Hike to Evolution Lake

The hike from Mike’s campsite took him through Evolution Valley to the start of some serious switchbacks and then above timberline. He kept trail notes during his hike:

8:15 AM―Leave camp. Follow creek through granite & woods.

9:00―Panoramic view, Evolution Valley. Mountains, meadow, creek & reflections.

9:15―Ranger cabin.

10:00―Break―view of “The Hermit.”

10:30―Annoying stream crossing, then “No Fires Above This Elevation” sign. Thereafter switchbacks begin in earnest.

11:35―Evolution Lake! Hard to believe I made it, after all those months staring at the topo map above my desk at work. Sit by lake for lunch, and then take a short walk to the lake outlet, Evolution Valley far below. Small trout visible―fish jumping in lake. Low battery indicator coming on intermittently on digital camera. Go ahead and change batteries.

Ech! Now I gotta hike all the way back! . . . Ech!

12:25 PM―Leave Evolution Lake.

1:20―Stream crossing. Not so bad this time.

2:20―Ranger cabin.

3:15―Camp.

Photos: Evolution Lake—Sierra Nevada, 2004; Streambed—Sierra Nevada, 2004; Mike & Evolution Lake—Sierra Nevada, 2004

Evolution Creek Campground

Leaving Piute Creek behind, one continues on the John Muir Trail. After two water crossings—the last a fairly significant wade through Evolution Creek—the trail zigzags upward into a nice open sparsely forested area.

I made my camp here, on one side of the trail, with Evolution Creek on the other, a minute’s walk away from fresh water.

Photos: Rocks & Forest—Sierra Nevada, 2004; Evolution Creek—Sierra Nevada, 2004; Tent—Sierra Nevada, 2004

Piute Creek Campground

The trail from Florence Lake eventually meets the John Muir Trail, thence travels through the dry, pine-studded, boulder-strewn western Sierra landscape finally reaching Piute Creek. This is the boundary of Kings Canyon National Park, as well as the junction of the trail heading east to Piute Pass.

Luckily there’s a bridge over Piute Creek. (Joe Grant told me that when he hiked the trail there wasn’t a bridge. Just a log. I would have had to head back if that had been the case.)

So there are a number of factors conspiring to make this a big backpacking camp site. Just over the bridge is a large, fairly flat area with pines and manzanita with plenty of potential tent sites . . . very nice.

Photos: Piute Creek—Sierra Nevada, 2004; Rocks & Manzanita—Sierra Nevada, 2004

From the Tent

Through a trick of perspective, the photo taken looking out of my tent makes the opening seem quite large. The reality, though, is that this is a tiny one-man tent: getting out means swiveling around inside (not an easy operation), getting your boots on and then bending low and finally standing, creaking, in the chill early Sierra morning.

Quick, the stove. Some coffee. Quick!

Photos: Tent Door—Sierra Nevada, 2004; Tent—Sierra Nevada, 2004; Mike & Coffee—Sierra Nevada, 2004

Manzanita Branch

Taken with my Olympus C-4000 just prior to my Evolution Valley backpack.

I car-camped the first night at Bolsillo Campground and did some exploring with my exciting new digital camera. Took this photo, which I’ve now converted to black and white.

Photo: Manzanita Branch—Sierra Nevada, 2004

. . . from the archives #40: Saratoga Springs—Death Valley, 1975

Saratoga Springs is one of the sites where the elusive desert pupfish can be found. My brother and I had made our way here, at the southernmost tip of Death Valley, just as the sun was setting.

I set up my camera—a Mamiya RB-67—on my heavy-duty Bogen tripod and took this picture.

Later, showing it for a critique at a Friends of Photography seminar in Monterey, the reviewer (can’t remember who) paused a minute, studied it, and then said "You know, I really see two photographs here."

Ohhhh-kay.

Photo: Saratoga Springs—Death Valley, 1975

Photomerge Issue

I’ve been trying to figure out how to do a multiple-photograph photomerge of subjects that have lines and angles in them. That is, I’ve merged natural scenes before, fairly successfully (see the Owens Valley photo, and Autumn Leaves photo) but wouldn’t it be cool to be able to merge some shots of a building façade? That way, you could make a really big print of window reflections (for example) in the photorealist style.

Here’s an attempt at such a subject (in this case, a vacant building in back of the San Rafael Trader Joe’s.) On top is the merge (of six separate shots) as produced by Photoshop. Below is what remained after desperate perspective-control measures were undertaken. As we can see, a lot of subject matter had to be cropped out.

I guess it would help if I had a wonderful perspective-control lens. Yeah, right. Or, what about a separate software program dedicated solely to merges?

We will have to think on this.

Photo: Vacant Building in Rain—Marin County, 2009

Evolution Valley / Calendar

I was checking some dates in April on our wall calendar the other day when I realized that the scene depicted in the photograph looked very familiar.

Yes . . . it was Evolution Valley.

I hiked into Evolution Valley in 2004, having driven the hideous Kaiser Pass road and taken the Florence Lake shuttle. I camped just north of the valley and did a dayhike up to Evolution Lake the day of this photo.

As I entered the valley I remember thinking to myself: Whoa . . . almost too picturesque. But I took some shots anyway with my 4-megapixel Olympus C4000.

Not as hazy in my shot as in the calendar.

Photos: Evolution Valley—Sierra Nevada, 2004; Bookcase & Calendar—Marin County, 2009

Blessed Virgin Mary & The Zen of Photography

At least, I think that the statue represents the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Actually, the Carmel Mission was not on my itinerary since the main purpose of the trip was to take coastal shots. I was on my way to Point Lobos from my motel in Monterey when I decided to check out a side street heading towards the ocean off Highway 1.

