San Francisco Bay Area Photography - John Harrison Photography www.jharrisonphoto.com

Incredible Yosemite Timelapse and Photography

2012-01-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already seen it, check out the great timelapse photos and video in Yosemite. Captured by Sheldon Neill and Colin Delehanty. I met Colin online from Planet Granite where he climbs and have been following his images for quite a while. Breathtaking scenes of Half Dome, Glacier Point, Tuolumne Meadows, Tunnel View of El Capitan and more. Nice motion moves from their Dynamic Perception gear for timelapse motion. Crank up the sound and watch it in HD in full screen mode! Let me know what you think!

Above Frozen Lake Tenaya Tioga Pass Yosemite Video

2011-12-26T22:31:00.000-08:00

This year Tioga Pass has been open later than it normally is (usually closes ~ November) but since we haven't had much snow/rain this year it is still open. This is a video from Beth Pratt above Tenaya Lake with a beautiful view and also shows skaters down below on the lake! I sure would love to be there! Thanks Beth!! Enjoy! John

Click here to view more details on Trey Ratcliff's HDR Tutorial Bundle

Sony NEX-5N vs Panasonic Lumix GF3 vs Leica M9 vs Nikon 1 J1

2011-10-21T10:37:00.000-07:00

These are some of my first thoughts (not a thorough review) on the small but high-quality cameras currently out. The Sony NEX-5N vs Lumix GF2 or Lumix GF3 vs Leica M9 (grins!) vs Nikon 1 J1. Let me know what YOU think!

I have been looking for a small, high quality, low noise camera. I originally had the Panasonic Lumix GF-1 with the Pancake 17mm f/1.7 lens. The GF1 is a really nice small package. I love the shutter with the nice solid -'click'. Image quality for photos and videos were good... but not great. There was quite a bit of noise even at low ISO. I sold the GF1 via craigslist and have moved on to find the next best camera! The Lumix GF2 was to improve that a little - mostly on the video side. Image quality was only supposed to improve slightly. The Lumix GF3 looks to be interesting but the sensor comparison to the NEX-5N still isn't there. I hope to get my hands on one to play with. The Lumix series is a micro 4/3 meaning any of the Olympus or Panasonic Lumix lenses will work with it as well as take adaptors to manually use other lenses.

I think the Sony NEX-5N looks great! It uses an APS-C sensor, which is the same size as most Nikon, Canon and Sony DSLRs. The NEX-5N adds the new 16 megapixel sensor that is found on the Nikon D7000 and new Sony Alpha DSLRs. High ISO and low noise (up to ISO 12,800) images. Video up to 1080p with 60fps or 24fps for cool cinematic quality. The 16mm f/2.8 lens is a nice small combination. This one looks great! If you couple that with the Zeiss 24mm f/1.8 lens, then that will be one HECK of a package! The only down side to the Sony is the funky styling (I like it) together with a lack of lenses. Since this isn't true micro 4/3, there are only a limited amount of lenses available.

The folks over at DPreview give it a really good review! I think I'll have to check it out - all the quality of the Nikon D7000 in a nice little package. The fact that the sensor in the NEX-5N is the same as the awesome sensor in the Nikon D7000 (I believe Sony made it) and the reviews of that camera are fantastic - high iso/low noise - great image quality. I can also use my Nikon lenses on the Sony if needed with an inexpensive adapter.

Note - The Sony NEX-7 looks REALLY nice, but currently it isn't available due to flooding at the plant in Thailand. 24 Megapixel sensor that is on the Alpha 77 looks fantastic!! ISO and noise aren't quite as good as the NEX-5N since you are packing more pixels in the same sensor, but wow -- that will be an awesome camera! Unfortunately, Amazon has taken the Sony NEX-7 off of the price list for now!

Ok, the Leica M9 is in a class of its own! With a full-frame sensor in that small package, there is no comparison! I just wish I had $7000 sitting around to purchase it!

The new Nikon 1 V1 looks like an interesting idea, but I think Nikon really missed out here. Rather than take the existing sensor in the D5100 or D7000, they created another smaller sensor and put it in the Nikon 1 V1. What does that mean? Smaller, lower quality, higher noise images. I am sure they are fine on their own, but considering the quality of images coming out of the wildly successful Sony NEX line of cameras, Nikon is starting poorly out of the gate.

So how do some of these sensors compare? Here is the DXO mark comparison of the 3 cameras -Sony NEX-5N, Lumix GF-1 and Leica M9-P for grins!

http://bit.ly/qtZg43

So, which one am I going to purchase?! I think I will got with the Sony NEX-5N for now and wait for the Sony NEX-7 to come out.

Stay tuned and I'll keep you posted or let me know which one you have tried and prefer!!

Yosemite solo free climbing on 60 minutes - Incredible views!

2011-10-04T14:55:00.000-07:00

I watched 60 Minutes in awe Sunday night as they featured solo free climber (ie. - no ropes!), Alex Honnold scaling El Cap and Sentinel around Yosemite Valley. If you missed, it check it out here.

There is also the behind the scenes footage that is equally impressive. Personally, I think free climbing is crazy and stupid as all it takes is one mistake to no longer have this incredible climber with. I don't think anyone can be perfect all the time. You can see the behind the scenes footage here.

No Big Deal for Alex! The laid back dude.

Inflatable Kayaks and Canoes for outdoor Adventures

2011-10-02T11:58:00.000-07:00

One of the best ways to see nature can be to get right in the middle of it with an inflatable Kayak or Canoe. We ended up purchasing two inflatable Kayaks based on the awesome reviews from Allison over at Inflatable Kayak World. She has a ton of great write-ups and info on the different models and helpful info on all the accessories like PFD Life-jackets and reviews on what to look for for women as well. We purchased the Sea Eagle SE-330 as well as the Clear Blue Hawaii. Both were really fantastic although we should have purchased the larger Sea Eagle 370 to fit 3 of us in there!

Kudos to Allison and her great reviews! Check them out over at Inflatable Kayak World and get an inflatable Kayak to get closer to nature.

Yosemite Lodge at the Falls and Places to Stay in Yosemite National Park

2011-09-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

If you are looking for accommodations IN the park, the Yosemite website is the place to start. I noticed some Curry Village openings @ end of August! Lots of places outside the park as well. NOTE - Some places advertise "Yosemite" but are an hour from the park entrance! It can take ~45 mins from the park entrance to get to the valley floor, so you are now an hour and half or MORE to the Yosemite Valley Floor!! Where is your favorite place to stay or camp?!

I always recommend starting with the Yosemite NPS website here.

(Image copyright John Harrison Photography)

Yosemite Lodge at the Falls

There is quite a wide array of places to stay in Yosemite National Park. We normally stay at the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls (formerly the Yosemite Lodge) when I am with the whole family. It is right next to Yosemite Falls, has quite a wide array of lodging options, has Wifi for you folks that can't be without, has a few food options right onsite and lots of parking. There is nothing like waking up in the morning to the sound of Yosemite Falls! It is definitely NOT roughing it! Unfortunately, it has gotten quite pricey over the last few years!

Rooms at the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls.

The Lodge has a few different room types. The "Green Rooms" has recently been updated to include quite a few energy efficiency and green upgrades. You can read more about those here.

The "Standard Rooms" are their main rooms. They also have "Family Rooms" for large families and my favorite are the Lodge Rooms. The Lodge Rooms often has balconies and are set further away from the main hotel. Some back onto meadows or into the woods. Definitely a nicer option if you can find it.

Food at the Yosemite Lodge at the Falls.

Food at the Lodge is pretty simple. The ever faithful "Food Court" which has a variety of hot meals, grill, Pasta Bar (the kids favorite) and pizza. It can be quite full but they cover the bases.
Two other options include the amazing Mountain Room and the Mountain Room Lounge. The Mountain Room includes fine dining surrounded by images from Charlie Cramer and Michael Frye (both of whom I have studied under) as well as other amazing photographers (note - they need to add a John Harrison Photography image!!). Prime Rib, Steaks, Fish, Pasta and fantastic deserts! You can check out a sample menu here.

The Mountain Room Lounge (the bar next to the Mountain Room Restaurant) can be another option for food as they serve a small array or appetizers and food especially when you come in from a late night of shooting!

The Yosemite Falls at the Lodge website has a photo gallery showing more of the rooms and dining places here!

Here is one of my pictures of Yosemite Falls with the Upper and Lower Falls along the walkways. Even though it is PACKED in the summer, there is one secret solution!..... go out early! I had the place to myself around 7am!

Bear Cub in Yosemite National Park

2011-07-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

A bear cub walking in Yosemite! Not the best picture since I was hiding behind the tree watching him walk along. Any good bear encounters to share?!

How to Photograph Fireworks

2011-07-04T16:59:00.000-07:00

Here is a great post on how to photograph fireworks. Hope everyone is having a great 4th of July! Some tips from Yahoo on taking pics of fireworks I thought would be great to share. If you take any pictures, please share here!

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/technology-blog/photograph-fireworks-193512467.html

(Image linked from Yahoo.com All Rights remain to original creator)

Snow Skiing in Lake Tahoe in July?!?

2011-07-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

Snow skiing in July!! Pretty amazing the amount of snow they have gotten up there. Anyone been lately?!

http://www.mercurynews.com/california/ci_18384762?nclick_check=1

Curry Village Tent Cabins in Yosemite

2011-06-30T16:43:00.000-07:00

"Curry Village Tent Cabins in Yosemite" Nothing like these tent cabins in Yosemite! How many times have you stayed in them!? Walk out in the morning with the peaks around you and look straight up towards Glacier Point! Anyone have any good Curry Village stories?!

