Blog

"Balanced Rock, Arches National Park, Utah"

Life is all about balance, achieving perspective and growing as an individual.

Over the years I have taken many trips to America's national parks with many different cameras. Starting with my pre-digital days with an Olympus Stylus point and shoot film camera to my first digital camera a Canon Powershot 100, then progressing to a Canon Powershot G1 and then temporarily borrowing a Nikon Coolpix and now shooting with Canon digital SLRs. My purpose back then in taking photos were with I'm here and you're not manner. I really did not take into account very seriously composition, exposure and the use of light. I did not even know what aperture mode was on my camera?! So all my photos were taken mainly in the automatic (dummy) mode.

When I got my first digital SLR camera (a Canon Digital Rebel), I came across this article by travel photographer Phil Douglis. I read the second paragraph and I screamed out to myself, I'm at phase two and phase three is what I have been searching for!

Most travel photographers start out by making pictures of things to simply describe what they see. I call this the literal travel snapshot. Some, however, will eventually move on to a second phase and making aesthetically pleasing pictures that enhance what they saw. I call this the artistic snapshot - essentially the same as a lovely picture post card or a calendar illustration. This cyberbook does not concern itself with either of these phases. Instead, I demonstrate what goes into a third phase in interpreting the things you see on your travels to express meaning to others. I call these pictures expressive images. -Excerpt from Phil Douglis

I know I have a lot to learn and whole lifetime to master this art form called photography.

Okay, so that was a long introduction to say this is Balanced Rock in Arches National Park located in Utah.

Go see it in person before it topples over!

All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text Sam Antonio Photography

Happy Travels!

Facebook | Google | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog

I was standing in the middle of Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. when I took this photograph between honking cars and speeding bicyclists. I was arrested by the local police because they considered my tripod a dangerous weapon. I was handed over to the Department of Homeland Security, interrogated and labeled as an enemy combatant ready to be renditioned to Guantanamo Bay.

That wasn't even the bad part.

My poor Canon EOS 5D Mark II camera was scanned, swabbed and fingered by some unsavory guys wearing pink shoes, purple smocks and white gloves.

I finally yelled out from the top of my lungs, Photography is not a crime! and handed them a copy of this:

Find out your rights as a photographer by clicking this link

They put a black bag over my face and forced me into some vehicle. After an hour or so I was then thrown out of the vehicle and found myself in some place called Freedom Plaza back on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Yes, it's tough being a travel photographer.

I also have a wild imagination.

None of this is true (but this could be the next Dan Brown novel) with the exception that I really was on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. taking this photograph from Freedom Plaza.

This is a great location to photograph the U.S. Capitol with a city view. It looks like I'm standing in the middle of the road, but actually Pennsylvania Avenue takes a slight bend where the plaza is at so you have a direct view of the Capitol with the traffic coming straight toward you.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by Sam Antonio Photography

Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
Follow me on Twitter!
I'm over at Pinterest too!
Sam's Photography Blog

Reflecting on the Fall Colors at Oxbow Bend Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA

While Yellowstone National Park is a wildlife photographer's park, Grand Teton National Park is the home to landscape photographers. Some of the world's best mountainscapes are located right here. Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park's mountains were named by a French trapper who viewed them from the Idaho side of the range and called them Tetons, French slang for "breasts" (I'm not kidding)!

On my first trip to the park I couldn't see the Teton Mountains at all since the fog hid them. This time around my view was almost ruined because the park service was doing a controlled burn in the park and is the reason why you see some haze in this mountain shot.

I took this shot of the fall colors at Oxbow Bend at about 10:30 a.m. in the morning. Yes, I broke the cardinal rule of landscape photography of only photographing in the warm, soft light of sunrise and sunset, but I was glad I took this shot in the late morning light. Normally the classic shot of Oxbow Bend is taken at sunrise, but in autumn the light is a little flat in the early morning. With the front lighting of the sun in the late morning, the autumn colors were deeply saturated. It seems like they are popping right out of the photo! After I came back from my trip I found out this was a similar shot on the front cover of Outdoor Photographer Magazine.

All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text Sam Antonio Photography

Happy Travels!

