120 days in and enjoying every minute of it

[Marcus-SanDiego]

First, a huge shout out to Casey Withers, who continues to give me support in my photography endeavors.

I have really enjoyed my first four months of shooting. Feels like I've been shooting for years. That's how comfortable and confident I feel behind the camera now.

Here are some of my favorite shots that I took during the first four months.

First, a shot of Casey last weekend. None of my shoots are complete if I don't grab a candid of the man himself:

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7157/6559486587_6ab29960c1_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6559486587/)
Windansea (La Jolla) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6559486587/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

And the rest of my portfolio (in no particular order):

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7017/6552646263_c3447744fe_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6552646263/)
Windansea (La Jolla, CA) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6552646263/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7173/6547477483_9c1f6b1bb0_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6547477483/)
Rolls Royce Phantom (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6547477483/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7015/6534649609_1bfe9bed5c_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6534649609/)
Nikon 85mm f/1.4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6534649609/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6457982877_6e80a2fdbf_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6457982877/)
Nikon 50mm f/1.4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6457982877/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7158/6403806143_208cd1a338_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6403806143/)
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6403806143/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6239/6372202807_e23940243d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6372202807/)
Nikon 35mm f/1.8 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6372202807/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6230/6361949115_81b38ae40e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6361949115/)
Nikon 50mm f/1.4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6361949115/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6225/6337542671_02b32aba2f_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6337542671/)
Nikon 50mm f/1.4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6337542671/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6053/6316305479_41ac25b85e_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6316305479/)
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6316305479/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6429256887_422029e253_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6429256887/)
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 -- Swaying bridge (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6429256887/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6045/6293198991_18696ca1ab_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6293198991/)
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 -- Cabrillo National Monument (San Diego) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6293198991/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6224/6285469742_9617425f30_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6285469742/)
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 -- Point Loma Lighthouse Staircase (San Diego) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6285469742/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6036/6243116040_318a430228_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6243116040/)
Nikon 50mm f/1.4 -- Scripps Pier in La Jolla, California (San Diego) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6243116040/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6038/6222450482_d471583e43_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6222450482/)
Nikon 85mm f/1.4 -- San Diego downtown (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6222450482/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6110/6290475079_5c01e76a30_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6290475079/)
Nikon 35mm f/1.8 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6290475079/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

If you made it this far, thanks for looking at my pictures. I appreciate all of the help, comments, and assistance I've received during the past four months. I'm looking forward to my next four months.

[kayger12]

Absolutely outstanding.

You are the poster child for patience and discipline in the learning and application of fundamentals.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Thanks, KG. I want to be the John Stockton (NBA) of photography.

I'm not interested in being the guy who makes a few lucky shots a month, serves coffee for a living, flips a few passes behind his back, and thinks he's a professional. That's not where I'm going -- nor interested in going.

I want to take solid shots that I can replicate over and over. The only way to do that is to master the fundamentals. So that's what I'm doing.

[imola red zhp]

Awsome job Padawan, soon you'll be a Jedi

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Thanks, Dennis. Not even sure where I will end up with this. It's just a creative outlet for me at this point.

As you know (or may not know), I took up photography for one reason: to take pictures of my newborn son. I just wanted to get good enough to take decent pictures of him. I couldn't be more pleased at this point. I have achieved that goal.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7164/6490116639_96bb6b7d2d_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6490116639/)
Nikon 50mm f/1.4 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/zhpmafia/6490116639/) by Marky Marcus (http://www.flickr.com/people/zhpmafia/), on Flickr

[UdubBadger]

Was that 1st photo of casey a pin up shot?


ZHP mafia 2012 calender anyone? :rofl

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Seth, why, yes, it was. Stop forecasting my ideas about mafia pinups of the month! :biggrin


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[UdubBadger]

:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl

Sorry but with a leg shot like that you have to expect it's coming.

[imola red zhp]

:applause2
Props out to Casey for being an excellent Mentor.......

[Marcus-SanDiego]

:rofl :rofl :rofl :rofl

Sorry but with a leg shot like that you have to expect it's coming.

Oh, you know I don't do anything by accident. From the leg action to Casey posing his foot on the logo, it's all by design. So I don't mind. Hehe.


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[Hermes]

your progress is amazing for how little time you've actually been doing this. I'm sure your son will be very appreciative of the quality of the photos of his youth when he is old enough to actually understand how much effort you put into training yourself and understanding the fundamentals behind photography. It's not just about buying an expensive camera, it's about knowing how to use what you have at your disposal be it tools, location or subject to achieve your goal. :santa1

[Marcus-SanDiego]

JP, thanks for the comment. I will refer him back to this thread when he gets older. Well said.

[C Withers Media]

Mark, you can't hold a torch to someone else's path without lighting up your own.


Thanks for the kind words and it is very rewarding to watch you come into your own and continue to improve.

You inspire me to be better.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Thanks, Casey. Right back at you.

[Meric]

Great pictures! Specially Zippy! I really want to see him in real life!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awq90APEVgw

:eeps

[UdubBadger]

^ that was pretty funny. Some of those Nikons sound like machine guns.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

^^definitely.

[M0nk3y]

Awesome Marcus...amazing how you progressed so quickly; and you picked up a camera after me and producing shots to put me to shame :rofl

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Thanks, Kyle. Glad you've enjoyed the pictures.

[johnnyrad]

Really nice photos Marcus. You have talent my friend, practice does make progress. And I must say that San Diego is lookin mighty fine right now, as opposed to the rainy and cold Northeast. :)

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Thanks, Johnny!


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