Essential tools for photographers, hikers and outdoor folks - a modern LED Flashlight

2011-06-29T12:18:00.001-07:00

Essential tools every photographer, hiker and outdoor person should carry - a modern LED flashlight! Forget those big huge 6-D battery maglites, I carry about 3 different LED flashlights and headlamps. They are super bright, lightweight, and small enough to put in the car, backpack or camera bag. I use this one linked in my camera bag. It is ~200+ lumens with multiple levels. I keep this one, http://amzn.to/mriIJN in my car and then bring the 800 lumen beast for more outdoor fun and lightpainting! Perfect for those summer outings and they also make great fun for the kids!

"Marin Lupines California Poppies and Grasses above the Golden Gate Bridge" San Francisco, California.

2011-04-28T01:44:00.000-07:00

"Marin Lupines California Poppies and Grasses above the Golden Gate Bridge" San Francisco, California. I just printed a 30" x 40" of this for a collector and thought I would share. The Marin Headlands are one of my favorite spots to shoot! So many spots you can't go wrong if the lighting is right. Just a little past sunset waiting for the full moon to pop-up I captured the wildflowers with the wide-angle lens up close.

Amazing Yosemite Climbing Videos and Photos - Jimmy Chin

2011-04-23T01:08:00.000-07:00

Some AMAZING climbing photos by @jimmy chin ! I love the perspectives he captures in a fantastic place. I hope to capture a few like this one day (with a lot of ropes connected to me!) The video is also put together well and you can see behind the scenes what it takes to get just one shot. Awe-inspiring and a way to celebrate Earth Day! Jimmy let me know when I can come carry your bag on a shoot!

"Sunrise in Kauai" on the Beach of the Hanalei Colony Resort in Kauai

2011-04-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

"Sunrise in Kauai" How would you like to be sitting in those chairs?! This is just off the beach of the Hanalei Colony Resort on the north end of Kaua'i. I was packing up to leave and looked out the window and saw this sunrise breaking! I ran outside and grabbed a few shots before the color was gone.

"Kilauea Lighthouse on Kauai"

2011-04-16T16:02:00.000-07:00

"Kilauea Lighthouse on Kauai" This is located on Kilauea Point on the island of Kaua'i. There is a national wildlife refuge there. This was a nice afternoon watching the Red-footed boobies flying around and the waves crashing down below. Just another beautiful location on Kauai!

"Late Afternoon along the Na Pali Coast, Kaua'i" Aerial Helicopter Photo

2011-04-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

"Late Afternoon along the Na Pali Coast, Kaua'i" This was one of the things I was looking forward to in Kaua'i! Unfortunately, the weather wasn't cooperating with rain and gray skies in the forecast. I decided to push back my departure date by 2 days since the forecast was looking better and it paid off!!! (I DO love my wife and ki...ds for being SO understanding!!!) Even that morning it wasn't looking good and in the afternoon the Na Pali coast was perfect!! just a peppering of clouds and sunlight giving those contrasting greens and vibrant blue ocean being lit up by the sun. AHHH! My job was done. 2 hours and a chartered helicopter are the perfect combination! The Nikon D3S was rented from Borrowlenses and I used my Nikon 28-70 f/2.8 lens. This is going to be printed BIG on my wall!

Back from shooting in Hawaii (Kauai and The Big Island)

2011-04-14T13:50:00.000-07:00

I am back from a week shooting in Hawaii! I was on the Big Island for 2 days (rain!) and on Kauai for 5! Incredible places! Shot sunrise to sunset every day including a Helicopter charter along the Na Pali Coast! Breathtaking! Pictures from the Nikon D3S and 14-24mm lens from BorrowLenses.com are coming!! Having that gear made ALL the difference!

Up to 50% of Photography Books at Buy.com

2011-03-28T12:13:00.000-07:00

For a limited time, Buy.com has photography and Photoshop books up to 50% off. Check them out here.
Up to 50% Off Photography & Photoshop Books Learn to take the perfect picture or make it look like you did! Great low prices are available for a limited time on top guides.

Highway 1 near Big Sur, Bixby Bridge, Carmel is closed due to landslide

2011-03-18T02:03:00.000-07:00

Highway 1 near the Bixby Bridge and Big Sur is closed in both directions after a 40 foot section of road collapsed. So much for my quick trip down to Big Sur! There are some long detours and fixes are coming. Caltrans says it should take at least a month to fix it. More info here. http://www.ksbw.com/news/27221999/detail.html

Spent the Night at the Monterey Bay Aquarium!

2011-03-17T23:54:00.000-07:00

I got to spend the night in the Monterey Bay Aquarium with my daughter this weekend! 100 other Dads/Daughters with the YMCA adventure guides this past weekend! Great time sleeping next to the kelp forest and having the place to ourselves! Spent the next day in Monterey, Pacific Grove and Asilomar beach! ahh!

I captured this image of ...the purple-striped jellyfish with the Nikon D3S from @borrowlenses This is captured at ISO 6400, f/4.5 and 1/160. Slight noise reduction applied in Adobe Lightroom 3.

You can see the full-size image of the Purple-striped Jellyfish here!

Santa Cruz Harbor Before the Tsunami hitting California

2011-03-11T11:37:00.000-08:00

Prayers and condolences go out to the folks in Japan following the earthquake and Tsunami. It is amazing to see even the possible affects of something like this thousands of miles away! I think it is eerie timing on this, as I just printed this image of the Santa Cruz Harbor and Yacht Club for a collector yesterday. The Santa Cruz Harbor and Yacht Club is one of the few places that WAS impacted by the Tsunami on the California coastline capsizing 20 or more boats and caused millions of dollars in damage. Scary stuff!

Camera Rentals and Lens Rentals from BorrowLenses

2011-03-10T14:55:00.000-08:00

I just put in an order to rent the Nikon D3S and the Nikon 14-24mm for an upcoming weekend from BorrowLenses! If you haven't tried renting cameras and lenses before, I highly recommend renting gear! I use BorrowLenses for all my rentals! Renting camera gear is a great way to try out a lens or body before you make a purchase. It also works great for special trips like summer vacations, weddings, parties, spring break or no occasion at all! If you do rent something from BorrowLenses, please use the link above as I do get credit!

Sutro Baths and Mouth of the Golden Gate San Francisco

2011-02-27T23:25:00.000-08:00

"Sutro Baths and Mouth of the Golden Gate" We spent the weekend in San Francisco last weekend. Great brunch at the Cliff House just watching the clouds go by. Point Bonita lighthouse and the Marin headlands/Mt Tam off in the background. This is a 3 shot panorama image. You can see the full resolution image here: http://www.jharrisonphoto.com/Landscapes/San-Francisco-City-Scapes-and/2749016_BabVB#1200451942_Z6BTX

Which Camera?! Nikon or Cannon?

2011-02-25T19:58:00.000-08:00

I had to share this for some Friday night humor! Ymmv (your mileage may vary!) Kudos to folks BorrowLenses.com for finding this one!! I rent camera bodies and lenses from them as often as possible! Let me know what you think!

Horsetail Falls Across the Merced at Sunset

2011-02-23T13:34:00.000-08:00

Since this is the week when the sun is at the right angle to potentially illuminate Horsetail Falls like it is lit up with lava, I thought I would post this. This is "Horsetail Falls Across the Merced River" This is another vantage point for capturing Horsetail Falls off of El Captian from across the Merced River. Most folks use a long lens, but I like this setting. There are NOT many places to capture from this locale as it is packed with photographers and there aren't as many unobstructed spots along the bank of the river. I like this tranquil setting with the snow on the banks and the lush green trees off in the distant. The one red tree stands out on the bank. The bonus is the glow from Horsetail Falls off in the background! Ahh....just another fine day in Yosemite National Park! You can see more images of Horsetail Falls, including my award-winning image "Nature's Firefalls" over here on my website.

Seabright Beach Sunsets in Santa Cruz

2011-01-22T00:26:00.000-08:00

The highlight of my weekend was spending a day with my family down at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz on a very warm winter day! It was in the high 60's with clear skies - the kids played in the surf. I captured a few shots right at sunset to end a beautiful day. Walton Lighthouse here glowing with a soft pink sky and the trees silhouetted against the huge sun with the Surfer's Museum nearby. You can see more Santa Cruz sunset pictures in this gallery here.

http://www.jharrisonphoto.com/Landscapes/Santa-Cruz-Sunset-Surfers/15054517_AwnVm

You can find Seabright beach, just off the main Beach in Santa Cruz here:
View Larger Map

Photo Tips for Shooting Fall Colors

2010-11-07T15:30:00.000-08:00

A couple tips for shooting fall colors like my "Below Fern Springs in Fall" shot!

Take pictures of the leaves during or after the rain! When leaves are wet, you get a boost of color and saturation. It really brings out the colors nicely. Since it is raining today here in Silicon Valley, I am going to take my camera out!
Use a circular polarizer. This helps to reduce the glare and reflections on the wet leaves allowing you get a clearer image.
Cloudy day?! Perfect!! Take pictures when it is overcast or cloudy. Too often I see folks taking pictures in harsh midday light that creates shadows and contrast that your camera can't handle and isn't pleasing.
Look for a variety of colors and contrast. Oranges, Yellows and Reds in patterns with the brown stems or bark of the trees can work well.
Move the camera with a slow shutter speed. You can create some interesting effects while moving the camera while you are shooting with a 1/10 or 1/25th second shutter speed. Check out William Neill's images for beautiful inspiration of what you can create.

If you do take some pictures, feel free to share them here! Hope this helps and gets you to take a few more pictures.

Here are some images from last year shooting in the Eastern Sierra.

iPhoto '11 for Organizing Your Photos!

2010-10-22T20:19:00.000-07:00

Want a great program for organizing and working on your photos? I suggest you try iPhoto! iPhoto '11 just came out (picked mine up yesterday!) Lots of gr8 features including organizing, easy emailing photos and printing. I use Aperture and Lightroom for my landscape photos, & iPhoto 4 pictures of the family - makes it MUCH easier! It is worth getting a Mac JUST for iPhoto and iMovie! The "faces' feature is great when I want to quickly find pictures of the kids and grandparents. The Books and Calendars are really nice and you can make your holiday gifts now! My kids love Garageband also! More on iLife from the Apple website here.