Facebook | Google | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog

The Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge in downtown San Diego connects the convention center with Petco Park (home to San Diego's Major League Baseball team the Padres). At 550 feet, the bridge is one of the longest self-anchored pedestrian suspension bridges in the world and is supposed to look like a sail to fit in with San Diego's nautical history.

I took this photograph from the top floor of a parking garage. I like this view since it not only includes the new Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge, but also Petco Park, the new Central Library and the East Village District, which is San Diego's largest and most rapidly developing neighborhood.

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by Sam Antonio Photography

Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
Follow me on Twitter!
I'm over at Pinterest too!
Sam's Photography Blog

"Hawaii is paradise. It sounds cheesy to say it, but there's music in the air there." - Bruno Mars

Paradise comes with a palace and that happens to be Hulihe'e Palace on the Big Island of Hawaii. Located along Ali'i Drive in old Kailua town, it was built in 1938 by Governor James Kuakini and subsequently use by the Hawaiian Royalty as a summer get-away. Today the palace is open to the public as a museum and is operated by the Daughter's of Hawaii.

There's no photography allowed inside so I had to settle for this exterior shot. I also had to stand back from the coconut trees because there was a sign warning, "Watch For Falling Coconuts." I guess there more than music in the air in paradise!

Aloha my FAA friends!

Happy Travels!

All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text Sam Antonio Photography 2015

Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest

Snake River Overlook, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

The classic view of The Grand Tetons from the Snake River Overlook, a viewpoint made famous by Ansel Adams in a black & white photograph bearing the same name.

If you have the inclination to duplicate Adams classic shot, bring a chainsaw since the growth of the trees now block the famous s-curve of the Snake River that was a key compositional element in his photograph.

Of course, do not bring a chainsaw, cut down trees and when handcuffed by the Park Rangers mentioned to them that some crazy photographer named Sam Antonio told you to do so.

I added in my own interpretation to this classic view by including into the composition a splash of color from the vibrant fall colors of a nearby tree. That smudge you see at the base of the Teton Mountain is haze from a controlled burn the National Park Service was conducting that week. As a result, they ruined many of my shots over the three days I was photographing in the park.

On second thought, if you make it out to Grand Teton National Park tell the parks rangers that I am still pissed off for what they did back in 2006. I may just come back and cut down a couple of trees!


All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text Sam Antonio Photography

Happy Travels!

Facebook | Google | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog

“A View to a Kill” – Desert View Watchtower, Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona

I am finally posting a photograph that has been residing on my hard drive since 2008. This was from a not so productive photography trip I took to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. Perhaps I am sharing this since I will be leaving for a backpacking trip to the Grand Canyon this Friday.

Or it could be that making this photograph nearly killed me.

Let us backup for a moment.

I started 2008 with many ambitious goals to photograph as many iconic landscapes throughout the American Southwest as possible. First on my list was photographing winter landscapes at the Grand Canyon. I was there for four days and from a landscape photography point of view it was a bust because the entire time the sky was a uniform blue and devoid of any clouds (as you see in the photo).

After photographing from all the popular viewpoints (i.e. Mather and Yavapai Point), I tried my luck as lesser known and less crowded viewpoints. One area I have seen photos of is the Desert View Watchtower located near the eastern entrance of the park.

The watchtower is a 70-foot four-story stone structure that was designed by American architect Mary Colter, who also designed many other buildings in the Grand Canyon such as Hermit's Rest and Lookout Studio.

After I toured the interior of the tower I walked outside to scout for a composition for a sunset shot. Immediately I started getting a sharp, stabbing pain to my abdominal region. I bent over in pain and fell on the cold ground as I silently screamed in pain. After whimpering like a little baby, I managed to stumble back to my car. Sitting in the driver’s seat things only got worse. It was still a good 20-mile drive back to the Grand Canyon Village where I was staying, but I was in no condition to drive. After gritting my teeth for five unbearable minutes the pain suddenly subsided. Common sense would dictate I drive back to my motel room and seek medical attention, but my unreasonable photographer mind said I needed to stay to get that sunset shot! I wasn’t going to let a stomachache dictate my time at the Grand Canyon.

