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2013-06-20 00:04:48 (8 comments, 2 reshares, 72 +1s)

Here's a cool tree lit by the partial moon.  The colorful star trails near the horizon on the left is the milky way.  Enjoy.

2013-06-17 16:01:40 (18 comments, 4 reshares, 77 +1s)

I'm back.  We had a great long weekend of night photography with our great group of students.  My time behind the lens was cut short with a knee injury but that just means I'll have to use the excuse to rest my injury which will give me time to sit more at the computer processing shots.  

I hope everyone had a great weekend.

2013-06-12 15:00:07 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 70 +1s)

On the road again
Heading out today.  Hopefully I can touch base while I'm on the road but the eastern sierra is calling and I must go...

2013-06-11 14:12:37 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 73 +1s)

Fading Rainbow
I wanted to at least find some foreground for the lovely rainbow that is just below the cloud.  But in my search, without tripod, and across a  rocky slope I just barely made it.  It's faint but it's there.

We're off for the rest of the week and will be out in the field with a great group of students.  I'll try to post when I can but no guarantees you'll see what we've shot until after I'm home and had a nap!

Cheers!

2013-06-10 13:14:55 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 71 +1s)

We had thunderstorms overhead all day yesterday.  As we grabbed our cameras to go shoot sunset the massive cloud started to dissipate.   Luckily  I grabbed this quick reflection because then the wind picked up and the reflection was not to be any longer and the clouds went away just as the sunset would have lit them up nicely.  This was the best I could do last night.  I do like it nonetheless.

2013-06-09 19:23:38 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 58 +1s)

Here's a shot of our workshop participants getting to enjoy being inside the historic general store at Bodie Ghost town.  With +Jeff Sullivan 

2013-06-09 18:42:12 (5 comments, 8 reshares, 74 +1s)

Moonshadow
Just a little playfulness that can be found during a full moon when you're out wandering around a ghost town in the late night with your camera!

2013-06-06 15:07:58 (6 comments, 4 reshares, 91 +1s)

Get me to the church on time
Bodie Night photography.  We'll be here in a few weeks with a great group of students for our Night Photography workshop.  I'm looking forward to shooting out here again.  

2013-06-03 14:34:03 (13 comments, 10 reshares, 102 +1s)

I wish this is how I woke up feeling today but...it's not. 
For those who don't know me, I like solutions.  So when I am faced with a difficult situation, I start working on a fix rather than just bitch about it.  That's what I'm doing and a solution I shall find.  
Happy Monday.
oh, yeah.  Tahoe is beautiful but I think the little section that lies in Nevada is spectacular!

2013-06-02 15:11:13 (2 comments, 5 reshares, 24 +1s)

This film by Samuel Orr is fantastic and worth watching.

2013-05-31 18:55:01 (9 comments, 3 reshares, 80 +1s)

Normally I don't participate in all the flower postings on Friday as I think there are just enough flowers going around already and the theme curators never engaged with me so I just dismissed this particular theme.  But with the new layout, I was curious to see how one of my favorite shots from Kew Gardens in London looked now.

I have my son's friends coming up for the weekend for some boating so I know I will be having fun on the lake!  Have a good weekend everyone.

2013-05-31 00:48:33 (6 comments, 3 reshares, 49 +1s)

A little fun at night :-)

2013-05-30 00:55:32 (6 comments, 3 reshares, 73 +1s)

Car and Barn for #WildwestWednesday  

2013-05-27 22:30:54 (27 comments, 5 reshares, 108 +1s)

The coolest clouds hung over Mono Lake last night.
UGH, not with roma g.  G+ tagged him after I said "skip tagging", won't let me untag him and I can't find send feedback anywhere in the album, on my post.  I can't untag him in my shot.  A little help +Brian Matiash ?
#plusphotoextract  

2013-05-23 14:05:04 (12 comments, 2 reshares, 82 +1s)

Peace
A very busy day ahead so I wanted to start the day with a little reminder of the beauty and peacefulness that nature brings.  It also brings tornado's and destruction.  But it is like the saying goes something like you can't appreciate happiness without a little sadness in your life.  Nature is kind of the same way.
I wish peace to you in OK as you rebuild your lives.