Spring Waterfalls in Marin County - Cataract Falls

2010-08-03T11:53:00.000-07:00

"Cataract Falls in Spring" Marin County, California. This spring the waterfalls were AMAZING! Water was flowing everywhere! Can you hear it flowing?!! I made a trek up to Cataract Falls just north of the Golden Gate bridge. = It is just a couple mile hike (uphill!) along side these flowing falls with lush green moss everywhere! A perfect place for a weekend hike with the dogs and kids (I met lots of folks on the trail!) Highly recommended. You can get directions to find Cataract Falls here: http://www.bahiker.com/northbayhikes/cataractfalls.html (the pictures aren't very good on this site, but you can find it -- it really is beautiful, especially when the falls are flowing!)

You can see the larger image on my website here:

Or my latest images always on my fan page here:

Garden Jawa does Yosemite!

2010-06-01T18:41:00.000-07:00

These pics are TOO funny! Nothing like showing off this cute little guy in the perfect place. The Garden Jawa does Yosemite. This image is linked from the starwars.com website -- all Copyright, credits and attributes to Starwars.com.

http://www.starwars.com/shop/shopnews/gardenjawa_yosemite.html

Looks like you can pre-order these here!
http://shop.starwars.com/catalog/product.xml?topcatID=1300264;product_sku=SWLFLGGJW1

"Bridaveil Trickles" Bridalveil Falls Yosemite National Park

2010-06-01T16:57:00.000-07:00

"Bridalveil Trickles" This is a close-up below Bridalveil Falls. This is part of my "Water, Light and Textures" series of images from Yosemite National Park. The full series can been seen on my website here:

Yosemite and Bay Area Photo Fine Art Open House

2010-05-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

Here is the postcard from my Yosemite and Bay Area Photography Open House in Sunnyvale from May. If you would like to be notified of upcoming openhouse or exhibits, drop me an email from my 'contact information' on my website at www.jharrisonphoto.com

Open House! May 15th & 16th in Sunnyvale

2010-05-04T02:20:00.000-07:00

We are having our annual spring party/open house here at our place in Sunnyvale. May 15/16 from 11am to 5pm both days. Wine Tasting, prize drawings and lots of good things! Email for directions!

This is part of the Silicon Valley Open Studios 2010

Thanks
John

Where are all your blogs posts?!

2010-05-03T02:22:00.000-07:00

Some of you may be asking.. .why don't you have any blog posts?!!?! I haven't been keeping up with these - instead focusing on the Facebook Fanpage here; You can keep up with my latest updates over there. I will try to keep posts coming here occasionally as well.

"Reflections of El Capitan at Sunset" in Presigious Yosemite Gallery!

2010-02-24T14:00:00.000-08:00

I am excited to announce that my "Reflections of El Capitan at Sunset" has been accepted into a prestigious gallery exhibit in Yosemite! No, not the Ansel Adams gallery (not yet!), but an exhibit called the "Yosemite Renaissance" This was one of my major goals this past year and I got in!

The sunlit El Capitan at sunset is reflected on the Merced. I shot this during my national contest winning trip last year (I won the Aperture Nature Photography contest) where I got to shoot with 4 professionals including Scott Bourne, Jennifer Wu, Steve Simon and Gary Hamburgh.

If you are in Yosemite in the next few months, stop in and visit the exhibit at the Yosemite Museum Gallery through May 2nd. There is also a reception this Friday, Feb 26th that I will be attending if you are close by!

If you would like one of these limited edition images, they are for sale.
(tax in CA and shipping additional) Send me a message or email to arrange to purchase. Framed images are also available. Reserve your early editions now!

The Yosemite Renaissance is in its 25th year and showcases different views capturing the spirit of Yosemite in different art mediums. This competition and juried exhibit is open to professional and amateur artists and they had a record number of entries this year. Only a few photographers were accepted. Some other famous Yosemite photographers that have exhibited there include Charlie Cramer, Michael Frye (both of whom I have studied under), William Neill and Elizabeth Carmel.

About the image:
Blue skies are normally not too interesting, so I looked around to find a smaller, more interesting composition. The reflected orange glow from El Cap just lit up the Merced and I found this soothing image (this is one of my favorite images!) The gold and blue are a natural combination that go together with the swirls and flows like an abstract painting. I print this large on canvas and most people can't tell if this is a painting or a photograph. This is part of my "Water, Light and Textures series" of images that can be seen via the link.

The Yosemite Museum Gallery is next to the main Yosemite Visitors center and is also close to the Ansel Adams Gallery.

I want to thank everyone for their support including my very supportive wife and children, my mentors, Scott Bourne for running the Aperture Nature Photography contest, Jennifer Wu who has coached me, and Michael Frye and Charlie Cramer who I also have studied under.

Back out to shooting and getting ready for the Yosemite this weekend!
thx
John

Image of the Day "Palace of Fine Arts at Night in San Francisco"

2010-02-21T01:42:00.000-08:00

"Palace of Fine Arts at Night in San Francisco". I went up to San Francisco to attend the 20th anniversary of Photoshop which was at the Palace of Fine Arts. I managed to get up there right at dusk and captured a few images. The fog was pretty thick with the lights of the Palace of Fine Arts creating a glow in the sky.... This coupled with the nice reflections makes this is pleasing but almost fiery combination!

Looking at the Toyota Sienna 2011 or other models

2009-12-29T00:30:00.000-08:00

(Image from Autoblog.com)

So what does a Toyota Sienna minivan have to do with photography?! Absolutely nothing! Ok, it actually does since that might be the transportation that I will use to get to some of these exotic locations. The AWD drive version means that getting to Yosemite in the snow or bad weather can be that much safer. The Sienna 2011 models look pretty cool for a minivan and appear to drive well from what our friends say. They did include the new pricing as well and a new car is WAY expensive. We might go for an older used model with low miles... say a 2006, 2007 with 30,000 miles if we can find one. I am currently driving a vintage 1992 BMW 325i with 160K miles. It runs great, it just can't handle the snow like an AWD version might. There are a couple of great reports on the 2011 Sienna here and here. I have included a picture from Autoblog as well. I REALLY love the reclining seats for the 2nd row!!! I wouldn't mind being chauffered around! Any input, thoughts or suggestions for getting a minivan?! Leave a comment on the blog! cheers, John

My REI Yosemite exhibit on the Front Page of SFGate!!

2009-12-23T00:16:00.000-08:00

Wow! Thanks for stopping by if you saw my exhibit info on the front page of SFGate! Pretty awesome to see! The folks at REI are pretty excited as well and the response to the exhibit has been fantastic! I have changed out a number of images and will continue doing that through the exhibit duration finishing in the end of January. I have 3 other exhibits also running at this time - Planet Granite Indoor Climbing Gym in Sunnyvale www.planetgranite.com, The Rok Bistro Hot Rok and Fondue Restaurant in Sunnyvale www.rokbistro.com, Mike's Cafe in Palo Alto and our home studio in Sunnyvale - by Appointment only please! Please leave a comment on the blog or website and let me know what you think of the images! Cheers, John

http://events.sfgate.com/san-jose-ca/events/show/90043265-water-light-and-textures-yosemite-nature-landscape-photography-exhibit

Community Giving and My Photography

2009-12-14T17:28:00.000-08:00

Community Giving. I am blessed to have a great day job at Symantec and photography is my passion and growing side venture. Giving back to the community has been very important to me and Sunnyvale Community Services (SCS) is a fantastic organization where I donate a portion of proceeds (with Symantec match) as well as annually donating a print to their auction. SCS provides financial aid, food, toys at Christmas and emergency assistance to low-income families and seniors facing crises in the Sunnyvale area. Their annual auction took place a couple of weeks ago raising $40K in less than 90 minutes. My "Sunset on Half Dome from Glacier Point" I donated raised $550! If you want to give toys, $$ or food to SCS, please look on their website. The folk’s needs that they provide for continue to grow at an exponential rate in this challenging economy. Consider this or other organizations like this especially around the holidays.

Additional great Photography info

2009-12-12T12:35:00.000-08:00

There are a few great websites and blogs that I recommend ANYONE interested in making and taking better pictures. The Website and podcast, Photofocus and then also Scott Bourne's Website and twitter to follow. More info on the link! Happy making photos!

New images up from Australia, Sydney and the Royal National Park

2009-12-11T00:49:00.000-08:00

I managed to get a few new images up from Australia. I have some nighttime cityscape as well as some fantastic images shot at the Royal National Park near Bundeena, an hour South of Sydney. Two of these images were the recent favorites at our open house!

Another New Photography Exhibit! REI in Saratoga!

2009-12-11T00:46:00.000-08:00

I have another new exhibit that just started! REI in Saratoga. I have a selection of 9 images that I will be changing out through the end of January. Drop by and let them know if you like the images! The images are located just behind the registers.

Open House this weekend - Sat, Dec 5th 3-8pm

2009-12-03T01:24:00.000-08:00

I am having a small celebration to thank all my supporters and customers over the last year this coming weekend (Dec 5th) at our Holiday Party/Open house at our house in Sunnyvale. Hopefully I will also get some new images on the wall! You can just drop by and have a glass of wine - bring the kids as it is a kid friendly event. Drop me an email or a comment if you want me to send you the address to attend.

