Return to an Old Standby

I have been overwhelmed with family responsibilities of late so I haven't picked up my camera that often the past few weeks. This morning when I awoke I looked out out on the Little Lake Valley and I was compelled to grab my camera and photograph the scene below. The trees silhouetted by the morning light were so beautiful. What a great way to start my day. God's blessings upon your week, chris This image was captured with a Canon EOS 7D mkII camera and a TAMRON SP 150-600mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 lens. #WithMyTamron, #TeamCanon

Cloudy Day on the Coast

My brother, Eric visited from Colorado for a week. He is a professional photographer from Estes Park Colorado. He can often be found leading photography tours into Rocky Mountain National Park. While Eric was visiting we photographed a few times in the morning chasing turkeys and deer. One day we headed out to the coast looking for whatever we could photograph. He got some great images of the Black Oyster Catchers. While he was chasing them I focused on some long exposures of the coastline north of fort Bragg, Ca. We both came back happy. God's love and blessings to all, chris #TeamCanon These images were created with a Canon EOS 7D camera and a Canon S- 10-22mm lens. I used a Lee Super Stopper filter and a Lee soft grad filter to enable me to have a 30 second exposure during the middle of the day.

Massive Surf!

Earlier this week I read the surf report for the Mendocino coastline. They were predicting swells in the range of twenty five to forty feet. When I saw that I knew I had to drive over and do some photography. It's not often that we get to see surf of that size. The next morning I got off to a slow lazy start and then got stuck behind a really slow driver going between thirty and forty on the straight aways. They wouldn't use pull outs and I had to drive half way to the coast before I could pass them. When I arrived at the Fort Bragg harbor entrance there were already some photographers set up photographing these massive swells rolling in. I stopped and talked to them for awhile. One photographer was all the way from Maryland! Leaving them behind I headed north for more scenic terrain. I stopped for awhile and photographed Wizards rock at Kabiselleh and then drove further up towards Westport for some more images. This was a day of safety first as the surf if you were to be swept in was incredibly dangerous. Some of the sneaker waves that rolled in were hitting the tops of the bluffs!!! There would be nowhere to run if you were on the rocks or the beach. It was a great morning for photography. God's blessings upon your weekend, chris All images were created with a Canon EOS 7D MkII camera and either a Canon 100-400IS v.1 lens or a Canon EFS-10-22mm lens. A Lee 15 stop "Super Stopper" ND filter was used on some images as well. #TeamCanon

Last Image of 2017

The morning before New Year's Day I photographed some trees in the foggy Little Lake Valley below where we live. I love to pick out landscape details using my telephoto lens. I used my Canon 7D MkII camera with a Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 lens. The camera setting used was AV mode, ISO 125,F11.0 at 1/125th of a sec. #TeamCanon, #WithMyTamronGod's blessings upon the upcoming year.

Waiting for the Birds

This morning I was waiting for the birds to fly into the frame to add some interest to the foggy redwood composition I was creating. When I checked my Facebook account this morning I was reminded in my memories that I was photographing the same exact subject two years ago. Either I'm still being creative or I'm stuck in a rut. Time to go on a trip! God's precious love to all, chris This image was created with a Canon 7D MkII camera and a Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens. The camera settings used were AV mode, ISO 800, F8.0 at 1/500th of a sec.#TeamCanon, #withmytamron

Gorgeous Sunrise

While lazing about in bed this morning I noticed the wall opposite our bed was awash in a soft pink light. I roused myself to get up and look out the window. My eyes were met with a glorious sunrise. Thank you Lord for such a beautiful way to start the day. Image created with a handheld Canon 7D MkII camera and a Canon 17-85mm EF-S- F 1:4-5.6 lens. The camera settings used were AV mode, ISO 400, F 11.0 at 1/60th of a sec.#TeamCanon

Into the Forest

This morning when I awoke and looked out the window I could see the fog was starting to burn off and shafts of light were breaking through. What a perfect day for a walk down our road into the forest. I found that the Douglas Iris were just starting to finish up and the Bracken Ferns up fully up and growing. It was really nice walking through the fog drip with a slight breeze barely moving the trees. What a delightful way to start the day. God's love and blessings to all, chris Both of these images were created with a handheld Canon 7D MkII and a Canon EF-S10-22mm lens.

