Starting Again

After a sojourn of 2 years, I've decided to start blogging about photographic topics. My Family History blogs (See my previous 2014 note below) will have to wait, probably in a totally new blog sphere.

My next blog will show you how to Make (real) Bookmarks, Using Lightroom.

Pictures into Family Stories

How do I begin to blog about my method of madness that resulted in my family stories?

How did I put together stories that threaded through my genealogy and history over several generations? Though my Chong history can be traced back more than a millennium, I have only been able to go back into the recent past of the last two centuries. My journey gifted me a deeper appreciation of the times, locales, events, and personalities that shaped who I am.

That’s my goal for the next few months. Not to go over the stories, Not to talk about my family. Instead I wish to impart what I learned in my ongoing journey to gather, document, and revel my family history. Much of this effort has taken many years, beginning when I passed sixty years old. Wish I started earlier, much earlier. However, no matter where you stand in your search, you can tag along and learn some lessons, as I have sifted through a distant past.

See Insights for "Testing My DSLR's Dynamic Range"

I finally performed some rigorous testing on my Nikon D200 DSLR. I followed Michael Frye's suggestions in his new ebook Landscapes in Lightroom 5 and his web-article "Testing Your Camera's True Dynamic Range."

Have a look at my testing:

http://weiphotoarts-insights.blogspot.com/


Wei Chong

BLOG & INSIGHTS Upgraded to New SmugMug

After a week of testing and upgrading my SmugMug site, WeiPhotoArts.com, everything seems to work. The new feel of Galleries is stunning. And everything works with BLOG and INSIGHTS, which had the least change; but needed to be tweaked to seamlessly work with my website..

In the coming weeks I intend to improve the sites even more. Please contact me for questions or suggestions by clicking the Comment button below.


Wei Chong

Blog Site NOW under Construction

With the change to the brand new, gorgeous website designs offered by SmugMug in the last few days, I've had to spend some time converting and upgrading and enhance the new site. This effort continues, as you read this blog, because this blog site itself will need various changes:

1. The menu system needs to be tweaked, so you might be bouncing between my old and new sites. The good news is that it is worth the wait. I'll let you know as soon as I convert over to the new SmugMug design.

2. My header and the look of the menu bar still needs some tweaking, but these items (as well as #1 above), have slightly lower priority than my main site, WeiPhotoArts.com.

Get ready to be amazed.


Wei

Bridge Over Mitchell Creek

Today I saw a bridge. A fairly simple footbridge not designed for multitudes of people. The span crossed Mitchell Creek, connecting Clayton Public Library to a few weathered buildings on Heritage Trail.

Most People swarmed the Library, eager to claim their prizes at the annual book sale. Meanwhile, I wandered about the other side, with a few others. A perfect morning for a few pictures.

Some ambled over the bridge. But I had all the time in the world to compose my image. The design lines on the walkway's side provided an inviting flow for one to follow.

Mt. Diablo from Downtown Clayton

 


The noon sun broke through the heavy clouds on Clayton. Just looking for a moment to light up the spring leaves and weaning grass. In the distance Mt. Diablo's lower peak felt the soft heat of a diffuse light in the distance.

Technical: NEF file converted to a digital infared rendition.

Minding My Own Business

Here I was in my own garden minding my own business. Actually, I crouched down on my knees and concentrated in taking some macro images of Spring Freesias between showers on Easter Sunday. What could possibly bother me getting those lovelies to response favorably? 

And then an imperious hummingbird buzzed me. He looked from behind the feeder with that "look." What was I doing beneath the feeder, contorted holding a camera. Right near his necter! Never mind, this bugger fed despite my presence. In my yard, many hummingbirds seem to enjoy feeding when I'm around. Despite my nearness, all of them throw that "look" into my mug.

I did manage a dozen photos, before my guest departed. Thank God for Aperture priority. And a sun muted by rain clouds that perfectly cross-lit my subject.

Oh yes, I did capture some Freesias. 

Sent from Wei's iPhone
Images from DSLR

Walking Down Main Street

While waiting for our Canesa's sandwiches, I decided to stroll down Clayton' Main Street. I searched for subjects to photograph.

My initial goal focused on B&W. I carried my DSLR, ready for a shot. However, as I meandered about, Spring colors dominated my visual senses. I became ambivalent and made some images for color, and others for monochrome. No matter, post-processing on the computer would allow either. If only I could attain correct exposure and creative composition.

The bright pink flowers outside the Clayton Historical Society Building attracted my eye first.

The flowers awoke since last week, when they were still dormant. 


 

I crossed Main, and again returned to the same side when bright yellow flowers attracted my eye. The flowers blossomed all over the white trellis of the entrance way to Bradburn Dentistry. Two white rocking chairs on the veranda invited one into the office. Now I know how a Dentist's place could exude welcome. 



 At the cross street of Main and Marsh Creek Road, I found the four-sided town clock. And one of Clayton's signature views of Mt. Diablo. HDR time for a multi-exposure sequence to capture the dynamic range of rain clouds and city street. 

I ambled across Marsh Creek, beyond Black Diamond Plaza. The purple violets grew without bound in the lush undergrowth. 








 




Crossing the bridge adjacent to the Plaza, I found some lilac firecracker-like wildflowers.









 




Returning back to Canesa's I passed The Grove. Some purple conical flowers begged to be captured with Mt. Diablo in the background.

Nut Tree in Vacaville

 

In what used to be a cow town is now a sprawling complex of shops and restaurants. We found ourselves in the middle of Nut Tree Plaza on a sunny spring weekend.  

We headed to Fenton's Ice Cream Parlor for lunch and, of course, our ice cream treat for the week. Fenton's expanded from their crowded location in Piedmont (north Oakland) to a spacious plot with lots of parking in Vacaville. It could not have been a better additional location for them.

We started with  a small lunch, as we conspired to save room for a large desert. Each of us had our heart's desire. Mine was a Small Hot Fudge Sundae with extra nuts thrown over a bulging dish of Vanilla bean. 

After lunch we surveyed the rest of the plaza, and saw children clamoring to ride the Nut Tree Railroad. How could I blame them?

 

 Nut Tree's layout was perfect. This looked like a bonafide small track steam engine, complete with railroad crossing signs.

 

How could we not stop by the Jelly Belly outlet, right next to Fenton's? They parked their VW Jelly Belly car right near the Nut Tree RR Station:

Luckily for us, Fenton's filled our stomach amply enough to not want any beans. I think I would have burst with a purchase...


Sent from Wei's iPhone