New Photo Exhibit! Planet Granite Indoor Climbing Gym in Sunnyvale

2009-11-25T09:06:00.000-08:00

I am excited about a new fine art photography exhibit that I have at Planet Granite Indoor Climbing Gym in Sunnyvale, California! I have about 10 images up including quite a few from my Yosemite "Water, Light and Textures" series. I put up all Canvas Gallery-wrap Giclée images including the 40x60 inch waterfall from Uvas Canyon Creek! I love sharing my images where other people are as much (or more) outdoor and fitness enthusiants than I am. I am taking the family to get certified for belaying and Laura (6) and Henry (4) are REALLY excited about rock climbing (and also excited about seeing Daddy's prints there!) Looks like we will have to get a membership! The management and staff are really awesome folks there and everyone seems to have taken an interest in my work - quite a few nice comments from people walking by even as I was hanging the pieces!! It is really those kind words that also help drive me to get to another place to try to take some great images. Looks like Planet Granite will be one of those places I will be on a Friday afternoon.

My images will be on display there until June, 2010. Stop by to check them out or for a workout if you are in the area. Then head over to another rock themed place -- the Rok Bistro for some fondue and entrees served on a Hot Rock! My images are still on display there and are continuing to be changed out.

Also! Open House /Holiday Party at our house in Sunnyvale, December 5th. Send an email for more information/directions.
Back to printing and stretching more canvas!

Don't forget the holiday sale going on for all of my images.

Great Photography Workshop in Yosemite with Mike Osborne / Ansel Adams Gallery

2009-11-17T16:33:00.001-08:00

There is an upcoming photography workshop with retired Yosemite park ranger, Mike Osborne that I am going on. It is a one day workshop this Saturday, November 21st. The title of the workshop is "The River Nobody Knows" and focuses on the beauty of the Merced River and the Granite and water flowing along 140 that most people zip past trying to get to Yosemite.

Normally, I don't write about just any workshop, but I had the opportunity to meet and shoot with Mike last fall while taking a Fall Color workshop with Michael Frye through the Ansel Adams gallery (which was awesome btw!)

Mike is one of Yosemite's hidden gems and I want to get the word out because opportunities like this don't always come around! Mike is just an incredible guy - one of those almost stereotypical park ranger-looking guys you would see and ask questions or directions!! I had a blast shooting with him - his eye for details, composition and the stories about the year are amazing. I know that I couldn't spend a month in the Yosemite back country in the winter with only a pack and a mule!! Mike is very soft spoken and is able to share his techniques and expertise with a wide variety of photographers.

Mike loves the big landscapes but also the small details. You should see some of his pictures of ice crystals on small ponds in the morning. Just breathtaking! Mike has influenced me since I met him last year (My "Water, Light and Textures" series would be a good example!) Mike also loves rocks and rock abstracts that I love (granted with a touch less vibrance :-) Mike was recently featured in the book, "First Light: Five Photographers Explore the Yosemite Wilderness" as well as an updated book he has written called, "Granite, Water, and Light" (I have copies of both!) The links above are to the Yosemite Association where you can purchase the books or better yet, join!

I am hoping to learn and capture some new perspectives this weekend at the workshop. I hope you might also get a chance to sign-up and shoot. It is an inexpensive but priceless opportunity that I am looking forward to. If not, I will be glad to share some of my images! Keep shooting. John

Title for picture taken by John Harrison "Mike Osborne points out the dramatic lighting on the photographer he found in the wild."

Interview with Jennifer Wu, Canon EF 24-70 Lens

2009-11-17T01:12:00.000-08:00

I just finished up a workshop assisting for Jennifer in October. A couple days later this great interview with her and one of her favorite lenses. Although it is a Canon :-), it is a really nice piece of glass! This is in the October Interview of Lens of the Month, so you may need to look through the "BACK ISSUES". Jennifer does some amazing work! You can find more of Jennifer's work at Majestic Peak Images on her website.

Awesome new Vincent Laforet video shot on the new Canon 1D Mark IV DSLR

2009-10-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

New Vincent Laforet video shot on the new Canon 1D Mark IV at ISO 6400 with available light. Just wild and stunning. You can click the link at the top to view the full 1080p version if you have bandwidth (courtesy Chris MacAskill). This is hosted on the SmugMug site that also does a supreme job of hosting and displaying the video - the best site around for photo and video hosting.

Here is the link for the automatic sizing based on your display:

If you REALLY have some bandwidth and processing power (like a mac) to view the FULL 1080p HD video, then check out this link.

Shooting in Beijing was great!

2009-10-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

My whirlwind trip to Asia got me to Beijing. I hired a guide and driver to take me around Beijing and managed to see The Great Wall (Badaling), The Summer Palace and The Forbidden City. I managed to get the guide to get me out early and was the first person to arrive at one of the most popular sections of the wall. I had about 30 minutes to shoot before other folks started to arrive! This is DEFINITELY the way to enjoy it. I captured this image just as I was getting ready to go in. The camera happened to be setup and ready to go or I wouldn't have gotten this. More images to post later.

Now off to shoot fall colors in Bishop and the Eastern Sierra.

Photography Workshop: Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierra this weekend

2009-09-29T00:23:00.000-07:00

I am barely back from my travels to Sydney, Beijing, Chapel Hill NC and now I am off to assist in my first photography workshop in the Eastern Sierras near Bishop California. The target is Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierras near Bishop California and near Yosemite National Park. Jennifer Wu is the pro photographer that is leading the workshop. Jennifer was one of the pros that I got to work with when I won the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop (ANPW) contest and is also a Canon "Explorers Of Light" pro.

It should be fun and the weather is looking nice. There IS still a few spots left so let me know quickly if you want to go. Hopefully we will get some nice fall colors as it is cooling down this week here and especially in the higher elevations. Last year during this exact weekend I was shooting fall colors with Michael Frye. It started out at 90 degrees and we had 6" of SNOW by the weekend! The mountain passes closed and I had to take the long way home (an additional 4 hours!)

Here is some additional information about the workshop.

Oct 2-4 Bishop, Ca Majestic Peak Photo Workshop
Fall Colors in the Eastern Sierra Nevadas

California’s Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains offer beautiful locations
to photograph a variety of subjects. Fall colors, the White Mountains,
Mount Whitney and natural arches are just a few. These locations
require being at the right place at the right time of day and year.
This workshop will get you to those locations!

This workshop will get you to those locations! Most our time will be spent photographing and
less on lectures. Informal lectures will be held during the day in the hotel lobby.
We will show you new ways to see and photograph and it will be an invigorating experience!

http://www.jenniferwuphotography.com/-/jenniferwuphotography/wildcard.asp

Jennifer's Bio can be found here.
http://www.jenniferwuphotography.com/-/jenniferwuphotography/about.asp

Fun Down Under! Seeing the sites in Sydney

2009-09-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

I have managed to get out to see a fun fun places in and around Sydney. I have a view from my hotel room of Circular Quay and the Opera House. What an AMAZING place! I went walking around the Opera House last night and this was one image from my walk. It truly is a wonderful place to see up close!

Upcoming Shooting - Sydney and Beijing

2009-09-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

I have been traveling for work quite a bit lately, but I have some great upcoming business trips (my day job is in computer security) that will be bringing me this month to Sydney, Australia and Beijing, China!! I have been to Sydney before but never with a decent camera. I am hoping to venture out to the Harbour and the Harbour Bridge and might even get down to Melbourne and shoot along the Great of Road (I don't think I will make it that far.) This summer while I was shooting in Yosemite, I met a nice couple hiking and taking pics as well - turns out he is a marketing manager for Nikon in Australia! Hopefully we will connect and do some shooting while I am there. I am going to be looking for some nice coastal settings and maybe even a sunset. It is winter there so at least it won't be TOO hot! I have booked a few extra days to shoot there.

While I am in Beijing I won't have a lot of spare time to shoot, but I will still venture out! Maybe get to the Summer Palace or a quiet portion of the Great Wall. China has International Day coming up so festivities are starting to get ready. I would really like to find a photo tour guide while over there to make best use of my time.

If you have ideas or suggestions of places to shoot or find a photo guide, please let me know!

New Fine Art Exhibit and Reception! Pacific Art League SVOS Invitational

2009-09-01T23:18:00.000-07:00

I have a new exhibit that is showing this month (in addition to the Rok Bistro in Sunnyvale and Mike's Cafe in Menlo Park). I have been accepted to the 2009 SVOS Invitational Exhibition at the Pacific Art League! This is a select group of the top artists from the Silicon Valley Open Studios that I participated in this spring. One of my images was selected for the event postcard as well. Hope you can join me at the reception! I will have two of the Gallery Wrap Giclée images on display.

Silicon Valley Open Studios and the Pacific Art League are pleased to present the 2009 SVOS Invitational Exhibition at the Pacific Art League during the month of September.

The show is free to the public and there will be a public preview on Friday, Sept 4th, from 6 to 9pm. Refreshments will be served.

In addition, the exhibition opening reception for artists, friends and the public will be Friday Sept 11th from 6 to 9 pm. Awards will be presented at 7pm. Refreshments will be served.

I am also the curator for an exhibit across the street for the Palo Alto Camera Club exhibiting some of the top prints from 2008 during the month of September in the main lobby from September 1 to September 29th.

September 11th is ALSO the reception for the Exhibit that I am the curator for at the Palo Alto City Hall/Civic Center. This reception is open from 5-7pm. For more information about this exhibit, please check out the Palo Alto Camera Club website.

These receptions are your opportunity to view some of the finest art from the recent Silicon Valley Open Studios, Palo Alto Camera club and meet the artists personally.

Great Food and Fine Art Nature Photography Exhibit at Mike's Cafe in Menlo Park

2009-07-28T01:10:00.000-07:00

I wanted to write a great recommendation for a restaurant in Menlo Park close to Palo Alto called Mike's Cafe. There are 3 locations - Menlo Park, Palo Alto and Portola Valley. If you happen to get down to Mike's Cafe in Menlo Park, I am exhibiting about 12 canvas/Giclée and framed images from Yosemite to Point Lobos throughout the restaurant from now through the end of September. My images can always be found on my website at John Harrison Photography.

