Storm Swells
I am so glad we live where we do. I keep watching all the news reports of flooding, ice, and snow storms all over the country and feel thankful that our only complaint is it is colder than usual here (about 45 degrees right now at 8:30pm). The storm at the beginning of the month that caused all sorts of flooding in Oregon and Washington did not send us much rain but we did get some amazing 20 to 25-foot swells. We went to Morro Rock to look at the storm swells.
This jetty is at least 15 ft tall and the waves were just crashing right over it.
While I was taking pictures a seagull flew in front of me. I thought I had lost the shot but when I looked at it I thought it looked interesting.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
LA - Part 2
After we took pictures of Disney Hall we decided to continue on the Red Line to Union Station. I think Union Station is one of my favorite buildings in Los Angeles. For those of you who have never been to it, you probably will think it looks familiar. It is a popular location for movies and TV programs, though it is often not used in them as a train station.
If we had not had the little ones with us, I could have sat in one of the waiting room chairs for an hour and just watched.
There is also a great restaurant in Union Station called Traxx. Someday I will eat there. Restaurants are not a relaxing experience with toddlers.
After Union Station we started the ride back to the car. The stations along the line are so fun, we had to stop and take a few pictures.
If I had to describe the Hollywood/Western station to someone, I would say it looked like a tile bathroom gone crazy. It it looks wild in the pictures, it is nothing to what it is like to be standing inside it.
Outside the station, the sights were just as interesting. This apartment building is right next to the subway station entrance. I was trying to decide if the station inspired the building or if it was the other way.
Across the street I saw a hot dog stand. I did not think about it much at first and then I noticed the name of the restaurant.
The babies were finally exhausted and it was lunchtime, plus my CF card was full (I do carry others but it was a good stopping point). We headed back home for leftover TG dinner.
See the whole set here.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Almost a shameless plug...
My friend, Theresa, is a pro photographer. She is having a photo contest for people who did sessions with her this fall. Yep, there is a picture of our session in there... it is entry #1.
So, go take a look and vote (not necessarily for us, pick the one you really like).
Vote here.
Friday, November 30, 2007
LA - Part 1
We spent Thanksgiving in Los Angeles with family. My dad just got a new DSLR. He got the same camera I have but he got the lens I keep drooling over but every time I get almost enough saved up an unexpected expense pops up and eats it all. He gave his old DSLR to my sister. I am fairly new to photography but my Dad and Sister have been going together on photo shoots for years. I was really excited to finally go with them on one on Saturday. We decided to go out and take pictures of the wonder of art and architecture that is Disney Hall.
We got up early and drove out to the Red Line station in Universal City. We had no idea what parking downtown might be like so we did not want to deal with driving. I just like riding the subway since it is a novelty for me living in a small town (by CA standards).
Waiting for the train, I snapped a few pictures of the station.
One of my favorite things about the Red Line is they did not do the usual boring public works project when they built it. The stations are each a work of art. 
We got to Disney Hall a bit later than we had originally planned the day before. It did not really matter. The reflections were stunning and I was in a much better mood than I would have been had I woken up an hour earlier.
I have only seen the building while passing by on the freeway. As I stood there looking at the intense reflections I understood how people could have complained about the original finish on the stainless steel. They had to take off most of the exterior facing steel and lightly sand it to turn it down. You can still see the original finish in the part of the building which do not get direct sunlight.
I read that the heat from the original surface was so intense, they recorded temperatures on the nearby sidewalks at 140 degrees. Even sanded, the steel was giving off warmth on a cool November morning. I spied a bee enjoying the warmth.
Last, an interesting view of S. Grand Avenue before we walked to California Square in search of coffee and snacks.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Butterflies and Sunsets
On Tuesday we met up at Pismo Beach State Park for an afternoon photo shoot. I was so excited to have time to actually make a meetup with my photo group this month. Most people were getting ready for Thanksgiving and could not make it. I was so glad I did.
