November 30, 2008

splash, Big Sur


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photo by Donald Kinney

For all practical purposes, I think they could have just as easily named Big Sur;  Big Splash...


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November 29, 2008

streaming sunlight at Big Sur


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photo by Donald Kinney

Well, I ended up at Big Sur on Thursday.   The sky was just slightly hazy, but otherwise it was a picture perfect day to explore and get reacquainted with the central coast of California.

I had a fine time, and if I had wanted to I could have actually stopped in Big Sur for a Thanksgiving buffet, although I didn't.   I guess I was too busy looking for photos...


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November 28, 2008

less abstract water


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photo by Donald Kinney

After those two abstracts I thought I should post a recent water shot that looks a bit more conventional...

Sweet dreams...


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November 27, 2008

more reflective water


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photo by Donald Kinney

Kitty and I wish everybody a great Thanksgiving...

Kitty will be quite happy staying home -- her duty is to hold the couch down so it doesn't float away -- but I think I'll either head north towards Salt Point, or south toawrds the land of my youth -- the Monterey, Carmel, Big Sur area...


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November 26, 2008

reflective water


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photo by Donald Kinney

Of course Fall colors out here in the West are nothing like what they have in New England, but we DO get a bit of a colorful display, nevertheless...

As for Photoshopping, I went extra heavy on "sharpening", but hopefully I didn't over-do it...


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November 25, 2008

sunset


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photo by Donald Kinney

The sun often turns into a creative sculpture as it does a little dance on the horizon and sinks into the Pacific...

My lens isn't terribly long, so I had to crop this image down quite a bit for this fragment.   I gave it a treatment with Photoshop's "smart blur" filter to smooth out the image and hide a bit of noise.


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November 24, 2008

God "B"less America


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photo by Donald Kinney

Chinese-Americans are fiercely loyal to their new homeland, and shortly after 9-11 this huge flag was painted on the side of a store in San Francisco's Chinatown.   As you can see, the taggers stop by on a regular basis...


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November 23, 2008

Golden Gate splash


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photo by Donald Kinney

This is Mile Rock Beach at the place with the far-away name -- Lands End...

Two hundred and sixty steps will take you down to the beach, which is less sand and more rounded boulders.   Pray for a splashy day...


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November 22, 2008

Big Rock at Lucas Valley


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photo by Donald Kinney

Big Rock has always been a favorite spot of the younger generation for leaving their mark with thier initials, names, and other cryptic comments.

That all stopped when LucasFilm (no relation to the Lucas the valley is named after) purchased the property -- they erased years of built-up paint, and put a fence around the 30'x30' rock -- complete with motion detector and camera.   Nobody has messed with Big Rock since...


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November 21, 2008

sunset above Mt. Tamalpais


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photo by Donald Kinney

Sometimes the sun and clouds put on quite a show at sunset...

I shot this from the spit at Loch Lomond Harbor, between San Rafael and China Camp.   It's a popular place to walk dogs and fish.   ( What? -- you've never walked a fish? )

Oh by the way, I've decided not to participate in Sky Watch Friday, Show Your World Tuesday, and ABC Wednesday because the advertisement I am running in my sidebar isn't allowed.   Please stay in touch -- I've met some great people out here!


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November 20, 2008

alders at Muddy Hollow


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photo by Donald Kinney

On Tuesday I was out at Point Reyes National Seashore, and I took a little side-trip to a place I've always wondered about, but because of the implied danger was never really willing to travel to -- Muddy Hollow...

And yes, Muddy Hollow is a hollow...   And I can imagine it getting muddy.   The road is dirt and makes a steep descent down to the hollow -- it's probably very slippery in the rain...

But what most interested me was these alder trees, not far from the trailhead.
I was trying out my "selective focus" technique...


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photo by Donald Kinney


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney


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November 19, 2008

"r"ecord -- it's ABC Wednesday !


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photo by Donald Kinney

I'm looking forward to seeing everybody's "r" for ABC Wednesday !

This is Grooves, on upper Market Street in San Francisco -- the place is hard to miss...

Yes, people still enjoy vinyl records.   When they get old they hiss and pop a bit too much for my tastes, but under perfect conditions some audiophiles think vinyl has a richer sound than digital.   Article on this topic


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photo by Donald Kinney


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November 18, 2008

Lagunitas Creek -- it's Show Your World Tuesday !


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photo by Donald Kinney

Whoopie !   It's Tuesday -- welcome to  Show Your World !

Why do I call the Lagunitas Creek "my world" ?
Because I spend so darned much time out there -- that's why...

The coho salmon won't arrive at Lagunitas Creek to complete their life style until we get some heavy rain in January, but meanwhile the "hatch" from earlier this year have the stream pretty much all to their own...

The Lagunitas Creek Watershed is home to the largest-remaining wild run of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in Central California.   These coho are part of the "Central California Coast Evolutionarily Significant Unit," or CCC ESU, and are listed as "endangered" at both the state and federal level.

