Puerto Vallarta, MX

ISO 100     f/16       1/200      28mm

I planned a celebration trip for after taking the TE (Technical Evaluation test for work).  I found a great deal at the Marriott resort in Puerto Vallarta.  Tyler and Tim came along too for the week long getaway to paradise.  We were pretty much beach bums the whole week, but we did venture into downtown Puerto Vallarta one evening, and that's where I caught this picture.  Sometimes the timing is just right.

NIKON D3300

AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G VR II

Sugarhouse Park

ISO - 100     f/3.5    1/400     18mm

Shot on one of the last good Fall days of November.  Sugarhouse Park is 5 minutes from my house and I drive past it every day to and from work.  This big oak tree was just asking me to take its picture.

NIKON D3300
AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G VR II

Weehawken, NJ

ISO - 100     F/4     Exp. 1.6 sec    55mm

Work sent me to Weehawken, New Jersey for two weeks.  My hotel was located in Jersey City right along the Hudson River.  The weather was pretty uncooperative most of the time, but the rain let up one night and I was able to capture the beautiful skyline of Midtown Manhattan.  This was one of my first attempts at night photography and I actually think it turned out pretty well.  And don't worry, I made it over to the city several times (big thanks to my big bro and friends for entertaining me and showing me some great restaurants!)

NIKON D3300

AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G VR II 

Montauk - Lighthouse

ISO - 1600    F/4    Exp. 1/640    55mm

Who can resist taking a picture of a lighthouse?  There's just something about them that requires a photograph.  This was also taken during the trip to Montauk - with a sepia-esque touch up.  

NIKON D3300

AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G VR II

Montauk - Sunrise

ISO - 1600    F/4    Exp. 1/4000    55mm

I was lucky enough to go on an amazing trip to the Hamptons with my brother and a group of friends from his ward in New York.  During the trip, a few of us decided to wake up at 5:00am and drive to Montauk to watch the sunrise.  As tired as I was, it was well worth the sacrificed sleep.  Listening to the waves crash, feeling the cool morning breeze on my face, and watching the beautiful sun rise above the horizon makes for quite the serene moment....Serenity now!

NIKON D3300

AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6 G VR II    

Fall Colors - Red

ISO - 317    F/11    Exp. 1/500    48mm

I finally found some nice colorful Fall foliage!  It was also my first attempt at such dramatic post-processing.  I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!  Still so much to learn...

NIKON D3300

AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G VR II

White Branches

ISO - 400    F/11    Exp. 1/500    55mm

Some picture days are better than others.  This day was a less-better day.  Nothing was turning out the way I hoped.  This picture turned out to be the best of the bunch, and I took it on a whim not thinking twice about framing, lighting, or exposure.  And viola!  

NIKON D3300

AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G VR II

Big Cottonwood Canyon

ISO - 400   F/11    Exp. 1/400    18mm

A friend invited me to go for a Saturday morning hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon.  How could I refuse?  It was a little early for the prime Fall coloring, but I'll take it! 

NIKON D3300

AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G VR II

Washington Monument

ISO - 100    F/5    Exp. 4 sec    40mm

I love Washington DC.  It's a big city, without the typical big city feel.  And you can't help but feel 100% American when you're there.  My stay lasted 3 weeks this go 'round, full of intense work training.  To get away from work and unwind a bit, I spent my entire Friday night exploring the monuments.  I only brought my travel tripod, so to get this picture I laid down on my stomach at the edge of the reflecting pool and used my wireless trigger.  It was worth the Asian tourist photo frenzy.

NIKON D3300

AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G VR II

Lightning #1

ISO - 200    F/8    Exp. 1.3 sec    18mm

I've always been fascinated with lightning [from a safe distance].  I've never owned a camera that could capture the speed of lightning....until now.  This is my first try at shooting it, and surprisingly I caught a few good bolts - the best of which is shown above.  This will not be the last time I post a lightning shot.  

NIKON D3300

AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6G VR II

Sprinkler - Burley, ID

ISO - 400    F/11    Exp. 1/500    200mm

Work took me to good 'ole Burley, ID.  I was fortunate to be staying in a hotel with a farm behind it. (To be fair, though....there's a farm behind every building in Burley.)  This was my first trip using my new Nikon D3300 and I really like this camera.  It took some time getting used to, but I was able to capture a few good ones.  

NIKON D3300

AF-S DX Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6G VR II 

Laguna Beach

ISO - 400    1/320 sec    F/11    95mm

While walking through downtown Laguna, I was shown this beautiful view - and this artsy lamppost.  Couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day!

NIKON D3300

AF-S Nikkor 55-200mm 1:4-5.6 G VR II   

Arches National Park

Delicate Arch

Balanced Rock

Everyone needs an excuse to get out of the cold/inversion of Salt Lake.  Why not use a couple of free night hotel certificates and stay in Moab over President's Day weekend?  It's also convenient it was free entrance into the park!

Taken with my cell phone.