Top 10 Photos of 2014 No. 3 - Canvas Camping / February 23, 2015 by Oliver Asis

The No. 3 photo of the 2014 for me had to be when my friend Randy and I stayed at Glacier Under Canvas. This is very cool “camping” experience. It’s part camping and part hotel. You stay inside teepee made of canvas but you have basically all of the amenities of a hotel.

After a day of exploring Glacier National Park, we decided to take some night time photographs. I wanted to create an image that showed off the teepee and also showed wonderment & adventure. So with the teepee posted and Randy wearing a headlight, we took a couple of photos.

The light ray was created when smoke from the nearby fire ring would drift towards our site. So we had to wait for a bit to just get the right conditions to make the shot work. Additionally Randy had to try to stay completely still for about 15 seconds so I could get the teepee, the night sky, and the surrounds properly exposed. The things you can do when you hang out and travel with other photographers! :)

Top 10 Photos of 2014 #4 - On a Whim Sunset / February 22, 2015 by Oliver Asis

This photo for me is an example of when you know what to look for in the weather and what happens when you go with your gut. When I get off work, one of the first things I do is look up at the sky and see what the clouds look like. I preferably look towards the west because I can check to see if the clouds are on the horizon or not. And that’s important because it will determine if we will have a brilliant sunset of a dual one.

On the day of this photo, it look promising and based on the previous sunsets and on my previous experience I decided to make a run for the beach. I decided that La Jolla Shores would be perfect because it was easy to get to and on my way home. Plus it is a beautiful beach.

Rushing to the beach, I kept looking at the clouds and the clouds started to change color. And when I arrived the colors have started to intensified. So I took a couple of shots from the street and then notice the low tide.

The low tide conditions left the surfline, pretty reflective and I headed down to the beach. And just then a surfer was coming from surfing and I snapped a few photos and the result is the photo that you see.

Top 10 Photos of 2014 #5 - Finally Made It / February 22, 2015 by Oliver Asis

Swift current Lake, Glacier National Park

This was the year, I finally made it to Glacier National Park. This park has been on my list for ages. After Yosemite and Yellowstone National Park, Glacier is next. This is one of the park where you only have a handful of years before it loses it’s namesake. The glaciers here are melting at an extraordinary rate and it is predicted they will all be gone in our lifetime. With that in mind, I wanted to visit and at least see some of the glaciers before they melt.

Even though I only got to spend only a day or two in this park. I will be for sure returning in the near future.

This photograph is actually the first photo I took with my Lee Filters. In 2014, I made the push to invest in the gear that I always wanted. But I made smart investments. I saved and I researched. I look over how I would use the equipment and quality of use. And the Lee filters are one of those things that I knew would allow me to take my photographs future. This particular photograph was taken with the Lee Big Stopper. The Big Stopper is a 10 stop filter and it works wonders. This was photograph was taken in the middle of the day. But with 10 stops of light being stopped it allowed for me to make a long exposure to make the clouds dance.

This is No. 5 because this is the point where I knew I had more room to grow and push myself as a photographer further.

Top 10 Photos of 2014 #6 - National Parks / February 22, 2015 by Oliver Asis

Mormon Row Morning in Grand Teton National Park

The No 6 photograph is more as a representative of a journey that I know have pledge to be one for at least the next 5 years. Starting 2015, I am making it a personal quest to visit and photograph in every US National Park. There are 59 national parks and I have been to 16 so far. So I still have a ways to go to complete my quest.

But this this trip represents a great friendship. My friend Randy and I have traveled together on multiple trips over the last couple of years. It’s a great pleasure to have a friend that will journey with you on such trips. It makes so much more fun and a good overall journey. More adventures to come!

Top 10 Photos of 2014 #7 - Highlight Winter / January 17, 2015 by Oliver Asis

The No. 7 photo of 2014 was one that started as; “I want to try something, can I try it?” And with that statement and some very awesome friends on a cold night, I got some very cool night portraits. All I did for this shot was simply put my camera on a tripod and put the time on. And then brought one flash, and manually trigger it. It was a case study on using with what you have and being creative with it. And the result is what No. 7 is. It was on of the first times that I felt really comfortable in playing around with my flash. It was a fun evening that lasted longer than I imagined it would but the photographs from that night are ones that I still freshly remember. :)