sunrise at the pond -- Corte Madera

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photo by Donald Kinney

To someone who likes to shoot the sunrise, mornings can be a scramble, and getting out e-a-r-l-y is an accomplishment. This morning I guessed, correctly, it would be lackluster sunrise and focused on a few more zzz's.



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photo by Donald Kinney

The jury is still out, but I resisted the urge to "stretch" the lower half of the top photo. The image tends to descend into quite a bit of darkness on the bottom. In any case, I'll give you a thinner slice of the lower part, above.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       

foggy nights, sunny days at the Gee-Gee Bridge

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photo by Donald Kinney

Those foggy yet colorful nights,



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photo by Donald Kinney

and those sunny afternoons when it is pretty enough to take a picture.

[photo (above) taken in 2008)


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book       

Drake's Bay Oyster -- I remember it as Johnson's

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photo by Donald Kinney

Years ago my parents were in town so we decided on a day at Point Reyes. Highlighted on the itinerary--Johnson's Oyster Farm.

I had cajoled with Mr. Johnson during previous visits. Johnson was old-as-dirt in the 1980's, and he was the second generation of Johnsons farming oysters here. A crustier guy you couldn't find--an oyster farmer, straight out of Central Casting. No frills at the oyster farm--not that it is particularly muddy, just crusty. No improvements seem to have been made in decades.

My parents had no inclination of purchasing oysters, but that didn't stop Mr. Johnson from trying. Finally he realized the Kinneys were gawkers and not buyers, so Mr. Johnson plucked an especially lively crab from a tank, placed it on the counter in front of my mother, quoted a price, and nearly scared her half-way to death...



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photo by Donald Kinney

The Lunny family, current owners of "Drake's Bay Oyster Company" are embroiled in a long and bitter legal fight with the Federal Government to remain where they are. The National Park Service wants them out so Drake's Bay can be restored to a more pristine condition.

The Park Service is unsympathetic and unmoved by the pleas of this family business. Farming oysters here goes back more than a century and damage oyster farming has caused is debatable, in my opinion. The Lunny family has lost every appeal to date in their fight to keep operating their farm.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

Point Reyes -- in the mirror

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photo by Donald Kinney

If she ever arrives in the first place, the elusive sun, known for her tendency to skip over Point Reyes entirely, is prone to make a fast get-away.



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photo by Donald Kinney

But the cypress trees aren't going anywhere, soon. They may topple and split and drop a branch or three, but pretty much--they are here to stay.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

Rodeo Beach -- the big and the small of it

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photo by Donald Kinney

...the big of it



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photo by Donald Kinney

...and the the small of it


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

an Ocean Beach adventure

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photo by Donald Kinney

I see a lot more sunrises than I do sunsets, so this one at San Francisco's Ocean Beach was, as they say, extra special. Tranquil and rather subdued, and not a cloud in the sky.



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photo by Donald Kinney

The local dogs and people were digging it.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

sand and bubbles -- Ocean Beach

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photo by Donald Kinney

Dunes at Ocean Beach on the west side of San Francisco have sand containing dark Magnetite which is heavier than the other sands, and tends to accentuate the ripples, making them look deeper than they actually are. Great dunes near the foot of Judah St.



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photo by Donald Kinney

And if you look closely enough you may be able to see the pho-tog inside the bubbles.


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while waiting for my laundry to dry

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photo by Donald Kinney

Welcome to a hill, Loma Alta, just west of Fairfax, California. These are my digs.
I could probably live under that tree without blanket or mattress and not complain.
A fine view of my beloved Mount Tamalpais. Beautiful starry nights.
The strength of the oak would probably be enough to keep me going.



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photo by Donald Kinney

40 years ago I was between jobs and a buddy who managed Circle-V Stables talked me into a 4 month job cleaning stalls and feeding horses. One perk of working this job was being able to ride the horses and one day I thought I would give it a try. The memory is like it was yesterday--of hoofing it to this scenic spot with "Old Charcoal", a kind and gentle horse. I had no experience at riding a horse whatsoever, but we managed.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

the perils of dabbling with artiness

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photo by Donald Kinney

Yesterday I was describing some of the perils of being a pho-tog, so today maybe we can open up that big Pandora's Box of snakes and vampires that I loosely refer to as artiness.

