From the Westfield San Francisco Center. It's amazing how cheesy parts of the mall can look, but then you look up and there's a lot of detail put into something like this rotunda.

Handheld, 1/160 sec at f/1.8 on ISO 100, 28mm f/1.8 lens

This snake was photographed at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco (at the temporary location on Howard St.). I don't know what kind of snake it was.

Handheld, 1/180 sec at f/1.8 on ISO 400, 85mm f/1.8 lens

Caramelizing marshmallows over an open flame is a popular American tradition. Once the marshmallow's exterior has browned and is slightly crispy, the inside has melted and become gooey. This heated confection is either eaten as is, or combined with chocolate and sandwiched by graham crackers to form the campfire delight known as s'mores. Unfortunately, marshmallows are quite flammable and, once it starts to burn, it not all that good to eat. Here, a lit marshmallow is being used to light another.

Handheld, 1/30 sec at f/2.8 on ISO 1600, 70-200mm f/2.8 lens

Before having dinner with fellow food bloggers Annie and Nate of House of Annie, we did a tomato tasting of their harvest. She had a wonderful display of heirloom tomatoes set up next to the tasting plates, so I had to grab this shot.

Handheld, 1/60 sec at f/5.6 on ISO 400, 105mm f/2.8 macro lens

While testing my new camera tethering setup, I took this more or less randomly aimed shot of a USB microphone on the desk.

Camera on table, 15 sec at f/6.3 on ISO 100, 105mm f/2.8 macro lens

The sun was shining throw my kitchen window and hitting this loaf of crusty bread that I had cut up. I couldn't resist taking a picture of it.

Handheld, 1/80 sec at f/10 on ISO 400, 105mm f/2.8 macro lens

Two photos today, both of Manhattan from the ferry to Liberty Island. This first one was taken 29 seconds before the second picture.

Handheld, 1/160 sec at f/8 on ISO 100, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

I've made a few trips to New York and every time I get some nice pictures from this ferry - and every time I say, "Next time I'm not going to spend the time to take the ferry to Liberty Island - it's so touristy." I think I would have regretted not going to the island on this trip in February - I really like this first shot. Below, this second picture, is less than a half minute later, but the scene has changed already. I captured the entire financial district and Battery Park in this frame. Click on the picture to see a larger version in your browser.

Handheld, 1/160 sec at f/8 on ISO 100, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

This photo was taken from the Parc 55 Hotel near San Francisco's Union Square looking in the direction of the Civic Center.

Tripod, 2.5 sec at f/4 on ISO 100, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

An interesting pattern was broken into the surface of The Pond in the southeast corner of New York's Central Park. My guess is that it was formed when someone threw a rock or something fell into the frozen pond - but why don't the other holes have star patterns?

Handheld, 1/200 sec at f/5 on ISO 100, 17-35mm f/2.8 lens

I took this photo as part of a set of test shots in preparation for photographing a wedding at Hakone Gardens in Saratoga.

Handheld, 1/320 sec at f/2.8 on ISO 100, 70-200mm f/2.8 lens