# Foto Ikigai

>  pursue your passion


## Posts

- [06 Oct 2024: Oceanside Harbor Surfing](https://fotoikigai.com/06-oct-2024-surf-sequences/): I belong to the UCSD Photography Interest Group that meets monthly via Zoom. Each month has various photo themes and October’s was “Shoot High or Low”. Which means take photos at a perspective other than eye-level. I wanted to shoot low so went to Oceanside Harbor Beach in search of shorebirds. Unfortunately, mid-October or perhaps […]
- [Apr 2024: Oceanside Pier Walk](https://fotoikigai.com/apr-2024-oceanside-pier-walk/): Oceanside California has a great pier to walk and enjoy the day. It’s also a great area for street photography. So I took my Fujifilm XPro2 with 23mm lens out for a late afternoon outing. Here are some of my favorite photos, most of them I preferred in black&white.
- [2024 So Far...](https://fotoikigai.com/2024-so-far/): I’ve neglected my personal, photo-centric website, fotoikigai.com, focusing more on our other websites. Our travel blog – smallwanders.us – and the UCSD Photography Interest Group – ucsdphoto.group. So I’ve compiled some of my favorite images from late 2023 & early 2024 that have been posted on these other sites.
- [Intentionally-Accidentally Wes Anderson](https://fotoikigai.com/intentionally-accidentally-wes-anderson/): I enjoy Wes Anderson’s cinematic style, especially his cinematic color palette. His visual style is celebrated by many websites and Instagrammers such as @intentionallywesanderson & @accidentallywesanderson. Photographic filter presets are available to photographers for use in their digital darkrooms, such as Lightroom and Photoshop. I’ve been exploring film simulations recently and applying them to my […]
- [May 2023: Japan](https://fotoikigai.com/may-2023-japan/): Our first international trip since Italy in Jan 2020 was to Japan. I’ve been to Japan several times and usually to the same areas – Tokyo, Yokohama, Kyoto, and Kagoshima. So we considered Nagano and Sapporo, more remote areas where than where we’ve typically gone. But, because we were spending part of our trip with […]
- [Lake Watson, Prescott Arizona 2024](https://fotoikigai.com/lake-watson-prescott-arizona-2024/)
- [Banyan Tree, Lahina Hawaii 2022](https://fotoikigai.com/banyan-tree-lahina-hawaii-2022/)
- [Mar 2023: Imperial Sand Dunes](https://fotoikigai.com/mar-2023-imperial-sand-dunes/): After Saguaro National Park, we headed west to Yuma, AZ for a couple days. I wanted to check out the Imperial Sand Dunes late in the day. We didn’t make it to the North Algodones Dunes Wilderness Area but took photos near the Osborne Overlook. South is the OHV/ATV area, north (of the 78 highway) […]
- [Mar 2023: Saguaro National Park](https://fotoikigai.com/mar-2023-saguaro-national-park/): After watching a few San Diego Padres Spring Training games, we postponed our Flagstaff/Page/Monument Valley northward trip because of snow/wind/rain. We were towing a travel trailer otherwise the weather would not have been as big an issue. So we headed south to Tucson to visit Saguaro National Park. Gear: Nikon Z7II w/ 14-30mm, 24-200mm, 100-400mm […]
- [Mar 2023: San Diego Padres Spring Training](https://fotoikigai.com/mar-2023-arizona/): San Diego Padres Spring Training is in Peoria, AZ in early Spring so we took a trip to see a few games. Spring Training give you a chance to see the players up close and an opportunity to see new players trying to make the team.Gear used: Olympus OM1 Mark III with Panasonic/Leica 100-400mm, & […]
- [Feb 2023: Anza-Borrego Wildflowers Wildweather](https://fotoikigai.com/feb-2023-anza-borrego-wildflowers-wildweather/): My first photo trip of the year was to Anza-Borrego State Park to photograph wildflowers with the Nikkor 105mm macro lens. Wildflowers were blooming and beautiful but the extremely windy conditions were a challenge. I also brought my Godox V1 flash but never had a chance to put it to use. Both will travel to […]
