The Embarcadero, San Francisco

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photo by Donald Kinney

San Francisco's Embarcadero has gone through tremendous changes during my lifetime.   I can remember it with bustling activity of ships being loaded and unloaded, and even a local railroad system that served the various docks. Today, and for a variety of reasons, the ships do their business across the bay at the Port of Oakland.

In the early '60's city planners decided that the way to solve their traffic crisis was to build a huge double-decker elevated freeway right down the center of the Embarcadero.   It blocked views and was generally was hated by everyone. It was determined that it wasn't earthquake-safe and eventually the structure was torn down.

Today, the Embarcadero is for lovers.   Lovers of San Francisco, and just plain lovers -- oh you know, the romantic kind.

This is "Cupid's Span", a gift from Donald Fisher, a man with tons of money he made as head of the trendy clothing distributor, Gap International.

The 65 foot tall sculpture was designed by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, and was fabricated in 2003.   Resembling Cupid's bow and arrow with the arrow implanted in the ground, the statue symbolizes the place where Tony Bennett "left his heart".   Some folks like it, some people hate it -- but one thing for sure, the sculpture is big and impressive and is here to stay.



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photo by Donald Kinney

I love San Francisco because it is just a little bit   f a r   o u t . . .
I mean, what other city has a Flash Gordon style spaceship standing by?   Where do you want to go?   Mars?   Maybe you'd like to fly through the rings of Saturn?   Okay, okay, lets go -- the line starts right behind me.

Shamelessly plagiarising the website explaining the rocketship; "The Raygun Gothic Rocketship is a rococo retro-futurist future-rustic vernacular between yesterday’s tomorrow and the future that never was, a critical kitsch somewhere between The Moons of Mongo & Manga Nouveau."



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This is about all of the sun San Francisco saw on Sunday morning.   The weather was for the birds.   That imposing structure in the background is the Bay Bridge.   Driving on it is generally a nightmare.   It's for the birds!



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afternoon at Rodeo Beach, Marin Headlands

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photo by Donald Kinney

Oh, crashing waves...   And while movies, television, and most books bore the hell out of me; waves transfix my attention.   I just can't get enough.

I posted a similar shot a few days ago, but I think I like this current version better.



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photo by Donald Kinney

I never seem to get past this patch of Calla Lilies without stopping to see if I can frame up a photo.   Luck was with me last Thursday -- this Egret, fishing for dinner, was most willing to cooperate.



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photo by Donald Kinney

When the wind and waves are just right they can generate most beautiful spindrift.   The light through the water can also be quite colorful.   That's the often photographed Bird Rock in the background.



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Well, it's been a heck of a long time since I was a school-kid, and although I remember going on a field trip to a dairy farm in Carmel Valley, never did we get to go to the beach like these students.   But they are not here to play -- they're learning all about the ecology of the area and just how important it is in the whole scheme of nature.



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a foggy photo-op at China Camp

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photo by Donald Kinney

Okay, I'll admit it -- this blog, my DailyDuo, and what I call my "big" site have become a bit of an obsession in my life...   Not that I "have" a life -- hey this is Donald Kinney I'm talking about here.   If you are interested, then continue reading.

I am an extremely fortunate individual -- I was able to retire ten years ago at age 53 because of the hard work and dedication of my parents.   No more punching a time clock for me.   No more swimming in huge vats of the paint I used to manufacture.   No more dealing with wacky fellow employees, bosses, or customers who were always out for that little bit of something extra for free.   Believe me, it's a WONDERFUL feeling to wake up in the morning and realize that I don't have to go to work.



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photo by Donald Kinney

But then, in the morning the panic sets in -- I realize that I had better get busy and go find some "stuff" to shoot.   Everything on this blog is new, unless otherwise noted.

So, off I go in search of something that catches my interest -- oh, I have a few spots that I can generally rely on for a "potential keeper" or two.



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photo by Donald Kinney

I should probably keep this a secret, but where I live, Marin County (just north of San Francisco) is one of the most beautiful areas in the State of California.   Finding photos is about as easy as falling off a log.   I feel it's my DUTY to get out there and find them so you can see just how beautiful this area is.   As I mentioned, I am a VERY lucky guy...

My dream is that more people will buy my photos -- haven't sold one in about a year now. Oh, I understand -- I'd like to buy prints from some of my favorite photographers too, but I've got to be kind of careful about how I spend money these days.   Who knows what a dollar is going to be worth in a few years...

My other dream is that eventually I will get some sort of public recognition for my photography.   Problem is that there's a whole slew of photographers out there who are MUCH better than me.   About all I can do is dream and keep snapping away.   You're welcome to come along for the ride.



