The Carson Mansion
On a recent trip north, I photographed the Carson Mansion in Eureka, California. I'd been wanting to shoot it for years, having seen photos of it on the web. Built in 1885 by lumber baron [...]
Better Than Posed
I like the defocused background that comes with shooting at wide apertures, but the shallow depth of field means it's tricky to get the exact plane you want in focus to be in focus. That's [...]
Portraits of a Tailor
Carlos has been my tailor for years, and we see each other often. When he told me he was planning a website for his business, I volunteered to take some photos of him in his [...]
Four Street Portraits in North Beach
Along with the Embarcadero, North Beach in San Francisco is at the top of my list of places to go in the city for street photography. This past Sunday, I walked around for a few [...]
Roaming the Tenderloin
I know the Tenderloin isn't the most photogenic, or safest, neighborhood in San Francisco. But it borders Civic Center, where I often go to photograph the government buildings and walk up and down Market Street. [...]
Sunday Afternoon in Martinez
I've visited Martinez many times because it's close, the downtown is picturesque and uncrowded (especially on a Sunday afternoon), and all the picture-worthy sites are within walking distance of each other. Incorporated in 1876 (!), [...]
Weather Makes the Difference
Before heading out early last Sunday morning, I listened to the local news. The weather report said it would be a warm day, but the Golden Gate Bridge was very foggy. I've photographed the [...]
One Environmental Portrait
Very early last Sunday morning, I walked to the end of Pier 14 in San Francisco. It's a good spot for capturing the city skyline, and I've done that many times. On that day, I [...]
Dog Shows How to Pose
Walking along the Embarcadero last Sunday morning, I came to a small grassy area near the Cupid's Span sculpture. Dogs were playing on the grass, and one, a Vizsla, whose name, I found out later, [...]
Finally, Some “Bad” Weather
We finally had a rainstorm last week—we need the rainfall—and one result was ground fog the next morning. I saw it on my morning walk when I reached the top of a small hill, so [...]