The Space Needle’s Saucer Section Receives a Glass Cockpit

I went out early on Friday morning to take photos of downtown from Kerry Park and was greeted by wildfire smoke blotting out the sunrise. All attempts to capture a golden sunrise on what was essentially a cloudless morning were thwarted, so I popped on the 50-140mm and 2x teleconverter and aimed the front element at the Space Needle. After spending nearly a year under an ugly veil while undergoing renovation, the scaffolding came off a few days ago and revealed the new, modern look. So, in spite of it all, I ended up getting some clean shots of the Space Needle's new look.

2018-08-15 0

Gear Review: Benro Slim Carbon Travel Tripod (TSL08CN00)

So, if you read my previous gear review on the Manfrotto BeFree Compact Carbon Travel Tripod, you'll understand that I needed to replace that turd quickly. This time choosing not to ignore my better judgment, I decided to give the Benro Slim Carbon Travel Tripod (TSL08CN00) a shot. This will be the third Benro tripod I've bought with my own money and while the ProAngel didn't work out after a couple of months of use, my Adventure Series 2 Carbon has held up quite well.

2018-07-31 0

Gear Review: Manfrotto BeFree Compact Carbon Fiber (MKBFRC4-BH)

I only had this tripod for a week before returning it from whence I bought it. I was so thoroughly disgusted with it after receipt, then after one use, that I didn't bother to take photos of it before throwing it into its shipping container and sending it back.

2018-07-30 0

Photowalk with a Pro and a Model: The Fujifilm Photowalk Hosted by Kara Mercer

The other day I received an opportunity usually reserved for working or aspiring professionals: The chance to have a guided shoot with a Fujifilm X Professional Photographer FOR FREE! Fujifilm Pro Photographer Kara Mercer hosted the event, bringing along a metric ton of lendable gear, but more importantly, a wealth of knowledge and an outgoing attitude you usually don't find between photographers in the pro photo world.

2018-07-10 0

Hiking for Waterfalls: Wallace Falls State Park in Snohomish County, WA

Went with Craig to Wallace Falls State Park near Gold Bar, WA to shoot the falls and get some hiking in. The weather was a bit uncooperative, ending up sunnier than we were expecting. The forecast called for overcast skies by noon but, despite the gathering of some clouds, it didn't manage to block out the sun much...

2018-05-11 0

#SeattlePlayedOut: Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Edition

Hitched a ride with Craig and Brianna to Mount Vernon to find a tulip farm on Monday evening before the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival of 2018 came to a close. We figured Monday would be the best day of the week to avoid large crowds, while going as late as possible would afford us the widest range of natural light and hopefully include golden hour. Our needs were met by Roozengaarde Tulip Farm: They were open until 7pm and ejected patrons at sunset, far later than the oft shared Tulip Town, which closes at 5pm. As a welcome surprise, the weather was exceptionally nice as high temps crept to nearly 70 degrees Fahrenheit and mostly clear skies...

2018-04-24 0

About My Reviews…

When I review a product, I want to make it plain that I do not receive products to review nor am I paid to do these reviews. When I review a product, it's something I've bought with my own money after days or weeks of research to ensure it will meet my needs. Because of that, my reviews will usually end positively, and that's the only reason why. I don't review things I have never owned, been gifted or am paid to write about. I don't seek out manufacturers or sellers and attempt to persuade them into gifting me a product in exchange for a review and "exposure." I am not a "mommyblogger" or an unemployed housewife with a camera. I will never shake down a product manufacturer nor refer to myself as a "social influencer." I review products because I like doing it, I enjoy trying new products and prefer to use brands that are less popular. It's these choices that I hope give my reviews a little more value due to scarcity. These are my opinions and my opinions only...

2018-04-09 0

Review: The Benro ProAngel Series 1 is a Unique, Ultracompact Tripod With Full-Size Features

My purchase of the Benro Adventure 2 Carbon required me to consider a compact tripod, the Benro ProAngel 1. Here's my review of it.

2018-04-02 0

Cherry Blossoms at UW. #SeattlePlayedOut

Another entry for my #SeattlePlayedOut collection.

2018-03-30 0

The Benro Adventure 2 Carbon with B2 Ballhead

I’ve just bought my second “travel” tripod and I spent far more than I was expecting. the Benro TAD28C ended up being my primary tripod due to it’s well rounded feature set, despite it's size.