February 28, 2014

Marin County -- big sky country


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

I suppose other folks have basic needs--oh you know; sex, a cellphone, and someone to listen to them drone on at considerable length... But just set me f-r-e-e with a c-a-m-e-r-a and my basic needs are pretty much met.

Now, I am not complaining, but it was raining on Wednesday and as you may know, trying to photograph in the rain can be problematic. One towel draped over my head and another over the camera is of no use if raindrops are moving sideways--towards my lens.

Late Wednesday afternoon the rain lightened and the sky near Nicasio began to show a bit of definition. Can you spot the dairy farm in the photo above?



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

A closer view of the dairy farm--name escapes me--in February of 2011.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 27, 2014

Tam and Elephant -- two of our Marin County mountains


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

She was named Tamalpais (Tam-al-pie'-us) by local Miwok Indians centuries ago. Most believe her name originated from the Miwok words for "coast mountain", although others claim it comes from "Tamal"--the name Spanish missionaries gave to the Coast Miwok people and "pais" the Spanish word for "country". Others like to believe that "Tamalpais" was a "sleeping Indian Madien", as her outline can be imagined when viewed from the east, but in reality the notion of "Tamalpa", the "sleeping Indian maiden" (or goddess) originated from a 1921 theatrical production of the same name.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

This gentle giant (above) has two names, Black and Elephant. These are quite descriptive. From the west when back-lit by morning sun she appears black, and from her eastern side (near the "Nicasio" that I photograph so often) her outline resembles the undulations of an elephant.

While public land and tails abound on Mt. Tamalpais, Elephant (or Black) Mountain is privately owned ranch land--off limits to day-trippers.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 26, 2014

a blazing sun and her tricks -- Nicasio, California


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Optical or otherwise, I can usually count on a few surprises...



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

I realize it is probably just magic, but my jaw drops every time.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 25, 2014

Sunday morning at Vista Point


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

On Sunday after finishing up my normal walk-around through Northbeach and Chinatown I stopped at Vista Point on the north end of the famous Gee-Gee Bridge to practice my skills as a tourist. It was a battle-royal between sun and a thick layer of clouds, and the sun was winning.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

A busy Vista Point on a Sunday in late December. Come one, come all.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 24, 2014

Olema Creek at Five Brooks -- wilds of Marin County


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

"Are we there yet"; I had to ask myself... It was a bright and glorious Saturday morning and I was out to capture at least a few photos--and I was definitely not succeeding.

But then, a few miles south of Olema I approached a place with the promising name of Five Brooks. And although I have always doubted if there were actually five brooks here, I decided to stop and investigate the one creek that can be seen from the road. This is the Olema Valley, extending directly along the San Andreas Fault for ten or twelve miles--from Point Reyes Station in the north to the curious town of Bolinas in the south.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

My telephoto lens has been playing second fiddle recently. I've been having great fun with my new wide-angle zoom lens. Technically, the Tamron 28-70 is sharp as hell, and esthetically it is a completely different way of looking at the world. Can an "old dog" learn new tricks? Well, yes, I believe he can. Woof.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 23, 2014

another creek with no name -- on Mt. Tamalpais


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

I call them "occasional creeks"... This one is still flowing steadily, even though we have only gotten one-sixth of our normal rainfall this season.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Technically, I suppose, this creek isn't located on Mount Tamalpais, but rather in water-district lands to the northwest, at the base of Pine Hill along the Fairfax to Bolinas Road--a twisty lane that I believe has got to be the most beautiful road I have yet to discover in California. And I live not far away--aren't I a lucky guy?


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 22, 2014

evaluating an image as others might see it


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Admittedly, I love praise and feed upon it perhaps more than I should; but to be honest, I have never been able to advance my skills from admiration of my work. I know the truth--when compared to some of the "greats" I am more or less of a "hack", and after the initial sting--it has been criticism, constructive or otherwise, that has advanced my technique.

