Category: USA

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Shot of the Week: View from the Top (Sandstone Peak, Santa Monica Mountains, USA)

Shot of the Week: View from the Top (Sandstone Peak, Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu, California, USA)

Shot of the Week: View from the Top (Sandstone Peak, Santa Monica Mountains, Malibu, California, USA)

Determined to get outdoors one final time before the new year, we set out on Sunday for the top of the Santa Monica Mountains: Sandstone Peak. A bit out of shape, there was a little more huffing and puffing involved than what’s typical for us, but we made it! This photo captures our celebration after making it to the top. (That’s me and our friend Maya, and Ian’s behind the camera.)

Note: We’re actually not standing on Sandstone Peak in this photo; we took a detour about 5 minutes to the right and just a touch lower in elevation.  But from this vantage point, we had an arguably better view of the Pacific Ocean, Channel Islands and the setting sun. We hiked over to Sandstone Peak afterward and signed the logbook to make it official.

The above photo was taken with the Sony a7s and Sony E 10-18 f/4 OSS and edited with the Whitefall preset from Film Speck One, our free pack of Lightroom presets on lonelyspeck.com.  Continue reading “Shot of the Week: View from the Top (Sandstone Peak, Santa Monica Mountains, USA)”

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Shot of the Week: California Winter (Simi Valley, USA)

Shot of the Week: Diana Southern California Winter

A few days ago, Ian and I headed out on a photo excursion in the hills of Simi Valley for some levitation photography. While that didn’t turn out so well this time, Ian grabbed a few extra shots. Here’s an outdoor portrait of me that Ian took just before sunset. This is what winter is like in California, folks!

This photo was taken with the Sony a7s and Sony 55mm f/1.8 lens. Continue reading “Shot of the Week: California Winter (Simi Valley, USA)”

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Shot of the Week: Geminids Meteor Shower (Red Rock Canyon State Park, USA)

Geminids Meteor Shower Over Red Rock Canyon State Park

Geminids Meteor Shower Over Red Rock Canyon State Park

This past weekend, Ian set out for the chilly darkness of Red Rock Canyon State Park. He captured the stars and the Geminids meteor shower above the rusty red rock formations before moonrise. This shot is a compilation of four separate meteor photos he caught with his camera.

This photo was taken with the Sony a7s and Rokinon 24mm f/1.4 lens. Continue on to view the full image. Continue reading “Shot of the Week: Geminids Meteor Shower (Red Rock Canyon State Park, USA)”

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Shot of the Week: Cookie Decorating Day (Los Angeles, USA)

cookie decorating day

This past weekend, Ian and I joined some friends in LA for a day of festive cookie decorating. We frosted several gingerbread cookies and attempted to make the Quick and Easy Snowy Chocolate Pinecones from handmadecharlotte.com (scroll down to see how that turned out). We had a great time getting crafty and catching up with friends at the same time!

The above photo was taken with the Sony a7s and Sony 55mm f/1.8 lens.  Continue reading “Shot of the Week: Cookie Decorating Day (Los Angeles, USA)”

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Shot of the Week: O Christmas Tree (Simi Valley, USA)

Shot of the week: O Christmas Tree on northtosouth.us

Shot of the week: O Christmas Tree on northtosouth.us

I originally thought we had no photos from last week, but I took a second look and discovered this one, so now we’re playing catch-up again! My family’s Christmas tree went up on Thanksgiving night, with lights and ornaments following closely behind over the next couple days.

With winter approaching and darkness falling early, Ian and I have been spending a few hours each evening working and relaxing here in the living room at “The Hoof & Woof Ranch.” And, as we’ve actually seen quite a bit of rain here in Southern California lately, most of our photos from this week were taken indoors. This photo is actually a test shot Ian took on December 4th, shortly after the arrival of his new lens. But I like the warm colorful glow of the lights anyway, so with a little cropping I turned it into our shot of the week!

The above photo was taken with the Sony a7s and Sony 55mm f/1.8 lens.  Continue reading “Shot of the Week: O Christmas Tree (Simi Valley, USA)”

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Shot of the Week: Writings in the Sand (Joshua Tree, USA)

Shot of the Week: Writings in the Sand (Joshua Tree, California)

Shot of the Week: Writings in the Sand (Joshua Tree, California)Last weekend, November 21-22, we visited Joshua Tree National Park to test some new cameras. After a night of photographing the Milky Way, Ian took some photos of me for my new travel fashion blog for women. Once I had everything I needed, he took a few more, just for fun, and this photo is one of them.

The above photo was taken with the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II.  Continue reading “Shot of the Week: Writings in the Sand (Joshua Tree, USA)”

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Desert Street Art: 20 Paintings in Twentynine Palms, an “Oasis of Murals” [PHOTO BOOK]

Desert Street Art: 20 Paintings from Twentynine Palms, California, an oasis of murals

Desert Street Art: 20 Paintings from Twentynine Palms, California, an oasis of murals

Located just north of Joshua Tree National Park in California’s Mojave Desert, Twentynine Palms is a city characterized by three things: tattoo parlors, military haircuts, and murals. (Barbershop signs advertise two haircut options here: military and civilian.) Okay, so maybe there’s more to Twentynine Palms than what’s immediately apparent when driving through, but it’s obvious that this town is highly molded by the fact that it’s been home to a US Military base for over 65 years.  Continue reading “Desert Street Art: 20 Paintings in Twentynine Palms, an “Oasis of Murals” [PHOTO BOOK]”

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Shot of the Week: My Traveling Dog, Tiger (Los Angeles, USA)

Shot of the Week: My Traveling Dog, Tiger

My dog Tiger sitting in a suitcase

Yesterday (November 19, 2014) Ian and I spent about two hours shooting some photos for my new travel blog for women, and I couldn’t resist taking a few animal shots while we were at it. Plus, Tiger (my dog) totally loved sitting in the suitcase! Isn’t he precious?

The above photo was taken with the Sony a6000 and Voigtlander 40mm f/1.4 Nokton.  Continue reading “Shot of the Week: My Traveling Dog, Tiger (Los Angeles, USA)”

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Shot of the Week: Vegas, Baby. Vegas. (Las Vegas, USA)

Shot of the Week: Vegas, baby. Vegas.

Shot of the Week: Vegas, Baby. Vegas.

This past weekend I finally celebrated my birthday in a city no one could believe I’ve never been to: Vegas! On November 8, 2014, I soaked up the Sin City views from the top of the Stratosphere and continued to celebrate through my birthday on the 10th.

The above photo was taken with the Sony a7s and Voigtlander 40mm f/1.4 Nokton.  Continue reading “Shot of the Week: Vegas, Baby. Vegas. (Las Vegas, USA)”

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Shot of the Week: Wine Country (Apple Hill, USA)

Shot of the Week: Wine Country

Shot of the Week: Wine Country

We’ve been busy bees, moving around a lot the last couple weeks, so we’re playing catch up and posting this photo a little late. On November 2, 2014, Ian and I went wine tasting in the Apple Hill area with Ian’s parents on a cool day in Northern California.

The above photo was taken with the Sony a7s  and Voigtlander 40mm f/1.4 Nokton.  Continue reading “Shot of the Week: Wine Country (Apple Hill, USA)”