Last year, Katie and I set out on an adventure of a lifetime to Australia, departing from LAX aboard a United Airlines Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The 16-hour flight over the vast Pacific Ocean built up our anticipation for the wonders that awaited us. Our first stop was Cairns, a tropical paradise and the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkeling among vibrant corals and exotic marine life was awe-inspiring, but our adventure truly escalated when Tropical Storm Jasper swept through the region making for a different snorkeling experience than Belize. The storm turned the jungles into a lush, rain-soaked wonderland that made for an unforgettable experience.

One of our most thrilling memories in Cairns was encountering saltwater crocodiles. As we about to race into the warm ocean water, locals pointed out a massive croc hovering nearby. That close call left us in awe of the wild and untamed beauty of the region. Cairns also surprised us with its lively Night Markets—a must-see for anyone thinking of visiting northern Australia. The markets came alive at dusk with delicious food, artisan goods, and unique souvenirs. From tasting local tropical fruits to observing the vibrant atmosphere, the Night Markets became one of the highlights of our trip.

From Cairns, we traveled to Melbourne via Jetstar airlines, a city that oozed with urban creativity and culture. Melbourne’s street art was unlike anything we had seen, with graffiti-covered alleys transforming into open-air art galleries. Each mural told a story, and we spent hours wandering through Hosier Lane and beyond, taking in the bursts of color and creativity. When we weren’t immersed in art, we explored Melbourne’s well-groomed parks, perfect for running and reconnecting with nature amidst the bustling city. Also, if you find yourself in Melbourne, definately check out Easey’s Cafe for a cool experience.

Our final stop was Sydney, and it completely stole my heart. I actually told Katie, if I had to move to a big city, Sydney would be it. Sydney felt like a true global city, full of energy, beauty, and iconic landmarks. Standing in front of the Sydney Opera House was surreal—its sails glistened under the sun, a sight I had dreamed of seeing for years. Exploring Circular Quay and the waterfront left us in awe of the city’s harmony between nature and modern architecture. It was easy to see why Sydney hosted the Olympics; it’s a city that radiates vibrancy, clean streets, and a world-class atmosphere.

From the stunning reefs and wildlife of Cairns to Melbourne’s artistic spirit and Sydney’s grandeur, this trip was filled with moments of wonder, adventure, and discovery. Australia truly offers something for everyone, whether it’s exploring the jungles, urban art, or wandering through historic cities. Each place had its own story to tell, and I’m so grateful we could experience it all.

Earlier this week I received a new Canon 90D which is an exciting new addition to the arsenal and today I decided to slap it on the ol 500mm Orion EON spotting scope and take it out for a spin. It’s a crop sensor camera with a crop factor of 1.6x which will give me an effective focal length of 800mm. That will come in handy next month when I travel to Texas to experience the Great American Total Eclipse. The nerves are starting to ramp up as the big day nears, my biggest concern will be weather conditions, it would be an absolute travesty to be under a sea of cloud cover as this astronomical event unfolds. For now, more target practice and fine tuning.

Sports photography is the perfect marriage of things I love dearly, athletics and imagery. Sports photography is a thrilling, exciting, and exhausting field that aims to capture the raw emotion and intensity of athletes competing at their very best. The excitement of being on the sidelines is palpable, stemming from the energy of the crowds and anticipation of the next big play all contribute to the atmosphere of pure unadulterated emotions. Serendipitously, I met a sports writer for the Santa Barbara Independent who was looking to add another photographer to the independent’s stable photographers. Admittedly, I was hesitant given my obligations to graduate school and work but I had always been interested in dabbling in sports photography. I have been learning a lot about low-light photograph, while I fantasized about upgrading my Canon 5D Mark II to a more modern camera body, it has taught me how to be resourceful under terrible lighting conditions. Perhaps 2024 will be the year to upgrade to a second camera, I have had the pleasure of working with talented photographers from other news organizations and have always envied newer camera bodies with AI-enabled autofocus. While not all photographs submitted make in the online stories, they all contribute to a story, a story created but student-athletes that felt increasingly nostalgic as the season progressed. I decided to share a few images that may have not made into print but that made an impression on me. After a short break, I am already looking forward to winter sports, which include basketball, soccer, and wrestling. Truth be told, I very much look forward to Track and Field in the Spring.

I recently returned from a trip to Central America, which included Belize and Guatemala. The two countries are very different, but they both offer something special for travelers and adventure-seekers alike. Belize is well-known for its beautiful beaches, lush jungles, and amazing snorkeling and diving, while Guatemala is home to ancient Mayan ruins, stunning volcanoes, and vibrant cultures.