So what did I do? I got out of my car, grabbed my photo equipment and composed this shot. I still had about two more hours until sunset so I figured I would walk around and find more creative compositions, that is until the stabbing pains came back with a vengeance. Once again I stumbled back to my car where I started to sweat profusely as a result of a flu coming on. I passed in and out of consciousness for the next two hours while laid out in the backseat of my car.

So after all this you would think I would contact somebody for medical help?

Of course not!

I gathered up what remaining strength I had and setup for a sunset shot. In the end, the sunset was terrible and so was my condition. To this day I still don’t know how I did it, but I managed to make the 20-mile drive back to my room where I promptly passed out.

The next morning I felt drained, but much better. I finished the rest of the trip without any further complications.

After I got home I continued to have these stomach aches off and on for a month. Because I am a stubborn person I refused to see a doctor thinking it would all go away. My philosophy is to see a doctor when death is imminent and that is exactly what happened. At a family gathering at my sister’s house I passed out once again due to the pain and she drove me to urgent care, which upon performing a quick medical check referred me to the local hospital emergency room.

Long story short, I had some weird and rare form of appendicitis (I can’t recall the exact medical term) where it would flare up constantly and leak dangerous fluids into my intestines. After two one-week long hospital stays, a colonoscopy and $100,000 in medical bills (doctors and hospitals love to milk great insurance plans…now you know why I hate going to the doctor), I was back to somewhat normal, but most of 2008 turned out to be a bust for my photography goals.

I hope this trip to the Grand Canyon will be much more pain free, at least I will be traveling a little lighter since I’ll be without an appendix!

All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text ©Sam Antonio Photography 2008

Happy Travels!

Facebook | Google | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog

San Diego is a world class travel destination, but there are many secrets to my city unknown to tourists. One secret is that the best time to visit San Diego is in the winter. Not only are the tourists crowds thinned out, but weather wise it is a great time to experience some amazing sunsets along our beaches. Our “winter” weather still averages about seventy degrees and because the absence of the marine layer, that plagues our beaches during the summer, we have clear skies that lead to some amazing sunsets.

For the past month I have been scouting around San Diego searching for new and unique compositions. For years I have been doing the proven circuit of beach locations to photograph the sunset. To shake things up I have been scouring the internet and putting some mileage on my walking shoes to discover some new vantage points. I finally made it out to these “secret swings” which have a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean.

And yes I did hop on the swings and relive my childhood memories!

Happy Travels!

All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text ©Sam Antonio Photography 2015

Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest

“To be killed in war is not the worst that can happen. To be lost is not the worst that can happen… to be forgotten is the worst.” -Pierre Claeyssens (1909-2003)

I had the great opportunity to partake in a moving and patriotic experience when I was in Washington, D.C.. Every December an organization called Wreaths Across America coordinates a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. It is a wonderful way to remember, honor and teach our youth about our fallen veterans.

They also lay wreaths at other memorials such as the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial in Washington, D.C.

The Vietnam Veterans War Memorial is most abstract memorial on the National Mall. It is also, to many, the most profound and emotional. The two sunken black granite walls, dedicated in 1982, are inscribed with the names of the 58,000-plus American service members who died in the Vietnam War. Designer Maya Lin called her controversial design an “anti-monument.”

What was your most moving travel experience?

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Still figuring out Google +
Follow me on Twitter!
I'm over at Pinterest too!
Sam's Photography Blog

Condesa Neighborhood, Mexico City, Mexico

I don’t always drink coffee when I am in Mexico City, but when I do, it is at Café Toscano de Mercado Michoacan in the Condesa neighborhood. Stay awake my friends!

Question of the day: Are you a coffee or tea drinker?


All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text ©Sam Antonio Photography 2014

Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest

Taxco de Alarcón, Mexico

A night view of Taxco’s Zocalo (city plaza) and its beautiful Templo de Santa Prisca.

Taxco ("tass-ko") de Alarcón is considered Mexico’s silver Mecca. It is a beautiful Spanish colonial town at the foot of the Sierra Madre Mountains.

Since the town is located on a steep hillside the locals use Volkswagen Beetle (Bug) taxis to navigate the steep streets. They constantly roam the streets in a single file as if they were on an assembly line. You never have to wait more than a couple of seconds to flag down a taxi.

In the afternoon I wandered around the labyrinth of steep streets looking to photograph the town’s zocalo from a high vantage point. I found this very narrow street and returned in the evening for the “blue hour.”

