What happens in SF gets put on my blog...Family Visit

San Francisco CA

A few weeks ago Sharon (Donna's Sister) visited us. We spent a nice weekend exploring the city and eating its fine food. Here are some photos from the visit.

Both Sharon and Donna close their eyes when photos are taken. It's in their genes. Luckily my 11 years in the Tech Industry has allowed me to meet some of the best digital artists around and one of them was able to quickly make some adjustments to this so that their eyes appear open. Keep in mind this is an altered photo when looking at it. It's amazing what we can do with computers these days.

Here is a shot of Donna and Sharon on the Golden Gate Bridge in the wind. I used my Lensbaby.

Another Lensbaby shot.

And another shot with the Lensbaby.

I was Lensbaby crazy.

Crissy Field in a dream.

China Town was ready for the Chinese New Year

Donna and Sharon took some time to do some shopping in China Town

Just before Sharon's flight we took her to the Irish Bank and she had a nice Ice Tea in a San Jose Sharks Glass.

Look What I Saw Today!

San Francisco CA

So I have had some time off recently. If you don't know why go back to 9/1/2010 for the surprise. I have been out and about in The City and taking more photos than ever. This is what I saw today through my lenses.

I really cool triangular shadow creeping up a tall building

The blue sky reflecting in these widows up close

The same photo but a less intimate crop.

A Chinatown Foo Dog taken with my Lensbaby.

And Chinatown taken through my Lensbaby

Feeling Inspired to shoot again...

Labor Day Weekend in The City

So I have been feeling this layoff coming for 2 months now. It isn't fun to not know and now that I know, I am starting to feel less stressed and more inspired to take photos. Saturday we went to a concert in the park and I took some photos but this self portrait is really the only one that turned out but today we went to the Science Academy and I took my LensBaby. I had some fun.

I took this portrait on the way home from lunch. I like how well the colors work together and the fact that as long as you have a head, you have a place to hang your coat (Donna thought of that one).


So here are the LensBaby shots. I won't comment on each one. I hope you like them as much as I do.

That's it for now but now that I am more inspired I will be taking more photos so I will be posting more photos. The one a days will continue and I will be sure to let you know what my next work adventure will be shortly after I find out.

Look what I saw today!

San Francisco CA Out and about with the Lensbaby

I have been having fun with my Lensbaby recently. We have had a cool 3 day weekend this weekend and I was able to take a lot of pictures on our adventures. I have compiled the best of the bunch for today's LWIST post.

I actually took this one on Thursday whilst walking to work.

On Thursday night we went to a fancy Japanese dinner at Kiss Seafood. We had a great meal with some friends. All 4 of us ended up trying something that we had never had before. My new try was Sea Snails (not pictured).

I took this photo of Grubstake on the walk home from dinner.

On Friday Donna and I took the Anchor Steam Brewery Tour. It was an awesome tour but they didn't allow much photography so you will just have to surf their extensive website.

We waited for the bus just outside the Thee Parkside. I really liked the way this one turned out.

On Saturday afternoon we went out for lunch. We wanted to eat outside because the weather is exceptional right now. We had a hard time finding a place to relaxe and eat that wasn't hosting World Cup Revelers. We ended up finding a place and this building was right in front of us while we ate.

Today we went to the Farmer's Market at Fort Mason. It was our first time to this Farmer's Market because it doesn't go year round. We picked up some nice produce and I shot a few nice shots like this one.

There was also a lot of kite flying at the park near Fort Mason. Everyone seemed to have the same kite which made for a good photo.

One more of the kites.

On the way home we stopped by Whole Foods to pick up some eats and I took this very urban shot on California St.

Hope you like the photos. I hope to buy the plastic lens insert for my Lensbaby here shortly so more photos will be taken. Also Pride Week is coming up and I am sure the Lensbaby will take good photos there.

Jon and Donna

Look what I saw today!

San Francisco CA

Donna got me an early birthday gift this week. I received a Lensbaby and I love it! It's a lens that allows you to tilt it to put different parts of the lens out of focus. There are also a bunch of accessories you can buy for it like a fish eye and a plastic lens. I plan to pick those up one day in the near future but for now I will have tons of fun with what I have. It is a lens that allows you to get really funky artistic shots. It's really fun to use. Below are pictures I took today and the only modification I did to them outside the camera is I darkened them a bit because the lens doesn't work perfectly with my light meter. I also cropped 1 or 2 but I didn't add any of the cool effects you see. It's the lens baby!

Here is a shot of some signs at a parking lot

Here are some flowers at a shop. They write the prices on the back of cigarette cartons.

Here is a shot of the walkway leaving work

This is one of the ones I cropped. It's a motel on Lombard Street

Union Street has a bunch of bars so I took a photo of a neon sign

Here is an interesting photo of a tree. I like how the lens makes the lights look like ovals due to the tilt

Here is a neon sign at a dry cleaners

Some stickers on a door on Union Street

Here is a flower that is lit up brightly by a garden light right next to it. I cropped this one too

That's it for now but I am sure I will have more shots with the lens soon.