Yolanda Bell: Blog

Interview with SD Voyager Magazine

(Yolanda Bell) — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 01:43:18 GMT

In April 2018, SD Voyager Magazine in San Diego, California came across my photography on Instagram and contacted me to feature my work on their website and schedule an interview. It was such a pleasure to have my work featured and to do the interview! The interview was published May 28, 2018. To read the interview and learn a little more about me, click on the link Interview - Art & Life with Yolanda Bell . Please feel free to leave a comment after you read the interview.

Mesmerized By the Sunset

Sunset in Rancho Palos Verdes

(Yolanda Bell) — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 04:31:39 GMT

Yesterday was a beautiful day and the temperature was in the low 80's. I decided to take a ride to Point Vicente Lighthouse in Rancho Palos Verdes to watch the sunset. The temperature dropped to the high 60's and there was a nice breeze. Several people were there to watch the sunset and take selfies and pictures of the sunset. Both of the below pictures were taken with the Nikon D800 and using the Lee Little Stopper Neutral Density Filter.

Beacon of Light

Sunset During the Marine Layer

(Yolanda Bell) — Thu, 11 Aug 2016 03:39:09 GMT

The last several weekends here in Southern California the marine layer has been thick and the sky has been very hazy; especially with several fires burning. The Santa Clarita Sand Fire that started Friday, July 22 is now 98% contained. In the early days of the fire I could stand in my driveway and see the huge clouds of smoke and red in the sky from the fire. I must admit I was a little worried. Unfortunately, one life was lost, 18 homes burned and over 41,000 acres burned.

Despite the thick marine layer and cloudless sky, I was determined to take some pictures at the beach last Saturday. I packed my gear and headed to Leo Carrillo State Beach in Malibu on the Pacific Coast Highway. There was a really nice breeze at the beach and the tide was low but not low enough to walk to the caves. I must make a trip back to explore the caves. Lots of tide pools, sea life and surfers riding the waves.

The below picture was taken as the sun was setting. I used the Lee Little Stopper Neutral Density Filter which reduces the exposure by 6-stops and allows me to shoot longer shutter speeds. Shooting long exposures is a favorite of mine!! The settings for this picture are F/16, 24mm, ISO 100 and 15 seconds. Photo taken with the Nikon D800 and Nikon 24-70mm F/2.8 lens.

You can read information about Lee Filters on their website at http://www.leefilters.com.

New York - Big City of Dreams!

(Yolanda Bell) — Tue, 02 Aug 2016 09:54:08 GMT

City Lights

I was standing on the Brooklyn Promenade last year to capture this long exposure photo of New York city's skyline. New York is such a fun city to visit and I must plan another trip!!

Washington, D.C. Monument

(Yolanda Bell) — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 23:18:49 GMT

The end of May after a rainy afternoon and evening, I went to Washington, DC with a friend to shoot some night scenes. The sky was cloudy and just right to take some shots of the Washington Monument from the opposite side of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The lights underneath the trees lit up the grass nicely.

As we headed back to the car a few hours later and got closer to the Washington Monument, the sun began to rise and the sky changed colors. The moon was above the Washington Monument so we stopped to take a few more shots.

Both photos were taken with the Nikon D800 camera and the Nikon 16-35 F/4 wide angle lens.