Stills from the movie of life

Evening walk

2006-09-29T13:05:00.000-07:00

Railroad Spikes

2006-09-29T10:30:00.000-07:00

Sunset on the Marsh

2006-09-14T00:30:00.000-07:00

Butterfly and Verbena

2006-09-12T08:09:00.000-07:00

Grass at Sunset

2006-09-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

Eye of the Log

2006-09-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

Lost Gate

2006-09-12T07:24:00.000-07:00

The color of this washed up gate looked to be perfect for a cottage along the sea. I hope someone isn't missing their beach front garden that sat beyond this gate...

Grewia

2006-09-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

Signs of Fall

2006-09-11T17:26:00.000-07:00

Out in the garden, signs of fall are every where; the slant of the sun, the faded beauties from high summer... When you live in a place for a while, you come to know the the time of the season by the look of the land and the way the shadows fall; no need for a calendar.

I am so glad to see fall arriving, great time of year for photography!

2006-07-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

Although these pictures of Yellowstone are pretty, they don't give a very clear feeling of the amount of geothermal activity in the area. One really gets the feeling that you are sitting on top of a major hot spot when you are there.

This water fall was incredible, just the massive size of it and the balloon of spray. The first picture includes the foot path down to the over hang, it kind of give an idea of the size of the falls. The whole park is just awesome! There is a lot of evidence of damage from the pine bark bores and a major fire that went through in 1988 (I think it was).

2006-07-26T10:23:00.000-07:00

These are more images from Dubois, Wy. This land is so big that it is hard to shoot a photo that will give a real feeling of the land. I had gotten up just before dawn the morning that I took these pictures of the red hills. As the color started to come up in the sky it was reflected on the river. Although I saw some great photo opps. I was on a mission to get down the road and back to these red hills as the sun came up. The point of this rambling is, I didn't get any good shots of the Wind River. I took this lone one with the hills in the back ground and it isn't from it's best vantage point. While I was driving, I saw a silhouette of a very large bird fly over head. Wondered what it was, on the way back home, when the lighting had gotten better, another one flew closer by, along the river, I about fell over when I realized it was a Bald Eagle! Although we do have them in CA., it is rare to see them. One can't help but be impressed by this National symbol of freedom.

2006-07-25T22:15:00.000-07:00

The day I was shooting these was very hazy so they aren't as clear as I would like. I have adjusted the contrast in P.S. but the still could use some more clarity.

The white hotel is at the back side of Estes Park. It is the Stanley Hotel and you may recognize it from the setting of the Shinning, though that was set in winter. The mountain valley behind it is incredible!

The images of the top of the peaks were taken up at the top of the tundra, looking out across the mountains. It is mile upon mile of rocky peaks.

The bowl of the valley is taken just inside of Rocky Mnt. National Park. The peaks are on another side road in the middle of the same park.

2006-07-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

These are some of the pictures from Yellowstone and the drive in. Shooting the animals in Yellowstone almost feels like photographing animals in a zoo, very staged. Although I know they freely roam in the park, there isn't much one on one experience with the moment, 20 other people are stopped looking at the same thing! We spent a day and a half in the park, most of the time looking for a bull moose because neither of us have ever seen one in person. In all of the parks we were through, it was just a scratching of the surface of what was there. You really can't drive through an area that size and say you have "seen" it. Lassen was the last one we were in. It was a spontaneous decision, we have been there at least a dozen times and will continue to go as often as we can find the time. It was just a few moments to kiss her face and honor what we find sacred. I wish I could post a picture of the stars we saw crossing the Nevada desert in the middle of the night. I didn't even try to shoot them but I wish I could!

2006-07-19T20:20:00.000-07:00

These were taken on the Wind River (love that name) just outside of Dubois Wyoming. It is hard to see in the jagged cliffs but there are alternating layers of tera cotta red and a patina green (the color of aged copper) that make up the layers in the soil. It is stunning! I got up at sunrise one morning and caught the moon still up on the horizon as the sun lite the deep red cliffs. This was a beauty I wasn't anticipating on the way to Yellowstone. There are herds of Big Horned sheep that winter here when the snows get too deep in the mountains. One almost expects to see a herd of wild horses run out of the canyon at any moment. I fell in love with this wild arid country!

2006-07-19T20:09:00.000-07:00

3200 miles, 6 states and 4 National Parks later, we are finally back home! The trip was unbelievable! These are just a few from Rocky Mnt. National Park. They don't give much of a feeling for the surrounding landscape, which was incredible, but they were some of my favorites. I took some pictures that I am going to try stitching together to form a panorama of the sky line. If it works out I will post it in the next few weeks.

2006-06-29T12:22:00.000-07:00

These are of a barn and farm along the way home from the lake. Again, I really like the black and whites, even if digital doesn't get quite the tonal range of good film.

2006-06-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Took a quick drive up around the lake close to my home. These were taken on one of the main creeks that feed out of the lake.

