Sunday, April 30, 2017

Oak Tree, Glen Drive Fire Road

Oak - Marin County  2004

Oak, Fire Road - Marin County  2017

Top photo: one of my many photos of this oak tree, this time with my first digital camera, a small Olympus 4-megapixel pocket model. Next, my most recent photo, taken last February. Alas, as can be seen, the tree was leaning out somewhat precariously away from the fire road. The degree of its lean, plus the tremendous amount of rainfall this season, were probably responsible for its toppling over between the second photo and the photo below taken in March.


Oak Branches - Marin County  2017

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Monterey Bay Morning (Video)


Monterey Bay Morning, February, 2017 from Mike Mundy on Vimeo.



Shot on a Canon G5X. I had meant to have this be a combination of tripod and handheld shots, but the handheld ones had to be discarded. Hm.

Sightems: Otters off in the distance, also gulls.

Friday, April 28, 2017

Monterey Morning

Structure (US Property) - Monterey County  2017

Walkway - Monterey County  2017

Up early and down to the bay, first stopping at my favorite coffee shop downtown for coffee and pastry (below). Earlier coffee shop photos: 2009 and 2015.

Shots on top taken with a Canon G5X, bottom with an iPhone 6s.


Coffee Shop - Monterey County  2017

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Point Lobos - 4

Pebbles, Ocean (Weston Beach) - Point Lobos  2017

Meadow, Forest, Clouds - Point Lobos  2017

At Weston Beach. Nice clouds, but they couldn't be bothered to drift over and provide me with a little shade.

Top photo taken with an Olympus E-PL7 using a 9-18mm lens. Bottom photo taken with an iPhone 6s Plus.

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Point Lobos - 3

Trail & Cypresses - Point Lobos  2017

Lichen - Point Lobos  2017

One of my favorite trails, and a chance to try out two "specialty" lenses, an Olympus 9-18mm wide-angle zoom (top photo) and a telephoto 75-300mm zoom (bottom).

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Point Lobos - 2

Wave #1 - Point Lobos  2017

Wave #2 - Point Lobos  2017

You first see these out of the corner of your eye, crashing against the rocks in cascades of foam.

Whoa.

So you get out the camera, focus on the same spot, and of course, nothing. Eventually you get lucky.

Photos taken with an Olympus E-M10 with a 75-300mm lens.

Monday, April 24, 2017

Monday Seal Blogging

Seals - Point Lobos  2017

At Point Lobos, using a 75-300mm Olympus lens.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Point Lobos - 1

Rocks, Ocean, Mountains, Clouds - Point Lobos  2017

Cypress Trees - Point Lobos  2017

Mike had hoped for an overcast day at Point Lobos, but no, the day was bright and sunny.

Oh well!

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Monterey Black and White

Lilies - Monterey County  2017

LunaBlu Anniversary - Monterey County  2017

I saw the lilies in a small, somewhat obscure public garden. Also, LunaBlu's 20th Anniversary Block Party!

Friday, April 21, 2017

Monterey Oaks

Oaks, Path - Monterey County  2017

Oaks, Lichen - Monterey County  2017

Photos taken in the "Don Dahvee Park," just across the (very busy) street from my motel. Overcast sky, nice even lighting. I used a Canon G5X.

Thursday, April 20, 2017

Monterey Clouds

Clouds, A A Manuel - Monterey County  2017

Clouds, Tiles, Red Building - Monterey County  2017

I had some good overcast light the first day, but not thereafter. These are nice clouds, but off in the distance.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Monterey Plaza

Plaza - Monterey County  2017

Plants, Drinking Fountain - Monterey County  2017

On a winter afternoon. If you walk to the other end, there's a little walled-off space with the plants seen in the second photo, and a drinking fountain being used by a little girl.

Also, a pause while walking to the plaza for a self-portrait, also seen in the past in the rain.


Red Door, Self-Portrait - Monterey County  2017

Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Monterey Decision

Center for Spiritual Living - Monterey County  2017

Middlebury Institute - Monterey County  2017

Center for Spiritual Living versus Middlebury Institute (across the street from one another in Monterey). Tough decision!

(Yes, the institute is owned by that Middlebury.)

