What's Cooking at Stone Brewery!

Like many businesses, Stone Brewery had its humble start in 1996 by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, two friends who met several years earlier and learned that they shared a love for beer and a desire to start their own business.  The first keg of Stone Pale Ale sold on July 26, 1996 and the following year Arrogant Bastard Ale was unleashed.  Stone Brewery moved to their current facility in Escondido, CA, in December 2005 and opened the adjacent Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens in November 2006.  This garden area is complete with waterfalls, a koi pond, and plenty of seating for enjoying a pour of one’s favorite beer.  Stone Brewery began experiencing expansive growth and in 2013, opened their second farm-to-table restaurant, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens in Liberty Station.  They also opened a location at Terminal 2 of the San Diego International Airport.

One of the more exciting and intriguing expansions was announced in 2014 with plans to be the 1st American craft brewer to independently build, own & operate a brewery—in Berlin Germany.  Stone Brewery prides itself on its many different brew styles, but in particular on its creation of new flavor profiles…this will certainly be something to challenge the very traditional beer culture of Berlin!

Yesterday was the first time I’ve been to Stone Brewery, or to any brewery for that matter.  We were scheduled for a late afternoon tour of the facility, followed by dinner reservations at their on-site bistro restaurant.  The entire place was hopping—this is certainly a destination for beer aficionados, and with sunny weather and warm temperatures in the 70s, it was understandably popular!

If one expected to see bubbling vats, swirling ingredients, rattling material carts, and clinking bottling lines or smell the pungent humidity of grains and yeast mixtures, then the tour might have been disappointing.  But if seeing a modern and clean facility, sparkling with stainless steel tanks, and interconnected with symmetrical patterns of piping, then this was the tour to be on.  Our guide was exceptionally knowledgeable and kept us entertained and attentive throughout (he even took group photos at a particularly interesting spot along the tour route).

But of course you know what this is all about…it’s not about the history, and it’s certainly not about piping and plumbing…it’s about tasting and drinking—and there was plenty of that!  Our tour included tasting of four different brews, and if that wasn’t enough variety (or quantity), there were more taps available than one could count…cheers!

Yuma Arizona--It's a Happening Place!

I just got back from another trip to Yuma, Arizona.  Not too many people have been there, and many who have have either stopped just for gas or food or have driven straight through it.  This was a destination trip though, and one that included some new discoveries (for me), of both historical significance, as well as the current vibe of the town…it’s surprisingly a happening place!

Yuma, Arizona is located in the southwestern corner of Arizona, just across the California border.  Very early expeditions saw the natural crossing of the Colorado River at this point as an ideal spot for a city, as the Colorado River narrows to slightly under 1,000 feet wide. The town, initially called Colorado City, was renamed Arizona City in 1858. The city was almost completely destroyed by the Great Flood of 1862 and had to be rebuilt on higher ground.  It took the name Yuma in 1873.

From the 1850s to the 1870s, the Yuma Crossing was known for its ferry crossing. From 1852 it was the major steamboat stop on the way up and down the Colorado River. Yuma served as the gateway to the new Republic (California), as it was one of the few natural spots where travelers could cross the otherwise very wide Colorado River. After Arizona became a separate territory, Yuma became the county seat for the area in 1864.  The Southern Pacific Railroad bridged the river in 1877.

 

Just north of the Colorado River at this Yuma Crossing is The Saint Thomas Yuma Indian Mission.  It is a Catholic mission which was dedicated in 1923, and replicates the Mission Puerto de Purísima Concepción, which once stood on the site.  That mission was constructed in 1780 and was destroyed the following year during a raid and massacre by the local indians, frustrated by their treatment at the hands of the Spanish colonists. The site is California Registered Historic Landmark and a plaque on the site and statue of father Garcés commemorates the ill-fated mission.

Just south of the river however is another very historic site.  It is the location of the Yuma Territorial Prison.  Opened in 1876 with the first seven inmates (who participated in building the prison), this prison was ultimately the home for over 3000 prisoners until it’s closing 33 years later.  Despite an infamous reputation, written evidence indicates that the prison was humanely administered, and was a model institution for its time. The only punishments were the dark cells for inmates who broke prison regulations, and the ball and chain for those who tried to escape. Crimes ranged from murder to polygamy, with grand larceny being the most common. A majority served only portions of their sentences due to the ease with which paroles and pardons were obtained. One hundred eleven persons died while serving their sentences, most from tuberculosis, which was common throughout the territory. Of the many prisoners who attempted escape, twenty-six were successful, but only two were from within the prison confines. No executions took place at the prison because capital punishment was administered by the county government.  By 1907, the prison was severely overcrowded, and there was no room for expansion. A new prison was built in Florence, Arizona and the last prisoner left Yuma in 1909.  The Yuma Union High School occupied the buildings from 1910 to 1914.

