Scary

Girl, Scary Figure (Quebec City) - Canada  2016

Scary figure, but the little girl didn't seem to be that scared . . . taken during a recent October trip.

Happy Halloween!

Short Hike - 2 (Mt Tamalpais - July 2026)

Trail - Marin County  2026

Hikers - Marin County  2026

"The connecting Plank Trail is a short but very steep climb up an uneven, rocky path to the historic fire lookout. The ascent requires minor scrambling over boulders to reach the summit plaque."

(The trail description from AllTrails.) 

The trail, broad enough at the start, quickly became increasingly rocky. When I started up I hadn't known that there would be any boulder scrambling, minor or not. Plus, it was hot! So I only went part of the way before turning back.

Virginia City (1997)

Fire Truck (Virginia City) - Nevada  2026

Palm Sunday (Virginia City) - Nevada  1997

Virginia City is over 6000' elevation. Palm Sunday in 1997 was March 3, so there's a definite date for the bottom photo.

Mike's Birthday!

Godzilla, Mike (Tokyo) - Japan  2017

Wow!

Wet, Windy Hike (Mt. Tamalpais - August 2026)

Hanna, Hali - Marin County  2026

Hanna, Hali - Marin County  2026

So my first Mt. Tamalpais hike didn't work out since the trail up to the lookout structure was way rockier than I had expected. But it turns out that there's a second trail, an accessible one that loops around the mountain just below the summit.

Hanna was coming over for a visit in August . . . Hali and I decided to take her up to the top of Mt. Tamalpais so she could enjoy the view. 

 Yikes . . . not only was there no view, but the weather at the trailhead was quite intense, very wet and foggy with strong winds.

Eucalyptus / Pond

Eucalyptus - Point Reyes  2026

Pond - Point Reyes  2026

Walking past the eucalyptus to the beach. Alas, the pond that is usually off to the side had somehow enlarged itself and covered the trail! I had brought water sandals with me - mainly for wearing around the camp - but I never got around to putting them on and wading through the water.

Nolan's Birthday!

Nolan, Mike - San Francisco  2016

Wow!

Labyrinth (Fairfax Hike)

Hanna, Labyrinth (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

Hanna navigating the labyrinth, Mt. Tamalpais in the background.

Fairfax Hike - Trail to the Top

Water Tank, Use Trail, Hanna (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

When I first approached this area last winter I started at the base of the water tank and scrambled directly up the slope in back. This time I wanted to try a "use trail" that I had noticed on a scouting walk earlier in the month. Hanna and I started up.

Midway Point on Trail, Hanna (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

It was much longer than I had realized! We finally reached a rock outcropping that proved to be the topmost point. Hanna stood on it and studied the view, somewhat reminiscent of Joe Mundy standing at the top of Mt. Agassiz in 1974.

Hanna at the Top (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

Weston Light Meter

Mike, Weston Meter - Sierra Nevada  1978

Once I enlarged yesterday's image I couldn't help but notice the Weston light meter hanging around my neck. I've previously written a post on the meter, back in the early days of blogging when I tended to write more than a few sentences per post.

Yes, I still have the meter! Below, some recent photos taken with an iPhone.

Weston Meter (open) - Marin County  2026

Weston Meter (closed, with Zone System note attached) - Marin County  2026

Backpackers (1978)

Joe Grant, Joe Mundy, Mike Mundy - Sierra Nevada  1978

The same intrepid outdoorsmen that have been seen before, on the summit of Mt. Whitney.

This is my first time viewing this photograph! I happened to be looking at some 1978 contact sheets recently when I noticed that there were some snow scenes taken at the beginning of that year. For some reason I had developed the negatives and made a contact sheet but never printed any of the photos that had been taken. Too busy elsewhere, I guess.

Recycle Center

Recycle Center - San Rafael  2026

Taken during one of my regular trips to drop off cardboard boxes for recycling.

Fairfax Festival

Mike's Booth (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

Last June. I did pretty well! Much better than Open Studios anyway.

Current setup is more elaborate than my first 2008 setup:

Mike at Fairfax Festival - Marin County  2008

Wooden Building / Hot Dog Stick (1990)

Wooden Building - Santa Monica  1990

Hot Dog Stick - Santa Monica  1990

Continuing with some 1990 film scans. 

Go Karts

Go Karts - Santa Monica  1990

Taken on or near the Santa Monica pier.

Taking Photos (Melrose Avenue #101)

Taking Photos - Los Angeles  1990

An early version of Melrose Avenue photographers. See this 2023 post, for a later example.

Selling Photographs

 

Marin Open Studios Exhibit (San Rafael) - Marin County  2026

In May I participated in the Marin Open Studios weekends. I had a goodly amount of space for my setup: frames, bins and notecards. Two weekends in May (four days). Sold a few things, but nothing major.

In June I returned to set up my booth in the Fairfax Festival. Only one weekend, but sales were considerably higher! (Live music and beer probably helped.)

My booth:

Booth (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

Note two framed photos in the image above: one the left a large framed photo of Convict Lake, and in the back a large framed photo of  Owens Valley. Both were sold! Wow!

BTW, my current booth is way more sophisticated than my first Fairfax Festival appearance in 2008:

Mike, Fairfax Festival - Marin County  2008

Recycle Center / Freeway Art

Recycle Center - Marin County  2026

Richmond Bridge Freeway Art - Marin County  2026

First blog post featuring the Recycle Center was in 2008. Whoa.

Monday Horse Blogging

Horse & Rider (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

Truck, Horse Trailer (Fairfax) - Marin County  2026

Up the street . . . riders preparing to venture forth into the Loma Alta Open Space district. Hali used to park her trailer in the same spot, then ride off on Tuffy.

March, 1976

Hali, Mike, Elk Cove Bed and Breakfast - Mendocino County  1976

Hali, Mike, Sky Camp - Point Reyes  1976

Unlike most film photos, I can definitely put an exact month and year to these ones. Fun!

Top photo: Hali and Mike at a bed and breakfast in Elk Grove, Mendocino County.

Bottom: Hali and Mike camping out at Sky Camp in Point Reyes. 

50 years ago!