Union Station with Paty + Orlando

March 8th, 2012:

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Paty & Orlando are seriously a couple after our own hearts: They have an intimate, travel-themed wedding planned, complete with passport/boarding pass invites, much like ours. They even showed up to their Union Station in coordinated red-and-black outfits: our wedding colors. I guess stranger coincidences have happened? We had a wonderful time exchanging travel stories as we photographed them until well after sunset (no, the awesome magenta skies are not from Photoshop. They’re from filters, gels and color temperature settings in-camera).

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Union, Station, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Travel, Engagement, Session, Photography, Photographer, Downtown, California

Congrats again, and thanks for such a fun shoot. We’re already really excited for your wedding next month!

Jamie + Jesse | Moorpark Engagement Shoot

March 5th, 2012:

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

At 7 in the morning last Saturday we headed to LAX to drop off Felicia’s mom for her flight back to Singapore, and by that afternoon we were back in full working photographer mode.  We met Jamie and Jesse at the Stagecoach Inn in Newbury Park, and were amazed by this hidden gem of a location – cool buildings, trees, plants and textures.  Of course, Jamie and Jesse weren’t too shabby either and they both were totally chill while I crawled through bushes, was attacked by razor sharp agave plants and complained about the literal thorn in my ass.

It was a perfect afternoon, with amazing light and relaxed couple completely in love – what more could a pair of photographers ask for?

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

Moorpark, Calabasas, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, Session, Rustic, Outdoor, Stagecoach, Inn, Los, Angeles, Wedding, Thousand, Oaks

 

Congrats again to you both! We’re excited for your wedding in September!

San Francisco + PCH

March 1st 2012:

Marin, Headlands, San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

For the home stretch of our week on the road we headed over to San Francisco, or what some of the older Chinese call Jiu Jin Shan (Old Gold Mountain).  It’s called Jiu Jin Shan because it was given that name by the Chinese who arrived during the gold rush searching for their fortunes.  Random tidbits of info, I know.

Anyhow we spent two days/nights wandering the city by the bay, checked out the Marin Headlands then finished up the trip with a slow two day drive down Pacific Coast Highway, with dozens of stops along the way.

Marin, Headlands, San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

I think Felicia and I were skinnier in 2008. Damn photographic evidence….

Marin, Headlands, San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

While checking out the curvy section of Lombard Street, I noticed a couple of tourists who decided they needed a photo in front of the street, so much so that they decided to leave their small child chilling on the street corner.  Fortunately this little baby gave me a little wave while I took his/her picture.

After meandering the bottom of the hill, I drove Christina and Felicia up to the top and raced down the eight switchbacks screaming like a small child. This turned out to be so much fun for me that I rerouted us for the next two days so I could jet down this killer road.  I think Felicia got carsick by the look she gave me on the 4th trip down….

San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

PCH, Pacific, Coast, Highway, San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

17 Mile Drive. Abso-freaking-lutely epic.  I had never done this particular stretch of coast, and they charge a $9.50 toll, but it was worth every penny and the detour.

PCH, Pacific, Coast, Highway, San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

PCH, Pacific, Coast, Highway, San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

PCH, Pacific, Coast, Highway, San, Francisco, Golden, Gate, Travel, Photography, Photographer

Squirrel!

February 28th 2012:

Squirrel, Photography, Photographers, San, Francisco, Travel, California, Tree

Remember that scene from Up where Karl and Russell meet the talking Doug the talking dog who immediately yells “SQUIRREL!”?  

Well that’s how I started feeling when traveling around California with Felicia’s mother. For some reason Christina is absolutely fascinated by these little guys and anytime we came across one she would squeal “SQUIRREL!” then forceable push me in that direction and ask for a picture.  While editing I realized I had so many squirrel pictures it demanded it’s own post. Enjoy!

Squirrel, Photography, Photographers, San, Francisco, Travel, California, Tree

Squirrel, Photography, Photographers, San, Francisco, Travel, California, Tree

Squirrel, Photography, Photographers, San, Francisco, Travel, California, Tree

Squirrel, Photography, Photographers, San, Francisco, Travel, California, Tree

Squirrel, Photography, Photographers, San, Francisco, Travel, California, Tree

Squirrel, Photography, Photographers, San, Francisco, Travel, California, Tree

Posted in: Travel, USA by Robert No Comments , ,

Yosemite in the Snow

February 27th 2012:

Yosemite, California, National, Park, Wedding, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Destination

By Day Three of our California road trip, I’d put the chains on the car for Sequoia, taken them off to get back on the 99 to head to Yosemite, then had to put them back on to make our way into Yosemite Valley.  For any of you who have ever had to put chains on your car, you know it sucks – the second time putting them on outside of Yosemite was in 3 inches of ice and snow, which left my fingers fumbling like I had attached 2 lbs of Jimmy Dean sausages to the end of my knuckles.  Trying to attach the frozen chain connectors, with popsicle fingers, deep in the wheel well left me grumbling – but fortunately the skies were clearing and our day in Yosemite was starting to look less ominous.