This is the view from the guard tower at the Yuma Territorial Prison.

East of Yuma lies the Fortuna Foothills.  On one of its peaks lies a series of radio and communication towers.  A partially paved and quite steep service road winds its way to the peak and provides for a very popular hiking trail for the locals.  We planned to hike only partially up the trail, but went far enough to enjoy the scenery which included views of the city along with a variety of plans, most notably the Ocotillo.  Although not a true cactus, the Ocotillo is indigenous to the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Desert in the Southwestern United States, and northern Mexico.  The bright crimson flowers appear especially after rainfall in spring, summer, and occasionally fall. Flowers are clustered at the tips of each mature stem.

Along the hike there were also several Saguaro cactus present.  These are one of the defining plants of the Sonoran Desert and are large, tree-like columnar cacti that develop branches (or arms) as they age with protective spines, white flowers in the late spring, and red fruit in summer.  Saguaros are found exclusively in the Sonoran Desert. The most important factors for growth are water and temperature. If the elevation is too high, the cold weather and frost can kill the saguaro.

Back in Yuma, the downtown has experienced an amazing transformation over recent years and continues to evolve as a hot spot for both locals and tourists.  Boasting many shops, boutiques, and casual dining spots, the downtown are draws many to its doorsteps on a daily basis.  The Historic Yuma Theatre, originally built in 1911, was a vaudeville theater before it was converted to a movie house. Now restored, it serves as the centerpiece of the Yuma Art Center and hosts a variety of shows. Nearby is the somewhat misnamed Lutes Casino.  Though this Yuma original is called a “casino,” there isn’t (officially) any gambling at this pool hall, known for its “eclectic” décor and fun menu.  Nearby is The Pint House which features 45 brews on tap and an inventive foodie experience including a bacon appetizer that can best be descripted as hot bacon candy...  I had it and it’s unbelievably good!  And of course there’s Da Boyz, located in the renovated Kress Building.  Had some amazing pizza here along with an appropriate beverage!

All in all, I’d have to suggest that if you haven’t been to Yuma, you should plan a weekend (or longer) there… preferable before summer though—it can get quite warm there!!

How Do You Know When You Need Sensor Cleaning?

Short answer--when you can see dust spots on your image during editing.  Typically these will become noticeable in the parts of your images that have little detail--skies for example.  Sure, these can be removed simple enough in post-process editing programs, but taking care of your gear, and in particular the sensor of your camera, is a top priority for photographers.

I noticed while editing/reviewing several of my photographs from some recent commercial/shopping shoots that I had a couple of sensor spots in the sky…a tell-tail sign that sensor cleaning was in order.  Fortunately, I'm able to do my own sensor cleaning and began the process of determining just how bad things were so I could compare that to my finished work.

There are numerous sites that get into the details of how and why dust gets on your sensor, but simply put, removing your lens exposes the insides of your camera to the potential of contaminants.  Don't be afraid to change lenses when you're out on photo shoots--just know that periodically you will need to address a dirty sensor.

You don't have to create before and after images of your sensor cleaning, but I find it rewarding to see the improvement.  Taking the "before" image is fairly straight forward, although different people suggest different approaches.  Basically you set your camera to a high f/number (like f/22) and then take a picture of something as clear and clean of detail as possible--straight up in the sky has worked best for me.

When you take that image into Lightroom's Develop module, your analysis starts by grabbing the spot removal tool, and then turning on the Visualize slider (and maximizing its effect). Below is what my sensor looked like before cleaning--wow, it sure was dirty!  No worries though as this is normal.

Typically your camera will have a setting specific to enable sensor cleaning wherein the mirror is locked up out of the way giving you a clear shot to access the sensor.  Then, depending on what cleaning technology/method you plan to use, your next steps are to simply clean the sensor.  I happen to use a sensor gel stick and have had great results with it.

Once the sensor has been cleaned, you can return your camera to normal operating mode and you're finished.  I like to go that extra step and check the results.  Below are three images...the first shows my sensor before cleaning.  The second image shows it after cleaning, and because I wanted to try and get every last spec, I cleaned the sensor a second time--and the third image shows a nearly perfectly clean sensor.

