OH OSO!

My grand daughter has just spotted me taking her photograph. Sometimes she doesn't mind and sometimes she does. This is a no-paparazzi day. I took some others. It's my duty as a Grandpa. She'll appreciate them when she grows up. Maybe not this one though. I think, like most Grandpa's, that she is the most amazing little girl I have ever seen. If you met her you would say the same.

"RING OF FIRE" SOLAR ECLIPSE

After visiting my son in the local hospital I noticed telescopes set up on the heliport. Since it is an unusual occurrence for telescopes to be our during the day, I stop and asked what was going on and then I remembered that today was an "annular" solar eclipse. I stopped to see and, along with my wife and grandson were able to view the event in two ways. One by direct viewing and the other by a reflective method shown in the image below. Miss it? No problem. There will be another in 2023. See you then?  To check out the whole story go here.

SENSELESS

MAY 7: Shannon Kathleen Collins, 38, owner of Camouflage on Pacific Avenue was stabbed to death on the 300 block of Broadway in Santa Cruz about 11:50 a.m. After neighbors called 911, Charles Anthony Edwards III was arrested on suspicion of homicide a few blocks from the scene. Edwards was wearing bloody clothing. A knife was found at the scene. Edwards, 43, is a convicted felon from San Francisco. Police said Collins and Edwards did not know each other. Authorities called the attack random and unprovoked and have not elaborated on the motive.

I am still in shock about this incident. It is incomprehensible to me. How can this happen? There is much fear and anger in our fair city right now. This event has traumatized many, especially women. Women live in fear of assault. To have this tragic event happen in broad daylight to someone just walking down the street is unbelievable!

If you are interested in finding out more about this crime go here and here.

ARE WE THERE YET?

This is an HDR taken with an iPhone 4s.

PROGRESS?

Construction on Highway One through Santa Cruz, CA has been going on for what seems a very long time. Short sections are being widened with two year intervals. Money I suppose. Highway one is the main traffic artery through Santa Cruz. Locals use it to travel to nearby towns and it is always busy especially during normal "rush" hours. Lots of local discussion and complaining and the road work starts, is completed and moves the traffic problem just a little farther down the road. This section will move a bottleneck to a point that has been a severe problem for years. It will be interesting to see how things work out. I figured that I had better take this photo before I forget what it looked like during this time. 

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

Today marks the 10,000th visit from net surfers. I started this blog in August of 2005. Very little traffic for a long time. Something must have happened because hits began to increase and real momentum took off. I thank each and every person that has visited and hope you will return. I have been re-evaluating my photography and have regained a lot of my passion that, frankly has waned in the last couple of years. My health has improved and I have a camera that I have been waiting to afford for a long time so things are looking brighter.

I truly appreciate your visit and I hope you will not only come back, perhaps subscribe and tell your friends. You comments are always most welcome. Well....if you have constructive or nice things to say.

RaY

NOTHING TO SEE HERE. JUST MOVE ALONG.

Recovering. Heroically.

A DAY ON THE WHARF WHICH IS REALLY A PIER

What a beauty! Santa Cruz has a fabulous collection of cars. This woodie is the hit of the "Woodies on the Wharf" show every year. It's in immaculate condition. Today, my grandson Gabriel and I went out on the municipal wharf which is adjacent to the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk. It's visible down the horizontal center of the photograph. We were out doing to shooting (photographically speaking) and we both spied this car. Gaabriel is also a quite an aficionado of cars so he was particularly pleased to see it. That's him taking a photo of it. He has blessed me in so many ways and now he is interested in learning about photography. WOW! Today was out first time out and we worked on composition and the "rule of thirds". He's a natural and I'm sure he will really enjoy creating compelling images if he pursues his passion. Only 10K hours. That's all it takes. Right?

Taken with Canon 5D Mark II

DON'T EVER TURN YOUR BACK ON THE OCEAN

A strong fast moving storm came through yesterday and it produced some great waves. Someone called and told me about the high surf so I went down to the beach to check it out. Great show. Santa Cruz has great surf but it doesn't get big like this a lot. I like the big kaboom and hiss as the water first strikes the limestone and then suddenly pours over it. Then again I have a low entertainment threshold.

