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2013-05-20 03:28:22 (36 comments, 15 reshares, 220 +1s)

Mud Puddles

+Casey McCallister and +Michael Bonocore trying to get out of the parking lot without getting stuck :)  This Motion Photo created with the new Google+ Auto-Awesome feature....

2013-05-18 08:22:46 (37 comments, 13 reshares, 248 +1s)

What happens when I take portraits....
:)

Burning Man 2013 is approaching quickly.  The man burns in 105 days.   If you are going to build something, or plan to contribute to an art project, now is a a good time to get started :)  I am looking forward to my 14th year.

~joe

2013-05-17 16:25:55 (6 comments, 3 reshares, 19 +1s)

I just signed up to try this new Cloud-based storage service:

https://copy.com?r=Y2cVNt

20gb for free ... considering I already max out dropbox and Google Drive - it can't hurt to try it.

DISCLAIMER:  If you sign up and try it using this link - we BOTH get get 5gb of bonus space for free :)  I know I could use the bonus space :)   Thanks Colby!

2013-05-17 03:38:33 (56 comments, 44 reshares, 588 +1s)

The Road

Sunrise over a sea fog.  Well, I am actually looking away from the sunrise in this shot, but the light was so nice I could not resist.

I am still getting used to the new interface... the steps for adding it to this album and sharing it have changed slightly, but I think I have it figured out.  I have to say - images look spectacular in the new interface in my opinion!

~joe
#azure #sunrise

2013-05-16 15:20:11 (50 comments, 21 reshares, 73 +1s)

I just signed up to try this new Cloud-based storage service:

https://copy.com?r=Y2cVNt

20gb for free ... considering I already max out dropbox and Google Drive - it can't hurt to try it.

DISCLAIMER:  If you sign up and try it using this link - we BOTH get get 5gb of bonus space for free :)  I know I could use the bonus space :)   Thanks Colby!

2013-05-16 02:58:36 (26 comments, 31 reshares, 431 +1s)

lol - better test the vertical orientation...  ok it works...hee hee

2013-05-15 22:10:37 (23 comments, 16 reshares, 107 +1s)

Google+ Update:  Feature - Album Ordering!

So far this may be my favorite feature yet (granted, I am just getting started on the new UI).   To get to it:

- Open any album in your Photos->Albums page
- Select 'Organize' 
- Drag the images into the order you wish them to appear (you can also  have them order for you by date or name... or even reverse the order)
- Press Done (you may have to refresh the Album view to se your new order)

Voila!   Now anyone viewing your album (includes slideshow), wil see it in the new order!

2013-05-15 21:09:57 (17 comments, 0 reshares, 44 +1s)

Thank you Google!!

I am already loving the new multi-column view of my stream.  And the speed improvements on pages with lots of photos is great!!!

2013-05-16 03:25:11 (11 comments, 3 reshares, 19 +1s)

I am watching the Keynote live.   Looks great!

2013-05-15 18:10:45 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

http://app.strava.com/boston

#bostonmarathon2013  

2013-05-14 16:44:51 (2 comments, 5 reshares, 29 +1s)

So much truth in this....

+David duChemin has a new blog post: http://davidduchemin.com/2013/05/the-magic-wand/

"I’ve been saying for years that there is no magic wand. I was wrong. There is. It’s making photographs. Thousands and thousands of photographs. It’s being honest with ourselves and not trying to be someone else."

Go read it ... it is chock full of wisdom in my opinion .... I try to think about these things every time I start to feel gear lust creeping into my mind :)

~joe

2013-05-13 17:26:29 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 38 +1s)

The Sound of First Class
    - San Francisco, California

+Beats by Dre  - beats executive (I wish I had a pair .. lol)...

When I walked by this, I was a bit surprised - such a nice combination of color, words, shapes!

#streetphotography   #azure  

2013-05-14 14:10:09 (33 comments, 9 reshares, 187 +1s)

Burn Baby Burn

If things are bleak and grey at home - it means that it is time to hit the coast and find a "hole in the fog" :)  Sometimes we are more successful than others, but an adventure is always a good thing!  And it gives me opportunities to shoot seascapes, which are a favorite of mine (I do take pictures or more things than a bridge).