Ever Changing View

It started snowing yesterday afternoon and slowly built up over the night. We awoke to about four inches of snow. It was just enough snow to make the view out our bedroom window quite delightful. It also made it a necessary to have to use 4WD to get down our driveway to the road. Right now as I am typing this I can hear the snow bombs coming off the trees as the snow is melting. God's love and blessings to all, chris Image created with a Canon 7D mkII and a Tamron 18-200 mm lens.

Three Views of Three Chop Ridge

We have a very narrow view of the sunset over the ocean from where I live in Mendocino County in Northern California. Many years ago I had a fantastic view of sunsets over the ocean but the trees have grown up and have now left us with a little slice. Last night I could tell that it was going to be a pretty good sunset. I walked down our road and made a number if images of slightly different views from the same location. It's always good to work a subject with both portrait and landscape views as well as a variety of compositions. These three images ended up being my favorites of the sunset over Three Chop Ridge with the last one being the one that I liked best. Enjoy the views and God bless, chris All images were created with a Canon 7D MKII and a Tamron 18-200mm lens.

Out and About

This morning I was up with the sunrise as I had an eight o'clock appointment in the big city of Ukiah. There was a pretty nice sunrise. After my appointment I stopped and photographed some of the vineyards along the way. Most of the leaves have fallen off and the blackbirds are picking off the grapes that were left behind and not harvested. I made it a point to drive by Centennial Reservoir to photograph the snag on the edge of the dam. I was hoping that there would be a Bald Eagle there today but I was out of luck. I then photographed some water droplets on the fence and headed home. God's light and precious love to all, chris All images were created with a Canon 7D mkII and a Tamron 18-200mm lens handheld. Exposures varied.

Touch of Color

We are in for another hot day ahead. I was really surprised to see a touch of color in this mornings sunrise when I got up this morning. There wasn't any time to travel anywhere as the sun was already rising so I made a few quick images from the corner of our deck. Enjoy the view and your day as well. God bless, chris Images created with a Canon 7D mkII and a Tamron 150-600 and also a 100 macro lens.

California Landscapes

Over the past few days we visited friends in AndyOch. It's actually Antioch but our friends have a son named Andy so it has always been a fun play on words for our family. I am drawn to the wilderness. Every time that we visit Antioch I feel a strong need to get out and explore nature. It may just be that I feel a bit trapped when I'm in suburbia. Luckily Antioch has some great parks on the edge of the city to escape to with some great trails for hiking. This time Lenore and I went for a couple of early morning hikes up into Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. Underneath these mountains there were coal deposits that they would mine for Coal (black diamonds) hence the name of the preserve. It was a perfect way to start the day in God's creation, chris all images created with a Canon 7D and a Canon EF-S17-85mm lens.

Maybe a Little Rain Today

Rain is in the forecast for today. I was up early putting the cat out this morning. When I looked to the east and I really liked all the layers of trees, mountains and contrasting light over the Little Lake Valley. with the heavy cloud cover I knew it wasn't going to last very long so I ran downstairs and grabbed my camera and a telephoto lens. I love to shoot selective landscapes with a telephoto zoom. It's fun and creative choosing interesting patterns in the landscape. All images created with a Canon 7D and a Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM Lens. Camera was handheld and braced. May God bless you with his precious love today, chris

Monochromatic Monday

This morning I was up a little after six thirty. I was checking to see if our deck was dry enough to stain as I power washed it yesterday. When I looked to the east I could see the mountain layers covered in a thin layer of fog with the silhouette of the Madrone tree. I went back inside and grabbed my camera and a telephoto lens. Soon one image led to another all without color. just another "Monocromatic Monday". God's love and blesings upon your week, chris all images created with a handheld Canon 7D and a Canon 100-400IS v1 lens.

