The Absolute Perfect Shot of the Moon

Every since I've had a digital camera, I have been obsessed with capturing the best picture of the moon.

Of all the pictures I have ever taken, I think this is probably the absolute best shot of the moon! I had tried different settings on my Canon EOS then set it to custom settings, had the flash on and this is the end result. Of course, I set my camera on a tripod to ensure steadiness to avoid camera shake, and after eight tries, the last three shots were just superb, picking up every spot of the moon as clear as can be. Click on the photo to see a larger view of the photo.

From the Deadly California Wildfires

Clouds of this magnitude are called Pyrocumulus and extend about 12,000 feet into the sky. This makes it difficult for air water carriers to get inside and drop water on target areas because their visibility is very limited and they cannot see the ground.

My Best Moon Shot

Oh, Sunny Day...

Los Angeles, CA

The Pond - The Grove in Los Angeles

If you've ever been to The Grove LA, they have a beautiful pond just on the other side of their fountain.

Intersection of 3rd & Alvarado

What sharp and vibrant colors can do to a photo...Thanks, Daniel.

Beautiful Floral Arrangement

I really had to get the hang of enhancing the color in my pictures so I tried it with this floral arrangement. My goal was to bring up the oranges, the deep reds and the greens to really make them more rich than the original picture I took, and to really compliment the arrangement itself. As you can see this is a very beautiful arrangement.

5th Floor Patio

Mini 3rd & Alvarado

This is the first picture I took with my SLR camera, sitting outside on one of the patios on the 5th floor at my job, and is the first tilt-shift I attempted using one of the pictures taken with this camera. It seems that it came out a lot better than my last attempts on other picturs...

It's A Lot of Camera

Just recently I picked up a SLR camera, the Canon Rebel EOS XS 1000D, to be exact. Purpose, digitally photograph pictures for this site and to further learn about photography. Anyone in the market for a SLR camera, this is the one to have. It's light in weight, takes pretty good night shots using the right settings (I'm gonna get a good shot of the moon yet), and the pictures are very sharp and crisp. If using different types of lenses, you are in for a treat. One thing I like about this camera is whatever the lighting is in the room, on full focus, the picture you take has that same lighting and is not altered. So that's definitely a plus for me. Zooming in and out of pictures before you take them is easy, and the auto zoom is excellent.

When I first opened the box I had to take a deep breath because this was bit of a stretch for me to have such a camera of this magnitude. After all it's taken me almost three years or so to make up my mind to get one. First off, when I took it out of the box, again, I took a deep breath, and once I unpacked the contents of the box, attached the lens I was overwhelmed, as if I didn't know what to do next.

I've already taken some night shots and some day time shots, and have uploaded them. Will add them to this blog once I've touched them up a bit.

PROS: The camera is light weight. Easy to attach lens makes it easy to get going without fumbling around. Takes good shots, but you have to be careful in using the right settings to avoid camera shake, blurred photos and pictures out of focus. For the money, if I were to recommend a camera, I would recommend the Canon Rebel. But before I settle on the Canon, understand that in the future, I will have experienced another SLR to see where my preference will lay.

CONS: Once you power up the camera, you are not going to have live view of the object you want to take a picture of right away. You have to set the camera on certain settings, go the menu and then enable the "Live View" feature because it is disabled when you buy the camera. However, it doesn't work in all features, only certain ones, and you are more likely to experience camera shake unless you use a tripod. Other than that, I like the camera.

SUMMING IT UP: Oh, yeah, I read parts of the manual which is something I almost never do, but for this camera, I had to make an exception. It also comes with a pocket guide to take every with you. I recommend reading the manual, keep the pocket guide with you, and buy yourself a complete book on the model Canon Rebel EOS you have, if you haven't already done so.

Photography and Me

I'm no photo guru, but I'm quick to learn what the nuts and bolts of photography is all about. I like the idea that you can take a picture and then manipulate it to where it becomes an even better picture than when you took it. Now, my daughter who is 14 taught herself Photoshop v.7 about a few years ago. She zips in and out of tutorials like you wouldn't believe. Although she's short-patiented when it comes to showing me some of the techniques because I get frustrated easily if I can't get it the first time around, so she just sends me the links on where to go.

The latest I learned all by myself is tilt-shifting. Who knew that I could get it in a snap? And using v.7, too. This pushed me to get all sorts of things for my camera, plus I decided why have a camera and do nothing with it? Plus, why should professional photographers have all the fun.

Ok, so I am getting ready to release my compilation of photos, a book called, "A Look Through the Camera Lens." Pictures I've taken with three -- well, four -- different cameras since 2004. Most likely it'll be published through a resource I know called lulu.com...really great online publishing. So, stay tuned for that!

Anyway, thank you to those who were kind of enough to share tips and web site links with me. I really appreciate it.

Little Beauties

Marina Del Rey

Out Front

Alavarado Afternoon

This is something new -- that is still a lesson in progress...Thanks, Daniel, for the tips...

Lightening Strike 2007

Snapshot From Afar

Bath Tub

The Nature Series

June 2005, Good Year Blimp

I was standing on my front porch when I took this camera. I'd just gotten a Nikon digital camera and was trying it out to see how good a shot of the blimp I could get. It's a little blurred, but you get the general idea.

View of Downtown Los Angeles

Welcome to My Spot

Welcome to Envisioning Photos. Originally this was supposed to be Digital Works. I was suprised to see just how popular the name was, which moved me to changed the name to something different and unique. What is Envisioning Photos? A gallery of photos and nothing more. A gallery of photos taken using nothing but, and simply put, my raw talent. I'm no expert in the field of photography, but I must say I do tend to take some good pictures.

The pictures were taken around Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego, and just...well, you know...wherever I point the camera and wherever I take the camera. Oh, and you can click on the photo itself to get a larger view of it. I learned that playing around with photos you can get better looking shots than when you took them, and it makes for a great photo, too.

Currently I am working on a compilation of photos which I hope to put out before summer, so stay tuned and keep your eyes open. This will be the first collection of photos I will have ever revealled to the public...well, my friends and family anyway. But in the scheme of things, I hope everyone likes them. After all, they're all taken by me.

Anyway, and again, welcome to Envisioning Photos, and please feel free to scroll through the blog taking a minute or two to comment on the photos you see here as your imput is welcomed. And while you're at it, don't forget to stop by my sister's site at http://identitytank.com/, and my friend, Daniel's site at http://sempirephotos.blogspot.com/. You'll really enjoy their photos.