Sam Antonio Photography

Good Things Come in Compact Packages

2012-01-26T12:34:00.001-08:00

Good Things Come in Compact Packages, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

San Diego’s Balboa Park is the largest cultural complex west of the Mississippi River. The park encompasses over 1,200 acres and is larger than San Francisco's Golden Gate Park (1,107 acres) and New York's Central Park (843 acres). Established in 1868, the park came into prominence with the arrival of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition. The park has everything for everyone from museums, theaters, animals, architecture, flora and sports facilities.

Every December Balboa Park celebrates Christmas with a festival called Christmas on the Prado. It has now been renamed Balboa Park December Nights since it is politically incorrect to speak of the name Christmas. I love to be politically incorrect so I still call it by its original name.

Christmas on the Prado reminds San Diegans the cultural value of Balboa Park by allowing free admission to all the museums in the park. In addition, there is food, music and live entertainment.

On this escapade I took my compact Canon Powershot G9 and my Manfrotto table top tripod. I was having too much fun in the Aerospace Museum when I realized I was about to miss out on the blue hour. So I hurried my friends out of the museum and rushed to find this spot in the amusement park zone. I got down low on the ground to set up my little tripod, all the while passing spectators were probably wondering what a deranged man was doing on the ground.

Again, the Powershot G9 came through with flying colors (literally). Goods things do come in compact packages.

EXIF: ISO 80, f/8, 13 seconds, -1/3 exposure

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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The Sun has set on 2011...Here’s to a bright 2012!

2012-01-25T11:47:00.001-08:00

The Sun has set on 2011...Here’s to a bright 2012!, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Happy New Year!

I know I’m a couple of days late, but I was on the road for New Years. I did a quick little road trip to Arizona visiting the red rocks in Sedona, ringing in the new year in the mountain town of Flagstaff and taking in awe inspiring views at the Grand Canyon National Park.

Sunny days and mild, year-round weather make San Diego’s beaches a world class destination. Winter in San Diego is the best time to photograph landscapes due to clear skies (no haze or fog).

Imperial Beach or "I.B." is the most southwesterly city in the continental United States. I took this photograph of the Imperial Beach Pier right after sunset while standing in the water. Well, in all truthfulness my camera and tripod were in the water and I ran like a little child back to dry sand after I clicked the shutter button to avoid getting wet. If you were standing on the pier you would get a clear view of the country of Mexico which is only a stone’s throw away (that is if you have an arm like quarterback Cam Newton).

So now that the sun has set on 2011, a new chapter in my life has open up for 2012.

A little less than a month to go for my South East Asia trip. For some reason I haven’t done much research or planning for this trip. I learned after years of traveling that flexibility is far more important than research.

For my South East Asia Flickr contacts I would love to get together with you when I’m in your city for a photo shoot, to grab a cup of coffee or to just say hello. Please drop me a line.

So far my itinerary is shaping up to be flying into Singapore on February 3, 2012. After a couple of days I’ll head north to Kuala Lumpur and the rest of Malaysia. Then onto Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Also on my radar will be the Philippines, Myanmar, Hong Kong and India.

Thank you for your friendship and support in 2011 and here’s to another successful year in 2012.

Happy Travels!

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I am a Painter of Light! Coronado Bridge, San Diego

2012-01-17T20:00:00.001-08:00

I am a Painter of Light! Coronado Bridge, San Diego, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

A tribute to American artist Thomas Kinkade also known as the “Painter of Light.” As one of the most popular painters known for his glow of the light of windows, candles and fireplaces and saturated pastel colors, I couldn’t help think of Thomas Kinkade as I attempted my first light painting.

The San Diego-Coronado Bridge you see in the background connects the city of San Diego to the city of Coronado. It spans two miles long over the San Diego Bay and reaches a maximum height of 200 feet allowing U.S. naval ships to pass underneath.

The dinghy you see in the foreground are small boats used by “live-aboards” (people who live full time on their sail boats) to row back and forth from their sail boats to shore to run errands.

I do have to say for those living at the foot of the San Diego-Coronado Bridge it must have its benefits: charming views of downtown San Diego, Being close to marine life, views of the bridge itself and of course cheap rent.

This was my first attempt at light painting. The process was pretty simple: a Maglite flashlight, My Canon 5D Mark II, tripod, remote shutter release and patience. With the shutter open, aperture at f/16 and a 30 second exposure I “painted” the dinghy in the foreground.

Now you’re probably thinking I could have achieved the same thing by taking multiple exposures and then processing them in post production (that’s all fancy verbiage for high dynamic range (HDR) photography). I always have my baton-looking Maglite flashlight handy when photographing at night. I keep it close at hand to fight off would be thieves and now I have another use for it!

Happy Travels!

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Merry Christmas from the Hotel del Coronado!

2012-01-16T23:31:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas from the Hotel del Coronado!, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

The beautiful city of Coronado is one of the most beautiful cities in San Diego, if not Southern California. It is home to family friendly beaches, the Hotel Del Coronado and to the North Island Naval Air Station. Coronado has more retired admirals than any other city in the country.

Although most people call it an island, it is technically a peninsular, since it is connected to Imperial Beach. Originally named by Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542 as the "crowned one," (Coronado is Spanish for "crowned") Coronado wears her crown as Empress of San Diego bay.

The Hotel del Coronado is listed as a National Historic Landmark and has been the choice of 14 U.S. Presidents and numerous celebrities.

The "Del," as it is commonly known to locals, is the largest wooden oceanside hotel on the West Coast.

There’s also a haunted side of the Del. Kate Morgan checked into the resort on November 25,1892 and never checked out. Reports of ghostly happenings have been circulating at The Del ever since, all thought to be connected to the death of this beautiful young woman. The ghost of Kate Morgan is said to be residing in Room 3312.

Hollywood has been making movies at The Del for more than a century (The first movie shot at the hotel was in 1901.) In 1958, The Del was the backdrop for the comedy classic, “Some Like it Hot,” starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. A scene from that movie was shot nearby where this photograph was taken.

The Del is spectacular to photograph anytime of the year, but in December the Del is adorned with Christmas lights and makes for a beautiful photograph to add to this special time of the year.

Merry Christmas!

Happy Travels!

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A Swingin’ Sunset at the Oceanside Pier

2011-12-21T15:24:00.001-08:00

A Swingin’ Sunset at the Oceanside Pier, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

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!

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Lunar Eclipses and Beautiful Beach Sunsets

2011-12-14T21:54:00.001-08:00

Lunar Eclipses and Beautiful Beach Sunsets, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

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!

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Here’s a Shout Out to my Friends!

2011-12-13T11:03:00.001-08:00

Here’s a Shout Out to my Flickr Friends!, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

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!

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Buffaloed in Yellowstone National Park

2011-12-07T15:13:00.001-08:00

Buffaloed in Yellowstone National Park, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

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!

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Sunset for my Canon EOS 5D Mark II

2011-12-01T16:13:00.001-08:00

Sunset for my Canon EOS 5D Mark II, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

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!

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Stone Arch Bridge - Minneapolis, Minnesota

2011-11-29T11:10:00.001-08:00

Stone Arch Bridge - Minneapolis, Minnesota, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

The Stone Arch Bridge in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota is the only arch bridge made of stone along the entire length of the Mississippi River.

A former railroad bridge, it is now a pedestrian and biking trail with great views of St. Anthony Falls and the Minneapolis skyline. A couple on the river’s edge enjoy scenic views of the city.

Photography question of the day:

Which do you prefer? Aperture 3 or Lightroom 3?

Happy Travels!

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The Purple People Eaters of Minneapolis, Minnesota

2011-11-28T10:08:00.001-08:00

The Purple People Eaters of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

This past Labor Day weekend I had the opportunity to visit Minneapolis, Minnesota. I did it for a number of reasons. One, to visit my nephew who just started college at the University of Minnesota. Two, after living next door in Wisconsin for two years, I’ve always heard great things about Minneapolis, but outside of changing planes at the airport I never had the chance to explore the city. Third, after giving notice at my work that I would be departing, I wanted to explore more of the Midwest before I headed back to the sunny shores of California.

Free accommodations were compliments of my nephew’s futon in his dorm room. Big mistake! You feel old real quick when you’re on a college campus.

Walking around campus, it was great to meet students with their youthful ideals and a lifetime of experiences ahead of them. It was a pleasant reminder of my college days. Those days are behind me now (way behind me), but I always look back at them as a time of great personal growth and the start of my love for travel.

So while I may envy being a college student, I do not envy their debt load!

Okay, so back to the photograph.

The title refers to a term for the defensive line of the National Football League team Minnesota Vikings from the late 1960s to the late 1970s when they dominated the league. Purple is also the color of the team’s uniform.

I took this photograph from Minneapolis’ famous Stone Arch Bridge with the Mississippi River flowing below. Nature provided a little tint of purple that evening when I took this long exposure shot.

The only thing that could possibly happen that evening to tie in another Minnesota theme is if it happen to rain...”Purple Rain.”

A tribute to Minneapolis native Prince and his hit song “Purple Rain.”

Happy Travels!

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The Biggest Little City in the World gets a Little Hairy

2011-11-24T01:50:00.001-08:00

The Biggest Little City in the World gets a Little Hairy, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Reno is the armpit of Nevada.

Full of hardcore gamblers, aging casinos and tacky wedding chapels, Reno bills itself as the “The Biggest Little City in the World” when in reality its the cheap, downmarket version of Las Vegas. The best thing about Reno is that Lake Tahoe is right over the hill.

As you can tell I’m no fan of Reno, Nevada.

I happen to be there back in September for a work related conference so I was forced to spend a couple of days there.

The photograph isn’t tack sharp due to high winds that were kicking up that evening. It also didn’t help that drunk bums kept running into my tripod (I just made up that last part). Actually, I wish there were drunk bums walking around because downtown was completely devoid of people.

Blame the bad economy or the simple fact that Reno is an armpit.

Happy Travels! Just stay away from Reno!

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Semper Fidelis

2011-11-20T21:53:00.001-08:00

Semper Fidelis, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

"The Yellowstone Park is something absolutely unique in the world..." -President Theodore Roosevelt

Located in the Upper Geyser Basin, Old Faithful is the most recognized landmark of Yellowstone National Park. While it is not the largest geyser, it is the most predictable, erupting about every ninety minutes or so.

Taken near the visitors center near the viewing benches, this is a popular spot to admire this symbol of Yellowstone. Just watch out for steam on your camera lens!

The sun was setting behind Old Faithful as it erupted much to the applause of the surrounding spectators and to this happy photographer.

Happy Travels!

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Seattle the Caffeinated City

2011-11-19T13:44:00.001-08:00

Seattle the Caffeinated City, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

I took this photograph about fifteen minutes after sunset at the Pike Place Market and before it started to downpour. I believe it embodies Seattle: a city built on trade and coffee beans.

They say that in Paris you're never more than ten minutes from a metro stop, well in Seattle your never more than ten feet from the nearest espresso bar. Empires such as Microsoft and Starbucks were built here, Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana hailed from here and Bruce Lee is buried here. Enjoy the photograph as you journey into the Emerald City.

So what's your favorite type of coffee?

Happy Travels!

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Sleepless and Stuck in Seattle

2011-11-18T22:12:00.001-08:00

Sleepless and Stuck in Seattle, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Drinking Starbucks coffee and driving on Interstate 5 south of Seattle don’t go well together.

This is the classic view of the Seattle skyline from Kerry Park.

I somehow managed to get this shot in between having spirited discussions with fellow photographers on lens selection, exposure and who Santa would be delivering the new Canon EOS-1D X camera to this Christmas.

The next morning I grabbed a cup of coffee in the original Starbucks at the Pike Place Market. Back in my car I headed south to meet my friend in Grants Pass, Oregon.

If you ever matriculated in higher education in America you would be familiar with the following question as seen on the SAT or GRE:

“If vehicle A is driving south on I-5 at sixty miles an hour and random brick B is coming toward vehicle A at seventy miles per hour what will be the cost of the damage to vehicle A?”

Answer: A broken oil pan, hundreds of dollars and another night in Seattle.

I didn’t mind spending another night in Seattle since it meant more photography opportunities and caffeine!

Here’s to lovely skylines, busted oil pans and to Seattle the caffeinated city!

Happy Travels!

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Monumental Times call for Monumental Action

2011-11-17T11:58:00.001-08:00

Monumental Times call for Monumental Action, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Thank Tim Ferris, Chase Jarvis and the evil Midwest winters for my long absence from my blog. They have inspired me to take a serious look at my life and make some dramatic changes.

Long story short I made the executive decision to not spend another long, brutal winter in Wisconsin. So I packed up my things and headed back to the sunny shores of San Diego, California.

After two weeks on the road, four thousand miles and a broken car oil pan I made it back to my beautiful hometown of San Diego. For now I am doing some freelance work for my former employer and as a result I’ll have more free time to spend on Flickr. In addition, I’m doing research for what Tim Ferris calls a “mini-retirement” for my journey to South East Asia next year. For my South Asia contacts I would love to get together with you when I’m in your town for a photoshoot, to grab a cup of coffee or to just say hello. Please drop me a line.

This is Mount Rushmore National Memorial located in the Black Hills of South Dakota featuring four United States Presidents (from left to right: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln).

Nature provided me with two opposing elements the day I was there: the fall colors and snow! Shortly after I took this photo I walked along the Presidential Trail when it started to lightly snow. Snow is why I left Wisconsin and now it was following me out West!

