so many stories. What was this property? Why was the owner so angry? What past events prompted this? If a picture is worth a thousand words, then this one is worth a million.

The Shadow Knows

2010-04-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

Most photographers know that lighting is the key essence of a photo. Sometimes, just being aware of nothing but lighting can inspire a great shot. This morning, as I was making my way to the kitchen, I caught the morning sun shining through the window and onto this horse statuette. It created this very stylized and dramatic scene with the shadow cast onto the wall. I knew it would only last a matter of minutes as the sun was quickly rising. I sprang for my gear and captured my vision...

Steve-o in Aviators

2010-04-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I was hangin' out with my buddy Steve-o at the Windansea area of San Diego. There's nothing like a Saturday afternoon in the front yard, the sun's shining, beer in hand, and good friends. Steve-o had thrown on these super-reflective aviator-style shades, and I knew this was too good to pass up. Fortunately, like any good photographer (crazy photographer?, obsessive photographer?), I had my camera gear with me. Behold - I give you "Steve-o in Aviators".

Spotlight Photo

2010-03-29T14:35:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone - welcome to baby season! Or at least that's how it seems. It appears more and more of my friends are getting plump bellies - and we're not talking beer and cake. Last weekend I did a photo shoot for my friends, Brian and Jesi (and their dog, Preta). They wanted a feature photo for their Baby Shower invites they're going to send out. They wanted a more casual, goofy photo that would let their laid-back and fun personalities shine through. I think I can say, "mission accomplished". Congrats on the new family member!

Linking My Blog with Facebook

2010-03-16T23:17:00.000-07:00

Hola! Ok, bear with me. I'm experimenting with linking my blogspot with my Facebook page. I'm sure I can figure this out without bombarding too many people with all my crrrrrap. (said in a Fat Bastard accent).

Photo of the Week

2010-03-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

While hanging out at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Hillcrest last Saturday, I captured this shot of a Brownie waving to all the paraders as they went by. I thought it perfectly defined the scene and emotion that went on that day.

Photo of the Week

2010-02-19T04:49:00.000-08:00

This shot was captured while out on the ocean last weekend for a Whale Watching expedition. The small sailboat enables a powerful perspective of the vastness of the ocean. The morning fog almost ethereally covers the mountain range which is actually showing where California ends and Mexico begins. As for the whales? Well, let's just say this time whales:1, Jason:0.

Biker at Red Light

2010-02-05T05:45:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, capturing a great moment is simply about having your camera with you. While in the car, I found myself directly behind this biker, with the cityscape of University Town Center (East La Jolla, San Diego) and this killer cloud formation behind him. Quick on the draw, I was able to freeze this moment in time.

Foggy Morning in Mission Valley

2010-01-21T07:14:00.000-08:00

Hello all! Sorry it's been so long. It seems once the holidays hit, time just slips by. I hope everyone's 2010 is off to a great start!

The other morning I was up early, just as the sun started to rise over Mission Valley. I couldn't believe the incredible scene of the rising sun illuminating this thick blanket of morning fog covering the Hillcrest/Mission Hills side of Mission Valley. The entire scene changed by the seconds, and all the morning fog was completely gone within a half hour.

These photos were captured from the bluffs overlooking Fashion Valley Mall during that short half hour window.

I'm Published!

2009-12-11T12:54:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been submitting photos to various magazines and on-line venues. It's a great way to achieve recognition and get, well, recognized. ;-) It's always a great feeling when someone appreciates your work, and they can empathize with what you are creating. But nothing says this more when you receive praise from your peers. As of this week, I am an officially published photographer! This is my first time being published, of what I hope to be only the beginning. I'm in the current issue of Shutterbug Magazine, 1/10.

They published a blog that I actually posted months ago which you can check out here: http://mindintheshutter.blogspot.com/2009/06/shopping-in-recession.html

The line for autographs start over to the left. ;-)

Photo of the Week

2009-11-23T13:13:00.000-08:00

Portraiture can be one of the greatest challenges in photography. How do you "stage" a shoot, but capture natural and spontaneous expressions? More times than not, the perfect shot ends up being when the person least expects it...

Tower of Power at Golden Hour

2009-11-23T12:56:00.000-08:00

Here's a series of images I was able to capture just as the setting sun was hiding behind the clouds. These are the giant electrical towers that run through Mission Valley. The dark horizon is where the turf meets the surf in Point Loma (near where the San Diego River runs into the Ocean).

