Oak Trees (Black and White)

Oak, Fog - Marin County  2015

Oak Branches, Fog - Marin County  2015

At the end of the street. "One of my favorite subjects."

From Loma Alta

Poison Oak, Fog - Marin County  2015

Indian Paintbrush - Marin County  2015

I didn't hike all the way to the top . . . started to get fogged in.

Fairfax Sightems

Tree, Library - Marin County  2015

Buon Gusto Villa Sign - Marin County  2015

Top: Fairfax Library, iPhone HDR image. Posterized in the sky, alas.

Bottom: Used to be an Italian restaurant there.

. . . from the archives #84: Cat - Napa Valley 1994 (Monday Cat Blogging)

Cat - Napa Valley  1994

Can't remember the name of the winery. James Linden and I visited here as part of our search for appropriate photo locations for our collaborative work using a chapter from Ursula LeGuin's novel Always Coming Home.

Limantour Beach #3 (Video)

Limantour Beach, January 2015 from Mike Mundy on Vimeo.

Video taken with a Nikon P7800 that I bought refurbished.

Limantour Beach #2

Blackberry Leaves, Branches - Point Reyes  2015

Dry Fern - Point Reyes  2015

Taken with an Olympus E-PL5.

Limantour Beach #1

Trees, Haze - Point Reyes  2015

Morning Clouds - Point Reyes  2015

Taken last January, during a trip I took to experiment with taking a travelogue-style video (coming Sunday.)

Sunrise

Sunrise, Reflections - Monterey County  2015

After our coffee we drove over to the harbor (early morning parking is free) to check out the sunrise.

Then, back to the motel and the drive back to Marin.

Monterey AM Coffee

Pastries - Monterey County  2015

View from Plumes Window - Monterey County  2015

Coffee at Plumes Coffee House in downtown Monterey. Good. I was there in 2009.

Here's the Yelp review page. I note that you can grade the various reviews as either "Useful", "Funny" or "Cool." Alas, "Stupid" is not a choice.

Sunset

Sunset, Rocks - Monterey County  2015

After the deer sighting we had dinner at The Fishwife in Asilomar. We drove back to our motel on the road that loops around Monterey Bay . . . in time for me to get this sunset shot.

Monday Deer Blogging

Deer - Monterey County  2015

Golfers - Monterey County  2015

The deer was walking on one of the greens at one of the famous Pebble Beach golf courses. Spotted us peering through some cypresses.

Golfers were seen as well.

Cypress, Point Lobos

Cypress - Point Lobos  2015

We went for a short walk in Point Lobos. The actual highlight was standing on a promontory overlooking the Pacific and seeing whales spouting in the distance. Too far away, alas, even for my superzoom.

Yamaha

Yamaha - Monterey County  2015

We drove for a short distance going east on the Carmel Valley Road, stopped at a small village and walked around. Nothing much going on, but I did like the look of this Yamaha.

Where's a toddler when you need one?

From the Pier #2 (Pismo Beach)

Waves - Pismo Beach  2015

A sideways view, taken with the wide angle zoom lens. Compare to this earlier shot, when the sea was much rougher.

From the Pier #1 (Pismo Beach)

Shadow, Pier - Pismo Beach  2015

Walking on Beach - Pismo Beach  2015

Once again Mike found himself at the famous Pismo Beach Pier. This time he was equipped with two cameras: an Olympus E-PL5 with a wide angle 9-18mm zoom, and an Olympus E-M10 with the superzoom 14-150mm lens . . . both dangling around his neck. Luckily, both cameras are quite lightweight so that wasn't a problem. But they did have a tendency to get tangled up. The photos above were taken with the wide angle zoom.

Pismo Beach #2

Gull, Pismo Beach Hotel - Pismo Beach  2015

Cool Cat Cafe - Pismo Beach  2015

More early morning light photos taken near the ocean.

Pismo Beach #1

Pismo Sign - Pismo Beach  2015

Pismo Bowl - Pismo Beach  2015

Early morning, walking towards the pier.

Monday Marbled Godwit Blogging

Marbled Godwits - Pismo Beach  2015

Taken from the Pismo Beach pier, I.D.'d by Barbara.

Their breeding habitat is the northern prairies of western Canada-(Canadian Prairies), and the north central Great Plains, United States near marshes or ponds. They nest on the ground, usually in short grass.

In autumn, they migrate in flocks to the coasts of California, the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico and South America.

Wikipedia

Motel

Motel Exterior - Arroyo Grande  2015

Motel Tree - Arroyo Grande  2015

Exterior of the Best Western in Arroyo Grande. Nice place, but a little difficult to get to. (Convoluted route off the freeway.) We didn't get the greatest night's sleep, but assuredly our meal at Jocko's played a part. And that latte in San Luis Obispo.

Jocko's

Jocko's BBQ - Nipomo  2015

Ice Cream at Jocko's - Nipomo  2015

We were here just last August. This time, like before, our steaks were great. And for dessert, vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce drizzled on top!

But you don't come to Jocko's for the dessert.

San Luis Obispo

Latte - San Luis Obispo  2015

Window Reflections - San Luis Obispo  2015

We were too early to check into our motel in Arroyo Grande, so we went up to San Luis Obispo and walked up and down Higuera St., one of "America's Best Main Streets."

Santa Barbara Botanical Garden

View from Botanical Garden - Santa Barbara  2015

After the insipid mall experience we drove past the Santa Barbara Mission to the botanical garden located there. Much nicer . . . we hiked a little, then ate lunch at a picnic table.

Santa Barbara

Mall #1 - Santa Barbara  2015

Mall #2 - Santa Barbara  2015

Driving north from Los Angeles we got off in Santa Barbara at the central exit off Highway 101 and parked at random. Alas, we found ourselves at a downtown mall experience. But still, the light was nice.

Note to self: next time do some research.

. . . from the archives #83: Gas Station - Los Angeles 1986

Gas Station - Los Angeles  1986

Taken on a blustery day, most likely with a Mamiya twin-lens reflex. Severely cropped.

Monday Robin Blogging

Robin, Privet Berries - Marin County  2015

Robin, Wind - Marin County  2015

Top: Not even the presence of the photographer with his telephoto zoom lens could keep the robin away from the privet berries.

Bottom: Taken during a wind storm. The bird was bouncing up and down but was decidedly unconcerned.

Roses

Roses, Horses - Marin County  2015

. . . and horses.

Lily, Self-Portrait

Lily, Self-Portrait - Alameda County  2015

Taken in Emeryville while we were waiting for the Amtrak train to arrive.

Melrose Avenue #52: Fashion Photography

Shoes - Los Angeles  2015

Shirt - Los Angeles  2015

Photographers seen during a quick afternoon loop from our motel on Beverly up to Melrose and back. I used an Olympus 14-150mm zoom lens . . . very handy.

Dead End

Dead End - Los Angeles  2015

In West Hollywood.

Much speculation on our part as to the meaning of this sign. How it was supposed to be interpreted. Maybe it was a piece of conceptual art. And on and on.

Meet Grace Thomas

Grace Thomas - Los Angeles  2015

Grace Doll & Book - Los Angeles  2015

American Girl store at The Grove.