Self-criticism is also a cornerstone of my development as a photographer, so when I look at this photograph (above) I try to see it as others might. After all, I was there, and my familiarity with the experience of having been there tends to skew my own evaluation. That said, I can imagine some viewers wondering why the water has an overall yellow cast. Well, yes, it was just prior to sunset, but there is nothing in the photo to suggest a sunset. If I wanted to re-process this image I'm sure I would have toned-down the color temperature of the splash, making it a glistening white, replacing the yellowishness.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

And although it wasn't a terribly spectacular sunset, I did have a good time shooting it. And despite a high-tide with a dicey approach to the south end of Rodeo Beach I found myself part of a plethora of photographers late Thursday afternoon. Perhaps you can see the silhouette of a fellow photographer in this image.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 21, 2014

Mount Tamalpais -- near and far


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

I'm not sure if I serve as the neighborhood alarm clock, but this time of year I try to get rolling at about 6AM. The problem is guessing where the photo ops are gong to be. One week ago I realized that most of Marin County was totally socked-in with fog and I made my way up to Pine Hill, just west of where I live--I thought I might have a fair chance of rising above it all.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Then this last Wednesday, late in the day, I crossed my fingers and sped out to the southern end of the China Camp area, ten or so miles to the east, where I found the sun struggling to peek though heavy clouds.

This photo, above, was the starting point for the posterized mish-mash from yesterday.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 20, 2014

Mount Tamalpais on LSD


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Once in a while when life starts getting really boring, and I have made an otherwise "hopeless" photo, I like to see how it looks when displayed with a limited number of colors. Sometimes the results can be rather surprising, and sometimes I end up with just a genuine mess. The jury is still out on this rendering (above). I suppose some will like it a lot and others will hate it with a passion--I don't think there is any room for "middle-ground" here.



Click on the photo to see the image with a full range of tones.
photo by Donald Kinney

The first image was made using Photoshop's "posterizing" filter, but the second and third were made by saving the image in an unconventional manner--as a .gif instead of a normal .jpeg. When saving images as .gifs there is an option to select the number of colors, from 2 to 256, and of course the results vary widely.

Click on photo (above) to see the .jpeg image with a full range of tones.
The image was made in September 2007.



Click on the photo to see the image with a full range of tones.
photo by Donald Kinney

And here is another. Again, click on the photo (above) to see the .jpeg image with a full range of tones. Image was made in September 2007.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 19, 2014

Lagunitas Creek -- 1st visit of the season


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Well, I had my eyes open for fish--we had some major rain two weeks ago and the Coho Salmon usually wait until after a storm to start returning to begin spawning. But I saw not a one. I'll keep looking--they can be elusive.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

But it was fun to check out flowing water and to see what might be different this year. The course of the stream changes just slightly from year to year, and it is easy to imagine how over many thousands and perhaps millions of years this little bucolic stream--capable of turning into a raging torrent--might have carved out a stream-bed and a sharp canyon between hills.

Now, my Mother would have told me that God, her special brand of God, carved out this watercourse not more than 4000 years ago--with his little pinkie I suppose--but come on--who are you going to believe?


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 18, 2014

Murals of the Mission District, San Francisco


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

With a fairly moderate climate, the Mission District is sometimes called San Francisco's Banana Belt. This is part of the City that didn't burn during the 1906 earthquake so ornate Victorian homes abound. The culture here is largely Hispanic, and yes, there is art--bold and expressive murals just about every place one might venture.

The man shown above on a mural in Clarion Alley is Pico Sanchez--a pioneer artist of the Mission District. If you would like to find out more about this gentle ikon of the Mission, my good friend and arts writer Nancy Ewart wrote an article in Examiner.com about Pico Sanchez in 2010.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

This fragment of a huge set of murals with an emphasis on women and family is on the side of the "The Women's Building" at 3543 18th Street.

The explosion of art in the Mission began in the late 1960's. And yes, I was there--not on a ladder and behind a brush, but through my employer, a small art supply manufacturer, Durable Arts, located here in Marin County. One of my duties at Durable Arts was to help the U.S. distributor of Politec Artist Colors with their packaging methodology. Brought to market in Mexico by Jose L. Guiterrez in the 1950's, "Politec" preceded the water-base acrylic paint "giants" of today, such as Hyplar, Golden, and Liquitex.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Another vivid mural from Clarion Alley, between Valencia and Mission, and 17th and 18th. For an explanation you will just have to use your imagination.

I have done numerous blog posts about the Mission District area over the years, which you can peruse at your leisure by clicking here.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 17, 2014

foggy views from Big Rock, Marin County


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

The fog cometh in, and it goeth out… Not unlike an ocean tide.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

I am lucky, a very lucky guy indeed to be able to witness it all.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 16, 2014

with my head in the clouds


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

With the Pacific Ocean about 2000 feet below, sometimes I feel just a little bit closer to the clouds.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

A narrow and winding road with the appropriate name of Ridgecrest takes me there. And yes, I have been here many times before, but each time seems like a new experience--it never seems to get old.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 15, 2014

fog rolling in through the gate


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Fog coming through the Golden Gate... Roaring in like a freight train...