I heard there is a big photowalk in a couple of days here in San Francisco, hosted by +Thomas Hawk  +Trey Ratcliff (see the event page here: https://plus.google.com/events/cm6l1qj16ktg9f8sv69ep7b2rhk).  I hope that I can get on the invite list and they will let me go! ;)  It would be great to get out and meet a whole bunch of new people :)

~joe
#azure   #seascape  

2013-05-11 22:44:58 (138 comments, 125 reshares, 955 +1s)

Almost 76...

A year ago last May, here in San Francisco, we celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge.  The end of that fun-filled weekend was marked by a great fireworks show over (and under) this iconic landmark.

I was at this exact location today, shooting a few pictures of the fog, and thinking about that great evening spent with friends ( +Thomas Hawk +Jonathan Goody +Kirsten Hrobsky +Sly Vegas +Amy Heiden +Charli Blake +Julia Peterson (thanks for the pizza and wine!!!) +Rob Dweck - hope I didn't miss anyone).  I wish I saw each of you more often!!

Anyway ... I decided to come home and edit my second image from that event - here it is :)

I was reminded of this day while looking through the new +Plus One Collection book that was delivered to my door this past week (it includes an image of mine from this specialnight).... more »

2013-05-10 16:40:44 (13 comments, 23 reshares, 161 +1s)

A morning view of the Five Colour Lake, Jiuzhaigou Valley Natural Park, Sichuan province, China, by +Oleg Gutsol.

See full size:

http://500px.com/photo/16613319

#HolyKaw  

2013-05-10 14:51:50 (9 comments, 10 reshares, 180 +1s)

Hot Spot
    -San Francisco Bay Bridge

A few nights ago I took my friend +Brian Matiash up to this little spot over the Bay Bridge to shoot a few pictures.  It was a nice night to be outside for sure.  I am looking forward to getting out and shooting a little bit this weekend - have some ideas I want to work on :)

Happy Friday!!!   ~joe
#azure #sanfrancisco #baybridge  

2013-05-09 17:58:38 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 21 +1s)

Have you heard? Luca Cesari and Mike Diblicek will lead a magnificent three day fine art photography workshop in the stunning city of San Francisco!!!
When? This 12-13 and 14th of July! Don’t miss it!

For further information head to:

www.glass-star-agency.com/event-services

We are offering 10% discount to the first three people registering. 

See you all in sunny California!

2013-05-08 19:19:50 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

ok - one more quick share today:

This guy is great :)

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/05/08/charles-ramsey-take-that-reward-and-give-it-to-the-kidnap-victims/

2013-05-08 19:02:52 (13 comments, 9 reshares, 64 +1s)

Embrace Adventure...

