Phillips Photography

Congrats Lo and Ty!

2011-07-27T22:00:00.003-05:00

Tenmile Station in Breckenridge, Colorado - site of Laura and Tyler's incredible wedding a couple weeks ago. 10,000+ ft elevation!

Cymbal

2010-12-13T22:10:00.002-06:00

Fleur-de-lis

2010-09-19T17:07:00.003-05:00

One more from the Air & Water Show. The Blue Angels approached the lakefront from the east, and then split into four as they hit the beach -- left, right, up, and straight ahead. The jet at the bottom flew right over our building.

Fly By

2010-08-26T21:59:00.002-05:00

The Chicago Air and Water Show was about two weeks ago, and we had front row seats on our 43rd floor balcony! The show was technically Saturday and Sunday, but they did full dress rehearsals the two days before, so we had 4 straight days of fighter jets buzzing the building. The Blue Angels were certainly the highlight, flying less than 100 feet above the top of our building on their way towards the lake -- LOUD! (Laura and some others ducked, understandably). They're flying at about 500 feet in this shot. Big thanks to Lo and Tyler for coming by to join the party!

The Last Frontier

2010-06-20T18:14:00.004-05:00

Alaska! Rented a BMW G650 GS this past week and spent a few days cruising around Anchorage, Seward and Denali. Could've gone for a little more sun and warmth, but still had a great time enjoying the beauty of our 49th state.

One More

2010-05-28T17:44:00.000-05:00

Dan and Nick

2010-05-27T23:32:00.008-05:00

A couple shots from last night of my buddies Dan and Nick at the always classy Gallery Cabaret.

The One Hundredth Post!

2010-05-04T21:28:00.000-05:00

Tour de Belize

2010-04-19T21:42:00.001-05:00

1979

2010-04-12T22:46:00.000-05:00

Think about it...

2010-03-27T16:27:00.000-06:00

Caye Caulker, Bird Sanctuary

2010-03-20T12:17:00.000-06:00

Recess From Recess

2010-03-15T20:15:00.001-06:00

A close-up of a swing in the playground of the church/school from a few posts ago.

Fran's

2010-03-11T23:21:00.002-06:00

I'm not sure why Fran advertises her operation as "fast food", but I suppose everything is relative on an island whose motto is "Go Slow". We ate dinner at Fran's one night, in which Fran herself served us with all sorts of good fish as we sat at the picnic table next to her grill.

Caye Caulker

2010-03-03T20:58:00.002-06:00

This is a 30-second exposure from our dock at Barefoot Beach Belize. The long exposure flattens the water, and the dock posts look like they're descending into a thick mist. Kind of nifty.

Porch of the Church

2010-02-24T20:21:00.003-06:00

This is the small Catholic church and school on Caye Caulker, about a half hour before sunset. Lots of interesting lines and shapes in this shot, from the arches below the cross to the angled roof to the diagonals of the fence at the bottom. The colors looked kind of cool in the late afternoon sun, too.

Un-Belize-Able

2010-02-23T21:41:00.003-06:00

Aaaahhhhh... take me back there. Just returned from a fantastic week in Belize on the tiny island of Caye Caulker. Nice to get the camera back out a few times, in between hammock sessions, where I must have logged about 100 hours over the course of the trip. Had a great time with Steph, Cullan, Abby, Clay, Cassie and Chip... and Jen! Many more pics to come.

Brrrrrrr....

2010-01-31T16:47:00.002-06:00

A chilly weekend in Chicago -- so it's back to my lazy man's photography, from the balcony.

Dubrovnik, Croatia

2010-01-24T10:08:00.002-06:00

Dipping back into the cruise bag again! Fear not, I'll be in Belize for a week in three weeks, so hopefully I'll be able to replenish my albums then. But for now, this is a shot from where the Dubrovnik old city wall meets the water, a great place to grab a beer and enjoy the views.