Photo of the Week

2009-11-19T10:41:00.000-08:00

This week's featured photo is a night shot of Mission Valley. It's facing south, from the bluffs above Fashion Valley Mall, looking across to Hillcrest. This was a 30 second exposure at a small aperture of f/16 to bring out the starbursts in the lights.

A Mission Bay Morning

2009-11-12T15:24:00.000-08:00

It must have been the perfect, sunny and warm weather, but the other morning I was hit with inspiration to head to Mission Bay and capture some of this "morning mood". As I found myself being drawn towards Ski Beach at Mission Bay, I notice how calm and tranquil it was. Much different at 8am, as opposed to the hustle and bustle later in the day. Here's a few of the images I was able to bring home...

Get Your Yacht On!

2009-11-10T15:38:00.000-08:00

Well, I just recently had my most challenging assignment yet. I was hired to shoot interior and exterior shots of a yacht that recently went on the market. It was the middle of the day, and the sun was shining in through all the windows into the much darker interior. The contrasting light was definitely the most challenging I've encountered. I captured all these shots with no controlled lighting! I was able to work around it by shooting at different exposures and "fusing" the photos together to get a fuller exposure. And I won't even start about the lower interior of the yacht - no windows, low lighting, and bathrooms not much bigger than an outhouse. But I love the challenge, I love the experience, and I love learning. I kinda loved that yacht too - whew! The greatest thing about this assignment was gaining invaluable experience and how to do a better job with better techniques next time. A big THANK YOU to Mark Gibbons who hired me and trusted me, knowing that it would be my first yacht shoot. It only gets better from here ;-)

Rises and Sets

2009-11-03T13:37:00.000-08:00

Hello world! I hope everyone had a fun and safe Spook Day - a.k.a. Halloween. It must be the change of the seasons, but we've been having some spectacular sunrises and sunsets. I was able to capture both of these over the weekend - each taken from my balcony overlooking Mission Valley, here in San Diego. The sunrise had this amazing hue of the deepest red/orange I have ever seen. And I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this super-thick blanket of fog rolling inward through the valley as the sun was going down.

Photo of the Week

2009-10-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

Ahhh the famous "eyeball" shot. I recently put together a "Lil Book of Macros", and this was one of the featured photos in the book. I actually captured this shot by bouncing diffused light off the ceiling to retain the softness and even lighting. And of course, a little touch-up in Photoshop - enhancing the eye color and pulling back the detail and saturation in the skin. Here's looking at you......

Make Me Retro!

2009-09-25T14:28:00.000-07:00

I don't know what it is about the retro look. Maybe it's just that I like things to look different, with it's own unique flavor. In the past few years I have been delving deeper into different effects of the retro look. Call it what you will - retro, throwback, old school, vintage - but they all give a certain "feeling" and "mood". The effects can turn a regular looking photo into something unique and creative. I am currently playing around with a new effect I am calling "Make Me Retro". Here's a few samples of the look. It's still under the "polishing" stages, but I'm really liking this..... Far Out!

Photo of the Week

2009-09-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

I always get hit with a sense of calmness and peace whenever the hustle and bustle stops. Even if it's for a brief moment. While at this very busy park the other day, filled to the brim with kids, not only did the swing set become vacant, but it actually became vacant long enough to become still.

Photo of the Week

2009-08-31T18:09:00.000-07:00

I just finished up an Engagement shoot in Balboa Park. The couple are actually friends of mine - Tamara and Chris. Balboa Park makes such a great location for this type of shoot, with all the intricate architecture and prolific flora and fauna. And, of course, you gotta have great subjects - and they were....naturals. Thank you Tamara and Chris for this opportunity. This photo is one of my favs from the shoot. I don't think Tamara was complaining too much either. Congrats to both of you!

Nighttime Zoo

2009-08-27T16:19:00.000-07:00

Here's some more shots from the nighttime zoo.

Photo of the Week

2009-08-24T20:54:00.000-07:00

Last week I finally got to experience the Nighttime Zoo at the San Diego Zoo. The best way to describe it - less people, more animals. And by animals, I'm not talking about the children. I'm talking actual lions, tigers, and bears. This shot, which I call "Monkey Love" was actually taken in very low light. I used a 300mm zoom lens with the light sensitivity (ISO) cranked way up. This creates a lot of "noise". But thanks to a little post-production magic, I'm able to remove most of the noise. I also sprinkled a little monkey dust on the post-production process to give it that high dynamic range look - where you can see all the details in the shadows and in the highlights. It also helps when you're wearing a yellow hat.

