Wedding Roadtrip on the 5

ON THE ROAD WITH THE IPHONE 6+ AND CANON 70-200mm

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of documenting a wedding up in Sacramento.

Rather than flying there, I decided to make the trip on wheels — up the 5 freeway one day, and then back home the next. For those not familiar with the Golden State, "the 5" is one of two really scenic passages one can take when making your way up and down California. It's a pretty straight shot from Los Angeles up to Sacramento, and though it's a good six hour hike one way, I prefer the freedom of the open road to being a sardine in a pressurized cabin miles above the earth. There's just something soul soothing to driving this stretch of freeway, especially this time of year. Most of the journey is framed by sprawling farmland on either side, and the sights are something to behold. Mile upon mile, blossoms fall from the citrus groves like snow, crops hypnotize with their repetition — and thanks to some desperately needed recent rains — the rolling hills thrive with greens and the yellows of mustard grass.

Along the way, I took a few quick detours down random roads, which often morphed from asphalt, to dirt, and then, to the mountains of the great beyond. There's a peacefulness to be found there, left with nothing but your thoughts, the buzzing bees, the warmth of the sun, and the inviting possibilities of the uncharted path ahead.

With both my Canon 5D Mark III and iPhone 6+ on hand, I definitely had to get some picture time in. The first few photographs below are from the Canon 5D mounted with a 70-200mm lens. I typically only use that lens for getting cozy with the bride & groom during a ceremony, because it's a pretty big lens to be carrying around for casual shooting. But seeing as how the lens was on hand for the wedding, I made a go of using it for these landscapes, and I think I just might be carrying it around with me just a bit more often.