Some of nature shots I took during San Francisco visit last summer. A beautiful Pleasanton, Ca gave me a lot of photo opportunity!
Below photos are taken from the Muir Woods National Monument in San Francisco, a photographer’s heaven. 🙂
Shot of the Day!
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.45mm F1.8
Focal Length 45mm
Shutter Speed 1/400 s
Aperture f/6.3
ISO/Film 400
Today I had one mission. That was to shoot only using prime lends, M.Zuiko 45mm f1.8, all day. When I come to Knott’s Berry Farm, I usually use 75-300mm or 12-40mm PRO. M.Zuiko 45mm f1.8 is the fastest lens I have in my bag and I use this when my life is depend on it. M.Zuiko 45mm f1.8 is little bigger than a gold ball. I used to have a lots of golf balls but couldn’t find one for a scale. 
I don’t understand how such a small lens can create clarity and depth of this magnitude. Looking the world through this tiny lens is like a peeking outside through a tiny hole. There is no confusion, distraction, and no chaos. It simply stops time and brings images that matter.
I’ve already made handful of trips to this play park, but I found so much pleasure finding simple images in small frame. Oh, did I tell you how much I love train, a big or small?
These photos explain what I came here for. 😀
You know this Stagecoach ride doesn’t have a preferred seating. It’s pretty much whoever gets lucky sits in the front! Guess who was lucky today!
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.45mm F1.8
Focal Length 45mm
Shutter Speed 1/320 s
Aperture f/2.8
ISO/Film 100
My wife wanted to take kids to the Getty Museum. Lat time I went there it was when SunnyD was about 6 months old. It would’ve been nice to post old photos here as a comparison but my old laptop that has all the old photos has been down for years. Blah.
After 11 years almost and having to have two more babies here we were to create another family moments. SunnyD is now 11 years old and she understands arts better than 6 months old baby. Arts according to BigE, however, was nudity pretty much. It must be an European thing. LoL.
MJ did well considering he is only 3 years old. We had to constantly monitor him so that we won’t touch any part piece. He didn’t whine or scream or running around the exhibits. The most of time he sat by the bench in the gallery and patiently wait until we move to next one. He became alive when we visited the Family Gallery where younger kids can draw face mask and paint on the wall.
The Getty Museum offers so many photo opportunity. Just about anywhere you look you become overwhelmed by the beauty of Architecture and landscape. I felt, though, it was too distracting as a photographer. Maybe for being a dad of 3 kids I had too many subjects to focus on.
There was no time to be creative. 🙂
But then it was everything about them anyway. There was so little something left for me. Not a complain really! 😀
As for the shot of the day I will leave this one here. 🙂
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.12-40mm F2.8
Focal Length 13mm
Shutter Speed 1/125 s
Aperture f/2.8
ISO/Film 2000
It was Father’s Day Sunday and I had a duty to go around people and do some paparazzi stuff in my church. I finally got my lanyard with my name on it and this made it all regit! 😀
Well, not quiet. When this boy gave me that death stare, the stare that says “you killed my father,” I immediately regretted my desicion. I wasn’t sure if he was upset at me for taking photos of his family, but when he looked up his head, he already had this look on his face. I love his intensity on his face though. It contrasts to the boy wearing a hat.
I had only one job and the job description was clear. I was sent to capture the energy, the fun, and lots of happy dads on Father’s Day. Church brought classic cars, monster trucks, and food trucks to entertain hard working dads. I was a father myself, but I had to do what I had to do, to serve!
The lanyard with my name on it really made my job easier that day. I even made family to say “Eastside” instead of “Cheese” at the click. Confidence does make difference in photography I learned. I made people smile, and I even shot a dog! LoL
Some shots just for fun!
This show below made me literally to run and made me down on my knees instantly. Something I couldn’t resist. 🙂
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.45mm F1.8
Focal Length 45mm
Shutter Speed 1/250 s
Aperture f/1.8
ISO/Film 1600
We will be making a lot of trips to Knott’s Berry Farm this summer. We already have made few trips thus far, and of course, I had to bring my camera and captures some fun!
Catching the fun in a different way give you a weak stomach. I almost threw up few time capturing these shots. Steady hands is a must to have!
Self note to newbies: Disable Image Stabilizer function from the menu.
It’s all about these munchkins not about my photography. Zooming into these faces are the best part of my job!
