June 30, 2010

more from San Francisco's Pride Parade


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photo by Donald Kinney

It's a colorful world out there -- all sorts of different people, each one with a slightly different flavor to add to the mix.



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photo by Donald Kinney

I got some shots of these lovely dancers again this year -- they were circulating through the crowd before the parade started performing some very hypnotic and beautiful moves. CLICK to see more of this lovely lady.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Weird and exuberant -- lets make some noise -- what could be more fun?



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photo by Donald Kinney

A great opportunity for everybody to show off their finest frills and hair.



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photo by Donald Kinney

And even though I don't live in San Francisco, that's our mayor and his lovely wife. I truly hope she is able to put up with the stinker because I think the local citizenry have had just about enough of him. Sorry for the sour grapes, but he's done precious little for San Francisco in my opinion.


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June 29, 2010

Pride Parade, San Francisco, 2010


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photo by Donald Kinney

Oh my goodness -- how in the heck am I going to explain San Francisco's annual Pride Parade?   Oh, I guess I can sum it up by just saying; "We aren't in Kansas anymore, Dorothy"...



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photo by Donald Kinney

I suppose all of us struggle with our religious beliefs at times, but the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence seem to have it pretty much figured out.



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photo by Donald Kinney

The use of Rainbow Flags has a long tradition. I understand they are displayed in many cultures around the world as a sign of diversity and inclusiveness, of hope and of yearning. Seems quite natural that gay people would adopt the Rainbow Flag as their own.



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photo by Donald Kinney

So, welcome to California, folks.   You are invited, but there's need to hurry because by the time you get here the party will still be going on.   Just keep in mind that you don't necessarily need to be gay to be supportive of equal rights for all!


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June 28, 2010

Rodeo Beach in the Marin Headlands


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photo by Donald Kinney

When I was a kid -- oh so many years ago, I was into black and white photography. I had a darkroom setup and I pretty much lived, breathed, and ate all things photographic. Back then I was a big proponent of black and white -- these days, although I'm digital now, I like to give it a whirl on occasion.



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photo by Donald Kinney

And even though I did relatively little photography between the ages of 25 and 52 I never really stopped looking at things, like splashes, as if I was actually shooting them. I've always liked to frame-up subjects with my fingers -- I knew that someday I'd get back into photography.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Rodeo Beach is a good place to clear the mind. And a good splash often will take it to another level. Sound would have been nice, but just imagine a loud and resounding "fop".



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photo by Donald Kinney

Ah, kids... God bless 'em... Fun and excitement -- 24/7/365...


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June 27, 2010

more from Lagunitas Creek


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photo by Donald Kinney

Oh come on -- just one more trip out to the colorful and moody Lagunitas Creek.



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photo by Donald Kinney

The mighty Lagunitas Creek gains momentum -- a white-water adventure!



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photo by Donald Kinney

Here's some of that "groovy water" -- I'm very glad it's never gone digital.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Stepping back a bit to get an overall view of the mighty Lagunitas Creek.


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June 26, 2010

another visit to Lagunitas Creek


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photo by Donald Kinney

Over the past few years the Lagunitas Creek has sort of become "my thing".
Occasionally I'll spot another photographer out there, but not very often.



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photo by Donald Kinney

The groovy patterns can become hypnotic...   Snap, snap, snap...



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photo by Donald Kinney

I think they're quite a trip...   Snap, snap, snap...



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photo by Donald Kinney

Farther downstream, ripples might transition into smooth sheets of glassy water.   There's a whole lotta snappin' going on in the Lagunitas Creek!


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June 25, 2010

near McNear's Brickyard, San Rafael


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photo by Donald Kinney

Out past San Rafael on the road that most usually takes me to China Camp, is the McNear Brickyard and the surrounding waters of San Pablo Bay; the upper thumb of San Francisco Bay. That's the Richmond-to-San Rafael Bridge in the background.



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photo by Donald Kinney

The McNear family is one of this area's pioneers -- McNear's Brickyard has been cranking out bricks of all sorts since 1868 -- nearly 143 years.



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photo by Donald Kinney

One of three smokestacks, undoubtedly made with their own product.
However, on further thought, this may be one of those "which came first, the chicken or the egg" situations.



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photo by Donald Kinney

And this is San Pablo Bay, a vast expanse of relatively shallow water. Theoretically, the bay serves as a basin for water coming out of the Sacramento Delta, but these days so much water is diverted for agriculture that less water makes it's way to San Francisco Bay.

Water salinity in this area has increased over the years, while populations of fresh-water loving Bay Shimp have decreased.