Happy Travels!

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Having a Grand Time at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone

2011-11-16T11:01:00.001-08:00

Having a Grand Time at the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Being in Yellowstone National Park is amazing.

Being in Yellowstone National Park in the Fall is simply spectacular.

Being in Yellowstone National Park and being paid for it is awesome!

I just came back from a very quick trip to Yellowstone National Park. I was there for a work related project to capture still and video stock footage.

This is Artist Point in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. As I arrived there with my co-worker there were already hundreds of people fresh from their tour buses snapping photographs. I simply made my way were they weren’t congregating and found this viewpoint. The trees were a perfect framing device and added depth to the overall scene.

Sometimes it pays off to venture on your own and not follow the herd mentality.

Happy Travels!

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Feeling Alive at Dead Horse State Park

2011-11-13T17:39:00.001-08:00

Feeling Alive at Dead Horse State Park, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Although Dead Horse Point State Park is not part of Canyonlands National Park, its vicinity to the park (its near the entrance to Island in the Sky), amazing panoramic views and solitude makes it a must see stop for any landscape photographer.

I’m getting writer’s block so I’ll “borrow” some lines from the official description of the park: The legend of Dead Horse Point states that around the turn of the century the point was used as a corral for wild mustangs roaming the mesa top. Cowboys herded them across the narrow neck of land and onto the point. The neck was then fenced off with branches and brush. One time, for some unknown reason, horses were left corralled on the waterless point where they died of thirst within view of the Colorado River 2,000 feet below.

Personally I find this place much more intriguing than the Grand Canyon. Hollywood has found this place intriguing too.

It was here at Dead Horse State Park where Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon drove off a cliff and into a canyon in the classic road movie "Thelma and Louise" (in the movie they were supposedly at the Grand Canyon).

[last lines]
Thelma Dickerson: [with a cliff in front of them and cops behind them]
Thelma Dickerson: OK, then listen; let's not get caught.
Louise Sawyer: What're you talkin' about?
Thelma Dickerson: Let's keep goin'!
Louise Sawyer: What d'you mean?
Thelma Dickerson: ...Go.
Thelma Dickerson: [Thelma nods ahead of them]
Louise Sawyer: You sure?
Thelma Dickerson: Yeah.

Happy Travels!

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Finding the Truth at False Kiva

2011-09-28T19:22:00.001-07:00

Finding the Truth at False Kiva, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Canyonlands National Park offers visitors sweeping vistas, interesting rock formations and less crowds (as compared to nearby Arches National Park). The Park consists of three areas: Island in the Sky, the Needles and the Maze.

False Kiva, along with Mesa Arch, was another area of the park I wanted to photograph. This is one of the "secrets" of the park and the location is not found anywhere in the park literature. The park rangers will not volunteer the location unless you ask them. It is a fragile area and they do not want hordes of tourists trampling all over the place. Earlier in the day I met Bob, a retiree traveling around the Southwest taking photos, and we agreed to hike out to find False Kiva (he attempted to find it the previous day but with no luck). After much scrambling we did find it and we were rewarded with an amazing view!

Equipment used:

Canon EOS 5D ,Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Happy Travels!

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A Window into Turret Arch

2011-09-24T15:01:00.001-07:00

A Window into Turret Arch, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Arches is a great little National Park to photograph. Unlike Yellowstone, which requires hundred of miles of driving, Arches is a manageable park with most of the classic sites within reach of parking your car.

Photographing Arches is also made very pleasant since nearby is the handy gateway town of Moab, Utah. This also makes it a great base to photograph nearby Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park.

Some photo and travel tips regarding my trip to Arches National Park and vicinity:

Think small: Fly into a smaller regional airport. Rather than flying into a big airport hub like Salt Lake City and driving five hours to get to Moab, I flew into Grand Junction, Colorado and drove an hour and half along a scenic highway to get to my destination. In addition, the much smaller regional airports are a breeze for travelers as opposed to the behemoth airports that require miles of walking and tons of headaches.

Get an alarm clock: Many people have e-mailed me asking how I get such brilliant colors in my photographs. Get up early and stay out late to photograph at sunrise and sunset when nature's light returns the favor of your early rising with deep saturated colors.

Read before you see: Before I even click my shutter button I do extensive research of the places I photograph. I read guidebooks, magazines and photo website forums for advice on the best shot locations. Also, I'll read books that feature my trip destination to give me a better appreciation of the places I'll discover. For example, for my trip to Savannah, GA I read John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." For this trip I read the classic, "Desert Solitaire: A Season In the Wilderness," by Edward Abbey.

Rock Steady: To get those super sharp photos you'll need a tripod. I travel with a very lightweight carbon fiber tripod that is small enough to fit into my carry on luggage. Good landscape photography requires shooting in weak light (sunrise and sunset) and small apertures. Canon "L" lenses will deliver some great shots for you but if your camera isn't steady you will get blurry photos. Invest in a good tripod before you invest in quality lenses.

Seek Inspiration to be Inspired: In downtown Moab, UT you can visit Tom Till's photography gallery. Yes, you can duplicate his classic shots but this will inspire you to search deeper to find your own "classics" while improving your photography skills.

What a Bargain: Invest in a National Park Pass. If you want to meet Europeans there is no need to go to Europe just visit your local National Park. I have met many more Europeans than Americans in the many National Parks I have visited. There's a reason why so many foreign travelers visit our parks because the wondrous beauty of our national treasures are unparalleled. Visit our National Parks before some of our national treasures are gone.

This is a sunrise shot of Turret Arch looking through the North Window. Get here early to catch a spectacular light show. In the Windows section of the park take the trail toward the North Window and hike right under it until you see a trail that you can scramble up on to get to a ledge. From here you can shoot the classic photo that you see above. That little white speck you see on the upper left hand side is the moon.

Be a Traveler not a Tourist!

Equipment used:
Canon EOS 5D ,Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD IF

Happy Travels!

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Practicing Delicate Diplomatic Relations at Delicate Arch

2011-09-10T11:38:00.001-07:00

Practicing Delicate Diplomatic Relations at Delicate Arch, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Feast your eyes people! This is a rare photograph I captured of Delicate Arch, the iconic symbol of Utah, in Arches National Park. Okay a simple search here on Flickr or Google and you’ll find more photos of this freestanding natural arch then all the inhabitants of China.

Why is this a rare photograph of Delicate Arch?

Because there are no tourists posing under it!

No, I didn’t “clone” anybody out in post-processing, I simply did it the old fashion way...I screamed at them to get out of my frame (I had some help too).

A 1.5 mile hike from the parking lot will deliver you to the signature arch of the park. The 45 minute hike is easy to do but carrying two camera bodies, five lenses, a point and shoot camera, tripod and water made for a challenge. But if you get here right at sunset you will be rewarded with one of nature's best light show.

You will also be in the good company of hundreds of budding photographers and oblivious tourists. Of course, many of those tourists want to get a photo op under the arch thus angering many of those budding photographers which included myself. In unison we politely asked them to get out of our frame momentarily but to no avail.

As I was standing shoulder to shoulder of what looked like a firing squad of photographers with our tripod mounted cameras, I grew frustrated by the moment. So I took the initiative and grabbed my tripod to get a closer shot and a couple of photographers followed me (I love playing follow the leader). I then politely asked the “Arch” models if they would please move temporarily and again they ignored my pleas.

Finally one of the other photographers next to me pointed out that they were European tourists who didn’t comprehend my English speaking pleas (in reality most Europeans speak and understand English perfectly so they probably just wanted to piss off another American).

So the German photographer to my left said something in German and the German tourists moved. The French photographer to my right said something in French and the French tourists moved. I then said something in my parents native language, Tagalog (the national language of the Philippines for those not in the know), and the rest moved (okay I made that last part up...I’m an American and I only speak one language).

In the end everybody left happy. Hiking back to the parking lot with Bud, the German photographer (yes, that was his name), he shared with me his travel stories of four months of traveling solo in America.

“This was the first time I was traveling to America and I was confident my English was good enough to communicate with the locals,” Bud paused for a moment to reflect “but what I wasn’t prepared for was all the Spanish speakers I’ve encountered.”

“Bud, this is America,” I replied “Spanish is our national language.”

Adios my Flickr amigos!

Equipment used:

Canon EOS 5D, Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD IF, an overpriced Manfrotto tripod

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Busy Bee in the Beehive State

2011-09-06T20:21:00.001-07:00

Busy Bee in the Beehive State, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

This is from a recent business trip I took to Salt Lake City, Utah a couple of weeks ago. I have been to Salt Lake City numerous times but every time I wanted to photograph the capitol it was always covered in scaffolding due to renovations. This was the first opportunity I had to photograph their beautiful state capitol during the blue hour.

Utah is known as the Beehive State because the beehive symbol to industry and the pioneer virtues of thrift and perseverance. I was a busy bee for couple of days in the Beehive State meeting work deadlines and giving presentations. Fortunately I had one free evening to photograph the state capitol without any distractions.

Happy Travels!

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Getting High over Door County, Wisconsin

2011-08-28T20:56:00.001-07:00

Getting High over Door County, Wisconsin, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

No, not that type of getting “high.”

High as in adrenaline rush and altitude which simply translates into skydiving and what better way to do my first skydive than over the 4th of July weekend!

Some people look to the sky for fireworks on the 4th of July...I fall out of it!

Along with my friend, Mary, and her sister Susan, we chose to go with an outfit called Skydive Door County located in scenic Sturgeon Bay. The location would provide a picturesque drop-zone of the Door County peninsula.

After a thirty minute instructional period I was outfitted with a harness, goggles and tons of encouragement that everything would be fine.

Aboard the very small Cessna plane, I was treated to scenic views of Green Bay and Lake Michigan. After fifteen minutes of sitting in a very cramped position, I was ready to jump out of the plane with or without a parachute (unbeknownst to me that would foreshadow things to come).

Once they opened the door the real adventure began.

After an exhilarating forty-five second free fall period, my tandem instructor pulled the parachute ripcord (which I was supposed to do but free falling over one hundred twenty miles per hour I kind of forgot to do so).

“Oh sh*t!” my tandem instructor yelled out.

I went from all smiles to what the hell is going on back there?

Apparently the main parachute didn’t deploy properly and my tandem instructor tried in vain to correct the problem to no avail.

“Get back into free fall position (arched back and my heels touching his buttocks...I know that last part sounds weird but it saved my life)!” screamed my tandem instructor.

He then jettisoned the main chute and we had to free fall again for a brief period before he deployed the reserve (and last parachute). So I had two free falls for the price one!

After a somewhat relaxing canopy ride down back to earth we let out a collective sigh of relief upon touching ground.

In the hanger he thanked me for remaining calm. I asked how often that happens and he said maybe one out of three thousand jumps. He added that in his over ten years in skydiving this was only the second time it has ever happened. Lucky me!

Would I do it again?

In a heartbeat...next time I would pack the parachute myself and bring an extra one just to be sure!

Adios from over 10,000 feet from scenic Door County!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Altitude and Attitude in Mexico City

2011-08-14T15:38:00.001-07:00

Altitude and Attitude in Mexico City, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

I love traveling to foreign countries and better yet I love coming back to my home country of the United States after a great trip. The only problem is that sometimes I find American government officials annoying.

Returning from Mexico City, I was stuck in a long line at the Charlotte Airport awaiting to be interrogated by the next suspicious U.S. Customs agent. When it was my time to be questioned I was asked where I was returning from.

“Mexico City!” I calmly told the agent.

I knew that set off red flags in her head and she immediately went into Sherlock Homes mode.

“What were you doing in Mexico City?”

“Where you traveling by yourself?”

“Did you meet somebody there?”

“Why Mexico City?”

“Do you have friends or family that live there?”

“What do you find appealing in Mexico City?”

Of course I knew what she was insinuating. I was born and raised in the international border city of San Diego and I am accustomed to being subjected to questions regarding travel in Mexico whenever I would return from there. Since I was coming back from Mexico City, in her mind she must have been thinking I served on the board of directors of some Mexican drug cartel.

But it was her last question that really set me off.

“Why Mexico City when you could be enjoying the beaches of Mazatlan, Acapulco, Cancun, Cozumel?”

I looked her squarely in the eye and replied, “Why would I want to spend my hard earned money traveling to a Mexican beach resort that’s overpriced and congested with those Americans (as I pointed back to the line of tanned Americans wearing nothing but slippers, shorts and T-shirts proclaiming “I ‘heart’ Cancun”)? I travel overseas to meet locals not other Americans.”

Somehow she let me back into the country.

God bless the U.S.A.!

Happy 4th of July my fellow Americans!

And the photograph...

I’m standing at the midpoint on my way up the Pyramid of the Sun (the third largest pyramid in the world) in the ancient city of Teotihuacan (an hour outside of Mexico City).

Somehow of all the photographs I took at Teotihuacan this one had the most appeal to me. The incongruity of a local woman holding her child and the tourists holding their camera and gasping for air (the altitude of the Mexico City metropolis, which is perched atop a highland valley, sits at 2,240 meters (7,392 feet) above sea level).

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Just for my Photography Friends: A Secret Southwest Photo Location

2011-08-10T18:39:00.001-07:00

Just for my Flickr Friends: A Secret Southwest Photo Location, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

This photograph has been in my hard drive since 2007. For the longest time I hesitated to post this since I didn’t want to give away the secret location.

