Test post from iPad
Test 123
Test post from iPad
Test 123
Test post from iPad
Test 123
Old Familiar Places
Yesterday a friend and I decided to go on a morning photo hike in a place neither of us had visited in over 20 years. Sturdevant Falls is in the Angeles National Forest and is a moderate hike of just 3 miles. The trail head is just north of Arcadia, CA, a place where we both lived before we knew each other many moons ago. I had hiked to Sturdevant to few times in those early days, but really could not remember much about the place. So, with camera gear packed and water bottles full we drove up to the Arcadia area and were on the trail by 8am.
Here are some of the pics from what turned out to be a beautiful and reminiscent day for us both.
The Crash
Talk about having the right lens, being in the right place and the right time…. At the rodeo this past weekend there was a crash during the steer wrangling event, when the steer decided to go left instead of straight. Luckily, nobody, man or beast, was hurt.
It was incredible to see this happen while looking through a 200-400mm lens! (click in first image and then use the right/left arrows)
Texture
Sometimes, after spending a great deal of energy prepping and getting to a photo dive I discover visibility is awful….or is it. Expectations are a funny thing. I have learned, as an underwater shooter, that conditions are only as good or bad as your expectations allow it to be. Like most things in life, quality is relative.
So, I put on a macro lens and start looking for up close and personal. Funny thing, the visibility for the dive is suddenly great! It’s amazing what you miss when you don’t adjust your expectations.
And Now For Something Completely Different…
Okay, here’s something interesting. A friend needed some fashion/product shots that are a bit different for a web catalog for an edgy sportswear company he works for. He thought that shooting the models underwater would be cool, so we went to a local apartment pool and spent a f
ew hours shooting. No fancy lighting, no back drops, just the models, the sportswear and a camera with 2 external strobes. I experimented with different lighting and angles and shot a LOT! Got a few really interesting images. The models are not pro, but they sure did a great job. It was a fun gig…right up until the grumpy apartment manager threw us out! Gotta get clearance next time, Bryan!!!
Wreck Alley
Off the coast of San Diego, California there is a great dive area know as Wreck Alley. Named for the several wrecks that we placed there, such as the Yukon and the Ruby-E, it is 
known for great invertebrate life such as Corynactis (Strawberry) Anemones and Metridium (white) Anemones. 
The wrecks and surrounding kelp beds make for great diving, if you can dive it when it is calm and clear! For the past 12-18 months there have been sightings of 7-gill sharks in the area. I haven’t seen one yet, but I’m watching out for them…
Unique Dives
Over the years I have had the opportunity to dive and photograph unique places. Wreck, rigs, toiletbowl reefs, rapids, and much more. What I have always liked best about these places was how animal life 
Perhaps my favorite place to witness this is on oil rigs. Now I know that ‘oil rig’ is not a popular phrase right now, but I like to be reminded of the positive side of the rigs, the life that adheres and adapts there. Here are just a few images from these structures that bring back visions of fascinating and memorable dives.
Where have your most unique dives occurred? Tell us about them.
Forest in the Sea
Ever since I have been shooting underwater one of my favorite subjects has been the majestic kelp forests of the California coastline. It is sometimes so magical it can literally cause me to stop in awe as if I were in some medieval cathedral with sun rays pouring through ancient stained-glass.
When the water is clear, the amber forest is all the more breath-taking. I find myself becoming envious of the creatures who get to call this place home.