The log reaching out into the still pool of water reminded me of a reclining woman. I love the gnarled root at the edge of the rushing stream, although contrast was pretty high, I still liked it and better in b&w than color.

2006-06-29T11:55:00.000-07:00

I had to post pictures of my Brugmansia, it is in full bloom right now and BEAUTIFUL! I started it from a cutting about 5 years ago. Each winter it freezes back pretty hard, even here near the coast, but recovers pretty well.

2006-06-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, looks like we are back in business! Blogger!!!

2006-06-29T11:45:00.000-07:00

I am having trouble getting my images to show up on my posts. anyone else having problems?

2006-06-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

2006-06-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

These are from a hike with the dogs this morning. The Swallow Tail posed nicely but I had to chase the dragonfly.

2006-06-25T17:24:00.000-07:00

I have been sorely slacking in my photography of late, in part due to the high pressure involved in a job change and in part from just feeling like I am bored with the local subjects. I know that doesn't make sense especially when some folks can walk out into their back yards and take photos that make your jaw drop, but that is how I have felt.

These are just a couple of quick shots from our trip to the coast on Friday. We got a late start due to work and the fogs had started moving in so the lighting wasn't great. The one that looks like a time shift was accidental, but I really liked the outcome so here it is.

2006-05-20T09:18:00.000-07:00

A few pictures from my back yard adventures this morning.

2006-05-19T08:05:00.000-07:00

Oops! I just realized that I hadn't uploaded the picture of the rose that I was talking about, so here she is... The purple flower in the previous group is Salvia Leucantha (Mexican sage) the flower stocks are approximately 18" long and look and feel like purple velvet. They bloom here almost year around.

2006-05-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I took a lesson from Sandy, and went out into my own back yard. I found some lovelies to share. The rose is a Gertrude Jekell and her fragrance is DEVINE!!! I think the rest are pretty self explanatory.

2006-05-09T10:36:00.000-07:00

I had a meeting at work this morning, on my way home I stopped off and took just a couple of quick shots. I love this old tractor and have been meaning to stop and shoot it for a while. The sunlight was pretty strong on it this morning, I may try an evening shot and see what I think of that.

2006-05-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

Once in awhile, you just happen to be in the right place at the right time. I loved the little ray of sunlight coming through the window of the barn in addition to the gorgeous sunset. I realized after I posted this comment, you can't see the ray of sunlinght I was talking about. There is just a little dot of light in the front corner of the barn, in the actual photograph, it is larger and orange, from the glow of the sun. Funny, converting a file does strip very small bits of information out, in this case it is very noticeable to me...

2006-05-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

These are my two hiking side kicks, Bridget and 'Pan'demonium affectionately known as (Goon and Groans because Bridget is so goofy looking sometimes and Pan because he groans if you bump him with your foot while he is sleeping).
I thought I would include a couple of vista shots to kind of give you a feeling of the area, the farm out in front of Pan is Rush Ranch, where I was shooting last week.

2006-05-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

These are some shots I took this morning while hiking with the dogs. Wild flowers are bustin' loose at the moment, laid out like bathing beauties at the beach. I included a close up of a fly that posed for a picture and I took a picture of a leg found left laying around, probably the rest of the leg owner is inside a birds gullet. The vetch is coming to the end of it's bloom but is still very pretty.

2006-05-01T22:50:00.000-07:00

Couldn't resist one more shot of the cat mint. I love it with the orange in the background. My first blue Dutch Iris is blooming! Maybe a painting tomorrow! Last is my Nastursums. This is an old fashioned variety with large flowers and very large leaves. I gathered the seeds form a friends home. I love the way some of the flowers almost look painted, the colors running into one another.

2006-04-28T11:43:00.000-07:00

This is my wind chime that hangs in my back yard. It is about 17 years old and showing it's age. It add the background music on a breezy summer evening. I discovered this wonderful display of lichens on the top of it when I climbed up to hang the bird feeder the other day.

2006-04-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

These are some of my short spring bloomers, although if I cut back the Catmint I can get it to do a second bloom a little later on. I was trying to keep from blowing out my highlights in the Dutch Iris, on my monitor it looks great but on here it still looks a little blown out.

2006-04-26T11:37:00.000-07:00

Judith,

These are for you since you wanted to see where I hiked last time. Hope you enjoy them!

2006-04-26T11:29:00.000-07:00

2006-04-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

2006-04-25T21:45:00.000-07:00

These are a few more pictures form the day. I re posted the two poppies to get a second opinion on them, these are with out PS, I am not sure if the color was over adjusted in the other ones. I had done a one step adjustment (let the computer do the thinking) but I am not sure I like it.

2006-04-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, I feel better about posting these, I did just a little adjusting in PS. Let me know what you think.

2006-04-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

I am going to get more particular in what I post on here. There have been a number of pictures that I have put up here that really could use a dash of PS. So I think I will post less images and take more time with those I do post to get them to look the best they can. I may even re-post some of the images that I have already posted with PS corrections to get your feed back on them. If I over do it with PS let me know, outside opinions help me learn and I like constructive criticism.