2013-05-22 15:24:26 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 71 +1s)

High Country Reflection
I'm looking forward to getting up in to the high country once the snow recedes.  But first I've got to get back in to my workout routine!
I get to work from home today which is great.  I need to get seriously caught up.  Have a good day everyone! 

2013-05-19 15:55:24 (12 comments, 12 reshares, 122 +1s)

Here's a shot from Mono Lake taken last September.  We checked the webcam and decided it was worth the hour drive to be here for sunset.  We did stay for some night photography.  It was such an amazing sunset I have many shots that I haven't shared.  Each one different as the color changed, the clouds moved and the ooh's and aah's just kept happening.   Enjoy.

2013-05-18 17:14:04 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 69 +1s)

Bodie
I'm looking forward to getting back out here for more day and into the night photography.  We are putting together additional dates and working on paypal buttons.  If you're interested we still have space on August 9th for night photography.  August 10th is Bodie Days which means you can come back in to the park where many volunteers will be dressed in period costumes, gun fights, etc., followed by a nice dinner.  Give a shout out if you're interested.  Cheers.

2013-05-17 15:46:27 (14 comments, 2 reshares, 63 +1s)

Glancing Back
Down that little road is how I get back to my humble home.  Dang.  It sure is nice to be able to get to 9,000' in less than 10 minutes.  But it does help living at 5,000'!  Happy Friday everyone.

2013-05-16 16:11:41 (19 comments, 0 reshares, 76 +1s)

We're having a little bit of weather here in Nevada.  These lenticular clouds graced the sky across the lake last night.  It's still windy today and we'll probably have more fun clouds again this afternoon.
Heading in to town now.  Back at ya later today.

2013-05-16 00:54:57 (8 comments, 6 reshares, 69 +1s)

I wanted to share one I took during the photowalk Jeff Sullivan hosted last summer to see how it looks with this new layout.  Still getting used to the changes...
What do you think?

2013-05-14 17:07:29 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 31 +1s)

Bodie Firehouse Bell and the Full Moon

2013-05-13 21:50:05 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 23 +1s)

Warm Embrace -- Folsom Lake, CA

I've never seen so much lupine as was surrounding the shores of Folsom Lake this weekend. I wish I could share the wonderful scent of the area with you all. We didn't have any clouds so I stuck with these arching oaks to fill the sky. I've been chasing a photograph of those ubiquitous CA oaks since the first day I rolled over the Sierra on my way out here from Rhode Island.

This was also my first outing with the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 and I'm completely sold. It handles shooting into the sun SO well and is clinically sharp, and I just HAD to shoot at 14mm right into the sun. ;)

#springtime   #nikond800

2013-05-13 19:24:40 (12 comments, 2 reshares, 48 +1s)

Even a stark, barren landscape can be interesting...
Taken at 12,000' elevation on a lovely spring day.


for #leadinglinesmonday  and #minimalmonday  
Enjoy.

2013-05-13 19:05:42 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 36 +1s)

Inbetween
That is what I can the brief moment when day turns to night.  On the left you can't see any stars because the sun is still too bright.  But on the right the darkness has taken hold enough to let a few stars shine through.  When I took this shot it was pretty dark out but with a long exposure I was able to bring light in to the shot as well as get movement in the clouds.  

Happy Monday everyone.