The trip started in Belize, with a few days of relaxation on the beach in Hopkins and Placencia under a blistering sun. While exploring Caye Caulker, I went on a two-day snorkeling tour of the expansive coral reef Marine Reserve and the Sting Ray Alley with the folks at Apache Tours. The ocean water was crystal clear, and the visibility and company were amazing on both days out on the water. There were all sorts of colorful tropical fish, including my favorite blue tangs, stingrays, and even a few nurse sharks. Among my favorite activities in Belize was exploring the rich Mayan history and culture, which included a day-long tour of the famed Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave, where Mayans made offerings to the gods of rain (Chaac) and fertility (Ixchel) and where they eventually began ritualistic ceremonies involving human sacrifices (No cameras were allowed; a previous tourist dropped a camera on an ancient skull, thanks jerk). Another great stop to explore Mayan ruins was Xunantunich, near the city of St. Ignacio. I was fascinated by the sheer scale and precision of many of these temples that once overlooked a thriving and expansive empire.

I was also fortunate enough to spend time exploring the ancient Mayan city of Tikal in Guatemala. Hiking to the top of the temples (The Great Jaguar Temple & Temple of the Gods), exploring the ruins, and learning about the Mayan culture. It was an amazing experience from start to finish.

I had an incredible time in Central America and definitely recommend visiting if you’re looking for an adventure-filled vacation.

Here are just a few scenes from a much-needed and memorable trip:

Fifty miles northwest of Santa Barbara lies Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), home of the 30^th Space Wing.  The 30^th Space Wing is charged with performing space launches for both civilian and government entities. Of interest, the 30th Space Wing is soon to be retired (in name only) as it becomes converted/incorporated by the United States Space Force.  One such government agency is the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia.  The NRO, whose motto is, “Supra Et Ultra” (Above and Beyond) is the intelligence agency charged with designing, building, and operating spy satellites for the United States intelligence community including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), providing signals intelligence for the National Security Agency (NSA), imagery intelligence for the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and measurement and signature intelligence to the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA).  The NRO has a classified budget, however, it is widely speculated that the NRO budget is sustainably larger than any other intelligence agency.  When the United States needs eyes and ears in critical places where no human can reach, either over the most rugged terrain or through the most hostile territory the United States intelligence community relies on the NRO.  The NRO uses a variety of satellites to meet specific mission requirements, from small satellites, to more traditional, lager satellites.  It’s safe to say that the NRO maintains global coverage against a wide range of intelligence requirements, research, development, as well as the capability in assisting in emergency and disaster relief efforts. 

In conjunction with United Launch Alliance (ULA) and the 30^th Space Wing, the NRO launched a classified payload from VAFB’s Space Launch Complex 6 (SLC-6) high atop a 233 foot two-stage Delta IV Heavy rocket.  ULA’s Delta IV Heavy rocket is currently the most powerful rocket in the world capable of delivering a 31,000-pound payload into geostationary orbit or up to a 62,000-pound payload into low-earth orbit.  The Delta IV Heavy is comprised of three common booster core tanks that are constructed of isogrid aluminum barrels, spun-formed aluminum domes and machined aluminum tank skirts. The Delta IV booster propulsion is provided by three variable thrust RS-68A engine systems which uses cryogenic -423 degree liquid hydrogen (LH₂) and -273 degree liquid oxygen (LOX).  When operating a maximum power the three RS-68A engines each generate a whopping 705,250 pounds of thrust at sea level for a combined 2.1 million pounds of thrust, consuming an astounding 5,000 pounds of LH₂ and LOX per second.  As a result of the extreme fuel temperature’s the booster’s cryogenic tanks are insulated with a combination of spray-on or bond-on insulation and helium-purged insulation blankets.  The booster is controlled by the avionics system which provides guidance and flight control.  The second stage booster is a delta cryogenic second stage that fuels a single RL10B-2 engine with both LH₂ and LOX to produce 24,750 pounds of thrust. The RL10B-2 is ultimately responsible to delivering the payload to its final orbital destination following the separation of the three common core boosters.

On April 26^th, 2021, VAFB, NRO, and ULA successfully launched a clandestine reconnaissance payload from SLC-6, concluding ULA’s 13th Delta IV Heavy launch in its history.  I was fortunate enough to be granted base access to photograph the launch, both from a nearby viewing location on launch day, as well as the ability to have access to SLC-6 the day before to setup remote camera near the launch pad.  These cameras were equipped with sound-activated noise triggers that captured the images the mighty Delta IV Heavy lifting off launch pad. Many thanks to the folks at VAFB for being excellent and professional stewards.

Sometimes, the best thing going on in the midst of a worldwide pandemic is grabbing a friend and a camera to see a sunset and the moon. As Jim Morrison often sang, “Let’s swim to the moon.”