Shot with my new Canon 5D Mark II

THE ABBEY

I come to "The Abbey" at least twice a week to meet with friends over a cup-o'-joe and confab. It's generally filled with students from UCSC. The place is quiet, has a great wi-fi network, excellent coffee and pastries, and it's easy to find parking. I really like the atmosphere. It's filled with MacBook Pros. At the table in the lower center of this photo you can see my friend Dennis' MacBook as well as my iPad3 and iPhone. Yep. I've been captured by Apple since 1986. It just works.

Taken by Canon 5D Mark II

ONLY IF I HAVE TO. I MEAN REALLY HAVE TO.....

This is the scene that greets patients when they arrive at the Palo Alto Medical Clinic Urgent Care facility in Santa Cruz. I was there tonight having an MRI done of my shoulder. Unlike earlier in the day, the hall and waiting room for Urgent Care was quiet and empty. I just had to take an opportunity to photograph it. When I have to come to Urgent Care, it's because I'm really feeling bad. Like most people, I'm not my best when I arrive and there is kind of an unreal haze that greets me. I tried to simulate that by creating a vignette when I took the shot.

Used a Canon 5D Mark II with a 17-40mm wide angle lens. Bracketing shots for HDR effect. Lightroom 4.0, Photoshop 5CS extended, Topaz Adjust 5 and Details 2.0.

FORMERLY SAMBO'S

It's hard to imagine that this restaurant was once named Sambo's. It was a national chain! When I moved to Santa Cruz I had breakfast here. When it changed the name to Denny's I ate here a couple of times and experienced Denny's "on the road" and swore I would never eat in one again. Well a while back I was desperate for breakfast and decided to chance it. Hey! It wasn't really all THAT bad! So I came here again today and read my owner's manual for my new camera. Yeah, I admit it. I have been reading the manual. Lots of great features. Had to try out one of the settings and here it is.

Taken using Canon 5D Mark II with 17-40mm f4.0 lens

REFLECTIVE STREETS

It's raining again. Much needed rain. I like the way the light plays off the wet pavement as I drive around town. Headlights glisten and traffic lights extend into the darkness as it uses the asphalt to promote their warning. The sound of the tires splashing in tones that match their rotation speed. Their size. Their type. All so distinct. The windshield wipers work on a steady cadence that beats as a metronome and beckons me to lull and relax to the rhythm. Limited visibility. Slick pavement. Lulling sounds make for a dangerous time. Must remember to enjoy and focus outside my senses. I really like it when it rains.

Taken with a Canon 5D Mark II using a 17-40mm USM wide angle f4.0 lens  1/20 ISO 1600.

BEGINNING AND END

This the central California coastal community of Santa Cruz. It's my home. Has been for over 30+ years. The photo was taken from the campus of the University of California~Santa Cruz. 

This is the end of my posts using my old Canon 10D DSLR. Most of the photographs before this posting were taken by this trusty and reliable camera. I have finally purchased a new Canon 5D Mark II and it is sweet! Full frame CMOS and over 22 megapixels! Lots of professional bells and whistles. I'm excited and feel a renewed passion for photography.

If you are a regular follower you will have noticed that there has been a 3 week gap between this and the last posting. Health issues for both me and my family have "laid me low" for a while but I'm back now and very glad to be.

Weeks and months from now you may come across this posting and wonder what came before. I invite you to continue to drill into the blog and check it out. I have posted photos that are perhaps not worthy of your scrutiny but I appreciate your observance and any comments you might have.

BEGINNING and END

Shot with a Canon 5D Mark II + 17-40mm f4.0 USM Canon lens

MONTEREY BAY MARINE SANCTUARY

This is the site for the new Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary. It is located in the beach area of Santa Cruz near the Municipal Wharf. The lot has been many things. Retail buildings. Parking lot. Skateboard park and now the beautiful building dedicated to the preservation of life in and around the Monterey Bay. It's still not finished. This photo was taken over six months ago. Go to this site for more information.

MY IMPRESSION OF SANTA CRUZ

Rainy day in Santa Cruz, California. Working with a panoramic application. Just trying it out. Not much else to write about it. 

Taken with an iPhone 4S and 360 Video Panorama application.