Corfu, Greece

2009-11-12T16:34:00.000-06:00

Ancient Ruins of Ephesus (Turkey)

2009-11-06T10:56:00.000-06:00

Corfu, Greece

2009-10-28T09:48:00.002-06:00

I'll be honest, I don't know anything about the building or statue in this shot. All I remember is Mike, Christa and Jen getting really annoyed that I kept falling behind taking pictures as we made our way to the market. So I hurriedly fired this one off, and was pleasantly surprised with the symmetry when I looked at it later.

Atop the Basilica

2009-10-26T15:25:00.002-06:00

On our descent of the incredible hike that is the dome of St. Peter's, we stopped by the top of Carlo Maderno's facade, where Jesus and the apostles wave to (bless) the crowds in St. Peter's Square.

Santorini, Greece

2009-10-23T12:04:00.005-05:00

What a day it was in Santorini, Greece! The small island is formed by about 2/3 of a volcanoe's rim rising above the surface of the sea, shaped like a crescent moon. A single main road bisects the length of the rim, with incredible views in all directions. We rented some 4-wheelers and descended from the main road to a number of small beaches scattered across the island. It's a miracle I didn't ride off the road while being distracted by views like these.

2009-10-06T16:47:00.002-05:00

Whew... so much pressure! Dad and Aunt Deedee, this is for you. I'm going to get out and get some new pics soon, but for now, some more cruise highlights. Above, a picture taken in our first port city of Dubrovnik, Croatia. The fortified ancient city wall can be seen at the top. And below, a picture taken from the ship's top deck as we approached Dubrovnik -- a pilot familiar with the narrow channels boarded the boat to navigate us to the dock.

Day and Night

2009-09-29T17:30:00.004-05:00

The view from the balcony of our new apartment in Chicago. The balcony faces the lake to the East, and this is the view facing Southeast, with the Hancock Building at the left and the new Trump Tower at the right. 43rd floor!

The Tiber, Roma

2009-08-11T15:25:00.000-05:00

Corfu

2009-07-30T09:52:00.002-05:00

Alright, back to the cruise. One of my favorites from Corfu, Greece. The polarizing filter worked pretty well here, as those little white clouds really pop (but I might have overdone it a tad). Wouldn't mind being back there right now...

Streetfighter

2009-07-30T09:46:00.003-05:00

My new toy -- a 1995 Triumph Speed Triple. The 2nd model year of Triumph's iconic "streetfighter" bike -- a sport bike without plastic fairing on the front. Eight hundred Eighty-five cubic centimeters of pure manliness, or, early mid-life crisis.

Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II

2009-07-13T14:51:00.002-05:00

On our way to St. Peter's, we crossed the Tiber River via Ponte Vittorio Emanuele II, where a few clusters of sculptures line the bridge. I particularly liked this one, as the sense of motion is so pronounced.

And We're Back!

2009-07-09T12:04:00.002-05:00

Laura, Pops -- It is a miracle that you still check this blog given my poor posting performance. But I'm now back in full force with a boatload of pics to post from the cruise (no pun intended).

This is probably one of my favorites, from Santorini, Greece. I split from the rest of the crew about an hour before we needed to hike back down to the sea, and went off on my own for some exploration and non-trinket shopping. The sun had dipped a bit lower at that point and made for some interesting shots. More to come soon!

A Picture

2009-01-27T19:04:00.003-06:00

I've posted this photo simply to appease my dad and sister, who have repeatedly been requesting new posts. I don't really like this photo all that much -- I'm clearly in need of new material, but this Winter has not been very conducive to picture-taking. Enjoy Dad and Laura!

Cobblestone Path

2008-10-08T20:50:00.002-05:00

Another shot from the Ute Trail off of Trail Ridge Road. The summit of Longs Peak can be seen in the distance, left of center. Look closely and you can see the snow in the Trough.

Rocky Mountain Rise

2008-10-02T19:46:00.002-05:00

This shot was taken on the Longs hike, shortly after emerging above timberline -- at the Chasm Lake / summit junction.

14,255

2008-10-01T19:18:00.002-05:00

From the summit of Longs Peak, at 14,255 feet! The medallion at the bottom is embedded in the highest rock on the relatively flat summit, and was placed there by the U.S. Geological Survey. This view faces East.

