I shot this frame at a Pappasito's Cantina in San Antonio, Texas. We ordered the Flaming Cheese appetizer (which comes with shrimp, carmelized onions & roasted poblano peppers and is delicious) and when it arrived our waiter lit the cheese on fire. Unfortunately, right next to the plate was an empty polystyrene foam container and plastic bag (for another customer). Another waiter had his wits about him (and ultra-fast reflexes) reached over and pulled the container and bag away preventing a potential disaster.

Handheld , 1/30 sec at f/2.8 on ISO 100, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

Here's a picture of a cucumber that was just cut and allowed to sit for a minute. It's interesting how the water beads only on the circumference of the cross-section.

Handheld, 1/80 sec at f/16 on ISO 200, 105mm macro lens with SB-28DX Speedlight

I just finished playing the PC version of Assassin's Creed. In this game you play Desmond Miles who has been kidnapped by an evil pharmaceutical company in the near future. This company, Abstergo, has created a device called the Animus that is capable of simulating events (memories) coded in the DNA of the user. When Desmond uses the machine (he is actually forced to), he relives the memories of his ancestors - specifically those of Altair (pronounced al-ta-ear), assassin during the Third Crusade. Apparently, the scientists at Abstergo are looking for something and trying to recover this information from Desmond's mind. Unfortunately, the hereditary memory that they need to access is buried pretty deep, so we (the game player) gets to unlock memories in such an order that the story of Altair and the Brotherhood of Assassins. The story unfolds primarily in the world of Altair with occasional interruptions as we're yanked back into Desmond's time due to Animus problems and events occurring at Abstergo. As the game unfolds it becomes more clear how Abstergo and the memories they are so interested in retrieving are connected.

Here's another shot from Death Valley. This was taken from the top of one of the larger sand dunes a few miles from Stovepipe Wells. One of my fondest memories of Death Valley is just being able to hike out onto the top of the tallest sand dune that I could see and then sitting there until I was done sitting. These days it seems like there's always something to do; something calling for my attention. I never seem to be able to let myself go and just relax and not care about the time or how I'm using it. Today, I turn 31 - maybe I'll work on making the time to just be this year. I'm going to try for once a month - do something where at least for a few hours I don't worry about what I'm doing, going to do, or is needed of me.

Tripod, unrecorded exposure at f/6.3 on Velvia 50, 170-500mm f/5-6.3 lens

The observation deck on the roof of the GE Building in Rockefeller Plaza provides one of the best views of the Empire State Building (as well as Central Park when looking the opposite direction). This shot was taken in winter around 1pm.

Handheld, 1/320 sec at f/8 on ISO 100, Lumix DMC-LX2

Here's another view from the top of the Rock facing south.

Handheld, 1/320 sec at f/8 on ISO 100, Lumix DMC-LX2

I spotted this while wandering through a Macy's. I thought the positioning of the poster next to the mirror and how the guy seems to be admiring himself was funny.

Handheld, 1/50 sec at f/2.8 on ISO 100, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

Here's another photo from Muir Beach. I like this shot because of the warm colors from the approaching sunset, the near silhouette of a girl running into the oncoming waves, and the footprints she leaves behind in the wet sand and water.

Handhelf, 1/500 sec at f/8 on ISO 200, 70-200mm f/2.8 lens

A few weeks back, Tina and I went to a conference at the Hyatt Regency Monterey (in Monterey, California), so naturally we stayed there (especially since there was a good discount rate for the conference attendees). The Hyatt Regency backs up against the Del Monte Golf Course (one of the courses run by the Pebble Beach Company). I was really excited when we got our room and it was a ground floor room (I hadn't told Tina that the rooms could potentially open up right onto the course which would be like having an amazingly expensive and well manicured lawn as your backyard). Unfortunately, our room was on the wrong side and faced the parking lot instead. It was a bit weird, the sliding door opened and they had chairs outside - but no divider separating you from the parking lot - you could walk in and out freely. When the sun started to set on the first evening I went out to the other side of the building and snapped this shot.

Handheld, 1/30 sec at f/5.6 on ISO 450, 17-35mm f/2.8 with 2 stop graduated neutral density filter

Another shot of Denali - this time from the northeast right after entering Denali National Park. This is pretty far out from Mount McKinley, perhaps 60 miles.

Handheld, 1/1250 sec at f/5.6 on ISO 200, 70-200mm f/2.8 lens with 2x teleconverter

I took this picture of a roulette wheel spinning while leaving the Yahoo! Holiday Party last weekend. You can't get close enough to take pictures of roulette wheels and card tables in action while at Las Vegas or a real casino, so it was kind of fun snapping a few shots at the party. I didn't have the right gear to take a picture of dice suspended in mid-air at the craps table, but it was still fun to try.

Handheld, 1/50 sec at f/2.0 on ISO 400, 50mm f/1.8 lens