News

I just want to get this off my chest.

Never before have I felt such utter dread about the New Year. I have NO optimism in regard to 2009, I just want to get through it as quickly and as painlessly as possible.

Perhaps all of this is because I live in California and am watching the State collapse around me. It's going to be a painful year for many people. There's no other way to look at it.

God watch over us all!

Update: 11/30/2009 - things turned out worse than I expected and 2010 isn't looking too good either. I don't think we've hit bottom yet...

Water Taxi

Ready to transport you safely to and from your destination.

Dream big and keep the faith.

Tangled Web

It seems that though we have many means of saying something, we seldom do...

Land of the Setting Sun

These days one could certainly make the case the California is the place of squandered dreams and lost opportunity. A failure of epic proportions that is dragging its citizens into an abyss.

Old Ladder

Another street shot that says I've seen better days...

Google Maps

View Larger Map

A little map I made to highlight Santa Barbara Landmarks

Dreaming of Yesterday

Nearly everyday I drive through this part of town and see these abandoned and deserted buildings.

To me they speak of neglect and better days. With all the news of a global economic meltdown this area seemed to tie in with the state of the world.

I started thinking about taking some photos of this area in a hasty and unflattering fashion.

Yesterday I found the opportunity and time to do just that. I took several photos using a 2mp cellphone camera and post processed them to make them even more grainy and nearly out of focus.

Knock off shots I thought. So, imagine my surprise to get a strong reaction to this image. It was mainly because this was a "bad" photo. I agree and so be it.

The fact that it elicited a reaction seems to say something though.  Isn't that the point?

What Dreams May Come

A photograph can say a lot. It can set a mood and tone of time and place. It can create the context of a visual story. That's what gives old photos of the great depression such punch.

They tell the story of hardship and desolation. We can feel the tough times people went through by looking at these images.

We know why these people dreamed of a better life and of happier times to come. The trials and tribulations that they went through toughened them and made them strong.

They vowed to make the world a better place, and for a time it was. Not perfect, but better in many respects.

Have we squandered their dreams?

I took the photo above today (12/26/2008)...

Evening Waves

A peaceful moment at the end of the day.

Happy Holidays

May your day be joyful and filled with love and happiness.

Music is Life

It's got a back beat you can't lose...

Happy Holidays

Wishing you the best.

Scattered Clouds

Little did I know that it was going to be a wet Christmas. This should make for a bounty of color come Spring.

Beach Combers

With the golden sky as a canvas, there should be enough in your foreground to convey a sense of place and time. If there is, the sum of the parts should come together to tell a story.

For me, the simpler the better.

Nature's Magic

There's never a moment when I'm not in awe of the majesty of the Nature. We are but specks in the universe most often focused on ourselves, and thus missing all the heavenly glory around us.

The Principle of Moments

I'm at it again. Trying to tell a story of time and movement in two dimensions.

Happy Birthday Keith

Keith Richards - wishing you joy and happiness on your birthday. Thanks for the joy your music has brought to so many!

Low Tide

It's amazing how vast a beach can look at low tide when there are few people on it and you use the right lens.

Sunrise

Each day brings with it endless possibilities...

High on Alchemy

Sometimes you just get lucky and capture something you didn't expect.

Follow the Light

I like early morning low light photography. It's a bit more subtle and adds a touch of mystery to an image.

The Big Guy

Street photography can be fun. You see something that is different or catches your eye? You've got a photograph. It may be something you snap with your cellphone, or your DSLR, something for fun and enjoyment, or something you plan on using for stock.

The point is to keep you eyes open and a camera with you.

When we were young

Moments when there isn't a care in the world. Savior them!

Seal and Gull

Critters in their element provide a challenge. They don't sit still, so what do you do? Pre-compose and what for them to come into frame? Follow them about in the view finder clicking when things look "right"? Both?

Misty Shores

The position of the sun in this picture is key in the way it plays off the mist and highlights portions of the people, providing an illusion of depth.

I just goes to show that sometimes things work out better than expected.

Old and Forgotten

You don't have to look too hard to see signs of the times. I think this old road says a lot about the state of things.

The Picnic

Summertime and the living is easy...

Old Fence

Something may seem interesting, but the real heart of the image might just be in the details. Get closer and fill the frame. The sum of the parts are often greater than the whole.

Vibrant

Shadows aren't always your friend. They can make composition difficult as they may add too much contrast for the camera to deal with. You may have to choose an angle that eliminates or minimizes the amount of shadows.

Of course there are methods that can be used to fill in the shadows, such as using reflectors and off camera flash. All options that a photographer needs to be aware of.

As it's not a perfect world we live in, often we have to do with what we've got.

Golden Shores

Late afternoon along the coast, just a quite moment bathed in warm light. A great way to end the day.

Full of Hot Air

Like most everything you're hearing from "experts" these days.

Above the Shadows

Even the last bit of light is just enough to help tell a story.

Repeating Our Mistakes

The Great Recession

Seems that it's all in a day's work to throw mountains of cash this way and that at failing institutions. I guess they're hoping that some of it sticks or that by chance something works.

Having the people that "didn't see this coming" in charge of fixing the mess seems to be misguided at best.

Last Splash

Never enough time to take it all in.

Day's last wave

The beach has proven to be a good spot to take photographs despite the season. There's always a story to tell.