Time for new umbrellas
Last week we had rain almost non-stop. The first day I was happy because I know how much we need the rain. The second day I was hopeful this would mean we'll make our annual rainfall averages. The third day I was thinking if I wanted to live in Portland, I would have moved there. We decided it was time to go buy new umbrellas. When we got home we got a small window of mostly clear skies right at sunset and we decided to go play in the yard for a bit.
The top of the wooden fence around our yard had just enough standing water on it to make some nice reflections.
The girls love their new umbrellas. They whirled and twirled all around the yard with them.
I wanted to take an image of all the droplets glittering on the bare branches of our fruit trees. These did not come close to capturing how pretty it looked.
The sun had nearly set and it started sprinkling again so it was time to go inside. I think we were only outside for a half an hour. It rained the next day too. I just had to remind myself (and the girls) that we were leaving for Kings Canyon the next day (Friday) so all this rain was just making us lots of snow to play in. Friday was clear and we left for the mountains excited to see the snow... but that is for next time.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Enjoying some time at the beach between storms
I have had a few friends and relatives ask about the "horrible" weather we've been having here in California this winter. I think the news must be desperate for exciting things to cover when there is no primary happening, because the weather has not been that bad and certainly nothing compared to what the rest of the country normally has every winter. It has been raining (which is good, hopefully we'll make our average rainfalls this year) and we took some time between the storms in early January to enjoy the beach.
The storms always wash up all sorts of plants and other oddities.
After a storm is the best time to go hunting for shells and rocks.
Even though the next storm had not arrived, the surge in the surf was already hitting the beach.
Sadly, we did not end up staying long. All three kids and Tom got the flu starting with Mae that afternoon and lasting for a few days. Somehow I was spared.
As always, the whole set is on my Flickr account.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Images from 2007 - Part 3
Here it is, the last slideshow of images from 2007. This is all the non-people pictures. I am clearly better at these types of pictures than with portraits. I can say I am very happy with most of these images. It is hard to not love the images of people since every one of them are family and friends, but as photography goes I still have a lot to learn about taking portraits.
My goal with photography (as I wrote on my Flickr profile) is to capture real images of the places and things as I see them, to give my children and theirs a window to this time and place. So, enjoy my views of 2007.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Opportunities
Can I just say how much I love the internet? As fun as photography is for me, it is twice as fun because I get to share the images I've captured with others. What I never expected is that anyone would do more than just comment "neat shot" or the like. I think Flickr has really created an amazing opportunity for amateur photographers. In the last few months I have been asked three times for permission to use one of my images in a publication or display of some kind.
The first was this one which was requested for an architecture book about outdoor structures:
Then this one was requested for an art exhibit of fall and winter photos:
Most recently I was asked for permission to use this photo of Descanso Gardens for a guide of Los Angeles:
Here it is in Schmap Los Angeles Fourth Edition (look on the upper right where it is describing Descanso).
:)
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Images of 2007, Part 2
Here is the second part of my image slideshow for 2007. This one is images of people I took from August to December. It contains a lot more images that are not my own kids. I had finally gotten brave enough to attempt to take pictures of other people's kids. It was fun to have new subjects (not that I don't enjoy taking pictures of my kids).
Yes, a part 3 is coming... possibly a part 4. I am going to put together my images of scenery. I have not started this yet so I am not sure how long it will be. With over 4700 images saved from 2007, it takes a while to narrow it down. :)
Enjoy!
Monday, January 14, 2008
S. California New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve day was classic Southern California in winter. Did you ever see the movie LA Story and laugh at the beginning where it shows a guy in a tank top and shorts walking with a Christmas Tree? Yea... it was one of those days. We decided to get out an enjoy the day with a 3 mile walk down the Bob Jones Trail in Avila Beach. Then we spent the remainder of the daylight playing on the beach.
After such a long day we couldn't get Mae to let go of paci...
I got a couple of nice shots of the pier in the setting sunlight.
The whole set is here.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Images of 2007, Part 1
I decided it would be fun to put together a slideshow of my favorite/best pictures from 2007. It turned out to be a fun way to recap the year. It also let me see just how much my photography has improved over the year.
I started with all of them and realized it was going to be too big. So, here is part one, images of people Jan-Jul. Enjoy!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Elephant Seals
Elephant seals come to the beaches near San Simeon this time of year to have their babies. It is quite an amazing site. By mid-January the beaches will be full of cute little (for an elephant seal) babies. We decided to take a trip up the coast to see them during our time off before New Years.
Soon this beach will be completely covered in seals.
There were already a few babies and they were so cute. This one was playing by mama and making all sorts of sounds.
A view with the Piedras Blancas lighthouse in the background.
The male seals have pretty funny looking faces.
As always, the whole group is on my Flickr account.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
More Monarchs
Happy 2008! December went by in a frenzy for us. Once Thanksgiving gets here, we have birthdays and holidays popping up nearly weekly around here making it hard to have time for anything else.
These pictures I took back on December 10th. We had so much fun taking pictures at the Monarch Grove in Pismo that we went back. This time we got there in the morning for some different (hopefully better) light and more activity by the butterflies. I was able to get some decent close-up shots this time too.
I still find the dangling clusters of Monarchs to be the most amazing site. They remind me of grapes.
I also had a little fun with Photoshop:
One Monarch landed on my dad's jacket. We're not sure if it was attracted to the color or to the unique scent that jacket seems to have.
More pictures coming soon (I promise!).
Friday, December 14, 2007
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.
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.
