Morning 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.
Sunset Fine Art Photography of Bird Rock along 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach
This April evening out at Bird Rock on 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, California was a rare to the horizon sunset view. I took just my Sony 50mm f/1.2 GM lens, for a different perspective from the typical wide sunset shots. As I was letting the sun go down, I photographed these small flowers first (see the photo story). Many large rocks just off shore in this area function as bird rookeries, so I wonder why this one gets the distinction as bird rock? Maybe it was the first to be named so? As you can see in the background of some of the photos, there are lots of birds that do not get to live this close to where they go hunting during the day and have to fly further down the coastline. How did these birds get to be so lucky? All questions I ask myself!
Using shallow depth of field for Pebble Beach sunset photography
It was a beautiful evening here in the Pebble Beach area so I took my camera to one of my favorite spots along 17 Mile Drive, Bird Rock. I already had the Sony 50mm f/1.2 lens on my camera from a shoot the day before, so I left that on, to get a different perspective for sunset photography, and I knew before going there I did want to shoot at f/1.2 for shallow DoF shots. Then I saw these flowers growing atop a small cliff, and used them as the focal point and let the sun go out of focus. This extreme difference in foreground and background focus interests me and I feel reveals a different world.
There are often weather alerts for “sneaker waves” for the Monterey Bay coast where I live. Pacific Grove is a quiet small town, right on the coast that is often full of drama. Such was the case on a recent afternoon, so I took my camera with 70-200mm lens (medium telephoto) to see what wave splashes I could capture. When I took the above shot, about 100 shots into the time I was shooting, I knew immediately it was the shot I had been looking for, and that was even before I noticed the birds in it, which just added to the shot. I took a few more photos after that, but I knew I had gotten what I envisioned before even leaving the house. This is something very satisfying and recommended for any photographer, envision what photo you want to get before going out, and then when you get it, you will know.
Bird Rock is one of the best sunset viewing spots along 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach California
There are many scenic viewing points along 17 Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, California. I discovered Bird Rock because of a cycling group I was riding with stopped there one evening. Besides the great view, this lookout point has lots of parking and picnic tables and even a restroom. I decided to grab the camera and head out there, by car this time, to get a few shots of the sunset and twilightsky. It’s named Bird Rock for the big rock just offshore that is used as a rookery. Lots of birds were coming home from their day of work to spend the night on Bird Rock.
Kitchen Remodel Photography for Home in Pacific Grove California
It was a very specific subject for my third shoot (first and second shoots) for Adelle of Murrer Construction, a custom kitchen renovation in a Pacific Grove, California home. The team at Murrer changed a galley kitchen into a modern, open, large island style kitchen with white cabinets and stainless steel appliances. This is all not mentioning adding hardwood floors too! I saw a couple of before pictures and the difference in function and vibe made to the house is unbelievable. I think the new kitchen photographed very well. Thank you Adelle for continuing to choose me as your photographer!
Bathroom and Bedroom Remodel Photography for Home in Pacific Grove California
This is already the second shoot for my new client, Adelle of Murrer Construction. The amazing work her construction team did on this bathroom renovation made shooting it a creative jog. My favorite photo from this commercial real estate shoot in Pacific Grove was this top down one of the free standing soaking bathtub. For the bedroom I wanted to highlight the details they built in, not the furniture the owner added. So the custom cabinetry is in the shot below, as long as the two sets of doors, one leading to the deck and the other to the bathroom. Thank you Adelle for being my first client in Pacific Grove!