I had to leave my motel two hours before sunrise to reach the trailhead and then hike for about fifteen minutes to reach this point. Once there I had this magnificent arch all to myself. So how did I find this undiscovered natural landmark? Patience, hours of hiking and cash incentives for the locals (otherwise known as bribes).

So to all my Flickr friends I offer you this secret arch which will probably soon be a classic of the American Southwest. National Geographic I await your phone call!

Okay before you call me delusional, yes, this is Mesa Arch located in Canyonlands National Park in Utah. There’s only a million and one photos here on Flickr and all with similar composition. Either way, this is a “must photograph” American Southwest icon.

And no you will not be alone, there will be plenty of company with you! Get there early and choose your spot wisely because once your fellow photographers arrive you’ll be boxed in.

Nothing will prepare for the amazing spectacle that will soon be unveiled. When the sun appears the underside of the arch will glow a vivid red. Hearts will pound and your camera shutter button will get a great workout.

So Mesa Arch isn’t a secret to landscape photographers. That should only embolden you to find the next American Southwest classic natural landmark. Just have patience, stamina for hiking and lots of cash!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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The Sun Also Rises

2011-07-25T06:23:00.001-07:00

The Sun Also Rises, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

A break from my Costa Rica photos as I return to my Coastal Carolina and Georgia trip.

Wrightsville Beach is a beautiful beach town near Wilmington, North Carolina. In perfect solitude I enjoyed this sunrise at Crystal Pier. As someone who was born and raised near the Pacific Ocean, experiencing a sunrise along the Atlantic Ocean is a rare occurrence.

Ernest Hemingway wrote in his classic work, The Sun Also Rises, that “Nobody ever lives their life all the way up except bullfighters.” Well, a close second would probably be photographers who can capture an image in a brief instant and turn it into a lasting moment.

Happy Travels!

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Having a Resplendent Time in Monteverde, Costa Rica

2011-07-08T13:53:00.001-07:00

Having a Resplendent Time in Monteverde, Costa Rica, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Many bird photographers come to Costa Rica just to photograph the beautiful Resplendent Quetzal bird. The Quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala and can be mainly found in Costa Rica’s national parks due to its protected status.

In my pre-trip planning I debated whether to bring my Manfrotto tripod, my Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS lens and my Canon Speedlite 550EX flash. I knew Costa Rica was going to be primarily an “adrenaline” trip and that serious photography would be a secondary concern. I had only planned to bring my Canon 5DMKII with two lenses and my compact Canon G9 camera. In my pre-trip research I came across the Resplendent Quetzal and I knew I had to bring the rest of my gear. Besides with a name like “Resplendent,” I could only do the bird justice by bringing my longest and heaviest lens.

So I packed all of that gear along with a week’s worth of clothes into two carry-on bags. For the first part of the trip all that gear stayed in my photo backpack and I began to doubt my decision to bring it.

It gets dark in Costa Rica around five o’clock year around so we had to get up early everyday to make sure we packed in as many adrenaline tours as possible (If you’re not a morning person a trip to Costa Rica may not work).

Everyday we were early to bed and early to rise. I was too tired and too occupied with hiking, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, zip lining, etc to think about sunrise and sunset photography.

Midway through the trip I finally was able to put the gear to use when we visited the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve. Since I was traveling with a pair of non-photographers, I kept my expectations low in finding and let alone photographing wildlife.

I could say I waited for hours in the pouring rain risking life and limb to find the Quetzal, but in the end it was my nephew who spotted the bird only after hiking for about an hour. I quickly set up my tripod and broke out the 100-400 lens. Although I was shooting with the ISO King the 5DMKII, the cloud forest is still a dark shooting environment so I brought out the very cumbersome (and not often used) Canon 550EX flash.

For those not familiar with the 550EX, it is one of Canon’s brightest (if not the brightest) flash in its lineup. With the 550EX you can turn night into day with a click of the shutter. I may have blinded the Quetzal for all I know.

In the end, lugging all that photo gear was a good decision and photographing the Quetzal was simply "resplendent."

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Inspiration by Duplication

2011-05-21T11:38:00.001-07:00

Inspiration by Duplication, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Before I found Flickr I spent much of my time over another photo sharing site called PBase. I had met some great photographers there, learned from them, and was inspired by their artistry.

Inspired by James Pan’s “Rise of the Surfers,” I tried to duplicate his masterpiece with this photograph of surfer I captured at Playa Hermosa in Costa Rica.

I’m sure this was a “Pura Vida” moment for the surfer as it was for me to photograph him in action.

Happy Travels!

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Always Look, Down, Back and Up

2011-05-18T06:39:00.001-07:00

Always Look, Down, Back and Up, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Travel photographer Rick Sammon has a saying that you should “Always look down, always look back and always look up.” He believes that so many people miss great photo opportunities because they are in such a hurry to get to the final location that they miss what’s going on around them.

This almost happened to me on a sunset hike to the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica. As one of the world’s ten most active volcanoes, I was looking forward to photographing it.

I hiked and reached the crest of a hill where I had a magnificent view of Arenal all the while the sun was beginning to set behind me. I turned around and I saw my nephew, Richard, and his wife, Cindy, admiring the sunset.

I turned my camera on them to capture this silhouette. I’m glad I did.

Thank you Mr. Sammon!

Happy Travels!

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Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Monteverde Style

2011-05-14T14:22:00.001-07:00

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Monteverde Style, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

If there was one thing that I had to do in Costa Rica it was to zip line through a cloud forest, besides isn’t that on everyone’s bucket list?

For my pre-trip preparation I did research on the internet and pored over my Lonely Planet guide to determine the best outfit for a canopy tour, this was more challenging than I thought.

When I arrived into Costa Rica I received additional feed back from other fellow travelers, but it wasn’t until I met Diego, who worked at Pension Santa Elena (which I stayed at and highly recommend), that I decided to go with Monteverde Extremo Canopy. He described that Extremo not only offered your normal zip line, but that they also did the Tarzan Swing and Superman zip line. I was already sold when Diego mentioned the name “Extremo.” I was ready to sign the liability waiver form right there and then!

The next day, for nearly three hours, we had a view of the cloud forest from above that was simply an amazing experience. Add in some adrenaline with the Tarzan Swing and Superman zip line and we had fun filled morning.

The Tarzan Swing was the best part of the canopy tour (see video). I noticed that guide at the edge of the platform was gently (some forcefully for others) pushing people off. When it came to my turn I asked if I could simply do a running jump off the platform.

“It’ll break,” he replied.

“What, the rope?”

“No, your back,” he clarified.

Oh, this is going to be fun I said to myself and away I went swinging through the forest like Tarzan!

The Superman zip line is just as the name suggest. Instead of the normal sitting position with your knees up, ankles crossed and using one hand to brake, you are lying prone thus having a great view of the cloud forest. The cable stretches for one kilometer allowing you to live out your Superman fantasies minus wearing the pantyhose getup.

This was the last zip line cable of the tour and it was the most scenic. If that wasn’t perfection enough we were all awarded with a panoramic view of a lovely rainbow before we “landed” at the exit station.

With the recent controversy of Superman announcing his plans to renounce his U.S. citizenship, I can understand why. He probably wants to move to Costa Rica and fly through the cloud forest all day.

Costa Rica travel tip #2: When in Costa Rica get your Tarzan on!

Happy Travels!

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Apocalypse Now Tico Style!

2011-04-29T14:37:00.001-07:00

Apocalypse Now Tico Style!, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

“Never get out of the boat. Unless you were going all the way. Kurtz got off the boat.”

-Captain Benjamin L. Willard
Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now”

So there we were staring at the glossy brochure deciding between a class 2 & 3 white water rafting trip or a class 3 & 4. I looked up at my nephew, Richard, and we knew immediately were going to do the class 3 & 4. We didn’t travel all the way to Costa Rica to float down river like riding the “Pirates of the Caribbean” in Disneyland. We came for an adventure!

So the next day our adventure began on the El Rio Toro (the Bull River) with Richard and I sitting in the front of the raft paddling like mad while his wife, Cindy, was clinging on for dear life in the back. It didn’t take very long before I was catapulted into the water by some wild rapids. A baptism by near drowning.

Costa Rica near death experience #1.

After I swallowed nearly half a gallon (oops I mean 1.9 liters...metric system) of water, I was pulled back in the raft by Alex, our awesome Costa Rican rafting guide.

The heart pumping excitement was just beginning.

Halfway through the trip we “refueled” at a nearby river bank where the guides prepared some delicious tropical fruit for us to eat. With newfound confidence and energy we set out to conquer the rest of the river.

After a going through some treacherous rapids, we paddled down a calm section of the river. Richard then came up with a not so brilliant idea, he asked Alex if we could get out of the raft and float down river in our personal floatation devices (a.k.a. life jackets). Alex not only gave his whole hearted endorsement, but advised us to wait a little because further down river we could catch a class 2 rapid. As we quickly approached the rapids Alex revised his statement to a class 2+ rapid.

“Okay guys you can get out here,” Alex instructed.

Richard and I left the safety of the raft for the turbulent waters of the Toro River. I knew once I jumped in the rapids and let go of the raft I had made a huge mistake.

We were instructed at the rafting orientation that in the event we would find ourselves in the water to lie on our back with our feet straight out and not to try to swim and fight the river. Just “go with the flow” was the motto. All that went out the window once I hit the water.

For the sake of brevity I was thrashed, thrown, battered, beat-up, pulverized, demolished, pummeled, pounded, clobbered, jerked, trounced, pounded, bruised, hammered, assaulted, walloped, tossed around and worked over!

After bruising my tailbone, nearly twisting my ankle and ingesting many liters of the Toro River I could truly say I had “taste” of the real Costa Rica!

After Alex pulled me back into safety I regurgitated a good portion of the Toro River into the raft (sorry no photos).

Costa Rica near death experience #2.

After we finally got off the river we dried off, drank a beer, and had a pleasant Tico lunch at a nearby restaurant.

At the end of meal I approached Alex and thanked him for an awesome time.

As I handed him a tip I sarcastically said, “I paid you guys good money so I could kill myself!”

“You can tell all your friends when you get home that you survived a class 3 rapid in your PFD [personal floatation device]!” Alex replied.

“You said it was a class 2 plus?!”

Alex just smiled and laughed out, “Pura Vida!”

Costa Rica travel tip #1 - Never get out of a perfectly good raft.

Happy Travels!

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Pura Vida Costa Rica!!

2011-04-27T15:04:00.001-07:00

Pura Vida Costa Rica!!, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

I’m tired.

I just got done shoveling my driveway as we had yet another snow storm (hopefully the last one for this winter) here in Wisconsin. Yes, I know it is official spring, but we still have winter conditions here in the Midwest. As I was shoveling, it dawned upon me that I was in beautiful, sunny Costa Rica exactly one week ago where the average temperature was 80 degrees!

So that explains yet another extended absence from Flickr but this time I had a good reason, I was on an adrenaline tour of Costa Rica with my nephew, Richard, and his wife Cindy. From hiking an active volcano, having a near death experience while white water rafting, to flying through a cloud forest like Superman on a zip line, it was one nonstop adventure after another.

Arenal is Costa Rica's most active volcano and one of the ten most active volcanoes in the world. On our first full day in Costa Rica we took a sunset hike to the base of the volcano where we were very fortunate to get a clear view of Arenal. Our guide told us that the volcano is normally obscured by clouds so we were lucky to have a great view that day. Our timing couldn't have been any better since the next two days the volcano would be forever hiding behind the clouds. After the hike we rewarded ourselves by soaking in the soothing waters of nearby Baldi Hot Springs.

Pura Vida!

I hate shoveling snow and I miss Costa Rica!

Happy Travels!

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Having a Sweet Time at the Pineapple Fountain

2011-04-17T01:07:00.001-07:00

Having a Sweet Time at the Pineapple Fountain, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

The Pineapple Fountain in Charleston, South Carolina is popular with both locals and visitors. Located in Waterfront Park overlooking the Cooper River, Charleston Mayor Joe Riley has named the park, “this generation’s gift to the future.”

I came to Charleston looking to photograph its beautiful antebellum mansions and to dig deeper with my camera into its rich history. The first day I got into town I captured my “trophy” blue hour shot and now I had to concern myself where I was going to photograph for a sunrise shot.

I spent the first morning along the Battery, Charleston’s most iconic spot, with views of the Charleston Harbor and gorgeous mansions. I didn’t get the sunrise shot I was looking for so I spent the rest of the day pounding the pavement seeking inspiration.

At noon time I was exhausted so I headed for the Blind Tiger Pub (a favorite of mine - sit out in the patio area and order one of their wonderful burgers). After I ordered I pulled out my Moon travel guide for Charleston & Savannah and lo and behold right on the front cover was a photo of the Pineapple Fountain! After lunch I strolled over to nearby Waterfront Park and upon seeing the fountain I immediately envisioned an exceptional sunrise shot.

This isn’t an HDR shot. It is one exposure refined with “Mr. Photoshop,” and with the kind assistance of Mr. EOS “king of the low-light cameras” Canon 5DMKII!

Happy Travels!

