My best friend just finished up his backyard makeover and asked me to shoot pictures of it for him. It's flat out beautiful - perfect for entertaining 50 of your closest friends  :D I need to get pictures of the outdoor kitchen complete with refrigerator, oven, cooktop, BBQ, ice maker, beer and soft drink taps, etc.

Based on mistakes I see from this time around, I'll be redoing the shoot next week, but here are a couple from my first try last week:

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More here, if anyone likes this kind of stuff:

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And yes, I'm jealous!

Marc

WOW  Marc.  I'm speechless.  Wish I had a best friend with a back-yard like that.  Gorgeous.   I love what your camera setting does to the pool.

Luinda,

It's sickening!  :) The pool is a big part of why I need to re-shoot it. The long exposure times (which I prefer) made the huge waterfalls disapear into mush. I do like the soft, silky look of moving water, but I went too far. It's hard tp capture the scale - the top of the rock waterfall is 16' high.

He's in So. Califonia and I'm in Texas, so I don't get to sample his beer tapper often!

Marc

Egad!

What a place.....it's unreal and such great shots.

My neighbor has a wind chime though.  :o

Charlie

LMAO @ you Charlie.


Marc, I know you are a perfectionist when it comes to stuff like this that you do so well, but I like the etheral quality of that water.  So we can agree to disagree then?   I think it's beautiful.  Can't wait to see the others when you take them.  

You're traveling to SoCal next week from Texas just to shoot his backyard?  Wadda guy.   ;)

Nice pics Marc!  You sure have a knack for the lens as do some others on this board.  I would hate to think of the maintance for a place like that though.  I have a hard enough time keeping the grass mowed.  LOL

-P.

Hes not paying enough taxes!  ;D

Does your friend want to adopt a nice middle aged couple?

Such dreams!!!

wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 4:47pm:

Hes not paying enough taxes!  ;D

Wait until Jan. 20! ;D

-P.

Linda_Howell wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 4:43pm:

LMAO @ you Charlie. Marc, I know you are a perfectionist when it comes to stuff like this that you do so well, but I like the etheral quality of that water.  So we can agree to disagree then?   I think it's beautiful.  Can't wait to see the others when you take them.   You're traveling to SoCal next week from Texas just to shoot his backyard?  Wadda guy.   ;)

I agree about the water, and I will maintain what I call the “liquid silk” look to it. I just need to use strobes to emphasize the falling part of the water.

Based on the proofs in the link above, he has negotiated with a magazine to pay for "his" photographer's bill because they want to do a feature article on his place.  ;)

Paul98 wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 4:43pm:

Nice pics Marc!  You sure have a knack for the lens as do some others on this board.  I would hate to think of the maintance for a place like that though.  I have a hard enough time keeping the grass mowed.  LOL -P.

You're right - it's insane. The system has 7 pumps for the waterscapes alone. It would be nice to be able to afford that........

wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 4:47pm:

Hes not paying enough taxes!  ;D

Wanna bet?  ;)

Mosaicwench wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 4:49pm:

Does your friend want to adopt a nice middle aged couple? Such dreams!!!

Great minds think alike - I've been trying for 25 years, but he ain't going for it.  ;D

I sincerely thank you folks for the kind words. Photography of this type is actually a lot work - but I love it!

Beautiful pictures images... :)

Beautiful area....looks like something from HGTV.

Jackie wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 6:00pm:

Beautiful pictures images... :)

;D ;D ;D

Complete with lens flare all over the place  :)

I thank you kindly.

Marc,

What a beautiful shoot.  Need anybody to carry a bag next time?  :)

-Shawn

Marc wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 5:38pm:

Photography of this type is actually a lot work - but I love it!

I used to work for an advertising photographer in my younger years and I know full well how much work is involved.  Night work is even worse sometimes.

I remember telling someone a story about photographing a red pepper for a magazine.  I had to HAND PICK 50 pounds of the most perfect red peppers I could find from the vegetable wholesaler in order to find ONE pepper that was perfect enough for the client.  And then since they are perishable, the shot had to be done right away. . . .

I hated that life.

Marc wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 6:11pm:

Jackie wrote on Nov 1st, 2008 at 6:00pm: Beautiful pictures images... :) ;D ;D ;D Complete with lens flare all over the place  :) I thank you kindly.

.....but your lens flare looks good... :) :) :) :) :)

Jacks ;)

WOW!!!!!!!!

Those are great shots.  I wish that was my backyard  :D

I don't think I'd even mind donning a swimsuit if I could lounge in that pool for about an hour or 5...

flipperlips wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 7:18pm:

WOW!!!!!!!! I wish that was my backyard  :D

Me too!

He spent 20 years working hard to build a small business up to the point where he can afford to do something like this. Yup, I'm jealous but I don't begrudge him - he earned it and I’m happy for him. (Still doesn't make me any less envious though  ;D) Ahhhh, to live like that on a daily basis.........




Melissa wrote on Nov 1^st, 2008 at 8:07pm:

I don't think I'd even mind donning a swimsuit if I could lounge in that pool for about an hour or 5...

Nope.

Not even that will make my shirt come off in public!  
But hanging around watching him cook, then eating what he makes is a LOT more fun than arguing politics with friends. (That’s why I started this thread)

The most important feature is O2 tank in the garage - kept full for me.

Marc

Quote:

The most important feature is O2 tank in the garage - kept full for me.

Marc, you are blessed to have a friend like that.  WOW...

Only my two best friends (my wife and Dave) have seen me having a K10. That was enough for Dave to do whatever it took to get a pair of E tanks. That's what friends do............

Wow.. amazing images! And that is fantastic backyard... :)

Sanna

That is just beautiful!! Does is come with a pool boy and gardener?? I bet the house it's attached to is just as pretty. Your photography  should be sent off to a magazine!

Charlotte

cash5542 wrote on Nov 2^nd, 2008 at 8:37am:

That is just beautiful!! Does is come with a pool boy and gardener??

Considering this bunch, I figured it wouldn't be long until the pool boy showed up.   ::)

You do beautiful work, Marc.

Best wishes,

George

Damn!  That is a really nice setup.

MY backyard looks JUST like that...err....minus the pool, ponds, waterfalls..oh, crap! I DO have that many trees and a patio set............and a deck.........and some Koipu.....and a skunk........

I'm glad Dave is such a great friend. lifelong friends are invaluable!

Sooo..when do we get to see your new place all put together?
LYM! :P
C
*edited to add...OHH! I have an outdoor kitchen,too! It's in my house :-/