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Tule Elk at Point Reyes National Seashore

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photo by Donald Kinney

Wednesday, on another little excursion out to the Pierce Point area of Point Reyes, I once again came in close proximity with these shy and skiddish, but grand creatures -- they're Tule Elk, and they are returning from the brink of extinction.   We have the Department of the Interior to thank for saving this noble animal.

CLICK for my December 12 post on Tule Elk at Point Reyes.



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In 1978 there were only 10 Tule Elk in Point Reyes.   Thanks to rigorous conservation and reintroduction efforts, their populaion has expanded to more than 400.

Some Tule Elk are allowed to roam free at Point Reyes, but the Tule Elk that you have a better chance of spotting are contained on the northern Point Reyes peninsula by a fence on the south, the Pacific Ocean to the west and Tomales Bay to the east.



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Here they are -- the guys -- and you know what guys do -- they lay around all day talking football and drinking Miller Lite.   They seem to all be getting along fine now, but a little later in the year rutting season will begin and there will be an ugly competition between the guys as to who is going to be top-dog with the ladies.



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And this is Point Reyes, located about 40 miles north of San Francisco.   Go there on a weekday and you'll have the whole area pretty much to yourself.



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a graphic experience - Mission District murals

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photo by Donald Kinney

When I pass by this residence on Clarion Alley, in San Francisco's Mission District I always imagine Mork and Mindy living here.   Nanu-nanu...



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photo by Donald Kinney

The mural on the right doesn't look like it was painted recently, but unfortunately it's prediction seems to be coming true.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Yes, always good to shed some light on the situation.



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photo by Donald Kinney

If you're younger than me you may not recognize what this mural depicts.   It's based on a famous but all too real photo of the Saigon Police Chief (backed by our government) blowing the brains out of a suspected Viet Kong in a bit of impromptu curb-side justice, so to speak.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Personally, I think fear is our biggest problem.   I suppose that's about all I should say -- I'm afraid that if I really told you what I thought about the policies of the United States I would lose about half of my audience.   Lets just say that I am one of those really far-out liberals who doesn't believe that we have been given the true story behind the attacks of 9-11.   Nanu-nanu...



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S.F., the part that is not so pretty

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photo by Donald Kinney

Okay, okay, these aren't the pretty pictures I normally show.   I suppose you may have thought that the cheese was sliding off my cracker...



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photo by Donald Kinney

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photo by Donald Kinney

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Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco

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photo by Donald Kinney

These wavy columns are part of San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts, originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition as a place to exhibit works of art.   Today, the work of art is the structure itself.



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For a time the Palace housed a continuous art exhibit, and during the Great Depression, W.P.A. artists were commissioned to replace the deteriorated Robert Reid murals on the ceiling of the rotunda. From 1934 to 1942 the exhibition hall was home to eighteen lighted tennis courts.   During World War II it was requisitioned by the Army for storage of trucks and jeeps. At the end of the war, when the United Nations was created in San Francisco, limousines used by the world's statesmen came from a motor pool there.   From 1947 on the hall was put to various uses: as a city Park Department warehouse; as a telephone book distribution center; as a flag and tent storage depot; and even as temporary Fire Department headquarters.

While the Palace had been saved from demolition, its structure was not stable.   Originally intended to only stand for the duration of the Exhibition, the colonnade and rotunda were not built of durable materials, and thus framed in wood and then covered with staff, a mixture of plaster and burlap-type fiber.   As a result of the construction and vandalism, by the 1950's the simulated ruin was in fact a crumbling ruin.

In 1964 the original Palace was completely demolished, with only the steel structure of the exhibit hall left standing.   The buildings were then reconstructed in permanent, light-weight, poured-in-place concrete, and steel I-beams were hoisted into place for the dome of the rotunda.   All the decorations and sculpture were constructed anew.
((( source: Wikipedia)))



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It seems like a romantic sort of place -- or short of that, perhaps a good place to walk dogs.



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rounding 'em up at Rodeo Beach

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photo by Donald Kinney

Yesterday when I chose this shot for the banner I had a sinking feeling that I didn't have any other photos to go with it, as this was just about the only potential "keeper" that resulted from Wednesday's trip to Rodeo Beach.



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photo by Donald Kinney

So yesterday afternoon, an hour or two before sunset I dashed down to Rodeo Beach to see if I could find anything to go with my splash photo from Wednesday.   Donald Kinney, on assignment, so to speak...



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photo by Donald Kinney

Besides surfing or beach strolling, the other popular sport at Rodeo Beach is sunset and wave watching.



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The might of a splash mixing with the warmth of the sunset.
A truly coastal experience.



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ripples and reflections, ad infinitum...

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photo by Donald Kinney

You might already know that I am enamored by the colorful ripples and reflections of the Lagunitas Creek -- oh you know, the creek I call my own -- but I also enjoy discovering this sort of thing on the waters of Alpine Dam.