I’m just gonna leave this here.. 🙂
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.12-40mm F2.8
Focal Length 12mm
Shutter Speed 1.0 s
Aperture f/10
ISO/Film 100
The artist is finally revealed! This particular one at the corner of Greenbriar Lane and Associated Rd is called, the Road Ahead, by Brad Howe. You can click this link below to get the complete list of the artists and location!
Brea’s Art in Public Places Collection
I started taking photos of these sculptures and I posted some of the collections on my blog titled, Seen But Unseen, a while ago. I was traveling north bound of Associated Rd on this gloomy day and saw the sculpture against this purple tree in the background. Later I researched to find out the tree is called, Jacaranda tree. I had to stop to take few shots. Luckily I had my camera with me! 🙂
I just couldn’t put the tree in the background the way I wanted. I wanted the whole tree in purple in the background and put the sculpture in front as a contrast but there were fences all around. This was the best I could get.
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II
Focal Length 164mm
Shutter Speed 1/500 s
Aperture f/5.8
ISO/Film 100
This photo I took on May 2, 2015 during BigE’s baseball game was the last photo recorded on my E-M5. I always take photos on burst mode during my son’s baseball game, a sequential shooting that takes 9 photos per second, which is a crucial feature when shooting high speed sports event. On this shot I pressed the shutter and heard the shutters moving fast, however after 4-5 clicks I saw a bright white screen on EVF and then camera blacked out completely. That was it. The shutter shut closed for good and never seemed to reset to its original position. No power no screen no nothing. It was completely dead.
Later I found it odd that the camera only tried to reset the shutter on 45mm lens. I could hear click click click sound but nothing happened. It wouldn’t even do that with any other lens I have. I googled it found out some other E-M5 users were having similar problem. After trying to take the matter into my own, I decided to send it in for a warranty repair. BigE’s playoff games were up and I really needed my camera but I had no choice.
On May 5th I sent it to Olympus Service Center in Connecticut via 3 days shipping. May 8th they confirmed receipt and May 11th the repair was done. All these information I was able received from Olympus online tracking. After a long anticipation I finally got my camera back today on May 18th. They even enclosed the eyecup that I lost while shooting without any charge and I was happy!
After finishing piano lessens kids begged me to play out side and what a perfect moment to test my camera I thought to myself! Who let the kids out? Me! 😀
I’m pretty sure I haven’t seen it all. I’m not sure if this was the part of city planning and the city requires it as a building code, but just about every corners on every communities and business complexes in Brea you see all types of sculptures standing.
I’ve been taking photos of them from time to time. I hope I find them all someday and put them all together as a collection. I’m not an expert on sculptures. I find it very hard to understand what they are and what the messages the artists trying to deliver. I like them because it gives unique characters to each communities and business complexes. It gives me a comfort feeling to know that someone at the city level appreciate arts.
We often overlook our lives and have little time to stop to notice, but aren’t you glad that someone brought it up to your attention in the mist? 😀
This one I picked as the shot of the day.. just because.. 🙂
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.12-40mm F2.8
Focal Length 18mm
Shutter Speed 1/1250 s
Aperture f/2.8
ISO/Film 100
Easter 2015 was special in many ways to me personally. Among one of them was being invited to shoot Easter service at Eastside Christian Church as part of the Creative Arts Team, because everything is awesome when you’re part of the team. LOL
Confetti blast and baptism during all 6 services this weekends weren’t possible without all the volunteers selfless acts and I was so happy to be part of the team effort!
200 families and friends came to pledge to follow Jesus all together. Through my lenses I witness friends, sisters, mom and daughter, and father and son getting baptised together. As young as 5th graders were part of enlarging Kingdom of God!
Covering the man of the hour from all angles during 2 services on Sunday was part of my job. Our senior pastor Gene Appel smashed a mirror as a symbol of demolishing our ugly past. It’s a new beginning for all us us!
Between 3 services I covered that day, I tried to capture candid and unguarded moments of people around. Honestly this was the most fun part of the mission! 😀
And the highlight of the moment came to this little girl I found dancing in the aisle. I was walking fast to get to the other side of the stage and in the corner of my eyes I saw her in the aisle. I quickly sat down on the floor and started clicking shutter frantically. I didn’t have time to change lens. I had 75-300mm on my camera at that moment. Maybe it could’ve been better with little bit of wider angle but I knew I had no time to waste! She just clapping her hands and dancing to the music. I didn’t get to see her face or knew who she was but she was the cuties thing I’ve seen all day!
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II
Focal Length 75mm
Shutter Speed 1/50 s
Aperture f/4.8
ISO/Film 2500
They are everywhere. They are part of us. No, as matter of the fact, they were here before most of us ever lived in Brea.
