Coffee is Important

Hanging with Mr. Joel after Christmas at the coffee shop. We got some work done, and drank some caffeinated beverage, it was important.

ISO 1000
20mm
f/2.8
1/30 sec

Merry Christmas

Considering that I love Christmas, and lack funds for proper Christmas gift giving I decided to use my photography, and stuff around my house to make some pretty nifty Christmas cards. This is the image that I used. I like it.

ISO 500
f/4.0
50mm
1/60 sec.

Young Curtis

Babies are cute, especially young Brandon Curtis here. His father fed me, I took his picture, and then we watched Phineus and Furb, or however you spell the best childrens cartoon since Anamaniacs.

ISO 800
50mm
f/1.4
1/25 sec

Epicurious' Second coming

I went over to Chris' house again. He made bacon brule again. I cried again. This time the addition of pink Hawaiian sea salt absolutely completed the pairing of flavors between the creamy vanilla custard and the savory bacon. The mildness of the sea salt was perfect. They should have sent a poet.

ISO 400
50mm
f/1.4-1.8
1/100 sec

Bacon Brule

Yes, its Bacon Creme Brule. Yes it is better than anything you have ever tasted in your life, no matter what you have tasted this is better. No, neither your mother nor your grandmother have ever in their lives produced anything that is this wonderful, including you.

All at ISO 800 with my 50mm f/1.4 shutter speeds vary from 1/125 to 1/300

New York Strip

New York Strip. This was also part of the most decadent meal I will ever eat. Pictured is the Chef, Chris Curtis, and his New York Strip, which came as a roast, something I have never seen before. It is seasoned with magical salt which I am convinced is derived from the tears of Unicorns.

From top to bottom

ISO 400
f/1.6
1/30 sec

ISO 400
f/1.6
1/60 sec

ISO 400
f/1.6
1/125 sec

butternut squash rissoto with sage butter scallops

I did not make these, although I did eat them, and they did change my life. They were among the first courses of the most decadent meal I will ever eat. The sweet butternut squash risotto, paired with suculent tender scallops in a sage butter will forever be the best serving of scallops to ever grace my lips

from left to right

ISO 500
16mm
f/2.8
1/60 sec

ISO 500
16mm
f/2.8
1/40 sec

ISO 500
29mm
f/2.8
1/40 sec

Wild Turkey Turkey

Wild Turkey Turkey [stuffing]. It is delicious. It involves wild turkey, bread of several kinds, onions and mushrooms of several kinds, apples, celery, and pork of several kinds. My family is impressed. Next to is Emirl's Spinach Brie stuffing. I also made this, it is also very good.

ISO 640
35 mm
f/2.8
1/50 sec

Senior Photo

I shot a senior picture for one of the students at church last week, just some simple portraits. I quite enjoyed the use of my old 50mm 1.4 on this one, such wonderful depth of feild. Thanks John.

ISO 100
50mm
f1/4
1/400 sec

More Heat

The next batch of peppers are up on the pepper tree. These little guys are hotter and blacker than their departed brothers. I had to take a shot before we took them off the tree. I though I would try a black background this time, I like the low key affect, its makes the contrast of the water on the peppers come out very nicely.

ISO 640
50mm
f/3.5
1/500sec

Container Ship

Another shot from my Catalina trip, we'll see how many posts I can get out of it before I go out and shoot some more. This container ship is huge. I think the palm trees in the left of the frame really help give some comparison, I mean this thing is big. Real big.

ISO 200
25mm
f/7.1
1/500 sec.

Hubbard

Another capture from last week's Catalina trip. This is one of the highschoolers from the youth group I went with. Her smile is just about as bright as her eye's but only half as bright as her spirit. I love the bright blues and the clarity in her eyes.

ISO 1600
35mm
f/10.0
1/125sec

Bass

I went to Catalina Island this last weekend volunteering with the youth group at my church. It was a much needed retreat from the business of life, and the music really brought focus and direction to the weekend. This is the vocalist from the worship band, she rocked.

ISO 200
50mm
f/1.4
1/60 sec

Halibut Tomato Basil Pasta.

I made this pasta a few months back, but I was looking at the blog today and noticed that I had not put up any food photography. Food being one of my favorite things in life, as well as one of my favorite things to shoot, I had to rectify this situation. This is a light Halibut Tomato Basil pasta that I made at home. The Halibut was caught wild in Alaska by my good friend Chris and was great with just a little salt and pepper. The tomatoes and basil added just the right freshness to the meal, especially for the hot summer day that it was.

ISO 1000
25mm
f/2.8
1/25 sec

Hot Black Pepper.

These are the peppers that have grown in my yard since youth. They range from green to red, to the deepest black (really dark green). It was a right of passage as a young boy to eat one without crying. I know grown men that cannot. These peppers are hot. They bathe in the California sun day after day, high atop the rest of the world, and they punish those who would dare to pluck them from their thrones.

ISO 100
50mm
f/3.2
1/1600sec

Exploration

I took Odin out again today. It was his first time outside at our new place. He was very curious. I was very surprised, normally when we go outside he is very apprehensive and wary, but today he was very inquisitive. I wonder what made the difference.

ISO 1000
26mm
f/3.5
1/30 sec

Odin's Walk

This is my rabbit Odin. We went on a walk a week ago and he makes a great portrait model. I love his curious face, and playful attitude.

ISO 640
35mm
f/10
1/125 sec

A Summer Remembered

A montage of beach shots. A sort of homage to this summer past. I love the vivid colors of the California coastline. During the summer in Orange County, every day is like this.

Standing Tall.

Another shot from the Backpacking trip I took with church. This was as the sun was just coming down on the first night. I could not resist the sharp silhouettes of those tall trees.

ISO 200
f/6.3
16mm
1/800 sec

I though since this would serve as a place for me to develop and showcase my photography I should insert a little more photography into it, that is some technical photo stuff to compare and learn from as things progress.

Also I noticed that I should title my posts.

Three Sister Panorama.

A panoramic view taken from the top of one of the Three Sisters peaks in the middle of the day. Not quite the golden hour, but its when I could get there. I could have hoped for a more cloudy sky, but the strong blues are quite breath taking as well. For a bit of perspective notice the clump of students on the rock formation in the left of the frame.

Baby Squirrel

I shot this little creature a few months back at Forest Home. I was walking and talking with a few students after dinner and he was just there on the side of the path. Though shockingly adorable, I don't think he was ok.

A Broken Shoe

A Broken Shoe, worn and dirty, tells its tales. Listen.