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The hills are currently green and gold -- if I could bottle the colors I bet I could make a million bucks.   (((someday I'll tell you all about the fifteen years I spent working in a smelly paint factory)))



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photo by Donald Kinney

With nothing else to reflect but the sky, your standard garden-variety ripples usually come in blue.



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With a hillside to reflect, the standard blue ripples take on a bit of color.



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foggy morning at Nicasio, California

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photo by Donald Kinney

Imagine how transfixed I must have been while shooting these photos.
Jaw-dropping scenery in my estimation -- you don't see these kinds of atmosphrics every day, but I frequently check the lake for photo ops.

Anyway, you may notice that this image is slightly less yellow than yesterday's version.   My buddy in Ohio dropped me a note suggesting that I remove some of the yellow from the image.   CLICK to view yesterday's more yellowish version.



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photo by Donald Kinney

It was also suggested that I crop most of the sky out of that first photo, but that's where I drew the line.   For me that photo is all about the interaction between the fog and the sky -- my buddy thinks the photo is all about the fog and the hills.   Fortunately I had taken a whole slew of different versions of the scene, like the shot above which includes less sky.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Here's a shot that definitely called for cropping out most of the sky.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Turning around, I noticed that Elephant Mountain had almost cleared.

On the west side of Elephant Mountain they call it Black Mountain, which I believe is it's official name, but if you use your imagination you may be able to see a bit of the elephant in this shot.



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a place I call my own - Lagunitas Creek

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photo by Donald Kinney

Some people like this kind of stuff, others might not, but I consider the Lagunitas Creek my "specialty" -- it's ripples and reflections are my "body of work" -- they resonate within my deep and dark heart.   This kind of photograph gives me pleasure -- you too, I hope.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Quilted water -- who would have imagined...



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Ripples and reflections -- Mother Nature uses a rather colorful palette, doesn't she?



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in a blanket of fog -- Golden Gate Bridge

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photo by Donald Kinney

Well, I was bracing myself for a bunch of "it's o.k." and "boring", but from the results of the poll yesterday (12 wow + 1 like it) tells me that although it's been photographed a billion times, it's still a valid subject.   Oh, I've got photo-buddies who would never in a million years consider taking a shot like this.   Me? Well, I've got no dignity -- when I was a kid I wanted to be the guy who took the picture postcard photos, and postcards or not, it looks like my dreams have finally been realized.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Okay, I'm as old as dirt, but the Golden Gate Bridge opened in 1937, ten years before I was born.   But all sort of other structures in San Francisco have popped up during my lifetime -- that's Sutro Tower in this photo, a structure for antennas of all sorts.



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photo by Donald Kinney

The Golden Gate Bridge and Transportation District has rules.   No, you can't jump off the bridge or climb the suspension cables.   But did you also know that if you take a photo of the Golden Gate Bridge from actual bridge propterty itself, and then intend to sell that photograph, then (if they catch up with you) you're going to be asked to pay a $2000 fee by the bridge district.   "Asked" might be too slight of a word -- these bastards will sue if you don't comply.

A few weeks ago a representative from the Golden Gate Bridge and Transportation District contacted me and told me that I had about a half-dozen images on what I call my "big" site that were obviously shot while I was standing on Bridge property.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Bridge property includes the sidewlks and roadways of the bridge, beneath the bridge, the toll plaza area and visitor center and administration building on the south side of the bridge, plus Bridgeway Boulevard all the way to the Sausalito city limits.   It does not include either parking lot on the north side of the bridge, nor does the bridge own the Waldo Tunnel or any part of Conzelman Road.

Not that many people buy my photos, but yes folks, I DO occasionally sell my photos (see my "big" site for details) but I think the Bridge District thought they were dealing with some big shot photographer here -- not just little old Donald Kinney.   Anyway, rather than fight this I decided to cooperate with their stupid rules -- we worked out a deal where I would not have to remove the photos in question from my site, just put a notice below each photo taken on bridge property, reading: "this photo not available for purchase".



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flags are flying in Chinatown

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photo by Donald Kinney

It's no secret that the residents of San Francisco's Chinatown are fiercely loyal, both to America and their ancestral roots.



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photo by Donald Kinney

A sure way to get yelled at and waved off is to try sneaking a shot inside of You's Dim Sum.   These ladies definitely don't want their photos taken, which is shame because You's Dim Sum has, without a doubt, the cutest employees in the whole of Chinatown.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Looks pretty yummy to me -- curiously similar looking to beef stew, but I bet there's a few surprises in the recipe.



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Okay, okay, don't throw up, there are worse things in Chinatown, like the sanitation conditions onboard the pork delivery truck.
CLICK to view my little video: "Food in Chinatown".



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