I took this picture about eight years ago in Napa, California.

Handheld, unrecorded exposure on Fuji Press 800, 105mm f/2.8 macro with Nikon Speedlight

The Princes Wharf in the Viaduct district of Auckland has several restaurants and is a popular destination. It's usually photographed from Quay Street so you can see down the length of the wharf. Over the years, I've learned to occasionally turn around and look behind to find photo opportunities. Often one can become so focused walking in a particular direction, looking at a certain scene, or even watching other people take pictures in the same direction, that one forgets to look around. In this case, I walk part way down the wharf when I turned and found that I could frame this shot looking down Lower Hobson St. and capturing the Sky Tower.

Handheld, 1/30 sec at f/4.0 on ISO 400, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

Handheld, 1/30 sec at f/2.8 on ISO 400, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

While driving from Los Angeles to Santa Clara after Christmas 2004, I watched these storm clouds come over the fields. I pulled over and setup for this shot. Unfortunately, I had a dirty sensor and there are several spots that need cleaning up. Even at this low resolution there's a large spot apparent in the middle of the frame.

Tripod, 1/200 sec at f/11 on ISO 800, 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6 lens with 2-stop graduated ND filter

I spotted this collection of kegs (about 25 in all) behind a tent selling beer at the Campbell Oktoberfest.

Handheld, 1/125 sec at f/5.6 on ISO 100, 70-200mm f/2.8 lens

Here's another shot from Smitty's Market in Lockhart, Texas. Sausages (or as they call them: hot rings) are being repositioned in the giant smoker by an employee.

Handheld, 1/40 sec at f/1.8 on ISO 2000, 85mm f/1.8 lens

I snapped this photo of people playing with iPod touch devices in the Apple Store (where apparently, you're not allowed to take pictures).

Handheld, 1/60 sec at f/2.8 on ISO 320, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

I guess I never noticed them before, but apparently wasps have a lot of hair on their backs. This wasp landed on a turkey drumstick I was holding and naturally I had to take a picture. Since my right hand was dirty (from the turkey drumstick), I held the camera in my left hand - which was no easy feat. I had to wrap my wrist underneath the lens (for support) and hold the camera with my left hand on the right side of the camera body so I could press the shutter release.

Handheld, 1/750 sec at f/3.8 on ISO 100, 105mm f/2.8 macro lens

I originally wanted to call this photo Lady & Hawk (a play on Ladyhawke) but then I realized that in the context of the Rennaissance Faire (where I took this photo) this woman was a peasant and not a Lady.

Handheld, 1/200 sec at f/2.8 on ISO 100, 105mm f/2.8 macro lens

This is one of those photos where it's all in the details. The web sized version of the picture loses some of the more interesting details. Here's a close up of what the face looks like.

There's something interesting in a set table. Sometimes I never notice it, but sometimes my mind starts to race when I see a table that's set and prepared just so. Soon people will be sitting down and ordering some food. They'll like the food, or dislike it. Take the time to enjoy the food, experience it, and wonder about how it was made or what that taste it - or maybe they'll miss the food entirely and focus their attention on conversation or trying to make a good impression or just getting the chore of not being hungry over with. Maybe the table will be witness to flirting, an argument, or the silence of a single diner. For now, however, the empty table setting is still - just a potential foundation on which a meal might be laid out - or might not.

Handheld, 1/30 sec at f/4 on ISO 400, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens