Wednesday, December 21, 2011

A Swingin’ Sunset at the Oceanside Pier

Last year at this time I was buried under a couple of inches of snow in Wisconsin. Instead of sand between my toes, I had snow all over my boots.

I woke up cold, went to work cold, got my mail in the cold and went to sleep cold.

At night when I would shovel snow from my driveway, I would dream of returning to the Pacific Ocean. I envisioned the warm sun on my face and the sound of crashing waves.

This is why this photograph brings a smile to my face. A father and daughter spending time at the beach while watching a gorgeous sunset over the Pacific. Filled with Christmas spirit, the young girl rises above the setting sun. This is how one should spend a December evening.

Shoveling snow and freezing...Bah! Humbug!

One more last rant.

In Wisconsin when locals mentioned they were going to the “beach” they were referring to Lake Michigan.

The Pacific Ocean is a Beach.

The Atlantic Ocean is a beach.

Lake Michigan is just plain dirty and wrong!

I’m Sam Antonio and I approve this rant!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Lunar Eclipses and Beautiful Beach Sunsets

I’m lazy.

I didn't photograph the lunar eclipse this past Saturday morning. Yes, I missed a rare celestial phenomenon: a total lunar eclipse when the Earth passes between the sun and the moon, throwing the moon into shadow. On top of that I had the best seat in the house being here on the West Coast.

I did get up at 4:37 AM and witnessed the start of the lunar eclipse and I planned to get back out at 6:06 AM to photograph the total lunar eclipse when the moon would be engulfed in a bright red glow.

I went back to sleep.

I'll leave the lunar eclipse to Twilight movie fans and early risers. I'll take a sunset anytime.

Since returning to the West Coast and after two winters in Wisconsin, I decided to spend my time photographing sunsets at the beach. So later that day I headed down to Oceanside Pier and photographed your typical California sunset beach scene.

Surfer in the frame: check!

Pier: check!

Amazing color in the sky: check!

The next lunar eclipse to be seen in the U.S. will be on April 15, 2014. I’ll probably be sleeping in on that one too. Besides my taxes will be due on that day and Uncle Sam can be very unforgiving.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Here’s a Shout Out to my Friends!

Breaking speed limits, eating fresh seafood and shooting (photographing) the gray whales in Baja, Mexico.

This photograph was from an amazing whale watching road trip I took with my friends, Randy and Florence, to the San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja, Mexico back in 2009. We broke speed limits on Mexico Highway 1 also known as the Transpeninsular Highway. The highway begins in the North in Tijuana and ends at the Baja peninsula in Cabo San Lucas.

It was a 14 hour drive from San Diego to the San Ignacio Lagoon. We divided the drive up over two days and enjoyed one too many cervezas and delicious seafood along the way.

On the first day one we stopped in Ensenada, Baja Mexico. Known as the "Cinderella of the Pacific,” Ensenada is located 70 miles south of the international border, a 90-minute drive from San Diego.

Just across from the fish market in Ensenada are a row of restaurants that serve (would you guess) fresh fish and shrimp tacos. Competition is fierce among the restaurants so they deploy barkers to grab potential customers from the street to come into their restaurants.

These two were dueling it out to see who would earn our business.

The guy with the big, fat mouth won.

Wishing all my friends a wonderful and blessed Christmas!!!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Buffaloed in Yellowstone National Park

Obviously this American buffalo (or bison if you prefer) was raised without proper manners. He stuck his tongue out at me and somehow expecting me not to respond.

So I shot him!

What he didn’t know was that I was armed with a Canon 7D camera and Canon 70-200 f/4 IS L lens. He was lucky I left behind my Canon 100-400 f/4-5.6 IS L lens at home or I would have really blasted him.

After the incident I felt hungry so I rewarded myself by driving to the nearest restaurant and having a nice, juicy buffalo burger.

In the battle between man versus buffalo...man wins!

Man = 1 Buffalo = 0

Next time keep the tongue to yourself!

Travel photography question of the day: What is your favorite U.S. National Park?

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Thursday, December 1, 2011

Sunset for my Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Sunset at High Cliff State Park overlooking Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin.

Many thanks for your comments, feedback and faves for I know most of you are online for Cyber Monday looking for deals. While you’re at it why not get your favorite photographer (yours truly) the new Canon EOS-1D X Digital SLR Camera? My poor Canon EOS 5D Mark II is over three years old and I’m in need of an update!

Photography question of the day: What is on your photography wish list for this Christmas?

Photographed with my aging:

Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Lens

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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