Snowy Ridge

2008-09-28T19:38:00.002-05:00

Another shot from along Trail Ridge Road in Rockey Mountain National Park. And also another example of why I love my new superwide lens. It allowed me to get the cool pattern of the wooden fence against the snow at the bottom of the frame, while also capturing the dramatic cloud patterns toward the top. The resulting effect captures the incredible vastness of the mountain range.

Longs at Dawn

2008-09-23T21:48:00.003-05:00

A few hours after starting our ascent of Longs Peak (elevation 14,255 ft.) and not long after popping above timberline, we enjoyed a great sunrise and really fantastic views of the summit, with a reddish glow cast across the East Face. To get a sense of scale, that's Tyler and Aslon in the bottom right corner of the frame.

Trouble On the Horizon

2008-09-22T19:50:00.004-05:00

Get ready for a Black & White onslaught. Just got back from an incredible trip to Boulder, Colorado, where my sister Laura and her boyfriend Tyler reside. I wasn't thrilled with the color composition in some of my photos, but found that the deep contrast was perfect for B&W. I took this shot on my first day there, having driven through Estes Park and up Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. I parked the car on the road's shoulder and hiked about 2 miles along the Ute Trail. On my way back to the car, some extremely dark storm clouds rolled in from the West, making the sky on the horizon much darker than the sunlit path in front of me. My superwide lens allowed me to get the caran, path, and mountain range into the frame.

More to come soon. Longs Peak is next!

Steel Co.

2008-09-10T23:28:00.002-05:00

Pretty much sums up the Allentown-Bethlehem area. The remnants of the steel industry remain, though not in their former glory. The full sign reads "Lehigh Structural Steel Co."

2008-09-07T14:24:00.005-05:00

2nd post of the week! After weeks in Allentown, I finally decided to take my camera out there, as there were a few things I wanted to shoot that I drove by to and from the hospital each day. Glad that I did, as I caught some stuff that I was pretty happy with.

The shot above was taken with my 70-300mm zoom -- this is an old sign for a spa that no longer exists. Instead, an ugly concrete cylindrical structure serves as the backdrop (maybe a water treatment facility?). The low sun made for really strong contrast and dramatic shadows, along with the soft yellow light on the concrete background. More to come soon!

Road to Nowhere

2008-09-01T17:19:00.002-05:00

So I'm pretty sure no one actually checks this site for updates any more (of the 5 or so that were checking), with the possible exception of my extremely loyal and ever-hopeful sister Laura -- although she has a job now, so she's probably not looking either.

That said, my project in gorgeous Allentown, PA is almost over and I really do plan to get out and take some shots this Fall. More updates are coming!

This shot was taken in New Buffalo, Michigan in late July at Jeff Nelson's bachelor party. Nelly, Mike Nelson, Shrage, Flo and Shumaker are seen laboring up the hill away from the beach after a long day of boozin and sunbathing...

Bean Bender

2008-01-14T01:55:00.001-06:00

Millennium Park in Chicago, with the famous Cloudgate sculpture in the foreground (or, The Bean, as we call it here). The slight distortion on the buildings at left is a bit bothersome to me, but I like the concept.

Untitled

2008-01-08T22:36:00.001-06:00

A train passes waiting passengers in the NYC subway.

Wormhole

2008-01-07T21:56:00.000-06:00

A little architectural photography: A skylight in the atrium of the U of Chicago Graduate School of Business.

Million Dollar Ranch

2007-12-31T14:15:00.001-06:00

From my Southern California trip. The picket fences are offset because the street is on a hill that descends to the beach not far below. I like the simplicity of this house, and the parallel lines of the roof and the small door covering.

Northern Beach

2007-12-23T19:19:00.001-06:00

Malibu

2007-12-19T18:13:00.001-06:00

Another shot from Southern California with my new Sigma lens. The wide angle allowed me to get a bit of both the water and the hills in the frame, while some slight stretching at the lower corners causes the footprints to point toward the subject, the lifeguard cabin.

