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2013-05-14 07:08:47 (23 comments, 18 reshares, 261 +1s)

Orange Sherbet Rocky Road with a Sunburst on Top... Santa Cruz, California
I just love how the pelicans on these rocks look like they're watching a drive-in movie! I giggle every time I look at it. 

I auto bracketed 7 shots... but ended up liking this single frame the best. I chukked the rest.  That happens sometimes... you imagine HDR, then discover your story is MUCH stronger with just one image from the set. I loved the silhouette action, the sun so bright you almost have to look away and put on dark glasses, that Hollywood starburst and the sun-tipped waves in the foreground. Sometimes accidental surprises are more fun than anything you could dream up! You know how I love those. :D

2013-05-13 22:20:58 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

+Karen Hutton will be doing a +Virtual Photo Walks™ in San Francisco. Karen and some friend will be showing us the same general area that +Trey Ratcliff will be walking in real life later that same day.

If you're in the San Francisco area connect with Trey and everyone else and a photo walk that will fun for sure. It you're not in the San Francisco area please feel free and join us for this +Virtual Photo Walks™ with +Karen Hutton .

+Karen Hutton has done many +Virtual Photo Walks™ for our community in the past and they are some of the best virtual FUN you can have. 

SPECIAL NOTE:
+Karen Hutton will do her best to join +Trey Ratcliff for his photo walk in real life later that same day if all of the technology, signal strength and bandwidth in the San Francisco area is good.

It will be a fun day for sure.

+KarenHutton walk start at... more »

2013-05-13 21:32:08 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 23 +1s)

Stuck On Earth - FREE - No Ads!
We're releasing +Stuck On Earth Android version 2 days before I/O!  Just submitted to the Google Play store!  It should be approved any time now.  It's not like the STUPID Apple app store that treats us all like children... they made us wait over a week to get approved!  But anyway, let's not talk about those guys over there...apple got us over a mil downloads, so I can't complain!  But now it is Android's turn... finally.  Even better, the app will work on Android phones AND tablets!  Millions of amazing locations coming your way...

Watch the +Google Play store at http://goo.gl/fXnCZ -- it should appear there when it is approved (not sure how long it takes!) - and yes, that is the voice of the great +Karen Hutton below!

2013-05-13 07:15:09 (89 comments, 109 reshares, 870 +1s)

2 Scoops of Peach Sorbet, Please... Big Bend, California
As Heaven and Earth tucked her in that night, 
she knew she would sleep better than she had in a long, long time. 
-------------------------------------------------------------
Ahhhh, this is one of my favorite places to shoot, under certain conditions. This is certainly one of them!! The other condition is when the river is... a river. Check out this general spot on July 4, 2011: http://goo.gl/OVIL2. That WAS an unusually large winter and this one was unusually sparse. But wow, what a difference a snowpack makes!

2013-05-12 17:41:15 (12 comments, 4 reshares, 60 +1s)

#HeresToTheMoms  
Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!! 
May you celebrate life today... give and receive many hugs (my mom believed in 11 hugs a day for optimum health), share your light and receive even more. 

I made (and narrated) this video back in 2008 when my mom Bettylou moved on from this life to her next adventures at the age of 88. I've never shared it publicly before; it was on a private site for family and friends all this time. But in honor of Here's To The Moms, I'm sharing it. It's time.

Bettylou made us promise to celebrate and dance when she left, because she just thought life was so incredibly fantastic - and she wanted people to know that's what she was all about. So we did just that; and I made this movie to show that day. And we did dance! 

I posted this on my blog too: http://goo.gl/nmD1z,in c... more »

2013-05-12 00:17:22 (17 comments, 1 reshares, 118 +1s)

#HeresToTheMoms  
Here's Bettylou, with That Smile. I wrote my piece for today on my blog: http://goo.gl/i9amm. It's about 5 Choices Mom Taught Me to Always Make. And what I feel is the super important legacy she left us - all of us, really.  For Mother's Day tomorrow, I'm posting a video that I made in 2008 about her. I love it - it's warm, fun and funny, just like she was.