This is a short film made a few years ago by a team that included one of my paragliding friends.  Many from this community don't know that flying a paraglider is another one of my hobbies - hmm... maybe need to mix some photography into that :)

~~~Enjoy the show!~~~

2013-05-08 15:25:04 (22 comments, 22 reshares, 273 +1s)

No Bother
    - San Francisco, California

Patience is a virtue sometimes.  Sometimes it isn't... but when it comes to the weather I have learned that it usually is :)

Have a great day everyone!!

#azure #goldengatebridge #sanfrancisco

2013-05-08 02:16:26 (32 comments, 5 reshares, 183 +1s)

Anything But Low-Key

This little guy really seems to have his legs under him now.  He has recovered from the pneumonia he caught while recovering from parvovirus.  This past week I finally feel like I am getting to see the real "jax" :)   Woot - what a little man he is!!!

#azure #jax

2013-05-07 04:30:18 (26 comments, 21 reshares, 317 +1s)

Have you seen Land's End?

If not .. this is what it looks like.

I took this shot while exploring along the tideline looking for some interesting places to return during various weather conditions.  I like going different places to practice things as well - and this is a good spot.

~joe
#azure  #seascape

2013-05-05 18:14:43 (35 comments, 25 reshares, 346 +1s)

SF Under a Bridge
    - San Francisco, California

The view from Kirby cove is spectacular any time of the day. Personally, I like it better at night.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!! It looks like a nice day to go out wandering around and enjoying the clean air :)

#azure #sanfrancisco #goldengatebridge

2013-05-07 05:37:02 (62 comments, 39 reshares, 498 +1s)

A Cool Sunrise

Did you sleep through the sunrise again?   That's ok ... there are people who don't :)  I took this after going for a bike ride - it is nice riding before the cars come out in force.

2013-05-03 19:07:18 (12 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

Anyone used one of these yet? - http://syrp.co.nz/products/genie

It is a motion-control rig for dSLR cameras ... I am in the planning stages of some projects that will required motion control and appreciate any advice, comment, opinions on the products that are out there!!

~joe

2013-05-03 17:57:19 (22 comments, 12 reshares, 176 +1s)

#llamagram !!!!

WOW, I can not believe it has been a year since I went to Peru with +The Giving Lens.  Today +Michael Bonocore is headed back down to lead the 2nd installment of this trip for TGL.  Add him to your circles to follow along with  his south american adventures!!

And check out the rest of this album (https://plus.google.com/photos/100968313568314999910/albums/5751054830689400737) for more images from my trip last year :)  

2013-05-12 09:27:15 (46 comments, 43 reshares, 385 +1s)

A Beacon's Vendetta

Processed using one of my new Lightroom presets - I am going to call this one either "Gotbacon" or "A Boy and his dog".

Either way, this was the view from one of my evening walks this winter.  I think I walked from the Bay Bridge, to the top of the Marin Headlands, and back because it feels good to walk.  I highly recommend getting out and exercising as much as possible.  The more energy you spend, the more you have :)  See you out there!!!

~joe

2013-05-02 15:03:53 (19 comments, 12 reshares, 198 +1s)

Mossy in the Rain

This old moss-covered tree was spotted while +Casey McCallister, +Michael Bonocore and myself were cruising along the highway in the pouring down rain.  Needless to say, we pulled over and spent some time getting drenched while shooting anything in sight ... including this tree.

#azure #trees

2013-05-01 17:22:14 (8 comments, 1 reshares, 18 +1s)

Yay - it's May !!!

Are you a runner or a cyclist?  Do you want to be?  Either way,  check out the new month-long challenges we are doing here at Strava.

I know... this is not photography-related, but there is more to me than pictures - I like to write software and ride my bike :)

2013-05-02 16:25:03 (63 comments, 35 reshares, 455 +1s)

How much editing does it take?

Sometimes it doesn't take any...  I almost never post anything #sooc  (straight out of the camera), because I wonder why would anyone post something that was not as good as it could be!  (photo-journalism not withstanding)...

I am putting together slides for a presentation I am giving tomorrow at UCSF, and thought this was a good example of capturing a high dynamic range in the camera (with the use of filters).  Whenever I do get around to processing this, it will be pretty sweet :)

2013-04-30 17:10:31 (23 comments, 23 reshares, 180 +1s)

Fly...
 #landscapephotography  

2013-04-30 16:23:55 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

I know many of you have already seen this - but just in case :)