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Farewell Atlantic Ocean - Tybee Island Pier, Georgia

2011-04-15T17:38:00.001-07:00

Farewell Atlantic Ocean - Tybee Island Pier, Georgia, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Eighteen miles separates the historic downtown district of Savannah from the quaint beach community of Tybee Island on the Atlantic. As someone who grew up along the Pacific Ocean, I tend to forget how enchanting the Atlantic Ocean can be.

This could be because I now live in a state where they consider lake water a “beach.” I miss the ocean and just hearing the waves crash is like a symphony in my head.

Another early morning along the Georgia coast and I found myself facing the Atlantic for the last time (at least for this trip).

There was nothing spectacular about this sunrise on that particular morning but the sight, smell and sound of the ocean soothed my soul and kept my shutter finger busy.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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A Great Way to End the Day in Wilmington, North Carolina

2011-04-02T10:41:00.001-07:00

A Great Way to End the Day in Wilmington, North Carolina, a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Beautiful Wilmington, North Carolina! No words can fully encapsulate such a beautiful city. Located between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean Wilmington entices you with its distinctive architecture, friendly locals and historic downtown.

In the early 1980’s this sleepy little town was thrust into a new thriving industry - filmmaking. With such popular television hits like Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill and movies such as Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, Forrest Gump, I Know What You Did Last Summer, Sleeping with the Enemy, Blue Velvet filmed here, Wilmington has garnered the name “Hollywood East.”

Restaurants, cafes, bars, historic buildings, stores and art galleries line the pedestrian friendly downtown riverfront district. Strolling the area one afternoon, I noticed these trees were strung with lights and I knew instantaneously that this would make for a great “blue hour” photograph.

Looking at this photograph brings back some great memories and a constant question - Why did I ever leave Wilmington?

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Doin’ the Charleston!

2011-03-11T10:51:00.001-08:00

Doin’ the Charleston! a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Charleston, South Carolina has a historic district that offers the quintessence of Southern charm. Charleston’s compact size make it easy to see the numerous magnificent mansions, lush gardens, secret alleys, and waterfront promenades.

The steeple you see in the photograph belongs to St. Michael's Episcopal Church, the oldest church in Charleston. The church also sits on southeast corner of Broad and Meeting Streets. That intersection is commonly known as “The Four Corners of the Law,” because on the other corners are Charleston City Hall, Charleston County Courthouse and the U.S. Post Office. The term "Four Corners of the Law" represents the presence of institutions representing federal, state, local and ecclesiastical law on each corner of the intersection (thank you Wikipedia).

Charleston is such a walkable city that you don’t need a vehicle to get around, the only problem is parking is just as bad as if you were in Manhattan if you decide to take your car into the city. Fortunately, I was there in the off season so it wasn’t a problem this time around.

Charleston, South Carolina with its warm hospitality, photogenic homes and relaxing Southern charm almost makes me want to dance the Charleston -- almost!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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A Lovely Sunset in "Slow"vannah, Georgia

2011-03-09T10:09:00.001-08:00

A Lovely Sunset in "Slow"vannah, Georgia a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

"...That gently mannered city by the sea." -Margaret Mitchell on Savannah, GA

"If you go to Atlanta, the first question people ask you is, "What's your business?' In Macon they ask, "Where do you go to church?' In Augusta they ask your grandmother's maiden name. But in Savannah the first question people ask you is 'What would you like to drink?'" -Author John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil."

Savannah, Georgia is a traveler's delight and more importantly a place I could easily call home. With its leisurely quality of life, tranquil squares, and decadent history it is no wonder the city has been named "The Jewel of the South."

Locals like to call their Southern city "Slowvannah" and one visit to this antebellum city will show you why. Popular movies like "Forrest Gump (shot in Savannah) to New York Times best-selling books like John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" (known as "the book" by locals) to nefarious Union invaders has not changed this most Southern city.

This is a shot of the Talmadge Memorial Bridge that spans the Savannah River between downtown Savannah, Georgia, and the neighboring state of South Carolina.

Enjoy my travelogue and please feel free to leave your comments, gripes, complaints and faves! And remember on your first visit to Savannah don't be surprised if a Savannahian asks you your choice of drink.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Hidden Philippines: Valley Verde Mountain Spring Resort

2011-03-08T20:55:00.001-08:00

Hidden Philippines: Valley Verde Mountain Spring Resort a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

Perched on one of Guimaras island’s highest points, Valley Verde Mountain Resort offers wonderful views of a jungle-covered valley with Lawi Bay in the distance.

Tourists usually flock to Guimaras for its picturesque beaches, but unlike the many crowded beaches nearby, Valley Verde offers many undiscovered secrets and solitude in a lush, green setting.

This was the view I had while I enjoyed a wonderful Filipino lunch.

Travel question of the day: So what was your most picturesque dining experience?

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Everybody Loves Raymen

2011-03-07T07:11:00.001-08:00

Everybody Loves Raymen a photo by Sam Antonio Photography on Flickr.

I was in Washington, DC for a work related trip earlier this month. I was there for an annual convention but I mainly did a lot of video work. I did manage to get ONE decent photograph of the Washington Memorial. Last week I took an amazing trip along the coastal areas of North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. I came back with some amazing images and a gut full of grease from all that wonderful southern cooking.

It was a perfect week for photography in the Carolinas and Georgia with gorgeous weather in the mid 60s and 70s with no humidity. When I flew back to Milwaukee, Wisconsin the other day I was welcomed home with 20-degree weather and falling snow. I was blasted back into reality when I had to dig my car out from the snow and scrape chunks of ice off my windshield in the airport parking lot.

So once again I’m motivated to post photos from a warm weather climate like my trip to the Philippines last year.

On the beautiful island of Guimaras is the Raymen Beach Resort, which is popular with locals on the weekend. Unfortunately I didn’t stay here too long as this was the jumping off point to board our boat to tour the nearby islands.

As I write this its 30-degrees outside with snow on the ground and looking at this photograph just brings a smile to my face.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Feeling Comfortable in a Foreign Country

2011-02-06T18:56:00.001-08:00

Feeling Comfortable in a Foreign Country
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

"To feel at home, stay home. A foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It's designed to make its own people comfortable." - Clifton Fadiman

With its laid back atmosphere, friendly people, and English as its second official language, the Philippines is a great traveler's destination but somehow it has been overlooked for its other Asian neighbors. The Philippines is the only predominant Christian country in South East Asia with over 80% over adhering to Roman Catholicism.

I spent the day wandering along Panay’s southwest coast which is dotted with small towns, picturesque beaches and beautiful Spanish churches.

In between the towns of Tigbauan and Guimbal I saw these fishermen returning to the beach and was attracted to their colorful boats lining the shore.

To many people the islands of the Philippines are a magical place and a well-kept secret for seasoned travelers.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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The Slow Boat from Guimaras Island

2011-02-02T11:55:00.001-08:00

The Slow Boat from Guimaras Island
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

I’m really slow.

So was the lens I used to shoot this photograph.

First things first.

It’s been exactly a year since my trip to the Philippines and I’m just beginning to upload the majority of my photos.

So call me slow.

I did put together a travel portrait gallery entitled: Everyone has a Story: The Faces of the Philippines. You can view that HERE.

What’s even slower is the Tamron AF 18-270mm f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC LD Aspherical (IF) MACRO Lens (say that twenty times and see if that doesn’t slow you down).

With the f/stop range of 3.5-6.3 and knowing that Tamron lens are slow to focus, I still felt compelled to buy this lens for my Philippines trip. I would be shooting in hot, dusty and crowded places so I opted for the all in one Tamron super zoom lens rather than bringing three different lenses. After all, Tamron hailed it as “The Ultimate All-In-One Zoom: Longest, Steadiest Lens On Earth.” With a claim like that how could you not hand over your credit card number to Tamron?

While the lens did its job in helping me capture some great moments, its slow focusing system left me frustrated most of the time (thankfully I left most of those frustrations at the bottom of a San Miguel beer bottle).

It did deliver on this shot of this pump boat I took returning from Guimaras Island.

Guimaras is a hidden gem of the Philippine archipelago. It is only a fifteen minute pump boat ride from Iloilo City but a world apart from big city life.

Looking back the Tamron “slow” lens forced me to travel slower and be more cultural aware. To take a more deliberate approach in photographing the Filipino people rather than a “run and gun” approach.

So not only does slow and steady win the race but it also captures compelling images.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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A Trek to the Havasupai Nation Reservation

2011-01-17T11:45:00.001-08:00

A Trek to the Havasupai Nation Reservation
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

I was in Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin over the weekend photographing bald eagles. The overcast weather and sitting in my car to double as a blind equaled terrible photos.

So in the meantime I’ll post this photo from a trip I took in November of 2005 to Supai, Arizona which is located in the Havasupai Nation reservation. It is a part of the Grand Canyon region and the home of the Havasupai Tribe.

Supai is famous for its spectacular blue-green waterfalls. Havasupai translates to People-Of-The-Blue-Green-Waters in English.

The only way to get to Supai is by hiking, riding a mule or flying on a helicopter. I opted for the ten mile hike which began at Hualapai Hilltop trailhead.

This is Havasu Falls from a top the hiking trail. The color is due to the travertine deposits in the soil.

The amazing thing is the water temperature is about 70 degrees and remains relatively constant throughout the year. Although the weather during the day was about 70 degrees, the water was still too cold for my liking (now that I live in Wisconsin that’s warm to me).

A trip to the waterfalls of the Havasupai is worthy of anybody’s photography bucket list. Don’t miss out on experiencing this magical place of immense beauty and wonder.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Not Quite a Year in Provence

2011-01-13T14:49:00.001-08:00

Not Quite a Year in Provence
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

There are two types of weather reports here in Wisconsin: cold and arctic. As a result, there hasn’t been any photographic opportunities of late so I’m going to post another photo from the archives.

Over the New Year’s weekend my sister asked me why I never printed and framed the photo I took of the lavender fields of Abbaye Notre-Dame de Sénanque, near the town of Gordes in Provence, France. So I went searching in one of my older hard drives. Upon opening it in my photo browser it brought back many great memories.

That was a wonderful trip I took to France with my sister and her husband in July of 2003. My friend, Randy, was getting married in Provence, France and he asked me to travel there to be his best man. The wedding ceremony was held at the Eglise Notre Dame de I'lmmaculee Conception Catholic Church in Generac, France, a little town south of Nimes.

While in Provence we retraced the steps of the Roman past at the Pont du Gard, looked for Van Gogh's ear in Arles and held on to our money belts in Avignon.

Inspired by Peter Mayle's book "A Year in Provence," we spent a day joyriding in the Luberon region discovering the hill towns of Fontaine de Vaucluse, Isle sur la Sorgue and Gordes.

Just a short drive outside of Gordes, this is the Provence you see in guidebooks and on PBS specials. After a whole day of driving looking for the Provence lavender we were rewarded with this incredible postcard view.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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A Cool Oasis in the Anza-Borrego Desert

2011-01-10T11:21:00.001-08:00

A Cool Oasis in the Anza-Borrego Desert
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Palm trees and water in an austere setting of rocks and sun-blasted vegetation? Yes, its true and you can find this oasis in San Diego’s Anza-Borrego Desert.

The Borrego Palm Canyon trail is a very easy three mile round-trip hike along a rocky canyon that will take you to one of the last remaining naturally occurring native California palm groves.

Your patience and effort will soon be rewarded you with a gorgeous view of the palm tree lined, waterfall fed oasis!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Into the Wild..The Desert Wildflowers in Anza-Borrego

2011-01-06T11:52:00.001-08:00

Into the Wild..Desert Wildflowers in Anza-Borrego
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Just two hours drive from San Diego is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The park occupies over 600,000 acres making it the largest state park in the lower 48 states. The desert comes alive in late February to early April when the wildflowers bloom.

Henderson Canyon Road is the best place to see the wildflowers in all of Anza-Borrego. Here you will see the wildflowers carpet the desert floor. It’s an amazing sight to see.

This was taken with my handy dandy Canon PowerShot G9 camera. Over the years I have owned many Canon cameras such as the Digital Rebel, 20D, 50D, 7D (work camera), 5D, 5DMKII, PowerShot 100, PowerShot s400, PowerShot G1, PowerShot G9, PowerShot G10, PowerShot SX1 and many more other cameras I can’t remember at this time.

If I had to take one camera for a trip I would take the G9 for its versatility, compactness, incredible depth of field and stunning images it produces. It has always come through for me whenever it’s bigger brother (20D, 50D, 5D, 5DMKII) has failed me in the field for one reason or another (i.e. dead batteries, inclement weather, general meltdown, etc).

I had to get down and dirty for this shot! Laying on my belly with my G9 with the fill flash on and with the exposure compensation dialed to -1/3 I was good to go!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Happy New Year 2011! Font’s Point Sunrise

2011-01-03T15:23:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year! Font’s Point Sunrise
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Font's Point stands among one of the lesser known "classic" photo opportunities in the American Southwest desert. The viewpoint is located in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (which is California’s largest state park) in San Diego County. It is spectacular at sunrise when the golden morning light hits the Borrego Badlands.

To reach Font’s Point I had to drive on a soft and sandy four-mile primitive road which is great with a four-wheel-drive vehicle, but in my old Toyota Corolla it was a tough proposition. In the end, the effort was well worth it.

So here’s sunrise of a new day for a new year. I wish everybody great light and wonderful travel adventures for 2011!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Hovenweep: A Glimpse into the Ancestral Puebloans

2010-12-29T06:44:00.001-08:00

Hovenweep: A Glimpse into the Ancestral Puebloans
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Hovenweep National Monument is far from everything.