I’m a happy camper again and ready for my next photographic adventure!

It's what happened next that gave me goose bumps...

You won't believe what happened next...gave me goose bumps, and I just happened to be the lucky guy to witness it today...

I was on a photoshoot to Old Towne Orange (the "Orange Circle") and arrived early to take advantage of the morning light and the empty streets. When I made my way to the park in the center of the circle, there was a group of four men standing near the fountain at the base of a very tall flag pole. One of the men was pulling on the rope and I saw one of the others holding a tri-folded American Flag. My timing couldn't have been better for capturing the raising of the flag.

As the American Flag was attached to the rope, I'm taking photos...then I notice the POW-MIA flag being prepared for attachment as well....I'm taking more pictures. As they start to raise the flags, I realize that I'm going to have to step back in order to include the men along with the flags in my composition.

The flags quickly get to the top as I'm trying to back up, and almost as quickly the four men tie off the rope and start walking away. I'm pretty sure it's over as I prepare to take my final shot...that's when I notice it in my viewfinder...

The four men have stepped well back from the flag pole, have lined up, and are now saluting the flag... other than me in the vicinity, it's just them and the American Flag...and the respect they're giving with a quiet and unassuming salute.

I took a lot of pictures today, but NOTHING compares to the feeling I had standing there as witness to this moment.

Creative versus Analytical

Or is it creative AND analytical?  These two traits are often treated as being mutually exclusive, and further, traits that one either has or doesn’t have.  In reality, it’s the combination of these that truly makes the successful photographer (and many other endeavors). 

It’s not enough to simply know THAT something exists, but one must also know WHY it exists.  If a photographer looks at a picture or scene for example, and determines that they like it, but don’t know why, then the chance of conveying their reaction and emotion to someone else becomes particularly challenging.  One must have sufficient analytical skills to understand, and sufficient creative skills to be able to “see” the unseen.  One must have both, but the order doesn’t matter.

There’s a style or approach to photography that some photographers have, best described as “I’ll know it when I see it”.  It’s an approach that relies on serendipity (or “luck”) in order for the photographer to capture a compelling image.  There’s another approach that tends to be more analytical where one might consider what’s important, what composition best presents those elements, and what techniques will emphasize and convey a sense of meaning, emotion, or story-telling.  But simply following these mechanics and “rules” may not result in a meaningful or compelling image.

Both the creative and analytical approaches require something in common of the photographer…observation, and study.  It’s the openness of the mind to observation that “sees” the possibilities, and creates the potential to understand what is being seen.  It’s the combination of these skills that allows the photographer to be a successful story-teller through their work. Regardless of the genre of photography, a successful photographer must combine a creative as well as analytical approach to bring a three-dimensional world to their viewer via a two-dimensional representation.

“I’ll know it when I see it, and I’ll know why…” 

Comments and feedback always welcome…  CostaMesaPhotography@gmail.com

Published in Orange County Register Newspaper!

I was contacted a couple weeks ago by the newspaper in conjunction with an article they were working on about an historic neighborhood in Santa Ana.  They apparently had done a search and come across photographs on my website that they wanted my permission to use.  I agreed and the article ran today.

Feel free to contact me anytime at CostaMesaPhotography@gmail.com  

Published in Orange County Culture Magazine!

This one definitely requires a bit of a backstory…

I was contacted a couple of months ago by the co-founder and editor of a brand new magazine being produced, called Orange County Culture.  Apparently they planned to have a section of the magazine called “OCSTATEOFMIND” which would feature full-page photographs depicting life around Orange County, and they had come across an image on my website of a hummingbird that they wanted to use.  Of course I agreed.

I just received a copy of the magazine in the mail today, and sure enough my photograph appears on page 33.  There are a total of ten images that are in this section of the magazine and show mostly landscape and seascape oriented images—all are quite beautiful by the way!

What I didn’t know until I thumbed through the magazine (and the cover was my first clue) was that I was probably outside their targeted demographic for the publication.  They feature certain musicians, personalities, businesses, and eating establishments that I don’t regularly frequent.  I’m inclined to think that the sweet spot demographic is 20s-30s.  It’s a very well put together and produced magazine and I’m quite happy and proud to have my photograph featured in it.  I have a feeling that this is going to be a very successful magazine and feel lucky to have a small part in it.

If you’re curious and want to get more information about the magazine, visit their website:  http://orangecountyculture.com/

Feel free to drop me a line anytime at CostaMesaPhotography@gmail.com