Category Archives: USA

Amazing Photography of The United States of America

The Greatest Sunrise on Earth

Posted on June 13th, 2016 by

The Greatest

I have been a good number of places and seen a LOT of sunrises and sunsets. I admit a preference to the latter of these as they aren’t placed so darn early in the morning. The benefit to the former, is most people don’t bother to get up early enough to see them so they tend to not be as well attended as the sunsets. I also have to admit a preference in sunrise and the greatest sunrise on Earth is in Maui, Hawaii atop Haleakalā. With the right weather, the light and color move in a dance that can rarely be fully witnessed. From the top the volcano you can fully experience the symphony of nature playing it’s beauty. It’s a spectacle like none other and one I hope everyone gets to see.

The Greatest Sunrise on Earth
The Greatest Sunrise on Earth

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 22 July, 2012
  • Focal length: 16mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1.3s
  • Title: The Greatest Sunrise on Earth

Cactus Flower Oahu, Hawaii

Posted on June 2nd, 2016 by

Visiting Bee

As I hiked up Lanikai Mountain in Oahu I came across this lonely cactus. It had been abused by unkind passers by, stepped on, trampled and cut. I noticed however a lovely flower. Regardless of its pain and abuse by the world, it produced something beautiful. While I was noticing this, a bee seemed very happy to visit the lonely and discarded wretch on that dry hill. I took this as a divine lesson, and try to keep it in my heart.

Cactus Flower Oahu, Hawaii
Cactus Flower Oahu, Hawaii

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/2.8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 27 May, 2015
  • Focal length: 35mm
  • ISO: 100
  • Shutter speed: 1/2000s
  • Title: Cactus Flower Oahu, Hawaii

Remember…The Enola Gay

Posted on May 30th, 2016 by

Remember

Today we recognize Memorial Day and those who died serving the armed forces and also, hopefully the costs of war. My visit to Air and Space in D.C. was a highlight of visit. The most impact came from this shiny Boeing B-29 Superfortress. It’s big, but size is common in this hanger. It’s shiny, but there are a number of unpainted highly polished planes around. It’s impact comes from the simple lettering of her name…Enola Gay. The plane helped end the War and saved untold numbers of American lives all while killing 140,000 Japanese. Today, remember and be thankful for our service men and women who lost their lives defending our Nation. Remember too the horrible cost of war for all and say thank you the Veterans in your life…for they carry an intimate knowledge of these costs, that we will never understand.

Remember…The Enola Gay
Remember…The Enola Gay

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/2.8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 29 May, 2012
  • Focal length: 25mm
  • ISO: 1600
  • Shutter speed: 1/200s
  • Title: Remember...The Enola Gay

High Atop the Awa’awapuhi Trail, Kauai, Hawaii

Posted on May 23rd, 2016 by

Big Hiking Payoff

There are so many spectacular hikes in Hawaii. The Awa’awapuhi Trail in Kauai is probably my favorite BIG payoff. The hike itself if moderate and the scenery along the way is a bit…well meh, but the end of the trail will make your jaw fall to the ground. It is a truly breathtaking sight.

High Atop the Awa’awapuhi Trail, Kauai, Hawaii
High Atop the Awa’awapuhi Trail, Kauai, Hawaii

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/8
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 25 May, 2015
  • Focal length: 16mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Shutter speed: 1/640s
  • Title: High Atop the Awa’awapuhi Trail, Kauai, Hawaii

The Most Impressive Room in the Chicago Cultural Center

Posted on March 24th, 2016 by

On Seeing

An interesting thing happened the last two weeks that I didn’t entirely intend. Perhaps you can see it too, but the last two Monday’s photos were my more modern post processing technique. The last two Thursday’s were a mismatch of old and new. Today’s photo and In the Garden of St Elizabeth’s were photos I had processed long ago and felt were unfinished, something was missing. I found these years later like little gifts in a Lightroom folder marked Needs More Work. Combining the old and the new made for something that felt more complete. Maybe that is what I am always doing here. Exploring, learning, testing my limits.

The Most Impressive Room in the Chicago Cultural Center
The Most Impressive Room in the Chicago Cultural Center

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/4
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 12 October, 2012
  • Focal length: 16mm
  • ISO: 1600
  • Shutter speed: 1/160s
  • Title: The Most Impressive Room in the Chicago Cultural Center

In the Garden of St Elizabeth’s

Posted on March 17th, 2016 by

Church Garden

This beautiful little scene was waiting quietly for us one hot May afternoon. It was a welcome respite from the blazing sun and a serene spot to sit and contemplate. When you find spots that seem like a gift, this can be a great time to stop, and smell the proverbial roses, metaphorically or in this case the real thing!

In the Garden of St Elizabeth’s
In the Garden of St Elizabeth’s

Photo Technical Info

Perfect Beaches in Kauai

Posted on February 22nd, 2016 by

Finding Your Place

It’s no secret that I LOVE Hawaii. It’s not the sun exactly, or the beach, it’s not beautiful people or some island style. It is all of these things, but rolled together and a calm that you rarely see on the mainland. This beach in Kauai is one of my perfect spots. Both times I have come here were early and I had the place all to myself. I don’t think it’s probably every really busy, but I love the way the forest grove shades my pale skin from the strong Hawaiian sun. I can sit here and think, be with myself, be with the ocean. In the world, it is one of my perfect spots just to be.

Perfect Beaches in Kauai
Perfect Beaches in Kauai

Photo Technical Info

Capitol Iron Work

Posted on February 15th, 2016 by

US Capitol Detail

There are so many wonderful works of art that function as every day objects. This handrail support on the back stairs of the U.S. Capitol Building is a great example. It just there to support people, but it has a stateliness, something that reminds me of an abstract eagle soaring above the swirls below. It shows us the ebb, the balance of moderate discourse. It’s just some old thing, that some designer thought long about. Some old thing that some craftsman poured sweat and life into. It spends its days in the elements largely unnoticed, but there some will see and be in awe of its functional beauty.

Capitol Iron Work
Capitol Iron Work

Photo Technical Info

The Library of Congress Skylight

Posted on February 8th, 2016 by

Color Troubles

I took this photo of the grandiose skylight at the U.S. Library of Congress years ago, but because of the difficult lighting conditions, its been in a folder on my computer called “Needs More Work”. Inside and outside color temperature ends up with a mess of tones, so as I was looking around this weekend I finally figured I should do what I almost always do in these situations and work in black and white! Amazing!

The Library of Congress Skylight
The Library of Congress Skylight

Photo Technical Info

  • Aperture: ƒ/4
  • Camera: Canon EOS 5D Mark II
  • Taken: 28 May, 2012
  • Focal length: 16mm
  • ISO: 400
  • Shutter speed: 1/50s

On the Beach in Kauai

Posted on January 14th, 2016 by

Crazy Sunset Tones

I have been experimenting again. I almost didn’t share this photo. It seemed too extreme to me when I processes it. I have been playing with some of Trey’s Lightroom Presets. They are surprisingly fun and I love deconstructing them to find new techniques in Lightroom!

Pro Tip…never use any preset on its default values, but rather as a starting point (wedding photographers, feel free to ignore that completely).

On the Beach in Kauai
On the Beach in Kauai

Photo Technical Info