Wiley Coyote

Was on the bike riding over Mt. Tamalpais and came upon this coyote, that just stayed ahead of me on the down hill run. I know not a great shot, but given it was taken while on my bike traveling about 15 mph, not bad.

Dan

Peace Plaza

Nikon D100, Tokina 17mm f3.5 ATX

--Warren

Moscone Center Self Portrait

Nikon D100, Nikkor 105mm f2.5

When Dan and I were out here for the RFF event, I had an idea for a picture using the windows of one of the buildings at Moscone Center (near the carousel). At the time, I was shooting with a 35mm lens, and it wasn't quite what I had in mind, so the next time that I was there, I got this shot.

--Warren

Fresh From the Manger

Was out on my bike on a back road and came upon this scene. Something about new lambs of all the farm animals. It isn't even spring yet.

Dan

Threatening Skys but No Rain Yet

We are in the middle of a drought despite the threat of rain. Hoping for some real rain soon.

Dan

Another Transamerica Tower

We have all done this, but could not resist the caption in relation to the tower.

Dan

Dancing Under Cloady Skys

The music was on and so were the dancers. Good way to enjoy some early exercise and socialize.

Dan

How Many Strolls Has He Taken

Elder out for his morning constitution in Washington Sq.

I hope I am as nimble as he is when I am his age. He looped the park for a good four laps, before sitting down and chatting with friends.

Dan

Two Smokers at Peace Plaza

Nikon D100, Tokina 17mm f3.5 ATX

It has been cold and overcast a lot lately. Last weekend, Gail and I wanted to find a place to get some sun. We found some at the Peace Plaza in Japantown. I was lounging on one of the benches there enjoying the sun (see feet in picture), and I saw two locals people who were apparently unrelated, sitting in front of me having a smoke. It just so happened that they were both bundled up for the cold day, and they were both wearing beanie style knit caps. I waited and waited, until the moment when they both took a drag from their cigarettes at the same time...

--Warren

Meditations on a Fountain

Nikon D100, Nikkor 105mm f2.5

This series was taken during my photography walkabout at Yerba Buena Gardens last weekend.

Under fading light, I took advantage of the speed, resolution, and superb image quality of the Nikkor 105mm f2.5.

Which are your impressions in general, and which image is your favorite (and why) in this series?

--Warren

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

Bougainvillea at Yerba Buena Gardens

Nikon D100, Nikkor 105mm f2.5

I used SFMOMA as the background for this threadbare Bougainvillea plant. It should be full again once it's in season.

--Warren

On the Balcony

Nikon D100, Nikkor 105mm f2.5

I'm referring to those two tiny people on the balcony of SFMOMA. You don't realize how huge the building is until you see some humans in there for scale. :)

It's also interesting that SFMOMA is done in the same brick color as St. Patrick's Church (see previous post).

--Warren

St. Patrick's Catholic Church

Nikon D100, Nikkor 105mm f2.5

Last weekend, Gail wanted to do some shopping downtown. While she was doing that, I took the opportunity to revisit the Yerba Buena Gardens/Moscone Center area. This time, I decided to bring my Nikon D100 and Tokina 17mm, and Nikkor 105mm f2.5. I mentioned before how much I liked my previous images taken with the Nikkor 105mm f2.5 on the Nikon F4s, and that my next excursion with the lens would be on the D100. I ended up using the 105mm for most of my pictures in this session.

Here is a front shot of St. Patrick's. It's one of the few old buildings still remaining in the area.

--Warren

Polka Dotted Grace Cathedral

Canon A570is

Changing gears here, on Christmas Day, Gail and I parked our car near Grace Cathedral and after the Christmas Service, we went for a walk to downtown for lunch. On our way back to the car, we walked up the steep hill on Taylor Street to California. As we crested the hill, I saw this view of Grace Cathedral lit up with polka dot reflections from a building across the street.

--Warren

Late Afternoon at Ocean Beach #3

Nikon D100, Tokina 17mm f3.5 ATX

You can see in the distance from left to right, the well known landmarks: Seal Rocks, Camera Obscura, and the Cliff House.

--Warren

Late Afternoon at Ocean Beach #2

Nikon D100, Tokina 17mm f3.5 ATX

--Warren

Fun after work and team building.

D70 / 35mm prime

The company that I recently left, was having a team building exercise.  This is an indoor facility, so the challenge was to get a picture to come out with the speed of the carts at about 45mph.  I came in third in the race behind the president and chief operations officer.  I let them win!

**Dollph

Flamingo Center in Everglades National Park

D200 / 55mm

The Flamingo Center is the southern most point in the park.  It was late in the afternoon and this couple had set up to watch the sunset.

**Dolph

Royal Palm Area of Everglades National Park

D200 / 300mm

We visited the Everglades National Park last weekend.  It is a great time of year because of all the bird that migrate down for the winter.  This Cormorand had just caught a catfish and battling keeping other birds away and figuring out how to eat the fish.

**Dolph

Late Afternoon at Ocean Beach

Nikon D100, Tokina 17mm f3.5 ATX

I went for a walk at Ocean Beach on 1/2/2010. I have a few more to post from this session, stay tuned.

You can see the end of the Great Highway leading up to the Cliff House with Seal Rocks to the left in the distance.

