Bangkok, Thailand

Even after a major protest and the grounding of all flights, we packed our bags and flew to Bangkok. For Brian and I it was an easy decision.

What is the point of living if we don't take any risks?

Notre Dame de Paris

Chances are you have been here because Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. I've imagined what this Roman Catholic Cathedral would look like in old photographs and this is how I see it, without the VanHatten Photography logo, of course! 

f/2.8
1/25
ISO 1000

It's Time for Color

Some images should be black and white and some should be color. So how do you know when to decide?

When I come across an image with a good amount of red, I almost always keep it in color. The reason being is that red is very gray in black in white. It doesn't pop. The other color you want to see here is yellow. If this image was in black and white you wouldn't be able to tell me that those lines are yellow. It is possible they could be white.

What is the first thing you notice in this image?

I notice the bike right away. I am drawn to it because it is off center and it is in the lower half of the image. Also the bike is parked on a double yellow line where there is no room. Maybe the owner was in a hurry? Look again at the bike. Did you see that it is locked? Most people lock their bikes in university towns.

Look at the bricks. They are different shades of red. It makes the picture more interesting and it tells you something about its location. California doesn't have many brick buildings because of earth quakes. Also there are large stones incorporated around the windows and there is a horizontal line of them across the building. So where else could it be?

I took this picture in Cambridge, England where there are loads of students, bikes and old buildings. The hints here were the large stones and the locked bike.

Here are my camera settings for this shot.

f/1.4
1/2000
ISO 100

Live in the moment!

Every morning I wake up and immediately photography is the first thing on my mind. And after I've fallen asleep, it enters my dreams. But lately all I can think about is going home. Why is it that I am in this beautiful continent of Europe and all I can think about is leaving it?

I miss my family, friends and my Miso, that's why. I love traveling, and most of all finding beauty in unique places, but Bridge and Photoshop don't talk and they won't go to lunch with me either, "hmph." Facebook and Twitter keep me connected to life in San Diego, but like I said before there are no deep conversations over a good bottle of red wine. I am beginning to wonder if I can still carry a decent conversation.

Thank goodness for Brian and his infinite wisdom, he always reminds me to live for today, not yesterday and not tomorrow, but today! Focus on the opportunities you have available today, and not tomorrow, or the next day or next year.

Here are some images from our trip to Scotland. Everything is so ancient, so I couldn't help but think in in terms of old school photography. I love grain and sepia tones!

It was nice to be with my sister and brother in a foreign country, plus Brian and I needed help drinking Scotland's beer!