Point Reyes Tule Elk

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photo by Donald Kinney

Thanks again to the N.P.S. for the great historical information that I pasted in from their website on yesterday's post. Now, lets talk about the character of these skiddish and odd creatures. And, how difficult they are sometimes to photograph, or sometimes to even find.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Don't get too close... They don't want to be petted!

The Tule Elk preserve (operated by the U.S. Governmet) is located at the extreme northern part of Point Reyes. Nearby is the trailhead to Tomales Point which is 5 miles north. A spectacular beach; McClures is down the hill, and Pierce Point Dairy has been here since the 1860's.

The land feature in the background in the photo above is Point Reyes Point, with 325 steps descending to a lighthouse built in 1870.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Tule Elk are skiddish and shy, but they can also be aggressive, especially during mating season. These odd creatures of nature are smaller than "regular" Elk but signs warn that they are strong and protective. With long legs they vaguely look like a cross between a Llama and a Horse.



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photo by Donald Kinney

"I'm ready for my closeup now, Mr. DeMille"...

In reality, a telephoto lens is needed to get anywhere near these critters.
All these photos have been cropped a bit.



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photo by Donald Kinney

And where dairy cows from Pierce Point Dairy used to roam, this Tule Elk stands proud. I'll be showing photos of the historic dairy soon. Stay tuned.

originally appeared on AphotoAday, December 29, 2012

if it is flat, it was probably once part of the Bay

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photo by Donald Kinney

San Francisco isn't all that old that we can't sometimes figure out where nature stopped, and modern "progress" took over.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Columbus Avenue is a bit askew to the other streets it intersects, but I like to follow its gentle slope to the shore, where the imposing Transamerica Pyramid now sits.

During excavation for the Pyramid's massive foundation, wooden ships were unearthed from the muck of the original shoreline of San Francisco Bay.



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photo by Donald Kinney

This is the old Transamerica Building built in 1909. It is now a church of Scientology. The new pyramid shaped Transamerica Building across the intersection to the south was built in 1972.

originally appeared on AphotoAday, November 10, 2012

a grand and thick fog at Nicasio

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photo by Donald Kinney

Fog was grand and thick Thursday in the Nicasio area of west Marin County.



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photo by Donald Kinney

A perfect place for photo-snappers and web-savvy spiders.



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photo by Donald Kinney

The cool expanse of a low cloud. From there to there and there was more.

originally appeared on AphotoAday, October 20, 2012

Elliot Preserve, Cascade Canyon, Fairfax

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photo by Donald Kinney

Although close by I visit far too infrequently, but I've been enjoying Cascade Canyon since the late 1960's when I first moved here. These were the days before the area was opened to the public--the property owner did everything within his power, but usually failed in keeping "trespassers" out.



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photo by Donald Kinney

As you probably know by now, I like to explore the reflectivity of water.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Stopping often to chat with some of the local residents--like this Newt.

originally appeared on AphotoAday, December 21, 2012

oh Sun, where art thou?

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photo by Donald Kinney

California can use all the precipitation it can muster, and yes, it is raining again. Friday morning was curious--with a promising splash of red across the sky. Two minutes later heavy clouds moved over, completely quashing the rising flame.



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photo by Donald Kinney

So, this morning I went searching for stragglers on my hard-drive...



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photo by Donald Kinney

This photo and the preceding image were snapped about one month ago.
I guess I've been keeping them for a rainy day.

originally appeared on AphotoAday, December 17, 2012

Mt. Tamalpais -- early morning adventure

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photo by Donald Kinney

Working my way backwards, this was my final shot on Tuesday. That structure at top right is the Sutro Tower, chock full of communications antennas. The blanket of fog is covering San Francisco and the Golden Gate. The slivers of land are the high points in the Golden Gate National Recreational Area.



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photo by Donald Kinney

No shortage of Coyotes on Mt. Tamalpais, but thankfully they still have a healthy fear of man.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Moon goes down, sun comes up. Some mornings are a real science lesson.



