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Fujifilm X-E2 Living Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-E2 VSCO Film

A Celebration of Life in The Cathedral of Christ the Light

The Cathedral of Christ the Light - Oakland - 2014

Even though I’ve lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for a long time, I’d not heard of this cathedral in Oakland. Last week, my friend Doug Kaye forwarded me an email – a group of his friends from the Marin Photo Club were heading over to shoot in this cathedral on Saturday and would I like to join?

Shooting a venue with a group of photographers can be a lot of fun – and a great learning experience – so I said “Sure! I’m in.” Somehow I’d completely missed the construction of this beautiful cathedral. A check of images from others helped educate me to its striking architecture. Pretty amazing work!

When we arrived on Saturday, a memorial service was underway in the sanctuary – celebrating the life of Dr. Frank Staggers. We headed downstairs to the mausoleum area and photographed there. I drifted back upstairs and listened to the last twenty minutes of the Staggers’ memorial. Such a celebration of a wonderful life!

I shared this with a friend: “A random encounter with the memories of a such great man!” – she replied: “I like the serendipity of being in the right place at the right time.”

Indeed. It was a beautiful Saturday in so many ways. Go when you can!

Categories
Fujifilm X-E2 Living Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-E2 Quotations San Francisco/California

Gratitude

Eclipse - Hyatt Regency Embarcadero - 2014

Just finished up a phone call with an old friend of mine. He ended by asking “Is there anything I can do to help you?”

What a delight! It’s the perfect question, isn’t it?!

This image is of the Eclipse sculpture in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency Embarcadero in San Francisco – a favorite spot of me and my photo buddy Doug Kaye. This version was captured using my Fujifilm X-E2 – a simply wonderful “mirrorless” camera that take beautiful images.

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Black and White Fujifilm X-E2 Lightroom Monochrome Photography Photography Photography - Black & White Photography - Fujifilm X-E2 San Francisco/California VSCO Film

Self-Portrait at San Francisco’s Exploratorium

Self Portrait - San Francisco - 2014

Sometimes reflections hold the key to great images. Here’s a recent example from New Year’s Day – shot outside of San Francisco’s Exploratorium – and it’s glass wall. I really love this image!

Shot with my Fujifilm X-E2. Post-processed in Lightroom 5 and VSCO Film.

Categories
Fujifilm X-E2 Lightroom Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-E2 San Francisco/California

New Year’s Day 2014

Blue Note - San Francisco - 2014

For the last several years, I’ve headed north to San Francisco on New Year’s Day for some photography. Often, at this time of year, we’ve interesting weather and skies – making for some great opportunities along the coast and at the Golden Gate Bridge.

This year, we weren’t blessed with any of that kind of weather – just another day in paradise with clear blue skies and temperatures approach 70 degrees. I’ve been fighting a nasty cold for the last week or so – and was dying to get outside to do some shooting. Doug Kaye and I decided we’d head for our favorite spot – meeting up around the Ferry Building and heading out from there.

While we’ve shot many times around the Ferry Building, Embarcadero Center, etc. we had not headed north on the Embarcadero and had missed the venues for some great photography along that side.

Over the holiday season, I’d received a card from a friend that had a perspective I’d never seen – turns out it was shot from Pier 7 – a venue we’d never explored. So this morning we did. You can find the set of my images from today here on Flickr.

This particular image is one that I really enjoy. At the new Exploratorium location at Piers 15-17 there’s Fog Bridge – a work by Fujiko Nakaya. It fires off every 30 minutes and Doug and I waited to see it in action. I shot the image above with my Fujifilm X-E2 and post-processed it in Lightroom 5. I call it “Blue Note“.

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to explore the inside of the new Exploratorium today – but it’s on our list for future visit!

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Christmas Fujifilm X-E2 Menlo Park Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-E2

Merry Christmas 2013!

Red - Allied Arts - 2013

A few weeks ago I went for a walk at Menlo Park’s Allied Arts Guild – one of my favorite local places. It’s good therapy for mind and soul to just walk the gardens there.

The Guild had their holiday decorations up – and this particular image has become one of my favorites. Shot with my Fujifilm X-E2 and post-processed in Photoshop CC with the Oil Paint filter to add some texture. I love the range of colors and lights/shadows in this image. Peaceful.

I hope that you and your family have a wonderful – and peaceful – Christmas season this year!

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Fujifilm X-E2 Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-E2 San Francisco/California

The Interview

The Interview - San Francisco - 2013

Shortly after I got my new Fujifilm X-E2, Doug Kaye and I took a mid-day photowalk in the heart of San Francisco’s Financial District.

Along the way, I capture this shot which I’ve come to call “The Interview”. Resume on the left, notebook on the right – intense interaction, eye contact, serious work.

All of those reflections and distractions add depth to this image. I love the woman on the left – lost in her own work – and the other woman in the upper right with her yellow top.

Just another interview in San Francisco. I happened along…

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Fujifilm X-E2 Lightroom New York City Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-E2 VSCO Film

55

55 - New York - 2013

55 – I think it’s 55 East 65th Street in New York City! Just across from the amazing Daniel.

Shot with my Fujifilm X-E2, post-processed in Lightroom 5 with VSCO Film and Photoshop CC.

Categories
Fujifilm X-E2 Lightroom New York City Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-E2 VSCO Film

That Brownstone on E 65th Street

Brownstone on E 65th Street - New York - 2013

As we were walking to dinner, I came across this shot – that amazing window with the light behind, the fall color in the trees and a walker.

Shot with my Fujifilm X-E2. Post-processed in Lightroom 5 and VSCO Film 04.

Categories
Fujifilm X-E2 Lightroom Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-E2 VSCO Film

Such a Drag

Such a Drag - New York - 2013

Sometimes you see amazing things when you’re walking with a camera in your hand.

On this Friday morning, I was walking over to the Pierre Hotel to participate in a panel discussion at a bankers’ conference. As I walked up Fifth Avenue, I came across this shot. Sneaking a drag in such a beautiful spot. I suspect they’re oblivious to the big issues of banking we were about to discuss. In the moment.

Shot with my Fujifilm X-E2 with the 14mm Fujinon lens. Post-processed in Lightroom 5 with VSCO Film 04.

Categories
Fujifilm X-E2 Lightroom New York City Photography Photography - Fujifilm X-E2 Photoshop CC Topaz VSCO Film

Hailing a Taxi on New York City’s Madison Avenue – Fujifilm X-E2

Taxi Hailer on Madison Avenue - New York - 2013

Here’s another shot from our pre-Thanksgiving visit to New York City. We were walking up Madison Avenue to dinner. Something friends have always told me – be sure to turn around and look back – came into my head. I did – and here’s what I saw. Love the scope of this image – from the guy on the left with the garbage can to the taxi hailer and then on to the FedEx truck on the right.

Shot handheld with the amazing Fujifilm X-E2 and post-processed in Lightroom 5 with VSCO Film 04. Adjusted a bit further in Photoshop CC using Topaz Simplify 4 to reduce detail on the buildings in the distance to keep the eye down at street level. Click on the image to see a larger size version.

Ah, New York City in the fall…