Maple Leaves

Maple Leaves changing color for the Fall (click image to enlarge)

Fall is my favorite season. Simply because the colors of nature are in plain sight. Everywhere you see there is color. I clicked this picture on a recent trip to British Columbia, Canada. Butchart Gardens is a prominent tourist destination. The flora and fauna on display is breathtaking. I was there at the beginning of Fall 2011. The Maple leaves had just started changing color. The sky was blue with a few clouds. I used my Canon Rebel T2i with the 18-135mm lens. Exposure time 1/125 and ISO 100.

Stellar Jay

A Stellar Jay enjoys the rainy weather at Mount Rainier National Park.

I was really lucky to click this one. This Stellar Jay kept hovering around us. We had stopped to take pictures of a waterfall at Mount Rainier National Park in Washington State on October 3, 2011. It was drizzling and a downpour threatened. Finally the fidgety bird settled on a branch, about 20 feet from me. I quickly focussed my Canon T2i on it and clicked the picture.
The 18-135mm lens is awesome. The exposure was set at 1/200 and ISO at 640.

Icy Windshield

Ice forms on a windshield on a snowy day (click image to enlarge)

A freak snow storm hit the Sierras in California and Nevada last weekend. Snow is not uncommon even in June in this area. I took this picture from the inside of my car while stuck in traffic on the Interstate. It had been snowing for about an hour and the snow formed ice on the windshield as the temperatures dropped. I used my Canon Rebel T2i with the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens with a manual focus and exposure time of 1/2000. ISO Speed Ratings were at 100.

Peeping Sun

The Sun peeps through a Gingko Tree (click image to enlarge)

It was a beautiful spring day in Hayward, CA when I clicked this picture. The clear blue sky pops out behind the green leaves of the Gingko tree. I used my Canon Rebel T2i with the 18-135mm lens at ISO 100 and an Exposure setting of 1/250. No filters were used.

A Tropical Sunset

A Tropical Sunset in Goa, India (click image to enlarge)

I made a trip to Asia in January this year and one of the stops I made was in Goa, India. This coastal state is full of culture, white sand beaches, excellent food and ancient architecture. Much different from the rest of India thanks to the Portuguese influence. A must-see place if you are a travel buff. I captured this photograph on one of the many beaches in Goa; this one on Candolim Beach. The banana leaves and coconut palm-roofed shacks give this picture a tropical flavor. The body of water in the picture is the Arabian Sea. I used my Sony DSC-W350 point-and-shoot in landscape mode for this picture.

Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon on a cloudy day (click image to enlarge)

A trip to Arizona isn't complete without visiting the Grand Canyon. I made the long drive from the San Francisco Bay Area to Arizona to watch some Spring Training activities. This was my first visit to the Grand Canyon and it was everything I had expected and much more. Everyone should see this natural wonder of the world as it gives a great perspective of how small we actually stand on this planet. This picture was taken on a cloudy 25th of February, 2011. The sun still peeked out in spots (as seen in the picture). Believe it or not, I clicked this photo with my little Sony DSC-W350 Point & Shoot in landscape mode. Still turned out great!

Blooming Flowers

Flowers in full bloom (click image to enlarge)

It's about time I uploaded a macro shot. This picture, clicked on March 26, 2011 in Baltimore, MD, was taken using my Canon Rebel T2i with the 18-135mm lens. I used the Manual mode with a single point focus (on one of the flowers in the foreground). The exposure time was set at 1/200 and the ISO at 3200. As you can see there is no visible noise at such a high ISO setting.

Washington Monument

Washington Monument (click image to enlarge)

The tall and proud Washington Monument soars over the D.C. skyline. This photo, clicked from the stairs of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., shows the construction/restoration work going on on the Reflecting Pool. A puddle of water partially reflects the monument. The Reflecting Pool is a hallmark of the whole Washington Monument experience. The World War II Memorial can be seen in the distance. This photo was clicked on March 23, 2011, mid-afternoon on a overcast day. I used my Canon Rebel T2i with an exposure setting of 1/250 and an ISO of 100. No filters were used.

Arlington National Cemetery

A view of D.C. from Arlington National Cemetery (click image to enlarge)

This view of Washington, D.C. from Arlington National Cemetery is breathtaking. I've always wanted to visit this Cemetery and when I finally did on March 25, 2011, I was truly filled with emotions and love for our great nation. Although it was a gloomy day, the Arlington House is a great spot for panoramic views of the nation's capital city. Notice Lincoln Memorial in the distance. This picture was taken at about 4 p.m. with my Canon Rebel T2i with an exposure setting of 1/125. Grayscale filters have been added post-production.

A Gettysburg Street in Spring

A Street in Spring in Gettysburg, PA (click image to enlarge).

A family enjoys a beautiful Spring day in Gettysburg, PA. This view was captured with my Canon Rebel T2i (18-135mm Lens) on March 26, 2011 at about 4 p.m. The camera was placed only a few inches from the ground (I was lying prone on the road). A multi-point focus mode is used with an exposure time of 1/160 and at ISO 100. A vivid setting makes the colors pop in the picture.

Soaring Palm Tree

A Palm Tree soars over Fremont, CA (click image to enlarge).

This picture of a Palm Tree was captured with my Canon Rebel T2i (18-135mm lens) in Fremont, CA on March 17, 2011 at about 4:30 p.m. I have intentionally focused on the trunk much lower down leaving the top of the tree with the palms in a soft blur. No filters were used in this picture.

Niles Depot

Niles Depot in Fremont, California (click image to enlarge).

This picture of the historic Niles Canyon Railway Depot and Museum in Fremont, CA was taken at about 5 p.m. on March 16, 2011. It was a sunny day after a long period of cloudy, wet weather. This image is shot with my Canon Rebel T2i with a Canon 18-135mm lens and a Sepia filter.