Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Spaulding Boatworks



. . . in Sausalito, late afternoon.

Photos: Spaulding Boatworks—Sausalito, 2010; Spaulding Boatworks—Sausalito, 2010

Monday, August 30, 2010

Monday Dog Blogging



. . . for sale at the San Anselmo Festival: dog visors.

Photos: Dog Visor—Marin County, 2010; Ed with Dog Visor—Marin County, 2010

Sunday, August 29, 2010

Pancakes


While Hali was away for a moment I moved in for a shot of her pancakes cooking in the early Sierra morning. Very good, especially with fake maple syrup substance and real butter!

Photo: Pancakes—Sierra Nevada, 2010

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Photo Tip: Lanyard Use


For our trailride I tried this arrangement out this year: a lanyard attached to only one of the camera's neckstrap attachments. It worked much better than the neckstrap I used for last year's video: less twisting and fumbling.

Photo: Lanyard Attached to Canon G9—Sierra Nevada, 2010

Friday, August 27, 2010

Schat's


An exquisite Mammoth tradition. On departure day we head over to Schat's early in the morning, then take our goodies to either the Minaret Outlook, or to the Visitor Center in town if pressed for time.

Photo: Schat's—Sierra Nevada, 2010

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Oh, By The Way . . .



Oh, by the way, did we forget to mention that Mike got knocked off his horse on the way coming back down from Minaret Lake?

It happened when Hank (the horse) went underneath a protruding unnoticed-by-Mike snag. Suddenly spying the branch, Mike attempted to avoid it by doing a kind of Keanu Reeves Matrix lay-back maneuver. It almost worked! Alas, Mike's helmet brim caught on the snag and Mike was pulled backwards off the horse, suddenly finding himself flat on his back staring up at the sky.

He was able to get up unaided and after a few minutes rest, was able to do some rudimentary nightclub two-step moves. The remainder of the ride back to the stable was uneventful, thank goodness.


Photos: Snag—Sierra Nevada, 2010; Helmet—Marin County, 2010; Bullet Time (The Matrix)

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Minaret Lake



Alas, our time at Minaret Lake was all too short. We reached the lake at 12:20 PM, ate lunch with Clyde Minaret looming overhead and Minaret Lake stretching out to the distant shoreline.

I was able to answer a few questions that some backpackers had about the route up to Cecile Lake (follow the trail around the lake to the right, then scoot up the outlet coming from the left, then cut over to the right to reach Cecile Lake.) Then, some pix, including the merged (top and bottom) vertical shot.

After 40 minutes it was time to retrace our steps to the waiting horses and head on down.

Photos: Clyde Minaret, Minaret Lake—Sierra Nevada, 2010; Horses—Sierra Nevada, 2010

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Monday, August 23, 2010

Monday Butterfly Blogging


Found on a false hellebore blossom near Lake Mary.

Photo: Butterfly, False Hellebore—Sierra Nevada, 2010

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Coldwater



On a recent Monday afternoon Hali and Mike were dismayed to find out that their favorite camping spots (Minaret Falls and adjacent sites) were filled-up! (First-come, first-served policy. Be there by 10:30 in the morning next time, the ranger advised.)

Therefore, a scramble to find a spot. One found at Coldwater Campground in the Lake Mary area: not an ideal setup (not enough shade) but located well within hearing range of Coldwater Creek. And, access to numerous trailheads, as well.

Photos: Coldwater Creek—Sierra Nevada, 2010; Coldwater Creek—Sierra Nevada, 2010

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Hay Bales


Yes: hay bales. No more, no less.

OK, there's also that Toyota thingie.

Photo: Hay Bales—Marin County, 2010

Friday, August 20, 2010

Melrose Avenue #21: Mannequins


. . . and a self-portrait (near the ladder.)

Photo: Mannequins & Self-Portrait—Los Angeles, 2010

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Keys


As has been so often stated, the key element in street photography is anticipation.

Thus it was that I anticipated that this lady would drop her keys at exactly this precise, some might call it decisive, moment.

(OK, OK. So it was just pure chance! So sue me.)

Photo: Keys—Los Angeles, 2010

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Muir Woods



Mike and Hali visited Muir Woods in late July. For some reason they had never been there before.

The redwoods were nice but somehow not as imposing as other old-growth forests seen in Del Norte and Humboldt Counties. The main drawback, alas: lots of people . . . the trail became downright crowded at times! Please note that there are other, much less populated redwood areas in Marin County.