Pacific Sunset

2007-12-16T15:59:00.000-06:00

My first post of a picture taken with my brand new Sigma 10-20mm Super Wide Angle lens. I had alot of fun playing with my new toy out in Southern California, where I spent last week with Mike and Spence. It really expands what I'm able to capture in a frame and creates some interesting effects. In this pic, the slight distortion at the corners stretches out the clouds and waves, giving it a more dramatic and powerful look. More to come...

Survivor

2007-11-19T20:25:00.001-06:00

Took this shot yesterday along Lake Michigan in Sturgeon Bay, MI, just north of Petoskey, Jen's hometown. Despite the wind and low temperature, the coast and dunes were gorgeous. The low winter sun and thick clouds made for really great contrast and deep colors. The white bark of this tree really jumped out at me as Jen and I drove by, prompting us to stop and enjoy the scenery.

Leafburst

2007-11-10T19:10:00.000-06:00

Singapore River at Night

2007-11-07T19:53:00.000-06:00

On the Beaten Path

2007-10-29T22:38:00.000-06:00

Urban Quilt

2007-10-29T11:11:00.000-06:00

Back alleys in Chicago are fun to explore because many of the buildings are very old (even if their front facades have been renovated). Additions from different eras often intersect to make an interesting patchwork of construction.

Bolt to the Sun

2007-10-23T15:54:00.000-05:00

Flying Off Axis

2007-10-17T18:12:00.000-05:00

My attempt at panning. The idea is to follow a moving subject against a stationary background. So in this shot, I moved the camera in sync with the swing. Relative to the moving camera, the swing was stationary and the background was moving (thus the blurred ferris wheel and the frozen swing). This technique is pretty tough and takes practice. I definitely have some room for improvement, as the girls and swing are more blurry than I'd like.

Vang Vieng Panorama

2007-10-14T20:46:00.001-05:00

Going to back to my Southeast Asia trip of June 2006, this is a shot from Vang Vieng, Laos. Note the fishermen peering into the stream below the bridge that appears to be made of twigs (right side of the frame). What's crazy about this region of the world, in my opinion, is that it's more beautiful when the skies are overcast. The earthy colors are so intense that they seem to stand out more under gray skies

Buckingham Fountain, Chicago

2007-10-10T21:48:00.000-05:00

Under the Table and Dreaming

2007-10-08T14:41:00.000-05:00

Wish I had thought of this title. Thanks DMB. This is a daytime version of the previous post, taken at Navy Pier.

Trippin'

2007-10-05T22:45:00.000-05:00

I took this photo today, and did not subject it to any editing or enhancement. This is just as the camera caught it. Big prize to the first person to guess what it is. Please submit guesses via "Comments."

UPDATE: Well that was no fun. My mom gets it right on the first guess. This is the spinning swing ride at Navy Pier. The spoked light pattern at the left of the frame is the Ferris Wheel in the background.

Anyone Home?

2007-10-03T12:23:00.001-05:00

I didn't realize these things still existed until I passed one in Brooklyn a couple weeks ago. I like that this shot has naturally dark corners and that the phone's position and stance look almost out of place, somewhat awkward... a relic of the past in this high-tech modern world.

Herbie's Uncle

2007-09-29T17:37:00.001-05:00

Time Flies

2007-09-26T23:22:00.001-05:00

This shot from a New York City subway stop has started to grow on me. I like that the hazy lighting and blurriness on the left side of the photo lead into better contrast and a sharper image at the right. If you're wondering, the subway train was moving right to left and I caught the tail end of it, thus the semi-obstructed view at the left. I think the shutter speed was probably 1/20th of a second or so, fast enough to freeze the two men on the other side of the tracks and slow enough to blur the speeding train.

Once again, I'm not quite sure if I like this better in B&W or Color. I think I'm leaning toward B&W, but Jen made the good point that the movement of the train's tail lights is less obvious in B&W (i.e. it looks as if there may be no train at all, but rather stationary lights on a track). I'll post the B&W below. Opinions welcome...

And FYI, I've started posting my pics as slightly smaller files, so that when you click on the photo to expand, it takes up the whole screen (approximately), rather than taking up the equivalent of 4 screens.