2013-05-12 19:41:44 (7 comments, 3 reshares, 37 +1s)

Red Sand Dunes

2013-05-12 18:40:06 (16 comments, 1 reshares, 32 +1s)

Mom
A few weeks into her cancer treatment she asked me and my daughter to come shave her head because her hair had started to fall out.  To be brave and supportive while your mom is facing the battle of her life is a challenge.  We laughed, cried but supported her.  We even offered to shave our owns head.  She would have nothing doing.  This has been a tough couple of years.  When she had the surgery to remove her tumor she also had a stroke.  When she came home from the hospital I had to feed and dress her.  She has made huge strides and can mostly care for herself now.  Her cancer has been in remission 11 months and counting.  I will be with her today because she fought hard through chemotherapy, sick as you can imagine, to be here with her family today.  For that I am grateful.  
She did the best she could as a mom.  Three kids by the time she was 19 years old.  Her husbandis just fabul... more »

2013-05-11 16:14:47 (8 comments, 11 reshares, 65 +1s)

One thing I do when out shooting is always take a variety of compositions.  This is the same location as my previous post, I just moved my camera for a vertical shot.  It has a totally different look and feel to it.  Some people shoot to be more precise in each shot, I take a lot of different shots to give me more options and a different look/feel to each composition.

2013-05-10 16:41:49 (14 comments, 9 reshares, 72 +1s)

Smith Valley Storm Cloud
With all this monsoonal moisture passing through Nevada we grabbed our cameras and headed out for sunset.  We were a few minutes late getting out the door so we had to run to get to this spot which was quite a bit from the car.  I just love eastern Sierra afternoon storms.  This massive cloud was probably about 20 miles away.

2013-05-09 20:11:34 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 51 +1s)

Three Years of Cones
The cool thing about a Bristlecone Pine is that the pine cones go through various stages.  This shot includes a first year, second year and third year (in the far back) pine cone.  I love how the first year it such a dark color purple.  

If you ever get a chance to get to the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, go!  They are an amazing species.

2013-05-08 19:11:51 (12 comments, 1 reshares, 80 +1s)

Me
This is what I do on those mornings where the sunrise just get's you out of bed and down to the shore ... in your slippers and pj's.  This is such a great location and I'm glad I made the move here a few years back.  It has always been my dream to live here and I never gave up.  If you have a dream, no matter your challenges, stay the course.

Have a good day everyone.  

ps.  I think +Jeff Sullivan must have taken this shot, then given me his SD card as this was a pleasant surprise when I went back to some old folders and found this in my files :-)

2013-05-05 17:19:08 (2 comments, 4 reshares, 57 +1s)

Just before the sun went down below the horizon it peeked out from behind the clouds for one last glance.  
This is a single shot.  I will try to HDR it later in the week to see what kind of results I can get by blending three shots.  Gotta head out for a meeting.

2013-05-05 16:40:00 (10 comments, 1 reshares, 68 +1s)

Well there were definitely clouds last night.  They didn't start with the thunder and lightning until about 4 a.m..  For this shot we were at about 8,500' elevation.  It was about 35 degrees Fahrenheit, blistering wind and snow flurries. It was well worth the cold.  Have to figure out the next outing but work may interfere :-( next week.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!

2013-05-04 22:53:53 (16 comments, 9 reshares, 96 +1s)

Thunderstorms
There are huge clouds overhead.  Packing the car.  I hope we capture some cool moments in this new storm.  (This one was taken last year.)
See ya later!

2013-05-04 23:44:45 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 51 +1s)

Ranunculus fields forever...
From the flower fields down in Carlsbad, CA

2013-05-03 18:37:32 (19 comments, 20 reshares, 118 +1s)

I'm not quite sure what's going on but quite a few folks have decided to find out more about me in the past few weeks -- Hello and Welcome!

This is a shot from the very wet 2011 spring time in Yosemite when Jeff and I awoke to 6 inches of snow on top of the spring grass and sprouting trees.  It's still one of my favorites from Yosemite that year.

Sorry for those of you who've seen it but sometimes one just needs to share with their new friends.

Cheers.