This has been a great week, sharing Bettylou with all of you. Thank you +Brian Matiash, for asking us to do this. It's been so wonderful to see everyone's photos and memories - and really awesome to share mine as well. I've loved it! And I feel like Bettylou has been right here all the way, poking me about the stuff she wanted you to know, learn, remember. Moms!

2013-05-11 16:18:05 (57 comments, 53 reshares, 647 +1s)

Where will your roads take you this weekend?... New Zealand
Is the weather nice where you are? Do you have an adventure planned? Where ya going? Whatcha doing? Tell me, tell me! Inquiring minds want to know... :D

2013-05-11 01:49:14 (27 comments, 11 reshares, 240 +1s)

Kindness and Choices
#HeresToTheMoms  

My Mom Bettylou was always, always kind. Make no mistake,  this did not make her weak. She had plenty 'o spine, vim and vigor. But when given the choice… and she stood by her firm belief that "we always have a choice"… she would choose the road of kindness.

Was making that choice always easy? As this firecracker, short tempered daughter can attest to - nope! But mom felt that everything went a little smoother, ended up in a happier place for everyone - by choosing kindness over bitterness every time.

I remember one scenario (which I have to admit happened more than once) where I was mad at someone. Really mad. Mad at their injustice, stupidity, lack of consideration, whatever. I was railing against whatever they said or did or were - and Bettylou quietly said: "They're doing the best they cando.&q... more »

2013-05-10 12:07:21 (22 comments, 24 reshares, 391 +1s)

Red Rockin' River... Yuba River near Big Bend, California
Bathe me with your negative ions, baby!
I love rivers... especially when they're fattened with snow melt. Yummm! 

2013-05-09 15:33:24 (24 comments, 3 reshares, 180 +1s)

Me... Bettylou, in depression-era San Francisco
#HeresToTheMoms  

I never saw this photo of my mom until after she'd passed. I really love it, even though it's blurry and a little the worse for wear. I photographed it directly from her really old scrapbook, where all the photos had clever names and titles. Most of the pictures were of her, or had her in them... but of all of them, this one simply said "Me". I remember just stopping in my tracks and just studying this image. This young girl, who somehow was more "Me" than any of the others, in Bettylou's eyes. It certainly had a different demeanor than any... but what made her name it that way?

My mom lived through the Great Depression - and this photo was taken during that time. From what I understand, her family wasn't wealthy - but somehow managed to keep working throughout those... more »

2013-05-08 04:01:29 (59 comments, 78 reshares, 687 +1s)

Mirror Lake... New Zealand
It was just another stop along the way to Milford Sound on our great New Zealand adventure a couple of months ago. So tame, anyone could stop here and enjoy the view. Which was something I loved. Gorgeousness like this, available to anyone. Good for the soul!

2013-05-07 22:03:17 (17 comments, 7 reshares, 162 +1s)

Proof of Life: It's one of the things I love about photography
#HeresToTheMoms  

Our ability to imagine is magnificent. Our minds love to fill in the blanks - and we can make up SUCH a great mental movie, just from a photograph! I think one of the many things we love about photography is it's incredible ability to provide Proof of Life... someone was here. They lived. They did things. They grew old. They left a mark. One of our most basic needs is to be seen and recognized... photography is one powerful tool for it!

I love that my mom's family was photo-nuts. Clearly, Bettylou was someone's muse throughout most of her youth. That wouldn't be hard... she was a great subject and utterly gorgeous! So funny and sparkly too. The fact that there are so many photographs of her means that I get to look back and share a bit of her life before I ever met her.... more »

2013-05-07 07:05:16 (53 comments, 46 reshares, 705 +1s)

Little Red Riding House... Big Bend, California
One way to NEVER lose your house in a forest is to paint it a lovely and very nearly iridescent red! 

2013-05-06 19:10:32 (12 comments, 3 reshares, 126 +1s)

It's Mother's Day Week!
Post 'em and tag 'em all week long with: #HeresToTheMoms !

My mom Bettylou shifted dimensions in 2008. She was my best friend and truest inspiration. She was funny, beautiful, wise, had impeccable style and taste and the best laugh EVER. 

Because her family were photographin' FOOLS (in the best possible sense!), we have a ton of pictures of her all the way back to childhood. She was born in 1920... so the one of her holding the purse was probably taken late in the roaring 20's! She the one on the right in the photo with her friends from her scrapbook. The gorgeous one of her standing on the bridge was taken in Yosemite, California - her family used to go there every summer. 