It was a tight squeeze to setup my tripod along the very narrow street without being road kill as Volkswagen bug taxis were speeding behind me. If that was not enough concern, it started to rain and I was getting nauseated from ingesting all the car fumes.

I wanted to pack up my gear and leave, but I was waiting for the floodlights to illuminate the church. I finally asked a local about the lights and he said they only turn them on over the weekend. I took this last frame you see here before it started to really downpour. I packed up my gear, strapped on my photo backpack and headed downhill back to the plaza.

Here is a really important travel tip if you ever visit Taxco: Do not walk in the rain on a wet and slippery cobblestone street that has a steep decline.

As you can imagine, I lost my footing and was going to land on my back, but as any good photographer would do I protected my gear! With cat like reflexes, I quickly turned my upper torso and landed on my chest as if I was going to do a pushup (the locals were probably thinking who is this crazy foreigner doing pushups in the rain).

With a bruised wrist and ego, I quickly gathered myself up and ducked into the nearest bar to grab a beer.

Photography is not only an expensive habit; it can be dangerous to your health.

Happy Travels!

All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text ©Sam Antonio Photography 2014

Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest

The sun sets along Ali’i Drive on the beach town of Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii. The steeple is of Moku’aikaua Church, the oldest church in Hawaii, built in 1837. It was my first time visiting the Big Island and it certainly will not be my last.

What is your favorite island in Hawaii?

Happy Travels!

All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text ©Sam Antonio Photography 2015

Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest

Feast your eyes people! This is a rare photograph I captured of Delicate Arch, the iconic symbol of Utah, in Arches National Park. Okay a simple search on Google and you’ll find more photos of this freestanding natural arch then all the inhabitants of China.

Why is this a rare photograph of Delicate Arch?

Because there are no tourists posing under it!

No, I didn’t “clone” anybody out in post-processing, I simply did it the old fashion way...I screamed at them to get out of my frame (I had some help too).

A 1.5 mile hike from the parking lot will deliver you to the signature arch of the park. The 45 minute hike is easy to do but carrying two camera bodies, five lenses, a point and shoot camera, tripod and water made for a challenge. But if you get here right at sunset you will be rewarded with one of nature's best light show.

You will also be in the good company of hundreds of budding photographers and oblivious tourists. Of course, many of those tourists want to get a photo op under the arch thus angering many of those budding photographers which included myself. In unison we politely asked them to get out of our frame momentarily but to no avail.

As I was standing shoulder to shoulder of what looked like a firing squad of photographers with our tripod mounted cameras, I grew frustrated by the moment. So I took the initiative and grabbed my tripod to get a closer shot and a couple of photographers followed me (I love playing follow the leader). I then politely asked the “Arch” models if they would please move temporarily and again they ignored my pleas.

Finally one of the other photographers next to me pointed out that they were European tourists who didn’t comprehend my English speaking pleas (in reality most Europeans speak and understand English perfectly so they probably just wanted to piss off another American).

So the German photographer to my left said something in German and the German tourists moved. The French photographer to my right said something in French and the French tourists moved. I then said something in my parents native language, Tagalog (the national language of the Philippines for those not in the know), and the rest moved (okay I made that last part up...I’m an American and I only speak one language).

In the end everybody left happy. Hiking back to the parking lot with Bud, the German photographer (yes, that was his name), he shared with me his travel stories of four months of traveling solo in America.

“This was the first time I was traveling to America and I was confident my English was good enough to communicate with the locals,” Bud paused for a moment to reflect “but what I wasn’t prepared for was all the Spanish speakers I’ve encountered.”

“Bud, this is America,” I replied “Spanish is our national language.”

Adios my amigos!

Equipment used:

Canon EOS 5D, Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD IF, an overpriced Manfrotto tripod

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Follow me on Twitter!
Sam's Photography Prints Available Here

Arches is a great little National Park to photograph. Unlike Yellowstone, which requires hundred of miles of driving, Arches is a manageable park with most of the classic sites within reach of parking your car.

Photographing Arches is also made very pleasant since nearby is the handy gateway town of Moab, Utah. This also makes it a great base to photograph nearby Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park.

