San Francisco Buildings

Ferry Building - San Francisco  2012

Buildings - San Francisco  2012

Ferry Building and skyline . . . Transamerica Pyramid, etc.

Similar shot of the Ferry Building here, but in black and white.

Fotografia

Fotografia - Ensenada  1979

Another shot from Ensenada, taken with my medium-format camera.

Artistic impressions! (Thus do I translate.)

Monday Dog Blogging

Dog - Ensenada  1979

I can't remember taking this picture, but it's a good thing that I did, 'cause it fits right into the "Monday Blogging" theme.

Golden Gate Bridge / Polaris

Golden Gate Bridge (South) - San Francisco  2012

Polaris & Bridge - San Francisco  2012

- The south end of the Golden Gate Bridge, with historic Fort Point clearly visible under the arch.

- The vessel Polaris with the bridge as a backdrop. Thanks to Google, we are able to get some info on this unique boat.

San Francisco Sightems

Van Ness Red Light - San Francisco  2012

Ticket Machines - San Francisco  2012

People waiting to cross at Van Ness.

Ticket machines at the Ferry Building.

San Quentin

San Quentin Main Building - Marin County  2012

Guard Tower - Marin County  2012

. . . from the ferry. I used my new gizmo for these pix, the better to compose with.

Earlier photos here.

Woodacre Post Office Bench

Bench - Marin County  2012

Poem - Marin County  2012

. . . with poem tacked to tree behind the bench.

Abarrotes

Abarrotes - Ensenada  1979

In 1979 I managed to bring along a medium-format camera, likely a Mamiya RB67 (heavy and clunky). I'm thinking that it was used hand-held. Quality much better than with 35mm.

Ensenada 1979

Pemex Si - Ensenada  1979

Froc - Ensenada  1979

We visited Ensenada for a second time in 1979. The above photos kind of remind me of my Melrose Avenue pix (example). But in black and white. Taken with a Nikon F SLR.

Monday Pelican Blogging

Pelican & Truck - Ensenada  1979

Pelican - Ensenada  1979

1979, in Ensenada . . . down by the harbor. The bird just sat there, inscrutable.

Back Yard Pix

Sweet Peas - Marin County  2012

Corn Stalks - Marin County  2012

From the back yard.

Sweet peas . . . almost at the end of the season.

Corn stalks . . . we'll see. Planted in an Earth Box.

Bay Bridge

Bay Bridge, East Side Construction - San Francisco  2012

Bay Bridge, Self-Portrait - San Francisco  2012

Taken during a recent visit:

- Construction on the new section . . .  nearing completion, one hopes. New span is to replace old section damaged in the earthquake. The Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989.

- Bay Bridge with self-portrait.

How the new section is supposed to look:

Three Heads

Three Heads - Ensenada  1975

Continuing with the surrealist theme.

Clearly, the weather was overcast, with rain now and then. Nice light.

Ensenada Billboard

Billboard - Ensenada  1975

Billboard - Ensenada  1975

I always liked this. Just a little surrealistic.

. . . from the archives #74: Dog Walking, Ensenada 1975

Dog Walking - Ensenada  1979

We were in Ensenada for a dog show. While Hali busied herself with dog show doings, I wandered around with my Nikon F loaded with Panatomic-X film.

It's interesting: by scanning the negatives with my Epson V700 scanner, then using adjustment layers in Photoshop, I have to say that I'm getting better results than I could ever get in the darkroom.

Huh.

New Gizmo (VF-2 Viewfinder)

VF-2 Viewfinder - Marin County  2012

VF-2 Viewfinder - Marin County  2012

I've been using the VF-2 viewfinder on my small Olympus camera for several weeks now. It's a success! It's a gizmo that attaches to the top of the E-PL1 and serves as an eye level viewfinder . . . not an optical one, but a electronic one. Kind of like looking at a mini TV screen.

I was OK with using the LCD screen to compose, but I was having issues when the sun meant that the screen got washed-out. The VF-2 has solved that particular issue, but what's interesting is that I'm using it even when conditions don't particularly warrant it.

Main problem: doesn't work if you're wearing Polarized sunglasses.

Monday Egret Blogging

Egrets - Marin County  2012

Egret - Marin County  2012

Top: Egrets and Richmond Bridge.

Bottom: Egret seen on a Sausalito walking path.

. . . from the archives #73: Half Dome, Yosemite 1983

Half Dome (from North Dome) - Yosemite 1983

Yosemite Valley from North Dome - Yosemite  1983

Taken with one of my medium-format cameras that I must have somehow managed to cram into my pack.

I remember this hike - from high up on Tioga Road to North Dome - primarily because on the way to the trailhead I hit a deer which damaged the headlight on my Toyota Celica. How aggravating! The deer cut right across the road . . . couldn't do anything about it.

Anyway, other than that, it was a pleasant enough day. Among the hiking group was my brother Joe and others that I don't recall. Getting to the top of North Dome afforded a quite impressive view of Half Dome.

Other Half Dome views:

Half Dome from below.

Half Dome from Glacier Point.

Drone Simulation

Drone Simulation - Marin County  2012

. . . seen in the Fairfax Festival AM parade.

Men at Work

Two Workers - San Rafael  2012

Worker - San Rafael  2012

Seen in San Rafael.

I could be wrong, but it looks like the fellow in the bottom pix is working on a toilet.