Located in the Four Corners area in a remote area on the Colorado/Utah border, Hovenweep (a Ute/Paiute word that means "deserted valley”), is both compelling and mysterious.

If you love long, dusty roads, solitude and ancestral Puebloans then Hovenweep is right up your alley.

I hope everybody had a great Christmas! Besides the fact that Santa didn’t deliver a Canon 500mm f/4L IS lens to under my Christmas tree, I still had a fantastic time with my family.

Have a wonderful New Year!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Obsession and Claustrophobia at Mesa Verde National Park

2010-12-23T12:26:00.001-08:00

Obsession and Claustrophobia at Mesa Verde National Park
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Mesa Verde National Park, located in the southwestern corner of Colorado, is a great interactive place. One of the more adventurous cliff dwellings of the ancestral Puebloan people is Balcony House. This cliff dwelling is only available on a ranger-guided tour and involves climbing a 32 foot ladder, crawling through a 12 foot-long tunnel, and climbing up a 60 foot open rock face with two 10 foot ladders to exit the site.

While on the tour I waited in line to crawl through a narrow 12 foot-long tunnel, a woman in front of me froze up and screamed she was claustrophobic. After making a scene she turned to me commanded that I go before her. I happily obliged and squeezed my way through the tunnel being careful not to damage my Canon 5D camera all the while listening to the woman behind me continue to whine and complain.

At the conclusion of the tour we had to climb two ladders to exit the site. I stayed behind the rest of the tour group to get some unobstructed views of the cliff dwelling before heading up. I then spotted the annoying and claustrophobic woman approaching me so I decided to get to the ladders before she did.

As I approached the first ladder, I paused for a moment to adjust my camera around my shoulder and not before Ms. Claustrophobia shrieked, “What’s the matter?! Are you afraid of heights?!”

“No, I’m just adjusting my camera so it won’t swing unnecessarily against the wall and break into pieces” I calmly replied, “you do realize the entire tour group scaled a 32 foot ladder to begin the tour?”

“Oh, you must be one of those types really obsessed with photography!” she snorted.

I turned my back to her and started to climb the ladder.

“By the way please stay behind me at least 150 to 200 yards. Annoying people make me claustrophobic. Thank you.”

She yelled back some expletive but I kept a smile on my face the whole time.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Keeping Strictly to the Straight and Narrow in Durango, CO

2010-12-20T19:59:00.001-08:00

Keeping Strictly to the Straight and Narrow in Durango, CO
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

A couple of years ago I traveled to Southern Colorado that proved to be one of my most memorable and productive photo trips. It would open the door for further exploration to the American Southwest and begin a lifelong love of photographing this magical part of the world.

In the charming city of Durango a great trip I would recommend to anyone would be the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad train ride. This spectacular train ride will take you through some beautiful forests and breathtaking canyons. Make sure you bring enough memory cards (or film) because the final destination takes to the photogenic historic mining town of Silverton.

Quick tips: Sit on the right hand side in one of the open box cars toward the end (this is for the train departing from Durango). The only downside is that you may get cold (layer properly) and get soot all over your clothes from the locomotive’s smokestack. Also, you have the option to take the train for the return trip to Durango or take a bus. I took the bus because it was much quicker (keep in mind the train trip from Durango to Silverton is very slow for scenic purposes (over three hours). With the extra time saved I was able to squeeze in an hour or so of camera time at nearby Mesa Verde National Park.

Now living in the Midwest I yearn for a return trip to the Southwest to photograph iconic landmarks and discover new ones.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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A Serenading Sunset in Baja California Sur!

2010-12-17T09:13:00.001-08:00

A Serenading Sunset in Baja California Sur!
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Baja California Sur has been labeled paradise between two seas since it is surrounded on both sides by the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez. It’s where the desert meets the sea and it is the sea that draws people to this magical place.

Our trek took us to the Kuyima Campground located at the San Ignacio Lagoon. Every year from January through March the waters off of Baja California serve as breeding grounds for gray whales before they migrate back up to Alaska.

In the morning we would head out on small Mexican fishing boat called “pangas” to have a close encounter of the whale kind. We spent the afternoon eating sumptuous scallops in Kuyimita’s palapa. In the evening, with our tents right next to the whale sanctuary, we were serenaded to sleep listening to the rhythmic sounds of the gray whales.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Having a Whale of a Time in Baja California!

2010-12-16T18:04:00.001-08:00

Having a Whale of a Time in Baja California!
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Mexican drug cartels! Shootouts in Mexican border towns! Violence toward U.S. citizens!

Yes, a perfect time to take a road trip to Mexico!

Back in 2009 my friends, Randy and Florence, and I decided to drive over 580 miles from the US-Mexico border to the San Ignacio Lagoon to experience Baja California’s friendliest whales.

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

With my water soaked Canon G10 I captured this moment out in the San Ignacio Lagoon of another “pangas” (Mexican fishing boat) encountering two gray whales.

So what about the hype of the violence in Mexico?

I couldn’t tell you.

We were too busy breaking the speed limits on Mexico Highway 1( also known as the Transpeninsular Highway), eating fresh seafood, shooting (photographing) gray whales, and all the while laughing every minute of the way.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Brain Freeze in Winter Wonderland

2010-12-15T10:14:00.001-08:00

Brain Freeze in Winter Wonderland
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

A pounding blizzard swept through Wisconsin and as a result I spent this weekend indoors. I was budgeting to get a snow blower this winter, but instead I decided to buy some new glass. I literally paid the price for that decision as I ended up shoveling my driveway all weekend.

Photography is not only an expensive hobby, but it is also responsible for sore backs!

So when I wasn’t shoveling or shivering I spent some time in front of my computer going through photos from some great trips I took. Going through my photo browser I stopped at a memorable road trip I took with my friends, Randy and Florence, down to the San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California.

Many people go whale watching, but at San Ignacio you can touch these friendly whales in their own environment!

In the next couple of days I’ll be posting more photos from that trip and writing about the crazy Mexico road trip we took to reach the lagoon so stay tuned!

In the meantime, this is a sunset shot of Florence doing her yoga pose at the lagoon after a great day of experiencing the whales of Baja. I would write more to describe the moment I clicked this photo, but I’m having a brain freeze from all this cold weather.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Mission San Ignacio

2010-12-11T17:23:00.001-08:00

Mission San Ignacio
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

The site for the future mission was discovered in 1706 by Francisco MarÌa Piccolo at the palm-lined CochimÌ oasis of Kadakaam·n ("arroyo of the carrizos"). The site proved to be a highly productive one agriculturally, and served as the base for later Jesuit expansion in the central peninsula. The impressive surviving church was constructed by the Dominican missionary Juan GÛmez in 1786. The mission was finally abandoned in 1840.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Devil’s Doorway: Photographs from Hell

2010-12-09T09:17:00.001-08:00

Devil’s Doorway: Photographs from Hell
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Hiking in Devil’s Lake State Park in Baraboo, Wisconsin I came upon this geological formation known as Devil’s Doorway. I don’t know the history behind the name but my assumption is that living in Wisconsin is hell! The freezing winters are hell! Shoveling back breaking snow is hell! The pesky mosquitoes in summer are hell! I think it’s an appropriate name.

I must be in hell because I’m think about returning here in the next couple of weeks to photograph the Devil’s Doorway blanketed in the winter snow.

I have photographed American Southwest icons such as Canyon de Chelly in Arizona, Bryce Canyon in Utah, Cathedral Rock in Sedona and I always wanted to go back there for a winter landscape photo shoot. I won’t be traveling to those places anytime soon so the Devil’s Doorway will have to suffice for now.

Oh hell!

Happy Travels!

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Mariachis Playing in Ensenada, Baja Mexico

2010-12-08T13:59:00.001-08:00

Mariachis Playing in Ensenada, Baja Mexico
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Environmental portraits are an important key aspect in travel photography as it gives the viewer a "spirit of the place."

Taken at the Ensenada Fish Market in Baja, Mexico.

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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A Balancing Act at Devil’s Lake State Park

2010-12-07T07:28:00.001-08:00

A Balancing Act at Devil’s Lake State Park
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Winter is upon us here in Wisconsin and the thing that drives me crazy is that the snow here is perfect for snowboarding but there are no mountains! Elevation is something that is devoid in Wisconsin.

Devil’s Lake State Park is Wisconsin’s saving grace. The park is blessed with a scenic lake and 500-foot bluffs. It is these bluffs that provide excellent hiking and rock climbing opportunities. Along the way are some unique geological formations.

A short but steep hike will take you to one of those unique formations. Balanced rock has defied logic and the harsh Wisconsin weather. That in itself makes it worthy to photograph.

The fall colors peaked already by the time I got to the park, but you can see there was still some remnants of color.

The rock wasn’t the only one with a balancing act as I precariously walked toward the edge of the cliff to compose this shot.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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The Return of the Lion King!

2010-11-28T16:01:00.001-08:00

The Return of the Lion King!
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Located in Madison, Wisconsin is the Henry Vilas Zoo which is free to the public.

To my amazement this small, neighborhood zoo has an impressive collection of animals. From their Amur tiger to the grizzly bears to their African lions. As a former longtime member of the world famous San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park, I know what a first-rate zoo looks like.

My camera lens has always been attracted to the lions, I guess since they are the top predator of the animal world and thus on the top of the food chain. I could also say I like photographing them because they are the “King of the Jungle,” but that technically wouldn’t be right since they inhabit the savanna grasslands of Africa and not the jungle!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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So What’s For Lunch?

2010-11-23T12:09:00.001-08:00

So What’s For Lunch?
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

I wish I could say I took this in the wild but it was taken in the friendly confines of the Milwaukee County Zoo. I decided to take a trip there since locals highly recommended it to me as a photography day trip.

The zoo’s felines are housed in a building called the Florence Mila Borchert Big Cat Country. The exhibit has both an indoor and outdoor area. I would assume the cats spend most of their time inside to escape the cold Wisconsin weather.

This jaguar proved to be the perfect model as it remained still while posing for me and then it gave me the look, “I’m done and now I’m going to eat you for lunch!”

Having a “Rip-roaring” Time at the Henry Vilas Zoo - Madison, Wisconsin

2010-11-18T10:08:00.001-08:00

Having a “Rip-roaring” Time at the Henry Vilas Zoo - Madison, Wisconsin
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Some of the best things in life are free!

For example, taking the Staten Island Ferry in New York City where you have magnificent views of the Manhattan skyline and of the Statue of Liberty. There’s also the free light and water show at Buckingham Fountain in Chicago. Here in Madison, Wisconsin there is the Henry Vilas Zoo which is free to the public.

To my amazement this small, neighborhood zoo has an impressive collection of animals. From their Amur tiger to the grizzly bears to their African lions. As a former longtime member of the world famous San Diego Zoo & Wild Animal Park, I know what a first-rate zoo looks like.

My camera lens has always been attracted to the lions, I guess since they are the top predator of the animal world and thus on the top of the food chain. I could also say I like photographing them because they are the “King of the Jungle,” but that technically wouldn’t be right since they inhabit the savanna grasslands of Africa!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Milwaukee Art Museum "Flying" at Dusk

2010-11-16T12:07:00.001-08:00

Milwaukee Art Museum "Flying" at Dusk
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Moving from California to Wisconsin I knew I would be encountering small towns over big cities. As a native of San Diego (the eighth largest city in the United States), I grew up accustomed to large cities. Since moving to the Midwest I have become familiar with small size cities, towns and villages.

Naturally I was attracted to the city of Milwaukee which is Wisconsin’s largest city (population over 600,000). Milwaukee’s blue-collar imagery of “Laverne and Shirley” and breweries has evolved over the years to what is now a modern sprawling metropolis.

What really put Milwaukee on the traveler’s map a couple of years ago was the postmodern addition designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava to the Milwaukee Art Museum (MAM).

The highlight of the museum architecture is the Burke Brise Soleil, a moveable wing-like sunscreen that sits on top of the museum. It acts as a sun shade throughout the day. The “wings” open in the morning, close/reopen at noon and close when the museum closes at 5:00 p.m.

I took this at dusk knowing the “wings” would be closing thus making for a dramatic slow shutter speed photograph. If it looks like the museum building is flying it maybe because the Burke Brise Soleil has a wingspan comparable to that of a Boeing 747-400.

MAM now serves as the iconic landmark for Milwaukee and a delight for photographers.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Apple iPhone Photography: Guimaras Island - Philippines

2010-11-15T13:56:00.001-08:00

Guimaras Island - Philippines
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

The Guimaras Island is only a 15 minute pump boat ride from Iloilo City but a world apart from big city life. Relaxing beach resorts always put me at ease and offer great photo opportunities.

I took this photo with my Apple iPhone! Chase Jarvis said it best when he stated, "The best camera is the one that's with you."

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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The Ford Seasons! Carhenge, Nebraska

2010-11-09T16:02:00.001-08:00

The Ford Seasons! Carhenge, Nebraska
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Carhenge - Alliance, Nebraska

Built in 1987 as a part of a family reunion, it is a giant size replica of the famous Druid ruin, Stonehenge.

Some other enterprising artists have added their automotive works of art nearby such as this creative work of art: The Ford Seasons!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Come Fly With Me...The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

2010-11-08T21:34:00.001-08:00

Come Fly With Me...The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

This photo always brings a smile to my face. The Darth Vader balloon brings back memories of my youth when I would stand in a mile long line just to get into a single screen theater to watch Star Wars!