Some photo and travel tips regarding my trip to Arches National Park and vicinity:

Think small: Fly into a smaller regional airport. Rather than flying into a big airport hub like Salt Lake City and driving five hours to get to Moab, I flew into Grand Junction, Colorado and drove an hour and half along a scenic highway to get to my destination. In addition, the much smaller regional airports are a breeze for travelers as opposed to the behemoth airports that require miles of walking and tons of headaches.

Get an alarm clock: Many people have e-mailed me asking how I get such brilliant colors in my photographs. Get up early and stay out late to photograph at sunrise and sunset when nature's light returns the favor of your early rising with deep saturated colors.

Read before you see: Before I even click my shutter button I do extensive research of the places I photograph. I read guidebooks, magazines and photo website forums for advice on the best shot locations. Also, I'll read books that feature my trip destination to give me a better appreciation of the places I'll discover. For example, for my trip to Savannah, GA I read John Berendt's "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." For this trip I read the classic, "Desert Solitaire: A Season In the Wilderness," by Edward Abbey.

Rock Steady: To get those super sharp photos you'll need a tripod. I travel with a very lightweight carbon fiber tripod that is small enough to fit into my carry on luggage. Good landscape photography requires shooting in weak light (sunrise and sunset) and small apertures. Canon "L" lenses will deliver some great shots for you but if your camera isn't steady you will get blurry photos. Invest in a good tripod before you invest in quality lenses.

Seek Inspiration to be Inspired: In downtown Moab, UT you can visit Tom Till's photography gallery. Yes, you can duplicate his classic shots but this will inspire you to search deeper to find your own "classics" while improving your photography skills.

What a Bargain: Invest in a National Park Pass. If you want to meet Europeans there is no need to go to Europe just visit your local National Park. I have met many more Europeans than Americans in the many National Parks I have visited. There's a reason why so many foreign travelers visit our parks because the wondrous beauty of our national treasures are unparalleled. Visit our National Parks before some of our national treasures are gone.

This is a sunrise shot of Turret Arch looking through the North Window. Get here early to catch a spectacular light show. In the Windows section of the park take the trail toward the North Window and hike right under it until you see a trail that you can scramble up on to get to a ledge. From here you can shoot the classic photo that you see above. That little white speck you see on the upper left hand side is the moon.

Be a Traveler not a Tourist!

Equipment used:
Canon EOS 5D ,Tamron SP AF 17-35mm f/2.8-4 Di LD IF

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography

Why don't you join me on Facebook?
Follow me on Twitter!
Sam's Photography Available for Prints!

“And now my comrades all are gone;
Naught remains to toast
They have left me here in my misery,
Like some poor wandering ghost.” –Unknown

There are touristy ghost towns like Tombstone, Arizona and uncommercial, authentic ghost towns such as Bodie, California. Although five percent of the original town remains, the town is eye candy for amateur and professional photographers alike.

Located in the Eastern Sierras of California, Bodie once boasted a population of 10,000 people thus making one of the largest towns in California during its time. With a combination of gamblers, miners, prospectors and corrupt politicians it was rumored a murder took place once a day in the town. To keep Bodie unique and authentic, the state park service has maintained a policy called arrested decay; the original buildings will remain as they are with little or no maintenance from the park rangers.

A walk through the town is literally a walk into the past...only this time as visitors you have a good chance of coming out alive.

I got this shot by lowering my tripod until my camera was literally inches off the ground. Lying on my belly I set the proper hyperfocal distance setting to gain the greatest depth of field (basically everything from front to back is in focus and sharp).

After I got done taking this shot a couple of photographers "were in line" to get a similar composition. I laughed and moved on to my next shot.

Notes: Canon EOS 20D, Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

Happy Travels!

All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text ©Sam Antonio Photography 2006

Facebook | Google | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Prints

Scripps Pier in La Jolla is a popular place for surfers, researchers and photographers. This composition under the pier has been done countless times. While the composition may look the same, the wind, water and light never remains constant. This is just my humble take on this San Diego landmark.

The original Scripps Pier was built in 1915 and funded by Ellen Browning Scripps. The pier was a means for aquariums and the university labs to acquire clean seawater. A new pier was built in 1988 right next to the aging Scripps Pier, which was later removed.

