Carmel

 

Art Gallery (Carmel) - Monterey County  2021

Photorealist Painting (Carmel) - Monterey County  2021

I wandered around Carmel (actually, Carmel-By-The-Sea) for a short time, too early for the galleries to be open. 

I'm always interested in photorealist paintings, as in the above depiction of a grocery store's flower display (as seen through a bunch of reflections). Paintings of mundane scenes seem to be more accepted than would photos of the same scenes.

Robinson Jeffers: Tor House / Hawk Tower

The house where the poet Robinson Jeffers lived, in Carmel.

"After marrying in 1913, Jeffers moved to Carmel, California, and in 1919 he began building a stone cottage on land overlooking Carmel Bay and facing Point Lobos. Near the cottage, Jeffers built a forty-foot stone tower. Both the structure and the location figure strongly in Jeffers's life and poetry."

Mike, having done some past work using the poetry of Mr. Jeffers, decided to drive by the Jeffers' residence. The property is now owned by a non-profit organization, and tours are offered, but not when Mike was scheduled to be there. Although the quaint Carmel streets can be somewhat confusing, Mike was able to locate the spot without too much trouble.

In Mike's imagination, this would be a wild and desolate location, suitable for Jeffers to compose his poems celebrating the natural beauty of the Big Sur coast. Alas, maybe it was, at one time, but now it's part and parcel of a tidy Carmel neighborhood featuring million dollar homes.

*****

Jeffers' biography, from which the above quote has been taken, can be found at Poets.org.

Tor House Foundation web site.

Mike's Jeffers portfolios published by James Linden: Apology for Bad Dreams and Shine, Perishing Republic.

Photographs: Tor House─Monterey County, 2011; Hawk Tower─Monterey County, 2011

Carmel Mission - 2

Statue (Carmel Mission) - Monterey  County  2025

Yuccas (Carmel Mission) - Monterey County  2025

"Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Río Carmelo (English: The Mission of Saint Charles Borromeo of the Carmel River), first built in 1797, is one of the most authentically restored Catholic mission churches in California. Located at the mouth of Carmel Valley, California, it is on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark."

Carmel Mission

Flowers and Wall - Carmel  2012

Flowers and Tile Roof - Carmel  2012

After coffee, a short stop at the Carmel Mission, with visual exclamation points provided by amazingly colorful Kniphofia plants.

Carmel

As a way of killing part of a too-bright afternoon Mike turned left from Highway One onto Ocean Avenue and drove into Carmel. His Carmel parking strategy is to drive into the town on Ocean, then turn right at a random intersection and keep driving until a spot appears.

Mike turned right (randomly) on Dolores and, after some blocks, found a coveted parking spot. He walked back towards town, passing numerous "Western Art" galleries before coming to the "Kip Evans Photography’s Mountain & Sea Gallery," which was, alas, not open, due to a "shoot" taking place that day. Mike picked up the full-color glossy brochure wondering how much something like that would cost.

Around the corner on 6th the Weston Gallery was open, featuring the work of Weston & Adams, and an exhibit titled Passage to Eternity: new photographic works by Yoshimitsu Nagasaka. After a quick once-over he left the gallery to check out this cool Jaguar parked in front of, yes, more art galleries.

Photo: Jaguar—Carmel, 2008

Monterey Morning

Carmel Valley Coffee - Carmel  2012

Early next morning Mike headed south towards Carmel, stopping at the Carmel Valley Coffee shop for coffee and a quite-large scone. Good reception for the iPhone.

Carmel Mission

Early morning fog in Carmel. Mike still has not been inside the mission there, but he was able to stick his camera lens through the gate for a shot of the mission facade. The fog-filtered light lent a somewhat sinister quality to the plants outside the wall.

Photos: Carmel Mission—Monterey County, 2010; Carmel Mission Plants—Monterey County, 2010

Carmel Mission - 1

Carmel Mission - Monterey County  2025

Bougainvillea (Carmel Mission) - Monterey County  2025

In the past I've always driven by here before the mission grounds were open. So, a lot of photos taken around the outside perimeter . . . some not half bad! 

This time viewing the mission interior was one of my goals . . . my main one, actually. Got in for the $12.00 senior price. Then had to assure the clerk that I wasn't planning on selling any of the photos that I was going to take with the Sony RX100.

Carmel Mission - 4

Altar (Carmel Mission) - Monterey County  2025

Baby Jesus, Apparition (Carmel Mission) - Monterey County  2025

Religious stuff, shot with an iPhone 13 Pro Max. 

It was fun wandering around the mission grounds! I'd like to view them again when it's foggy or overcast.

Indian Paintbrush, Carmel Bay

Indian Paintbrush, Carmel Bay - Point Lobos  2013

Looking across Carmel Bay from Point Lobos towards the fabulous Pebble Beach area.

