Burner Photography

First Images with my T2i

2012-01-13T22:56:00.000-08:00

I sold my trusty XSi a few weeks ago and bough a Canon T2i mainly so I could use video to document my upcoming journey through 2,650 miles of wilderness on the PCT. Here are some of the first images from my new camera.

Wedding Pictures at Balboa Park and the Abbey

2012-01-10T23:32:00.000-08:00

I don't have many examples of people and portrait photography on this blog, and I have even fewer examples of wedding photography. After shooting this beautiful wedding at Balboa Park and the Abbey in San Diego, CA I felt it was high time I put up some wedding pictures. Balboa Park is an amazing location, and I felt fortunate as a photographer to capture these scenes and share these special moments.

If you are in Los Angeles or San Diego and looking for a wedding photographer, I would love to hear from you. My rates start at $500. If you are outside of Southern California, you can still contact me provided you will pay travel expenses. You can email me at burnerphotography [at] gmail.com.

New Images with the Canon 5D Mark II

2012-01-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

[You can help support me by clicking on the links below to rent all kinds of great camera gear from Borrowlenses]

Today was my last day with my rented 5D Mark II. Needless to say, it was a bitter sweet day with some great shooting in the morning, then the inevitable parting. A photography friend and I wandered around beautiful La Jolla randomly snapping pictures at nothing in particular:

I believe this Sea Lion was posing for us.

One last shot at the Salk Institute. I am in love with the architecture of this complex. If you're ever in the San Diego area, it's worth a visit!

Here's a map to the Salk Institute if you'd like to wanter around taking pictures:

View Larger Map

And in case you were wondering, the Canon 5D Mark II is everything I dreamed of and more. I hope I get to use it again soon. (I only ever dream of owning one).

To all my photography friends, let me put in a small plug for Borrowlenses. They've been pretty great, and they've got some of the best prices around. Without them, I'd have never gotten my grimy photog hands on a 5D Mark II!

A Leaf at Balboa Park, San Diego, California

2011-12-31T00:57:00.000-08:00

I don't usually work in black and white, and I seldom do abstract / close-up work, but the sun was shining through the back of this leaf. I saw the it from 20 feet away and knew I had to take a picture. I love going to Balboa Park. You always find something to shoot.

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White Point State Park, San Pedro California

2011-12-17T21:55:00.000-08:00

Today, a friend and I again visited White Point. With the recent storms, it was nothing short of spectacular! But today, I'm going to take a break from my usual format of posting pretty pictures and writing about the places.

I have spent the last several years photographing the West, and I love this land. It is in my blood! For generations, my family have lived and died here. But right now, the US is facing a horrible threat from most of the politicians in Washington.

This is not a political blog, and I'm not here to tell you how to vote. However, congress just passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which gives the military the authority to indefinitely detain anyone suspected of terrorism without charges! This is unconstitutional and illegal. We should not--we must not--allow people to take away our basic right to freedom! Right now congress--and even President Obama--have broken the law. They have striped us of the right to freedom, to a fair trial. If you haven't already heard about this, I urge you to research this issue! I will not vote for anyone who has such a wild disregard for the basic freedoms guaranteed in the constitution. Personally, I believe that anyone who would approve unlimited detainment without a trial should be treated as a criminal. Congress does not have the authority to break the law.

On a less serious note, find out about my newest adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail by wondering over to HomelessHiker.

White Point

2011-10-04T23:52:00.000-07:00

The tide pools at White Point State Park

Directions to White Point Tide Pools

View Kay Fiorentino in a larger map

Pond Scum

2011-06-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

Even pond scum can be beautiful! I have no idea what these small red plants are. If you happen to know, leave me a comment. I'm curious.

Portraits of Friends

2011-04-03T01:35:00.000-07:00

Waiting... please, just take the picture!

Over the past few weeks, I've managed to drag a few friends along on my hikes. I always want to share my love of nature with others, but it also allowed me to work on a new (for me) technique: HDR portraits.

A House on a Hill

2011-03-18T22:15:00.000-07:00

"A city on a hill can't be hidden." --The Bible

California Spring

2011-03-16T21:48:00.000-07:00

Against the backdrop of a clearing storm, the first spring flowers are blooming in the San Gabriel Mountains.

A Sunflower Sunset

2011-03-15T23:02:00.000-07:00

More from the San Gabriel Mountains

2011-02-27T21:52:00.000-08:00

Sunset After a Storm

2011-02-15T19:44:00.000-08:00

Magic Hour in My Back Yard (the San Gabriel Mountains)

2011-02-14T11:11:00.000-08:00

The San Gabriel Mountains

2011-01-18T23:38:00.000-08:00

I have the pleasure of living at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. Here are a few pictures from a stroll along a creek right outside my house.