From November to April -- even if it hasn't rained -- our local water district is mandated by law to release enough water from our reservoirs to keep the Lagunitas Creek at a certain level.   But like I mentioned, the adult coho won't arrrive to spawn until January, so personally (and without having all the facts) I think a lot of water is being wasted -- I don't think the coho juveniles now in the creek need all that additional water.

Mornings are best for snagging water reflections out at the Lagunitas Creek -- the creek itself must be shaded, but there must be surrounding items, like vegetation, that are illuminated.   Even though the light levels are low, I always try to keep my ISO settings low (this is ISO 100) to keep noise down, but that usually requires shooting wide-open (this is f-4).   I used a fairly long exposure time (this was 1/12th second).   In post-processing I had to set the high values in Photoshop because the image was slightly underexposed.   I did not fool with color-saturation levels on this shot, but do (to some degree) on my other water shots.


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November 17, 2008

water reflections, Lagunitas Creek


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photo by Donald Kinney

One of my favorite places to fish-for-reflections is the Lagunitas Creek, Marin County, California.   As you might know, they've got me hook, line, and sinker...


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November 16, 2008

surfers and dogs


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photo by Donald Kinney

Sometimes it's difficult to tell who is having the most fun at the beach -- surfers or dogs...


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November 15, 2008

Marin Headlands splash


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photo by Donald Kinney

A hundred and fifty years ago -- in heavy fogs and high seas -- imagine wooden ships navigating as best they could towards San Francisco, past these sharp rocks in the Marin Headlands.


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November 14, 2008

sky waves -- it's Sky Watch Friday !


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photo by Donald Kinney

Whoopie -- it's  Sky Watch Friday !

I thought these waves in the sky (photo above) were pretty neat...
Some times it's difficult to tell where the sea leaves off and the sky begins...

Here's one more...


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photo by Donald Kinney


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November 13, 2008

Pacific Ocean and clouds


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photo by Donald Kinney

When I was up on Ridgecrest Boulevard (Mount Tamalpais) yesterday I ran into a film-crew shooting yet another car commercial -- it's one of their favorite places to shoot -- they love the twisty little road right along the crest of the ridge.

The scenery can't be beat -- the Golden Gate Bridge is a short distance to the south, and Point Reyes is just to the north.   Hang-gliders launch from here and land on the white sands of Stinson Beach, almost 2,000 feet below.


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November 12, 2008

"q"uirky -- it's ABC Wednesday !


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photo by Donald Kinney

Hope everybody found a good "q" for ABC Wednesday !

I'd say this person is rather "q"uirky, wouldn't you ?
But he's probably just as normal as you or me -- he probably just likes to have fun, and does what comes natural...

But if you weren't one of the billion people who lined San Francisco's Market Street earlier this year to witness the annual Pride Parade, then let me tell you that you missed out on one heck of a party !

And keep in mind that you don't have to be gay to enjoy the bash (I'm not) -- all you need is an open mind and a sense of humor.   Fancy dress is optional...

CLICK for six more photos from the 2008 Pride Parade
and CLICK again for six more


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November 11, 2008

across S.F. Bay -- it's Show Your World Tuesday


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photo by Donald Kinney

Whoopie !   It's Tuesday -- welcome to  Show Your World !

Yes, those are the skyscrapers of San Francisco in the blurry distance...
This is Richardson Bay, with Sausalito on the right and Belvedere and Tiburon to the left...


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November 10, 2008

and more golden water


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photo by Donald Kinney

Exposure:   slightly under-exposed -- 1/200 second at f-4.   ISO 100.
Photoshop:   adjusted high level, and brought up low values with curves.


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November 09, 2008

a creek of gold


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photo by Donald Kinney

So, how do you like your gold ?

Deep and rich, and somewhat reddish...   Or with a bit more yellow...   Or bubbly with sparkles...

The other photos are recent, but I shot this next image a year or so ago.
[ These are the first and second shots of my newly revised "Big" site ]


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photo by Donald Kinney


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November 08, 2008

foggy morning, Mount Tamalpais


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photo by Donald Kinney

This is a view of our beloved Mount Tamalpais (2571 ft.) from the small town of Kentfield, California.   Many "locals" refer to her as The Sleeping Lady -- at a particular angle the mountain looks like a lady in repose...

In addition to hiking and mountain-biking on a million miles of trails, Mt. Tamalpais serves as our domestic water source -- and unless we go into a drought, it's streams, lakes, and waterfalls will be gushing soon.   If you didn't already know, they're very photogenic...

This photo was taken looking towards the west -- and yes, that fog is advancing at a pretty good clip over the little fire-lookout on the top of the mountain.   Except for the sunrise redness in the foggy clouds, this display of fog is not an uncommon sight.


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November 07, 2008

Sunrise, San Pablo Bay-- it's Sky Watch Friday !


