Spaulding Boatworks

. . . in Sausalito, late afternoon.

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

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

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

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

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)

Minaret Lake

Clyde Minaret - Sierra Nevada  2010

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. (Photos taken with a Canon G9.)

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

August, 2010 Trail Ride

Trail Ride 2010 from Mike Mundy on Vimeo.

Monday Butterfly Blogging

Found on a false hellebore blossom near Lake Mary.

Photo: Butterfly, False Hellebore—Sierra Nevada, 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

Hay Bales

Yes: hay bales. No more, no less.

OK, there's also that Toyota thingie.

Photo: Hay Bales—Marin County, 2010

Melrose Avenue #21: Mannequins

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

Photo: Mannequins & Self-Portrait—Los Angeles, 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

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 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

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

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

Beer etc

Special for Friday the 13th . . .

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

Sites: Wikipedia. Official site.

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

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 Chicken Blogging

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

Photo: Chicken Float—Marin County, 2010

Chefs

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

Kyoto, 2008. Chefs at Ajihana.

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

Rock Admonitions

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

Photo: Rock Admonitions—Marin County, 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

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

Photo Booth

Upscale photo booth in Hollywood . . .digital!

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

California Buckeye

Early morning, seen on the trail to Loma Alta.

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

Monday Squirrel Blogging

Hollywood squirrel, taking a rest.

Photo: Squirrel—Los Angeles, 2010