A Couple of Birds and a Sunset

Thankfully yesterday afternoon went better than the morning. I took Annika down to Mendocino Junior College for her Sign Language Class in Ukiah,California. The class lasts for an hour and a half so it gives me plenty of time to do some photography. The campus is dotted with old oak trees so it provides the perfect habitat for a wide variety of birds. The birds are fairly tolerant of people so it makes for a good combination. It was slightly windy yesterday which cut down on the number of birds but there were still a fair number of them around. I got a few images of some California Towhees and White Throated Sparrows. The sunset on the ridge overlooking the camps wasn't bad either.

God's light and love to all,

chris

Being stupid or A Monday Morning Drive Gone Bad

This morning I went for a drive out Sherwood Road near Willits, Califonia looking for some elk to photograph. I found the elk herd but the big bull was up in the trees and wouldn't come down. I guess he doesn't like his photo taken.With no big bulls in view I decided to drive the eastern branch of Sherwood all the way back to Highway 101. Along the way I spotted where a good samaritan had put someones hubcap up on a fence post. Later on I photographed an old "No Trespassing Sign" that no longer had much to say. Eventually I wound my way back to Highway 101 and headed down to Willits. When I reached Reynolds Highway I made the decision to restock my bird feeders out on the Burris Ranch.
Along the way I spotted an oak tree out in the fog I thought would be cool to photograph. I pulled off onto the shoulder only to sink up to the axles on both wheels. DUH! That was smart I thought to myself. In trying to get out I realized that I was just shredding my tire that was on the pavement. Finally using my brain I gave up and called AAA for a tow truck. A CHP officer came by and checked on me and helped with traffic until the Tow truck arrived. While I waited I photographed a Grain Truck going by and fielded numerous offers to pull me out which I thought was pretty cool and shows the good nature of the people around here.

God's precious love and blessings to all,

chris

"Not True" This Was Just for Fun

Today while I was going through some old files I ran across an old image of my son Jay with our cat Mango.For some reason it inspired me to create one of those urban myths that weave their way across the world wide web sometimes. In any case here is my version.The following is not true. All the names and locations are made up. Any likeness to persons or places in the real world is purely accidental. Except for Jay and Mango. Have fun!

Tan Oak Leaf

I'm sticking with the simple theme today. I visualized a single leaf and nothing more with no distractions. First I thought of a leaf on dark black ground but realized that seemed too cold. I wanted something a bit warmer in feeling. Here is what I came up with.

God's precious love to all,

chris

Simple Sunset

After days and days of rain up here on the North Coast of California we were treated to an almost cloudless sunset tonight. There was one wisp of a cloud just out of the frame in the image I chose for today.I was drawn to the simplicity of this image. The ocean was almost white and the sky was all shades of orange. Layered in was a dark blak ridge of the coast range. All very simple and pleasing to the eye.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Where Do I Fit In or Odd One Out

As I walked across the parking lot to the gym this morning the smell of bacon was drifting by from the restaurant next door. Talk about counter productive to what I'm trying to accomplish by working out.That bacon smelled so good.

When I got home I worked on some stock photography. My theme for today was "being different". So my goal was to try and represent that symbolically through my images. Using toothpicks and matches I came up with a few ideas that worked. Here are a few samples.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

At the Lake

I spent some time this morning editing images from my brief trip yesterday to Lake Mendocino in Northern California close to where I live. In addition to yesterdays Western Bluebird I also captured some images of some common birds. A mother brought four cute toddlers down to the lakeshore while I was there. She had a basket full of goodies for the birds. All it took was a few handfuls of bread to be thrown out and the birds came from all over to try and partake of the feast. So I got a lot of images of gulls (the experts on gulls can figure out what kind), Brewers Blackbirds, American Coots and Mallards. All in all a very productive morning.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

The Early Bird

I typically begin to see Western Bluebirds showing up in the area where I live in Northern California as early as the last two weeks of February.Today as I was photographing near Lake Mendocino I was shocked to see a flock of Bluebirds.One flew from the group and landed on a signpost near my pick up. This gave me the opportunity I wanted. Here is the result.