Mom used to struggle with discovering what her life purpose was. I think she didn't see how her legacy was far deeper than anything shew... more »

2013-05-05 16:18:41 (61 comments, 74 reshares, 753 +1s)

A Mountain Moment... Eastern Sierras, California
Just a Sunday mountain moment from my world to yours. 

PS... am working on some new videos that I hope to share soon!

2013-05-04 19:58:05 (21 comments, 8 reshares, 379 +1s)

Youth at the feet of the Elders... Beauregard Vineyards, Bonny Doon, California
Seen and unseen,
Our wisest elders contain secrets to  understanding, wisdom, discernment.
Listen. And learn.
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This is another of my fun winery project photos. I really was struck by the juxtaposition of the line of these young vines leading into the strength and power of the giant, wise trees. They're probably older than me! It was a quiet, moody day and it set me to thinking. 

2013-05-04 09:28:35 (30 comments, 38 reshares, 478 +1s)

The Day It All Lined Up... Año Nuevo, California
Alignment happens. 
And when it does, don't question it, just say thank you.

 

2013-05-03 07:48:47 (18 comments, 23 reshares, 401 +1s)

We're At A Crossroads... Truckee, California
Decisions will be made...
Directions taken, in the span of a lifetime. 
Then there are moments when taking a leap will change the course of everything.  

2013-05-02 16:44:57 (18 comments, 10 reshares, 195 +1s)

What flower is this?... Bonny Doon, California
OK this is the fuller bloomed flower of the bud I posted the other day (http://goo.gl/jCGD9). It's the farthest away from it I shot that day. NOW does anyone recognize it? My curiosity keeps poking at me!
It was just so unusual - and quite lovely!

2013-05-02 04:35:20 (36 comments, 45 reshares, 628 +1s)

The Sun at its Peek... 4 Mile Beach, Santa Cruz, California
Even brilliant stars in the sky can be nosy, all peeking around the corner and stuff. You gotta stay on your toes at all times!

2013-05-01 19:34:54 (24 comments, 2 reshares, 155 +1s)

Selfies aren't new and our Inner Feisty never gets old!
I've been thinking alot about things like living our life as an artist, embracing change... and our Inner Feisty. I wrote about it all on my blog today: http://goo.gl/9t6Pp.  

I thought about posting this image for long time. The girl in the photo is me. It was an assignment from photography class in 1975 or so... called "Self Portrait". The assignment was to photograph yourself, in your own environment, sharing some part of yourself you wouldn't normally show to the world. I set up my Minolta srt102 up on a feed bucket, set the timer and hopped into the tack compartment of our horse trailer, hay hooks in hand. 

Who was this crazy girl? She was my Inner Feisty... my protector, my defender, often my wicked sense of humor back then. I hadn't shared her into my world yet; I felt like she wouldbe... more »

2013-05-01 03:48:03 (52 comments, 49 reshares, 596 +1s)

Barry On Top Of The World... California Coast
I love watching people do what love. There's just something so free about them in those moments. Nothing else exists... it's like they become who they really are for a bit. Like here, for instance... this is +Barry Blanchard shooting one of his beloved sunset shots a few weeks ago. I was shooting the sunset too... but turned my camera just a little to capture a slice 'o awesome. :))

Yep, love those moments. Alot!

2013-04-30 18:57:36 (38 comments, 8 reshares, 352 +1s)

Barrels of Fun... Beauregard Winery, Bonny Doon, California
I'm doing a fun little project - which involves photographing wineries. I haven't ever really done one like this before, so it's fun to experiment! I just finished this one and wanted to share. So if you see me posting vineyard and winery shots over the next few months, you'll know why! 

Now then. Barrel phrases. There's "barrel of fun", "barrel of monkeys"... and I know there's a ton more. Which ones have you heard?
Hit me with some barrel phrases people! 

2013-04-30 02:04:49 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 32 +1s)

This is a fun topic - why you can stop worrying about gear so much and focus more on the post-processing.  Joining me are my friends +Thomas Hawk +Karen Hutton and +Gino Barasa... and maybe a few more!  