In the evening the special shape balloons put on a show called the glowdeo. The static display of the special shape balloons light up the night landscape when all the pilots turn their burners on to create a magical moment.

Canon EOS 5D,Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD IF

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A little history....

Every October the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico hosts a balloon fiesta that attracts people from all over the world. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta features over 700 balloon making it the largest ballooning event in the world. As a photographer I found this event a delight because of the bright, colorful balloons contrasted against the big blue New Mexico sky made for great photographs!

The Balloon Fiesta Park is spread out over a 78-acre launch field (that's 54 football fields put together)! This event is huge and in fact they claim that this is the most photographed event in the world. What I like the best was that there are no viewing stands - you are part of the action and can walk right up to the balloons. The crews are very friendly and accommodating to photographers.

My photo does not do justice of portraying the awestruck sight of hundreds of balloons in mass ascension or bringing a smile to your face as you see for the first time the special shape balloons, but hopefully it will inspire you to book a flight to Albuquerque next year so you may witness this incredible event for yourself.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Crown Fountain - Chicago, Illinois

2010-11-02T16:17:00.001-07:00

Crown Fountain - Chicago, Illinois
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

"A fountain is the memory of nature, this marvelous sound of a little river in the mountains translated to the city. For me, a fountain doesn't mean a big jet of water. It means humidity, the origin of life."
-Jaume Plensa

Designed by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa and starring the people of Chicago, Crown Fountain in Millennium Park is a great place to take out of state visitors and to watch locals 'splish splash' in the water.

The fountain consists of two 50-foot glass towers that project images of 1,000 local Chicagoans. On a regular interval, water flows through a water outlet in the screen to give the illusion of water spouting from their mouths.

My friends from California, Jason and Kathryn, were in town to visit me over the weekend. I played tour guide over the next couple of days as I took them to the Midwestern hotspots of Milwaukee and Chicago. In Chicago, Millennium Park is a 'must see' stop for any tour guide's route. Of course, being a great tour guide my timing was impeccable as we arrived at Crown Fountain at dusk and while locals were enjoying a cool moment in the water.

This little girl happen to run into the frame as I pressed my shutter button of my Canon G9 camera. I think it added another dimension to the blue sky and reflection in the pool. My kind of photograph from the Windy City.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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The "Ghosts" of Upper Antelope Canyon - Page, Arizona

2010-10-28T08:53:00.001-07:00

The 'Ghosts' of Upper Antelope Canyon - Page, Arizona
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

As much as the Navajo are a part of the Antelope canyon so are the hoards of people who visit, rather than experience, the slot canyon. Fortunately the guides try to shuttle the tourists through the narrow canyons so not to disturb photographers who are taking long exposures. I took this photo knowing a tour group would walk right into my shot, but I wanted to show the relationship between the slot canyon and the many tourists that visit it. A 20 second exposure turn them into 'ghosts.'

Canon EOS 5D, Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD IF

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In the last 20 years Antelope Canyon has rivaled the Grand Canyon National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park as a “must see destination” on a grand tour of the Southwest. For photographers it is a stunning visual paradise on earth. Besides the incredible light and remarkable colors of the Navajo sandstone, Antelope Canyon easily accommodates photographers due to the fact that there is no hiking involved to get to the entrance, the actual slot canyon is very short (about 200 yards in length), the best light is from mid-morning to noon (so no waking up early to catch the sunrise), and since all tours are guided you are given invaluable tips on the best places to position your camera.

What is known as Antelope Canyon is actually part of the Antelope Canyon Navajo Tribal Park located right outside of Page, Arizona (located in Northwest Arizona near the Utah border). The tribal park consists of two regions: Upper and Lower Antelope Canyon. Upper Antelope Canyon (Tse Bighanilini’) is by far the more popular of the two as a result of its easy access and spectacular light beams that has made this slot canyon famous.

The best time to visit Upper Antelope Canyon is between April to October when the trademark light beams illuminate the slot canyon. I visited in the month of December knowing well I wouldn’t have the spectacular light but the tradeoff was I wasn’t going to deal with the maddening crowds that have characterized Antelope Canyon the last couple of years. Besides after a couple of intense days photographing nearby Monument Valley, I wanted to experience the slot canyon with my own eyes rather from behind the camera.

Enjoy the photograph and the accompanying travelogue! I would love to hear from you so please leave a comment.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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San Ignacio Whale Bone Sunset

2010-10-24T10:41:00.001-07:00

San Ignacio Whale Bone Sunset
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

San Ignacio Lagoon, Baja California Sur is home to Baja California's Friendly Whales. The best place on earth to get close enough to touch these friendly, curious animals in their own environment (of course those are the whales in the water, this one is a little dried up)!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Memories of Balboa Island - Newport Beach, CA

2010-10-22T09:37:00.001-07:00

Memories of Balboa Island - Newport Beach, CA
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

I use to live in the lovely coastal town of Newport Beach, CA. If you have ever watched the television teen drama “The O.C.” that’s where the show took place (although due to union regulations the show was shot mainly in Los Angeles County).

One of my favorite places in Newport Beach to photograph, take a stroll, sip a coffee and read a good book is Balboa Island. On the island are million dollar homes with hundred million dollar views (that last part is my guesstimate)! The island sits on just 0.2 square miles so the homes are very compacted. In fact, my home basement here in Wisconsin is probably bigger than most homes on Balboa Island.

The island also features one of the few, if not only, car ferries in California. The ferry takes cars and pedestrians from Balboa Island to the Balboa Peninsula.

I took this shot many times when I lived in Newport Beach and I wanted to duplicate it again since I now have better photo equipment (back then I use to shoot with the Canon PowerShot G1).

I must have brought the Wisconsin weather with me because the whole time I was in California it was overcast including this evening when I took this shot. It’s not the best photograph I have taken from this spot, but it at least gives me a reminder of days past when I lived in Newport Beach, CA (the locals do not call it the “O.C.” - it’s simply Orange County).

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Catching Crabs in Johns Island, South Carolina (No! Not those type of crabs)!

2010-10-21T19:24:00.001-07:00

Johns Island, South Carolina
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

My nephew catching crabs off the waters in Johns Island, South Carolina.

After spending most of the day admiring the beautiful architecture and acquainting myself with the wonderful hospitality of Charleston, my nephew and I headed back to my uncle's estate in Johns Island to spend some time on the water. The timing couldn't have been better as we went crabbing right as the sun was setting.

As my nephew was preparing his crab trap, the sun rays began to peek out from behind the clouds and I grabbed my Canon G9 to capture this moment in time.

After we got back to shore I had this photograph as a reminder of the wonderful time we had in South Carolina and delicious, fresh crabs for dinner!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Olbrich Botanical Garden's Thai Pavilion - Madison, Wisconsin

2010-10-20T09:15:00.001-07:00

Olbrich Botanical Garden's Thai Pavilion - Madison, Wisconsin
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

The Olbrich Botanical Gardens serves as an oasis from the urban setting of Wisconsin's capitol city Madison or "Madtown."

In the far reaches of the gardens is the Thai Pavilion. Its serene setting gave me the opportunity for deep contemplation and at the same time recharge my creative inclinations.

This photograph is not HDR. This is a product of using my Singh-Ray graduated neutral density filter (I don't use it as much as I have had in the past, although I should since it cost me a pretty penny). That was stacked along with my Hoya circular polarizer to achieve this result. I'm dropping some big camera gear names to give the impression that I'm a professional photographer, which I'm not, only a weekend photography warrior.

Thanks for stopping by and I look forward to visiting your photostreams soon!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Sunset at High Cliff State Park - Sherwood, Wisconsin

2010-10-11T14:44:00.001-07:00

Sunset at High Cliff State Park
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

"Photograph: a picture painted by the sun without instruction in art." ~Ambrose Bierce

"You don't take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it." ~Author Unknown

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter." ~Ansel Adams

High Cliff is the only state-owned recreational area on Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin's largest lake.

High Cliff gets its name from the limestone cliff of the Niagara Escarpment, which parallels the eastern shore of Lake Winnebago.

This is a great place to watch a sunset and enjoy the Wisconsin outdoors.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Revisiting the Past at the Tumacacori Mission in Southeast Arizona

2010-10-09T10:35:00.001-07:00

Revisiting the Past at the Tumacacori Mission in Southeast Arizona
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

For the first time in a long time I spent the weekend in front of my computer instead of shooting out in the field. I was doing preventive maintenance by going through my photos and backing them up on various hard drives. In the process of doing so I went through my old photos from past trips that brought back memories.

In 2004 I took road trip through Southeast Arizona that gave me a flavor of a mix of the Old West, Old Mexico, amazing architecture, church history, and a reminder of the Cold War.

I shot this photo of the Tumacacori Mission with my first digital camera the Canon PowerShot S100 that had a whooping 2 megapixels, a far cry from my current Canon 5D MKII camera that shoots 21 megapixels!

I loved shooting with the PowerShot S100 and it served me well on many photo adventures. It was with me when I ran for my life when I did the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain (talk about a slow shutter lag)!

In the end, my photographic endeavors and creativity led me to outgrow that little camera and eventually lead me to getting my first digital SLR, a Canon Digital Rebel.

So many memories and so many hard drives to back them up on!

So what was your first digital camera? I would love hear from you in the comment section.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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This was not inspired by J.J. Abrams and his Star Trek Lens Flares

2010-10-08T09:31:00.001-07:00

This was not inspired by J.J. Abrams and his Star Trek Lens Flares
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

This photograph was inspired by humanitarian photographer and best-selling author David duChemin. After digesting his books “Within The Frame” and “VisionMongers: Making a Life and a Living in Photography” I got inspired by some of his photographs that incorporated artistic lens flare to them.

This unique lift bridge over the Menasha Lock is part of the Fox Cities Trestle - Friendship Trail. The local operator just got done lowering the bridge and I spotted these two bicycle riders ready to cross. I quickly set my Canon 5D MKII camera and knowingly was going to violate one of the first rules of photography that I learned: never shoot into the sun! But I wanted to shoot into the sun to pull off my David duChemin lens flare tribute.

Well, I pulled it off and the rules of photography be damned!

Lens flares in your shot mixes up your artistic creativity but don’t overdo it like J.J. Abrams did in his Star Trek film. I thought the lens flare were great in the first couple of shots but in every frame? Simply annoying.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Fond du Lac Lighthouse, Wisconsin

2010-10-07T08:52:00.001-07:00

Fond du Lac Lighthouse, Wisconsin
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

The city of Fond du Lac is about 35 minute drive south from my home in the Appleton area. The French translation means the "bottom, or far end, of the lake" since the city is located at the bottom of Lake Winnebago.

I photographed this lighthouse, which is Fond du Lac's most recognizable landmark, at sunset in Lakeside Park. The first time I photographed this lighthouse was back in the winter a couple of months ago when the weather was deadly cold. I didn't realized how cold it was because I kept warm in my SmartWool thermals and North Face down jacket. It was only when I took my gloves off to adjust my camera settings did my fingers experience frostbite from the dreadful Wisconsin cold!

I used the remarkable Canon 5D MKII full frame camera to capture this photograph. The camera lives up to its reputation for amazing image quality! This is perhaps the best camera Canon has in their current line up. Kudos to Canon.

This time around I didn't get frostbite, only a serene moment to enjoy nature's light show.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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America's Best Fall Foliage

2010-10-06T14:08:00.001-07:00

Fall Colors at Lawrence University - Appleton, Wisconsin
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

Founded in 1847 Lawrence University is an internationally renowned college of liberal arts and sciences and a conservatory of music.

More fall colors around Wisconsin with another week before the peak season.

If I were still in college this is the type of campus I would love to study at! Small liberal arts college with beautiful surroundings. Of course, when the snow starts to fall I would quickly transfer to a warm weather college.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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I traveled all the way to Iloilo City, Philippines with my tripod and all I came back with is this lousy photo!

2010-10-05T15:25:00.001-07:00

I traveled all the way to Iloilo City, Philippines with my tripod and all I came back with is this lousy photo!
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

On my third trip to the Philippines I brought with me something that I didn’t have on my previous two trips (to be fair I was only six years old on my first trip) - a camera tripod.

I wanted to engage in some serious “fine art” photography while on this trip and that meant shooting during sunrise, sunset and dusk all requiring a tripod. So I lugged my Manfrotto tripod from San Diego, CA to Iloilo City, Philippines.

In the end my tripod spent more time in my suitcase rather than being firmly planted on the ground supporting my camera. In between family get togethers, extended meals and getting to know Mr. San Miguel (a Filipino beer) very well, I was only able to squeeze in one night of dusk photography.

I shot this on a pedestrian bridge right outside my hotel. If you blink fast enough you won’t see the telephone wires obscuring your view!

Next time the tripod stays home.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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A Lovely Sunday Walk Viewing the Wisconsin Fall Colors

2010-10-04T14:12:00.001-07:00

A Lovely Sunday Walk Viewing the Wisconsin Fall Colors
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

The Fox Cities Trestle - Friendship Trail is an old abandoned railroad trestle that now serves as a pedestrian and bike path. At 1600’ long is it the largest pedestrian bridge in Wisconsin crossing a body of water.