ORIGIN OF A DREADED DISEASE THAT'S SOMETIMES FATAL

You may be familiar with "Typhoid Mary". She carried the disease and yet was not affected by it. The disease spread as a consequence of her serving food that carried typhoid and killed dozens of people. Well this is the geographic location of the origin of Dunlaps Disease. Tracked down by diligent deductive reasoning and years of sampling, this is the is the place.  It was discovered that after eating several donuts over an extended period of time, customers would find that their stomachs done lapped over their belt. Hence the name. This post is brought to you as a public service free of charge. Of course if you see me here, feel free to buy me a donut. I already have an advanced case of "dunlaps disease" with little hope of recovery. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

Photo taken with an iPhone 4S

SUNDAY • DOWNTOWN SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA

Not much doin' in downtown Santa Cruz today. This is a walkway behind buildings fronting the main street. Overcast and cool. Not many folks out in this part of the town. I suspect many were in movie houses because the parking lot behind me is full. It's a great town.

Taken with an iPhone 4S and Video2Pano app.

MONTEREY BAY • SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA

Saturday afternoon sunset on W. Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz, CA. Cold winds off Monterey Bay made for a very brisk walk today. Lots of people out braving the cold but clear weather. Clear weather is a problem for the area. There has been little rain during the rainy season this year. Rainfall is the main source of replenishment of key reservoirs in the area. There is quite a controversy regarding a proposed desalinization plant to be constructed near this spot. I'm not clear as the key points of contention so I'll refrain from comments on this blog. Perhaps when I have a more clearly defined view I will give my opinion. After all, this is my blog so I get to do that. I know I sure am fortunate to live in this beautiful place.

Taken with an iPhone 4S

I LOVE A GOOD STORY

I was on my way to get my favorite blend of coffee in downtown Santa Cruz, California when I encountered this man. At first I just dismissed him as another strange person that our town has become known for so I didn't think a thing about it as I went on my way. While I was waiting for the grinder to finish I kept thinking about this guy. A storyteller. That seemed like a pretty good gig for someone that had a rich imagination. I figured I drop by and chat for a few moments on the way back to my truck so I did. 


He turned out to be quite a character. He was very pleasant, had a great sense of humor, and a very enticing voice. Perfect for telling stories. I asked if I could photograph him and he was more than willing as he commented that having his image floating around could lead to more exposure and better business. He said that he had a FaceBook account but I was unable to find it. Pity.

Photo taken with an iPhone 4S

SQUID ROW ~ SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA

Squid Row is a one block long street in the heart of Santa Cruz. Artist studios, machine shops, and this retail storefront occupy most of one side of the street and Santa Cruz Art Center occupy the other. I was taken by all the wonderful colors and the traveler and his dog that stopped by to shop. Santa Cruz was known very quite a while as a place where "hippies" lived. At one time it was the Volkswagen Bus capitol of America. This shop continues that tradition although fewer and fewer exist. Much more upscale housing and shops have taken their place. Santa Cruz also had a "Skid Road" created by the processing of limestone in the nearby mountains. A skid road was made up of wooden logs placed across a downhill road and spaces about six feet apart. Large sleds pulled by horses and mules would pull the sled filled with processed limestone from the kilns to the wharf for further processing into cement in a town about 12 miles north on the coast. The term "skid row" probably comes from this "skid road" term because once the sled began to slide downhill it wouldn't stop until it reached bottom. Makes sense. Just don't get on the sled.

HOME SWEET HOME

After working 50 years I have retired and I live here. Sweet.

THE RAINS CAME

Finally! It's been a very very dry winter here in Santa Cruz, California. There is/was a sense of early panic because we rely so much on the winter rains to furnish our water supply. Santa Cruz is situated in an area defined by a Mediterranean climate. Dry summers and wet winters. Only 2% of the world's land mass has this climate. It is, without a doubt, one of the main reasons it is so wonderful to live here. This is a photo I took today of my front yard. A cold snap a few days before and now the rain has delivered this striking sight. I live in a beautiful place. Oh! The title of the post is the name of a movie that had a very dramatic affect on me as a boy. It's probably pretty corny now.

Taken with a Canon 10D and a 17mm-40mm lens.

'54 CADDY

I shot this photo with an iPhone 3GS on W. Cliff Drive in Santa Cruz, CA. A town with an abundance of really great cars. This one is beautifully restored right down to the 'Continental Kit' on the rear. Must be a real pleasure to ride/drive around town with the top down.

WALTON LIGHTHOUSE • GOODNIGHT JOHN BOY

This is the Walton Lighthouse at the entrance to the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor(at top) and the previous beacon light that was replaced in 2001 with $60K donated by a local businessman named Charles Watson. People enjoy a leisurely walk out the jetty to where the new lighthouse stands. There is a great view of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf and Seabright Beach as well as the yacht harbor.