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 14, 2014

the flow -- its softness and design


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

softness... Like that warm bed of sticks & moss out of which I just crawled.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

design... Like the beautiful hair of Suzie Fitzsimmons' (my gf in 5th grade).


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 13, 2014

Webb Creek -- most beautiful place on Mt. Tamalpais


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

So far I've been showing water photos from two of my favorite spots here in Marin County; Roy's Redwoods and an unnamed creek on Mount Tamalpais that I call "Kinney" Creek, but if you are looking for true beauty in a stream and its surroundings, then I'd have to recommend Webb Creek.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Large redwoods remain undisturbed along Webb Creek, probably because loggers more than 100 years ago found them logistically just too difficult to remove from the area. Webb Creek slows in Summer, but flows all year long. Right now it is moving fast. Westward--the Pacific Ocean isn't far away.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 12, 2014

the gentle side of raging creeks


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Just gravity, I suppose...



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

...but with a few inches of rain our normally docile (or dry) creeks have turned into raging torrents.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 11, 2014

streams are flowing -- in a most artful way


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

It rained and the "occasional" creeks have sprung to life, at least for now.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

The brownish tinge to the water is caused by silt. Tiny particles of rock and earth, redistributed. The scale of time for the canyons to form and deepen, for me, is beyond comprehension.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 10, 2014

it rained -- water is flowing and falling


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

We had quite a bit of rain and it kept coming down all weekend, and although I don't have proper rain-gear for my camera and lens I braved the elements (and the camera repair shop) with one towel draped over my head, with another towel draped over the camera.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Yes indeed... Roy's Redwoods and "Kinney" Creek and many other streams have finally come alive. At ISO-100 and at f-14 my exposures were about one second, smoothing out the flow, I think, in a most beautiful way. The brownish tinge in the water is from silt, which diminishes with time.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 09, 2014

sunrise in the Sacramento Delta


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Colors mirrored in the beauty of a new day. One half joined with the other.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

A while back I had a bad yen to visit the tiny and historic Chinese village of Locke in the Sacramento Delta; a trip that would require me to get up extra-early and plow through darkness to be in position for a possible sunrise.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 08, 2014

Don "Danger is my middle name" Kinney


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Splish, splash, I was takin' a bath
Long about a Saturday night




click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

I was a-rollin' and a-strollin'
Reelin' with the feelin'
Movin' and a-groovin'
Splishin' and a-splashin'
  (apologies to Bobby Darin)


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 07, 2014

b-and-w versus color -- smack-down on San Pablo Bay


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

One of the cardinal-rules of photography is never showing a color image in close proximity with a black and white image. Nevertheless...



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

...me thinks I like it better this way, on a brighter day and in living color.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 06, 2014

reducing clarity -- experimental stuff


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

...



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

...


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 05, 2014

thistles of Marin -- friend or foe


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

At first glance, thistles look like they might be dangerous--with their sharp-appearing hook-like spines, but really they are quite tame.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Gardeners and farmers might find them overly prolific. I find them willing subjects. Last year's crop stand as skeletons.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


February 04, 2014

more -- Nicasio in mist


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Yeah, I know it is a bit dark. I probably was aiming for dark and moody. Welcome to my world...



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

These Canada Geese probably didn't see me as much of a threat, but they w-e-r-e moving a-w-a-y from the goose with the camera.



click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney

Ideally, the typical photograph has tones ranging from 0 (black) to 255 (white), but it is rare that a scene will present itself with tones that fit nicely within that range. Our photos get either "blown-out" with a mass of color-killing overexposure, or "lost in the mud" with giant shadows swallowing up every last bit of detail in the low tones.

So, the photo above is an example of a range of tones in the middle of the "Histogram", which is a graphical representation of all the values in an image. In this case the dark shades only go to about 15, and the high values do not go beyond about 224. I left it this way, as expanding the scale to include solid-blacks and blank-whites would have produced an unnatural looking result. 99% of my images need a bit of help with their blackness and whiteness. The graphical representation makes adjustment easy by just pulling or pushing on the small triangles on each side of the Histogram.






Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       


 
under construction