I visited Mount Shasta recently and took a few pictures.
Sky replacement was done in Photoshop. Original sky was just solid blue.
Newcastle Lavender Farm
I haven’t been shooting very many portraits the last few months but I did visit the Nescastle Lavender Farm with a return to my roots of landscape photography.
Portraits with Becca
I worked with bay area model Becca on some really special portraits over the weekend in Nevada City.
This image of Becca at the Tulip Gardens is now one of my favorite portraits that I have captured. Everything about it is special, just works and tells a story. This is the type of portraits i would love to create all day long.
Both images shot with the Fujifilm X-T3 and 16-55mm f2.8 lens
After taking photos at the tulip garden, we headed down to the cemetery outside downtown Nevada City for some moody and emotional portraits.
More with the Fujifilm X-T3
While I wait for Lightroom to support the X-T3, I have found a utility to convert the RAW files to DNGs that can be edited in Lightroom. Below are some random edited RAW DNG files from the last few weeks.
Testing the Fujifilm X-T3
I now have the Fujifilm X-T3 in my hands and I was able to take my first images. Overall the camera is very similar to the X-T2. A few under appreciated changes have made shooting with this new camera a joy to use. First is Bluetooth. I don’t have a need to sync my photos to my phone, but the Bluetooth connection has enabled seamless geotagging of my images, a feature I lost when I moved from Nikon to Fuji. The X-T3 also added an electronic 3D level, which is a nice feature when you are shooting handheld.
Another note. A lot of people have asked if you can use an X-T2 L bracket on the X-T3. I have confirmed the Really Right Stuff bracket does not fit. I contacted them and I am told pre-sales will start within the next 2 weeks for an updated L-Bracket.
Below are a few jpg images with minor edits. RAW support is not in Lightroom yet, so I am stuck working with jpg for a few more weeks. I can’t wait to start working with the RAW files.
Deer Creek Tribute Trail in Nevada City.
Acros film simulation.
Acros film simulation.
Acros film simulation.
Reno Balloon Races
After years of wanting to visit the huge balloon festival in Reno, I decided it was time to check it out for myself. The morning started out at 3:30 as the ballons begin to arrive.
As the crowds grow and the people arrive, the balloons begin to coordinate and glow together.
Sun soon rises and this added an entirely different glow to the balloons
Almost 100 balloons rise at the same time in a very impressive display.
Around 7:30am the event starts to break up and everyone begins walking back to the parking lot. This balloon hovered over the lake to give everyone a chance to take photos on the way out of the park.
Woodland Sunflowers
All photographers have a bucket list of places they want to photograph. The Woodland sunflower fields is one of those places.
While the sky wasn't very exciting, I am still happy with the "hot summer" look I managed to get from a few of my images.
I used photoshop to blend multiple exposures to keep as much of the image in focus as possible.
This old oak tree is the element that makes this field super popular with photographers.
All of my images from this trip were taken with the Fujifilm X-T2, while this iPhone X image produce really outstanding color.
Oregon Creek Covered Bridge
I recently discovered this covered bridge about 20 minutes outside of Nevada City. The Oregon Creek is along the Yuba River in North San Juan. It is part of the Tahoe National Forest.
The bridge originally opened in the early 1870's and was totally restored in early 2018. I searched the web and found that the bridge was closed to traffic before it was rebuilt, because it was in such bad shape.
The rebuilt bridge uses some of the same wood that was used in the original bridge.
Under the bridge you will find a beautiful creek that is used for fishing and swimming.
This is a panorama made up of 5 images. Because my tripod wasn't totally level, you can see a little distortion in the bridge shape.
When you cross the bridge, you will find a large parking lot with bathrooms, park tables and a sandy beach that gives you access to this large open section of the river. You can swim and even use the rope swing.
Wildflowers of Independence Trail
I returned to Independence Trail this week to see how it has changed with the spring weather.
While the boardwalks are the most unique part of the trail, it is the wildflowers that are always changing.
Pictures just don't show the 3D shape of these puffy flowers.
Tulip Gardens in Nevada City
For one month a year (in April), you can visit the Crystal Hermitage gardens in Nevada City. These impressive gardens feature around 17,000 tulips and flowering trees in a beautiful hillside location, about 25 minutes from downtown Nevada City.
Fujifilm 16mm lens. The building in the background is a small church.
The gardens are visited by 1000's of people and it seems like everyone is taking pictures with either cell phones or full size DSLR cameras. With all of the colors and different types of flowers, you can imagine why it is so popular.
Fujifilm 16mm lens
Fujifilm 16mm lens. Only about 60% of the tulips are flowering when this image was taken.
Fuifilm 16mm
If you are a Macro shooter, these gardens are a great opportunity to get close to some flowers and maybe a few bugs.
Fujifilm 80mm f2.8 Maco lens
Fujifilm 80mm f2.8 Maco lens
Fujifilm 80mm f2.8 Maco lens. In addition to flowers, you will find status and water features.
Winter in the Foothills
It took a really long time for winter to finally happen in Northern California. Between storms and bad driving conditions, I managed to find time for a few photos before the rain returned to melt the snow. These are my favorites.
The biggest challenge about winter in Nevada City is how fast the snow melts. I want to shoot the snow in 3 or 4 different locations, but I seem to run out of time before the snow is gone.
Broad Street, Nevada City
Broad Street, Nevada City
Deer Creek in Nevada City
Nevada City
Empire Mine State Park, Grass Valley
Empire Mine State Park, Grass Valley
Smith Vineyard and Winery
I joined a very cold winter photowalk to Smith Vineyard in Grass Valley. It was nice to finally get a chance to visit this beautiful property after driving past it almost every day.
A little red barn in the trees. Fuji X-T2, 23mm at f2.0
Fujifilm XF18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS at 18mm
Fujifilm XF18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS at 18mm at f3.2
Fujifilm XF18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS at f3.2
This was my favorite image of the day. Fujifilm XF18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS at f4.0
Fujifilm XF18-55mm F2.8-4 R LM OIS at f8.0
XF35mmF2 R WR at f2.0
XF16mmF1.4 R WR at f1.6
XF18-55mmF2.8-4 R LM OIS at f4.0