Monday, April 17, 2017

Monday Sea Otter Blogging

Sea Otter - Monterey County  2017

Sea Otter, Gull - Monterey County  2017

Bobbing around in the water just off the Coast Guard walkway.

And, they're in the news: Otter Alert!

Sunday, April 16, 2017

Easter

Tulip, Netsuke Rabbit - Marin County  2011

Rather nicely done, if I do say so myself. Photo taken with a Nikon D90.

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Monterey Gate

Gate - Monterey County  2017

Back in Monterey.

From the New York Times: Gregory Alpert, the location manager for “Big Little Lies,” said that many of the homes seen on the series were actually located in Southern California, where houses are more likely to be set directly on the beach. But he said that the atmosphere of Monterey matched the show’s mood perfectly.

“Its pretty magical, but it can be also treacherous, especially when that fog comes in,” Mr. Alpert said. “And I think that’s the underlying theme of the show, that in this otherwise idyllic setting there could be all this treachery that’s just under the surface.”

Exactly right.

After arriving at the Best Western motel on Munras Avenue, Mike's first thing to do is walk down Cass Street, the next street over: residential and the light is always good. This year he took a photo of this gate, just as he had done in 2013. Who knows what's behind it?


Gate - Monterey County  2013



Friday, April 14, 2017

Watsonville Sightems - 3

Pink Guitar (Watsonville) - Santa Cruz County  2017

El Dorado Fashion (Watsonville) - Santa Cruz County  2017

Final shots. Then, return to car, drive over to Highway One and south to Monterey.

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Watsonville Sightems - 2

Bachan Apples (Watsonville) - Santa Cruz County  2017

Loyalty (Watsonville) - Santa Cruz County  2017

Camera was a Canon G5X.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Watsonville Sightems - 1

Cigar Store & Lunch Room (Watsonville) - Santa Cruz County  2017

Alleyway (Watsonville) - Santa Cruz County  2017

Parking on the main drag and walking around.

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Yamashita Market

Yamashita Market (Watsonville) - Santa Cruz County  2017

During a quick trip to Monterey last February Mike decided to make a short detour over to Watsonville, an agricultural town in Santa Cruz County. Note the sandbags in front of Yamashita Market . . . undoubtedly they have some flooding issues.

Next time I will have to actually go into the market.

Monday, April 10, 2017

Monday Cormorant Blogging


Cormorants on Boat - Sausalito  2017

Cormorant on Ledge - Monterey County  2017

Both photos taken using Olympus telephoto lenses.

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Saturday, April 8, 2017

La La Land

La La Land - Oakland 2017

Hali and I went to see "La La Land" some weeks ago. I thought that it was a little disjointed, being a musical comedy in the first half, complete with happy ending, then switching to an operetta in the second half, complete with unhappy ending.

Friday, April 7, 2017

Tulip Tree

Tulip Tree, Sunset - Marin County  2017

Tulip Tree - Marin County  2017

. . . in our neighbors' back yard. Camera held high overhead to clear the fence.

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Paper Mill Creek Saloon

Paper Mill Creek Saloon Exterior - Marin County  2017

Paper Mill Creek Saloon Interior - Marin County  2017

Finally! After years of waiting and wondering, Barbara drove me over and showed me the ropes. Thanks, Barbara!

Photos taken with an Olympus E-PL7 with a 25mm lens.

Mike, Anchor Steam Beer - Marin County  2017

Wednesday, April 5, 2017

Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Using A Tripod

Redwoods, New Growth - Marin County  2017

Lichen - Marin County  2017

True, I don't like to use tripods. I've found that photos taken using tripods are usually just a little . . . boring (?) In this case, however, I wanted to take some shots with the Olympus 75-300mm zoom lens using a tripod. I've found out that handheld photos with the lens are technically hit and miss due to focus and possibly camera shake issues.

Lens seems to be fine! So I'm going to have to work on my handheld techniques.

Monday, April 3, 2017

Monday Cow Blogging

Cows - Marin County  2005

Cows in Clearing - Marin County  2017

Top photo taken near Nicasio in 2005, using an Olympus C-8080. Bottom photo taken in the San Geronimo Valley this year with an Olympus EM-10 and a 75-300mm zoom lens.