--Warren

Photography Couple

Nikon D100, Nikkor 300mm f4.5

I went to Poplar Beach in search of raptors again, but I found other photographers instead. And they weren't stalking birds, they were setting up a shot of their little daughter with the ocean behind her.

--Warren

Poplar Beach Surf and Sand

Nikon D100, Nikkor 300mm f4.5

Looking north from the Bluff Top Trail at Poplar Beach.

--Warren

Rescue Board

Nikon F4s, Tamron 24-135mm, Fuji Superia Xtra 400

There was a sick sea lion at Pescadero Beach. Folks from the Marine Mammal Center were there to bring the animal to the Center for treatment.

--Warren

Point Bonitas

These were all taken yesterday with a shirt pocket point and shoot (Canon s90). It was a real hazy day in the Bay Area, but the surf was spectacular. The lighthouse was closed on Friday otherwise I could have gotten some shots from the approach to the Golden Gate. The last shot shows the lighthouse in the distance.

Dan

Looking South from Pescadero

Nikon F4s, Tamron 24-135mm

Another shot of the rugged coastline at Pescadero, this time looking south from the beach. You can see Highway 1 in the distance.

--Warren

Ocean View at Pescadero

Nikon F4s, Tamron 24-135mm

View of the rugged coastline at Pescadero, San Mateo County.

--Warren

Gazing In

Nikon F4s, Tamron 24-135mm

This was taken on the same day as the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve pictures, but at a different beach: Pescadero State Beach. This boy looks like he is doing a Tai Chi move called "Slanting Flying", but he was actually just wiping sand from his hands.

--Warren

Gazing Out

Nikon F4s, Tamron 24-135mm

A moment before I took this, she was looking at the tidepools. Then she decided to take a break and looked out towards the ocean.

--Warren

Gazing Down

Nikon F4s, Tamron 24-135mm

What this man is doing is certainly open for interpretation, isn't it?

He is actually staring intently into the tidepool looking for marine life, at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve near Half Moon Bay.

--Warren

Follow the Bouncing Ball

Nikon F4s, Nikkor 105mm f2.5 ai

I have no idea what this contraption is called, but basically two people squeeze inside of the giant plastic ball, and roll down the hill (uncontrolled). It seems both fun and crazy at the same time.

The kids were helping to roll it up the hill for another ride down.

--Warren

Brick Overload

Nikon F4s, Nikkor 105mm f2.5 ai

It appeared that reading a paper outside was the thing to do on that fine day in the Marina District.

The texture of the bricks and tiles got my attention.

--Warren

Lap Dog

Nikon F4s, Nikkor 105mm f2.5 AI, Fuji Superia Xtra 400

A pampered pooch out at Ft. Mason on a lazy summer day.

--Warren

Ghostly Shopper

Olympus Stylus Epic Zoom 80

I was having a cup of coffee at Stanford Shopping Center on the day after Christmas when it started raining hard. It caught shoppers unprepared and many of them made a run for it between the awnings.

--Warren

Crystal Springs Reflections

Olympus Stylus Epic Zoom 80

Here are two shots Crystals Springs, viewed from the Sawyer Camp Trail.

--Warren

It Could Have Been Another Keeper

Olympus Stylus Epic Zoom 80, Fuji Superia Xtra 400

Picture Location: Crystal Springs from the Sawyer Camp Trail.

A friend recently gave me this P&S, an Olympus Stylus (more good camera karma!). I thought it was going to be great, my first zoom P&S film camera. The zoom on this camera is a modest range, only 38mm to 80mm. The Olympus Stylus series has a great reputation, especially the fixed lens (non-zoom) versions of the Stylus. I've always stayed away from zoom P&S cameras because I believed that the compact and slow zoom lenses did not have the performance that I required. That's why I chose the Yashica T4 as my primary P&S for all these years. Since this one was free, I was eager to give it a try and perhaps make it a part of my collection of nice, old cameras.

Very unfortunately, this camera has a light leak. Some research on the Internet revealed that this was a common problem with this series of cameras. One of the great features of this camera, the weather sealing, is this camera's downfall. The seal around the lens has a tendency to break, causing this light leak. On the 24 exposure test roll that I shot, 10 frames had this light leak that ruined the pictures. I was able to crop out the bad parts on several of the pictures, but I'm afraid I'm going to have to recycle this camera.

The camera is very compact, about the same size as the fixed lens Yashica T4, and it handles exposure and focus very well (as you'll see). I will post some pictures from the test roll. Since none of you want my extra T4, I'm sure nobody here is interested in a light-leaking Stylus, right?

--Warren

NYC

I know I've been an absentee contributor to the blog but I finally took some worthwhile shots to share. Last week we went to the Big Apple. All shots with Nikon D70 with either Tamron 12-24mm or Nikon 18-200mm. I like to travel light but I could not resist bringing my ultrawide angle Tamron lens on this trip. First shot is one you won't see everyday. My daughter Madison and I playing ENT with Lady Liberty.

Next one is the hall of the ferry building in Jersey City to go to Ellis and Liberty Islands.

Here's the Great Hall on Ellis Island.

A classic view of Lady Liberty.

And finally St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Running for the Carousel

Bessa R, 35mm f2.5 Skopar, Fuji Superia Xtra 400

A happy child dashing for the carousel in anticipation.

--Warren