- [Magnetic Filter Optical Quality Test](https://fotoikigai.com/magnetic-filter-optical-quality-test/): In 2022, I switched from the Kase K9 filter holder with 100mm square & retangular filters to magnetic filters. They are much easier to handle, with less chance of breakage and have excellent optical quality. Based on reviewers I trust and my own personal testing, I prefer the Kase brand, particularly Kase Wolverine 82mm magnetic […]
- [Color-coded Magnetic Filters](https://fotoikigai.com/color-coded-magnetic-filters/): The convenience of magnetic filters is undeniable. They allow easy swapping or stacking of circular polarizer and neutral density filters. Plus one set of filters can be used on different lenses equipped with magnetic adapters, with step-down rings if necessary. 82mm fits my biggest lens and I can use the same set on my 77mm, […]
- [Digital Darkrooms](https://fotoikigai.com/digital-darkrooms/): Film & DarkroomI enjoyed developing my own film and prints back in the day. But I’ve adopted the digital darkroom fully since I transitioned to digital cameras. Film is definitely a slower, more thought-out process. Film choice and proper exposure are critical to the success of the image. Plus the limitations of a film roll, […]
- [Homepage](https://fotoikigai.com/homepage/): Pursue Your Passion
- [Fonts Point, Anza-Borrego](https://fotoikigai.com/fonts-point-anza-borrego/): Fonts Point Anza-Borrego
- [Bryce Canyon/Zion/Grand Canyon North Rim](https://fotoikigai.com/bryce-canyon-zion-grand-canyon-north-rim/): Bryce Canyon National Park is a photo-rich destination. But it hard for photograph to really capture the true 3D splendor of this place. If you are fortunate to have good light, like I did on the first day or atmospheric conditions. The chances of capturing a bit of Bryce Canyon’s unique landscapes improves. Here are […]
- [Anza-Borrego State Park](https://fotoikigai.com/anza-borrego-state-park/): After living in SoCal most of my life (since 1970), I finally visited Anza-Borrego State Park about 90mins from Oceanside. Fonts Point at sunset was the highlight. The other highlight of this trip was Bighorn Sheep near our campsite.
- [UCSD PhIG Nov 2021 - Light](https://fotoikigai.com/ucsd-phig-nov-2021-light/): This month’s ‘SeeingFresh.com’ theme is Light. Light is essential to photography but having light be a thematic element made me (re)process photos a bit differently. Many color photos were processed as black&white since I find the removal of color often changes the emphasis to light & shapes.
- [Astrophotography](https://fotoikigai.com/astrophotography/): These are a variety of nightscapes taken during our travels.
- [Silver Strand State Beach](https://fotoikigai.com/silver-strand-state-beach/): In mid-October we camped at Silver Strand State Beach. These are some of the photos taken with my Olympus EM1-MrkIII.
- [Zion National Park](https://fotoikigai.com/zion-national-park/): We spent 10 days in Utah in late September, our first trip there and to Zion. It is a landscape photographer and hiker’s paradise.
- [UCSD PhIG Sept 2021 - Texture](https://fotoikigai.com/ucsd-phig-sept-2021-texture/): This month’s theme from SeeingFresh.com is Texture.
- [UCSD PhIG Aug 2021 - Color](https://fotoikigai.com/ucsd-phig-aug-2021-color/): This month’s meeting’s theme is a continuation of the themes preserted on SeeingFresh.com. This month’s assignment is color.
- [Landscapes](https://fotoikigai.com/landscapes/)
- [UCSD PhIG Jul 2021 - Twisp](https://fotoikigai.com/ucsd-phig-jul-2021-food/): I missed the UCSD PhIG-SeeingFresh.com theme assignment this month so I posted travel photos from my recent trip to see family in Twisp Wa. Food photography has never been something of interest to me except when posting a Yelp review. But at some point I should perform the assignment to broaden my viewpoint.
