Sweet 'n' Salty

Photography is a progression, both in terms of skill as well as style, eye, taste, and interest. The photos I'm taking in 2019 are different from the photos when I first got *really* into photography in 2011. Some of it's just plain boredom - the scenes that interested me 8 years ago have been photographed so many times that I have no interest in them. Some of it is just that my tastes have changed. Social Media is also to blame - I've seen so many photos of places that they lose their appeal to go visit. "I can just pull it up on Google Earth - why do I need to go there?", Sammi once said to me. Lately I've had fun doing drone photography. The new DJI drones have made some huge leaps and bounds allowing some amazing drone photos and photographers like David Thompson, Miles Morgan and Ryan Dyar had inspired me to pick up a drone last Black Friday. Some of the places in the Bay Area that I've photographed a bazillion times with my dSLR are now interesting again. One thing I love about drone photography is that the entire shape and texture of the landscape can come alive when you get above it. What might have just been a boring stream, ebbs and flows with shape and interest when you get a few hundred feet in the air. This particular sunset was predicted to be nice (thanks Escaype) and it didn't disappoint. In fact, the little drone sensor couldn't handle the color and had to be toned down to bring detail back. Willie and I flew the drones above these salt flats as small streams picked up the sunset colors. The shapes just suck me in and the reflected light warmed the soul. DJI Mavic Pro 2 w/Hasselblad L1D-20c: 10.26mm, f/5, 1/30 sec, ISO 250

Creeping into the Flats

As I've been spending more and more time working *on* photography at SmugMug, I've found less and less motivation to photograph the same places and things I had previously enjoyed photographing. The city, which was once a constant source of inspiration and focus for my camera, has become too much of an effort to go photograph. Seascapes, which I still love for the motion and power and color, lost interest as most non-photographers continued to lack interest in them. I needed something new to inspire me. I've seen some amazing drone photos from a number of photographers lately. Originally these drones could take great videos but lacked great sensors for still photography; DJI now has a number of well-priced drones that also do great still photos! I picked up a DJI Mavic Pro 2 in November and I've been having a lot of fun flying and taking photos. It's provided a renewed sense of purpose and excitement with my photography. I love getting above the land and seeing its shapes from the sky. It's amazing what just a hundred feet can show you that you would never see from the ground. And when the sun hits it at the right (low) angles, some magic can happen. On this particular night the sunset went blood red and orange in the sky and the streams of water managed to pick up the color beautiful! DJI Mavic Pro 2 w/Hasselblad L1D-20c: 10.26mm, f/5, 1/15 sec, ISO 640

Creeping into the Flats

As I've been spending more and more time working *on* photography at SmugMug, I've found less and less motivation to photograph the same places and things I had previously enjoyed photographing. The city, which was once a constant source of inspiration and focus for my camera, has become too much of an effort to go photograph. Seascapes, which I still love for the motion and power and color, lost interest as most non-photographers continued to lack interest in them. I needed something new to inspire me. I've seen some amazing drone photos from a number of photographers lately. Originally these drones could take great videos but lacked great sensors for still photography; DJI now has a number of well-priced drones that also do great still photos! I picked up a DJI Mavic Pro 2 in November and I've been having a lot of fun flying and taking photos. It's provided a renewed sense of purpose and excitement with my photography. I love getting above the land and seeing its shapes from the sky. It's amazing what just a hundred feet can show you that you would never see from the ground. And when the sun hits it at the right (low) angles, some magic can happen. On this particular night the sunset went blood red and orange in the sky and the streams of water managed to pick up the color beautiful! DJI Mavic Pro 2 w/Hasselblad L1D-20c: 10.26mm, f/5, 1/20 sec, ISO 400