Brea is the Spanish word for, Tar. It’s not known when “the black gold” was first found in Brea, but those oil wells planted in 1900’s are still can be seen in many parts of Brea. I think I’ve read somewhere they said it was in 1880’s.
I am not even going to discuss the concerns over the oil fields on my blog. It doesn’t bother me for the same reason that the landfill didn’t bother me. 🙂 I’ve been shooting these oil wells for their structural and historical values. In another words, I’m doing this for my own pleasure! 😛
Below photo I shot couple days ago. I was on the way to my daughter’s acting class when the sun was about to set. The west side of the hill was completely turned yellow creating a beautiful silhouette on the hill. I immediately made U-Turn (regal U-Turn) and grabbed my camera. I was about 3 minute late for pickup and SunnyD wasn’t too happy but I knew I was. LoL
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II
Focal Length 215mm
Shutter Speed 1/125 s
Aperture f/7.1
ISO/Film 100
Last Friday I took my kids to Laguna Beach because it was no school day. One of the reason I like going to Laguba Beach is that, one, I can dodge freeway traffic by driving on El Toro canyon road all the way home, and second, I can swing right at the Cook’s Corner to a short drive to Trabuco Canyon Creek.
Trabuco Canyon Creek was the very first offroad trail I took since I got my Jeep. It was the closest trail that I can actually put some dirt on my tires. Why do I put dirt on my tires you may ask? It’s a Jeep thing! 😀
After taking few shots in the woods I got to this little water crossing. Two boys were sleeping up to this point and then BigE woke to a sound of SunnyD screaming in joy. There weren’t much to play with or something pretty to note, although I spent good 30 minute on this spot and amazed at little details i found stunning!
Having your feet wet in an ice cold mountain spring water after playing in a salty ocean water was a little something we found refreshing, and it all happened in one day! Little MJ would’ve been ecstatic but he was sound asleep! 😀
Just look at those little pebbles under a shallow water with sun reflecting, aren’t they beautiful? 🙂
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.12-40mm F2.8
Focal Length 27mm
Shutter Speed 1/1250 s
Aperture f/2.8
ISO/Film 100
In effort to catch some stage action I found myself rushing to church every Sunday. No, I ALWAYS rush to church every Sunday. 😀
As I continue to shoot during the worship service at Eastside Christian Church, and for last Sunday being the third week into the making, I began to understand more about choices I have as a photographer. Why didn’t I think of manual focus when Olympus E-M5 struggles to auto focus in low light setting! Manual Focus! Use it!!!
While turning that manual focus ring like a mad man, I found myself doing something unthinkable. For having been a family photographer, I was infatuated with a duty to record the moment true and clear. Blurring my subject intentionally to create something magical was never crossed my mind! This is what we call, Bokeh, in photography and I knew that! Blur Blur Blur! Do it!!!
So, I chose this as the shot of the day! Ha ha! 😀
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.12-40mm F2.8
Focal Length 40mm
Shutter Speed 1/80 s
Aperture f/2.8
ISO/Film 3200
It didn’t take too long for the parents of Mustang Dodgers to realized what I can do with my camera, so I became the “official” photographer only naturally. HeHe 😀 One of the biggest challenge I have as the official photographer for team is to capture fast moving live action shots of boys through this tiny openings of the fences. Either that or I have to sit way out in the outfield and use zoom lens.
Micro 3/4 lens allowed me to shoot through the openings though. I still cannot use wide angle lens because it brings fence wires on all four corners in the photos. 45mm and 75-300mm both I can use without interference, although it still limits me to move my camera around.
At least since daylight saving gave me an extra daylight to shoot, I don’t have to worry about sacrificing image quality and that means faster shutter action!
Oh, did I mentioned being in the middle of the golden hour? 😀
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.9-18mm F4.0-5.6
Focal Length 18mm
Shutter Speed 1/6 s
Aperture f/22
ISO/Film 1600
Last Friday Kids had no school. It was one of those day that our school couldn’t pay teachers. It’s ridiculous for the amount of taxes we pay here, but then that’s another story. I thought kids needed to vent and deserved a break after all their hard work, so I took them to Laguna Beach.
MJ really hadn’t enjoyed beach so much because one, he hated loud wave noises, and two, maybe water was too cold. He was a bit hesitant in the beginning but soon he joined his gang to crash the waves.