Lonely Noodles

2007-09-24T01:17:00.000-05:00

Took this almost straight down from the top of the 45 story Eugenie Terrace condo highrise in Chicago. I like the perpendicular lines of the pool's edge, surface tiles, chairs, railing, etc. It was fun taking 'aerial' shots, getting a new perspective on the city. I'll have to buy a helicopter after I make my millions doing... uhh...

Grand Central Terminal, New York City

2007-09-20T16:14:00.000-05:00

Spectator

2007-09-16T15:46:00.001-05:00

Taken in uptown Manhattan, this guy sat just outside the hustle of the busy streets. This shot would have been better with my f1.8 lens, but I didn't really have the time to switch from my zoom.

Hazy Lady

2007-09-13T13:10:00.000-05:00

Took this shot down at Battery Park, at the south end of Manhattan. Not a lot I could do with the Statue given the haziness, but I like this one. Almost looks like the two girls are posing.

Williamsburg Bridge, NYC

2007-09-10T01:15:00.000-05:00

I should start by apologizing to all my adoring fans out there who have been patiently awaiting my next blog post (Laura). The LCD on my POS Toshiba laptop broke, so I didn't have access to my pictures, or a computer for that matter.

But this has worked out well, because now I'm rocking a new MacBook complete with Adobe Photoshop, so my editing/publishing capabilities are much greater (nevermind that I still need to learn to use this stuff).

I've been in NYC since Friday, hanging out with some good college buddies, and I finally got out this evening for some photography and exploration. I'm staying in East Williamsburg, which is connected to Manhattan via the Williamsburg Bridge (pictured). This area has a lot of character (both the buildings and the people) and the photo opps are endless. I'm looking forward to going into Manhattan for a full day of photography tomorrow. Many more posts to follow (and more frequently)...

Northern Lakes

2007-08-13T23:18:00.000-05:00

Sunset shot over a lake in Northern Wisconsin. I think this was taken over Memorial Day weekend 2006, when a group of us (Roge, Lasoff, Brad, etc.) drove to Jeff's lakehouse in Dairymens (sp?), Wisconsin for a weekend of fishing, golf and all activities of leisure.

River Trek

2007-08-05T12:32:00.000-05:00

Unfortunately, the bridge being built over this river was not yet complete, so Dave and I barefooted through the gooey mud in order to get to the mountains in the background that we wanted to climb. We weren't too concerned with cleanliness while in Laos.

Breakers at Dawn

2007-08-02T18:47:00.000-05:00

The Gardens of Ferrari-Carano

2007-07-30T23:33:00.000-05:00

One of our many stops in Sonoma County, California, the winery at Ferrari-Carano is known for its landscaping as much as its wines (which were pretty solid too).

Loner

2007-07-26T01:20:00.000-05:00

Captivated

2007-07-20T19:27:00.000-05:00

On our way to a pretty intense hike/climb, Sturz and I walked by this elevated hut just outside the village of Vang Vien, in Central Laos.

I think these little ones were watching family members in the rice fields.

Railay Beach, Thailand

2007-07-17T22:23:00.000-05:00

Messenger

2007-07-15T01:52:00.000-05:00

Interlaken, Switerland

2007-07-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

Took my moped really high into the mountains where a few isolated houses sat with an incredible view. I got weird looks from the locals, who clearly weren't used to seeing tourists on their tiny, curving one-way roads. I finally turned around when I arrived at a stretch of road covered in snow. But no worries, the downhill was more fun anyways. Who knew a moped could go 80kph?

Click on the image for the larger version... the little white vertical strip in the distance is a monster waterfall.

US Empowered

2007-07-10T17:53:00.000-05:00

I'm running the Chicago Marathon this October to support my friend's organization, Urban Students Empowered. I took this pic of a few US Empowered fellows upon their high school graduation. Each of these students will be attending 4-year universities on full-ride scholarships in the Fall. Learn more about the cause by following the link at the top right of this page!