OPEN SPACE

NO POSTING HERE YET

HAPPY NEW YEAR ~ 2012

As one door closes another opens. What's on the other side? That's part of the excitement in life. Only by opening the door and passing through will we know. Fearful unknown? or Excited anticipation. Both. Put out an APB for 2012. Here I come!

SO LONG 2011 and GOOD RIDDANCE

'Nuff said.

NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS or NOT

This pretty much sums up my commitment to my 2011 Resolutions and I like this take much better. 

I FELT THE EARTH MOVE UNDER MY FEET ~ Carol King

October 17, 1989. Loma Prieta Earthquake. Dramatically changed Santa Cruz, especially the downtown area, forever. I was working for the City of Santa Cruz and had access to the areas that were cordoned off for search/rescue and materials removal. I took this photo the next day of the tree crew in front of what now is Starbucks Coffee.

The building below stood for almost six months before it had to be razed after it caught fire. It is now the home of the beloved Bookshop Santa Cruz.

I'll be posting several of the photographs I took during that time soon.

RAILROADED

A couple of years ago I went to Washington DC in June! What was I thinkin'? It was 107 for three days in a row. One of the consolations was the Metro. It was incredibly fast and efficient. It was also cooler underground. It took some getting used to but I found my around in no time. Not always successful but I figure for an "out-of-towner" I did pretty well.

I just enjoyed BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) recently when my son, his wife and grandson rode it to San Francisco to an Auto Show. Both systems are very impressive.

REMEMBERING A FRIEND

Silver Lake, California. September 2006. Cold. How cold was it? Imagine a wrought iron toilet in January. This is my friend Richard. It was about this time that his cancer was beginning to manifest itself. He had been very uncomfortable and experienced intense pain for a while but was hopeful that it was nothing really serious. It was. He fought the valiant fight until July of 2010 when the cancer got the best of him. He was so many things to so many people. I miss him very much. I carry a photo of him on my truck visor and say hello every time I get in to go somewhere. Advice: Be present with everyone. Especially the ones you love and care about. Their presence is your greatest present and there's no time like now.

Here's a shot of an island in the lake. Look closely and you can see the wind-ripples on the water. It was so cold with the windchill factor that even though I was bundled up, I had to retreat to the car. Brrrrrrr.


As long as we are here may as well watch the sunset on Thunder Mountain. 

Taken with a Canon 10D

BLACKBIRDS AND TUFA • MONO LAKE

The sun was rising above Mono Lake and I waiting for it to illuminate the tufa towers that circle the lake. The sun was up but I was down. There was a large mound between me and the horizon so the background here is lit and the tufa is waiting. Apparently so are a huge flock of black birds. Didn't look they were finding food in the tufa so it must be a roost while they wait for the insects to wake up and venture out.

Taken with a Canon 10D and a Canon 75mm-300mm telephoto

NOTHING TO SEE HERE....JUST MOVE ALON

THIS IS NOT THE DROID YOU ARE LOOKING FOR

STRONG DOORS INSURE PRIVACY

Residence along a callejon in Guanajuato, Mexico. I wonder what is inside. Most likely an open area with a residence. Most of the homes in this really amazing World Heritage Site are behind walls along callejones.

OCEAN VIEW OF THE BOARDWALK

First the ocean view. The photo just below is from my bedroom window. The view of the roller coaster is only available during the winter when the leaves are not blocking the view. Having an ocean view adds quite a bit to the value of property so when I sold the house I was sure to point out that if you stand on your tiptoes and look at a certain angle you can see the ocean through the Boardwalk here in Santa Cruz, CA. Now the photo.

This is the Boardwalk here in Santa Cruz, California. There was a full moon the night before this shot. I live in a great place to work, retire and/or visit. Come to town and get rid of some of that heavy money you're lugging around. We'll put it to good use.

NO SHELTER TONIGHT

No shelter tonight. No sleeping below the bridge. Tides high and the river is backed up. Adjust. Adjust. Adjust. There are alternative places. Other bridges. Other boxes. Other campsites. Be careful. Keep everything close. Trust no one. Harsh? You bet. Numbing. Numb. Not comfortably numb. Artificially numb. Score? Gotta. Can't take this any other way. No shelter tonight? Gotta be. Gotta be.

CHARLEY'S PILE

This is Charley's pile. San Lorenzo Park in Santa Cruz, California. I used to supervise Charley. Well maybe not actually supervise him. You see Charley had a way of doing things that well, were hard to change. So after a while I figured that I just couldn't take the time to tell him every thing that I wanted him to do in detail and just kept track of him. Park looked OK most of the time.

