Danae and Jacob's Wedding

This upcoming weekend we'll be shooting Danae and Jacob's wedding.  They're a fun couple and we're super excited to be traveling to San Diego to shoot their wedding.  Jacob's in the Navy, so hopefully we'll get to see his Navy uniform in Action.

Julia's new 60D @ the SB Seafood Festival and Goleta Lemon Festival

My new 60D arrived a little over a week ago. Yea!

One of the main reasons I decided to go for the 60D over the 7D was the articulated LCD screen. I take tons of shots over my head and on the floor and have to go for a shot gun approach when shooting this way. Rather than relying on luck it is nice to be able to get an idea of what I'm shooting. Of course there is a limit on the articulation and so some of the really high over the head shots are still going to be guess work. Also the focusing speed will definitely not win any Kentucky Derbys but maybe with a little more practice I can get this down better.

I seemed to have no problems with the new locking mechanism on the mode dial that gave one online reviewer issues. You press down the button and spin the dial. I know that Scott has issues with his 7D changing modes on him and so I'm happy that Canon introduced this new feature.

I also appreciate being able to use the SD cards I invested in not too long ago. Those things are not cheap and neither are the CF cards I would have had to buy for a 7D. The only bummer was having to buy new batteries (although now Scotty and I can share batteries).

All in all I definitely appreciate the extra two stops of exposure compensation (and flash exposure compensation), the increased ISO sensitivity, and extra weather proofness (compared to the Rebel Xsi). 

I took my new camera out for a spin at the Santa Barbara Seafood Festival last Saturday and the Goleta Lemon Festival yesterday. Unfortunately we weren't that hungry when we got to the Seafood Festival and so we mostly just cruised the harbor. The Lemon Festival was quite overcast; however, we were lucky to go on Saturday and not today when it actually rained. We spent a lot of time viewing the car show where I got most of my pictures. Once we hit the Lemon Festival I was quite distracted by the lemonade, lemon meringue pies, and lemon cotton candy that I sort of forgot to take pictures.

 

Images from the 2010 SB Seafood Festival on Saturday October 9th.

 

While everyone was harassing the crabs and lobsters in the touch pool, I noticed this cute little purse dog checking me out.

Images from the 2010 Goleta Lemon Festival and Car Show on Saturday, October 16th.

You'd think I was a real car enthusiast based on my pictures of the "Lemon" Festival, but really I just stopped taking pictures when I started eating.

 Obviously I'm not the photographer of this picture but this is the proof that the 60D took second chair to the many tasty lemon treats available.

How we got started ...

It doesn't seem that long ago when Jenna and Bobby asked Scott to photograph their wedding in 2007. Bobby worked with Scott and knew that he liked to take pictures. So why not shoot their wedding?

Scott was working with his new Canon Rebel Xti and external 430EXII flash. I accompanied him with my Canon I-don't-even-remember-what-the-model-is-point and shoot that had less megapixels than the iPhone4.

Scott was extremely nervous as we approached the wedding date. He had never shot anything quite like this. The pressure of capturing somebody's wedding day is something we both still experience. What if all my pictures suck? What if I miss a shot? I'm sure these worries will never leave us regardless if we're being paid a few hundred dollars or thousands.

We learned on this wedding shoot the value of having a second photographer around. I loved being able to capture people when they thought nobody was taking their picture. Those off hand moments where somebody does something ridiculously funny or incredibly romantic and I get to capture it. I live for those moments. They are what I strive to capture.

This was before we knew how to Photoshop where the most post-processing we did was on Picasa. This was before we knew the power of the external flash. This was before we did not know a lot of things we know now. Luckily the day went well. We got really lucky with the lighting situation. Scott and I got some great photos. And most importantly, Bobby and Jenna absolutely loved the photos.

Our China Itinarary!