Pismo Beach is one of the locations on the west coast that Monarch butterflies migrate to for the winter. Did you even know butterflies migrate? I did not until I moved here. It is a sight that even pictures cannot fully capture. In a grove of Eucalyptus trees near the beach, thousands of butterflies make their home for the winter. You look up in the trees and at first you see brownish leaves all over the trees. A leave begins to move, then fly away and you realize those are all butterflies.
In the mornings, the butterflies are all over in the air and on the ground. We got there in the late afternoon so they were beginning to slow down and cluster back in the trees.
I did find one alone and with its wings spread.
After an hour the light was too low for any more pictures of the butterflies so we walked to the beach. It is amazing to me that every year I am still surprised by how early the sun goes down this time of year. Even though it was beginning to cool off and get dark, the kids were having so much fun.
The clouds were making beautiful swirls of color for us to enjoy.
As we left I looked back and saw the silhouette of the trees against the setting sun and had to snap one last picture.
Days like this make me wonder how I could ever live anyplace else.
See the whole set here.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Photography 101
I bet you thought I'd forgotten about you poor blog. It think my camera was feeling that way as well. If I thought October was busy, November was even more so!!
I finally got the chance to take some pictures a couple Fridays back. We held a "Photography 101" playgroup at a park and it was so fun. We had moms with all ranges of skill from professional to point-and-shoot in auto mode only. Those of us with more experience helped the newer moms learn the features of their camera as well as how to compose better pictures. We focused on portrait photography.
Even though I was "working" I managed to take a bunch of pictures too. My favorite is this one of G.
Here are some of my girls.
I took so many other fun ones of any kid I could get to stay still long enough. Check out the set here.
(BTW, to people I know... add me as a friend and I can add you, then you can see all the ones of other people's kids that I took.)
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Cupcake Girl
Ok... I know,, I have really been slacking on the blog lately. Actually what I have been slacking on is the picture taking. My poor camera must think I don't love it any more. I took so few pictures in October and none so far in November. I need to eget out! The last month has been just crazy busy. I am ready for another vacation!
I do have some fun pictures I've been meaning to blog. The baby discovered the wonder of cupcakes. 
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Fall colors
October has just flown by. My month has been so busy, my camera is feeling very neglected this month. I finally found some time to appreciate the colors of the season and capture them at the local pumpkin patch. I have a baby sleeping on my lap so I'll save the writing for another day and leave you with the images of fall.
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
I Madonnari
I am slowly getting to all the pictures I took in while my laptop was being fixed. Mixed in with my posts of current pictures I'll be putting in these occasional pictures from September until I get through them all.
September 15-16 was the annual I Madonnari festival in San Luis Obispo. It is a street painting festival of Italian inspiration. Artists sponsored by local businesses and groups use chalk to transform Mission Plaza and parts of Chorro St and Monterey St into a work of art. It is really amazing what they create. 
We knew we would only get to go one of the two days so we opted for the 16th so we could see the finished artwork. About half of the pictures were complete when we got there. 
We watched as artists worked to finish.
I also thought the chalk itself made interesting pictures.
Anyone can get chalk at the festival and create their own picture. Some of the art there was as good as the art being sponsored.
The hardest thing about I Madonnari is watching the artists work so hard and knowing that Sunday at 5pm, the water, mops, and eventually street sweeper will come by and erase it all.
It is amazing while it lasts...
Fun at the Nursery
On Sunday we went to the local nursery to take pictures. We were only there an hour and I was wishing we had more time. I love this nursery. I like to take the kids there just so we can walk around all the paths. I am no sure why I never thought to take pictures here before. I am still amazed at how many wonderful places are places I go all the time.
They have stacks and stacks of pottery. They are sorted by color in to huge rows. I wish I could have taken a picture from 50 ft in the air of the rows of pottery.
The flowers are everywhere, even though this is not the best time of year for that. I loved the colors on this succulent.
This flower's shape reminded me of an ear.
We used to have a passion vine with flowers like these. When we had freezing cold winter last year (or was it two years ago?), all our passion vines died. 
They have so many garden decorations. I could spent way too much money here on just statues, hanging art, fountains, etc..
It just wouldn't be a California nursery without cactus. They are such unfriendly but amazing looking plants. These little ones were quite sharp (yes, I did touch them).
See the whole set here.
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