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photo by Donald Kinney

Whoopie -- it's  Sky Watch Friday !

Well you already know that the sun rises in the East, so forgive me for mentioning this photo was taken to the East, over San Pablo Bay -- the "upper thumb" of San Francisco Bay.

Here's two more -- this time I won't even mention they were taken to the East...


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photo by Donald Kinney


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney


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November 06, 2008

more Coit Tower frescos


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photo by Donald Kinney

The Coit Tower murals were carried out under the auspices of the Public Works of Art Project, the first of the New Deal federal employment programs for artists.   Two of the murals are of San Francisco Bay scenes painted by a Spanish artist, who by then was a fulltime resident in the Bay Area.   Most murals are done in fresco; the exceptions are one mural done in egg tempera (upstairs, in the last decorated room) and the works done in the elevator foyer, which are oil on canvas.


Many murals contain very "leftist" political and social themes related to the Great Depression and socialist political movements. Notable examples: Bernard Zakheim's "Library", which depicts a reader -- said to be fellow artist John Langley Howard -- crumpling a newspaper in his left hand as he reaches for a shelved copy of Karl Marx's Das Kapital with his right); Victor Arnautoff's "City Life" (specifically the inclusion of the The New Masses and The Daily Worker periodicals in the scene's news stand rack); John Langley Howard's mural, which depicts an ethnically diverse Labor March as well as showing a destitute family panning for gold while a rich family observes.

CLICK to see the full set of 24 Coit Tower frescos


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photo by Donald Kinney


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photo by Donald Kinney


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney


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November 05, 2008

"P"oliceman -- it's ABC Wednesday !


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photo by Donald Kinney

"P" is for "P"oliceman -- Whoopie -- it's good old ABC Wednesday again !

A week or two ago I treated myself to a trip to San Francisco's Coit Tower to see the frescos.   They were painted in the 1930's by a group of artists:   Arnautoff, Zakheim, Howard, Boynton, Stackpole, Moya del Pino, Oldfield, Berlandina, and Hesthal.   These artists were obviously heavily influenced by Diego Rivera.

The artwork centers on themes of worker's plight in the 1930's, a time of great labor unrest.   Many rich upper-crust San Franciscans were outraged by the left-wing slant of the artwork.


CLICK to see the full set of 24 Coit Tower frescos



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photo by Donald Kinney


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney


click photo for full-size image
photo by Donald Kinney


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November 04, 2008

Fairfax Theater -- it's Show Your World Tuesday !


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photo by Donald Kinney

Whoopie !   It's Tuesday -- welcome to  Show Your World !

That's the Fairfax Theater -- still surviving as get-in-line movie theater in these days of rent-um or download-um...

Fairfax, the Town, isn't very big -- but it's loaded with bars (as I mentioned the day before yesterday), cool places to snag a cup of exotic coffee, hip botiques with hip names like Culture Shock, and a store that sells everything made out of hemp.   There is a manufacturer of tofu, and a health-food store that beats-the-pants-off of Safeway...   There's more than enough places to find a used book, or surfboard, or frock from the forties for you and your baby...


Let me narrow it down a bit.   This is a map of where I live...




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November 03, 2008

Henry's, San Francisco


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photo by Donald Kinney

Well, the only question is why they've sort of painted over "beer and wine" -- because I'm pretty sure Henry still sells both...   But at 7AM last Sunday Henry's was closed and wasn't selling anything...

I feel a need to know if Henry is still working there...
And I feel a need to know if they, for sure, are selling wine and beer...
Next time I find my self in the vicinity of Second and Mission at a more reasonable hour I'll have to drop in and shoot-the-bull...   They'll probably look at me like I'm some sort of nut...


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November 02, 2008

19 Broadway, Fairfax


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photo by Donald Kinney

Some towns, like Pacific Grove, where I grew up -- have a lot of churches...
Some towns, like San Francisco, over yonder -- have a lot of banks...
But where I live, Fairfax, California -- we have a lot of bars...


In addition to a bar every six feet, over the years Fairfax has become a counter-culture get-away from it all...   The heavily populated center of Marin County to the east is a bit of a hub-bub -- but relief is available -- just come west to Fairfax, my home town.   Bring your drum or guitar...

Yes, Fairfax -- the fringes of society -- where free-thinkers dwell, and where graying masses still hold firmly to the promises of the '60's...   (Alternatively, you can visit one of many bars)


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November 01, 2008

fog rolling in


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photo by Donald Kinney

That's fog rolling into the Golden Gate...

Fog marches where it wants to and there is no stopping it...   It can be cold and miserable, but it also serves as wonderful natural air-conditioning during hot weather.

That's the Sutro Tower sticking out of the fog -- it's a tall support for antennas.

The Golden Gate Bridge, if you could see it, would be on the left side of the photo.

The photo was taken from the West Peak of Mt. Tamalpais at an elevation of about 2,000 feet.


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