We researched hundreds of blogs, websites, travel books, and conducted extensive interviews in the process of developing our China itinerary (granted, Julia did a majority of the work while Scott was off playing in Kenya). Finally, after garnering some ideas from the "The David Way" on the Avia Travel website, we developed the following six week long itinerary! Because this trip was our honeymoon and the obvious language barriers, we decided to forgo our customary travel approach. Normally we'd arrange everything ourselves or get hotels on the fly. However, this trip is our honeymoon, we prearranged most of our hotels, trains, and inter-country planes through Avia Travel to minimize stress. However, we still expect to experience plenty of travelers anxiety with the language difference, intercity travel, and our hiking adventurers.




Sep 17 - Arrival Shanghai
We are arriving in Shanghai in the morning after 19 hours and 10 minutes in the air and transfers. Shanghai is the largest city in China, with over 20 million people in the metropolitan area. It is located on China’s central coast on the Yangtze River. It was originally a fishing and textiles town, but it has grown to become a finance and business epicenter. We are being picked up by a guide arranged by Avia Travel and headed to Zhao An Hotel. We've heard really great things about this city and are excited to kick off our China trip with Shanghai.
Accommodation: Zhao An Hotel.

Sep 18 - Shanghai
We are going to take a half day tour to the Jade Buddha Temple, Yu Gardens, and the Bund.
Accommodation: Zhao An Hotel.

Sep 19 & 20 - Shanghai
We are going to explore this exciting city.
Accommodation: Zhao An Hotel.

Sep 21 - Shanghai to Huangshan
We are traveling by train from Shanghai to Huangshan and sleeping aboard one of the soft sleepers! Huangshan, which in English means Yellow Mountain, is known for its scenery, sunsets, peculiarly-shaped granite peaks, Huangshan Pine trees, and views of the clouds from the top. The mountain is a frequent subject of traditional Chinese paintings and literature, as well as modern photography.
Accommodation: On board train (soft sleeper)

Sep 22 - Arrive Huangshan
Our train will arrive in Huangshan in the morning, allowing us to head to Huangshan to start our climb up the mountain. In shape travelers can expect to climb the mountain in 3 or 4 hours… we are allotting 10… we are going to stay at a hotel on the summit.
Accommodation : Paiyun Lou Hotel on summit

Sep 23 - Huangshan
Our first chance to see the cloud sea during sunrise. Then we’re going to spend the day exploring the beautiful Huangshan summit.
Accommodation : Paiyun Lou Hotel on summit

Sep 24 - Huangshan to Hongcun
Second chance to see the sunrise effect. We’re going to proceed to Hongcun, where parts of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was filmed.
Accommodation: Hongcun Hotel

Sep 25 - Hongcun- Suzhou
We’re going to tour Hongcun and then head to the Huangshan Railway Station for our overnight train to Suzhou.
Accommodation: Overnight train

Sep 26 - Arrive Suzhou
We’ll arrive in Suzhou, where we’ll explore this city renowned for its beautiful stone bridges, pagodas, and meticulously designed gardens. Suzhou was an important center for China's silk industry and continues to hold that prominent position today.
Accommodation: Lidu Hotel

Sep 27 - Suzhou to ZhouZhuang to Shanghai to Guilin
We’re going to head to ZhouZhuang, China’s Venice, on the way to the Shanghai Railway station for an overnight train to Guilin.
Accommodation: Overnight train

Sep 28 – Arrive in Guilin
For Guilin we arranged our own hotel instead of using the hotel that Avia Travel suggested… hopefully it turns out well. Guilin and the surrounding region is known for the Lijiang River (or Li River) and amazing rock formations.
Accommodation: Jing Guan Ming Lou Holiday Hotel

Sep 29 - Li River
We’ll get up early in the morning and catch a cruise down the Li River to Yangshuo. The town borders the Li River on one side and is located within a plain between karst peaks. The river and surrounding region is known for the plethora of outdoor activities.
Accommodation: Lijiang Hotel

Sep 30 & Oct 01, Oct 02, Oct 03 - Yangshuo
We’re going to spend several days here and play!
Accommodation: Lijiang Hotel (4 nights)