Ellen stumbled on my work when my kids music teacher was at Mike's cafe. Ellen saw his bookmark, which just happended to be a postcard to my open house event, and conversations led to me exhibiting at Mike's Cafe! Note- this another good reason to leave your name and address on my guest book to get postcards to find out about open house events! Mike and Ellen Wallau are really fantastic folks and I am excited to be exhibiting there!

Ok, forget my artwork... the food is awesome!! Mary and I went there to celebrate our 10th anniversary there and it a great!! Everything has a home cooked taste about it. I have been back for lunch a few more times - the spaghetti is dangerously good ( you will have to ask the secret ingredients they put in there!), the "House Made Italian Sausage Lasagne with ricotta, provolone, parmesan, light cream marinara" is great. The "10 Spice Wild Salmon Salad" really is good and different. Too many choices! OK, this is making me REALLY hungry!

Please drop in, grab a bite, check out some artwork and say Hello!

Mike's Café 150 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025. (650) 327-6453. The owners are Mike and Ellen and are really great (especially since they selected me for their restaurant!)

The Photographer Risking his life at Glacier Point in Yosemite

2009-07-23T00:28:00.000-07:00

This was a portrait of John surveying a shot over Washburn Point in Yosemite near Glacier Point. Dangerously dangling over the edge ready to drop down 5000 feet, John survived to tell about this image.

Behind the scenes - never shown before footage!

2009-07-23T00:16:00.000-07:00

Well, some top secret spy footage was recently discovered of the soon to be internationally acclaimed Nature photographer, John Harrison. Seen in his natural habitat, John can be seen using child labor (his daughter) as well as setting up some of his shots. This proves that John takes some of these images while on vacation (or just makes his daughter carry his camera).

It is rumored that John's father captured these and then leaked these to the media. We attempted to option a comment from him but our calls were not returned.

Envious of HD Video on the Canon 5DMark II - Aquarium Video!

2009-07-22T19:39:00.000-07:00

This is from Jon Rawlinson and is done with the Canon 5D Mark II. I can't WAIT until Nikon adds HD video to the next version of its real cameras - Nikon D700X or Nikon D800. Nice music and looks great expanded in HD! Kudos to Jon. Here is a link to his website. Click on the title of the video to get it to expand and get the full HD experience.

Earthshots.org Photo of the Day! Summer Sunset from Glacier Point

2009-07-21T00:58:00.001-07:00

While I was on vacation, I found out that I was the winner of the Photo of the Day on Earthshots.org! Lots of great images are posted there, and my Summer Sunset at Glacier Point that I shot this summer in Yosemite was a winner. I am excited to be included there. I am ready to head back....Yosemite anyone?!

Back from Bend and Sunriver Oregon! Tumalo Falls Waterfall.

2009-07-20T22:04:00.000-07:00

Folks,

Sorry for not posting for a while... I have been off on vacation with the family in Sunriver Oregon near Bend (Central Oregon). It was a great time off canoeing, biking, swimming, climbing on lava and obsidian glass, seeing some waterfalls and sneaking off for a few photo opportunities. If you haven't been, I highly recommend it.

Here is one capture from Tumalo Falls near Bend Oregon. Tumalo Falls is surprisingly NOT in Tumalo State Park, or in the city of Tumalo! It is 10 miles outside of Bend. I captured this long exposure tight on the base of the falls. Oregon definitely has LOTS of great waterfalls around!

More images will be posted later!
John

Making a Postcard Image Different - The Light

2009-07-07T19:36:00.000-07:00

When you are working with the beauty of Yosemite it can be easy to take nice images anywhere. You are in an incredible place and everywhere you turn can be spectacular. There are a few things that makes each and every photograph different. When you take the image, the things that makes your image unique from Ansel Adams, or even Galen Rowell's, is the light. Everyday and every time you shoot the light is different.

I captured this image from a perfect postcard place - on top of Glacier Point. The one thing that captured me about this moment that I wanted to preserve was the way the light is captured in the clouds with the color coming alive! I had been watching the clouds form and change all day. A spectacular sunset appeared from under the clouds at the last moment bringing out a breathtaking sunset. You can see Vernal Falls and Nevada Falls off in the distance. The light on the trees in the foreground standing out. Half Dome looking majestic basked in a nice sunset. The snow on the mountain caps in the background. This is my unique post card moment - a place I want to be (and was!) on a Friday afternoon.

Other images from my Yosemite Summer trip can be seen here.

Another great HD video source of Yosemite Vernal Falls Mist trail

2009-07-05T16:15:00.000-07:00

This is from Beautiful Places. HD Video. Great to check out.

Back from another trip to Yosemite - Fern Springs Photo of the Day

2009-07-03T13:51:00.000-07:00

I just got back from Yosemite last weekend (escaped before it REALLY got hot). I managed to escape from the crowds by staying out on the trails along Glacier Point. I spent one sunset on Sentinel Dome with only a handful of people up there.

One of the highlights of my trip was going to Fern Springs. This is one of Yosemite's smallest waterfalls. I, like many people, have passed by it one the way into Yosemite Valley. It is just over the Pohono Bridge on the right hand side. Just a little pool and spring fed waterfall. I used a wide-angle lens for this image of the falls. Just one of Yosemite's amazing waterfalls.

Yosemite - Past and Present. Don't feed the bears!

2009-06-30T17:43:00.000-07:00

This Yosemite video from the 40's has been circulating and I wanted to share. It is incredible how similar things are, yet how different. Guests feeding the bears doesn't happen much unless you are not smart and leave your cooler in your car. Every time I visit I think how magical a place Yosemite is... I forget that it has been enjoyed for years.

Another great video from Yosemite

2009-06-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

This video is from twitter user @cinespeed. Really nice music and images. He shot it with a Red 4K commercial HD camera. Just makes you want to be there! Enjoy. John

Yosemite Mix RED 4K from CineSpeed on Vimeo.

Father's Day and Customer Appreciation Sale on Canvas Images!

2009-06-17T01:24:00.000-07:00

I have finished my two big shows for the year and wanted to have a special Customer Appreciation and Father's Day sale to folks like you who have been following my work.

The sale is on the Museum Quality Canvas Gallery Wrap Images and will be in effect through July 1st.
16" x 24" were $275, now $225
20" x 30" were $350, now $295
28" x 42" were $650, now $495
38" x 58" were $1400, now $900

This sale includes my "Nature's Firefall" image as well - The smallest size that the Nature's Firefall is available for is 20" x 30" Just let me know which image and sizes you want and I will get one to you.

Don't forget referrals! If a friend of yours purchases a print, you will get 25% your next purchase.

Thanks for your continued support and look forward to some other exciting announcements coming up.

Camera ideas for Father's Day - Eye Fi Wifi Wireless SD Memory cards

2009-06-10T13:39:00.000-07:00

Father's Day is coming up. June 21 if you weren't sure. I just started looking around for ideas and thought I would share one. A friend had recommended these so I thought I would give it a try. The Eye-Fi Explore Wi-Fi Wireless 2 GB SD Flash Memory Card. They also come in 4Gb models - my Dads camera (My old Nikon D50 that I gave him) won't support 4Gb SDHC unfortunately. No problem - with wireless connecting and downloading, 2Gb should be fine.

Some of the interesting features I liked about this model is the Geo Tagging capability and access to hotspots around the country (a 1 year subscription). The model with Geotagging included is the Explore. I believe it uses the wifi hotspots to get an approximate location for you which is good enough for most instances.

I will try it out and let you know! If anyone else has experience or feedback using these, drop me a line and let me know.

Humorous craigslist post... Trade wife for Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 ED IF

2009-06-10T01:05:00.000-07:00

I take NO responsibility for this humorous craigslist post (my wife is 5'4") - this was posted today in the camera section on craigslist. What crazy Nikon shooters will do for a good lens! Too funny.
John

==================================
Trade wife for Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 ED IF (atherton)

Date: 2009-06-08, 10:03PM PDT

Thats it! I am offering my wife as an even swap for a like-new Nikon 24-70mm 2.8 ED IF ZR LB PB ES Pro.

She is 5'9", abs of steel, 34 C, brown hair, one green - one blue eye, like David Bowie. She hates shopping and prefers to sit home and cook while you watch the game. If you are not hungry, she'll massage your feet and refill your drink.

Since these lenses are on backorder, I think this is really worth it.

* note: health insurance not included in deal

Please email with no less than 50 high-res photos of your lens. No photochoping! I prefer strange emails from broken english authors, in ALL CAPS. I prefer to ship my wife as far as possible!

Good luck.

Bill
Photographer
Altherton, CA

Best place to eat on the other side of Yosemite - the Mobil Gas Station (aka the Whoa Nellie Deli)

2009-06-09T15:59:00.000-07:00

Last fall, I was taking a photography workshop out in the Mono Lake area with Michael Frye. That was a great workshop but I will save that for another blog post. In Lee Vining there are only a few places to eat - especially in the Fall when places are starting to close.

The few places include the MonoShake, a roadside hamburger and shake stand, Nicelys, a simple but nice restaurant, and the Mobil Gas station... otherwise known as the Whoa Nellie Deli at the Tioga Gas Mart.

Well, the awards and honors go to Whoa Nellie Deli!! It is located right at the corner of Hiway 395 and 120 - the Tioga Pass road to Yosemite. It has picnic tables outside and good parking. The magic happens inside - tucked inside the gift shop is an amazing deli and restaurant! We ate there every lunch and dinner (we eat once at the other establishments).

My favorites included the fish tacos with mango salsa, the Lobster Taquitos!! The rack of lamb was nice as well after a long day of shooting. A couple other nice dishes include the Wild Buffalo Meatloaf and the Rajin’ Cajun Chicken Jambalaya.