- [July 7 2021: Falls Creek Falls](https://fotoikigai.com/july-7-2021-falls-creek-falls/): On our last full day in Twisp, I wanted to photograph a local waterfall. We visited with David and he recommended Cedar Falls and Falls Creek Falls. Looking at photos people had posted, Falls Creek Falls looked more interesting to me. Both waterfalls are close to Twisp and are easy hikes. Falls Creek Falls has […]
- [July 6 2021: Blackpine Lake](https://fotoikigai.com/july-6-2021-blackpine-lake/): After a morning visit with David, he suggested we drive to Blackpine Lake, another popular nearby point-of-interest. Getting to this lake was challenging even after stopping at the Twisp Community Center for a paper map to guide us. The main problem was the road marker where we needed to turn. The map said turn left […]
- [July 5 2021: Washington Pass/Rainy Lake](https://fotoikigai.com/july-5-2021-washington-pass-rainy-lake/): David’s first suggestion on places to visit were Washington Pass Overlook and Rainy Lake. Both are northwest of Twisp about 30mins. Highway 20 heads to the coast through Washington Pass and is impassible during the winter months. The Pacific Northwest was having a major hot spell during our visit with temperatures over 100degF. So many […]
- [July 04-08 2021: Twisp, WA](https://fotoikigai.com/twisp-wa-july-4-8-2021/): My brother David moved to Twisp Wa in the early 80’s. After 40yrs, I managed to make it up his way for a long overdue visit. I always wondered why he chose such a remote area to settle, being an “urbanite” most of my life. But trekking up to his neck of the woods enlightened […]
- [UCSD PhIG - May/Jun 2021](https://fotoikigai.com/ucsd-phig-may-jun-2021/): We were traveling when the May Zoom meeting was scheduled and the campground did not have adequate wifi to participate. So photos from this May trip from Pismo Beach to Monterey were shared at the Jun meeting. I missed the assignment of “Food Photography” so I shared landscapes and wildlife.
- [Pismo Beach to Monterey CA](https://fotoikigai.com/pismo-beach-to-monterey-ca/): Our mid-May travels took us up the CA West Coast from Oceanside to Monterey. Stopping at Ventura (Camarillo/Ventura Ranch KOA), Pismo Beach (Pismo State Beach Campground), San Simeon (Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery) & Monterey (Santa Cruz/Monterey KOA & Monterey Bay Aquarium). “May Gray” was in full force so we traveled inland to find warmer […]
- [UCSD PhIG - Apr 21 2021](https://fotoikigai.com/ucsd-phig-apr-21-2021/): There was no particular assignment this month so I shared photos from my travels to Joshua Tree and Ventura.
- [UCSD PhIG Mar 2021 - Cancelled](https://fotoikigai.com/ucsd-phig-mar-2021/): This months meeting was cancelled but I had photos from our camping trips to Ventura (07-15 Feb) & Joshua Tree (Feb 23-24).
- [Joshua Tree](https://fotoikigai.com/joshua-tree/): Another RV trip in early 2021 was a few days in Joshua Tree & Indio. We dry-camped one night in our RV in Indian Cove Campground. Another visit, we stayed a few days in Indio and day-tripped into Joshua Tree via the southern entrance.
- [UCSD PhIG Feb 2021: Macro](https://fotoikigai.com/ucsd-phig-jan-2021-macro/): February’s theme for the UCSD Retirement Association Photography Interest Group was Macro. Since Covid-19 still has many of us sheltering-in-place. Macro photography is an easy theme to do at home since travel is difficult. These are some images I took specifically for this meeting. Ironically, I was at a RV campground without wifi when the […]
- [Ventura, Pismo Beach, Morro Bay, Carpinteria](https://fotoikigai.com/ventura-pismo-beach-morro-bay-carpinteria/): We took our first RV trip of 2021 up the California Coast, stopping at Ventura to visit relatives, then heading a little further north to Pismo Beach. I brought along my Nikon Z7 and Olympus OM1-Mrk III and used both. The Nikon Z is equipped with 14-30mm & 24-70mm lens. I did not adapt any […]
- [UCSD PhIG Jan 2021: ICM](https://fotoikigai.com/ucsd-phig-jan-2021-icm/): January’s Photography Interest Group meeting theme was Intentional (or Internal) Camera Movement. I really enjoy the effect using slow shutter speeds and capturing movement creates. Following fast moving objects by using a slow shutter speed and panning has always been on of my favorite techniques. But this assignment, I was hoping to go more abstract. […]
- [(Post)Valley Fire Landscapes](https://fotoikigai.com/post-valley-fire-landscapes/): The summer of 2020 has been a crazy wildfire season and a strong indicator of climate change. Most of San Diego county in late August and September have had days filled with ash haze, making for poor air quality. A 16 Sept UCSD Photography Interest Group meeting inspired me to get out and photograph so […]
- [Quarantine v2.0](https://fotoikigai.com/quarantine-v2-0/): Kiddos have started pre-school so we are not seeing them in person for the time-being.
