After I suffered yet another computer crash I finally decided to head over to Fry's and walk home with a Quad Processor Computer, 8GB of RAM and Windows 7. Seems like the motherboard on my old computer was finally fried after it refused to recognize any of my hard drives. I added two monitors to the computer and can now enjoy the editing process again.

I have not even installed Photoshop on my new computer yet, but I am already editing photos like a champ. I downloaded the new Lightroom 3.0 Beta version from Adobe. It took some time to get used to the interface, but I am coming around to like it very much. I think I am going to write a review of Lightroom, maybe pitching it against another one of my favorite RAW editors, Silkypix PRO.

I am completely fed up by the licensing policies of Adobe, which may ultimately keep me from buying Lightroom. I am not sure yet. As my raid array disintegreated, I had to reinstall Photoshop. Then later I decided to build a raid again and install Photoshop again. Apparently the software kept recognizing a new computer each time, possibly because of the raid. Now I have to call Adobe and explain the situation every time I wish to re-install Photoshop again. My requests to erase all licenses from their Servers and let me re-install was simply denied, leaving me frustrated with a useless $600 software.

The most recent photographs I uploaded to my Golden Gate Park Gallery are done with Lightroom only. Those images also do not have any watermarks anymore. For the last few years I have included watermarks that were barely visible, but now they are gone altogether. I am working on an idea to make all images on this website publicly available for free, but I do require attribution (hyperlink on websites and url on prints). Stay tuned for more information on free pictures.

Today I have uploaded a lot new photographs and created new galleries to hold my new Bay Area pictures. Please take some time and browse through the galleries to enjoy everything the bay area has to offer.

Even I get surprised after many years of living in the Bay Area. I discovered the overview above on a hike through the Marin Headlands.

Other great views include Lands End and the views from Mt. Tamalpais. I also included some pictures of the surrounding communties of Sausalito and Tiburon.

Check out my San Francisco Bay Area Gallery and come back soon for new pictures. I have spent the entire spring photographing and have much to show in the coming weeks.

Learn how to have more fun taking better pictures.

This article is part three of my series on the Zen photographer.

In part 1 I introduced some concepts of mindfulness and how they apply to photography and in part 2 I talked about Silence and Trust. Reading the articles in order may yield a better understanding of the subject.

The article series is part of a larger series on better photography. I hope to answer some questions on inspiration and stimulation of the brain with this series.

Letting go - non attachment

The thought of a place is not the place.

Our minds are like magnets that catch every thought passing by. We ponder what was and what will be, what we have said, what we should have said or what we will say.

Thoughts create new thoughts, which feed other thoughts. Our mind spins endlessly faster and faster until we get distracted with new thoughts.

There is no way out of this maze, but our mind will not recognize this. We often cannot solve our problems by thinking about them, but we keep thinking.

We are always preoccupied. Many thoughts do not even make sense, but we think them anyways. Can you focus completely on this article or are other thoughts going through your head RIGHT NOW?

We need to break this endless cycle and learn how to let go, how to recognize our thoughts for what they are and let them pass without clinging to them.

Learn how to take better pictures while enjoying your time more.

This article is the continuation of my series on the Zen photographer.

The benefits of mindfulness are many, I already outlined some in part one of this series. Although it is probably better to read the articles in order, you can also start here and work your way back. As a mindful writer, I realize there is no wrong way. ;)

We all strive to become better photographers. Some of us actually become outstanding photographers, while so many others become obsessed with technical jargon and camera resolution.

Read about a secret I discovered.

When I listened to an audio book on mindfulness, I discovered new secrets to better photography. The person reading the book talked about what mindfulness means and suddenly it occurred to me how we all can benefit from this to create more beautiful photographs and to open our eyes and mind to really see things and capture them.

As a technical person, I had a very pragmatic approach to photography and while my photographs were technically correct, I found that photography is much more than capturing light with a digital camera.

A photographer must achieve a state of mind that allows him to see the world like nobody else does, cutting right through the clutter in our minds and our environment.

Answers to your questions.

I receive many emails through my website(s) and I love helping whenever I can. One popular theme is career advice sought by high school students, some college students and people switching careers.

During the last month, I have only published a relatively small number of articles. If you have come to appreciate a steady diet of tutorials and photography related articles, I have good news for you. I am back full force, starting next week.

Introducing my new project

One of the reasons I took things a bit slower is a new project I am working on. I have come to realize that I have spent a great deal of time in California and built up a wealth of knowledge about anything and everything worth photographing. That is why I decided to start a new blog:

California Photo Scout

On the photo scout website I will publish short articles about all the places in California that are worth photographing, how to photograph them, how to find your way around, what equipment you will need, what the best time is for photography and other tips.

It is a blog geared for photographers, photo enthusiasts and tourists with a passion for picture taking. If you ever plan to come to California or if you live here, you will find great value in this blog.

Why not here?

My first priority is this website here. I have built a strong reader base and I love this website. I love interacting with you and I love getting emails every day giving me great feedback.

It is my primary outlet to communicate and help with photographic advice.

However, there are literally hundreds of places I have seen in California and I found that it would litter this website with too much information, so I decided to create a new website.

What is next?

I have many ideas for tutorials and plenty of reviews to write to keep you busy reading and me busy writing furiously. I have become much more efficient and better organized than when I first started blogging, making it possible for me to support this new project despite the many things I do.

I love the discussion on the Rebel XSI Review post and I hope there will be more.  Please do not hesitate to comment or contact me directly if you have an important question on your mind. There is no stupid question, just stupid answers. So keep it coming and don't forget to visit the Photo Scout sometimes.

Thanks

Andre

As I drove home today, I noticed a strange mist over South San Jose. The closer I came to getting home, the eerier the whole scene got, when it finally dawned on me.

The wind had turned and suddenly the smoke of some of California's raging wildfires blew our direction. Fires are burning in too many places at once while California is facing one of the worst droughts in history.

As the evening came and the sun set, the whole landscape was suddenly bathed in an eery red light creating a surreal atmosphere as if the world would come to an end. I just had to draw my camera and walk the short distance to Blossom Hill road to capture the feeling of the night.

People were swerving and driving strangely while looking at the sky and when we climbed one nearby parking garage we found a small crowd of spectators gazing at the sunset as everything got covered up by thick smoke clouds.

Looking up, I can now see a blood red moon shining through, which leads me to believe that the clouds were thinning.