Balboa Park

2009-08-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a series of photos from last weekend while cruisin around Balboa Park in San Diego. That "hyperreal" effect is achieved through special sharpening techniques I apply in post production. A great way to bring out detail and give it an interesting flavor.

Photo of the Week

2009-08-17T12:34:00.000-07:00

If the three most popular things in real estate is "Location, Location, Location", then for photography, it would be "Lighting, Lighting, Lighting." Even the word "Photography" means, "Light" and "Writing". Writing with Light. I captured this image - converting it to black and white, to bring more attention to the dramatic lighting.

Spider at the Front Door

2009-08-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

It's almost as if I actually heard a knock at the front door, when I opened it and saw this. I was amazed at the size of, not only the spider itself, but of the full-blown web. I knew I had to capture this moment. Getting in close was the scary part. I mean, maybe these things are black-belts and can leap 30ft through the air. Who knows... I was able to get off a few shots, and then suddenly, it looked up at me and opened it's mouth - almost as if it had enough of me - giving me a warning to leave before he gets all ninja on me. My entire body filled with chills and fear, but I got the shot, which is what you see here. Then I happily, and quickly left.

Romance on the Rocks

2009-08-04T15:56:00.000-07:00

This moment was captured while hiking around the trails at Sunset Cliffs in Ocean Beach. The high tonal range and hyperreal appearance was achieved by a technique where I "digitally develop" the same photo twice. Once for the highlights, and once for the darks. Then I fuse the two photos together and I'm able to achieve this pseudo high dynamic range effect. I think this is where I'm supposed to wave my digital wand.....

Draw Me a Photo

2009-07-31T14:39:00.000-07:00

Another style that I really dig is the hand-rendered or hyperstylized look. I admit, it's a little trendy, but it's not an easy look to achieve, but when you can get the perfect look, it really gives another dimension to the photos. And it doesn't work well on all photos - it seems to be very judgmental. Below are some of my experimental renditions of this style....

Groovy Color

2009-07-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been really into exploring colors. I've created a coloring technique which gives my photographs a very hyper-exaggerated flair of color. I like it so much, I actually made a name for it - it's called "Make Me Groovy". With this in mind, last weekend I went in search of some subjects that would best show off this technique. Behold my grooviness!

Photo of the Week

2009-07-27T15:46:00.000-07:00

Here was a shot I captured using a shallow depth of field with this interesting perspective. With the electrical wires strung through the clouds, I can't help but think of ol' Ben Franklin.

Jesi and Brian's Wedding

2009-07-22T17:54:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday I had the privilege to attend the wedding of my friends, Jesi and Brian. For some crazy reason (I wonder why) I had a strong desire to bring my camera gear. I guess I'm just one not to miss any photo opps! Although they had a hired photographer, I still thought I might be able to get some decent shots to complement the collection. Of course, I was glued to my seat, and I couldn't control the lighting at any point, but some of the shots came out ok, all things considering. And we won't even mention the champagne. Oh, and the one where they are walking to the customized stalls - let's just thank Photoshop for that one. Shhhh, they haven't seen that photo yet ;-)

Photo of the Week

2009-07-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

This was a photo shoot I set up in my kitchen. My goal was to capture the essence of water in motion. Makes me wish I had a swimming pool...

Flossin' on 24's

2009-07-13T22:53:00.000-07:00

Here's a few more shots from the Photo of the Week story.

Photo of the Week

2009-07-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

While enjoying the beach with friends at Crown Point, I came across this classic Chevy scraper with full hydraulics and 24 inch gold rims. Not being one to miss a "golden opportunity", I grabbed my camera and asked the owner permission to take some shots of his sweet ride. Luckily, "Little Shaq", as he was called, was more than happy to let me shoot away. Here we have a close up of one of the rims. Midas would have been jealous.

Counting Crows

2009-07-09T22:37:00.000-07:00

A few days ago at sunset, hundreds of crows came flying overhead from the west. It was a very surreal sight. Where were they coming from? Where were they going? Do they take bathroom breaks? The questions were limitless. Luckily I was able to leap to my camera and capture a few shots before they were gone as quickly as they came. Nevermore.

