Blog.

Hiking the steep Pillbox Trail to WWII lookouts above Lanikai Beach on Oahu. Terrific views and one of the world's top beaches.

Japanese artist Tatzu Nishi built a functioning living room around the Columbus statue atop a monument in Columbus Circle. Six photos from the 2012 installation.

Midnight photos of Manhattan during Hurricane Sandy blackout. Flatiron Building, Madison Square Park, and 24th Street without power—a rare urban darkness.

October 2012: New York City empties out as Hurricane Sandy approaches. Streets, parks, and stores close. Eerie photos of abandoned Midtown.

Two days in Cascais, Portugal's coastal escape west of Lisbon. Visit Cabo da Roca and Boca de Inferno by car from this Atlantic seaside town.

Two-day Porto itinerary: explore Vila Nova de Gaia's port lodges, the Dom Luis I bridge, and stay at The Yeatman hotel with views over the Douro River.

Walking tour of Washington DC's National Mall with stops at the White House, Washington Monument, US Capitol, and National Archives. Photos and tips.

A visit to Portugal's oldest wine region and a stay at Quinta Romaneira, a working winery in the Douro Valley near Porto.

Two-day walking tour of Lisbon's hilltop neighborhoods, ceramic tiles, and historic sites. Includes Alfama, Bairro Alto, São Jorge Castle, and practical tips for visitors.

My photograph of Los Angeles at night was licensed for LA Social Media Week promotional materials in 2012.

A VIP tour of Warner Bros. Studio lots in Burbank reveals active sets from Friends, Batman, and The Dukes of Hazzard. Here's what the 2-hour experience costs and includes.

Photos of the Tribute in Light memorial from DUMBO, Brooklyn, on September 11, 2012. Twin beams illuminate lower Manhattan.

Attended the 2012 US Open in Flushing Meadows with upgraded Ashe Stadium seats. Saw Djokovic and Roddick's farewell match at the Queens tennis tournament.

Tour of the Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California, including Marine One helicopter, birthplace, and Watergate exhibits.

Explore La Brea Tar Pits on Wilshire Boulevard where 1 million fossils—saber-toothed tigers, dire wolves, mastodons—trapped in asphalt reveal 40,000 years of prehistoric Los Angeles.

Thirteen years of annual summer camping in Yosemite. Glacier Point, Half Dome views, and dry waterfalls in July 2012.

First impressions with the Nikon D800 full-frame camera and Nikkor 24-70mm lens. High-resolution Manhattan sunset and initial learning curve.

Macy's fireworks from Chelsea rooftop in NYC. Four barges launched from Hudson River on July 4, 2012.

Long-exposure photos of Shanghai's Bund waterfront and Pudong skyline. Shot in heavy humidity with challenges that revealed tripod and sensor issues.

Long-exposure photos of Hong Kong's skyline and Victoria Harbor from Kowloon, shot on a work trip in June 2012.

A mountain-top wedding near Kingston, New York, held at the historic Hellmann House in Boiceville. Photos from the ceremony and reception.

Attending the Veuve Clicquot Polo Classic on Liberty Island: champagne, fashion, and polo stars like Nacho Figueras.

Memorial Day weekend in Kansas with family: pool lounging, grilled ribeyes, and brisket. Seven photos from May 2012.

Birthday brunch at Norma's and a spring walk through Central Park in New York City on a sunny April day.

Luxury boutique hotel in Beijing's Chaoyang district with minimalist design, rain showers, and attached shopping mall. Room tour and photos.

Visit Harbin's International Snow & Ice Festival, the world's largest winter carnival. Giant ice sculptures lit by LED lights, Russian architecture, and brutally cold northeast China.

Walk the 2,100-foot Long Corridor and frozen lake at Beijing's Summer Palace. Hand-dug in the 1100s, it remains a feat of imperial engineering and art.

Beijing family trip to Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and Summer Palace. Photos from winter sightseeing before a family wedding.

Visit Jardin Majorelle, the famous Marrakech garden owned by Yves St. Laurent since the 1980s. See thousands of cacti, exotic plants, and vibrant blue buildings.

My Nikon D7000 failed with a cryptic ERR message during a shoot. The shutter mechanism needed replacement under warranty—here's what happened.