Oh, it was a long journey to a new camera.

You can read the full story and bits of advice I give in the post: A Friendly Tip When Purchasing Used DSLRs - but the short version...I felt like an important goal of 2017 would be to step up my camera/image quality. I already owned a Nikon D700, and D300s and I felt like it was time to change and improve. I had my sights set on the ancient Nikon D3S and D3X. They were the best DSLRs Nikon created back in 2009 when I first started Photography, so they were always my dream cameras. They still are. I have still not been as moved by images from the D5, D4, D4S...

I made a run at a used D3S with disastrous results. So I took a breath and thought of other Nikons to study, and eventually the Nikon D800E popped into my mind. It has a tangible and deep essence, a rich, realistic feeling that I look for out of Nikons. On April 12th it arrived and I was pleased with the first few test shots around my apartment, but I knew I had to really open it up and test it out.

I live in Pasadena, CA and the Angeles National Forest is not too far away in Arcadia, CA. I could not think of a more perfect setting to let the 36.3 megapixels fly. As it would turn out, I would have two testing days in these great mountains. How'd the camera do? Needless to say, I'm in love.

Part I - 4.14

Part II - 4.16

I ventured to the Antelope Valley in search of the California Spring "superbloom," but unfortunately, I was a bit late and did not grab the glorious spread of flowers and color I was hoping for. However, there was a blessing in disguise as I drove back to Pasadena. Heading south on Route 14 will eventually lead you straight into the Angeles Forest Highway. I was back again, but this time from a different vantage point. I was driving through in the late afternoon and managed to get some great color and light on the mountains: