The Journey is the Destination

Travel photography is not about F-stops, HDR or the size of camera-sensor pixels. Travel photography is about the experience. My first visit to the Eastern Sierra region was in the summer of 2004 when my friend and I took a three-day camping trip to Mono Lake / Bodie and Bishop. It was quite the trip, [...]

New York Photo Store Scams (Buy From a Reputable Dealer)

One look in the advertising section in the back of every photo magazine and you will probably notice a number of retailers with a wide range of pricing on photography equipment. Of course the store with the lowest prices will sound the most enticing. Unfortunately like the saying goes, some things are too good to [...]

Point Lobos State Reserve Sunset

As pointed out in my previous blog posts, California State Parks Access Pass and Allan Memorial Grove, Point Lobos SR, the California State Parks system is in danger of being compromised from the proposed budget cuts. I could get by just fine without a city like L.A. but I cannot imagine living in a California [...]

Allan Memorial Grove, Point Lobos SR

On my recent trip to Monterey, I came to the realization that Point Lobos State Reserve has the most spectacular scenery along the entire California coast. In particular, I think the Allan Memorial Grove trail is really something special. Point Lobos can be a difficult place to photograph but when you walk around this place, [...]

Why PC’s Suck: Mac Switch – My New Digital Photography Darkroom

I recently purchased a Mac Pro Duo Quad Core computer. I normally wouldn’t write about technology on my photo blog because honestly I don’t pay attention to technology news. However, as a life-long PC-user (since the late 80’s), I felt compelled to offer my reasons for switching to Mac since the photographers who read this [...]

Cleveland Dam

Cleveland Dam has some very beautiful scenery. Unfortunately it was also where we had the worst experience on the entire trip. Many of the people there after dinner were a bunch of misfits running around doing whatever the heck they want. Like this “dynamic duo” who kept throwing large objects over the dam down to [...]

Lake Arrowhead

Lake Arrowhead has some nice scenery but it is nearly impossible to see any of it much less photograph it. The reason why is because the entire lake is either fenced off or surrounded by private property. Aww yes, welcome to Southern California.
See more of my Southern California pictures.

L.A. Live – Nokia Plaza

L.A. Live Nokia Plaza, Downtown Los Angeles, California
This photo was taken on my cell phone last week while I was hanging out in L.A. with my cousin. L.A. Live looks nice but rather disappointing for a “Grand Opening” because nothing was open yet save for ESPN Zone and Lucky Strike! There was supposed to [...]

Glendora South Hills Home Development

San Gabriel Valley Sunset, Glendora, California
I heard today that “developers” are planning on developing over my favorite exercise hiking trail in the Glendora South Hills with homes and a road.
This really makes me angry because there are already a few extremely large mansions near the end of these hills along with no trespassing signs. [...]

North Lake, Bishop Creek Canyon

North Lake Sunset, Eastern Sierra, California
If photographing the Middle Fork of Bishop Creek was peaceful, North Lake was an entirely different experience. At North Lake you could hear a pin drop from across the lake but that was the problem here. It is too popular for it’s own good. You can hear fishermen from [...]

Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve

Goldfields and Golden Poppies, Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve, California
This is a good year to visit the poppy reserve. I also went in 2002 and 2005, but it is definitely better this year than those other years. Most of the flowers are located inside of the reserve, on the road just to the east of [...]

Photo Contests “Rights Grab”

My friend, Jim Goldstein has written a very important blog posting regarding submitting to photo contests and even uploading your images to social media sites like Facebook. If you are a photographer of any sorts, pro or hobbyist, I recommend reading this at the least to remind you to read the fine print.
Here is the [...]

Apparently it’s a Junkyard Out Here

Photo of Biodegradable vs Non-Biodegradable Waste, Angeles National Forest, California
Depending on the season and weather conditions, my local area can look beautiful occasionally on the surface. Upon a closer look you will find tree carvings usually of the Boy + Girl variety, you will find a lot of beer cans, and gang graffiti on [...]

Foggy San Mateo Coast or Clouded Mind?

The night before I got the shots that I’d always wanted so I really didn’t have any plans for Sunday. I contemplated going over to Mount Diablo State Park, San Jose Mission, and the Pleasanton Ridge. Last time I hiked the Pleasanton Ridge with my friend Marc, we got lost off-trail and had to do [...]

You either “get it” or you don’t.

“I have stagnated as far as image quality goes, now that I am in year 3 looking through the viewfinder (year 33 as a birder). I am a bird shooter, so take what you will. This is in two areas, particularly, that are almost completely unrelated. One is sharpness, and one is making an image [...]

When you’re at the mercy of your camera gear.

If you recall my “Surf City USA” post, I mentioned that my camera went for a swim in the Pacific Ocean two weeks ago. Well it had started to fully function again last week so on Saturday I took it for a test run at none other than Huntington Beach Pier! Two weeks ago I [...]

In the Field FAQ

Every photographer has probably been asked questions dozens of times by different strangers while out shooting in the field. I thought it would be interesting to post questions that I’ve asked while out taking pictures. My guess is that you’ve probably encountered the same situations at one time or another. Here goes in no particular [...]

Misguided Priorities

Renowned photographer rights’ attorney, Carolyn Wright emailed me a link to this East Bay Express article today after I emailed her my December story about getting harassed at Little Corona del Mar Beach.
Worth a Thousand Hassles?
Ignoring the fact that the photographer gives away his “stock photos” for free perhaps the question should be, “Homeland security [...]

Beware of Internet Scammers

Photographers with websites are frequent targets of Internet scammers. Counterfeit checks, excess payments then requesting for a wire transfer of money to make up the difference, etc… are common strategies with these lowlifes. The banks will hold the photographer responsible, regardless of who cut the check originally. Investigate thoroughly first if you are going to [...]

With or without Google, the photography carries on.

As I wrote a few posts ago, Google has some serious issues. My images were mysteriously dropped from Google Images earlier this month after I submitted a new computer generated xml sitemap. Previously I sent in hand-typed text maps. I still haven’t made it back on there. Very lame considering that this is a photography [...]

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In the Field: Photo Blog by Richard Wong