The official name of the pier is The Scripps Institution of Oceanography Pier, operated by The Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a department of the University of California, San Diego. That’s a little wordy so we locals just called it Scripps Pier.

Happy Travels!

All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text ©Sam Antonio Photography 2015

Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest

A spectacular sunset from Cesar Chavez Park in Barrio Logan with a view of the Coronado Bridge.

This little park is a hidden gem of San Diego. Its concrete pier extends out into San Diego Bay, which allows some unique shots of the Coronado Bridge. To the left of the pier are various commercial tug boats and the 32nd Street Naval Base which happens to the be the largest base for United States Navy on the west coast and the homeport of the Pacific Fleet.

The park sees very little visitors and the couple of times I have been there I was the only individual standing on the pier. That night I was actually in the company of another photographer. After all, who could resist photographing a sunset like this one!

Happy Travels!

Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography 2014

Facebook | Google | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Prints

The ancient Thai capital of Sukhothai (translated means “dawn of happiness”) was the first capital of Siam founded by King Ramkhamhaeng during the 13th Century. The province's temples and monuments have been restored and is now the Sukhothai Historical Park and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The 13th century ruins of Wat Mahathat (translated means “temple of the great relic”) is perhaps the most popular and photogenic of all the temples in Sukhothai.

I would love to return there one day.

Happy Travels!

All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text ©Sam Antonio Photography 2012

Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest

“In a person’s lifetime there may be not more than half a dozen occasions that he can look back to in the certain knowledge that right then, at that moment, there was room for nothing but happiness in his heart.” - Ernestine Gilbreth Carey

The ancient Thai capital of Sukhothai (translated means “dawn of happiness”) was the first capital of Siam founded by King Ramkhamhaeng during the 13th Century. The province's temples and monuments have been restored and is now the Sukhothai Historical Park and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Wat Sra Sri is a beautiful wat located on an island surrounded by a pond. Just entering the wat is a beautiful experience, as you have to cross a bridge in anticipation to the immense beauty. On the island you will see a Sri Lankan-style mounded chedi and walking Buddha in Sukhothai style.

I had only one day in Sukhothai and I was hoping for an amazing sunset. It never did materialize, but one thing I learned from traveling this great, big world of ours is to be appreciative of the things we have in our lives and not to dwell on the things we do not have.

I took this shot about ten minutes after sunset (the blue hour) and after taking a couple of frames, I stepped out from behind the camera to just simply appreciate this magnificent structure with my naked eyes. It was then I realized there was not another soul around and I was simply filled with nothing but happiness in my heart.

Happy Travels!


All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text ©Sam Antonio Photography

Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Prints

Just two hours drive from San Diego is Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The park occupies over 600,000 acres making it the largest state park in the lower 48 states. The desert comes alive in late February to early April when the wildflowers bloom, but it wasn’t just the wildflowers that brought me to the desert.

Located next to the state park is private land, called Galleta Meadows, which is free and open to the public. Here you will find 130 fully-sized outdoor metal sculptures by artist Ricardo Breceda. They vary from dinosaurs to elephants to a 350 foot-long serpent.

I really wanted to make a great night photograph of this serpent’s head so I had a Hollywood production company truck down an enormous mobile lighting system normally used for making major motion pictures. The light was so powerful I had them tone it down a bit (you can still see the shadow it cast on the ground). I then had my buddies from the Academy Award-winning motion picture visual effects company Industrial Light & Magic add in some awesome fire breathing special effects. Not bad for a $100,000 dollar budget.

In reality, I didn’t need an artificial lighting system since the entire scene was nicely lit by the full moon behind me. “Special effects” consisted of a 30-second exposure, two Maglite flashlights and your intrepid photographer running around like a little kid. After setting off the shutter button I used my baton size Maglite to briefly light paint the serpent’s head and then ran into the frame and used a mini-Maglite to add in the squiggly fire breathing effects. After doing that for a couple of seconds I ran back behind the camera and used my big Maglite to finish light painting the sculpture. I did this a number of times to get the exposure right and at the same time got in a great crossfit workout!

Instead of spending $100,000 dollars, I expended 100,000 calories in getting this shot!

Happy Travels!


All Rights Reserved. Photos and Text ©Sam Antonio Photography 2016