- [Founders Grove Redwoods](https://fotoikigai.com/founders-grove-redwoods/): Since college, I’ve always found Founders Grove a favorite roadside pullout. It always brings me peace to walk through these towering giants. These photos do not do justice to the place but until I can visit again, they’ll do for now.
- [Fallbrook, Live Oak Park](https://fotoikigai.com/fallbrook-live-oak-park/): We are staying close to home these days but Fallbrook has some nice, uncrowded hiking trails. So far visiting Live Oak Park & Santa Margarita River Preserve are the only day-trips in June 2020. Here are just a few photos from my Olympus: 60mm macro & 100-400mm.
- [Hasselblad Lens on Nikon Z6](https://fotoikigai.com/hasselblad-lens-on-nikon-z6/): I’ve always loved my Hasselblad 500cm bought many many years ago. It’s a 2×2 square format film camera used by many of my favorite photographers. I did not use it as much as I’d hoped because I was not equip to make prints from the larger negatives myself. So when digital photography overtook film, I […]
- [Quarantine: Backyard Birds](https://fotoikigai.com/quarantine-backyard-birds/): I set up several seed & hummingbird feeders in the backyard to attract birds. It was one way to have something to photography when sheltering-in-place. Also a good way to become even more familiar with my mirrorless (Olympus) & DSLR (Nikon) cameras. This is an ongoing project.
- [Spain 2018](https://fotoikigai.com/spain-2018/): We traveled to Spain in 2018, starting in Barcelona, then looping south and west to Granada, Seville, Cordoba, & Madrid. It is a wonderfully diverse landscape with different feels in every region. (more images to come)
- [Black & White Images](https://fotoikigai.com/black-white-images/): Black & white photography was what got me interested in photography back in High School. Developing my own film & prints, watching the image gradually appear in the developer was magical. With the change to digital photography, the computer has become the darkroom. But the creative process is even greater since manipulating the image in […]
- [Italy 2020](https://fotoikigai.com/italy-2020/): After 3 days in London, we traveled to Italy Dec 30 2019. We stayed in an AirBnB a few blocks from St. Peter’s Square & Vatican. Nick, apprentice priest at the Vatican, got us tickets for New Year’s Mass so we attended. We hoped to spend several days in Rome then move to Florence but […]
- [London 2019](https://fotoikigai.com/london-dec-2019-2/): We traveled to London on Dec 26 2020 before traveling on to Rome Italy Dec 30th. Who would have thought that our three days there after Christmas would be followed by such a world event. Here are some photos, not many, taken during our few days there. Testing micro-four-third format’s (Panasonic GX85 & Olympus Pen-F) […]
- [Local: Oceanside Pier](https://fotoikigai.com/local-oceanside-pier/): My first outing with my Nikon Z6, Innorel tripod, and Kase neutral density filter set was sunset in July 2019.
- [Local: La Jolla Cove](https://fotoikigai.com/local-la-jolla-cove/): La Jolla is a great area to photograph particularly at sunrise or sunset. The coastline is interesting, beaches minimal, and sea lions with pups abundant and not afraid of people.
- [Gear: Nikon & Olympus](https://fotoikigai.com/longtime-nikon-user/): Choosing Nikon: I’ve been shooting photos for a long time, picking up the bug from my Dad who was an avid photographer. He always had a camera in his hands. I started to seriously study black & white film photography in high school, developing my own film & prints. Becoming even more serious in college, […]
- [Japan](https://fotoikigai.com/japan/): These are select photos taken during several trips to Japan from 2007-2014.