Ok, so what is the biggest problem with this place?! -- what to eat NEXT!!! Ok, it isn't cheap either, but if you want cheap go to McDonalds somewhere else (there are lower cost items like burgers, soups and sandwiches). Talk about Gourmet Cuisine out in the middle of Yosemite National Park (ok, just on the north eastern side of the valley) The web site has a listing of some of the other menu items and list of music that is there in the summer.

This is one of those places where I want to be on a Friday afternoon! Enjoy John

View Larger Map

Panorama dry run of the artfair booth

2009-06-06T02:26:00.000-07:00

Just getting things setup as this is my first time doing an outdoor artfair. A photographer friend of mine loaned me his booth/tent setup - I really like it! Lightweight and supercool. It is a trimline in case anyone wants to know. I also borrowed a van to transport stuff. Just been stretching canvas right and left!! Ok, back to it!

This is a panorama stitched in CS4. Handheld, shooting from multiple angles. I had my daughter, Laura, moving around and it didn't have any problems! Fun with Photoshop CS4.

Cheers
John

Mountain View Art Fair this weekend (June 6th) - AVArtFest 2009

2009-06-02T17:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came by for our Silicon Valley Open Studios open house last month! It was a two-day party and we had over 200 people through the house!! For some reason, people waited until we broke out the wine tasting with Shala and Kyle from Coterie Cella rs Winery :-) It was quite a weekend. The backlit light box of my "Nature's Firefall" seemed to be the big hit as were the new museum quality gallery-wrap images. Thanks again!

If you weren't able to make it, don't worry, there will be other opportunities to come and check out my latest works.

I will be showing THIS Saturday, June 6th in Mountain View at the AVARTFest 2009. I also won an "Award of Excellence" for my "Nature's Firefall" image. There will be over 100 artists in Pioneer P ark just off of downtown Mountain View.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Pioneer Memorial Park, Mountain View

The funny thing is that I lived in Park Place apartments for 10 year which is right across the street. It is a great location to bring the kids out for a walk to see some nice artwork. I will have some of my latest pieces, but not all, since I have to transport my stuff there.

Stop by if you are around!
Cheers,
John

Mac Mini Hard Drive and Memory Upgrade

2009-06-01T16:44:00.000-07:00

I just picked up a new 2009 Mac Mini for my wife so she can have a system that can view iPhoto quickly and make movies with the Flip Mini HD. The old Mac G4 MDD Tower was just slowing to a crawl and the 22" Apple Cinema Display works great!

I saw some videos from Other World Computing on upgrading the hard drive and memory and it looked like a nice simple project to tackle. I picked up the base model Apple Mac Mini model from Amazon for $594. Purchase a 500Gb 7200 laptop drive at the local computer supply for $120 and then the Crucial 4Gb RAM kit from Amazon for $64. I also picked up a sata notebook drive enclosure to put the new drive in and cloned the existing drive with carbon copy cloner.

The upgrade was REALLY straight forward like in the video. The one gotcha is to have a jeweler screw driver for one of the screws on the mini mainboard since it is very skinny and you can't get a regular screwdriver in there. OWC will try to sell you a kit - but you really just need two small Philips screwdrivers (one magnetized to get the screws out), a pair of tweezers and a putty knife.

I used the migration assistant utility to move files over. One gotcha with the migration assistant -- do NOT use the exact same user name on your new system! It can't deal with it (and doesn't deal gracefully imho) and won't find your old computer on the net or firewire.

I highly recommend for anyone looking for a great mini to try this upgrade. (I am not liable for any goofs or problems! You are on your own if you break it and void your warranty).
Enjoy!
John

Photofocus Blog and Podcast - Check it out!

2009-05-14T23:20:00.000-07:00

Scott Bourne is doing a great new blog and podcast called Photofocus. Great tutorials, information, articles and critiques. He also gives way great thing JUST for linking, watching and listening. Check him out on twitter as well.

The folks at This Week in Photography podcast have started up a new blog called TwipLog. It has different posts and show notes over there.

Both are excellent sources and should be on every photographers shortlist.
Keep Shooting! John

Vernal Falls Mist Trail, Yosemite HD video

2009-05-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

I found this video posted on the Yosemite News Web site. Great HD video showing the massive amounts of water and mist that come pouring over this fall! Pretty amazing. I think I need to get up to Yosemite again to capture some of the spring water falls! I might have to extend my "Water, Light and Texture" series to include some new ones!

(I did NOT capture this video. Credit to Yosemite News. Posted on Vimeo

Horsetail Falls 2009 - Yosemite Nature Photography

2009-05-02T22:21:00.000-07:00

I just finished up with a fantastic open house today! If you stopped in, thanks!! It was quite a bit of fun sharing my latest images with folks.

I put together a few new photos of Horsetail falls in Yosemite National Park. The first is one where the winds picked up the falls/mist and looks like an explosion! This is what I call painting with light - the sunlight is the paintbrush, and the water is my paint. It all comes together nicely. Leave your comments and let me know what you think. Yosemite Nature and Landscape photography is the perfect soothing backdrop for any home. I know what I am getting my wife for Mother's Day!
Thanks,
John

Open Studio Open House this weekend in Sunnyvale

2009-04-30T12:07:00.000-07:00

Landscape and Nature Photography Open House - Part of Silicon Valley Open Studios

My one big event of the year!! Saturday and Sunday. 11am - 5pm at our house in Sunnyvale. New Canvas Giclée Gallery Wrap Images

You are invited to come and relax with a glass of wine, let the kids play in the backyard, and check out some of my latest photography.

I am debuting my images from my national award winning trip to shoot in Yosemite. The new series is called "Water, Light and Textures" in Yosemite National Park.

I am also displaying these photographs with a new Giclée process printed on canvas with a gallery wrap. These gallery wraps allow me to print larger images and the colors are really vivid with a 3D texture to them.

When: This Saturday & Sunday, May 2nd and 3rd
Time: 11am to 5pm

This is part of Silicon Valley Open Studios with over 400 artists in the Bay Area showcasing their works. Get out and check out some artwork!

A portion of proceeds are donated to Sunnyvale Community Services.

Gearing up for my Photography Open House this weekend - Silicon Valley Open Studios 2009

2009-04-27T14:47:00.000-07:00

I am gearing up for my photography open house this weekend, May 2nd and 3rd! It is at our house in Sunnyvale and we should have more than 30-40 images up. Many from my latest trip to Yosemite. Printing many of my new images from Yosemite on canvas. The colors are really vivid and seeing large prints is nice! I finalized on a few sizes. 16x24, 20x30, 28x42 and 38x58. Seeing a waterfall at 38x58 is amazing!! We now have a life size mural on the wall!

Please email me if you want directions or if you are able to join us! This is a kid-friendly event. Cheers, John

Photo news today. Legal Music, Nikon D5000, TWIP podcast

2009-04-14T10:39:00.001-07:00

Just a couple of interesting tidbits today

Scott Bourne over at Photofocus.com has a great new blog on using 'legal' music. Check it out "Time to Make your Music Legal.

Nikon introduces the D5000. 12 Megapixel, LiveView, 720p video,swivel screen. Looks like a great new camera. I just hope the movies are compatible with the Mac and iMovie as the Creative HD Vado IS NOT!!! Image of the D5000 is copyright Nikon.

New TWIP Podcast #85 including an interview by Frederick Johnson with Jeff Jochum, CMO of SmugMug.

I guess I will be busy!
John

California Wildflower are blooming!

2009-04-10T15:31:00.000-07:00

I never thought I would be excited about wildflowers! Photography has definitely opened up my horizons! Not only do I appreciate them, but I continue to learn and am eager to chase opportunities to see them. I like the vibrant colors. My ideal photo? Orange poppies and purple Lupines! I haven't found them yet.

We were up in Yosemite a few weeks ago and the poppies were absolutely amazing! Pure carpets of orange from the river to the surrounding peaks. Some of the locals have mentioned it was the best wildflower showing in 10 or 20 years. I stopped and got a few shots! I just printed this one as a 20x30 on canvas. It looks good!

John Harrison Photography Open House - May 2nd and 3rd (wine tasting w/Coterie Cellars)

2009-04-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let followers know... I will be having my next Open House at our house in Sunnyvale on Saturday and Sunday, May 2nd and 3rd. This is in conjunction with the Silicon Valley Open Studios.

I will be debuting my new gallery wrap canvas images as well as new images from my latest travels to Yosemite and a few other locations. Drop me an email if you want to be included on the email with more details. The open house will be from 11am - 5pm both days.

Friends of ours are the owners of Coterie Cellars, a hot new winery here in Silicon Valley. They will be tasting some of their latest wines on the Sunday.
Thanks!
John

Carolina Tar Heels win NCAA basketball championship 2009 - Technology and Photography Impact

2009-04-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

Having grown up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, I was pretty excited to see the Tar Heels beat that other team! Reminds me of the days when Michael Jordan helped Carolina win the NCAA championship back in '83 when I was in Chapel Hill (Jordan DID play basketball before the Bulls and Nike endorsements unknown to some people). Back the we watched the game on cable and a 27" TV. Pretty low tech compared to today. (the image linked from the News and Observer site, Staff Photo by Chuck Liddy, Copyright, News and Observer).

It is interesting to note the video and photography technology changes of how we got to see the game. I watched it on my Sony 55" HDTV from an over the air broadcast HD signal, captured on my dual HD tuner DirectTV HD DVR (an HR-21 with over the air AM20 HD tuner for those who care). I started the show an hour after it started and was able to start and stop it whenever I wanted (I made sure not to answer the phone, surf the web to see facebook or twitter updates in case someone might 'share the good news' with me). I think another show was being recorded in the background. I skipped through most of half time except to see the new Star Trek movie preview that is coming out in May. My how times have changed!