By 10:30am when we rolled into the valley, all the snow clouds had left and gave us a near-perfect day to drive around the valley floor.  The roads around the valley were clear of snow and ice, but I’d be damn if I was going to take off the chains only to have to put them back on a few hours later to leave the valley.  We drove around slowly and bumpily – and no one complained, especially me.

Most the trails and roads were closed, but we did manage a hike to the base of Yosemite Falls, a visit to the Ahwahnee Hotel, and picnic with a view of the falls.   Christina was astounded by the majesty of the valley, but was exceptionally impressed that she didn’t have to plan any of the trip so far.  She kept repeating that she felt like a baby having Felicia and I take care of her, while all we really did was pack lunch and do the driving. Yet, I guess after spending most of your life looking after others, it’s great not to have to stress about those little things.

Yosemite, California, National, Park, Wedding, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Destination

Yosemite, California, National, Park, Wedding, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Destination

Yosemite, California, National, Park, Wedding, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Destination

Yosemite, California, National, Park, Wedding, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Destination

Yosemite, California, National, Park, Wedding, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Destination

Yosemite, California, National, Park, Wedding, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Destination

Yosemite, California, National, Park, Wedding, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Destination

Yosemite, California, National, Park, Wedding, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Destination

Yosemite, California, National, Park, Wedding, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Destination

Yosemite, California, National, Park, Wedding, Travel, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, Destination

Frozen Sequoia!

February 21st, 2012:

So Felicia’s mom is in town and we have to entertain… What to do? We figured a grand road trip across California was the only way to go, what we didn’t figure on was that we would start off during the only big storm of the winter.

We left Burbank early last Monday and by the time we hit the foothills outside of Sequoia I had to get out and put the chains on the car. Soon after we were hit by an epic blizzard and temperatures that dropped into the single digits (like 8 degrees Fahrenheit).  By the time we did a little snow hiking to look at some big trees, had a picnic at Lodgepole, and gained a few thousand feet in elevation, the snow was pounding down and we were frozen.  We had dinner in the empty Wuksachi Lodge (they had all of 27 guests for the night) by the fireplace and called it an early night.

The next morning we woke up to one of the most pristine winter days I have ever witnessed. The skies were blue, the sun was out, and everything was covered in snow and icicles – photographers heaven.  A gorgeous morning of legendary status – everything you could ask for when trying to impress your mother in law. We spent the first half a day running amok throughout the open sections of Sequoia National Park, then spent the afternoon driving north to visit Yosemite.

Sequoia, Travel, National. Park, Photography, Destination, Wedding

Sequoia, Travel, National. Park, Photography, Destination, Wedding

Sequoia, Travel, National. Park, Photography, Destination, Wedding

Sequoia, Travel, National. Park, Photography, Destination, Wedding

Christina (Felicia’s mom) Loves this picture of me because it makes me “…look like a spy from one of those old movies.”  Can’t complain with that critique, can I?

Sequoia, Travel, National. Park, Photography, Destination, Wedding

Sequoia, Travel, National. Park, Photography, Destination, Wedding

Sequoia, Travel, National. Park, Photography, Destination, Wedding

Sequoia, Travel, National. Park, Photography, Destination, Wedding

Sequoia, Travel, National. Park, Photography, Destination, Wedding

Sequoia, Travel, National. Park, Photography, Destination, Wedding

Coming to America

February 13th, 2012

Huntington, Gardens, Pasadena, Wedding, Engagement, Travel, Photography, Photographer, San, Marino, Destination, Flower, Floral

“Mommy’s coming to see me! Mommy’s coming to see me!”

Felicia has been chanting this for the last month since her mother decided last month to come to the U.S. for her first visit. In the month leading up to the visit, Felicia had me doing just about everything imaginable, from hanging curtains and buying a new couch to scrubbing the underside of the stove because she didn’t want her mom judging her housekeeping skills.  So I scrubbed and hung curtains while she cleaned everything else imaginable, then finally a couple days ago, Christina arrived and I was able to relax.