For photographs: park opens at 8 AM. Plan to be there, if not exactly at 8, then between 8 & 9. Thank goodness there was a seasonal overcast in the AM . . . otherwise the sun coming through the trees creates way too much contrast. One of the nice things for pix is that the main trail loops back on a higher level than the forest floor, to allow for straight-on shots of the trees.

For these shots, no tripod was used. Note, however that the auto ISO feature of the Nikon D90 took the horizontal shot at ISO 1250.

Photos: Redwoods—Marin County, 2010; Redwoods—Marin County, 2010

Monday, August 16, 2010

Monday Jackrabbit Blogging


I had the camera set to aperture priority while tramping through the Death Valley hills when a large jackrabbit came bounding past. I'm surprised this came out at all.

Photo: Jackrabbit—Death Valley, 2010

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Sage, Snow


Taken at my best Owens Valley vista point, while snowflakes, rapidly diminishing, were still settling to the ground.

Photo: Sage, Snow—Owens Valley, 2010

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Avocados


. . . in Hollywood. Avocado tree is no longer there, so this photograph, imperfectly composed as it is, will have to serve as documentation of a vanished era.

Photo: Avocados—Los Angeles, 2010

Friday, August 13, 2010

Beer etc


Special for Friday the 13th . . .

Photo: Beer etc (Self-Portrait)—Sonoma County, 2010

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Legion of Honor



Two shots of the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. First, a rainy-day photo taken with a Leica Minilux in 2001. The Leica (which I still have) was a first stab by me at a truly small, high-quality camera. I'm pretty sure I used chromogenic film.

Second shot taken recently with a Nikon D90, early Monday morning, camera lens stuck through the locked gate.


Photos: Legion of Honor in Rain—San Francisco, 2001; Legion of Honor—San Francisco, 2010

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Lamont Odett Vista Point


"A Valley Press legacy to the motorists of the Antelope Valley, as well as California and beyond is the Antelope Valley Freeway, which Lamont "Monty" Odett, Sr., championed in dealing with California state legislators in the 1950s and 1960s. Lamont Odett Vista Point - an Antelope Valley freeway rest area overlooking Palmdale - is named in his honor." (Wikipedia.)

Photo: Lamont Odett Vista Point—Antelope Valley, 2010

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Old Backpack


This is a hybrid combo put together by me in the 1970's. It consists of a North Face bag attached by aluminum pins to a Kelty backpack frame. What I used for a number of years, until space issues became a real concern. No room whatsoever for a bear canister.

It's been out in the garage for years . . . but recently I checked it out and discovered rodent holes (I guess) in the pack fabric. So it needed to be tossed. But I kept the frame: I wonder if Goodwill will take it? Or should I save it out of pure soppy sentimentality?

Photo: Backpack—Marin County, 2010

Monday, August 9, 2010

Monday Chicken Blogging


"Heh," as they say in blog-land.

Photo: Chicken Float—Marin County, 2010

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Chefs



New Orleans, 2004. Chefs at the Commander's Palace.

Kyoto, 2008. Chefs at Ajihana.

Photos: Chefs—New Orleans, 2004; Chefs—Kyoto, 2008

Saturday, August 7, 2010

Rock Admonitions


We in Marin County are very protective of our rocks. (Seen in Sausalito.)

Photo: Rock Admonitions—Marin County, 2010

Friday, August 6, 2010

Crowley Vista


At the Father Crowley Vista in Death Valley National Park. I'm usually there at mid-day, when the light is flat 'n boring, so the weather event this year was welcome.

Photo: Crowley Overlook—Death Valley, 2010

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Details



The thing with "detail" photos is, they can be very boring. Sometimes not. Also, not very marketable.

Photos: Rock Detail—Sierra Nevada, 2007; Truck Detail—Marin County, 2010

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Photo Booth


Upscale photo booth in Hollywood . . .digital!

Photo: Photo Booth & Self-Portrait—Los Angeles, 2010

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

California Buckeye



Early morning, seen on the trail to Loma Alta.

Photos: Buckeye & Sky—Marin County, 2010; Buckeye & Elm—Marin County, 2010

Monday, August 2, 2010

Monday Squirrel Blogging


Hollywood squirrel, taking a rest.

Photo: Squirrel—Los Angeles, 2010

Sunday, August 1, 2010