Sunday, April 26, 2009

Bad Day at Citi Field

I was at today's Mets game. They got blown out 8-1 by the team with the worst record in baseball, the Washington Nationals. It was the Nationals' first road win of the year. Oliver Perez was ineffective, giving up 7 earned runs in 4.1 innings.


This is Mets' lefty, Pedro Feliciano, pitching in relief in the 8th inning.


Nick Johnson is out at second base in the top of the 8th inning.


Carlos Beltran trying to beat the throw to first in the bottom of the 8th inning. He was out.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Plants in My Sister-In-Law's Backyard

I love shooting with a shallow depth of field. There are some pictures taken with an aperture of f/1.2. The area in focus is only a few centimeters deep.

Canon 5D with 85mm f/1.2L II lens, 1/1000 sec., f/1.2, ISO 100
Canon 5D with 85mm f/1.2L II lens, 1/1250 sec., f/1.2, ISO 100

Canon 5D with 85mm f/1.2L II lens, 1/400 sec., f/1.2, ISO 100

Canon 5D with 85mm f/1.2L II lens, 1/400 sec., f/1.2, ISO 100

Saturday, April 18, 2009

My First Game at Citi Field

Last Thursday, I went to my first baseball game at Citi Field, the New York Mets' new ballpark. It is a beautiful stadium and a tremendous improvement over Shea Stadium. The concourses are wide and the field is in view from most of the concession stands. My only real criticism is that the ballpark is geared more toward the Brooklyn Dodgers than the New York Mets. For example, the main entrance is called the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, in honor of the Brooklyn Dodger great. Also, the exterior of the stadium is modeled after Ebbets Field, where the Dodgers played before they moved to L.A. While both aspects of the ballpark were well done, my only wish is that the Mets had done more to recognize Mets history including the championship teams from 1969 and 1986.

I've heard others make the same criticisms of Citi Field on the radio and in the newspapers. I'm sure, the Mets will do something in the near future to better emphasize Mets history at their new ballpark. In the meantime, Citi Field is a great place to watch a baseball game.

Here are a few pictures of the exterior of Citi Field.

Canon 5D with 24-70mm f/2.8L lens @ 24mm, 1/250 sec., f/6.3, ISO 100


Airplanes from the local airports still fly over head.

Canon 5D with 24-70mm f/2.8L lens @ 34mm, 1/200 sec., f/6.3, ISO 100

Canon 5D with 24-70mm f/2.8L lens @ 28mm, 1/200 sec., f/6.3, ISO 100

Canon 5D with 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/320 sec., f/6.3, ISO 100


The Mets did a great job with the Citi Field Fanwalk, the brick area in from of the main entrance of the ballpark. These bricks contain engraved messages from fans.

Canon 5D with 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/160 sec., f/6.3, ISO 100


This is the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. Look at the big smile on the face of guy in the bottom left of the first picture. He's obviously a Mets fan and happy to be in the new ballpark.

Canon 5D with 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/250 sec., f/2.8, ISO 100

Canon 5D with 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/80 sec., f/3.2, ISO 100


The Shake Shack is a popular spot to get a good burger.

Canon 5D with 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/500 sec., f/5.0, ISO 200


This is my favorite picture. The sunset produced beautiful light.

Canon 5D with 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/160 sec., f/6.3, ISO 400


A panoramic shot from my seat in the upper deck.

Canon 5D with 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/100 sec., f/6.3, ISO 640


One last shot before going home.

Canon 5D with 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/20 sec., f/5.0, ISO 1600

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Leaving Las Vegas

Canon 5D with 85mm f/1.2L II lens, 1/320 sec., f/7.1, ISO 100

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

The Mountains Surrounding Las Vegas

This is a reflection in the windows of the MGM Grand of some of the mountains surrounding Las Vegas.


Canon 5D with 85mm f/1.2L II lens, 1/250 sec., f/4.0, ISO 400

Monday, April 13, 2009

Paris Las Vegas

This is the neon sign at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel in the shape of a Montgolfier hot air balloon.


Canon 5D with Lensbaby 3G lens, 1/60 sec., ISO 1600

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Air Supply at the Suncoast

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/640 sec., f/2.0, ISO 1600
Canon 5D with 85mm f/1.2L II lens, 1/320 sec., f/2.0, ISO 1600

Canon 5D with 85mm f/1.2L II lens, 1/500 sec., f/2.5, ISO 1600

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/500 sec., f/2.0, ISO 1600

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/500 sec., f/2.0, ISO 1600

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/500 sec., f/2.0, ISO 1600

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/500 sec., f/2.0, ISO 1600

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/640 sec., f/2.0, ISO 1600

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/400 sec., f/2.0, ISO 1600

Canon 5D with 85mm f/1.2L II lens, 1/640 sec., f/2.0, ISO 1600

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/500 sec., f/2.0, ISO 1600

Friday, April 10, 2009

The Bellagio

This is a view of the Bellagio pools and courtyards from our hotel room. The weather was mostly sunny and in the 70's. Not too many people went into the water. Most just sunned themselves by the pool.

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/500 sec., f/7.1, ISO 400


This is the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The current exhibit is "Gardens From Around the World".

Canon 5D with 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/40 sec., f/3.2, ISO 1600

Canon 5D with Lensbaby 3G lens, 1/50 sec., ISO 1600

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Las Vegas Vacation

Here is my obligatory picture of probably one of the most photographed signs in Las Vegas, the famous welcome sign.

Canon 5D with 85mm f/1.2L II lens, 1/1000 sec., f/7.1, ISO 100

These pictures are of the Bellagio Hotel and their fountain show.

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/30 sec., f/5.6, ISO 3200

Canon 5D with 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye lens, 1/200 sec., f/2.8, ISO 3200

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/320 sec., f/1.8, ISO 3200

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/500 sec., f/1.8, ISO 3200

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/640 sec., f/1.8, ISO 3200

Canon 5D with 35mm f/1.4L lens, 1/1000 sec., f/1.8, ISO 3200