No Shoes, No Problem

2007-07-09T15:52:00.000-05:00

Took this one on Railay Beach, which is near Krabi in Southern Thailand. Not a bad place to be...

The Merlion

2007-07-06T18:40:00.000-05:00

Down by the main marina in Singapore stands a water-spewing version of the country's ubiquitous icon, the Merlion (as in Mermaid + Lion = a fish with a lion's head). Slightly bizarre, this thing can be found on t-shirts, key chains, etc. (anything a tourist would buy).

Concrete Monster

2007-07-01T14:35:00.000-05:00

On our first day in the Laotian capital of Vientiane, Sturz and I walked around the city and did the standard sightseeing, which included a stop at the country's most identifiable landmark (not saying much), the Patuxay. As the tablet below states, this monument was built to resemble Paris' Arc de Triomphe, which was immediately apparent upon seeing the ceiling of the inside of the arc (right).
The tablet, by the way, is worth reading (click on it to enlarge)... hilarious. This thing is on the side of the monument and literally reads "From a closer distance, it appears even less impressive, like a monster of concrete." Harsh words. I didn't think it was that ugly.

Thai Silk

2007-06-27T23:57:00.000-05:00

One of my favorites from the Thailand trip, I took this shot my first day in Bangkok. Sturza and I spent a few hours exploring the hidden world of the main market of the city, where you can buy anything imaginable. Colorful silk scarves, popular goods for tourists, could be found every few booths.

Needs Title

2007-06-26T14:33:00.000-05:00

So I realize I already posted this pic as a B&W a couple months ago (my first post, actually), but I'm putting it up again because I plan to submit it in a National Geographic Traveler amateur photo contest. Why the color version? There are already so many gray areas in this pic that it almost looks like the fusion of a B&W and Color photograph. Which makes the reddish-brown tones of the middle door, the dirt and the boy's skin and clothes stand out even more.

I'm also struggling a bit with the crop job on this one. Part of me thinks I should crop down a bit further so that the boy occupies a greater portion of the frame. Opinions anyone? (for those of you who don't know, you can leave comments on any of my blog posts by clicking on "comments" at the bottom of the post). I also need a title...

Maybe I should at least crop a little off the top (below). Thoughts welcome...

More Windows

2007-06-25T17:03:00.000-05:00

No, I'm not obsessed with windows, but for some reason I really liked the simple patterns and symmetries I found in Sturza's village in Thailand.

The Brienzersee

2007-06-24T16:31:00.000-05:00

Wish I had my good camera with me when I took this shot during my Europe trip in Summer 2004. Robbie, Jeff and I spent a few incredible days in Interlaken, Switzerland, and I rented a moped on two of those days. I believe I took this on our final day there, after riding down from the hills and mountains I had been exploring. On my way back to the hostel, I rode along the lake (the Brienzersee, I believe) and saw this lonely fisherman trying to catch a few more before dusk set in. With the battery dead on my 35mm, I had to resort to my compact Pentax, which fortunately ended up being enough to capture the serenity of the scene.

Urban Jungle

2007-06-23T15:07:00.000-05:00

Gotta love the hills of San Francisco. Jen and I hiked up and down in search of Lombard Street and found this nice little view on our way.

Dome Junior

2007-06-20T17:11:00.000-05:00

Not exactly Ansel Adams' "Monolith," this piece of rock is actually Half Dome's neighbor. I took this shot on the way down from the summit, legs aching and sun falling. A couple more miles and Jen, Mike, Christa and I were hiking in darkness through the valley... spoooky.

Hoping that I'll get another Half Dome hike in this summer when I head out to California. Anyone looking to sell a used motorcycle (as if people outside my family and a couple friends are actually looking at this blog, let alone reading it)?

Sing Lights

2007-06-17T12:10:00.000-05:00

This pic was taken along the waterfront in downtown Singapore. The architecture and sculptures were fantastic, including these lit vertical bulbs that twisted between palm trees and buildings. On this particular night, my last in Singapore, I had gone out late to capture some skyline shots, and was pleasantly surprised to find that the city was still very much alive well past 2am... on a Tuesday.

Sawadee Ka!