God's precious love to all,

chris

Filling Time With Woodpeckers

This afternoon I took Annika down to Ukiah for a Sign Language class at the Junior College. While I was waiting for her class to finish I filled my time by doing some photography. I was photographing Acorn Woodpeckers until a pair of Sharp Shin Hawks appeared. It got very quiet and everything disappeared. No more bird photography after that.I photographed a silhouette of the ridgeline just before Annika came out from her class.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Christmas Left Overs

The snow was really coming down this morning for a short time. Then it abruptly shifted back to rain. I was really hoping for some snow photography.Today is a perfect day to stay inside while the rain drops reign.

I had my camera all set up for photographing the falling snow so when it stopped my attention turned to this vase of flowers left over from Christmas.There were all these flowers with muted colors that drew me to them. So Christmas left overs it will be.

God's love and blessings to all of you,

chris

Fly Tying

Today the sun made its appearance for a brief time before the gray closed in again. It was time for some indoor stock photography again. I stuck with the fly fishing theme and did some fly tying images.

God's love and blessings to everyone,

chris

Indoor Pursuits

The weather today here in Northern California was suitable for indoor activities like knitting,sewing, fly tying and stock photography. I chose the latter and racked my brain for some still lifes to pursue. I settled on fly fishing and went to the garage and gathered the needed items. Here is the result.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Rainy Day Red

The rains are finally returning which creates its own photographic challenges with the gray gloomier weather. I look for bold colors which stand out and are saturated by the bright colors or I just go with it and find misty, foggy and dark scenes. Today I went with the former and found a bright delivery truck dropping off beverages at a local market.I also photographed some bright lights reflecting off of the pavement in the rain. When I got home I had some fun in Photoshop combining them into one colorful image. I think they look pretty cool together. Enjoy the rain when it comes your way.

God bless,

chris

Time for Dinner

I got off to an early mornings start. Kind of bummed as there wasn't any snow. There was a possibility of it in the forecast this morning. Hopefully later in the week we will get some because I really want to do some bird photography in the snow.

Today's image is a neon sign next to the gym where I work out.It is from Gribaldo's Diner. I have been trying to find a good angle to photograph this sign for a long time now. This is the best angle so far. I'm going to keep looking. I'm getting there but it's not yet what I really have imaged in my mind

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Park It

We got a safety recall notification about the sun roof on Lenore's car. Apparently the sun roof glass could at any time fall from the roof of the car and squash you. Naturally this got our attention and we called about getting it repaired. They responded that we could get it repaired for free at the nearest repair facility. Here is where living in a small town becomes a major disadvantage. The closest place was an hour and a half away in Santa Rosa. After six months of waiting during which the sun roof could have fallen on us at any moment the repairmen called and we set up a time for it to be repaired. I asked for a time in the morning so I could go down early in the morning and squeeze in some photgraphy at Howarth Park before the appointment.

I drove down this morning and was able to get in about forty five minutes of photography at the park before I had to go get the car repaired. The lighting was nice early morning light and there were plenty of subjects. One of the advantages of photographing at a park is that the birds become accustomed to people and are more approachable than they would be out in the wilds. I was able to walk within ten feet of a Black Crowned Night Heron. Something virtually immpossible to do anywhere near where I live. I wanted to spend more time photographing but that had to wait until another day. There was a Kingfisher that I want to get to know better so I will be going back.

God' preciious love to all,

chris

Minor League Tule Elk

This morning I drove out to the Sherwood Valley near Willits in Northern California. I went looking for Tule Elk as there are several herds on ranches out that way. I found one herd that was in heavy timber just off of the road but they were too difficult to photograph. There were two satellite bulls in a ranch pasture across the road. They were practicing for the big leagues sparring round and round pushing shoving trying to get the best of their sparring partner. Photographing elk was a great way to start the day.

God’s love and blessings to everyone,

chris