Hipstamatic is probably one of my favorite camera apps for the iPhone.

I woke up extra early yesterday to line up for the iPad launch at an Apple Store in San Francisco. It was a pretty festive atmosphere, and after the doors opened at 9AM, I finally made my way inside.

A number of journalists and photographers were inside, interviewing and shooting excited customers. I decided to pick up an iPad and start play with it for the first time. An AP photographer caught this photo and now it's running all over the place!

Went out shooting some photos today, for the first time in what feels like ages. This is one of my favorite photos that I've taken in a long time. The sculpture is Ecstasy by Dan Das Mann and Karen Cusolito and was installed at Patricia's Green in Hayes Valley last week. It's on display until June 18, 2010.

More information is available on the Black Rock Arts Foundation blog.

First displayed at the Burning Man festival in Nevada in 2008, Ecstasy is one of the eight monumental metal figures of the artists’ masterpiece, Crude Awakening. In Crude Awakening, these eight figures surrounded a 99-foot tall wooden oil derrick in gestures of prostration, worship and exaltation. Alone, Ecstasy embarks on a hopeful journey. Instead of throwing her head back in reverie to the oil derrick, she gazes wistfully into the open sky as she steps forward into an optimistic future, free of dependency on fossil fuel.

A photo of mine appeared in an article about Veronica Belmont and Ryan Block in Geeksugar, for their series of "Geeks We Love" articles!

Nikon D300, Nikkor 24mm f/2.8, and an SB-600 flash w/ LumiQuest 80-20 diffuser.

Photo via the United Nations photo stream on flickr.

The latest news and the images coming out of Haiti are absolutely tragic and indescribable. My heart goes out to those affected by the earthquake. I wish there was more that we could do. For now the best thing to do is donate toward the relief and recovery efforts. Google also has a pretty comprehensive page for Haitian disaster relief.

You can see some of the latest images from Port-au-Prince here (via flickr).

Photo via U.S. Department of Defense on flickr.

Photo via U.S. Air Force on flickr.

Another year has closed, and once again, San Francisco photographer Jim Goldstein is calling for your top photos taken this year! It's always a blast to participate in and review some of my favorite shots taken over the past year.

You can also see my best photos from 2008.

--

Protestors gather at Civic Center in San Francisco on January 12, 2008 to protest the shooting death of Oscar Grant by a BART police officer on New Years Eve.

--

Buzz, a friendly elephant seal pup that we encountered while backpacking along California's Lost Coast.

--

While traveling through Canada this past summer, we took a gondola ride near Banff. The first part of the ride was enveloped in fog. Right after we broke through, I stuck my DSLR out the window (yikes!) and captured this shot!

--

Visited Seattle for the first time this summer as well and took this shot at the foot of the Space Needle.

--

Steve Jobs made his return to Apple, after being sidelined with health problems. It was my first time attending an Apple keynote / Stevenote and the first time seeing Steve Jobs in person. Shot photos for gdgt. Definitely a moment that will stick with me for a long time.

--

The Blue Angels always provide fantastic opportunities for shooting photos. I took this photo as Blue Angel #7 screamed right over the top of our apartment building.

--

In March, the California Supreme Court ruled on the validity of Prop 8 (and made the unfortunate decision to uphold it). I took this photo and thought it represented a nearly perfect representation of each side (literally, metaphorically, politically). Two people on the left, in love and making a point about equal rights. On the right, an older white gentleman, holding up a sign in support of Prop 8.

--

Robogames 2009 at Fort Mason in San Francisco. Two competitors chat after a battle and examine the damage inflicted upon their robots.

--

A second photo from Robogames 2009. A competitor cheers in victory after his robot scores a critical hit on an opponent.

A new year, and a new decade are upon us! Here is my annual photographic review of the year. More travels, moving, a new job. So sit down and come along for the ride.

You can also see my past year in reviews for 2008 and 2007.

