Oregon vs. USC

Not having tickets for the big game tonight, my plan was to create a great image of Autzen Stadium. I've had this idea in my mind since our first trip up to Skinners Butte, the overlook here in Eugene, and witnessing the great view of the stadium from that vantage point. My interest in the structure increased after attending the Utah game there in September. I've since found out that Autzen was originally designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrell of Chicago in 1967 (they also did things like the Air Force Academy). Anyway, Oregon pounded USC, (always nice to see the university of spoiled children lose a football game) and I got a powerful image of Autzen on an exciting, sell-out night.

Images Copyright 2009 Andrew Browning Photography

Kentucky Falls

Recently I used my googling skills to find this place - Kentucky Falls in the Siuslaw National Forest. I then used my rally driving, mileage tracking, and navigation skills to actually get there without getting lost. Definitely a bit out of the way. Just another breath taking bit of scenery that Oregon seems to have more than its fair share of, but someplace has to make up for Nebraska and it might as well be Oregon.

These photographs are dedicated to my grandfather who passed away the same week I captured them. He was also a photographer, and he would have loved to have joined me that day. While he would have been just as overwhelmed by the beauty of falls, I think, being a biology teacher and naturalist, he would have been more focused on the details of the place that I probably missed completely. I hope that when I come across a place like this I will remember him and allow myself to see more than the obvious.

Photographs Copyright 2009 Andrew Browning Photography

New Lens!

To fill a hole in my focal length range I decided to add the Nikon 70-300 f4.5-5.6 AFS VR to my bag. No, this isn't a several thousand dollar three ton exotic monster, its a light, sharp, semi-pro quality lens and a steal for the price. The reason I went the light and cheap (albeit slow) over heavy and expensive is that I just don't use these focal lengths very much professionally. Architecture and Interiors require wide angle lenses (14-35 mm) and I've got that range well covered with the expensive, heavy and amazing 14-24 f2.8 AFS and the older but still quite great 20-35 f2.8 AF. This new lens actually rivals some of the more expensive pro lenses around 200mm for sharpness and its got a feature that I've never had before: Vibration Reduction. VR allows you to handhold the camera at shutter speeds up to four stops slower than you normally could, or would have to resort to a tripod, and still get sharp images. Combine this with the low light performance of the D700 and you have one powerful tool in less than perfect conditions. But, my professional work usually has me on a tripod with a wide angle lens, so this lens fit the need and the budget perfectly. If you've managed to read this far I'm going to reward you with some pictures of our dogs (my favorite test subjects for any reason) using the new lens.

Pretty fantastic for $550 considering a savings $1500-7500 for pro f2.8 lenses.

Images Copyright 2009 Andrew Browning Photography

Grand Cayman Island - Hurricane Season '09

Another catch-up post...

Back in early September (ahem- height of hurricane season - ahem) we went to Grand Cayman for Carrie's family gathering. Only kidding about the hurricane season part; there were no storms anywhere near us this year. The weather did, however, reveal how hurricanes come to be. I have never been in an environment that was more hot and humid, and I've been to Tulsa in August. I mean I'm Norwegian and Swedish so I can appreciate a good sauna, but this was almost too much. At least in a Scandinavian sauna you jump out and roll in the snow; who knows how the Caymanians survived before air conditioning. But, I've probably been much too harsh, given the choice between staying home and a hot wet gorgeous Caribbean island I'll pick the island every time.

Thanks to the Lee's for letting me tag along!

Not a bad view!

Sunrise to Sunset


Giant Sea Turtles (~5' dia.) at the Turtle Farm

Rum Point - A pretty cool place even if it is touristy

This is how 8 month old niece Lauren felt when mom and dad went to dinner without her.

Starfish! near Rum Point

I've got a b&w version of this on my homepage that I think I prefer.

All Images Copyright 2009 Andrew Browning Photography

The Grand Tetons...

A little catch-up back to our super fun drive out to Oregon.

The highlight of our trip (other than the 30 miles of "4x4 only" quality pass-way through major road construction on Wyoming Hwy. 287 that shook and vibrated the bikes on top of my car so much that a bolt came loose from my perfectly fitting roof rack causing us to immediately stop and search the gravel 30 ft. behind my car for thirty minutes only to find said bolt resting in the gutter between the hood and the windshield on my car, but I digress...) was the our day visit to Grand Teton National Park. Initially we were planning to go to Yellowstone, but the previously mentioned road construction and warnings of more construction on the road we have to take in and out of Yellowstone made our decision for us: we were spending the day in Teton and saving Yellowstone for another trip. This worked out because I happened to have my camera with me (shocker, I know) and I got to spend most of our day taking photographs of the most beautiful granite in North America I've seen (no I havn't yet been to Yosemite). Anyway here's the results:

We accidentally on purpose ran into the very new Visitors Center at Grand Teton.

Actually, we had seen the project published in Architectural Record and were very impressed and when we drove past it on the south end of the park were pleasantly reminded that it was here!

The last shot before another long day on the road.

All images Copyright 2009 Andrew Browning Photography

Well, I guess I'll have a photo blog then...

So, I've come to the realization that it would be to my advantage to have my own photo blog for several reasons. First, I've actually become good enough as a photographer that I can shamelessly show off my work. Second, having recently moved away from my friends and family to a new and alien place, I feel compelled to stay in touch with them and this is how I'm hoping to do it. Finally, its looking like professional photography may have to run a parallel path with my architecture career, and it seems a blog would be a good way to establish a personal connection with any prospective clients be it photo or architecture.

Expect to see many photographs, from vacations to things I find interesting to samples from commercial shoots. Also, look forward to my super special sarcastic writing style.

I think this will serve as my introduction and my first few post (after this of course) will backtrack a bit, but I'll have some fresh content up soon eh!