to my personal blog. Here I post examples of my photography and writing. I specialize in making unique and highly detailed photographs. Notice I said making and not taking. Yes I take photos but a lot of time and work is involved in pushing and punishing the pixels in my images to achieve the look I like.
Please feel free make comments about any of my words or photos. I enjoy constructive critiques, learning about locations to shoot or photography techniques. Click on the "Share Article" link to share any of my photos via Flickr, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
Want to use one of my posts in your own blog? No problem, but please make sure it links back to the original post here and do the right thing and give me credit. Don't copy my words, crop the images, remove the watermarks or claim my work as your own. This has happened more times than I can count so I've had to report copyright violations to ISP's and regrettably the violators blog is usually taken down.
Can't we all just get along?
Thursday, August 29, 2013 at 8:50PM | in Aviation, California, California Science Center, Exposition Park, Fun, HDR, Los Angeles, Museum, Space, Spacecraft 
Monday, June 24, 2013 at 9:38PM | in California, California Science Center, Exposition Park, Fisheye, HDR, Los Angeles, Museum, Space, Spacecraft 
This was such a great day! Kathy, my Mom and I all traveled to see the Space Shuttle Endeavour on display at the California Science Center. This building is a temporary structure which will be used until the new museum extension and Shuttle display area are built. While Endeavour will eventually be displayed in a launch configuration, complete with the huge orange external fuel tank and white solid rocket boosters, today you can walk underneath her. This allows very close inspection of the orbiter’s thermal tiles which clearly show the rigors of both launch and re-entry into the earth's atmosphere. If you are in the Los Angeles area I highly recommend going to see this amazing example of American ingenuity and innovation.
Monday, May 27, 2013 at 9:17PM | in Aviation, California, California Science Center, Exposition Park, Fisheye, HDR, Los Angeles, Museum 
On Memorial Day I'll pause to say thank you to the men and women who have served and are serving our country in a dangerous world, protecting our freedoms and keeping us safe. I also want to say thank you to their families who sacrifice so much for us.
These two Northrop aircraft at first glance look quite similar but only the white T-38 Talon saw service as a training aircraft and MiG simulator for our Aggressor squadrons based at Nellis AFB near Las Vegas, NV. The gray F-20 Tigershark was an aircraft without a home. Designed by Northrop at the "suggestion" of the US government, once complete it found no customers. Only three were ever built and this is the only surviving example.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 11:11PM | in California, California Science Center, Culture, Exposition Park, HDR, Kathy, Museum California Science Center's amazing atrium soars over my beloved wife who sits patiently waiting for me.
Sunday, August 9, 2009 at 7:03PM | in Aviation, California, California Science Center, Exposition Park, HDR, Museum I couldn't stop taking pictures of this aircraft. I don't know if it's the shape and size that attracts me or if it's because I have read so much about it and appreciate it for the amazing thing that it is.
The prototype first flew in April of 1962 yet it still holds several world records for speed and altitude. Everything about this aircraft was revolutionary. Flying at more than 2,000 mph and at altitudes as high as 90,000 ft, its pilots could see the curvature of the earth and out-run missiles launched at it. It's cameras had incredible resolution.
Built almost entirely of titanium to endure the heat of friction generated at Mach 3+ speeds, parts of the aircrafts skin would reach 1,200 degrees. It's twin engines spat out white-hot 3,400 degree exhaust plumes into the super cold air 17 miles above the earth's surface. This unprecedented propulsive power sped the Blackbird at an unbelievable two-thirds of a mile a second.
This was the first stealthy aircraft ever built. It's radar cross section was 100 times smaller than the US Navy's F-14 Tomcat fighter built a decade later.
1 Comment | tagged Aviation, California, Exposition Park, HDR, Museum | Share Article Permalink Email Article Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 10:33AM | in Aviation, California, California Science Center, Culture, Exposition Park, Museum This is the only 2 seat version of the A-12 spy plane ever built. Operated by the CIA, this aircraft was the predecessor to the SR-71 Blackbird. Only one of 2 Blackbirds not actually painted black. This aircraft is bare metal with the exception of the nose and twin tails. Cloaked in absolute secrecy for most of it's operational life, it's good that the public can see this amazing aircraft now.
Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 10:15PM | in Aviation, California, California Science Center, Culture, Exposition Park, HDR, Museum 
Big Pixel Pushing!, originally uploaded by big_pixel_pusher.
I took the photo on the left using my camera's program mode. The photo on the right is the result of 3 bracketed shots processed in Lightroom, Photomatix, Photoshop, Noiseware and Topaz Adjust in various proportions. As I stood in the exhibit hall I was struck by the beautiful quality of the light raining down from the wall of glass and skylights above me. But as I expected, my camera was unable to handle this wide range of light. The answer? HDR of course! The look I can achieve pushes beyond the reality of the actual scene and to my taste, makes for a much more engaging experience for the viewer. This is what I call "Big Pixel Pushing!"
Thursday, July 16, 2009 at 12:41AM | in California, California Science Center, Creative, Culture, Exposition Park, HDR, Museum The Taper Sky Court soars above the third floor of the California Science Center. With over 265,000 square feet of event and interactive exhibit space, this is a wonderful place to visit.