http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/standard_display/EOS5DM3_firmware/

I am excited about the update to the auto-focus (similar to the update to the 1D X from last fall) - more teleconverter and lens support with auto-focus now!  Now I can use it with the 100-400 without taping up the contacts :)

2013-04-29 15:33:34 (18 comments, 18 reshares, 237 +1s)

Rocks

It is #monchromemonday  - and I thought I would share this little image I took from a quick trip up the coast.  I actually took this trip just to get this picture (and a couple of others).  I am still not quite sure what I think of yet, but if I keep seeing it, I will figure it out :)

~joe
#azure #seascape

2013-04-27 21:07:30 (46 comments, 43 reshares, 422 +1s)

A Tower Watches Over
    - San Francisco, California

I love the way that this bridges towers seem to watch over the fog as it gobbles up San Francisco and the Bay.  Night time can be a great time to view this phenomena :)

~joe
#azure #fog #goldengatebridge #sanfrancisco

2013-04-27 01:56:40 (41 comments, 16 reshares, 276 +1s)

Rock The Horizon
    - San Francisco, California

When I first presented this image to some friends of mine, one the responses I heard was ... "but you broke the rule of thirds!  It would be better if you move the horizon up or down to the line of thirds."

Did I break the rule of thirds?  In fact - is it even a rule?  I don't think so - just a guideline which can be used however I see fit.  

My response was something along the lines of: 

"What do you mean - I think I divided up the visual weight of the elements into thirds very well"  Keep in mind we were talking over beers :)

~joe
#azure #monochrome

2013-04-26 02:01:32 (16 comments, 6 reshares, 254 +1s)

Reeds
    - Shasta County, California

Last weekend found a few of us (+Casey McCallister, +Michael Bonocore and +Natalia Stone)  headed up to Shasta County for a quick road trip before the weather gets too hot up there.  I had not been up there to photograph before, but luckily my friend +Brian Rueb was kind enough to point us in a few directions to find interesting things to shoot ... this area is his back yard :)  Unfortunately he could not join us since he is always busy teaching workshops with +Aperture Academy (check them out if you are thinking about taking any landscape workshops - I highly recommend them :) )

Also, thanks +Eric Leslie for meeting up with us and sharing some tips :)

~joe
#azure #monochrome

2013-04-25 16:14:26 (16 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

Looking for recommendations for a good intervalometer...

I would like to be able to use it for timelapses as well, perhaps bulb-ramping would be a good feature?

I shoot with Canon btw :)

Thanks!

2013-04-24 16:30:19 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 21 +1s)

Thanks for this great post +Guy Tal!

I enjoy taking trips with others for sure ... when I look through my portfolio, I think my best images are mostly shot when I am alone.  Not only are they more unique, but I think I do a better job with all of the little the "details"!

I do like the "social" outings though - I just usually don't get very much photography done ... lol :)   How about you? 

2013-04-24 05:26:35 (31 comments, 23 reshares, 261 +1s)

Beach Light

Have you ever been to Bowling Ball Beach in Mendocino County, CA?  Weel, if you go - this is what it looks like every night.  I can't wait to go back - in fact... next month I think that I want take another trip and try a few ideas I have bouncing around in my head.

If you have some pictures from here - post them - I would love to see them!

~joe
#azure   #seascape   #plusphotoextract  

2013-04-24 02:20:31 (5 comments, 6 reshares, 83 +1s)

The Hat
    the man burns in 130 days

This is Craig, one of my fellow crew aboard the Playa Vessel Monaco.  During this years Burning Man festival, I think that I want to take more pictures - and lots of portraits to boot.  I don't shoot people much, but I enjoy it when I do :)

Check out the rest of the album for a few pictures of Burning Man from previous years.  I am excited to attend this year already - it must almost be time to start working on the camp.  If you are going this year, let's meet up !!

~joe
#azure   #burningman

2013-04-23 14:39:58 (8 comments, 3 reshares, 40 +1s)

This is an interesting use of my work...

I guess this use still falls under Creative Commons, but if they start selling anything like advertising, then it no longer will.  Thank you Google Image Search for making it easier to keep these sites on my radar :)

2013-04-22 16:39:41 (28 comments, 22 reshares, 330 +1s)

Pre-Dawn Over San Francisco
    -San Francisco, California

Welcome to the new people who have put me into a circle in the past couple of weeks.  Feel free to look around Google+  albums (including this one of the Golden Gate Bridge) to get an idea about what kind of pictures I like to take.  As always, your comment/+1s and questions are always welcome :)