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photo by Donald Kinney

And this view, up and outside of Fairfax, is where I started my adventure. Sleepy residents of Marin County were just beginning to stir. Crazy-ass photographer was just beginning to snap…

originally appeared on AphotoAday, November 1, 2012

another foggy morning at Nicasio

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photo by Donald Kinney

Hey, how's that for pretty...



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photo by Donald Kinney

Same scene, just back a bit...



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photo by Donald Kinney

A bit later, when no longer shooting directly into the sun. The scene cooled.

originally appeared on AphotoAday, December 11, 2012

3 "occasional" streams of Marin County

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photo by Donald Kinney

Located between Woodacre and Forest Knolls in West Marin is the Gary Giacomini Open Space Preserve. There are secret groves of Redwoods but except for mountain-bikers, this county park doesn't get a lot of visitors. After heavy rain, the creek--normally just a trickle, puts on an impressive show.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Allow me to present the "occasional stream" of nearby Roy's Redwoods.
Moist mushrooms, most likely being left untouched by man and animal,
for good reason...



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photo by Donald Kinney

Miwok Meadows at China Camp has a pleasant "occasional stream" also.

originally appeared on AphotoAday, December 7, 2012

the leaves leave

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photo by Donald Kinney

I guess California is no competition for the incredible displays of Fall color in New England and some other parts of the world, but out here in the West we definitely give it our best shot.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Little solar panels... Capable of manufacturing their own food for branches, trunk, and roots. Taking in "evil" carbon dioxide and converting it into life-giving oxygen. These are amazing processes, really...



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photo by Donald Kinney

Deciduous leaves detach, fall, and return nutrients to the soil. Some even go for a swim. Others look quite ghostly. Isn't it an amazing world we live in?

originally appeared on AphotoAday, December 1, 2012

you may be starting to detect a theme here

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photo by Donald Kinney

Okay, twist my arm and I'll tell you "The Short Story of my Life"...



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photo by Donald Kinney

I photographed as a kid, and now I photograph as an old man. The bit in the middle was, as I remember, fairly uneventful and photo-less, but I would see things and mutter; "Hey, I could make a photograph out of that".



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photo by Donald Kinney

But now I get to spend my mornings as an old cowboy, rounding up ripples and reflections that would surely otherwise go astray. Life flows on...

originally appeared on AphotoAday, November 14, 2012

it rained. "Kinney Creek" flowed

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photo by Donald Kinney

Indeed... Sunny California got some copious amounts of rainfall last week.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Enough rain to get several of the normally dry creeks flowing again.



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photo by Donald Kinney

So, of course I headed up on the Fairfax-to-Bolinas Road to check on what I call "Kinney Creek". As far as I know, this "occasional" creek has never been named. Dibs...

originally appeared November 21, 2012

seeing double -- or maybe it is just me

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photo by Donald Kinney

Photography has rules, and a whole lot of them. Rules; all waiting to be bent, stretched, ignored, and just plain broken.



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photo by Donald Kinney

This image never saw it coming...


NEW ! Donald Kinney Quarterly - volume 2014 issue 2       
Donald Kinney Quarterly - volume 2014 issue 1       

clearing fog -- on the Mountain

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photo by Donald Kinney

I'm a bit ambivalent about this image--it probably would be a stronger image if converted into a black and white, but that would result in losing the nice blue sky. The dark rocks just weren't responding well to commands.



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photo by Donald Kinney

This might be a bit of a better image, but I think the moral of the story is not to attempt a subject like this in the full sun of mid-morning.


NEW ! Donald Kinney Quarterly - volume 2014 issue 2       
Donald Kinney Quarterly - volume 2014 issue 1       

reluctant clouds meet demanding, domineering sun

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photo by Donald Kinney

On Wednesday the sun, as usual, was victorious.



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photo by Donald Kinney

On Saturday the sun was having a more difficult time of it.


NEW ! Donald Kinney Quarterly - volume 2014 issue 2       
Donald Kinney Quarterly - volume 2014 issue 1