I'm back in New Zealand from San Francisco and ready for the next hangout show!  We also have live chat now (!!) during the show... this has been one of the biggest requests.  You can see it embedded alongside the live video player on http://www.StuckInCustoms.com .

I'll be back in the SF area soon for Google I/O.  Maybe I'll also plan a fun public photo event while there... +Thomas Hawk and I will talk about it during the show... all ideas are welcome! :)

2013-04-29 18:39:12 (34 comments, 43 reshares, 510 +1s)

Where The Path Leads... Felton, California
Sure it's a fall photo. But who doesn't enjoy a good path, love to follow a path, want to know if they're on the RIGHT path? Hmmmm? Thought so. 
It's allllll about the path. :D

2013-04-29 01:26:41 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 32 +1s)

This is a fun topic - why you can stop worrying about gear so much and focus more on the post-processing.  Joining me are my friends +Thomas Hawk +Karen Hutton and +Gino Barasa... and maybe a few more!  

I'm back in New Zealand from San Francisco and ready for the next hangout show!  We also have live chat now (!!) during the show... this has been one of the biggest requests.  You can see it embedded alongside the live video player on http://www.StuckInCustoms.com .

I'll be back in the SF area soon for Google I/O.  Maybe I'll also plan a fun public photo event while there... +Thomas Hawk and I will talk about it during the show... all ideas are welcome! :)

2013-04-28 19:50:51 (20 comments, 14 reshares, 311 +1s)

Time To Wake Up... Beauregard Vineyards, Bonny Doon, California
Can there BE any better time than spring?? Where I live, things are just beginning to wake up and think about popping into life. But I'm at elevation 6000 feet! When I visit the lowlands (as we call the lower elevations. heh), I'm loving the early growth that is about a half season ahead of us.

I don't even know what this flower is! Does anybody else? I saw some of them in full bloom and still didn't recognize it. But I loved the patterns and intricacies of its just-barely-awake new buds. sigh. My "up-close eyes" can't help but get out the macro lens this time of year for a lesson in design from Mama Nature! 

2013-04-28 04:20:05 (14 comments, 2 reshares, 139 +1s)

Yesterday, travel photographer +Trey Ratcliff came by SmugMug HQ to share amazing and inspiring stories from his life and career of spanning the globe and posting awesome photos and stories to his blog, http://www.stuckincustoms.com/

We were also lucky enough to have "Mr Americana", +Thomas Hawk join as well. Trey and Thomas sat on our couch and talked photography for over 90 minutes, while fielding questions from SmugMug employees and guests. Both sessions were filmed to share with everyone, so be on the lookout for these great videos in the coming weeks!

Check out more from +Trey Ratcliff at http://stuckincustoms.smugmug.com/

Check out more from +Thomas Hawk  at http://thomashawk.smugmug.com/

HUGE thank you to Trey, Thomas, +Karen Hutton and all of our guest! What a day! 

#Photography #SmugMug #Travel #StuckInCustoms  

2013-04-27 15:37:15 (20 comments, 15 reshares, 383 +1s)

How She Knew There Was Always Hope... Bodie, California
... was a mystery to everyone but her.
She just saw things a bit differently.

2013-04-27 07:02:13 (17 comments, 38 reshares, 480 +1s)

Last Stand... The Hills, New Zealand
Barring a miracle, he knew this was it. 
Yet if a miracle would be his this day, he was ready. 
He was always ready. 
The snarls closened. 
Eyes closed, he slowed his breath.  
Clouds parted. He felt it happen.
And the thinest prickle of electricity. 
He'd wondered how it would start. 
But he knew now how it would finish.
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Statues, statues everywhere! +Trey Ratcliff took us to The Hills in New Zealand during our fabulous workshop there in February... and this display did not disappoint! These sculptures were was eerie, yet so marvelous. I so adore the fact that they display these - and other incredible all-weather fine art pieces - in the areas surrounding the golf course. We all had a ball making compositions and visual stories!

You cancheck o... more »

2013-04-26 14:42:08 (25 comments, 3 reshares, 193 +1s)

I flew the awesome skies with the great +Jessica Ambats yesterday!!
And let me just say, my utter and complete admiration for Jessica and her work has officially skyrocketed after watching her work. Here are a few iPhone 5 photos from the day! More photos - and video (!!) to come.

