Visions of Spring

Obviously, my photography has been slow lately.  Too much going on, and too little time for art.  I shoot mostly with my phone these days, but I am looking forward to our next trip for some DSLR action.  Until then, here are a few random images I took with my telephoto lens in the span of the past month.

Last Days in London...

Well, this is it.  All of my London archives have been revised, edited anew, and posted here.  These images are taken during my last weeks and days in London before we moved to the States.  They are  quite random and quite precious - although I was eager to start anew I truly liked the city and I still miss it sometimes.  This is where I learned to light-hunt!  

The still life macros shown here are barely retouched - the quality of light in London was almost always perfect as the sun was filtered in the most exquisite way through the clouds.  Also, favorite images from Oxford Circus, Tower Bridge, the Tube, the South Bank and St. Paul's, Market Place, and a snapshot from the only time I rode in a Black Cab.

Enjoy!

Traffic Light Tree

This is a permanent art installation in Canary Wharf, London.  It is both very pretty, and very confusing, as it is situated in the middle of an actual roundabout.  I took these in the summer of 2010, using long exposure but no tripod, so the slight blur is coming from the fact that they are hand-held.  

 

Brighton by the Sea

In 2010, our last year in London, John and I decided that we must visit as many places in England and Europe as we could before we moved back to the States.  Our budget didn't allow much, but we made it work and we did travel, and looking back now I even envy my old self a bit.

We spent a long weekend in Brighton and we had a great time.  Brighton is one of those super party-oriented English towns and at night drunk and yelling people practically flooded the scene.  It was crazy in an awesome kind of way, though we didn't join the celebrations but just observed them from the safety of our hotel windows, convinced that they were a huge part of the tourist appeal of Brighton, along with its pebbled beaches, the Pier, and the Royal Pavillion.  

Here are some images from that trip.  I am particularly fond of the memories of the sunset the first night - there was this rainbow cloud in the sky, a magical air and light phenomenon.  Enjoy!

Enjoy iLife

I haven't used my camera much in the past couple of weeks, but I always carry my phone with me, and promptly take photos whenever a good chance presents itself.  In this case, I captured our transition from Sunnyvale to Belmont, and the accompanying surroundings exploration.  The last few images are from Palo Alto, where I went on Saturday to drop my first roll of 120 mm film to be developed.

The good thing about iphonography is that one can really take advantage of the mobility it offers, and touch up the shots later (I favor VSCOcam over Instagram these days).

Coming up next, my adventures in Medium Format! 

Moonrise Kingdom

My Dad and I went on a photowalk after sunset last night.  He carried my camera bag and kept me company while I was waiting for my long exposures.  The skies were clear, we watched the moonrise, and we had a great time playing with some forced perspective.  I had to use a flash for these last shots, as by the time the Moon had climbed over the cliffs it was already dark, yet I'm quite entertained with the result.

I like The Eiffel Tower because it looks like steel and lace.

~ Natalie Lloyd

This is Paris, part deux.

I can't find any other appropriate word to describe this trip, but epic. All I did for a week was to take photos, drink coffee, smoke cigarettes, eat loads of crème brûlée, sleep, walk, have wine, make love, and admire works of art.  It was a truly grand experience and I miss the streets of the City of Love and Lights.  My favorite moments:

The bicyclist who passed in front of my lens while I was taking long exposures of the Louvre and made a pretty red squiggle with his taillight.

The guy with a vintage Land Polaroid we met at a cafe near Musée Rodin.

The two weddings we stumbled upon while strolling around, and the images I was able to steal of the newlywed couples.

The fluffy clouds and the impossibly blue sky over Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees.

The bokeh of the Fun Fair, and the Air Swing I rode (photos by John).

The note I left at Jim Morrison's grave at Père Lachaise Cemetery: "Dear Jim, Thanks for all the music.  You should have seen the 90's!"

The lady in traditional African attire I saw in China Town.

The sun flares at the Île aux Cygnes Statue of Liberty.

The light that was pouring out of John's bottle of water at sunset.

Part trois coming up soon!