- [Sheltering-In-Place Diary: Day 15](https://fotoikigai.com/sheltering-in-place-diary-day-15/): It’s been a couple weeks since we started sheltering-in-place due to the Covid-19 pandemic afflicting the world. We left Rome Italy Jan 4th because of an unrelated family emergency so only got a few days there (Dec 30-Jan 4). I am deeply saddened to see current pandemic conditions there so soon after our trip. We […]
- [UCSD PhIG: Star Trails/Timelapse](https://fotoikigai.com/phig-star-trails-timelapse/): This is my first stab at astrophotography after watching several YouTube tutorials on the subject. Thanks to Milkyway Mike and Nightscape Images for their help. Gear: Nikon Z6 w/ Nikkor 14-30mm f4 Z S lens, Innourel carbon fiber tripod w/ Acratech long lens head.
- [Arizona 2020](https://fotoikigai.com/arizona-2020/): San Diego Padres Spring Training trip to Peoria gave me some time to photograph around Phoenix. A day trip to Red Rock State Park in Sedona was squeezed in before an evening game. Little did we know that this might be the only baseball we would see live in 2020.
- [UCSD PhIG: Birds](https://fotoikigai.com/ucsd-phig-birds/): UCSD Photography Interest Group first assignment for me was “birds” which I have never shot seriously before. Images were shot with a Nikon D7200 with Tamron 150-600mm lens at Oceanside Harbor, Harbor Beach, and Santee Lakes.
- [Iceland 2017](https://fotoikigai.com/iceland-2017-album/): Photos from 2017 family vacation to Iceland. Staying in Reykjvik (AirBnB), we did day trips around southern and western Iceland.
- [Phoenix: Piestewa Peak](https://fotoikigai.com/phoenix-piestewa-peak/)
- [Red Rock State Park: Oak](https://fotoikigai.com/red-rock-state-park-oak/)
- [Oceanside Harbor: Brown Pelican](https://fotoikigai.com/oceanside-harbor-brown-pelican/)
- [Shorebird: Marbled Godwit](https://fotoikigai.com/shorebirds-marbled-godwit/)
- [Hero Image](https://fotoikigai.com/hero-image/)
- [Shorebird: Willet](https://fotoikigai.com/shorebird-willet/)
- [Red Rock State Park Deer](https://fotoikigai.com/red-rock-state-park-deer/)
- [Arizona Mar 2020](https://fotoikigai.com/arizona-mar-2020/)
- [JR Wilkinson Photography](https://fotoikigai.com/hello-world/): Welcome to wabi-sabi.org, a personal photography portfolio with diverse themes.
- [Mansory, Fullscreen Gallery and Portfolio Templates](https://fotoikigai.com/mansory-fullscreen-gallery-and-portfolio-templates/): The new way to show your lens creativity.

## Pages

- [Travel Albums](https://fotoikigai.com/travel-albums/)
- [Black & White](https://fotoikigai.com/black-white/)
- [Birds](https://fotoikigai.com/gallery/bird/)
- [Landscapes](https://fotoikigai.com/gallery/landscapes/)
- [Gear](https://fotoikigai.com/gear/)
- [PhotoLog](https://fotoikigai.com/plog/)
- [Home](https://fotoikigai.com/home/): Find Your Life’s Passion
- [About](https://fotoikigai.com/about/)
- [FooGallery](https://fotoikigai.com/plog/foogallery/)
- [Gallery](https://fotoikigai.com/plog/gallery/)
- [Albums](https://fotoikigai.com/plog/albums/)
- [Gallery](https://fotoikigai.com/gallery/)
- [Html Styling](https://fotoikigai.com/html-styling/): Below is just about every HTML element you might want to use in your blog posts. Check the source code to see the many embedded elements within paragraphs. H1 Heading H2 Heading H3 Heading H4 Heading H5 Heading H6 Heading Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, test link adipiscing elit. This is strong. Nullam dignissim convallis […]
- [Blog](https://fotoikigai.com/blog/)
- [Contact](https://fotoikigai.com/contact-2/): This website is currently not intended to facilitate a dialog on photography. It’s not that I’m not interested in talking photography – I do that with my photography interest group. I just do not want to deal with trolls and argue the merits of any ideas. My photography is a personal journey – my wife […]
- [About Me](https://fotoikigai.com/about-us/): Photography has been a life-long passion. In college, I majored in Oceanography, another life-long passion, and minored in Visual Communication. As a career, I was an oceanographer & computer programmer at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California from 1981-2020. The majority of my photography during this time was documenting people conducting research on […]

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