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| Free Thing # 9 (Fairfax) - Marin County 2020 |
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| 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.
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| Artist (Fairfax) - Marin County 2020 |
So, I've taken photos in this part of Fairfax, so I understand the inspiration to be found there,
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| Daruma Doll - Berkeley 1970 |
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| Old Pole Bean Vines (Fairfax) - Marin County 2020 |
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| Sunset, Coast - Northern California 1960 |
Another 1960 photo. So, it probably was taken on the California coast. But maybe in Oregon?
Hard to say.
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| 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.
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| 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."
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| 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.
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| Gate, Scotty's Castle - Death Valley 1980 |
Yikes! Big flood there in 2015! I didn't know that.
40-year old photo, BTW.
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| 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.
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| Vader with Mask (Fairfax) - Marin County 2020 |
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| Stormtrooper, Mask (Fairfax) - Marin County 2020 |
Nice. Taken with a Canon G5XII.
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| Elm, Redwoods - Marin County 2020 |
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| Redwoods - Marin County 2020 |
Taken during an August hike in the San Geronimo Valley.
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| Maple Leaves, Redwoods - Marin County 2020 |
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| Maple, Redwoods - Marin County 2020 |
The same maple tree, first shot pointing upwards, then farther up the trail looking back.
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| Grass, Oak, Madrones - Marin County 2020 |
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| 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.
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| Poison Oak - Marin County 2020 |
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| Poison Oak Leaves - Marin County 2020 |
Interesting Fall colors.
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| Grass, Poison Oak - Marin County 2020 |
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| 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.
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| Mantis, Fountain - Marin County 2020 |
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| 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.
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| Pond - Marin County 2020 |
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| 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.
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| Grass, Redwoods - Marin County 2020 |
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| 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!
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| Tents - Marin County 2020 |
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| Pumpkins, Flag, Mt. Tamalpais - Marin County 2020 |
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| 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.
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| Richmond Bridge - Marin County 2020 |
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| 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.
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| Basketball Court - Marin County 2020 |
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| Oleanders - Marin County 2020 |
As the sky grew lighter it became apparent that the orange tint wasn't going to go away. A school light cast our twin shadows onto the basketball court.
Then, some oleanders on the main road. (Not a cure.)
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| School Window (Fairfax) - Marin County 2020 |
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| School, Smoke (Fairfax) - Marin County 2020 |
September 9th. As we set out for our Tuesday morning walk we were surprised at how dark it was. We made out way up to the school at the end of the street where one of the rooms was brightly lit. As the gloom started to decrease there was a noticible orange tint to the sky.
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| Crows - Marin County 2020 |
September 9th. Photo taken at the Richmond Bridge outlook in Marin County. I used a Olympus E-M1II with a Panasonic 12-60mm zoom lens.
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| Sunrise, Smoke - Marin County 2020 |
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| Dirt Road, Smoke Light - Marin County 2020 |
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| Smoke Light (Fairfax) - Marin County 2020 |
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| Woodward Fire Sign (San Anselmo) - Marin County 2020 |
As it turned out, the exciting thunder and lightning storm had started several fires. One was close by: the Woodward Fire at Point Reyes. Interestingly enough, the same area was the site of an earlier burn event - the 1995 Mount Vision fire.
Mike has hiked the Woodward Trail before, passing though the burn area.
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| Poison Oak, Bay Trunks - Marin County 2020 |
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| Poison Oak - Marin County 2020 |
August 16. The poison oak leaves starting to change color.