Carmel Mission - 4

 

Carmel Mission Courtyard - Monterey County  2021

Agave - Monterey County  2021

I've been inside the Santa Barbara Mission courtyard, but not the one in Carmel. I was able to get a peek from outside this time though. I saw the agave in front of a private residence in the vicinity.

Carmel Mission - 1

 

St Christopher - Monterey County  2021

Statue - Monterey County  2009

Normally, after coffee I'd head over to Point Lobos. But recently it's just become too crowded for comfort. Besides, I have plenty of Point Lobos photos already. So this time I skipped Point Lobos and instead drove the short distance over to Carmel Mission.

I first visited the Carmel Mission in 2009, taking the photo of the statue seen above. On this last visit in September the whole site was undergoing extensive reconstruction work . . . no sign of the statue, alas. 

Coffee

Carmel Valley Coffee - Monterey County  2025

I insisted that everyone visit my favorite coffee spot in Monterey: Carmel Valley Coffee in The Barnyard just off highway 1 near Carmel. Coffee and pastries: as I recall, I think that everyone liked it!

Carmel Mission - 3

Red Valerian (Carmel Mission) - Monterey County  2025

Plants, Wall, Tiles (Carmel Mission) - Monterey County  2025

During this mission visit I was using an iPhone 13 Pro Max and, for these photos, a Sony RX100(7). 

Ansel Adams’ Piano

In 1984 I attended a photographic workshop at the Asilomar Conference Center in Carmel; it had been organized by the Friends of Photography. I remember presentations being given by John Sexton and Huntington Witherall, and traveling to Morley Baer’s house for a little inspirational talk by Mr. Baer.

Most of what was presented dealt with (of course) traditional black and white printing. We also had our portfolios critiqued, which turned out to be of limited utility (to me anyway.)

And I also remember quite clearly the large tubs of iced bottles of beer each evening. I feel that this, more than anything, added greatly to my grasp of the material being presented.

We were able to visit Ansel Adams’ house. Mr. Adams had just passed away in April; his wife, Virginia, was living there and was there to greet us. I had along a small 35mm camera with some high-speed film for flashless photographs, taking this picture of Adams’ piano and decorative objects. Notice the photographs and posters in back.

I wouldn’t mind attending another (digital) workshop in the future, but I need to spend my limited funds on equipment and supplies at this time.

Photo: Ansel Adams' Piano—Carmel, 1984

Agave / Morning Coffee

Agave - Monterey County  2023

After early morning fog photos I drove over to my favorite AM coffee spot (Carmel Valley Coffee). Coffee, morning bun, then a walk around the premises where I spotted a nice-looking agave.

Carmel Valley Coffee Interior - Monterey County  2023

Blessed Virgin Mary & The Zen of Photography

At least, I think that the statue represents the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Actually, the Carmel Mission was not on my itinerary since the main purpose of the trip was to take coastal shots. I was on my way to Point Lobos from my motel in Monterey when I decided to check out a side street heading towards the ocean off Highway 1.

That’s when I passed by the mission. I parked and walked over to the entrance. Hm. $5.00 admission fee. Hm. I decided to skirt the perimeter to see what I could see.

So, this photo came about from me skulking about the adobe wall and peeking over the top. The wind was blowing and some leaves kept intruding into the upper left corner so I had to take multiple shots.

It’s somewhat disconcerting to realize that the coolest shot of the trip came about almost by accident.

Oh well, that’s "The Zen of Photography!"

Photo: Statue—Carmel Mission, 2009

Morley Baer

A recent post by Howard Grill on Morley Baer reminded of the time in 1984 when I was taking a Friends of Photography seminar in Monterey. Part of the activities included a visit to Mr. Baer at his house in Carmel Valley. I seem to recall that he gave us some generic inspirational advice ("only take photographs of things you believe in" or somesuch).

References:
Howard's post.
Friends of Photography.

Ansel Adams' Piano.

Photo: Morley Baer—Carmel, 1984

Morning Coffee

 

Carmel Valley Coffee - Monterey County  2021

After taking some photos down by the bay, I got on Highway 1 and drove over the hill past Carmel to one of my favorite coffee spots. As usual, there's an earlier photo posted on the blog.

It was overcast, but not cold. I found some empty tables outside of a closed pizza restaurant where I could settle in. Photo of my goodies plus a hefty Nikon Z5 taken with an iPhone 7 Plus.

Carmel Mission - 1

Flowers, Mission - Monterey County  2023

First visited in 2009. In 2010 I got a nice front shot of the mission through the fog. I'm usually there before the mission is open; so far all I have are photos taken from outside. Some day I'll have to arrive a little later so I can visit the inside courtyard.