Cityscapes – Photogeek Blog

Neutral Density Filters

Finding your Zen, Landscape Photography, Long Exposures, Neutral Density Filters

With the rainy season upon us and second wave of Covid-19 wrecking havoc on people everywhere. I’ve been trying to find ways to spend my time and stay relatively sane. During the week, I’ve gotten into the habit of working from home, taking much needed breaks and going out on the balcony for a breathe of partially fresh air watch the sun set. In the past, I’d await that moment when the sun descends behind the mountains. Since purchasing a Neutral Density filter, I’m able to capture the look of dusk during the middle of the day. I love how the filter helps smooth out the water while giving my long exposures the contrast I need. It certainly didn’t hurt the the rain that day brought some really nice cloud cover. This was one of my first attempts with Neutral Density Filters and though I have a lot to learn, I love the effects.

Canon D Mark III 200 ISO 30.0 sec f 5.6 with
Cokin NUANCES Extreme Z-Pro Series ND 3.0 Filter (10-Stop)

Finding Peace

Finding your Zen, Happiness, Meditation, Mental Health, Natural Beauty

After a short stay at Gasworks Park, we began to head home with the mindset of picking up a late lunch or early dinner. In a very short span of time, we must have come up with a half dozen different ideas without one really standing out from the other. Upon passing Ivar’s we finally made a concrete decision and made a U-turn.

The warmth of the setting sun and the sudden sense of relaxation brought on by the lake and passing kayakers was just what the doctor ordered. Though a city boy through and through. One who spent many years living within earshot of Times Square and the once feared forty deuce. I have become more appreciative of a laid back and less congested lifestyle. As I grow older, I often find myself craving solitude and escaping to less traveled places. Below is a slide show featuring some of the images I captured while enjoy fish & chips and clam chowder with my wife.

Try, fail, try.

Canon Lenses, Canon lenses and equipment, Finding your Zen, Long Exposures, Pacific Northwest, Seattle

Over the last week, I’ve spent a lot of time getting to know the features on my camera. Experimenting with long exposures and mapping out areas where I’d like to put my ideas to work. Being that the symptoms of my sorta/kinda diagnosis have consistently worsened in recent weeks and months. My wife has become warier of my jetting off in the wee hours of the night without her.
So one night, just before dusk. We drove down to Seattle’s International District, where I immediately realized why, when it comes to photography, it’s almost always better to go it alone. After passing up a half a dozen spots that she deemed unsafe. We settled for Dr. Jose Rizal Park. A nice place, but one I had taken pictures from at least a dozen times. From her continually telling me to move to spare people from having to simply sidestep me. To telling me where to focus and complaining about why I had chosen to take long exposures and her getting cold on a brisk June night. Needless to say, I did not have the opportunity to take many images or follow through with any ideas I might have had. Instead, I spent the ride home explaining camera settings to a woman who, more than not, refuses to take any pictures. Overall, Dr. Jose Rizal Park and the overpass that leads you there are great spots to capture the city of Seattle, I-9, the sunset and T-Mobil park, I highly recommend visiting.

Try Fail Try (1 of 1)

Close to Home

Canon Lenses, Seattle

After a day at Alki Beach, we were as hungry as we were pink. So a trip down Hudson Road to Marination Ma Kai sounded like a good way to fill our belly’s before the short trip home to Columbia City. Gloves-1 Marination serves up Korean / Hawaiian fast food that is both fresh and delicious. Featuring both out and indoor seating. We enjoyed our tacos, sliders and fries while enjoying the best possible view of Seattle available. From Queen Anne to Downtown Seattle and the West Seattle bridge. I’ve been trying to make a habit of bringing my camera with me on outings. Today’s sun drenched weather proved it to be a good rule of thumb. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. And although I rarely use one. I brought one of my tripods along, just in case. Though much of the conversation between my wife and me focus on an eventual return back east. I feel incredibly grateful for being given the opportunity to move and live out west. It’s been incredibly rewarding. A time I will not soon forget.

Going for a Walk

Uncategorized

It was a beautiful, albeit breezy day. So with a little extra time and a need to stretch my legs a bit, I took a walk down to what’s known as the Pier C Park. A really nice circular extension that as built a few years back. With the sun on my face and the wind on my back. I decided to stretch those legs a little further and head towards Pier A and eventually the Lakawana area where the big trains and the light rail take passengers to and for. As I got there and began to look east to lower Manhattan. The sun began to set behind me and soften. It’s always been that perfect part of the day. The one most of us miss due to being behind a desk or in the studio. Though I was beginning to feel a bit tired, my sense of adventure, along with my need to take full advantage of a perfect day, pushed me to walk further.

Before I knew if I had walked all the way to the Newport Station in nearby Jersey City. It had been quite a while since I’d explored that part of J.C. and to be honest, I didn’t really miss much. (Towering office buildings and high rise condos don’t really do it for me. Regardless of where I ended up that day. It stood as a reminder to get out of your element and your everyday surroundings. Bring your camera and take a bunch of pictures you can fill your already “busting at the seems” hard drive with. Surely, it will be worth the trip.