Event Venue Photography at Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove California with a Harry Potter Theme

February 20, 2025 in Event

Amazing Harry Potter Themed Event Venue space in Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove

For the third of three nights (night one, night two) of event venue space photography for Asilomar Conference Grounds in Pacific Grove, California I walked into a stunning room straight out of the world of Harry Potter, complete with “flying” candles! I had no idea what the theme was going to be for this night, so it was a total surprise to me, and a major challenge to photograph a space that pretty much required shutter speeds of 10 seconds or longer. For the above shot, with the help of the general manager, I got the entire staff to clear the room and was able to make a long exposure photo. Even though it might have made everyone a bit late setting up, I think it was worth it and the client loved it! Thank you to the team at Asilomar Conference Grounds for choosing me as your event venue photographer!

Starry Night in Colorado

March 10, 2021 in Photo Story

More stars in the night sky in Colorado??

It was over 20 years ago I saw the brightest stars in the night sky in my life, and ironically it was the furthest I had ever been from the stars themselves as I was at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Now, I unexpectedly have seen the second brightest night sky in my life here in the tiny town of La Veta, Colorado. Strolling outside the Airbnb it was like the Universe had suddenly created 5 times as many stars in the heavens. It was a spectacular site and a nice bonus on what has been a hard photo & drone work trip.

Photo Tip Leave the Shutter open for surprises and cool results

May 28, 2020 in Photography Tips

Get cooler images with long exposures

Cool things can happen when you leave the shutter of your camera open for more than just a fraction of a second. Look around the photo above where I left the shutter open for 10 seconds. In that time I managed to capture 3 lighting bolts, and the light trails made by the head and taillights of passing cars. Plus, the long exposure created a starburst effect with the street lamps.

Commercial Real Estate Photography in Albuquerque New Mexico at Zocalo Lofts

October 31, 2019 in Commercial

Stylistic Commercial Real Estate Photography in Albuquerque

Looking for a new place to live in downtown Albuquerque, New Mexico? Opening soon are the Zocalo Lofts right on the corner of 4th & Coal. I was hired to make interior and exterior photographs to highlight the lifestyle of living in this new construction building. I used a variety of techniques to capture these three images. The top is using a long exposure to make light trails out of the tasing headlights and taillights to add a dramatic style to the building exterior shot. Then for the gym photo, I used the absolute best interior technique there is, flambient. Finally, the lobby photo was made with a realistic HDR processing.

Commercial Hotel Night Photography Albuquerque San Mateo Inn

September 18, 2019 in Commercial

Lightning in Commercial Hotel Photography Albuquerque

Almost one month to the day I returned to the San Mateo Inn for more commercial exterior photography, this time at night! My first shoot was all during the day with clear blue skies overhead. For this second shoot right after sunset, the clouds were rolling in and a storm was approaching. I was working as fast as I could with my new Sony a7R IV mirrorless camera. In fact this was the very first shoot I used it for! I could hear the thunder and see the lightning, and in a happy accident, during one long exposure photo of the front of the hotel, I caught a sharp bolt of lightning! I got the remaining photos I needed of the pool and front sign, and was back home safe and dry before the actual rain started. Thank you to the owner, Yvette, for braving the storm with me and watching my back as we were very close to the road to get some of these shots.

Ft Union Drive In Starry Skies Astrophotography Las Vegas New Mexico

August 22, 2019 in Photo Story

Astrophotography at the Drive In

As best as I can remember, for the first time since I was a kid, I saw a movie at a drive in theater. The experience was great (the movies were not)! This was part of an ultra-rare, full weekend off, out of town, not part of a photo job holiday. It was me and Jessica and our dogs Kiki and Artie all in the M3 with the top down completely under the stars, looking up at the big screen. And the stars! They were so bright and vivid! Not since I spent the night at the bottom of the Grand Canyon did they look as vivid to me.

Imperial Beach San Diego Long Exposure Photos

July 11, 2019 in Photo Story, Photography Tips

Long Exposures + Ocean = Dreamscape

If you asked me, I would tell you that a tripod is a must for making long exposure photos. In fact, I have already shared some long exposure ocean photos from San Diego featuring the Ocean Beach Pier that were all shot with my Nikon mounted on a tripod. That said, if getting a tack sharp image is not needed, handholding a slightly long exposure photo, especially with a lens that has VR (vibration reduction), can produce some very cool shots. The latter was the method I used to hold my Nikon right above the incoming water at Imperial Beach, San Diego, California at sunset. Why do a long exposure? Because it makes the water look like stretched out cotton. In the above shot you might easily think it was taken from a boat in deep water, when in reality it was me in less than ankle deep water letting that few inches of water whoosh past me as the camera’s shutter stayed open for 1/6th of a second.