For directions to this hike, click on the map below. Happy shooting! -Ben

View Larger Map

Arizona Sunset

2011-01-06T23:09:00.000-08:00

I've only recently started experimenting with high dynamic range (HDR) photography. Quite often, I find the HDR process distasteful. It results in flashy, unnatural images. The HDR images above are the first I've made that accurately and naturally portray the scene. I hope you enjoy this beautiful section of Sonoran desert (taken near Scottsdale, AZ)!

Angel Trumpet Flowers

2010-12-17T21:45:00.000-08:00

Sunset at Griffith Observatory

2010-09-22T14:24:00.000-07:00

The short but steep hike up Mt. Hollywood behind the observatory. Don't forget to stop and admire the view.

Griffith park doesn't close until 10pm, so you can stay up on Mt. Hollywood for the sunset. Just remember a flashlight!

Mt. Hollywood offers 360 degree views, including views of the famous "Hollywood" sign.

The vast city lights are particularly photogenic after dark. Bring a jacket and plan on staying for nightfall.

The 360 degree view from Mt. Hollyood

Resources

Mt. Hollywood Trail information from LocakHikes
If you've never been to the observatory, make sure to stop by. You can find the Griffith Observatory's home page here.
If you're new to night photography and want to take some great pictures, check out my tips for night photography over a Snaphappy.

The North Star

2010-06-14T01:21:00.001-07:00

This half hour long exposure was taken atop Mt. Lemmon just outside of Tucson. The length of the "star trails" demonstrate the rotation of the Earth around the north pole. The North Star in this image remains stationary as the Earth rotates around its axis.
-Ben

A Night in the Heart of Rocks, Chiricahua National Monument

2010-06-06T21:37:00.000-07:00

The above video is the result of an entire night hiking around Chiricahua's Heart of Rocks trail. Chiricahua, in addition to having fascinating geology, is about as close to a true dark sky as you can get in the US. Next time you're in Arizona, check it out.

Resources:

NPS site for Chiricahua National Monument
Directions from NPS
A map showing light pollution at Chiricahua

Kitt Peak Observatory

2010-05-27T23:33:00.000-07:00

Driving up Kitt Peak is like hurtling up Mt. Olympus, and if the gods Venus, Mars, Saturn, race through the sky, Kitt Peak is one of the best places on which to worship them. The observatory has roughly two dozen telescopes and some of the clearest, best skies in the US.

The massive dome housing the 4m telescope, the largest optical telescope on the peak
There were a few ladybugs around the base of the telescope.
The 4m telescope.
The largest solar observatory in the world. Another angle of the solar telescope
If You Visit Kitt Peak Observatory:

Don't waste your money on the guided tours. Everywhere you go on a tour is open to the public, and if you want a guide, you can download audio tours from the Kitt Peak website. Explore the site at your own pace for free.
Bring a lunch. There are some nice picnic facilities but nowhere to buy a decent meal.
Bring sunscreen AND a jacket (even in May, I needed a light sweeter).

Resources:
In my last post, someone expressed skepticism regarding the pervasive nature of light pollution. I've included a link showing light pollution in the US. I should note that some areas that show no light pollution (Kitt Peak) still have problems with city lights at least for purposes of astronomy.

Dark Sky Finder
Kitt Peak is about 90 minutes outside of Tucson, AZ. You can find directions on the Observatory's website.

The Milky Way - Skywatch Friday

2010-05-21T06:43:00.000-07:00

Arizona is special. In an hour or less, you can get away from the light pollution and view the awesome beauty of the Milky Way. I wonder, how many years before there are no dark skies and the Milky Way is lost?
I apologize for this video, it's a bit rough (a combination of technical difficulties and operator error), but I love watching the Milky Way trace its way across the sky. Eventually, I'll get this type of video right.

This is a post for Skywatch Friday. Check them out for photos from photo bloggers around the world.

A Bee in Flight

2010-04-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

Catching a honey bee in flight is quite challenging. I took nearly fifty pictures to get just this one.

Picacho Peak and Field at Sunrise

2009-12-17T17:04:00.000-08:00

Click on the image to see a larger version.

Prometheus - Tucson, AZ

2009-11-12T19:02:00.000-08:00

After many, many versions, I finally came up with one that should work: