First snow of the season

First snow along HWY 395

SNOW TRACKS

in Tuolumne Meadows

Yosemite

Both these shots were taken on my Eastern Sierra trip earlier this month. As I drove north on HWY 395 into the edge of the storm, I could see the snow beginning to fall onto the mountain across from Crowley Lake. As I watched the mountain was momentarily illuminated by a shaft of sun. OMG! When I saw this I raced to the first available pullout and jumped out to take this photo. I feel very lucky whenever I am given the gift of light like this. Sometimes I am in the right place at the right time.

By the time I made my return trip, the storm had long since moved on and I was able to drive home through Yosemite via Tioga Pass. Tuolumne Meadows had a nice blanket of snow and I couldn't resist stopping to take some pictures. I had already taken some shots when I found this set of tracks heading into the meadow. Yes! I wonder what animal made them? I like how they lead me into the scene and then just disappear. When I gaze at this photo I am back in the meadow again. I can almost feel the cold air and the joy I felt in that moment.

Mono Lake

South Tufa at Mono Lake

Last week Don and I took a trip to the Eastern Sierra to photograph Mono Lake and to look for Fall color. We had to take a longer route and drive up Hwy 395 because Tioga Pass was closed due to an early snow storm. The storm cleared the next day and we were lucky to have some lingering clouds to enhance our photography at South Tufa that afternoon. Mono Lake is simply an amazing place. It's stark beauty grabs my heart every time I am there. I think of this area as one of my spiritual homes. It is one of those places I try to visit every year and I never get tired of being there. As for Fall color, what can I say, there was very little. It looks like any color change is going to happen very late this year.    



Life is a journey not a destination

COUNTRY ROAD

A few weeks ago I took an outing and drove down this stetch of Hwy 41. I have long wanted to stop and photograph this twisting road. And I finally took the time to do it. I love roads like this one. To me this road speaks of the way things used to be - when roads were made by following the lay of the land - when the journey was a destination itself. This is a road that would never be built today. It makes me happy to gaze at this picture and imagine myself there again. I'm glad I can still find roads like this one to travel in San Luis Obispo County.  

Remembering Nancy

Fossil Nautilus

In memory of Nancy Rotenberg 1946-2011. I had the priviledge of taking a workshop with Nancy several years ago. Her spirit touched me deeply and she is one of my photo 'heros' and a mentor to my heart. She was an exceptional person and photographer. She lost her battle with cancer a few days ago.

She wrote one last note to all of us.
"I have had a good life. I was privileged to receive love and honour and the spirit of all things beautiful. Please do not be sad that it was short---it was full. I leave with all the images that I have seen and experienced and all the hearts that I have hugged. Enjoy your dance, sweet souls, and remember me when the dolphins sing and the flowers wrap their arms around each other and breezes blow wise words to your hearts. Have open hearts--it is where the light and love will shine. Namaste." Nancy

How I worked on my BARN OWL image

red eye before and after   original uncropped photo

Last Sunday I was lucky to have the opportunity to photograph a Barn Owl roosting high in the branches of a eucalyptus tree. I put on my longest lens and upped my ISO to 2500 in order to get a reasonable shot of this lovely creature. But for most of my shots his eyes were closed. And in my best shot of him with his eyes open he had a bad case of "red eye" from the flash I was using. Hmmm! So I decided it was time to perform some magic - that is Photoshop magic. I 'fixed' his glowing red eyes, but the shot still lacked impact. He was  surrounded by some very brightly lit branches which detracted from my vision of how I wanted him to appear in my final photo. I cropped the image to make him larger in the frame and then did some serious 'cleaning' of the branches and foliage around him. Then I cloned the open eyes onto the cropped image to complete my work.

Above are the before and after versions of my BARN OWL. I used Photoshop tools and my skill using them to create an image which matched what my heart was seeing when I took the shot. Is it better? You be the judge. 

Santa Barbara FIESTA

Last weekend I took the train from San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara with some photo friends. We went down to enjoy the festivities of the annual Santa Barbara FIESTA. What a delight! We arrived mid morning just in time to see the Childrens Parade. The streets were filled with color, dancing, music and good things to eat. It was a pure joy to experience. And when the day was done we took the train back home - no driving or trying to find a parking space. I would do it again in a heatbeat.

End of another month

HOLD UPS

I love to watch the Harbor Seals along our Central Coast. It makes me smile to see them lift their heads and tails in an effort to stay dry as the tide rises. In the end the tide inevitability wins and they are forced off their sunny perch and into the water. I have always wanted to capture this behavior and I finally got the chance this July. I wish the light had been a bit more forgiving, but I am happy with the action of the water and the way the seals are posed. I hope this shot makes you smile too.