Support your local artists while attending a showing in the Pasadena area! Seven photographers from the Aperture Society of Los Angeles will show work ranging from natural to urban landscapes.

From the Land to the City: Seven Perspectives

To sum it up: A showing of seven local artists with free food and non alcoholic drinks. If you’re in the area, please consider attending.

Nothing really beats watching half naked men jumping off columns, buildings and leaping off benches with precision and nimble agility. If you have never seen parkour or experiences the art of jumping off things, here is a rather visually stimulating and awe inspiring introduction.

Photos are of the Parkour Los Angeles Meetup Group.

When you get a new camera, it is similar to the start of a new love affair.  There’s the shock and awe of obtaining your wish, the delight of feeling through things, getting to know each other, getting frustrated from stupid misunderstandings – and then finally finding peace in compromising and communication. Such began my weekend study of my new Canon 50D digital SLR camera.

With my 20D, I never really felt camera envy of other photographers. And yes, among the photo groups in Los Angeles, there is a lot of camera and lens, cock shop talk like comparisons. However, I don’t know if it was my female nature, but I never really cared to lust after other people’s objects. I felt comfortable with my sense of photography style, filter usage, shot visions and methods.  I would see a little of everything, camera wise, when I would visit Descanso Gardens or Bolsa Chica Wildlife Preserve. From 15k prime Canon lenses to point and shoots, I was a proponent of working with what tools you have to get the shot that completes your vision.

However, something changed within me when I received my 50D.

In the world of photography, there are a variety of loyal camera patrons. From Pentax, Panasonic, Lecia to Sony, camera devotes are as varied as the camera manufactures themselves. But, what creates a loyal consumer? What makes a person a “Canon Lover” vs. a “Nikonite”? More importantly, what keeps a person connected with the essence of the brand – regardless of product updates, new releases and extensive marketing campaigns of other market competition?

After recently experiencing various Canon Technical Representatives and recently participating in Canon’s Loyalty Program, I pondered what exactly has kept me with the brand over the years. An artist’s camera retrospective is as unique to an individual as a shooting vision.

This is digital retrospective.

Text from my original event post:

The crux of Los Angeles history and the merging of two distinct cultures, this Hidden LA walk will combine urban walking and photography with historical Olvera Street and Chinatown.

I still can’t believe how much work I put into this event, how much drama happened behind the scenes and the sheer madness that is life that came together to make this such a successful event.

The crux of Los Angeles history and the merging of two distinct cultures, this Hidden LA hike will combine urban walking and photography with historical Olvera Street and Chinatown.

The oldest part of Downtown LA, Olvera Street is a hubbub of Mexican American artistry, stories, craft works and social space. Day of the Dead creations will more than likely be on display, making an even richer cultural experience. We will walk through the Paso de Los Angeles and among various shops of Olvera Street before making our way to North Broadway. Walking up through New Chinatown, we will pass a large collection of colorful Chinese herb, seafood, stores and curio shops before stopping at New Chinatown Plaza. Infamous in various movies, the main plaza is a haven of color – and one of the oldest neon signs in Los Angeles.

In my travels, I’ve seen the wild and unique beauty of the great outdoors of the United States. I’ve driven on the back roads and highways of roads less traveled and well traveled. Through it all, I’ve learned more about myself, my camera, and my connection with nature.

When I first purchased my first professional camera, I had no idea that less than a week later, I would be on a solo road trip that would take me to the Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon, show me me the beauty of Seattle and Oregon, and be amazed with the resulting images. Since then, I’ve traveled and photographed numerous National Parks, shared stories with locals and fellow travelers, led nature and urban hikes around Los Angeles and more.

Now, I want to share the prints and limited editions from my collections with you.

Alright. Let’s face it. Everyone desires to put their best face forward and look good.  With the invention of Adobe Photoshop, looking good in print has never been so easy. But, finding the information on how to obtain those picture perfect looks can be a bit tricky.

One day, while feeling particularly resourceful, I scoured the web for sites discussing tips, techniques and brandishing how to articles about beauty retouching. Some of them sucked. Other hints, I’ve made a part of my beauty touch up regiment.

So, what are the top tips that I’ve learned for beauty retouching?

Text from my original event post: “Built in 1921 as an advertisement for the Hollywoodland real estate development, the towering letters of the HOLLYWOOD sign have beckoned millions to Los Angeles. From starry eyed Midwestern actors with their dreams packed in suitcases to the background to Hollywood based movies, the Hollywood sign has captured the hearts of millions and inspired more stranger than fiction tales than a jaded casting agent’s office can hold.”

I was so excited to do this hike as the first hike with The Great Outdoors Photography Group. Not only does the Hollyridge trail offer stunning views of the Los Angeles Basin and the Greater San Fernando Valley (plus parts of Pasadena in the far east), but it also offers the most up close and personal view of the Hollywood sign.

4,579 miles, 9 states (California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Utah and Nevada), 9 National Parks, 2.5 weeks with one happy and adventure seeking puppy.

The road was filled with strange interactions with relatives, a speeding ticket in Phoenix while driving to Sedona, managing my sanity while listening to awful audio books (and many good ones, as I’m an audio book junkie) and text messages to loved ones. But, through it all, I made it through smarter, with a better photography portfolio and a deeper sense of who I am and what I want.