Taking three kids to the beach is not so much fun for myself. Packing towels, changing clothes, snacks, beach chairs and tent is as hard as unpacking. Keeping sands out, putting sun block lotions, making sure none of them get drowned or lost while taking photograph was like having three brains working simultaneously. And yes, getting laundry done afterward comes naturally for overworking SAHD (Staying At Home Dad!)
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.9-18mm F4.0-5.6
Focal Length 9mm
Shutter Speed 1/160 s
Aperture f/8
ISO/Film 100
I will have to post more photos next time! There are too many! 😀
Coffee with A Cop is what they call it. Patrol units from Brea Police Department, covering east of Brea Blvd and north of Birch Street, came out this morning for meet-n-greet over coffees and cakes.
Coffee and cakes were donated by the Corner Bakery on Imperial and Brea Blvd. Handful of residents came out to say hello, eating and drinking coffees and cakes prepared by brave policemen and women of Brea. It was a nice gesture by Brea Police Department, reaching out to a community, after all we hearing from the news is police brutality and uproars from the community.
My little guy was little cranky in the beginning. One of the officer gave him a police badge sticker but he wasn’t too impressed. He even got offered to sit on one of the motorcycle and he refused. Just when they served cakes and juice he became alive! 😀
City of Brea became one of the most safe city in Orange County when Orange County alone is one of the most safe county in California. I cannot praise enough to our policemen and women of Brea Police Department risking their lives day in and day out. They are actively involved in reaching out to community. On almost every city events and local venues it’s not too hard to see them engaging in conversation with residents and putting our kids to back of their cruisers. 🙂
This is one of the reason I am proud to call myself, a Brean!
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.12-40mm F2.8
Focal Length 15mm
Shutter Speed 1/640 s
Aperture f/2.8
ISO/Film 400
Sunday couldn’t come any faster. By that I mean, “Thank God for another day!”
Today I sat little closer to the stage. I was able to use 12-40mm Pro lens and that meant more light faster shutter. 🙂
This I chose to be the shot of the day!
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II
Focal Length 75mm
Shutter Speed 1/15 s
Aperture f/4.8
ISO/Film 4000
Olinda Landfill, it sits right on top of us. We Olinda Ranch residents know it’s there. It’s been there for more than some of us ever lived. Since 1960 is what I learned from the tour today.
Yesterday I told my son that there are two ways to get to the landfill. For one you become a cub scout and for second you drive one of those 18 wheelers. Since he is already a cub scout, we got to join the rest of the Bear Den from Pack 707 for the landfill tour.
We shoved all the boys into one van, and the parents and siblings took another one. We sat inside the van the most of the time, but I was happy to seat on the passenger side with the best view of the tour.
So, we all knew it was there. We had many concerns of course. Is it safe for environment? What about methane gas the waste produces? For the smells, noises, and dust we all had wondered at some point of our daily lives.
To tell you the truth, none of these questions bothered me since I moved here other than trucks blocking both lanes during morning school drop-off. Olinda landfill is why we pay so little on trash. If Olinda landfill closes in the future, the tour guide said the government would have to use railroad to move the trash, somewhere near in Mesquite, Nevada.
When Puente Hills Landfill closed in 2013, city officials estimated about $100 per ton would cost to use railway to Mesquite and had to halt the plan because of high cost. That’s what we are faced with when Olinda Landfill closes. That means more $$$ out of our own pocket.
To help you to understand what kind of efforts the people behind operating the landfill are making for the concerns we had, I’d like to briefly jot down the key points here.
The fact of the matter is whether we like it or not, we all benefit from its existence. I am more convinced of that now than ever before. With all the efforts the site are making to ensure safety of the residents, we Brean should lay down all the criticism and focus on to reduce waste for our children for they will be the one that impacted by the closure of the landfill after all.
Every now and then when their older sister stays at school for extra activities, I see these two get together like Cheech and Chong and Yin and Yang. Although there are moments like the balance of the universe collapses, they complement each other rather very well. Nothing makes a father happier than to see two of his sons standing firm by his sides. 🙂
Today while waiting for SunnyD at school, MJ kept chasing his big brother all over playground. When BigE finally lied down on the bench, he wanted to join him.
DETAILS
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.45mm F1.8
Focal Length 45mm
Shutter Speed 1/200 s
Aperture f/6.3
ISO/Film 200
I’m going to launch another project. I will be shooting photos every Sunday at Eastside Christian Church during worship service. I will try to shoot from various spots and get all the action from different angles. This seating chart will be provided for showing the exact location. 🙂
Eastside has 120 ft giant screen (I forgot the exact size. I will correct it later.) on the stage. It creates really cool background images and automated stage light system helps to create a concert like atmosphere every week.