The trail is popular with families taking a stroll or, as you can see from the photo, taking a Sunday afternoon bike ride. It is also a great place to catch some Wisconsin fall colors, although we are still about two weeks from the peak colors in the Fox Valley.

I may have turned my circular polarizer a tad bit too much to get that deep blue sky, but with the fall season now upon us here in Wisconsin and with Old Man Winter waiting in the wings, we aren’t going to get too many blue skies in the near future. I have to enjoy the blue skies and somewhat warm weather while I can!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Lost on Michigan Avenue

2010-07-03T16:32:00.001-07:00

The Michigan Avenue Bridge carries Michigan Avenue across the Chicago River. Michigan Avenue is home to famous landmarks such as the Chicago Water Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, and the Magnificent Mile.

Since moving to the Midwest from Southern California, I have visited the city that Frank Sinatra sang as "My Kind of Town," numerous times. The first time I visited Chicago I took this same photo with my old Canon Powershot camera that didn't have image stabilization so it came out a little blurry. I always had the notion in the back of my mind to return to take that same photo. So over this past President's Day weekend I took the three hour drive from my home in Appleton, Wisconsin to Chicago, Illinois.

One quirky thing about photography is that sometimes a little gadget, rather than a new camera body or lens, can make a huge difference in your image quality. A couple of years ago I was photographing Bodie Ghost Town in the Eastern Sierras of California and I met a fellow photographer who had this strange square device on his hot shoe.

"What's that strange thing you have on your camera?" I asked.

"It's a bubble spirit level. You serious don't know what this is and you call yourself a landscape photographer?" he replied incredulously.

Okay I thought to myself....so after returning from that trip I ordered a bubble spirit level online and my photography has vastly improved along with less time fooling around with Photoshop in trying to straighten out my crooked images. What is a bubble spirit level? It's a little square that you put on your hot shoe that ensures your camera is perfectly level whether shooting in horizontal or vertical position.

What does this have to do with this photograph?

As I walked out of my hotel I put the bubble spirit level on my Canon 50D camera hot shoe. When I got to this location and put my camera on my tripod I noticed the bubble spirit level was missing! I didn't have time to retrace my steps to look for it since I would miss the "blue hour," so I did without it and continued to take a couple of frames for the next ten minutes before my 50D completely froze up! The wicked Chicago cold melted down my 50D! On the LCD my menu screen was on, but I couldn't navigate out of it in addition to my shutter button not working at all.

So once again I turned to my backup camera, the always reliable and phenomenal Canon G9! I am constantly amazed of the incredible image quality that comes from this compact camera (The photograph you see here was taken with the G9). Since I lost my bubble spirit level, I used the G9's grid view to ensure the horizon was level. After freezing in the cold and cursing at myself, I retraced my steps to my hotel looking for my bubble spirit level but to no avail.

So somewhere on Michigan Avenue is my lost bubble spirit level. Somebody probably found it and asked the question, "What is this strange square looking thing?"

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Sunset over Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin

2010-03-31T14:12:00.001-07:00

Sunset over Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

The memorial statue of Red Bird, chief of the Winnebagos, stands guard over the lake and waves goodbye to another sunset at High Cliff State Park in Wisconsin.

High Cliff is the only state park on Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin's largest lake. High Cliff gets its name from the limestone cliff of the Niagara Escarpment. It's also the nearest state park to my home and a great place to experience a sunset. It was a great reminder that Spring has officially arrived here and that this native Californian survived, endured, and suffered through his first Wisconsin winter!

I can finally put away my down jacket, snow shovel, and ice scraper. Now the only thing I have to get use to is that the locals call the coastline along Lake Michigan the "beach." Yes, there's sand, sun and water, but it's lake water and that's not a beach in my book. Give me sand, sun and the Pacific Ocean and we have a beach!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Door County, Wisconsin Sunset

2010-03-25T07:38:00.001-07:00

Another photograph from my Wisconsin series as I take a break from posting my photos from my Philippines trip.

Some of the best sunsets in Wisconsin are in Peninsula State Park located in Door County. It gets very cold in this part of the world so much that bodies of water freeze over (as a native Californian I just find this fascinating). The frozen body of water you see here is Green Bay (yes, as in the Green Bay Packers football team).

As I was driving through the park, on a road that was parallel to the frozen bay, I noticed people walking on the ice and admiring these strange ice formations. They are called pressure ridges which are long cracks in the ice that occur due to repeated heating and cooling. They are also a sign that winter is ending and spring is beginning as temperatures begin to rise.

I have never walked out on a frozen body of water before, but I thought it would be a great experience and besides there were other people on the ice so it would be safe. It was only after I started walking on the ice did I realize that with 45 degree weather (warm for Wisconsin) and the pressure ridges in front of me did it dawn upon me that the ice was thinning out and maybe I shouldn't be out here.

I quickly put that notion aside when I scouted a perfect location that would make for a great sunset shot. When I came back that evening, I was the only one walking around on the frozen bay among the pressure ridges. I was risking death in the event if the ice cracked and I fell in the icy, cold water!

The things I do to get that perfect shot. Please remember I am a professional and do not attempt this on your own!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Dinagyang Festival 2010

2010-03-10T11:21:00.001-08:00

Dinagyang Festival 2010
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

On the streets of Iloilo City, Philippines the Ilonggo people erupt in an annual celebration on the fourth weekend in January in a colorful spectacle called Dinagyang.

Colorful costumes, captivating drumbeats, and spirited dancing can best describe this festival, but in reality, Dinagyang must be experienced in person. To be in the middle of all of this excitement: to smell the aroma of Filipino food, hear the drums crashing, and to see the visual display of dancing tribes is why I travel.

The main focus of Dinagyang is a religious festival to honor the Santo Nino, but Dinagyang is much more than that. Its a cultural hodgepodge of Roman Catholicism, Animism, and Islam all mixed into one.

This was the second time I have been to Dinagyang and it surely will not be my last. Photographing during large festivals is always a challenge, but that is what makes it all the more exciting. On the other hand, photographing Dinagyang in the Philippines is far more easier that photographing festivals in the United States. For example, there were no restrictions in getting in the middle of the parade route and photographing the different tribes. It was common for spectators to step off the sidewalk and join the tribal dancers for a photo opportunity.

This is what makes Dinagyang so exciting, to be in the middle of all the action and excitement. To be an active participant and not a spectator.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Having Fun in Tigbauan!

2010-03-09T08:49:00.001-08:00

In the coastal town of Tigbauan lies a beautiful church whose design was inspired by Churrisgueresque architecture, a form of Baroque.

After admiring the inside of the church with its unique mosaics depicting the Stations of the Cross, I stepped outside to photograph the facade. Behind me were children playing and they were intrigued with my digital SLR camera. These girls jokingly asked me if I could take a photo of them so I turned my camera in their direction and took a photo. They were embarrassed and were about to run away when I stopped them and showed them the photo I took of them on my camera LCD. Their eyes grew big and they screamed, "another one!" After a couple of snaps they got comfortable and began have fun in front of the camera and I eventually got a winner!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Pineapple Girl

2010-02-28T16:37:00.001-08:00

An example on how you make photos, not take them.

On the island of Guimaras, we stopped at a roadside pineapple stand and I met this young lady who was managing the stand. After a brief conversation I asked her if I could take her photo and being shy she declined at first. Before leaving I asked her one more time and she agreed.

She was in the direct sunlight so I asked her to move into the shade under the awning of the stand. I had to direct her a couple of times because the yellow rope keep getting in the way of her face. Finally, she moved to the left and I got one shot and that's what you see here.

Dinagyang Festival 2010

2010-02-25T11:25:00.001-08:00

On the streets of Iloilo City, Philippines the Ilonggo people erupt in an annual celebration on the fourth weekend in January in a colorful spectacle called Dinagyang.

Colorful costumes, captivating drumbeats, and spirited dancing can best describe this festival, but in reality, Dinagyang must be experienced in person. To be in the middle of all of this excitement: to smell the aroma of Filipino food, hear the drums crashing, and to see the visual display of dancing tribes is why I travel.

The main focus of Dinagyang is a religious festival to honor the Santo Nino, but Dinagyang is much more than that. Its a cultural hodgepodge of Roman Catholicism, Animism, and Islam all mixed into one.

This was the second time I have been to Dinagyang and it surely will not be my last. Photographing during large festivals is always a challenge, but that is what makes it all the more exciting. On the other hand, photographing Dinagyang in the Philippines is far more easier that photographing festivals in the United States. For example, there were no restrictions in getting in the middle of the parade route and photographing the different tribes. It was common for spectators to step off the sidewalk and join the tribal dancers for a photo opportunity.

This is what makes Dinagyang so exciting, to be in the middle of all the action and excitement. To be an active participant and not a spectator.

Happy Travels!

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Pinoy Transportation

2010-02-12T09:02:00.001-08:00

For the traveller the Philippines doesn't have an extensive highway network like the United States nor a public rail system like Western Europe. Instead you have an eclectic choice of getting around and within the Philippines over 7,000 islands by boat, bus, private car, jeepney, or my personal favorite the tricycle.

On my short list of photographs to get while in the Philippines was a panning shot of a tricycle. Throughout my trip I attempted many panning shots but I found them unsatisfactory. Finally, on the day before I departed to go back to the United States I got this shot during the Feast of Our Lady of Candles in Jaro.

Patience and drinking many San Miguel beers to pass the time pays off!

All Smiles, No Teeth!

2010-02-11T08:12:00.001-08:00

All Smiles, No Teeth!
Originally uploaded by Sam Antonio Photography

In Jaro, Iloilo City in the Philippines, the Feast of Our Lady of Candles (Nuestra Senora dela Candelaria) is held every second day of February. It is the most vibrant religious festival in the Western Visayas.

The festival is centered around the Jaro Cathedral and the town plaza. Due to the enormous crowds, all local traffic was closed down in the town center. As a result my nephew and I had to walk toward the cathedral. On the way I happen to notice this street vendor and his curious "smile." I waved a friendly hello to him and walked on to the festival.

After the parade procession I saw the street vendor again and I raised my camera up to indicate a photo. He responded with his warm smile and friendly personality.

This photo breaks one of the cardinal rules in that it has a distracting background, taking the focus away the main subject. But the woman walking in the background and laughing made everybody smile, including the photographer behind the camera.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Drummer Boy

2010-02-10T09:07:00.001-08:00

After a day of touring around the Guimaras Island lead by our extraordinary tour guide, Daisy Yanson from Panay Adventures Tours, I mentioned to her that I wanted to stop at a local market to shop for the famous Guimaras mangoes.

With my nephew, Jeran, riding a top the roof of our private jeepney (he wanted to ride like a local), we pulled over at a local market where there was not only an abundance of fresh produce, but also photo opportunities.

After I bought my mangoes, I wandered about the marketplace meeting and photographing the locals. One that really caught my eye was this young boy playing drums on an empty can. Knowing I had a brief window of opportunity, I quickly adjusted my camera settings for a slower shutter speed to capture the motion of him playing “drums” with his improvised drum sticks.

As an added benefit he stuck his tongue out at me! This photo quickly became one of my favorites from my trip.

Happy Travels!

Visions of the Golden Gate Bridge

2009-12-12T19:27:00.001-08:00

"Visions of the Golden Gate Bridge"

"To pass through the portals of the Golden Gate is to cross the threshold of adventure." -Allan Dunn

Nothings conveys the beauty of the Bay Area than the Golden Gate Bridge. It is the most recognized symbol of San Francisco and some consider it one of the seven wonders of the modern world. As a result, the Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most photographed icons in the world and draws photographers from all over the globe.

The most popular view is to head out of San Francisco via the Golden Gate toward the Marin Headlands. From here they are many viewpoints but my favorite, along with many other photographers, is from the Battery Spencer viewpoint. It is here you can get a close up view of the north tower.

I am sure you have seen countless photographs of the Golden Gate and I have taken countless numbers of photographs of the bridge over many years. So there I was on Battery Spencer with my face was stuck behind my camera taking my 999,999 photo of the bridge when I pulled away to see other photographers engaged in the same activity. I wondered to myself what do they see? We are all shooting the same static subject but what is their creative vision? Who will they share their creative art / snapshot with? What is their creative inspiration?

Yes, crossing the "Golden Gate Bridge is to cross the threshold of adventure."

So what is your creative vision when you look through the lens? I love to hear your thoughts...

Merry Christmas!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

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Friends, Romans, Gamblers! Caesars Palace Casino - Las Vegas, Nevada

2009-11-07T22:36:00.001-08:00

On December 31, 1967 daredevil Evel Knievel made his famous, or infamous, motorcycle jump over the fountains at Caesars Palace. As usual, he landed with a spectacular crash in which Knievel suffered a crushed pelvis and femur, fractures to his hip, wrist and both ankles and a concussion that kept him in a coma for 29 days. Hardcore!

Caesars Palace was one of the first theme casinos in Las Vegas. It's here you can party with Caesar but always remember you'll walk out of the casino as poor as a Roman slave.

Canon EOS 5D, Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD IF

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Las Vegas, Nevada - Sin City, the adult Disneyland, Lost Wages, the City of Lights. You have the whole world at your disposal in Las Vegas. Only here can you go from Asia, Egypt, Old England, New York, Hollywood, Paris, Italy and ancient Rome all in one street. With the U.S. dollar in the tank, there's no need to travel overseas just head to the world famous Las Vegas Strip!