The second day she was here, we all headed off the Huntington Gardens for a leisurely afternoon of strolling around and drinking tea. Definitely not the manliest of activities, but it’s better than having to decide what type of sheer drapes would look best in each room, and whether a valence was necessary…

Anyhow, enough complaining about housework. Here are a few pictures from that afternoon, and next week we’re off for a tour of some of California’s National Parks, so more pictures will come from that soon too. Enjoy!

Huntington, Gardens, Pasadena, Wedding, Engagement, Travel, Photography, Photographer, San, Marino, Destination, Flower, Floral

Huntington, Gardens, Pasadena, Wedding, Engagement, Travel, Photography, Photographer, San, Marino, Destination, Flower, Floral

Huntington, Gardens, Pasadena, Wedding, Engagement, Travel, Photography, Photographer, San, Marino, Destination, Flower, Floral

Huntington, Gardens, Pasadena, Wedding, Engagement, Travel, Photography, Photographer, San, Marino, Destination, Flower, Floral

Huntington, Gardens, Pasadena, Wedding, Engagement, Travel, Photography, Photographer, San, Marino, Destination, Flower, Floral

Huntington, Gardens, Pasadena, Wedding, Engagement, Travel, Photography, Photographer, San, Marino, Destination, Flower, Floral

Huntington, Gardens, Pasadena, Wedding, Engagement, Travel, Photography, Photographer, San, Marino, Destination, Flower, Floral

Huntington, Gardens, Pasadena, Wedding, Engagement, Travel, Photography, Photographer, San, Marino, Destination, Flower, Floral

I Succumb….

February 7th, 2012:

Match, Matchstick, Matches, Burning, Close up, macro, fire, burn

 

Remember a few months back when I was able to borrow the Canon 100mm Macro IS and shoot a few weddings with it?  Well, it went on sale and Felicia and I couldn’t resist…. Now we can see the world REALLY close up.

In other news, Felicia’s mother is coming to California for the first time tomorrow morning, so for the next few weeks we are going to be super busy showing her around. I don’t really know how much blogging will be getting done, but we’ll be back soon.

Crosstown Rivalry with Mirza + Anthony

February 2nd, 2012:

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

Mirza went to UCLA and Anthony went to USC, but when they met six years ago they didn’t let the standard school rivalry get in the way of getting together.  They both love their Alma mater though, so when it came time to plan their engagement session they instantly knew they wanted photos at both schools.  Both USC and UCLA have amazing campuses, so Felicia and I happily agreed to spend a gorgeous Sunday afternoon wandering about these schools.

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

Fortunately there weren’t any hardcore fans around when Anthony threw on his USC jersey at the UCLA campus.

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

USC, UCLA, Engagement, Photography, Photographer, University, Los, Angeles, California, Travel, Wedding

Congrats again Mirza and Anthony! We can’t wait for your wedding!

Pinhole Fun @ Griffith Park

January 30th, 2012:

Pinhole, Pin, Hole, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, California, Griffith, Park

I love all things photography and a few weeks ago while trolling through the clearance bin at Bel-Air Camera in Westwood I stumbled across a pinhole lens for my Canon cameras for $1.  It is essentially a Canon body cap with a pin sized hole in it, creating a lens similar to a Camera Obscura - it moves a VERY small amount of light through the hole and gives you some semblance of an image.  Now, in no way is this at all comparable to my other lenses that are 1000x the cost, but it definitely makes for a fun way to spend an afternoon.  After a little testing of the f/181 aperture, I realized to use this handheld at all it had to be an amazingly sunny day and I had to shoot at ISO 1600.  Most of these images were created at ISO 1600, f/181, 1/15 sec.

So a few days after buying this new toy we drove up to the Griffith Observatory to show a visiting Singaporean friend the L.A. skyline and the Hollywood sign. It was one of those crisp, clear, blue skied winter days we get in Los Angeles and the perfect chance for me to goof off and create some images for fun.

Pinhole, Pin, Hole, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, California, Griffith, Park

Pinhole, Pin, Hole, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, California, Griffith, Park

This little hole has no sharpness, very little contrast (I added a bit to these images), no way to focus, throws flare everywhere,  and the aperture is so small I can’t even really see the image I am creating through the viewfinder.  It was a lot of guess work and out of the 100 or so images I popped off, these are my favorites.

Pinhole, Pin, Hole, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, California, Griffith, Park

Mr. James Dean (whose bust at Griffith Observatory has always made very little sense to me)

Pinhole, Pin, Hole, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, California, Griffith, Park

Pinhole, Pin, Hole, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, California, Griffith, Park

Pinhole, Pin, Hole, Photography, Photographer, Los, Angeles, California, Griffith, Park

Awesome fun, but I don’t foresee myself using it all that often. Although it may be added to my backpack while traveling just to change things up.