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photo by Donald Kinney

 


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June 24, 2010

Green Gulch Farm


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photo by Donald Kinney

Not far from where I shot yesterday's photos is Muir Beach -- my starting point for a pleasant walk up Green Gulch towards the carefully tended gardens of the Zen Center.

Above, an artful display of Thistles (a.k.a. Teasels) that follow the Green Gulch trail.



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photo by Donald Kinney

These two fellows are devotees of Zen Buddhism -- that's David on the left but I didn't get the other guy's name. I assume they work for free, but they were carefully and cheerfully going about harvesting a row of greens.

Green Gulch Farm is a source of income for the Zen Center -- excess produce is sold by Marin Organic at local farmer's markets.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Oh, I'm afraid I wouldn't last long as a reporter down at the local newspaper if I came back without all the facts -- and I haven't done my research so I can't tell you with certainty what type of green this is -- maybe it's Butter Lettuce, maybe it isn't -- maybe someone knows.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Extra points if you can name all four, although I think #1 and #3 are the same.

CLICK for two older posts on Green Gulch Farm.


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June 23, 2010

Redwood Creek, near Muir Woods


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photo by Donald Kinney

When visitors come to San Francisco they want to see Redwood trees in a natural setting, and nothing fills the bill better than Muir Woods National Monument, right here, out by the coast in our beloved Marin County.

Unfortunately, I seldom visit Muir Woods and it's tall redwood giants. Just too many people -- they make you walk on a boardwalk, and parking is always a challenge. The other problem is that the Redwoods are darned difficult to shoot -- and I've heard other photographers mention the same complaint.



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photo by Donald Kinney

But if you are willing to settle for Sycamore trees, then we are in luck. There's a long string of these beauties following Redwood Creek after it finishes traversing Muir Woods. The creeks flows year-around to some extent so the trees get plenty of water.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Sycamore leaves reflecting in the splotchy water of Redwood Creek.



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photo by Donald Kinney

And more of the same colorful water here at Redwood Creek that I enjoy hunting down and snapping at Lagunitas Creek.


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June 22, 2010

more from Lagunitas Creek


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photo by Donald Kinney

Out at the artful Lagunitas Creek the surface of water can be a blank canvas, or it can be a finished painting -- just for a brief moment, of course.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Very yellow -- but I SWEAR ON A STACK OF BIBLES I didn't play with that color in Photoshop.



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photo by Donald Kinney

I imagine the Indians could have used these thin reeds for some very fine basket work.



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photo by Donald Kinney

And just like me, I'm sure those Indians were completely transfixed by the colorful water.


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June 21, 2010

an artful Lagunitas Creek


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photo by Donald Kinney

We have some very fine art museums in the City, but I think some highly artful subjects are tucked away, largely undiscovered, in the canyons and streams of our beloved Marin County.



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photo by Donald Kinney

An art critic could probably wax poetically about the drama going on in the water -- but do we really need an explanation?



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photo by Donald Kinney

Others would surely be captivated and entranced if they ever saw the display of color in person. The venerable phrase "far-out" might be bandied about.

I think I've mentioned this before, but to get these reflections the creek must be in shade, with the sun behind you illuminating a bit of the surrounding foliage -- early or late in the day is usually best.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Too late to save a drowning leaf -- I'm afraid it's a gonner...


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June 20, 2010

at Lilly Lake, Mt. Tamalpais


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photo by Donald Kinney

I've got a neat spot about five miles west of where I live -- on the Fairfax to Bolinas Road -- I call it Lilly Lake.

But I'm not sure if Lilly Lake actually has an official name -- it's close to the road but isn't very big. Not many people stop to explore it's swampy, albeit quite wonderful qualities.



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photo by Donald Kinney

"What a wonderful world" -- that's what I was thinking as I was making my way around the soggy shores of Lilly Lake.



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photo by Donald Kinney

It's a place you might imagine as the birthplace of life -- after all, the place abounds with tadpoles and frogs and various other creatures.

CLICK for a photo of a lilly pad taken previously.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Looking through a fern from it's underside. It's what another fern might see.


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June 19, 2010

spooking around the creek


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photo by Donald Kinney

The mighty Lagunitas Creek has several tributaries and one of them is the ominously named Devil's Creek.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Years ago we had a lot more Redwood trees around these parts, so it's important to appreciate the courageous souls that remain.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Water always tries to get in on the act -- usually stealing the show...



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photo by Donald Kinney

A showdown -- a fair fight -- between colorful water and the tall giants.


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