Last month was a good one for taking pictures of the Golden Gate Bridge from many of my favorite spots, including this one.  On this particular morning, I was up here by myself for about 1/2 hour before other people began to show up and watch the show.  I like to get places early when I can, because it often seems like I capture my favoriet images in the forst couple of frames :)

~joe
#azure   #goldengatebridge   #plusphotoextract  

2013-04-21 05:21:33 (10 comments, 7 reshares, 160 +1s)

This evening... On a weekend road trip with +Natalia Stone +Michael Bonocore +Casey McCallister +Eric Leslie .... And Jax the wonder dog!!!

Mt Shasta.

2013-04-19 19:03:25 (9 comments, 3 reshares, 80 +1s)

Happy Friday!

Here is a little something for +FloralFriday with +Tamara Pruessner!

I took this earlier today with my Olloclip - it's definitely a fun toy to have. :-)

#floralfriday #iphone

2013-04-19 18:58:32 (14 comments, 6 reshares, 141 +1s)

Aurora Borealis over Crater Lake

last weekend +Toby Harriman +Casey McCallister  +Michael Bonocore  and I made a last minute decision to leave for an 8hr drive to photograph the Aurora in Oregon. Of course, I imagined seeing the gorgeous green lights dancing above Crater Lake - been dying to see it for years, how could I say no! In reality only the camera sensor picked up some pink in the sky, and I couldn't see anything with a naked eye. 

We got there around 12am, took us over an hour to find the lake in the dark. It was probably the coldest night of my life, my lens completely froze over and ruined most of the shots, I didn't sleep at all but it was still an awesome adventure - the Crater Lake is unbelievably beautiful in the snow, the sky is super dark with millions of stars out, the sunrise was one of the best i've ever seen - would do it again in a heartbea... more »

2013-04-19 15:10:10 (14 comments, 8 reshares, 134 +1s)

_Some Morning zen..."

A little peace and calm from San Francisco to enhance your morning. With all the craziness going on in the world, it is important to take a moment and reflect on the beauty of the world - even if only for a moment :)

~joe
#azure #bostonbombing  

2013-04-19 02:30:04 (14 comments, 6 reshares, 90 +1s)

You are Part of them Now

Life is short and I'm so glad I was able to share this Image with a very good friend of mine for the past 12years of being here in the US. She has helped me along in way and has helped a long in life in some of the most difficult situations that I have encountered.

She loved this image so and told me that she would be a star when ever she died (her favorite movie is the Lion King) . I had printed it for her 2 days after I shot it. She always made fun of me for being up all night and shooting the GGB, but when I showed her my end-results she was always in awe.

She was the kindest and realest person that I had ever met in my life, she was Russian Girl (I know I'm German she was Russian how does that work) it worked awesome and she had definitly a huge influence in shaping me in to the person I'm today.

 I got the devastating... more »

2013-04-18 15:30:49 (32 comments, 16 reshares, 260 +1s)

Big Lights - Small City
    -San Francisco, California

Under the most recent full moon, San Francisco looks so small at night.  This image was taken with a tilt-shift lens to exaggerate this effect slightly.  In general, it was a great night to be out taking pictures with friends.

This weekend, I hope to get out and shoot some more nighttime photograph, somewhere out in the NorCal countryside :)

~joe
#azure   #sanfrancisco #goldengatebridge  

2013-04-17 17:48:38 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 20 +1s)

A few people have written me recently asking about my filter set up - I point them to this blog post I made a while back....   except for +Michael Bonocore, for him I held his hand as he ordered the parts :)   

2013-04-17 14:46:17 (26 comments, 3 reshares, 151 +1s)

Jax at Home

We wanted to thank everybody who thought about us during the past week. A really big thanks to Healthy Pets Veterinary Hospital (in SF), San Francisco Veterinary Specialists (SFVS) and the The San Francisco SPCA. 

Our vet at Healthy Pets made the parvovirus diagnosis very quickly and efficiently and got Jax admitted to SFVS for his fist 16 hours of intensive care. I was able to pick him up the next morning and get him admitted to the SF-SPCA where they treated and supported him for a couple of days - allowing visits and always providing an up-to-date status.

Over the past couple of days, Jax's energy has returned and his personality is really starting to come out.  Wow - talk about lucking out - he is quite the pup (lol .. maybe I am a little biased) :)

~joe
#azure #jax #dog