FOCUS Photoblog

Hobbit Hole, Hobbiton

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 09:25 -0700

This is one of the many Hobbit holes of Hobbiton, home of Tolkien's Hobbits (from Lord of the Rings) in New Zealand. I took this photo two days after they had finished filming scenes for The Hobbit film, so all the sets & props were still fresh. It felt as if the Hobbits had just left moments ago. Up until recently there was an embargo on all photos taken at the Hobbiton film set, but that has recently been lifted. I'm not entirely sure why it was lifted just now, but I'm not complaining. :) You can buy this photo here, with many options including standard prints, canvas gallery wraps, gift cards, mugs, T-shirts and much more.

Laguna Beach Waterfall Seascape at Sunset

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:25 -0700

This is a sweet place at low tide because the waves create this waterfall down these partially submerged rocks. I found this place mostly by accident last Saturday night. This is Woods Cove in Laguna Beach, CA just off Diamond St. and Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Don't miss the orange starfish on the rocks which seemed to be posing for me and makes this photo all the better, I think. Getting completely soaked and eating my Wahoo's dinner cold was my small sacrifice for getting this shot. I have no regrets. You can buy this photo here, with many options including standard prints, canvas gallery wraps, gift cards, mugs, T-shirts and much more.

The UFO Has Landed - Singapore ArtScience Museum Reflection

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:31 -0700

Welcome. The UFO has landed. On the left is the lotus-shaped ArtScience Museum in Singapore's Marina Bay. Its roof is retractable, providing a waterfall through the roof of collected rainwater when closed in the day. The reflection on the right is the Marina Bay Sands casino and hotel. Nearby Singapore photos you may be interested in: Rain Oculus inside Marina Bay Sands and Singapore Marina Bay at night You can buy this photo here, with many options including standard prints, canvas gallery wraps, gift cards, mugs, T-shirts and much more.

Lago di Como Lake Shore Walking & Cycling Trail

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:09 -0700

Early morning light along Lake Como, Italy. There is a really nice walking / running / cycling trail along Lake Como starting at the town of Como which is the perfect place to be at sunrise. As you wander down it you find hidden coves and steps leading into the water, presumably so you can easily hop off your boat and go into town. More Lake Como photos: Lake Como Cafe at Night, Villa del Balbianello Villa, Storybook Land Villa, and Italian Man Drinking Espresso. You can buy this photo here, with many options including standard prints, canvas gallery wraps, gift cards, mugs, T-shirts and much more.

Rain Oculus - Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Wed, 21 Mar 2012 09:25 -0700

This is the Rain Oculus inside Marina Bay Sands hotel & casino in Singapore. Periodically a torrent of water (6,000 gallons per minute) is released from the clear inverted dome 2 stories above which has an off-center hole which causes a huge swirling effect as the water drains out the bottom. This creates a huge waterfall from below. Basically it's like being underneath a clear, clean toilet bowl. In this photo you can see people enjoying Sampan Rides in Chinese wooden boats along the canals of the Marina Bay Sands around the Rain Oculus. Another interesting fact is that when you're above at the edge of the dome, it acts like an audio parabolic reflector so you can hear people whispering on the other side. Other Singapore photos you may be interested in: Singapore Marina Bay at night and Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery You can buy this photo here, with many options including standard prints, canvas gallery wraps, gift cards, mugs, T-shirts and much more.

Big Sur House on the Cliffs

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:30 -0700

Who wants to stay in this house on the cliffs overlooking the ocean in Big Sur? Or is it a hotel? I'm not really sure, but either way it has a great location with awesome views of Big Sur, CA. This is some of the most spectacular coastline of California. More Big Sur photos: Sea Arch at Pfeiffer Beach, Bixby Bridge from Above, and McWay Falls You can buy this photo here, with many options including standard prints, canvas gallery wraps, gift cards, mugs, T-shirts and much more.

Ponte Vecchio from Above - Florence, Italy

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:47 -0700

This is the famous Ponte Vecchio (means "old bridge") as seen from an upstairs window in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. The Ponte Vecchio is a covered bridge across the Arno River in Florence which is packed with shops (originally butcher shops, but now jewellers, art dealers and souvenir sellers). It's the oldest of Florence's six bridges, going back to Roman times. For many years it was the only bridge in Florence across the River Arno and during World War II it was the only bridge across the Arno that the fleeing Germans did not destroy. It had been a stormy day in Florence as we browsed through the Uffizi Gallery, and then for a moment the sun broke through the clouds as I was peering out the window towards the Ponte Vecchio just down the river, so I quickly grabbed this photo before the rain started again. You may also be interested in my other Florence photos: River Arno Rower photo taken the same day a bit farther down the river, and Piazza Del Duomo at Sunset with Baptistry photo. You can buy this photo here, with many options including standard prints, canvas gallery wraps, gift cards, mugs, T-shirts and much more.

Sequoia Coast Redwoods - Muir Woods National Monument

Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:37 -0700

Dreams under the redwoods. This is Muir Woods (named after the naturalist John Muir) just north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge. Muir Woods National Monument was established to protect this old-growth coast redwood forest from destruction, and is one of the few places in the area which still has an old-growth forest of coast redwoods. I used a small aperture (f/22) to get this starburst effect of the sun coming through the trees. This is an HDR processed from 8 exposures each 1 stop apart, and then I added a bit of vignette & blur around the edges to give it a bit of dreamy feel. You may also be interested in my Mighty Coastal Redwoods photo also taken in John Muir Woods. You can buy this photo here, with many options including standard prints, canvas gallery wraps, gift cards, mugs, T-shirts and much more.

Lake Como Cafe at Night, Italy

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 09:36 -0700

These are the moments that last forever - this couple had the cafe all to themselves this particular evening on the shore of Lake Como. I don't know the name of this lakefront restaurant, but it was in the town of Como on the south end of Lake Como, Italy. My other Lake Como Photos: Villa del Balbianello Lake Como Villa, Storybook Land Lake Como Villa, and Italian Man Drinking Espresso on the Narrow Streets of Como, Italy You can buy this photo here, with many options including standard prints, canvas gallery wraps, gift cards, mugs, T-shirts and much more.

Patio in the Clouds - Mont Blanc Cable Car

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:35 -0700

This photo shows the top of the Mont Blanc cable car (Aiguille du Midi cable car) in Chamonix, France. At the top of the cable car there's an elevator inside the rock that takes you 140 feet higher to a lookout, which is where I took this photo from at 12,600 feet. This peak is called Aiguille du Midi. This cable car holds the record as the highest vertical ascent cable car in the world, from 3,400 ft to 12,600 ft. From here you get spectacular views of the Swiss, French and Italian Alps, and the rest of Mont Blanc. From up here you can take the Panoramic Mont Blanc lift which is the highest cable car traverse in the world and which connects France and Italy over the mountains. If you look closely to the left of the "patio" you'll see 2 specks which are eagles soaring in the wind. You may also be interested in my Mont Blanc Panorama and Mountaineers climbing Mont Blanc photos taken from this same lookout. You can buy this photo here, with many options including standard prints, canvas gallery wraps, gift cards, mugs, T-shirts and much more.