This I chose to be the shot of the day. M.75-300mm lens really struggled to focus the hand under a dark exposure. This came after several frustrating attempt.
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II
Focal Length 132mm
Shutter Speed 1/30 s
Aperture f/5.5
ISO/Film 3200
Today was Placentia Pony Opening Day. BigE was little disappointed to find out there was no Dunk-Your-Coach contest. BigE has dunked a coach on every Brea Little League Opening Day since he was 5 years-old. Well, it would’ve been sucked to be dunked in water in the weather like today, so lucky for the coach I guess. 😀
Truth of the matter is, whether you’re in Pony League or Little League, you’re in for the love of the game!
This I chose to be the shot of the day!
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.12-40mm F2.8
Focal Length 12mm
Shutter Speed 1/2000 s
Aperture f/2.8
ISO/Film 200
This was part the project that might never be finished. Some of you already know the story but I won’t repeat it again here. I will continue to shoot things around me. I love this town and there are so much to cover. I don’t care how long you have lived in Brea. You would think that you’ve seen everything but not until you see things through viewfinder of camera.
This was taken on the same day I shot Freeway. I parked my car on Placentia and Arts and took a little walk to Imperial. This was exactly what I wanted to capture with my 75-300mm Telephoto lens. This was why I came here to take the shot. Some photos I took just happened by luck. This one was planned and was exactly how I visioned! 😀
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.75-300mm F4.8-6.7 II
Focal Length 164mm
Shutter Speed 1/50 s
Aperture f/22
ISO/Film 100
I feel like she has grown up too fast these days. She is still the same goof ball that makes funny faces and cracks silly jokes, but we don’t get to do things together as much. That’s what I meant.
She’s doing things that doesn’t involve me on her tail as much. She used to be my partner in crime. We used to go on Jeeping adventures together. Now she is doing her own stuff. There’s less and less of her photos in my camera as day goes by.
Girls Scout activities are usually reserved for my wife. I do Cub Scout stuff with my BigE. Last Friday I had a rare chance to take few photos of her in Girls Scout Cookie booth sales.
She is such an upspirited individual that lifts spirits of people around her. She is that kid who is not afraid to show true herself, and she often does that by singing and dancing. That comes in handy in Girl Scout Cookie booth sale, in deed.
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.45mm F1.8
Focal Length 45mm
Shutter Speed 1/1600 s
Aperture f/1.8
ISO/Film 200
This afternoon I went to LAX to pick up my brother’s family traveling back from Korea. I took my camera with me to catch some action, and I came up with two that are decent.
This one was one of my best after many failed attempts. I learned to disable Image Stabilizer off while researching and it came out to be okay. I was waiting for a yellow cab but this blue cab only came after three signal light changes. I mean after seeing so many yellow cabs passing by while I was taking my camera out of backpack, you’d think you were at the airport after all. Just when I was ready to shoot, there were none to be found.
I was cloudy and the spot was surrounded by gray concrete everywhere, so I was looking for something vibrant to pass by. I’d give B+ for an effort. 😀
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.9-18mm F4.0-5.6
Focal Length 9mm
Shutter Speed 1/15 s
Aperture f/22
ISO/Film 400
I’m not gonna lie. I love this game more than Big E. That is the reason Big E’s playing baseball another year. We made a big change this year moving him from the Little League to the Pony League. The Pony League among some different regulations and rules allow players to steal a base unlike the Little League. Big E being a such a good boy thought stealing a base isn’t a good thing, but soon after having a couple of practices, he found it mildly amusing. 🙂
Because of the birthday cut-off, Big E is now one of the youngest and the smallest player in the pack. Soon he realized this is a difference level of baseball. These boys are bigger and faster. Hopefully it motivates him to step up before he gets killed out there. LOL
For this year I will be busy watching the game through the viewfinder of my camera. I posted some photos to our Team Shutterfly site. So far I like the reaction I gets from other parents. Being appreciated is the best reward in this types of work! 😀
Big E and his team had their first Scrimmage in the season. This was my last shot of the game and it happened to be the best shot I took all day. What do you think?
Camera E-M5
Lens OLYMPUS M.9-18mm F4.0-5.6
Focal Length 9mm
Shutter Speed 1/60 s
Aperture f/5.6
ISO/Film 3200
Snapshots 