A.M. Building

Building, A.M. - San Rafael  2012

Vines, Self-Portrait - San Rafael  2012

. . . in San Rafael. Decided not to apply any perspective correction.

Around to the side they've planted some vines . . . maybe as an anti-graffitti measure?

OM-D

So based on my experience so far with the E-PL1 I'll probably want to get this. (No reviews yet.)

Here's DPReview's preview.

. . . from the archives #68: Ice Cream & Beach, Santa Cruz 1984

Ice Cream Stand - Santa Cruz  1984

Beach - Santa Cruz  1984

I'm almost positive that this is Santa Cruz.

Interesting . . . very typical mikereport pix. Even through they were taken in the dark ages before there was a mikereport.

Back in Marin County: White Flowers and Fiddle Frets

White Flowers - San Rafael  2012

Fiddle Frets - San Rafael  2012

Back in Marin County, observing various cool San Rafael sightems.

Point Lobos (Telephoto Lens)

Cypress - Point Lobos  2012

Wave - Point Lobos  2012

Mike was able to try out some different Point Lobos compositions using his new Olympus 40-150mm lens.

Monday Gull Blogging

Gulls and Surf - Point Lobos  2012

Small gulls huddled safely away from the crashing surf.

Point Lobos

Cypress and Mist - Point Lobos  2012

Mike arrived to find the waves still in full force, pounding on the Point Lobos rocks and creating a kind of coast-hugging mist.

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.

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.

Monterey Evening

Night Staircase - Monterey  2012

Plant and Wall - Monterey  2012

After a desultory drive up the coast, stopping to view some waves (OK, but not comparable to the Pismo waves) Mike arrived in Monterey, taking an evening stroll around the Munras Avenue area.

There's a significant military presence in Monterey: the bugle call of "To the Color" can sometimes be heard in the distance, reminding Mike of his old Army days at nearby Fort Ord.

Morning Waves #2

Wave from Side - Pismo Beach  2012

Wave & Gull - Pismo Beach  2012

Two views sideways from the pier. It was hard to look away from the spectacle.

Morning Waves #1

Approaching Wave - Pismo Beach  2012

Breaking Wave - Pismo Beach  2012

Taken from the end of the pier (which vibrated as the waves passed underneath.)

Monday Surfer Blogging

Surfer & Moon - Pismo Beach  2012

Surfer - Pismo Beach  2012

The high surf advisory brought a few intrepid surfers to the waves crashing onto Pismo Beach.

Mike's camera didn't have a eye-level viewfinder so it was difficult to really try to compose any action shots. But somehow he managed.

Moonset

Moon & Pier - Pismo Beach  2012

Moon & Wave - Pismo Beach  2012

As Mike rounded a corner and came upon the beach an amazing full moon presented itself.

There was the moon, the pier, and enormous waves still beating upon the coast.

Mike changed lenses (an act that's somewhat foreign to him) and pressed the Olympus 40-150mm telephoto lens into service.

Pismo Beach: Morning

Cottage 1 - Pismo Beach  2012

Cottage 2 - Pismo Beach  2012

Mike left his Arroyo Grande motel fairly early and headed over to Pismo Beach, parked on one of the little side streets and walked under a clear sky past defunct little cottages to the pier.

Evening Town

Dolphin Cove Lodge - Pismo Beach  2012

Splash Cafe - Pismo Beach  2012

Some of the Pismo Beach sights to be seen as Mike walked back to his car.

Evening Ocean

Evening Ocean - Pismo Beach  2012

After the waves broke out to sea, they came washing up to the beach in parallel formations.

Evening Wave

Evening Wave - Pismo Beach  2012

The storm associated with the day's rain had kicked up some major waves, leading to a High Surf Advisory. The waves started to break pretty far out to sea . . .  fortunately Mike was able to check them out from the end of the pier.

Pismo Beach Pier

Pismo Beach Pier - Pismo Beach  2012

Pismo Beach Pier (towards town) - Pismo Beach  2012

The famous Pismo Beach Pier was practically deserted at that hour.

Monday Otter Blogging

Otter - Sacramento Valley  2012

Sea Otter - Pismo Beach  2012

Top: Otter seen in the Sacramento Valley during our birding trip, taken with the Nikon D90. Earlier shot of what probably was the same otter here. Back then I was complaining about not having a Nikon . . . interesting that now I have a Nikon I'm back to using an Olympus camera.

Bottom: Sea otter seen off the Pismo Beach Pier on my way back from L.A., taken with the Olympus E-PL1.

Pismo Beach

Palm Trees - Pismo Beach  2012

Vacant Lot - Pismo Beach  2012

By the time Mike reached his motel in Arroyo Grande, the day was reaching its close, dark clouds showing a slight break in the west. But still very moody.

Leaves, Trees

Trees - Santa Barbara County  2012

Leaves in Creek Bed - Santa Barbara County  2012

Leaving Santa Barbara the rain gradually diminished, but the wind kept up. Mike stopped at a Santa Barbara county park to check out the winter landscape. No water in the creek beds due to the overall dry year.

Mission Agaves

Agaves in Rain - Santa Barbara  2012

Agaves & Ferns - Santa Barbara  2012

These extremely photogenic agaves are located right in front of the mission, over to the left; no need to visit the interior garden at all, just roll on up and snap. The Olympus E-PL1 seemed to handle the subject matter quite well!

Mission Plants

Succulent - Santa Barbara  2012

Succulents - Santa Barbara  2012

Found in pots about the interior garden.

Mission Statues

Mission Statue #1 - Santa Barbara  2012

Mission Statue #2 - Santa Barbara  2012

Very nice non-contrasty light. Of course, Mike had to keep tucking the camera underneath his Gore-Tex parka, then pulling it out again.

Santa Barbara Rain

Mission & Palms - Santa Barbara  2012

By the time Mike reached Santa Barbara rain was coming down pretty heavily. Very nice atmospheric conditions.

Monday Duck Blogging

Ducks  1984

. . . ducks . . . and coot.

Can't remember where this was taken. Scanned from a color negative.

Leaving L.A.

Psychic - Los Angeles  2012

Soulmate Specialist - Los Angeles  2012

Mike left L.A. under cloudy skies, with rain forecast during the day.

And as he left he was pleased to be able to use the G12 to snap the Soulmate Specialist storefront, not open at that early hour.

Motorcycle, Popeye's

Motorcycle, Popeye's - Glendale  2012

Right across the street from Mike's motel in Glendale: a Popeye's and a Pizza Hut!

Yum!

Melrose Avenue #37: Valaks & Free Humanity

Valaks - Los Angeles  2012

Free Humanity - Los Angeles  2012

More cryptic art.

Buy Free Humanity art here.

And much more can be seen here.