Los Angeles skyline

Living around LA my whole life, I really never took the opportunity to capture any shots of downtown. There are tons of vantage points with different perspectives, unfortunately some are not in the greatest parts of town. Jaime and I went out last night and went to two spots that I had checked out earlier in the day.

The first few are from the DWP building. The architecture of the building is pretty cool, but since my goal was to capture the skyline, I didn't take any of the building itself.





The next few are close to Elysian park from a bridge that overlooks the 110 freeway and downtown.







I will update the blog once I have the chance to head back for some different perspectives.

Brandon Yoshizawa
B.A.Y | photography
http://bayphotography.smugmug.com/

Christmas weekend in Santa Barbara/Pismo Beach

It's been sort of a tradition that Jaime and I get away during Xmas break, since it's one of the only extended breaks of the year. Last year we went to Peru and the year before that Australia. This year we decided to take a short local trip to SB/Pismo to re-visit UCSB and eat the food we missed while we were there for college. A lot has changed since 2004, but a lot is still the same and brought back old memories.



No trip would be complete without a trip to Freebirds. Glad to see they haven't really modified anything, like all the new ones popping up around LA which are all crap.

We spent most of the day in Camarillo, so didn't have much time besides visiting campus so we just hung out and saw a movie at the Camino Real Cinemas. The strip with Cantina and Rosaritos was closed for renovation so we didn't get to eat a breakfast burrito...maybe next time.

The next day we drove up to Pismo. We checked out the outlets, pier, a few lookouts, and hit up the good food.





Went to Splash Cafe, had the chowder and the fish taco. Good food, no line because it was the day before Christmas.


Pismo Pier


Lookout at a Best Western near Pismo


Lookout from Margo Dodd Park


Pismo Pier at sunset (Christmas tree for the holidays)


Pismo (Oceano) dunes with Pismo in the background

The stretch up and down the 101 / highway 1 has so many photogenic locations. We plan on taking a longer trip up to Big Sur early next year so I'll start hoping for a little more clouds for more dramatic sunsets.

Brandon Yoshizawa
B.A.Y | photography
http://bayphotography.smugmug.com/

My 9/80 at Bolsa Chica Reserve

I am thankful for my flexible schedule at work. 9/80's mean less people on the road, less people at location, and spending every other Friday doing anything I want. With my 300mm F4 packed up, I headed back down to the Bolsa Chica reserve. Water level was lower so I walked around the reserve, rather than hanging out on the bridge. I was on the lookout for birds feeding, as well as birds I have not captured before.

Great blue heron trying to feed on a dead grebe. This thing was at it for a good 15 minutes, figuring out how to try to jam it down its throat. It kept trying, then washing it off, then trying again. I left to take other pics, but returend after and it was gone. I'm guessing it was not successful in eating it.






Reddish egret




Willet feeding on some kind of kelp


White-faced Ibis


Flock of willets. These things were flying in huge packs and you could hear their wings buzz as they flew by.


Brandon Yoshizawa
B.A.Y | photography
http://bayphotography.smugmug.com/

Bolsa Chica Reserve - take 2

Bit the bullet and purchased the 300mm F4 AF-S. It was a bit bulkier than the older model that I tested out a few months ago, but very sharp wide open. AF was very fast, and performed well with birds in flight.
Took it down to the Bolsa Chica Reserve in Huntington Beach this weekend to test it out. The water level was a lot higher from all the rain so there were less spots to take pics from, so I mostly hung out on the bridge.

American Coots











Pelicans




























Scaup





Western Grebe feeding on a fish





Looks like I will be making regular trips down to the reserve. Wish there were closer places around the south bay....guess I could always go check out Madrona Marsh.

Brandon Yoshizawa
B.A.Y | photography
http://bayphotography.smugmug.com/

June lake Loop - day 2 of Mammoth trip

We decided to spend the day around the June Lake/Mono Lake area. It wasn't the best of days, weather was a bit overcast, and it was windy. We took highway 158 - June Lake loop to check out June, Gull, Silver, and Grant lake. We got to June Lake in the late a.m so it was not too windy yet, which made for some nice reflections in the water.









We were even higher than Convict so pretty mcuh all of the fall colors were gone. The other lakes did not provide for any ideal shots, as the wind picked up and the trees were mostly dead.

We did catch a patch of fall color still remaining on the mountain side.



During peak season, this loop could provide endless photo opportunities. Maybe next season!

And of course, some "people" pictures:







Missing peak season makes me want a cabin in Mammoth, so I could stay there all season and shoot during golden hours. One day....

Brandon Yoshizawa
B.A.Y | photography
http://bayphotography.smugmug.com/

Convict Lake

Took a trip up to Mammoth Lakes this past weekend and had a chance to stop off at Convict lake off the 395. Was hoping for some fall colors but most have faded already. Quite a bit of snow had fallen already making for some great pictures nonetheless. We were lucky with the weather, as a storm came up not too long after we left the lake. I wandered around the lake and got a few good shots.


Boat dock covered in snow

Convict Lake framed by leafless trees

2-shot stitched pano of Convict Lake with what is left of the fall colors

Sunburst reflection

More fall colors


It was a pretty calm morning, which allowed for good reflections in the water. We were only here for about an hour before we headed up to Mammoth lakes for the rest of the day. We did manage to snap some group pictures before we left.







Brandon Yoshizawa
B.A.Y | photography
http://bayphotography.smugmug.com/