2007-06-16T13:28:00.000-05:00

On my way to the Chao Phraya to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the king's reign in Thailand, plenty of street vendors offered refreshments to fight the heat.

Skyline

2007-06-15T00:56:00.000-05:00

Went out for a little bike ride last night and brought my camera and tripod. Set these pics up from around the Field Museum.

Kalasin Sunset

2007-06-13T20:58:00.000-05:00

Sunset shot from the province of Kalasin in Thailand, where my Peace Corps buddy lived. In the late afternoon, Dave and I headed out on a hundred-degree ride on some rickety bikes through the plots of farmland. A small, elevated, open wooden shack (left) provided some much needed shade and a great view as the sun set. I like the way the cloud on the right frames the tree in this shot.

Windows

2007-06-13T13:50:00.000-05:00

This shot is the side of my friend's house in Thailand (the color version is at the bottom of this blog). I thought I'd try putting it in B&W to emphasize the symmetry of the shadows.

Cruisin

2007-06-10T19:24:00.000-05:00

Not really a huge fan of this pic, but I got my motorcycle license this afternoon, so I thought I'd post something motorcycle-related (a headlamp, in this case). Hopefully I'll be posting a picture of my new motorcycle soon (which has not yet been picked out or purchased... details).

El Cap

2007-06-08T11:56:00.000-05:00

From Yosemite last Fall, El Capitan is the sheer rock face to the left of the frame. Hopefully I'll be BASE jumping that bad boy someday...

Boathand

2007-06-06T15:21:00.000-05:00

This shot was taken in San Francisco near Fisherman's Wharf. A few old boats were docked that tourists could explore. I think this guy had been doing some maintenance on the boat shown.

Trailer

2007-06-04T17:56:00.000-05:00

Couldn't decide which version I liked more on this one, Color or B&W... so I posted both. Took this shot yesterday during a short break in motorcycle class. This big red trailer hauled the 12 bikes we practiced on to the DMV in North Chicago, where our class is held. Hopefully I'll have a bike of my own before too long, and you'll certainly see some pics of it... with me riding... with a Fu Manchu.

SF

2007-06-03T19:45:00.000-05:00

This shot was taken last Fall near Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco. I don't know what this building was to be honest, maybe a water treatment facility or something. White stucco curved walls and some funky shadows made for a strange photo op...

Sonoma County

2007-06-01T16:59:00.000-05:00

This was taken last October as Jen and I were exploring wine country in Sonoma County, California. Our first stop was a small winery called Michele-Slumberger, where we were given a nice tour of the winery and vineyards.

I pretty much hung back throughout the tour and took pictures, so I still don't know much about making wine. But I do know that we were there late in the season just before "crush" when the grapes are harvested and, well, crushed-- so the colors were really nice. Jen doesn't like this pic because of the electrical pole, but I've gotten over it. I like the opposing series of lines in the foreground and background. Maybe too busy though...

Railed

2007-05-31T16:07:00.001-05:00

Picked up a new lens yesterday: Nikon 50mm f1.8 for only $110, which is really cheap for a lens that fast (my zoom lens only goes to f3.5). Messed around with the big aperture by taking this pic of a small fence just outside the apartment. Wish I had had it for this past weekend, as it would have been perfect for low-light campfire pics (the previous post).

S'more Me Buddy

2007-05-30T18:49:00.000-05:00

From this past weekend, a shot of some good college friends and their girlfriends around the campfire in Northern Michigan. Jen and I drove with Jerf and his girlfriend Betsy to her lakehouse in Onaway, Michigan, where we met Sturza and Julie, who drove up with Spence and Kristin. The four of us had not been together since graduation and needless to say, there was much tomfoolery. Plenty of drinking games, storytelling and frequent laughs at Spencer's expense. Good times had by all.

Oh, and I saw a bumper sticker today that I liked: "Not all who wander are lost." Theme for the summer...

Playtime

2007-05-30T14:46:00.000-05:00

Again, everyone in the village loved posing for pics, including the children. These kids found plenty of entertainment pushing each other around in the cart.