Sylvan Lake State Park - Eagle, Colorado

Also check out some of the other family photos I have recently took.  Book early if you want to get those holiday card done soon.  See ya.. Andrew

If you are interested in scheduling a senior session.  Please schedule it under my services link in the header of the page or use the contact email on the home page.  Also referrals that book before your session takes place will get you 50% off your session fees.     

Milky Way Galaxy - Eagle, Colorado

Frederick In Flight - Frederick Colorado Frederick In Flight - Frederick Colorado

#Reflections #FrederickInFlight #HotAirBallons @BarelaPhotography

2156 S. Gabraltar Way 2156 S. Gabraltar Way

Exterior Photo HDR - Interior Photo

Cheers to 2016...

North I-25

 -Miles

"Aulani Disney Resort" - Awesome"Aulani Disney Resort" - Awesome

Wow, what a wonderful day.  Started out with morning photos outside the Aulani Resort.  

Then the family and I drove around Oahu Island of Hawaii visiting the sites.   Our first stop was the Dole Plantation..Awesome.. The Pineapple Express, Garden and Maze are the adventures we did.   Also we had a great treat, Dole Whip.. Awesome and yummy..    The Dole PlantationThe Dole Plantation

Secondly we drove into Haleiwa, a small town on the North Shore.  We walked around and ate at Uncle Bo's Grill.  Great food and the service was awesome. I definitely would eat there again.  I recommend Bo's Burger..  The family throwing out the "SHAKA" and riding the waves in Haleiwea.The family throwing out the "SHAKA" and riding the waves in Haleiwea.

From there we made our way to Waimea Valley, we tried going to the beach there, but were not successful in finding a parking stop..  The surf look pretty big though.  Instead we went into the Valley and visited the Waimea Falls.   This is a 3/4 mile hike through a beautiful tropical forest.  There is an admission to get in, but it is definitely worth it.  You can even swim at the base of the falls, however, we didn't realize it until we there and didn't bring our swimsuits.  Oh well, the colorful views and gorgeous trees are worth every penny.

Waimea Fall - Waimea Valley Oahu Hawaii Rainbow Eucalyptus - Oahu Hawaii Waimea Valley - Oahu Hawaii Waimea Valley - Oahu Hawaii Monkey Pod Tree - Oahu Hawaii

Let me know your thoughts..

Smoke Filled Sky - Colorado

Well, The Kings put on a family/friend gathering called The Milk Can Dinner.   This is where you cook potatoes, carrots, sausage, cabbage, corn, and who knows what else in a big milk can.   Everyone brings salads, desserts, drinks, and just have a lot of fun.   It is such a great time.  If you're lucky enough to be invited to this gathering then you better be ready for some good food and fun times with family and friends.  

The Kings have a special place in my heart, out of all my friends that I know, I have known them the longest.  Together we have experienced a lot; Elitch Gardens (Patrick got his A's hat stolen), Van Halen concerts, vacations, pool parties and even drunken adventures.  I have spent many a nights sleeping on a trampoline in their backyard only to be woken by a garden hose.  I have many childhood memories; koolaid pitchers readily available to drink when we came inside, the smell of cinnamon apples being baked into apple pies (we picked those apples from their backyard apple trees), the parties, and family dinners.

The only thing I can say is that I hope we always will be friends and to let them know that they all have a special place in my family's heart.  Thank you Earl, June, Melissa, Shawn and Patrick for the great Milk Can dinner and all the great memories.   Now lets go make some more memories....

Snowboarding

This day it was 58 degrees outside, I met up with another family at the "Farm".  This time is was later in the afternoon so the shots where a little more difficult because the light wasn't in areas I usually like to shot family photos.  So we did the best we could.  Check out the shots and let me know what you think.

This morning I decided to go to my favorite Colorado country spot to catch the sun glares.  This area has a high point overlooking rolling hill plains with a red long cattle gate.  I have been taking a few picture here at different times of the year and figure I would get some cold/snowy shot here today.  I wanted to compare the summer photos to the winters.  Also I wanted to see the difference between the photos that my Sony NEX7 took and now today my Nikon D810.  Let's check them out:

Here is the Summer Photo with the Sony NEX7.  Awesome colors..  This photo was taken with Bracketing 3 EV on and merged to take the dramatic shot with all the different greens and yellow.

Summer Photo with the Sony NEX7Summer Photo with the Sony NEX7    

Here is the Winter Photo with the Nikon D810.  Totally different look and an awesome sun glare.  This photo was a single shot from the camera, no bracketing/merging of photos.   As you can see it was exposed for the sky and sun glare so you don't see much of the colors.  

