What is was like judging the 2025 Pacific Grove Rotary Concours Auto Rally
This summer I have been an invited guest to the Pacific Grove Rotary Club luncheons. After getting to know what the club is more about, I have decided to join, and even before becoming an official member, the club asked me to be a judge for its annual Pacific Grove Rotary Concours Auto Rally during Monterey Car Week! I am a car enthusiast and know a lot about a lot of cars, but I have never judged a show before. Luckily, there were not that many criteria to judge each car on. Basically there were 17 categories, 13 specific ones, and 4 overall “grand prizes” to consider for each car. Of the 250+ entries, it was on me to judge the even numbered entries, along with one other judge doing evens, and two other judges doing odds, so that each car had two judges assessing it.
Well, that was in theory, ha!
Read MoreMorning Photo Walk around Downtown City Park in Paso Robles California
I found myself in Paso Robles, California in walking distance to Downtown City Park. I took my camera in the cooler morning time around this park enjoying for the first time in a long time a peaceful photo walk just making photos of things I found interesting. This led me to making photos of the structures in the park itself, including a Carnegie Library turned museum, various flowers and greenery, as well as some unique features along the streets around the park. If you visit Paso Robles, this park is even nicer at night when strings of lights dangle from the trees, and on Thursday evenings in the summer there is live music.
Read MoreMy adopted custom from Japan of the last sunset and first sunrise of the year continues in Pacific Grove California
I was introduced to the custom of going out to see the last sunset of the year, and then the first sunrise of the new year when I lived in Japan in the 2000s. It is a custom I have tried to keep each year no matter where I am in the world. This year I was back home in Pacific Grove and went to my beloved Asilomar Beach for both the sunset and sunrise, and Mother Nature provided a spectacular one for both. It was a time to reflect on my first full year in California and what I hope and want for my second one.
Read MoreFountain in Hotel Chaco for downtime photography in Albuquerque
I was photographing a conference at Hotel Chaco last summer and had some time in between events to photograph the flora and fountain found in the inner courtyard of the hotel. I don't often have time to look for shots like this while photographing an event, and almost never go on a photo walk in my personal time anymore, so it was nice to just look for photos like I used to before I became a full-time professional photographer 14 years ago.
Read More85mm the ideal lens for River of Lights in ABQ
An annual event I photograph in Albuquerque, New Mexico is the River of Lights. The past two times I have had a chance to test out a new lens. This time it was the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 DG DN Art lens, which I liked from the very first shot I took with it! This lens was as close to the ideal one lens solution as you could get both in terms of focal length (85mm) as many of the light creations are a fair bit away from the walking paths, and the fast f/1.4 aperture for great low light performance and for creating bokeh when possible. Which is your favorite River of Lights display?
Read MoreFavorite Photos and Drone Video of 2022 across categories
For the first time in three years, I have brought back the Favorite Five photos of the year, well actually four photos and one drone video this time! My criteria for choosing my own personal favorite five of the year are that as much as possible, each photo/video must be from a different category. That means not just choosing five landscape photos. Then I give preference to choosing a photo/video that I have not made a similar one to before and that has pushed my ability forward as a photographer and drone pilot.
Read MoreRoute 66 still lives on in Tucumcari
If you are traveling from the east into New Mexico, then Tucumcari is the first town you will come across. It is a historic Route 66 town feature a Route 66 Museum and some of the old motels and eateries leftover from those classic 1950s days. Tucumcari also has a great dinosaur museum. I have had the opportunity to stay in town twice while out on photoshoots. This last time the client wanted drone video and photo highlights of the town. I recommend spending at least a night in Tucumcari the next time you are passing through!
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