I sat next to her on the photo plane, took photograph Sean D. Tucker's incredible hanger (YouTube that name... he's a superstar of the aerial world), listened in on the pilot's meeting beforehand (where they plan the manuevers and changes ahead of time) - and generally had my mind officially blown! She and I have been trying to put this together for about a year - and our crazy schedules FINALLY lined up. OMG... what an incredible experience!!

 Thank you to the moon and beyond the stars Jessica!! And a million thanks to your pilots and extended family who welcomed me withope... more »

2013-04-25 16:12:54 (41 comments, 54 reshares, 587 +1s)

Beware the Mists... Big Sur, California
Mysterious mists, spooky music, DUCK!
hehheh.
-----------------------------------
I've been in in the south Bay Area for a little over a week now and it's been awesome fun! It's so entirely different from my mountains - and in fact is at least half a season ahead! That's always an interesting experience, since everything is blooming down here - and up home it's not at all! In fact, we could easily get more snow in the next month... whereas down here everything is green... and beachy. But life is full of variety and wonders, and I like it just that way. Happy Thursday!

2013-04-25 03:41:46 (60 comments, 77 reshares, 811 +1s)

Tall Trees Towering... Felton, California
Tall trees doing what tall trees do...tower. 
Also, be ancient, awesome and mysterious 
Big job. Redwoods are always up to the task. 
Go redwoods!

2013-04-24 20:02:16 (13 comments, 13 reshares, 197 +1s)

Sometimes You Need a Little Rest... Moss Landing, California
Sometimes, the right thing to do is just lay your head down and rest a little. 
It's OK. Now breeeeeathe...
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This is one of the otters that had to step out of the water to say hello the day +Joe Dolister +Barry Blanchard +Laurie Rubin and I came to visit. It was the most amazing thing! This one followed us a bit, flopped out in the sun for awhile, then rested his head on this rock. I think he was blind in one eye... but it didn't seem to bother him or stop him from being his awesome otter self. 

He was just so otterly... fantastic. sigh.

2013-04-24 08:25:37 (61 comments, 76 reshares, 836 +1s)

Under Siena... Siena, Italy
... She loved it under Siena. It was cooler, calmer. She could think straight there. And the skylights were so lovely. 
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Just another moment from our trip to Italy last August. So many of them yet to process! But I just loved these subterranean corridors. This one actually led somewhere... you'd walk to the end, thinking it WAS the end, then it turned right... and you would emerge on a lower level street. Just marvelous. 

Did I mention I've got a new blog post? Mm-hmm, it's here: http://goo.gl/1ot7W. Just a teaser for a little series I'm creating!

2013-04-23 05:40:05 (53 comments, 59 reshares, 645 +1s)

I Had This Dream... Convict Lake Aspen Grove, Eastern Sierras

And she told him... 
"I had this dream.
I was on a path, which seemed very well built - but new. 
Which meant few had been down it before - but I felt drawn.
I had to cross water, which meant a break with the past. 
I had to go into the forest, which meant go into the unknown with my head high, ears open and eyes sharp.
And so I'm going. 
Because I know it's not a dream, it's a calling.
If you want to, come. But do it quick, because I'm leaving... now."

2013-04-22 15:57:31 (56 comments, 95 reshares, 742 +1s)

No Hands Bridge... Auburn, California

OK, you gotta know I love stories like this... 

It's official name is Mountain Quarries Railroad bridge and was built in 1911 by J. B. Leonard for the Pacific Portland Cement Company. They needed it for trains hauling  limestone from quarries and constructed it to carry some of the largest locomotives of the day. Cost: $300,000, which was 20% cheaper than the more popular steel bridges of the day. It was the longest concrete arch bridge in the world at the time. 

OK, so they payback part... It was NOT popular, building a cement bridge 1911. Most others were made of steel. J.B. Leonard had to argue hard for it. He claimed reinforced cement was stronger... they poo-poo'd him. Then... over time the Auburn dam above it broke, major floods washed out everything and this was the only bridge in the area that withstood all ofit! ... more »