Full Moon

2009-07-07T13:22:00.000-07:00

Well, today is the day of the full moon! So, that should either bring up thoughts of old high school pranks, or werewolves - or both at the same time. Last night I grabbed the opportunity to photograph the full moon. Moon shots are extremely tricky, because of the brightness factor in the night sky, and the distance factor. I used a tripod and a 300mm zoom lens with this shot (because of my sensor on the camera, actual zoom was about 480mm). Stopping down the exposure is also crucial to capturing the detail. Here's the final product, and I was able to get it all done before the hair and fangs kicked in..... hoooowwwlllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Photo of the Week

2009-07-06T18:31:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a fun and safe 4th of July! If you're like me, you were outdoors somewhere - maybe at the beach - which is what inspired me to create this image for Photo of the Week. To create this image, in Photoshop I applied color burning and vivid light effects to the original photo. I was able to create this dramatic, over-stylized gritty look - which I like so much, I'm going to use it on other images. The name of my newly created effect? "Drama for your Llama". Stay tuned for more...

Happy Birthday!

2009-06-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me, happy birthday dear Jason, happy birthday to me. And many more...... Time to blow out 38 candles - see you in a bit....

Photo of the Week

2009-06-29T13:45:00.000-07:00

This week's photo was created while on the same photo shoot as the Shopping Cart series. This is actual evidence that I was, indeed, train dodging ;-) I call this shot - "Loco Motion". Ok, so maybe I'm making it sound a little more dangerous than it actually was - or am I? ;-) This shot was achieved by slowing the shutter speed to 1/8 of a second. Unfortunately, I didn't have a tripod at this time - but I was still able to pull it off with a steady hand and a little help from the good ol' image stabilization on my lens.

Shopping in the Recession

2009-06-24T10:02:00.000-07:00

On the way to my studio each day, while on the 5, I pass over this giant drainage system. And each time, I catch a glimpse of this shopping cart way off in the back. I thought - "that would make an interesting shot", but what are the chances it would still be there if I ever went back? Well, after about a week of seeing it everyday, the shopping cart never left. I think at one point, it may have even called my name. So yesterday, I waited until the sun was nice and low, creating a softer, warmer light, and took the side roads on the search for the Shopping Cart in the Drainage. Eventually I found the spot. After jumping through dirt fields, crossing railroad tracks, and scaling the drainage walls, I was able to position my self to capture these interesting compositions. The best part - I was able to come out unscathed - despite slipping and almost falling many times, and train dodging twice. The worst part - that's not mud in the drainage system.

Photo of the Week

2009-06-22T11:03:00.000-07:00

Happy summer everyone! This week's Photo of the Week is a sneak peek at a series I have been working on. It's a campaign of nostalgic-looking photos - most of them being centered around the beach/surfing theme. The effect is created by using a Photoshop Action called "Old School" from Totally Rad!. Of course, I have my hand in the creation of the photo - the subject, lighting, composition, and some tonal tweaking. I also manually apply the old lens effect with the vignette and blur. And for an added aged look, I hit it with that distressed effect. Voila! Was it taken in 1909, or was it created in 2009?

When the series is complete later this summer, I'll have a Coffee Table book available with all these "throwback" photos. I'll keep ya posted. The photos will also be used in some other "fun" ways. And as always, all of my photos are available in print at any sizes - just ask!

Enjoy the first week of Summer 2009!

Klassy Koala

2009-06-18T17:34:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen a hairless cat? Besides Mr. Bigglesworth? We happen to have one. Her name is Koala. I can honestly say there is nothing on this planet even close to her looks, personality, and disposition. That's why we think she may actually be an alien, disguised in this elaborate costume of flesh and bone, to observe and study us. Then she somehow reports back to the Mothership with super-intelligent and technologically advanced communication methods. Like a cross between Men In Black and Alien. Despite this trickery, I can honestly say, to know her is to love her.

The other day, she was on the window sill as the sun was low on the horizon, creating this perfect dramatic lighting. I'm not sure what she was looking at - it could have been her Mothership, but non the less, I took advantage of the opportunity to capture the moment. In post production, I applied a warm filter and some softening effects. Behold the Klassy Koala!

Photo of the Week

2009-06-16T10:27:00.000-07:00

Would you believe me if I told you this photo actually took almost an hour of shooting to get the perfect pose, focus, and composition? I never knew just how shy a spider can be. You'd think with their ego and authority that they throw around they'd be a little more unperturbed. But, then, there I go stereotyping again. I guess every spider has his own issues to deal with, just like anyone. Fortunately, after a little positive reinforcement and flattery, I got him to open up a bit and relax.