Blue Harbor

Sheboygan Breakwater Lighthouse, Sheboygan, WI

Most of the snow has melted, though I am still waiting for signs of spring’s arrival.

Zen

Sunrise at Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO.

If you would like to see a larger sized image or buy a print, click on the photo to visit my photography website.

Serenity

Taken at Bear Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park.

If you would like to see a larger sized image or buy a print, click on the photo to visit my photography website.

The Pathway

It was ridiculously hot today.  Yet, that did not stop me from grilling this 4th of July.  It has been a while since I cooked something that required time & preparation, as these days I try not to spend too much time in the kitchen, so I can spend it with the family instead.

But I always try to cook something special during holidays.  This year I made balsamic vinegar ribs, spicy garlic grilled shrimp, Vietnamese chicken salad, grilled asparagus, and grilled brats with sauerkraut.  Will post pictures soon :)

If you would like to see a larger sized image or buy a print, click on the photo to visit my photography website.

Dreaming Of Cooler Temperatures

June 30th was worldwide Google+ 1 Year Anniversary Photowalk day.  I headed down to Millennium Park to meet with the group.  Despite knowing quite a number of people on Google+, most of the people attending were new faces to me.

It was not exactly the best day to do lots of walking, given how hot it was that day.  Walking with a camera strap around your neck on a hot sunny day is not the most pleasant thing to do.  Plus I had all my camera gear in my back pack, and I brought my tripod along to take long exposure pictures such as this one.  It was well worth it, however, as I got to spend an afternoon with people who shared the same passion.

If you would like to see a larger sized image or buy a print, click on the photo to visit my photography website.

Sunrise  

Woke up at 4 this morning to take some photos by the lake.  By 6 I had finished shooting, and headed to Chinatown to pick up breakfast for the wife and kid.  Surprisingly there were actually people dining at the restaurant when I got there, as usually I am the only one there.  It’s a routine that I’m growing to love more & more.

If you would like to see a larger sized image or buy a print, click on the photo to visit my photography website.

Summit Lake 

On our second day in Denver, Colorado, I decided to take my family up to Mount Evans. The scenic byway is highly recommended on Tripadvisor.com.

Summit Lake is located near the top.  Though the hike to the edge of the lake itself is very short from the parking lot, the high altitude (12,830 feet) made it extremely uncomfortable.  Not to mention the strong wind gusts that day were about to blow us over.  As challenging as it was, I was absolutely determined to get some shots.

The one posted here is a long exposure shot, taken with my 10 stop ND filter.

If you would like to see a larger sized image or buy a print, click on the photo to visit my photography website.

Reflections 

I spent the past few days away in Colorado for my college 10 year reunion.  The first half was spent in Denver, and the remaining half we stayed in Estes Park.  

This is a self photo I took at Bear Lake, located in the Rocky Mountain National Park. The road leading to the lake was under construction, with daily closures from 9am to 4pm.  I have seen amazing photos of the lake taken during sunrise, so I was determined to check it out myself.  I almost did not make it, however, since I had only gotten 2, 3 hours of sleep the night before.  Luckily, there was no traffic on the way, which made for a brisk drive.  I was the only one there, which felt somewhat eerie, a feeling worsened by the sound of crows.  Such fears receded once I saw the picturesque lake, with its calm waters and beautiful reflection of the surrounding mountains.

Hiking around Bear Lake was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.

If you would like to see a larger sized image or buy a print, click on the photo to visit my photography website.

Emerging From The Shadows

I went to the lake to capture the sunrise on Saturday.  With the sun rising earlier and earlier, it is becoming a more difficult task. 

When I told my parents afterwards over the phone that I went to photograph the sunrise, their immediate concern was safety.  It is certainly something that is in my mind when shooting at night or early in the morning, so I make sure to travel light. I also try to be vigilant of my surroundings.  This time around, there was not much to worry about, as there were plenty of joggers by the time I got there.

This is a long exposure shot taken with a 10-stop ND filter, stacked on top of a circular polarizer.

If you would like to see a larger sized image or buy a print, click on the photo to visit my photography website.

Lake Placid

There is a man-made lake close to where I live. It seems like every time I drive by it is around sunset (probably because I drive that way whenever I go pick up sushi for dinner), and the reflections on the water always look absolutely mesmerizing.

I finally made the decision to take the family there last week.  It was not as nice as I had envisioned, but probably because it was very chilly that day.  My son enjoyed his wagon ride, though.  It also gave me the opportunity to test out a new circular polarizer that I got.  This was one of the shots I took.

If you would like to see a larger sized image or buy a print, click on the photo to visit my photography website.