January 2009

January started out with a short, surprise trip down the coast to Half Moon Bay and Moss Beach. Kerry surprised me for my birthday, and we stayed at a phenomenal bed and breakfast for the weekend.

MacWorld came to town. It was my first time visiting the convention. Naturally, we geeked out on all the cool companies that were demoing products.

San Francisco residents wasted no time in finding something to protest over.

One of my favorite punk bands of all time, Tsunami Bomb, reunited for one final show in Petaluma.

February 2009

A number of friends embarked on the great Burrito Ingredients Scavenger Hunt: scouring the city's taquerias for the best individual ingredients they have, and building our own, epic burrito.

My sister was in town for a brief visit.

This year, instead of checking out the annual pillow fight, a few of us decided to check out Toronado's annual Barley Wine Festival.

We paid a visit to the Mission for the Grilled Cheese Sandwich battle.

March 2009

Donated some blood. (Gross!)

Awaited the results of the California Supreme Court's ruling on Prop 8.

Had a good view from my apartment of a rally for Tibet, as they marched towards the Chinese Consulate.

I walked across the entire Golden Gate Bridge for the first time in my life.

Pi-Day celebrations! 3.14

Took a stroll through Golden Gate Park. Beautiful as always.

April 2009

We went on a backpacking trip to Big Basin State Park

May 2009

Another month, another backpacking trip! This time, to California's Lost Coast.

And encountered wild life.

Attended the Maker Faire and saw some great art and inventions.

June 2009

A curious cat.

Robogames 2009!

July 2009

Enjoying some drinks on a lazy summer day.

Kerry and I took a whale watching trip out to the Farallon Islands.

August 2009

We had our gdgt SF party to celebrate the launch of our website!

Big road trip time! We embarked for Canada.

Sawtooth Range in Northern Idaho

More of Idaho

Hamilton, Montana

Kootenay National Park, Canada

Athabasca Glacier in Jasper National Park, Canada

Banff, Canada

Vancouver, BC

Victoria, BC

Space Needle in Seattle

Mount Rainier

Mount St. Helens

Oregon Caves National Monument

We returned from our road trip to cheer our friends on in SF Food Wars.

September 2009

Got to shoot an Apple Keynote / Stevenote for gdgt!

Cal Academy

Walked around San Francisco and took some random photos.

Someone in the neighborhood must have been pretty angry with Muni.

Flew to New York City at the end of the month for gdgt's NYC launch party. Hello Virgin America!

NYC!

October 2009

Visited New York City for the gdgt NYC event. While there, I visited the newly created High Line Park.

gdgt NYC at the Manhattan Center!

The Blue Angels came to town for Fleet Week 2009

Headed up to Tomales Bay for some friendly oyster shucking.

Wished my apartment of the past 3 years, so long!

Last sunset at the apartment. It was fantastic as always.

Adjusted to living with one of my new roommates.

The end of October meant that Halloween parties were neigh!

Walking through our neighborhood at night.

November 2009

Since I had recently purchased a Canon S90, I decided that the Cal Academy would be the perfect place to break it in.

Checked out the museum at SFO

Beautiful fall days in San Francisco

Beautiful fall nights in San Francisco

San Francisco sunset

December 2009

Kerry and I saw Cirque du Soleil's OVO show when it came to town.

(And I got yelled at for taking photos...)

Attended the Laughing Squid Un-holiday Party at the Gallery With No Name. And saw their neon Jelly Fish.

Don't forget, Santacon / Santarchy made an appearance in San Francisco!

Some of my companions during the day. (Because the only currency on the internet are cat photos).

A few weeks ago, I went walking through San Francisco and took my trust Canon S90 along with me. I shot a few photos of the Transamerica Pyramid, one of the more distinctive high rises in San Francisco.

I've had my Canon PowerShot S90 for just under two months now, and the camera still continues to impress me. I take it with me everywhere I go and it manages to nail nearly every shot!

What better place to take the new camera than the California Academy of Sciences? Photographic examples to follow.

Hah, brilliant photo.

[Via pixdaus]