Arches National Park

These are the arches called the Windows, North Window on the left and South Window on the right.

Turret Arch

Looking West from the trail.

Arches National Park was a beautiful weekend get away. It snowed while we were there, putting a damper on the day we planned to photograph the area. The trip was not a total loss as you can see. The touch of snow gave the pictures a  nice wintry look. I could not have planned it any better. I can now check off the bucket list Arches and Moab, but believe me I want to go back!

Weathered And Peeling

A Single Light

Macro Fun

Mandarin Oranges

Grapes

To recreate this type of picture you will need the following: a large glass, sparkling water, sprite or 7 up, fruit of your choice, rock salt, camera and macro lens. Pour the sparkling water into the glass. Add the fruit. To make more or extra bubbles add a few pieces of rock salt to the glass. Adding ice to the glass causes frost or condensation to the glass. This makes the picture appear blurry and frosted. I used a light behind the glass for illumination, no flash. Some editing was done to increase the contrast and brighten the picture. Caution: Don't drink from the glass! Have fun shooting macro.

The Game

You either love the game or don't get it!

Praying Mantis

Found this little creature sneaking into the garage one day. I had my son capture it for a future photo section and we brought it into the house. We gave it a bigger home than a mason jar after a day or two. The roomer shoe box was a much more pleasing habit for the mantis. It or she left a egg sack behind in the box. What a surprise for us! With the help of my wife, surprised me too, we put the insect on a house plant. I used two different lens, a 105mm macro and a 70-200mm lens with extension tubes, to photograph the it. Depth of field was difficult to control with either set up but the detail is incredible. Ladybugs, a praying mantis, next time maybe spiders for a macro photo shoot at the kitchen table. Wife willing or out of town!

Halloween Fun

f/13, 20 sec., ISO100

f/22, 15 sec., ISO 100

f/16, 15 sec., ISO 100

f/13, 20 sec., ISO 100

Halloween is a great time to take pictures. I read somewhere that it is the second most photographed holiday in the United States. My neighbor and friend loves Halloween. He has put on a "Spook Alley" or "Haunted House" the last several years. Each year it gets better. No charge for the scare just fun and laughter, for him and the neighborhood kid who dare go through! These or some long exposures with a flashlight and camera flash. The pictures with with fog machine really make the shot look scary! What do you think?

Relaxing View

While driving up the coast from Waikiki, I stopped to see the view and figure out why all the cars are parked along the road. I stumbled on a "locals surfing beach" and what a view. There where several areas like this, a little remote, out of the way, and none of those vacationers around! I caught this guy and his dog enjoying the view and relaxing in the shade. If only I had a bigger telephoto lens with me, I might have joined him. Windsurfers make a great subject.

Another Lighthouse

Sunset Landing

It looked as though this balloon would land right on me as it came down. The skilled pilot dropped it just in front of me and than took a big hop and dropped about 40 yards behind me. It wasn't the most graceful of landing but provided a great picture opportunity. Some edits were done to bring out the color of the balloon.

Lighthouse

I hiked down to take these shots, while my wife hiked to the top of Diamond Head crater to get a different prospective.

Romance Is In The Air