This past year 2009 was a fantastic year for me in the area of photography. Aside from staying close to home and going on miscellaneous shoots in the Los Angeles and San Francisco areas, I was grateful to travel three times this year for the sole purpose of photography.

These three trips include: Spring in Southwest USA (Grand Canyon, Antelope Canyon, and Monument Valley), Summer in Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks, and the Fall Foliage in Grand Teton National Park.

These images from my photography adventures this year represent images that truly stand out in my mind, and are ones of scenes that I will never forget. I start from the beginning of the year, and work towards the most recent of my adventures.

Los Angeles, California and Environs

The very elegant and historic Colorado Street Bridge as it crosses the Arroyo Seco - Pasadena, California - January 18, 2009

The Los Angeles skyline in a late afternoon sunset glow - Los Angeles, California - February 1, 2009

The Los Angeles skyline - Los Angeles, California - February 25, 2009

The American Southwest

A spectacular sunset seen from Hopi Point on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon brings out the colors of the Canyon - Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - April 2, 2009

Inside the Watchtower at Desert View - Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona - April 2, 2009

Inside Upper Antelope Canyon on the Navajo Reservation - near Page, Arizona - April 4, 2009

Upper Antelope Canyon Light Beams - Nature's Hourglass - near Page, Arizona - April 4, 2009

Horseshoe Bend - near Page, Arizona - April 4, 2009

"The Forrest Gump shot" - One of the most famous and grandest images of the great American Southwest - Monument Pass and the landscape as seen from "Mile Marker 13" along Highway 163 through Monument Valley on the Navajo Indian Reservation - Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah - April 5, 2009

Monument Valley boasts some of the most spectacular and most unreal sunsets that can ever be experienced, by far - Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah - April 6, 2009

San Francisco, California

The Golden Gate Bridge as seen from the Marin Headlands, and partially covered in fog - San Francisco, California - May 3, 2009

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem – Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks (Summer)

A bald eagle is perched along the West Entrance to Yellowstone National Park - Yellowstone National Park, Montana/Wyoming - July 11, 2009

A grizzly bear is seen near Mt. Washburn - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - July 11, 2009

Undine Falls - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - July 12, 2009

Lower Falls, the Yellowstone River, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - July 14, 2009

Lower Yellowstone Falls - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - July 15, 2009

Grand Prismatic Spring is one of the largest hot springs in the world - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - July 15, 2009

Elk Cow With Her Calf - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - July 15, 2009

Bison shows off as Old Faithful gets ready to erupt - Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming - July 16, 2009

Sunset at Oxbow Bend, with Mount Moran in the background - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - July 17, 2009

Early Morning at Schwabacher Landing - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - July 18, 2009

Snake River Sunset - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - July 18, 2009

Grand Teton National Park Autumn Foliage and Wildlife

Oxbow Bend Sunrise Reflections, Autumn - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - September 28, 2009

Two Moose Swim Across Oxbow Bend - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - September 28, 2009

Grand Teton Landscape - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - September 28, 2009

Autumn in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - September 30, 2009

A Great Blue Heron at Schwabacher Landing - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - October 1, 2009

A Great Blue Heron captures a fish at Schwabacher Landing - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - October 1, 2009

Oxbow Bend in Autumn - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - October 1, 2009

Snake River Overlook in Autumn, After a Snowfall - Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - October 1, 2009

See more photos like these on the gallery pages of my Web site, and also on my Flickr account.

First and foremost, I’m an amateur photographer, but I take my hobby seriously.

A very brief overview of my progression in photography…

Early Morning at Oxbow Bend, Grand Teton National Park

I’ve always been fascinated by photography – as a young child, I liked to carry a small point and shoot to document vacations, social gatherings, etc… When my point and shoot left me thirsty for more, I invested in my first DSLR – the popular Canon Rebel XTi (acquired in 2006). It was during this time that I took my first photography course at a local camera store.  I learned a few things about the rules of composition and the elements that are required to produce some great images. I happily went around taking pictures with my Canon XTi, and reading up on online articles and books to continue to learn about taking great images. When I bought my current camera, a Canon EOS 5D Mark II in November 2008, I was inspired to learn as much as I could about it in order to unleash its full potential.  I made it a hobby to travel around Los Angeles and photograph the city, its features and what makes it unique.  Today, I have slowly found a niche – landscape, nature and travel photography.  My goal is to photograph each of America’s National Parks and scenic areas.  I’m starting with the National Parks and scenic areas located in the American West, starting with the Southwest region.  Next on my list are the National Parks located in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.  I’ll eventually make it over to visiting the National Parks on the East coast.  I’m slowly getting there.

The Grand Canyon from Hopi Point

About this blog…

Friends and family have told me that I take some pretty good pictures and that I have a great eye for photography.  They continue to ask me to share some tips and pointers related to photography, as well as the stories behind some of my photographs – how they were created, etc…

So it is my hope that this blog will accomplish just that.  I hope to share with others how I take some of my pictures, as well as some of the stories to go along with them.  In the process, I’ll also provide some tips about photography, and share some of the tools and processes that I use.  I also plan to provide some location pointers and even reviews for some of the photo locations that I have visited.

My online presence and what’s on the right sidebars…

You should know where on the Web I display my photos.  When I come back from a shoot or trip, I slowly process and upload my photos onto my Flickr account.  There, they lie for weeks, gathering comments and getting feedback. Eventually, the very best photos on my Flickr account get uploaded to my main Gallery Web site, where this blog is connected to.  The versions of the photos that I upload to my Gallery Web site are in their full resolution.

I also use Twitter, and I can be followed.

On the right sidebars, I have posted links to my Flickr and Twitter accounts, as well as other photography related links.  In particular, I have posted links to some really great photographers worth following, other blogs, Web sites that relate to photographic locations, resources, as well as where one can find great photography equipment.

I also include links to various charitable organizations that support some of the locations that I visit.  Warning – shameless plug ahead: I feel privileged to have the opportunity to set up my tripod in some of the most beautiful locations in the world, and it is important to me to support work that preserves these locations for our future generations – end of shameless plug. You get the idea.

Finally, you can contact me via the handy-dandy contact form I provide on my main Gallery Web site.

I hope you enjoy!

Snake River Overlook, Grand Teton National Park