Happy New Year!

In the last day of 2014 I rented an 85mm Nikkor, f/1.4 lens and went down to Mountain View to test it.  Shooting candid street photography and taking portraits of strangers is one of my favorite pastimes, but between hanging out with my kids and doing family sessions I haven't had the time to indulge in proper improvised photo walks....

As you can see, the lighting conditions were not perfect; at high noon the sun beats very harsh even in the Winter.  The lens is a bit narrow for my taste, through its sharpness and speed makes up for it at least partially.  Next I really want to try one of the ultra-wide lenses, 24mm or so (or even a fisheye), again with such a large aperture.  Stay tuned!

P.S. My favorite image must be the jumping shot - thanks Jeff and friend (sorry, I'm terrible with names...)!

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.  

 

Big City Life

Found a few more images worthy of being showcased here.  Such great memories!  These sum up London and our life there pretty nicely - enjoy!

No Minute Gone Comes Ever Back Again...

...Take Heed and See Ye Nothing Do in Vain.

These are some of the very first images I took with my 50mm lens.  It was late December 2009 and I was exploring the city of London in its holiday attire.  No snow of course but many, many wonderful lights and sights.

The Londonist

I'm almost, almost ready to post a bunch of forgotten but quite awesome archive images from all over the place before I disappear into obscurity (read: have that baby and go into hibernation mode) for awhile, and then return with a vengeance and about a million newborn photos.

These are from London, and judging by the fact they were taken with my old point and shoot Kodak, they date from 2007 and 2008.  Just a few random street shots I find funny!  And no, I have no idea why the profane graffiti in the last one seemed so hilarious to me.

Hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

 

Life As It Happens

I think I got hooked on photography because it compliments my obsession with documenting life so well.  I like to witness how events unfold - be them big and important or just everyday - and I like to keep them.  They remind me that I am still here, still a part of things, still alive to experience them and awake enough to appreciate them.

Last weekend we met with our Bulgarian friends up in Burlingame.  We had crepes, walked about downtown, and watched our kids hold hands and play together.  What a lovely way to be!

As you can see, the bright California sunshine is back and it makes it very hard to take any photos past 10 am.  I ventured into it nevertheless, and despite that being out and about with kids made it ridiculously complicated to compose the shots properly.

Enjoy!

P.S.The last couple of images I took at home after we came back.  Shelby really wanted to go out and plop in the back yard in this gorgeous weather.  Also, I really need to take some selfies against the backdrop of the red-leafed tree there.

 

A Sutro Sunset

Another family outing, another set of beach and coastline photos, this time in San Francisco!   I braved the elements last Saturday evening to capture the sunset over the creepy cliffs near Sutro Baths, and after that we had dinner at Cliff House with friends, which was fun as far the company went, and a bit disappointing menu-wise.  I've had much better gourmet food, though I guess people go there not for the sea delicacies but really for the view.  

I threw a few iPhone VSCOcam shots in here too, and my favorites overall must be of Johnny - he made the funniest faces as the wind blew his way.