Halloween

Halloween Display (Fairfax) - Marin County  2020

Taken during one of our early morning walks.

Tmax 400

 

Tmax 400 - Marin County  2020

Film used in my Toyo 4x5 camera. I came across the box when clearing out some drawers in my (former) darkroom. I eventually stopped using sheet film . . . collected too much dust!

Fairfax Sightems

 

Sunflowers (Fairfax) - Marin County  2020

Steps (Fairfax) - Marin County  2020

More early morning sightems, taken last quarter with a Canon G5XII.

Glass Fire (Sonoma County)

 

Ibleto Meats (Glass Fire) - Sonoma County  2020

Grapevine, Smoke (Glass Fire) - Sonoma County  2020

The Glass Fire started Sept 27, burning in both Napa and Sonoma Counties. There was smoke in Marin County on Sept 28 as we drove up highway 101 for a pickup appointment; once in Sonoma County the visibility decreased dramatically. 

Photos taken with an iPhone at 9:15 AM.

Marin Hiking Sightems

 

Sunrise - Marin County  2020

Star Thistles - Marin County  2020

Top: Sunrise through the smoke and fog on the Roy's Redwoods trail.

Next: Star Thistle. The plant is an invasive pest in field crops, degrades native plant habitats and natural ecosystems, prevents the grazing of domestic animals in rangelands, and is a physical barrier to indigenous animal movement in wildlands. 

Monday Cat Blogging

 

Cat, Swimming Pool (Fairfax) - Marin County  2020

Neighbor's cat drinking from the community swimming pool.

Cat, Swimming Pool (Fairfax) - Marin County  2020

Bay Trees

 

Bay Trunk - Marin County  2020

Bay Leaves - Marin County  2020

Taken while walking on the fire road at the end of our street.

Free Things

Free Thing # 9 (Fairfax) - Marin County  2020

Free Thing #10 (Fairfax) - Marin County  2020

Yes, more free things. Because it's getting darker in the morning, I've switched cameras: from the small Canon G5X to an Olympus E-M10 with a 25mm lens. Better for low light situations.

Artist

 

Artist (Fairfax) - Marin County  2020

So, I've taken photos in this part of Fairfax, so I understand the inspiration to be found there,

 

Daruma Doll - Berkeley  1970

Carousel Horse - San Francisco  1970

A couple of 50-year old photos.

The Daruma doll was featured in my small room that I rented on College Avenue. Photos were taken with a Nikon F / 50mm lens combo, using, probably, Kodachrome.

Vine and Fence (1960)

Vine and Fence - Los Angeles  1960

Hm. I think that this might be the last photo taken in 1960 that's available to post. Taken in my parents' backyard in Los Angeles.

Below, a similar, more recent photo (this month) taken in our Fairfax backyard, using an iPhone 7.

Old Pole Bean Vines (Fairfax) - Marin County  2020

Sunset (1960)

 

Sunset, Coast - Northern California  1960

Another 1960 photo. So, it probably was taken on the California coast. But maybe in Oregon?

Hard to say.

Monday Cat Blogging (1960)

Cat - Los Angeles  1960

Taken in the backyard. I think that the crop was accidental. Also, can't remember anything about the cat.

But! A 60-year old photo!

Whitney Portal

 

Mt. Whitney - Sierra Nevada  1980

A frequently-visited site. I also took some Whitney photos at the summit, and then some from the west side.

Sierra Crest

 

Sagebrush, Sierra Crest - Owens Valley  1980

Probably taken near Lone Pine.

Mesquite Springs

 

Mesquite Springs - Death Valley  1980

No way to know for sure that this is Mesquite Springs, of course. But I think that it is. The campground there is not that far from Scotty's Castle.

I've posted some color photos taken near Mesquite Springs.

Ubehebe Crater

 

Ubehebe Crater - Death Valley  1980

There's a trail that goes down to the bottom. Can't imagine why you'd want to walk down there though.

"To the Timbisha Shoshone Indians, the crater has been known as "Tem-pin-tta- Wo’sah", meaning Coyote’s Basket."

Sand Dunes, Tamarisk

 

Tamarisk, Dunes - Death Valley  1961

Tamarisks are considered an invasive species. So they might have been removed by now (59 years later.) I think that I used a Speed Graphic with a roll film adapter for this photo.

I used a 35mm camera for my favorite dune photo(s), taken in the 1970s.

Scotty's Castle (1980)

 

Gate, Scotty's Castle - Death Valley  1980

Yikes! Big flood there in 2015! I didn't know that. 

40-year old photo, BTW.

Monday Monkey Blogging

 

Patas Monkey Baby - Sonoma County  2020

We visited Safari West, a commercial nature preserve in Sonoma County, in early August. They specialize in African animals - we stayed overnight and the noise that they made during the night was truly remarkable. 

This newborn Patas monkey baby was up and about and doing some exploring. 

Fairfax Star Wars Sightems

 

Vader with Mask (Fairfax) - Marin County  2020

Stormtrooper, Mask (Fairfax) - Marin County  2020

Nice. Taken with a Canon G5XII.

Redwoods

 

Elm, Redwoods - Marin County  2020

Redwoods - Marin County  2020

Taken during an August hike in the San Geronimo Valley.

Maple and Redwoods

 

Maple Leaves, Redwoods - Marin County  2020

Maple, Redwoods - Marin County  2020

The same maple tree, first shot pointing upwards, then farther up the trail looking back.

Madrones

 

Grass, Oak, Madrones - Marin County  2020

Madrone Grove - Marin County  2020

"The Concow tribe calls the tree dis-tā'-tsi (Konkow language) or kou-wät′-chu." Sightems from one of our regular morning walks.

Poison Oak

 

Poison Oak - Marin County  2020

Poison Oak Leaves - Marin County  2020

Interesting Fall colors.

More Roy's Redwoods Trail

 

Grass, Poison Oak - Marin County  2020

Forest - Marin County  2020

The trail loops by the golf course, then switchbacks up through a densely forested section (firs and madrones) before heading on down to the redwoods.

Monday Mantis Blogging

 

Mantis, Fountain - Marin County  2020

Mantis - Marin County  2020

This creature was standing on our courtyard fountain; it was a little startled when I turned the water on, but stood its ground.

As I moved in closer it was a little disconcerting to observe it turn and stare directly at me. Whoa. If these things were even just slightly bigger they could probably do some serious damage.

More Roy's Redwoods Trail

 

Pond - Marin County  2020

Trail, Smoke - Marin County  2020 

The pond is there as a water hazard for the old golf course. Don't know how long it'll remain there.

Roy's Redwoods Trail / Firefighters

Grass, Redwoods - Marin County  2020

 

Golf Course Parking Lot - Marin County  2020

We were able to see what a large-scale firefighting team looks like when we hiked the Roy's Redwood trail last month. All the personnel and communications equipment were assembled on the old San Geronimo Golf Course to fight the Woodward Fire. It turned out that most of the firefighters were from Montana! 

Tents - Marin County  2020

Home Depot

 

Pumpkins, Flag, Mt. Tamalpais - Marin County  2020

Ash on Car Window - Marin County  2020

We had to return some items at Home Depot, but we hadn't known that their pumpkins had just been delivered! Wow!

The ashes on the Toyota are slightly reminiscent of starlite flecks! Kind of.

Richmond Bridge, Pier

 

Richmond Bridge - Marin County  2020

Pier - Marin County  2020

September 9th. On our way to Home Depot we stopped at the Richmond Bridge scenic outlook. Compare the above pix to some 2014 shots taken at the same viewpoint.