Sea Lions in Residence at Pier 39

It has been awhile since I blogged here. Intentions to do this every week have given way to the mundane of everyday life. I have found that I do my best photography when I am out on a trip. But I remain determined to change this; to set aside one or two days a week to get out into this wonderful Bay Area and capture images of nature that is right here in my backyard.

Two weeks ago, Tracy and I took the ferry to Sausalito to attend the art festival. An early morning stop at Pier 39 yielded this shot. I hoped to capture the texture and geometry of the sea lions huddled in their slumber on the docks and was pleased to find this pup; seemingly being gently embraced by an older member of the "tribe". I like the contrast between the pale fur and the darker fur of the older ones. I went back on the way home, in late afternoon, and the light was harst and contrasty. This shot, which was taken in an overcast, gray light, shows just how nicely that kind of atmospheric can show off detail and color.

We leave for the Big Island of Hawaii tomorrow afternoon. My niece Crystal is getting married and we will stay for a week. We plan a drive to Mauna Kea on Monday. With luck, I will find the Silversword plant, which only grows there and on Maui. Stay tuned!

Eastern Sierras

I am just back from a 4 day adventure in the Eastern Sierras. Tracy and I drove over the Tioga Pass, through Yosemite, for a retreat at the Silver Lake Resort, near June Lake on Highway 395. Silver Lake is one of 4 small lakes on the June Lake Loop, about 15 minutes south of Lee Vining. I had taken my two nephews, Pablo and Willy, there for a fishing trip 21 years ago. Today, it is just as homey and comfy as I remembered it. Tracy and I combined some kayaking and hiking with a day trip to the ghost town of Bodie, about 45 minutes to the north.

The highlight of this trip was getting up to greet the dawn at Mono Lake three mornings running. I dressed at 4:45 each morning and drove the 15 minutes to the south shore, where the most interesting tufa formations line the shore. While the light was not the most spectacular - there were no clouds - it was still wonderful. I find it so amazingly energizing to be outside at dawn, watch the light change, trying to set up the perfect shots. It is all over so fast! Within 10 minutes of sunrise, you lose your chance to get the light just right. It was fun to watch some other photographers pull into the parking lot, shoulder their tripods, and take off at a dead run to the shore. The light waits for no one! Here are two photos that I especially like.





I was also fascinated by the light on the shoreline plants. After getting a few shots of the lake and the tufas, I turned my attention to the plant community. Each day, I lost myself for an hour or so just wandering around, looking at the back and side light playing on the weeds and wildflowers. What an amazing time of life this is...having the chance to totally lose myself in the natural world that we live in. I have never felt more alive than I do when I am outside with my camera at the quiet times of day.

Goose Lake

Since the smoky skies during the week of July 4 made landscape photography such a challenge, I drove around the area, investigating the many little lakes in the Lakes Basin region of the Plumas National Forest. The smoky sky made the light softer, so focusing on the near landscape in the water was rewarding. Goose Lake was one of the more delightful of the little lakes. It has a lovely shoreline, with 5 camp sites right on the water. Every camp was occupied. It was tricky to get a good shot on the tripod...the mosquitoes were everywhere, so holding still, even with insect repellant on, was a challenge. I felt rewarded when I looked in my computer to discover these two shots, capturing the evening reflections on the water.

Back from Plumas National Forest

Tracy and I spent the 4th of July long weekend up in the Plumas National Forest as guests of the couple we met last fall on Criagslist. They housesat for us for 3 weeks while we were in Europe, and they returned the favor by inviting us as guests in the Gold Mountain area, north of Truckee, off highway 89. They have a lovely home in the Nakoma Dragon Golf Resort near Portola. We stayed in their timeshare unit which you can see here. It was gorgeous!


Sadly, the hundreds of fires burning in the northern Sierras dampened any plans for many vigorous hikes and great photos, but we made the best of it, enjoying an old fashioned mountain 4th of July Parade and Fireworks in the nearby town of Greagle.


Here are some fishermen returning from a day on Gold Lake. You can see just how hazardous the air was. Here, also, is a sunset Gold Lake shot where I made the best of the smoke. What do you think? Making lemonade out of lemons....