That’s when I passed by the mission. I parked and walked over to the entrance. Hm. $5.00 admission fee. Hm. I decided to skirt the perimeter to see what I could see.

So, this photo came about from me skulking about the adobe wall and peeking over the top. The wind was blowing and some leaves kept intruding into the upper left corner so I had to take multiple shots.

It’s somewhat disconcerting to realize that the coolest shot of the trip came about almost by accident.

Oh well, that’s "The Zen of Photography!"

Photo: Statue—Carmel Mission, 2009

Poppies

An abundance of poppies! Hundreds of them!

At least in my mind’s eye, there were. Looking at the pix now, maybe there weren’t that many poppies.

Probably the fellow blocking the trail with the big heavy tripod and the big heavy Nikon got better results.

Photo: Poppies—Point Lobos, 2009

Ripples

Mike visited the famous Point Lobos ripple-rock area and took some ripple-rock photos. No tripod, thank you.

It was early enough in the day for him to get a ripple-rock shadow snap. Also, he was able to skillfully avoid the incoming surf so as to keep his feet dry.

Photos: Ripples—Point Lobos, 2009; Shadow and Incoming Surf—Point Lobos, 2009

Early Morning—Point Lobos

There was a brisk breeze coming off the ocean and yesterday’s weather had left storm-sloshed waves breaking and crashing on the foam-stained rocks.

Mike arrived early enough so that his was the only car in the parking lot. (He’s done that before.) He decided to hike the Monterey cypress loop (something he’d never done before.)

He took a few pictures at one impressive overview, of cliffs, cypresses and waves. But, he should have taken even more, maybe even done some exposure bracketing. The best result he’s been able to extract is shown above . . . doesn’t look quite right when printed, alas.

Next time. Maybe.

Next, he noted a grouping of wild irises. Got down on his hands and knees for the flower shot.

Photos: Cliffs & Cypresses—Point Lobos, 2009; Wild Iris—Point Lobos, 2009

Dried Grass

Mike got into Monterey in the early afternoon, so he headed to Point Lobos for some pix.

Item number one: the entrance fee to Point Lobos is only good for the day.

Item number two: it turns out that the afternoon really is not the best time for Point Lobos pix.

He had experienced these two things before, he knows, but now he’s been able to RE-experience them.

Also, the place is always crawling with photographers, like geezers with metal detectors looking for old pennies.

Photo: Dried Grass—Point Lobos, 2009

Highway 101

Highway 101 is, of course, much more scenic than highway 5.

The problem with the scenic aspects though, is that there are relatively few opportunities to pull off for photos. So you are somewhat frustrated as you pass by green hills, vinyards and oaks without stopping. Of course it could be that there are secret byways that would be more productive than 101 itself. This may require further research.

Also, I couldn’t help but notice the lack of rest stops as compared to highway 5. And the highway exit signs on 5 give much more info (concerning restaurants, gas stations etc) than on 101.

Photo: Grape Vines off Highway 101—Santa Barbara County, 2009

Fisherman, Pacific Storm

Well, Mike did it again.

He left the ISO setting on his camera too high, that is. This time, the camera was set to 400 for the entire day’s drive up Highway 101. At least it wasn’t 800.

This photo was taken just north of Ventura, where the fisherman had just caught a nice bit of kelp.

(Alternate sentence): This photo was taken just north of Ventura, where the fisherman was engaging in a heroic struggle with the elements.

Photo: Fisherman, Pacific Storm—Ventura County, 2009

Von Dutch & Metro Local

I saw the Von Dutch image as I was walking up La Brea.

After I took the photo, I tried to remember just exactly why the name of Von Dutch should be faintly familiar. It wasn’t until I got back home and did a search that it came to me. If you grew up in the Southern California car culture of the 50’s as I did (along with George Lucas) the Von Dutch name was synonymous with the pinstriping and other detailing beloved of car customizers of the time. Hm.

Then on up the street, checking out the reflective balls and a passing bus for a quick self-portrait.

Photos: Von Dutch—Los Angeles, 2009; Metro Local—Los Angeles, 2009

Waring Avenue

Waring Avenue is a somewhat narrow residential street in Hollywood, running parallel to, and one block north of, Melrose Avenue.

Here we have a movie poster (for "Crank") found at Fairfax and Waring. (I guess that I should clarify: the movie is "Crank: High Voltage." Ohhhhh-kay.)

Then, a Hummer, almost dwarfing the small bungalow in back, found near Ogden and Waring. Color coordinated with the house, in one of those strange artistic coincidences beloved of photographers.

Photos: Crank—Los Angeles, 2009; Hummer—Los Angeles, 2009

Fountain Mini Market

A two-picture merge.

Also a self-portrait.

Photo: Fountain Mini Market—Los Angeles, 2009

Two Dollar Wash / Private Driveway

Now, when I said that digital B&W looks a little "0ff" (due to lack of grain) I didn’t mean to imply that that look is particularly unpleasant.

Indeed, the results now being obtained with very small cameras (the Private Driveway photo was taken with an incredibly small Canon point-and-shoot) are ones that could only be equaled in the past by using medium-format cameras . . . cameras weighing at least two pounds.

It would be interesting to go ahead and make a big digital B&W print—16x20 at least, just to see what it would look like. If I had the money. And space.

Photos: Two Dollar Wash—Los Angeles, 2009; Private Driveway—Los Angeles, 2009

Chinatown Wars

As Joe and I drove past Staples Center these building-sized billboards (for the Grand Theft Auto video game) loomed in front of us.

I was able to snatch one photo through the Scion’s window. I’ve posterized and watercolorized it in order to give it that . . . that . . . uh, look.

For more, much more, information, check here.

Photo: Chinatown Wars—Los Angeles, 2009