2013-05-02 14:52:55 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 66 +1s)

Bodie!
We'll be heading back to Bodie for quite a few night photography workshops this summer. Since the park closes at 6 p.m. we get to hang around the park and shoot from 6 p.m. to about 1 a.m. (which includes sunset and it's just us!) If you haven't shot Bodie at night you might want to consider joining us. The fee to do this is based on what Bodie charges. The first person to walk through the door is the $800. Everyone after that averages the costs down. And, sadly, they charge for instructors as well to bring folks in to the park :-( But we love it out there and can keep our costs down because we live just up the road. Drop me a line if you're interested.

2013-05-01 14:40:28 (8 comments, 1 reshares, 51 +1s)

Bombay Beach at sunset.  Not much happening other then gentle waves and a little color in the distant sky.

2013-04-30 16:46:41 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

Ingenuity in East Jesus
Can anyone tell me what this fence is made from?

2013-04-29 15:24:24 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 51 +1s)

Minimal
This California beach had a nice ramp down the beach from the wheelchair parking space.  It's the little things -- when life is more challenging -- that make a big difference.
And well I think this works for a few themes today... #leadinglinesmonday   #minimalmonday  

2013-04-28 18:30:20 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 50 +1s)

La Jolla By Night
And as most everyone had left Jeff and I stayed to capture a bit of the stars under a partial moon hidden by the fog.  It was chilly out here but I wasn't feeling it.  No matter where I go, I am packed for cold weather.  Night photography teaches you that!

2013-04-28 18:24:42 (9 comments, 1 reshares, 59 +1s)

La Jolla
+Sairam Sundaresan and I stood next to each other -- I ran when the big waves came in because I still had a week on my road trip and didn't want to get to wet with limited clothes -- but he stayed and got pretty wet as the waves came in.  The fog added nice texture to the otherwise lackluster sunset.  It was great meeting so many of my fellow photographers and I really appreciate your taking the time to come introduce yourself +Garry McCarthy , +Chris Warren , +Sam Aminisam and good to see you again +John H. Moore and +J. Rae Chip .  I know I've forgotten others because I met some, but not all, who came out.

2013-04-27 15:54:32 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 52 +1s)

Just for Fun
Jeff and I were doing some light painting when this ever so bright shooting star fell from the sky.  Thankfully my shutter was open.  Jeff missed seeing it because he was twirling lights in the dark and trying not to trip!

2013-04-26 19:50:23 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 71 +1s)

Volcanic Soil Sunrise
A shot from my road trip south.  I'm slowly getting through some of the shots.  More to come!

2013-04-24 20:23:23 (13 comments, 2 reshares, 72 +1s)

Mono Sunset
Taken during last years Eastern Sierra Photowalk.  This year we will visit this, and many other, places during our Eastern Sierra workshop.

2013-04-23 23:45:59 (2 comments, 5 reshares, 13 +1s)

Help My Boat Has Been Stolen
I need some help from the Googleverse

She is a 1971 Coronado C27, registration number CF 3209 EV. The name on the stern is MANTRA

No joke. I checked on her Sunday and today she is not where I left her. I have checked with the Coast Guard and I am filing a police report but I need eyes. If you are in the San Francisco Bay, Sacramento River, San Juaquin River, Napa River or Petaluma River areas please keep an eye out for this boat. If I am going to get her back I need you all to help me spread the word.

2013-04-22 20:55:40 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 39 +1s)

Newport Beach Pier Structure
A quick post for me as my expanded workload is getting started today and I have a mound of things to go through.  Have a good Monday everyone.

2013-04-22 00:11:50 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 57 +1s)

Another from the Little Corona photowalk Jeff and I had while we were traveling the California Coast.

2013-04-21 20:21:47 (6 comments, 1 reshares, 45 +1s)

Little Corona Del Mar ... during the photowalk that +Jeff Sullivan had during our travels down the coast the last dozen days.  It was great to meet so many new folks.  Thanks for coming out!

2013-04-21 18:05:28 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 28 +1s)

Added photos to Malibu Sunset Photowalk: Thursday April 11, 6:30 - 9 pm.