Morning Snapshots

When I woke up this morning the fog had rolled in over the ridge top last night from the coast. The forest must have been sighing with pleasure. I grabbed my camera and a wide angle lens and took a walk down the ridge from our house. I was hoping for some angel's breath (Crepuscular rays) but the fog was just a little bit too thick. Here are a couple of snap shots I found along the way. God's love and blessings to all, chris both images created with a hand held and braced Canon 7D and a Canon EF-s-10-22 wide angle zoom lens at 10mm. Camera settings used were AV mode, ISO 800, f 16.0 at 1/30th and 1/25th of a sec.

Find the "W"

Like many small towns across the United States Willts,CA has a giant letter on a prominent mountainside over looking the city. In the case of Willits it is obviously a "W". Even in the salt flats of Nevada and Utah I have noticed that some of the little towns place their namesake letter in rocks spelled out on the salt pan. Then there is Hollywood. They go at in a big way! You can't miss the name of their city. This morning as I was restocking and cleaning the hummingbird feeders I noticed some beautiful breaking light in the fog and clouds over Willits. I grabbed my camera and composed some images of the beautiful light. It was only after uploading the images to my computer that I noticed the prominent "W" hidden in the image. God's blessings upon your weekend, chris Canon 7D anda Canon 100-400 IS handheld and braced.

Valley Down Below

This morning arrived without fanfare as there wasn't a cloud in the sky. It was crystal clear and as such there wasn't any grand pink sunrise to photograph. I gave up all thoughts of photographing any sort of landscape until I noticed a thin layer of fog upon the valley floor. My eyes were instantly drawn to all the treetops of oaks, redwoods and firs sticking up from the fog. I ran downstairs and grabbed my cameraand a couple of telephoto lenses. I love to photograph landscapes with a telephoto lens. It just brings out things that you don't normally see with the naked eye. I started with a 400mm telephoto and then I switched to a 600. After editing the images this one taken with the 600 was my favorite. I especially like the oak trees in it. May you have a blessed day, chris

What's the Point?

I love photographing landscapes with a telephoto lens. It's fun to be able to pick out details that normally aren't observed in such a close up detailed way. In a way they are like tiny landscapes unto themselves. This morning started off with a thin layer of clouds covering the sky. These were erfect conditions for photographing the fog down below in the Little Lake Valley below where I live. With my telephoto lens I was able to pick out the point of "Red Hill" sticking out into the fog on the valley floor. God's light and love to all, chris Image created with a Canon 7D and a Tamron 150-600 at 600mm. AV mode, ISO 200, F 13.0 at 1/25th of a sec. Camera was braced against a pole for support.

Light in the Forest

This afternoon when I was making some repairs to the wood flooring we had installed I looked out the window and saw the most beautiful light shining through the fog in the forest right out side our door. I grabbed my camera threw on a wide angle lens and ran outside. I walked up and down the ridge looking for interesting spots to photograph. After uploading and editing the images this one was my favorite. Image created with a handheld Canon 7D and a Canon EFS 10-22 mm lens

Postcard Picture Spot

On Saturday after five days of hanging around the house watching the flooring contractor I was going a bit stir crazy. Luckily we already had a family hiking trip planned and I told the contractor not to come back until Monday. He wasn't too pleased as he has only has one day left to finish the job. We got off to a late start which probably worked out for the better because it was raining. Luckily as we headed out the door I threw some umbrellas in the trunk of the car which we immediately put to use when we got to Montgomery Woods State Natural Reserve. If you want to see a mature magnificent Redwood Grove. Montgomery Woods is the place to see it. There is a spot off to the left just as you enter the grove that has seen the tripod legs of hundreds possibly thousands of photographers over the years. There have been many postcards and calendars created from this spot. I took a few images from this spot too. I included Annika for a small variation to show the scale of the Redwood Trees. We had a really nice time exploring the grove even finding a couple of Rough Skinned Newts along the way. On the winding, twisting return trip we stopped many times along Orr Springs road to take in the foggy scenery. Afterwards we had a nice Asian dinner at the Lotus in Ukiah. What a wonderful day. God's love and blessings upon your week, chris All images created with a Canon 7D handheld or braced as I didn't want to carry my tripod and an umbrella.