A few notes from the photojournalism front... a friend posted on her facebook page the local paper's photographer did a couple of great captures of the after party. One is a panorama , the other is a time lapse video of the melee complete with bonfire. I also saw quite a few cell phone images tweeted about. Nothing like real time reporting. While watching the game, I was working on new photographs on my Mac Book Pro (which has more computing power than the supercomputer's in 1983 probably had).

Has technology changed the way you have viewed or captured a major event like the NCAA tournament? Drop comments here and share.

Front Page of the North America Nature Photography Association (NANPA)!

2009-03-18T00:55:00.000-07:00

I was recently selected to be part of the 'members showcase' for the North America Nature Photographers Association. This is 100 of the top 5000 images submitted by Nature Photographers.

They have selected my image to be on the front page of the NANPA website for Wednesday, March 18, 2009!! I better take a screen shot quickly before it disappears!!

Pretty exciting to see my image on the front page!! Now.... back to working on my images to submit for next year!

Enjoy
John

Been working, shooting, and travelling

2009-03-17T21:44:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delays in posting! I have been busy with the day job at Symantec, chasing the family around, shooting and our annual family trip we just got back from Yosemite!!

If you really want some excitement, you can read a new white paper on the latest in Web based attacks that I have been working on for the last few months. It is some scary reality of the latest in how the web can compromise your computer just by visiting those same websites you go to everyday (yes, even photography web sites!). You can read it here: You might have to select the 'whitepaper' tab.

I have done a little shooting, most recently heading up to Uvas Canyon Creek near Morganhill to catch some local little waterfalls raging around. Look for those images in the next few months!

I just got back from Yosemite with my wife and kids for our annual trek in Winter. It was a nice 70 degrees and snow in the high country. A great time - the kids had a BLAST sledding up near Crane Flat. My daughter went about 150 times!

I am STILL working on the images from the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop contest! They are coming along and I got a few nice ones. I will be posting those in the next few weeks.

My next show will be the Silicon Valley Open Studios in May - May 2,3 at our house in Sunnyvale. Drop me a note if you want a special invitation!

Outta here for now!
John

Video of me learning to use the Nikon 24mm PC-E during the ANPW in Yosemite

2009-02-03T16:20:00.000-08:00

Here is some great video of me learning to use the Nikon 24mm PC-E during the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop contest in Yosemite. Jennifer Wu provided some fantastic instruction on how to use this lens (even though She is a Canon person!) The tilt-shift, or as Nikon calls them, Perspective Control lenses offer some powerful abilities to change and shift perspectives to get maximum depth or field as those large format photographers do. I am pictured there with another legendary photographer, Steve Simon!

If you haven't entered yet, you should!!! The cost to enter is perfect... free! You have no excuse. The hardest part is figuring out which image to select (you can only submit one)

Aperture Nature Photography Workshop @ Yosemite Tilt/Shift Lens Tutorial from Scott Bourne on Vimeo.

Photographer Arrested for taking Pictures for Amtrack Photography Contest

2009-02-03T12:03:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard the story, it is pretty funny and sad. A photographer was taking pictures in a train station to enter in the Amtrack Photography contest. The Amtrack police arrested him! Looks like the marketing group wasn't talking to the police group.

The Colbert Report has a great spoof on this sad situation! Enjoy the video. I am glad I just got my TWIP (This Week in Photography) T-Shirt "Photography is Not a Crime"

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Nailed 'Em - Amtrak Photographer

Colbert Report Full Episodes
Paul McCartney Appearance

Funny Political Videos
More Funny Videos

Nikon D700 Video hack! D300, D3 video next?!

2009-01-28T15:36:00.000-08:00

Looks like Olivier Giroux has grabbed the Nikon SDK and been able to figure out how to get video out of the Nikon D700. Nice job Olivier! You can read his blog post above on the 'smart person' link. I would assume the Nikon D300 and D3 would be next! Awesome to see. My assumptions and wishes were correct when I assumed it could be done. Now, Nikon just needs to figure out how to be a progressive SOFTWARE company and officially add the feature and charge some $$ for it. Just like I mentioned in September 2008!!! Come on Nikon!!! I won't buy a Nikon D400 or a Nikon D800 just for video. Sell me a software upgrade.

Keep shooting!
John

Back from Yosemite and the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop Contest!!

2009-01-22T22:09:00.000-08:00

I made it back finally on Monday night from the Aperture Nature Photography Contest. 4 days, 4 pros, 4 amateurs including me! I stayed around for a few extra days to shoot in Yosemite.

How was it?!! It was a fantastic experience. Great people, Great place, Great instruction, Fun times!! Was it all good!?! The food wasn't the best - but that didn't matter one bit! The blue lackluster skies just meant hunting for incredible photo ops elsewhere. That makes shooting even that much more challenging! I came away with some good images - but I will let you be the judge of that. I can't wait to finish some images and then start firing up that Epson 9800 and making some big canvas prints! (If you would like to place a pre-order for Canvas Gallery Wrap images, please drop me a note!)

It was really a great experience to shoot with Steve Simon, Jennifer Wu, Scott Bourne and Gary Hamburgh. Each really brought a different element and gave me different ideas to explore. Steve helped bring ideas around telling a story and focusing on a theme. Jennifer really has a fantastic eye and way that she is able to convey and teach ideas worked very well for me. "Fill the Frame!" "Work a spot" If you see something just keep moving around until it comes together. I also learned how to use that Nikon 24mm PC-E Tilt Shift from Jennifer - even though she is one of those 'Canon People' she was able to figure it out :-)

More details later as I am back to my day job working tons at Symantec. Lots of interesting stuff around Drive-by downloads and over scary web threats going on.

If you have any questions in the meantime, drop me a note. I can't wait to get back to Yosemite!
John

Another article published on my Aperture Nature Photography Workshop win

2009-01-16T22:28:00.001-08:00

Looks like Associated Content picked up my story. Too bad that they didn't contact me to get the real image I shot and used a stock photo image of El Capitan! Oh well. I am glad that they picked it up!

Just wrapping up here for the contest workshop with APNW but will be staying in Yosemite to shoot a few more days. Lots of snow on the ground, but the snow is melting each day.

Enjoy!
John

Finished Shooting a Full Day Here in Yosemite with the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop Contest

2009-01-15T20:41:00.000-08:00

We had a packed day today shooting in Yosemite! You will have to wait on images as I haven't had much time to go through them yet. I am posting one nice image I took today - Horsetail Falls with a rainbow on it this morning.

There are 4 Pro Photographers and 4 Amateurs. We shot sunrise to sunset. It was COLD this morning before the sun came up. A couple feet of snow still on the valley floor. The waterfalls are just flowing a little right now. I shot with Jennifer Wu and Scott Bourne today. Shooting with Steve Simon tomorrow!

Back to working on images! Enjoy John

Top 10 iPhone & iPod Touch Apps for Preschool and Kindergarten Age Kids

2009-01-13T15:36:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine with similar age kids and I were chatting about which iPhone apps our kids like. I decided to write it up as a good blog post. So this isn't a highly scientific study or anything like that... it is just an official report on the top applications my kids like to play! YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)

Every night when I get home, one of my wonderful kids steals my iPhone for a few minutes. My son is 3 and is currently in preschool, and my daughter is 6 and is in Kindergarten. My son will even take the iPhone into the bathroom while he is sitting on the toilet (don't tell him I told you.) I don't condone kids playing games on the iPhone, but it has been interesting watching their interaction with it. I think there are some really good learning games. I am pretty amazed at what they can do with the iPhone!

One note - If kids are to use an iPhone, I think there needs to be some 'kids user mode' that can turn off my email, browser and Dad's bad games that the kids don't need to be touching. Who would have thought... user modes for an iPhone. I also don't take any responsibility if you try one of these games and your kids throws your iPhone through the wall.

So here is the official list of the Top 10 iPhone and iPod Touch Applications for Preschool and Kindergarten Age Kids.

1) Crash Bandicoot Nitro Kart3D - My daughter really likes this game and was able to figure it out in 60 seconds. Being able to turn the iPhone and have it steer works for her. My son isn't able to handle it quite as well. At $5.99 it is worth it (and I like it too!) I won't put a link to their website since that really sucks and they don't even list the iPhone as a platform. Buy it via iTunes.

2) Jelly Car -My son absolutely LOVES this game. I don't think he knows it is a 3D physics model simulation game (maybe he does?!) He does love running the car off into the middle of nowhere, or having the little car get squished over and over. The music is cute and he gets the car into spots I have never seen! Best of all... it is FREE so give it a try. Here is a video that you can see it at.

3) Animal Match- The sounds in this one are GREAT! This is just perfect for my son at preschool age. My daughter is able to whip through this fairly easily. It REALLY amazes me just how good their memories are and can remember where those animals are hiding!! Poor old Dad must just be losing it!

4) Preschool Adventure - My son loves this one. The simple learning exercises and games are great! Right on the money with colors, sounds, matching and shapes. I didn't know you could move the head of a pig and put it on a fox or a croc. Too funny! It is really simple and easy to use. It is $.99 at the iTunes store, but worth the price.

5) Ocarina - My kids BOTH love this! Music on an iPhone! They love blowing into the iPhone and tapping their fingers away. They both love music and this is really cool. They have made sounds and music out of this I didn't know was possible! Luckily there is a volume on the iPhone. Since there is no microphone on the iPod Touch, you are out of luck unless you have a Gen2 with a headset mic. Hearing what other people are playing in the world seems to amaze all of us as well. $.99 seems a value deal for this app.

6 ) Moosentration - Lite - A good but harder matching game. Perfect for the Kindergarten age kids.

7) MotionX-Dice. Another simple one that both my kids like. All the different dice patterns are fun with them, but being able to shake it up really gets them going. I really seems to be a good learning tool to count with visual objects.

8) Lightsaber - My kids have never seen StarWars, but they really like pulling out the Lightsaber complete with sounds. This HAS to be the scariest game for me to watch as they swings my iPhone around. For some reason I don't trust my 3 year old swinging my $xxx iPhone around. I think I will be taking it off! Luckily they don't play with it much any more.

