Back from the photo posting hiatus . . .

My time has been filled with travel, work and general laziness. ;) I've been slacking on the photo posts and taking pictures in general (oh no!), but on my travels to Paris & Amsterdam for a half-vacation/half-work trip, I did manage to take a few shots that I ended up liking.

Paris is gorgeous. I love the laid back atmosphere. The food....to die for. I swear the secret is in France's butter.

The Paris skyline from the top of Notre Dame. Holy cow, why couldn't elevators been invented in the year 1100? So many steps on a hot day in a narrow and windy passageway, not good! Still, it was worth it for the views. [ ISO 100 - f/9.0 @ 40mm - 1/250s ]


There were a couple of non-working fountains that made great for getting reflections of the Eiffel Tower. [ ISO 200 - f/2.8 @ 33mm - 6s ]


Another picture with the reflection with the full Eiffel Tower in the image [ ISO 250 - f/2.8 @ 24mm - 0.6s ] and a shot from a corridor leading to the entrance of the Louvre [ ISO 200 - f/4.0 @ 55mm - 1/250s ]

      

I don't know why I love this picture. Maybe it just says a little something about Paris life on the weekend. So many people come out and walk, run, play tennis, float there remote control boats or just to soak up the sun during the summer at the Jardin du Luxembourg, it's just a great place to people watch and take in a few candid photos. [ ISO 200 - f/2.8 @ 17mm - 1/4000s ]


I didn't get as much time to visit the sites in Amsterdam, unfortunately. Something they call work got in the way of that. I did manage to see a few things. Went to the Van Gogh Museum, the Heineken Brewery tour, some little thing they call the Red Light District and some of the most amazing graffiti I have ever seen.

I'm telling you, a photographer could spend days just taking pictures of the graffiti in Amsterdam. So colorful and artistic and just prime for the picking for awesomely color saturated photos. [ ISO 640 - f/3.5 @ 20mm - 1/40s ]


Old spigots that were used for testing beer during the brewing process in the olden days at the Heineken brewery tour. I was only supposed to be allowed 2 ice cold Heinekens on the tour, but somehow I managed to drink 5. Oops. [ ISO 1000 - f/2.8 @ 35 mm - 1/40s ]

Wedding at Seascape . . .

Had a great time spending the weekend in the Monterey Bay area to attend a friend's wedding. Managed to fit in a wedding, the aquarium and part of the 17 Mile Drive.


Mmmm....luscious bokeh. Who can deny giving some love to the bokeh? [ ISO 200 - 95mm @ f/2.8 - 1/6400s ]


None other than a sea shell cake at the Seascape resort. [ ISO 1600 - 55mm @ f/2.8 - 1/200s ]


My attempt at a vintage looking shot. This was a tough shot to grab, it was a very bright day with haze hanging over the ocean side and had to shoot at the sun. Had no fill flash as I was too far away for flash so exposure was tough to nail, but I managed to grab one without the faces completely under exposed. [ ISO 160 - 185mm @ f/3.5 - 1/400s ]


The lovely couple showing off their moves. [ ISO 1600 - 55mm @ f/3.5 - 1/60s ]

The Lions are Dancing . . .

A buddy and his brother had a photo gig taking pictures of the 38th anniversary celebration of the Leung's White Crane Dragon and Lion Dance Association and I tagged along for a portion of it to help out. Amazing how many people are part of the association just in San Francisco. I think it's over 300+ people that are active in the association.

Lion's head through the crowd. The streets were packed waiting for the dragons and lions to come out. [ISO 100 - 200mm @ f/2.8 - 1/1600]


Eye of the lion. [ISO 100 - 200mm @ f/2.8 - 1/2000]


The Dragon hissing. [ISO 100 - 75mm @ f/2.8 - 1/3200]