Taken with a Canon 10D

OREGON COASTAL FOREST • 2004

I went to Oregon to let the coastal winds blow through me. Give me a chance to find and experience myself as an artist. I don't know so much about the 'artist' part but I did have a very very enjoyable trip. The scenery was beautiful and I just couldn't get enough of it. I was transported to a 'standstill' point. I was so focused on my experience that, at times, I didn't seem to be the same person that arrived. Everything was so much more  vivid and sweet. My senses were filled to capacity it seemed. All I could do was try and capture some of the moments with my camera. I went for a walk in the coastal forest made up of a mix of conifers but dominated by Oregon/Douglas Firs (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and Western Chain ferns (Woodwardia fimbriata) and everywhere I looked the images seem to be so clear and distinct. As a practicing Urban Forester I especially enjoyed seeing these trees in their native state. I wonder what was in that mushroom soup I had at the restaurant I ate at when I first arrived. Hmmmmm.

Taken with a Canon 10D with a 17-40mm lens

HAIL IN THE BAMBOO?

This in part of entry area of my front yard.It had just finished hailing! Hail at sea level is not a common occurrence here in Santa Cruz, California. It was a quick storm and left the air crisp and fresh. The air here is very very seldom anything but clean and fresh because Santa Cruz is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean about 100 miles south of San Francisco. We are blessed with a wonderful Mediterranean climate. Come visit.

WOODSMAN PUT DOWN THAT AXE

These fisheye photos of a Coastal Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) were taken in preparation for a presentation to the City of Santa Cruz (California) Parks and Recreation Commission. As the City's Arborist I was charged with maintaining and protecting the City's Heritage Tree Ordinance. The owner of this tree requested a permit to remove it because it was protected by the ordinance that I helped draft. 


The tree was too messy for the owner and the neighbor so they agreed to split the cost of removing it. The owner applied for a permit for removal and it was denied. The owner then appealed my decision to the Parks and Recreation Commission. 


I have a little "show biz" in my blood so I often used unusual and graphic ways to portray trees to the Commission in hopes that the beauty and stature of the tree(s) would sway their decision. It often was a successful ploy. 


In this case I used an old Nikon Coolpix 4500 with a fisheye lens because the tree was growing in a very confined space. The lens captured the majority of the tree while depicting it in a rather striking way.  The Commission sustained my denial and tree is still standing today.


Chalk one of for trees!

A LOVELY DAY IN THE "CITY"

This is the marina at Fort Mason in San Francisco, CA. The hill in the background is really an island named Angel Island. Many years ago it was the entry point on the West Coast of the United States for immigrants from Asia. Fort Mason is an exhibition facility and artists studios. It also has a great restaurant named "Greens". It's a great place for excellent food and an even better view.

Photo taken with a Canon 10D

ON THE ROAD ~ STILL

I meet some very interesting people in front of Rite-Aid on Soquel Avenue here in Santa Cruz. If you drill into this blog you will see a variety of unusual appearing people as well as cars and motorcycles. This man was "just passing through" from Oregon on his way south. He had been peddling across Colorado the year before. He sez he has been on the road for several years. Looks like he had all he could carry and, according to him, all that he needs. I'm sure he has an amazing story to tell. As usual I was too busy to take the time to talk with him a while.

Taken with an iPhone 3GS

MONTE BALMACEDA GLACIER

I visited this glacier in 1998. It is near the city of Puerto Natales, Chile in the most southern area of Patagonian Chile. It is also the entryway to Torres del Paine National Park. Thirteen years ago it was possible to see the effects of global warming. The glacier had been receding for about 8 years and, when this photo was taken it no longer released into the fjord. It is a magnificent place to live and visit. This is a scan of a slide. Please pardon the quality of the image.

Photo taken with a Pentax 35mm film camera and a 20mm wide angle lens.

YOSEMITE IN THE FALL OF 2005

Three photos I took while photographing Yosemite with a group of men I knew. I had just sustained a very painful injury and couldn't walk very much or far. These photos were taken just a short distance from the car we were in. It's also the first series of photos I had taken using a tripod. Not a very good one but it did give the camera enough stability to avoid digital artifacts that come with handheld motion. Now I have a great tripod and all of my photos have to be shot using it. My hands are too shaky now.

•Taken with a Canon 10D using a 17 - 40mm lens