I have traveled to Las Vegas more than any other U.S. city (more times than I can count or remember), whether for a convention, bachelor party, weekend holiday getaway, family trip or simply one of those all the bars are closed in Los Angeles let's go to Vegas nights.

It's here in Las Vegas where the hotels are the major attractions and are an integral part of the landscape. 19 of the world's 25 largest hotels are located in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas is where everybody comes as a winner and leaves as a loser. Leave you credit card at the front desk, your cash at the blackjack table and your financial dreams in the toilet.

Before there was email...

2009-10-09T00:53:00.001-07:00

There was the Pony Express!

The Pony Express mail service operated for only 18 months from April 1860 to October 1861 before it fell victim to the transcontinental telegraph.

Riders would gallop along a 1,966 mile route from St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California where upon the mail would be taken upon a steamer to be sent down to San Francisco. Because the mail was delivered by riders on horseback rather than stagecoaches mail could be delivered between the Pacific and Atlantic coasts by ten days.

The Pony Express Monument in Old Sacramento, California commemorates the first Eastbound ride which started at this exact spot at 2:46 a.m. on April 4,1860, when Sam Hamilton started his first lap of the 1,966 mile trip to St. Joseph, Missouri.

Old Sacramento, California is located on the Sacramento River and is minutes from the State Capitol. It has the highest collection of "Gold Rush" era buildings and is registered as a National and California Historic Landmark.

Kudos to the young men of the Pony Express who endured inclement weather and treacherous terrain to deliver mail, while today I sit at my computer and send electronic email to thousands of people all over the world in a blink of an eye!

Text and photo copyright by Sam Antonio

Canon 50D, Canon 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 Lens

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"Little Church, Big Faith"

2009-10-02T02:07:00.001-07:00

My friend, Denmark, and I took a quick day trip to Yuma, Arizona which is just right over the California state border. I had read about this church before our trip and mentioned we should stop by to take a look. I spotted it on our way to the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground along Highway 95 and we decided to photograph it on our way back.

Our timing couldn't have been more perfect as we came back to photograph the church right at a spectacular sunset. The church sits in the middle of a field away from the highway down a dirt road. I only noticed it because there is a sign off the highway that reads, "Stop, Rest, Worship."

The story behind the small church (it seats about 12 people) is that a local farmer built it to honor his wife and its only official service is during Easter. It's open to the public and there is a guest register you can sign.

Roadside America.com lists it as one of the smallest churches in the world. I see it as a refuge for the world's problems and a resting place from the hot Arizona weather. A tiny gift from a farmer with a huge heart.

Text and photo copyright by Sam Antonio

Canon 50D, Canon 10-22 f/3.5-4.5 Lens

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Another Perspective on Bosque del Apache!

2009-10-01T02:32:00.001-07:00

Get ready for an experience of a lifetime! Arriving 40 minutes before sunrise, I waited in the cold pre-dawn for the daily ritual of the fly-out of the snow geese. The geese roost in the ponds overnight to protect themselves from predators and then fly-out in mass in the morning just as the sun rises to go to their feeding areas.

Canon EOS 5D, Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

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Mention the word "Bosque" to any bird photographer and they will instantly know you are talking about the mecca for bird photography in the United States. Every year from November to February, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is home to thousands of migrating sandhill cranes and snow geese for the winter. Located in San Antonio, New Mexico and a little over an hour drive south of Albuquerque, Bosque del Apache will enliven your senses and put your photography skills to the test.

It is also home to professional and well-funded amateurs photographers who migrate to Bosque for unique photo opportunities. In particular, the breathtaking experience of the predawn fly-out of tens of thousands snow geese.

As primarily a landscape and cityscape photographer I chose to go to Bosque to challenge and expand my photography skills. After my first day of shooting it became apparent I had some shortcomings. Bosque is one place where your camera equipment is as important as the person behind it. This is where top-notch professional camera bodies and fast super telephoto lens dominate. While the Canon 600mm f/4 lens is a popular lens with bird photographers, most photographers I talked with used the Canon 500mm f/4 lens because of its lighter weight and ease of use on the credit card (for the price of one Canon 600mm f/4 lens one can buy 18 iPhones).

The longest lens I was shooting with was with my Canon 100-400mm, but with limitations comes creativity. Most photos you see of Bosque del Apache are sharp portraits of the wildlife. My approach was to portray more environmental portraits of not only the wildlife but also man and nature.

Overall, I had a great time shooting at Bosque minus the cold weather (at dawn it was in the mid-teens). Now if Santa would kindly deliver the Canon 600mm f/4 lens for Christmas I would consider going back and braving the cold!

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"Monumental Moonrise"

2009-09-30T19:33:00.001-07:00

Monument Valley (or as the Navajos call it Tseí Biií Ndzisgaii) conjures up images of iconic western films namely because it was made famous by Hollywood director John Ford's films such as "Stagecoach" and "The Searchers" and his mainstay actor John Wayne. Even if you have never ventured to Monument Valley you would instantly recognize it due to the numerous movies, television commercials, music videos and print advertisements that have used this Navajo Tribal Park as a background. As a result, it is difficult to come away with some great photographs without having it be a cliche.

I always dreamed of making a pilgrimage to Monument Valley because I am a huge fan of the Western genre. Also, from a photographic point of view it is the apex symbol of the American Southwest.

Since this is a Navajo Tribal Park access is limited to a 17-mile self-drive circuit. The road is a bit rough in some areas but I drove it over the course of two days with a small compact rental car with ice in some places. My recommendation would be to take a guided tour to get an overview of the park and then come back later to do the valley drive to shoot in the best light. I stayed at Goulding's Lodge just outside the park boundary. It's a little more expensive than accommodations in Mexican Hat or Kayenta but every room has a private balcony with superb views of the valley.

I captured this photo with my amazing Canon Powershot G9 compact camera! It was very windy that day but I knew there was going to be a spectacular moonrise that evening. I was shooting with my Canon 5D on a tripod but the wind was kicking up so much that I called it quits and went back to my car. Once inside I saw this image and quickly grabbed the G9 and rolled down my window to capture this moment in time.

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It's Time for a Beer Summit!

2009-08-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

"Great Taste....Less Filling!"

In light of President Obama's "Beer Summit," I decided to have a beer summit of my own by making a pilgrimage to the Samuel Adams Brewery in Boston, Massachusetts. Yes, the mecca of American craft brewery beer!

Dave and I share a drink with our tour guide

This was perhaps the best brewery tour I have ever taken due to two reasons. One, it's located not too far from the Boston subway or "The T," so that means no getting behind the wheel which is great for obvious public safety concerns. Two, the guided tours are FREE! They do ask for a donation to help with local charities, but I figured for all the years I have been an ardent patron of Samuel Adams beer I have done my share funding the coffers (i.e. drinking beer) of Mr. Jim Koch's company.

Along with my sister, Diane, her husband, Dave, and her three boys we endured the hot and muggy Boston weather only to be rewarded by some great beer.

Dave and Diane at the Sam Adams Beer Garden

Once at the brewery we lined up to get our tour tickets and then proceeded to the beer garden to wait for our appointed tour time. To our great surprise and relief they were handing out two samples of beers. These two unreleased beers (a pilsener and an ale) were available for tasting and we were to vote on which one would available to the public next year. I gladly volunteered myself for the task at hand.

Sam Antonio, not Sam Adams, Master Brewer

Upon embarking on the one hour tour, we spent about 10 minutes learning about the brewing process and a brief history of Sam Adams' founder Jim Koch. We spent the remaining 50 minutes in the beer tasting room. Did I tell you this was one of the best brewery tours I have taken!

We sampled about four different beers: their staple beer Sam Adams Lager, a seasonal beer, a summer ale, and a cherry wheat ale. All the while our tour guide was educating us on how to appreciate a Sam Adams by giving kind attention to: taste, aroma, complexity, body, smoothness, finish, and balance. Actually, I just pulled that list from their website because I was too busy drinking rather than listening but I think that's what he said.

Dave and I have our own "Beer Summit"

In the end my "Beer Summit" proved to be a success (not much can be said for President Obama's "Beer Summit"). Maybe on my next trip to Boston I'll have a beer with Sgt. James Crowley.

All photos (with the exception of the Obama "Beer Summit" photo) taken with my Canon 50D and Canon EF-s 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM Lens.

See more of my Boston trip (I'll be updating it periodically):

Boston 2009

Over-The-Line or Over the Top?

2009-08-06T00:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the 56th Annual World Championship Over-The-Line (OTL) Tournament 2009. A San Diego original, OTL is a form of beach softball, with 1,200 three-member teams competing in almost 2,400 games leading up to the final match.

Click here to to find out how to play OTL

With free flowing beer, outrageous team names and bikini clad women some may ask if this is a sporting event or one huge beach party. Well, it's a combination of both satisfying players and gawkers. In addition, it was a good use of my Canon "L" lenses -- if I'm going to photograph anything why not beautiful women?

The World Championship Over-The-Line is held every year in July at Fiesta Island on Mission Bay in San Diego, California. It was on the beaches of San Diego where OTL was founded. Admission is free but the host organization, The Old Mission Bay Athletic Club (OMBAC), requires all guests abide by the "Five B Rules." No bottles, babies, bowsers (dogs), birds and Boa Constrictors.

OTL teams are comprised of three players on each side. Many teams wear outrageous uniforms, or skimpy bikinis, and sport adult theme team names that either leave you laughing or nauseated. Where OTL differs from softball is that the pitcher and batter are on the same team and there is no base running.

OTL requires more precision than power from the batter as their objective is to hit the ball into fair territory without the opposing team fielder catching the ball.

I have been photographing OTL for the past couple of years and I have found the best camera outfit to have is two camera bodies - one body with a wide angle zoom and other camera body with a telephoto lens. My Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS lens mounted on my Canon 50D provided the tight portrait action shots. I used both my Canon Powershot SX1 IS and a Canon 20D with a Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 XR Di II lens for my wide and medium range shots.

Its gets windy on the playing field and sand blows everywhere. I use a micro fiber cloth to wipe off the sand and shower caps (yes, one of the secrets of travel photography I learned is that shower caps from motel rooms come in handy to cover your SLR camera in the event of inclement weather) to protect my cameras from the sand. One sand grain lodged in your camera will put you in camera hell!

So it is Over-The-Line or over the top? Well one thing is for sure that The Over-The-Line Tournament provides over the top photo opportunities!

All photos and text copyright Sam Antonio Photography.

Be sure to view more photos from The Over The Line Tournament over at my Flickr site:

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Splash Dogs - Wags for Wishes 2009

2009-07-15T01:59:00.000-07:00

Wags for Wishes began in 2003 and is a festival and doggie extravaganza. This year it was held at the Otay Ranch Town Center Mall in Chula Vista, CA from July 10-12, 2009. I know that most of my readers are dog owners, but I have to admit that I'm not a big dog lover. But I couldn't pass up a great photo opportunity that was free to the public, close to my home and besides flying dogs always make compelling photographs.

Wags for Wishes includes dog competitions, dog events for everyone to try, vendors, pet adoptions, and entertainment. I photographed this one particular event called Splash Dogs where the dogs compete to see who jumps the longest (thankfully not the dog owners).

Be sure you have a UV filter on your camera lens and a micro fiber cloth because you and your camera will get wet upon landing! They are called splash dogs for a reason.

I captured all photos of the Splash Dog competition with my Canon Powershot SX1 IS. I meant to bring my Canon 50D with my Canon 100-400 IS lens but I got tired from carrying it the day before at the Over the Line Tournament (that's another blog entry).

The Canon Powershot SX1 IS is a camera I have been looking for in quite some time. It has most of the features of a DSLR camera but in a compact body. The two features why I went with this camera were HD movie shooting and a CMOS sensor (Canon's first in a non DSLR camera) that allows you to shoot 4 frames a second. I was amazed of the action photos I was able to capture and more importantly the accurate focusing. Obviously, not as sharp if I shot with my Canon 50D and Canon "L" lens but the weight was much easier on my shoulders!

The problem with compact cameras has always been the shutter lag, but with the Canon Powershot SX1 IS I was able to capture that "decisive moment," such as the photograph above.

I guess that was my fill of dog photography for the year. Feel free to leave a comment and for you dog owners let me know what kind of dog you have and why you are such an avid dog lover. You can even leave a comment on why I should own a dog!

Stay tuned for my next blog on a true San Diego original -- World Championship Over the Line Tournament!

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Danny is Back in Town!

2009-07-10T20:54:00.000-07:00

My nephew Danny and his girlfriend Lisa are visiting San Diego for a week. They are staying with me at my luxurious and humble abode. I picked them up at the airport after a direct flight from Chicago, Il and then took them to lunch at the Red Sails Inn in Shelter Island. Afterwards, we drove to Cabrillo National Monument in Point Loma.

I'm sure they are happy to be in San Diego (that's why they are smiling) rather than spend another summer in Palatine with the humidity and mosquitoes. Also, for Danny, who's from San Diego originally, he's glad to be back in his hometown of Sun Diego!

I took this photo of them with my trusty Canon Powershot G9 near Cabrillo Point (cloudy WB, vivid color setting, -2/3 fill flash exposure compensation).

Cabrillo National Monument commemorates explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovery of San Diego Bay in 1542. It was on that trip that he led the first European expedition to discover the west coast of the United States. A statue of Cabrillo looks out over the bay and toward the skyline of downtown San Diego.