2006-04-22T09:23:00.001-07:00

I was in a very restless mood yesterday. We are being bought out by a big Box Store, we are coming down to the last few days before the liquidation starts. I have worked for this little independent company for 15 years so am having a tough time with this change. I thought maybe my mood was being transferred through my camera (flat) but on the way home realized that the day before when I was shooting, it was bright and sunny, I had change my contrast mode. Mystery solved, good thing I was shooting in RAW so all of the data is there and I can pull it out in photo shop. Don't have time to do that this morning so you get to see my flat mood too. I am much better today.

2006-04-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

2006-04-20T11:02:00.000-07:00

2006-04-19T19:04:00.000-07:00

The storms have been less than kind on some things but on others it has been great. All of this green will turn to silvery gold in a month or 2 as the temps start to rise up to 90 +, but for now, it is beautiful. These are shots of the Napa Valley, it begins just a few miles from my home.

2006-04-19T18:41:00.000-07:00

Once in a while I really nail the photo; when that happens I get the mental image of a guy in a long black trench coat, hiding these stolen moments in time inside his coat and sneaking away back to his lair to pull them out and view them. Such were these photos. I know it is a weird mental image, what can I say, it is a weird mind running the show! I will probably crop in on the Pipevine Swallow Tail butterfly (looked it up) when I frame it (yeah, like that happens often). I probably took 20 shots of this guy and 3 came out okay.

2006-04-19T18:19:00.000-07:00

I love the mosses that the rains have caused to grow.

2006-04-19T17:56:00.000-07:00

I was back out at the old cemetery today to do some more shooting, the other day when it was raining, the contrast wasn't so bad but the patina on the old iron shows much better when it is dry. In this one plot, the tree has actually grown around the iron, eventually it will be swallowed from sight only to be found if the tree is cut down.

2006-04-16T04:24:00.000-07:00

Some older pictures I thought I'd post.

2006-04-15T21:16:00.000-07:00

More rain in the forecast for tomorrow. These are some quick shots from my drive home. I live on the other side of that bridge. After this, we are supposed to get into some nice weather for a change. I know you all are probably sick of hearing about rain but we are getting webbed feet out here! If it is nice on Tuesday and Wednesday, hopefully, I will come back with some decent pictures. Don't know what I will shoot yet but there is a lot of stuff out there.

2006-04-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

2006-04-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

These are actually some bungled shots. I had my camera with me on my way to go sketch Gomer School (see sketching blog) and saw these wild turkey's hanging out in the old cemetery that I pass. Of course, I whip into the cemetery and then realize that my telephoto lens (for distance shots) is all the way in the back of the car, no way to reach it with out getting out. I shot off a couple of pics and then got out to get the lens. They were on the move, plan was to cut them off at the pass at the back of the church, they had other plans... so, I just got long distance shots.

This morning I was out in the back yard working on painting a rose when I heard a loud whir of a humming bird. I looked up and a rust colored (yes, rust colored full body) one was on my orange tree. Again, camera and long lens are in the house, by the time I was ready he was gone. I saw this same (or same colored one) a few years ago but did not see him last year and thought my others had chased him off. shall keep trying.

2006-04-13T23:30:00.000-07:00

These are a few of the flowers popping into bloom in my yard right now. I have been watching this rose bud swell for the last three days. I t has been cloudy and raining and as this bud started to bloom it looked like a glowing ember against the dull wet grey fence. (we are not discussing aphids). I love the yellow down at the base of the petals. Thank God the rain finally stopped at least for a day or two. I start to get light depressed after too many grey days in a row. Everything felt so ALIVE today.

2006-04-13T10:37:00.000-07:00

These are some of my bird shots from the marsh. Just a quick glimpse of some of the assorted birds that are common place out there.

2006-04-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

AARUGH! The lighting is perfect, the focus is prefect, rose is perfect, the exposure is perfect, Aphids are perfect NOT!!! This is what happens when one heads to the back yard for a quick shot without ones glasses. Yes, can do photo shop, but don't feel like it and the aphids would still be out there. So for today, no image of the rose.

2006-04-12T11:47:00.000-07:00

Introducing.....Savoy Cabbage......

I love the texture of this cabbage I have now spent approximately 2 hours photographing A CABBAGE!!! Something is wrong with me, but I did like these pictures.

2006-04-12T07:56:00.000-07:00

These are some of my pictures from home, or what will be home. We are actually 3 miles up the river (you can see the mouth of the river in the pic over looking the cliff) just out of the main fog belt. The day obviously, was foggy and cold but the ethereal feeling of the pictures pleased me.

2006-04-11T21:07:00.000-07:00

I love things that are old and bare the marks of the passage of time. Iron does that so well. This is the knob to the entry of a fenced in plot in a very old cemetery, it dates back to the mid 1800'S (1900's)

2006-04-11T20:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my photo blog. I wanted a separate place to post my photos to get feed back and comments.