Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Sunday, January 29, 2012

X-ray of a Lemon Slice

This was going to be a color photo, but when I converted it to black and white and it remind me of an x-ray. I like it. : )  I posted both versions.





























Friday, January 27, 2012

Tonight's Dinner


Mediterranean Veggie on Tomato Basil bread.  (sooooo Good!!)
Fuji Apple
Kettle Chips

From Panera Bread. 

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The Sitting Tree

Not sure what type of tree this is but I like the branches.



Monday, January 23, 2012

Waterfall Abstract

I walked over to strawberry creek with the intention of taking a pic of the waterfall, But as I watched the water spill over the rocks  I notice these cool patterns.  I slowed the shutter speed in zoom in on the water on the rocks.  Results: very cool abstract.



I decided to add the pic of the waterfall just because.



With Wow filter

Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Rain has Arrived

     I was looking out the window at the first rain of the winter season here in Cali.  I suddenly notice the patterns the raindrops made on the window pane.  Some of the drops appeared as if they were frozen, while others remind me of broken glass or spider veins .  Nice abstract.  




Tuesday, January 17, 2012

POTW52 Themes for February and March



Our black & white challenge ends in  2 weeks.  Here are the themes for February and March.

01/29 through 02/04:         Food
02/05 through 02/11:         Silhouettes
02/12 through 02/18:         Romance
02/19 through 02/25:         Experimentation
02/26 through 03/03:         Reflections
03/04 through 03/10:           Windows
03/11 through 03/17:         Macros
03/18 through 03/24:           Spring Flowers
03/25 through 03/31:         Portraits

I look forward to seeing to everyone's images.  

Happy Shooting.  

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Photo Walkabout: Mountain View Cemetery


I spent the day at Mountain View cemetery.   I grew up a couple of blocks from this place and I use to walk the grounds all the time but never pay too much attention to the history it held.   This place is huge and there are so many winding roads that I got lost trying to get back to the main one.   It's an awesome place to go for a walk or a hike and it's filled with so much amazing history that there is an official docent tour that happens twice a month.   The main image below is of Gothic Chapel.  Not sure how it got that name.  I couldn't go inside the chapel but was able to take a few images through the front door.

      One the main section at the cemetery is “Millionaires Row” where some of California's wealthiest and historical people are buried.   Millionaires Row sits high up on a hill and has some of the largest crypts in the cemetery, not to mention a magnificent view.  Some of the names I recognized there were; Warren Bechtel, Charles Crocker, Freda Ehrmann, J.A Folger and Domingo Ghirardelli.
The other section I visited today was the “Civil War Veterans” section.  There were a few other sections I wanted to see but ran out of time.

This is a series that I've wanted to shoot for over a year.  I think I’ll do one more trip before it's complete.

The other thing I learn today was the cemetery was design by famed architect Fredrick Law Olmsted who also designed New York City’s Central Park and much of Stanford University and UC Berkeley.  
I had a great time walking around and talking to the daily walkers and getting a  great history lesson from them.


Gothic Chapel



Sunshine through the trees
Inside Gothic Chapel
Chapel Windows
Millionaires Row Crypts


Millionaires Row



Civil War


Civil War
Tombstone


Thursday, January 12, 2012

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Rubik

My last year brain teasers were Suduko and Cricklers. This year it's the Rubik's cube. I can solve it in 48 minutes.   My goal is to solve it in 20 minutes or less by the end of the year.



Monday, January 9, 2012

Wall of Plates

I spotted this wall of plates embedded  in concrete outside a storefront in Berkeley. 



Saturday, January 7, 2012

Full Moon among the Palms

Went to Benicia today to shoot the Sunset.  I got there early so I decided to walked around the marina.  While on my way back to my sunset spot, I notice the full moon between these two palm trees.  I got some nice shots of the sunset but this was my favorite of the day.  


Thursday, January 5, 2012

Shadow Play and Fire Rings

Nothing special about this tree.  I just like the way the light from the setting sun and the tree branches created streaks of orange light around the tree trunk.  As I was walking toward this tree, it look as if  fire was traveling  down and around the trunk.  





Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Wounded

Spotted this leaf on my way back from lunch. I didn't have my camera with me, but my blackberry did a good job of capturing the detail of  this leaf.  The veins were so red that it made the leaf appear as if it were bleeding. The spot at the top is where is was wounded.  It's a little blurry but I like it.



Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Ink Blots

While out on my morning walk, I pass by this bare tree.  The branches were pretty interesting.  They remind me of an abstract drawing or ink blots. 


Monday, January 2, 2012

Lines and Texture

I was on my way to lunch and notice this large palm leaf backlit by the sun.  I thought the lines and the texture of the leaf was kinda cool.  I converted it to black and white and added a little grain.  My first photo for the photo52 Challenge.