9) Tap Tap Revenge. Both my kids really enjoy this one. I don't know if they understand it but they sure enjoy taping on the screen! I think I need to find some new music as the standard easy songs get annoying to the parents after a while.

10) Cannon Challenge. This is one my son plays every now and then. I think he just likes the sounds it makes - BOOM! He can't figure out the controls but he sure knows how to fire it! Interesting this is made by the discovery channel.

If you have other suggestions, want to add apps that your kids like, or want to send me iTunes dollars to try purchased apps, please send an email or post them in the comments below! P.s . feel free to check out my photography as well at John Harrison Photography.

Shooting Things That Move with Scott Bourne

2009-01-12T01:23:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of shooting with pro photographer Scott Bourne today while he was in the area after MacWorld! Scott is the main person behind "This Week in Photography" (TWIP) that is leading the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop contest that I won and will soon be shooting with in Yosemite!

it was just a quick outing to the Palo Alto Baylands, but that is quite the bird mecca! Scott commented that he would shoot here every day of the year if he lived here. It is quite nice to have soo many species around.

For those of you who know me, my photography is primarily landscape photography and some kids/family portraits - I generally dont' shoot things that move! Scott gave me some great tips on lighting and composition that really helped point me in the right direction (which is 180 degrees opposite to what I normally do for landscape photography!). Totally front lit and a few side lit portraits of the Coots, Mallard ducks and a few other species whose names I will remember or learn soon! The learning is what I love about being outdoors to shoot! I also learned a great new tip to get my Nikon D300 to shoot 8fps instead of the normal 6fps (frames per second!) not using an external battery grip.

Look for more images of things that move in the future! If you want to check out the other images from this day at the Palo Alto Baylands (where the Palo Alto Camera Club meets) than click on this link.

Time to keep getting ready to go to Yosemite!

Enjoy!
John

Printing Big with "The Beast Printer"!!! Now Printing on a 44" Wide Epson 9800

2009-01-10T00:32:00.000-08:00

One of my biggest and most important customers (my Mother) called after receiving a 20" x 30" canvas giclee' print. She stated it was VERY nice, but too small! She wants a bigger print! So I went out and helped to personally jump start the economy by purchasing a beast of a printer - The Epson Stylus Pro 9800! It prints up to 44" wide so I can make some gigantic canvas prints. You can see one of them on the wall and one that is being prepared (that print in my hands will only make a 20" x 30" canvas with gallery wrapped edges).

The canvas Gallery wrapped images REALLY look fantatic! It is a totally different look since it just goes on the wall without a frame. The color just jumps off the canvas though and you get a really nice image. I will include another blog post on the process coming up.

I am starting to pack for Yosemite and get all of the gear ready! Unfortunately, it looks like it will be WARM up there and no snow :-( Maybe the falls will start flowing really nicely! I probably jinxed it by borrowing snow shoes.

Thanks again for ALL the fantastic notes from the articles - I heard KGO radio ran the story as well! Wow!

Enjoy and keep shooting!
John

Full Page Story on my Yosemite Photography in the Sunnyvale Sun

2009-01-08T17:05:00.000-08:00

Wahoo! I am pretty excited, Cody Kraatz over at the Sunnyvale Sun wrote a fantastic article that appeared in yesterday's Sunnyvale Sun. It was just a few pages inside the front cover and a full page!!! It is a VERY well written article as well. I really enjoyed doing the interview and talking with Cody - he really was able to translate all talking and what excites me about making pictures! Thanks for all the supportive emails so far... I haven't had time to reply to everyone, but I will make time.

The Mercury News also picked it up and ran it on the front page of the MercuryNews online site!
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11408416?source=rss

If you read the story, drop me a note via email at john at jharrisonphoto.com or leave a comment!

Cheers
John

Which Camera Strap to get? Upstrap or OP/Tech USA?!

2008-12-30T13:54:00.000-08:00

I want to get a new camera strap. I have been using a 15 year old Op/Tech USA camera strap on my D300 and it seems to be showing some signs of wear - I want to be sure my D300 doesn't hit the ground just because I was using an old camera strap.

The two that I have been considering are the Upstrap SLR-Classic or the Optech ProStrap. The Op/Tech seems nice with the bouncy spongy material that would seem to absorb shock while walking better. I have that currently on my camera and I don't seem to notice that at all.

Let me know your thoughts as to which I should get or suggest another one if you have one.
Cheers,
John

My Aperture Nature Photography Contest Interview Went Live

2008-12-29T20:22:00.000-08:00

My interview questions from the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop contest were posted up on the APNW site today! It is getting closer. I borrowed a pair of snowshoes that I will hopefully get to put to good use while in Yosemite. I am trying to decide if I should purchase or rent a 24mm Nikon PC-E tilt/shift lens. I haven't used one before, but it looks like it is an AWESOME lens. I might try it out first before sinking the $$ into it.

The headshot of me was done by Michael Soo, a great photographer here in Cupertino. Michael was the amatuer photographer of the year in 2005 and has since gone full time professional.

Mike Osborne's Water, Granite and Light book on Yosemite Waterfalls

2008-12-24T16:01:00.000-08:00

Legendary photographer and retired Yosemite park Ranger, Mike Osborne, is set to release an updated version of his book on Yosemite waterfalls entitled "Granite, Water and Light: The Waterfalls of Yosemite Valley" set to release in April. The book is already available for pre-order and should be on every Yosemite photographers list of books to have. I purchased a copy of the original book that I found used on Amazon.

I had the pleasure of shooting with Mike Osborne while on Michael Frye's workshop shooting fall colors in Yosemite and Mono Lake. Just an incredible man - and he likes abstract rock images similar to mine! He told some amazing stories of being about and around in Yosemite.

Cheers,
John

Received a Think Tank Photo Rotation 360 Camera Bag from the ANPW contest

2008-12-21T22:21:00.000-08:00

I received my next prize from the Aperture Nature Photography Workshop Contest sponsors last week - a Think Tank Photo Rotation 360 Camera bag! It looks like this (this isn't me, just a hotlink to the Think Tank Photo website images. I had heard about this bag before but haven't seen one. It is smaller than I imagined. Nice size for being out in the field. I haven't loaded it up yet - that will take some work to do. I really like the idea of the rotation fanny pack for putting the body in. I normally shoot with a lowepro top loading waistpack and it has gotten pretty snug after moving to the Nikon D300 with an L-bracket. There is no place for a laptop. There are lots of compartments. I will have to read the manual and figure out everything I need to do with the bag!!

It has been cold and raining in the bay area lately. Last week we had snow in the local foothills -- my translation of this is .... SNOW IN YOSEMITE!!!! At least there is a good base now. Should be nice! I am looking forward to it. Just a few weeks to go!

Enjoy
John

Being Interviewed on Photography Podcast this Morning - Phototalkradio.com

2008-12-20T07:24:00.000-08:00

I being interviewed on Phototalkradio.com this morning. Should be a fun interview but the show is also broadcast LIVE! Mike Garcia saw my photographs over at the ROK Bistro in Sunnyvale where I have my solo exhibit. Check it out and you can also see my images while I talk about them. Enjoy! John

Amazing Year 2008 in Photographs! Boston.com

2008-12-19T14:48:00.001-08:00

These are some STUNNING photographs. A wide variety of topics and images from 2008. My favorite is the lightning above the volcano. I will let you know when I get an image like that! It is truly awesome. So many photographs are just being at the right place and the right time. If you don't shoot, you won't get anything. Shoot often, shoot frequently. Blow the dust off your camera and shoot. Take your camera in your car or on the bus. Too many times we see amazing things in a day and we don't capture it. Enjoy! John

Lynda.com prize for winning Aperture Nature Photography Workshop Contest showed up!

2008-12-19T14:34:00.000-08:00

I just got an early xmas present... my Lynda.com12 month membership prize for winning Aperture Nature Photography Workshop Contest showed up! I think I will be spending the holiday learning and doing training videos! Scott Bourne also just twittered about some of his training that is up there as well. You can never learn enough - although my head hurts with all of the things that keep getting stuffed in there. Since I haven't really used Aperture much (We will learn about that during the workshop), I want to get a headstart and start learning about that. Enjoy! John

Rumors of Nikon D400 with HD 1080p Video - add it to the Nikon D300!

2008-12-11T10:56:00.000-08:00

Rumors are starting up that a new Nikon D400 is coming (via Gizmodo via Nikon Rumors) and it will have a 14.8M sensor and 1080P video! That is great BUT.... I want video on my D300. It shouldn't be hard for Nikon to add video to the D300. I already shelled out too much money. Sell me a software upgrade. $200? Great. Done. I am NOT going to go out and purchase a new camera. This mentality from camera manufactures needs to stop. Look at software upgrades as a channel and target market and get with the program! Camera manufactures need to learn to evolve in this new economy.

New Solo Photography Exhibit at the Rok Bistro in Sunnyvale

2008-12-10T01:13:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce a new solo exhibit at the Rok Bistro restaurant to highlight two new series of photographs: “Rockscapes in the Valley of Fire” and “Rock Textures in Point Lobos.” The display includes a selection of my award winning Yosemite images including my “Nature’s Firefall” image.

I created two new series for the Rok Bistro capturing the natural beauty of rock and “rockscapes” with their unique textures and colors in dramatic lighting and in some of the most beautiful locations. These are two of my favorite locations to shoot and visit – my goal was to capture images that reminded me of a place I wanted to be on a Friday afternoon. I have a selection of 16 images on display and for sale. The exhibit will run through 2009.

The Rok Bistro Restaurant is a new fondue and "Hot Stone" restaurant in downtown Sunnyvale at 124 S. Murphy Ave, Sunnyvale, CA

(Photograph above is Copyright PQ Photography)