Winter Photo with Nikon D810Winter Photo with Nikon D810

So let me know which version you like better.  I am one photographer that loves HDR, but you can't beat that sun glare from the single shot from the Nikon D810.  AWESOME.

 However, in stressful situations and time sensitive images the best of the best photographers miss one or many of these guidelines.  So when this happens the photographer reverts to post processing to try to add the factor back to the image.  The guidelines are not always necessary, but they have the ability to create the best composition, contrasting and ultimate photo.  

Barela Photography can help you with your post processing needs from making your images more dramatic, adding more color or adding that missing contrast.  If you're a professional, enthusiast, or beginner photographer contact us and we can provide you our service to help post process images and help you make that ultimate photo.

Here is an example:

  Image of flower before post processing

   Image after post processing:

~ Until Next Time 

Hidden Valley - Sony Nex-7

For myself I was really interested in checking out two camera, the Sony A7R and Nikon D810.  Both these cameras where awesome, but they did have pros/cons for each.  The Sony was just not as fast with the autofocus as I would have liked and the Nikon was big, heavy and it was kind of difficult to get those low angle shots I like.  I had to actually get on my knees or stomach to get them.  The reason is because it didn't have a nice angling LCD screen so I had to use the viewfinder.  Anyway, I enjoyed both these cameras and ones of these days I will pick one up.  But for now I need to save the money.  

Sony A7

Nikon D810

For my quest of trying to get the best sun gleam photo of either a sunrise or a sunset, I was presented with this nice shot tonight.  I usually walk with my NEX-7 and tonight I was snapping away on different soft light items.  It wasn't until I turned around while walking up a hill did I realize the sun gleaming through the clouds.  So BAM!!! Here it is.. 

Sunset Walk

1. The picture looks cool
2. I get really excited about the different contrasts
3. or I fall asleep because I played with the picture to much and I just need to reset to the original.

So with that said I want to share my default Lightroom preset with anybody that would like to use it.   Keep a look out for more and eventually I might create a package of all the ones I use.  

Fishermans Wharf - San Francisco

Used my default preset with the photo above.

Download the preset here

Thanks ~Andrew

Example of SlideshowShana Barela with Keller Williams is proud to present a home that will be listed soon: 5209 S Elk Street in Aurora Colorado

Barela Photograhy Logo

Anyway, James like usual had a great couple of sets and played some of his original music, along with music from Colorado Jazz musicians and arrangements of a classic Beatles song.  James is currently getting started again playing around Denver, recently moving back from Las Vegas.  So he is starting out trying to get his following back and I am pretty sure he will.  Check out the teaser video from Nissi's and keep a look out for James playing in other establishments www.blu7music.com.

James Barela @ Nissi's  

Elitche Gardens Swings - Colorado

If I ever do find a position available that I could possibly qualify for at this brewery I am definitely sending in my resume.  Because a new bike and a 12 pack of beer every week is exactly what I need.

New Belgium Brewery, Ft. Collins Colorado

Well either way, even if the Broncos lost and it is cold enough to freeze your nose outside.. At least we had the opportunity to see such a beautiful blue sky.

Here is the link to the gallery:  http://www.andrewbarela.com/1-photo-per-day-365-days

Cheers...

New Years Eve Beer..

Here is a list of things that happened..

• Miles 6th Birthday
• Teagan 4th Birthday
• Trip to Disney World
• Trip to Powell
• Trip to Toronto (Work unfortunately)
• 1st Camping Trip.. along with the first broken arm.. Miles broke both bones in his forearm within 4 hours after we setup camp.
• Everyone had Strep throat,  Miles had it 3 times
• Denver Zoo 

Hopefully, we will be able to accomplish more fun things and have a better 2013..

Barela 2012 Review

Check it out and let me know what you think....

CUnet Christmas Party

Here is Jack (the Elf) hanging out with our Norwegian Troll friend..

Jack again.. Riding the Christmas Star

The RABBIT shot...  this is a report call and the first clay is thrown really low to the ground almost rolling on the ground.   Mike yelled Pull.. and in a split second he shot and scattered the clay and the second shot was off and a miss.. Even though the second was a miss, Mike had the eyes of a 5 year old holding new toy.  Mike hit is first clay ever.. and it was awesome..  Good Job Mike.. Now you need to go and buy a shotgun so we can go more often..

View of Heart Mountain