Oct 04 - Guilin to Kunming
We’re going to head to the Guilin train station where we are headed to Lijiang, with a transfer through Kunming.
Accommodation: Soft Sleeper Train

Oct 05 - Kunming –> Lijiang
In the afternoon we are headed via plane to Lijiang where we are staying in this amazing looking hotel, which we also arranged ourselves. The town is famous for its orderly system of waterways and bridges.
Accommodation: The Tea Boutique Hotel (Panorama View Deluxe Room in the Lion Hill Peak)

Oct 06, 07 - Lijiang
Accommodation: The Tea Boutique Hotel



Oct 08 – Wenhai Trek - Wenhai
We’re going to do a hiking trip through the mountains of Wenhai. The first day we will hike from Baisha village to Wenhai over the course of 4 hours. The hike will pass by mountain lakes with views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Accommodation: Home Stay



Oct 09 – Wenhai Trek – Nanyaocun Naxi Home Stay in Lashai Area
We’ll hike from Wenhai to Nanyaocun Naxi where we’ll do another home stay.
Accommodation: Home Stay



October 10 – Wenhai Trek – Lashai to Lijiang
In the morning we’ll take a canoe trip with local fisherman and learn about the local peoples customs, experiences their daily lives, and visit a Tibetan Buddhist Temple. We might also do some biking!
Acommodation: The Tea Boutique Hotel ("Lashi Lagoon" Classic Naxi Suite)



October 11, 12, 13 – Tiger Leaping Gorge
Over the course of four days and three nights we are going to hike Tiger Leaping Gorge. The trail meanders over 22 km, up and down steep trails. We’ll be staying at hostels along the trail.
Accommodation: Hostels along trail

Oct 14 Lijiang to Chengdu
We’ll be catching an evening flight from Lijiang to Chengdu, where we’re going to climb another mountain and see pandas!
Accommodation: Buddha Zen Hotel in Chengdu

Oct 15 Chengdu
This day is devoted to Pandas!
Accommodation: Buddha Zen Hotel in Chengdu



Oct 16 Chengdu to Leshan – base of Emeishan
A guide and driver arranged by Avia Travel will pick us up from our hotel in Chengdu to visit the giant Buddha at Leshan and then to drop us off at a hotel at the base of Emeishan mountain.
Accommodation: Hongzhushang Hotel

Oct 17, Oct 18 – Emeishan Mountain Climbing
We’ll start our climb up the mount Emei, which is one of four sacred Buddhist Mountains within China.The area was the center of martial arts for China in the 16th and 17th centuries. We’ll conduct the hike over several days, staying at monasteries along the way and a hotel at the mountaintop. I hear that they can be quite cold…
Accommodation: Monasteries along route up mountain

Oct 19 - Emeishan - Hiking up Mountain
Our last day hiking up the mountain will be met with a nice relaxing stay at a three star hotel with heated showers and rooms!
Accommodation : Jinding Hotel Emeishan

Oct 20 - Emeishan base
We’ll either take the cable car down the mountain or hike, depending on how soar we are!
Accommodation: Hongzhushang Hotel

Oct 21 - Emeishan base to Beijing
After a nice sleep in a very nice hotel, we are going to take a flight from Chengdu to Beijing, our last stop in China.
Accommodation: Xuanwumen Hotel

Oct 22, Oct 23 - Beijing
Our first day we may use to relax and see a bit of the sights. Perhaps we’ll use the next day to visit the Ming Tombs and the Summer Palace.
Accommodation: Xuanwumen Hotel

Oct 24 - Beijing --> Camping on Great Wall
The plan is to do some hiking and camping on the great wall… but we haven’t arranged anything yet.



Oct 25, Oct 26, Oct 27 - Beijing
More time to explore this massive city
Accommodation: Xuanwumen Hotel

Oct 28 Beijing – Home
After six weeks in China, I think we’ll be exhausted, smelly, and ready to come home :)