And it is just my opinion, and what do I know(?), but I tend to be slow in jumping on the bandwagon in being so reckless with the word "art". After all, since "art" can be applied to just about anything--well done or not--I think it is a fairly meaningless term.



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photo by Donald Kinney

I do not call myself an artist, as I think the term "photographer" is quite sufficient and more accurately describes the process. One of the greatest photographers who ever lived, Edward Weston, reportedly balked strongly when someone categorized him as an artist. Back in the 1930's Edward Weston was preparing for an important exhibition in New York City when he received an advance copy of the exhibition catalog. Boldly emblazoned below his name was a title of "photographic artist". He fired off an angry letter to the people who were organizing the exhibition and demanded that they change his title to simply "photographer".

Currently I think I like the title of "pho-tog". Yeah, I think I will go with that, realizing that I have a tall mountain to climb before I am going to be fully proficient at this "craft". I think the jury is still out on the photos I am showing here today. What do YOU think?


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

the peculiar perils of photography

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photo by Donald Kinney

Okay, nobody got hurt and I wasn't even in danger, but Sunday morning my jaw dropped when I saw some large wave action at the bottom of the cliffs at Black Sands Beach, located not far west of the Golden Gate Bridge. This is a popular nude beach, but it was early and it was just me and the seagulls. You don't have to ask--my pants stayed on.

I was using my neutral-density filter which allows me to use a longer than normal shutter speed--these were 1/4 second exposures--suitable for recording the gracefulness of water splashes. I climbed up on a large rock at the west end of the beach and got to work.
The problem is that I do not yet own a cable-release and when I pressed the shutter I managed to introduce quite a bit of camera shake into the image. This didn't ruin the splash, but the tiny lighthouse in the distance and the dark rocks in the foreground required some Photoshop magic to restore them back half-way to somewhat acceptable sharpness. I don't think I'll ever be able to make a good large print from the image.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Now, I had better luck in avoiding camera shake with this image, but then I ended up with the problem of two competing areas of interest--the splash and the pinnacle. Some judicious cropping and reducing the color in the rocks and then darkening them helped somewhat, but the jury is still out on this photo (above). I was limited as to where I could set up my tripod. I was trying my best to stay dry. Working near the ocean's edge can be dangerous, but I managed to stay safe.

The major problem of going down to Black Sands Beach is having to climb back up. It seems to get more difficult each time I make the climb. A genuine slog. I was exhausted. I survived, but just barely. So there you have it--a little look into the perils of a pho-tog.
If the technical issues don't get us, the hike probably will. Sometimes both...


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

EXTRA: Jan Bell, my friend and colleague turns 60 today

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photo by Donald Kinney

Okay, get out the party hats and horns because my good buddy and confidant, Jan Bell, the well known and highly accomplished photographer based in Bowling Green, Ohio, is celebrating his 60th. birthday today.

I met Jan seven or eight years ago when he was in this area on a photo trek. He had stumbled across some of my old photos on the Internet of Lagunitas Creek, so I had the opportunity to show him where I had been snapping my colorful ripple and reflection images. Jan LOVES this area, especially the peaceful environs near Bolinas and Point Reyes Station.

Jan Bell's work is coveted by both private and institutional collectors, and has the skills necessary to win competitions at the drop-of-a-hat. He has been exceedingly patient with me, and has taught me volumes about photographic and Photoshop techniques. Jan is a true artist and creativity comes naturally to Jan, as he had a long career in Ohio with WBGU-TV as a graphic artist.

I snapped that photo of Jan (above) at Point Lobos State Park, south of Carmel a few years ago. We were retracing the footsteps of Edward Weston and Ansel Adams, focusing our lenses on the same old dead and gnarled Cypress that our idols had photographed years before. It's always fun when Jan finds time to visit here in the West. Always educational to pick his brain for specifics on technique. Over the years I've been able to help Jan with the HTML on his website and I recommend you visit his site at Bellimages.com.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

Saturday night and Sunday morning - Nicasio, California

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photo by Donald Kinney

Given the opportunity and enough wild oats, I suppose when Saturday night rolls around it might be time to get a little crazy... Oh you know, break out the brushes and spray cans and make a little art.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Then Sunday morning rolls around and suddenly we get exceedingly pious. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death--or however it goes. By then little Donald has thought of his own prayer; "Pass the wine and wafers--had a rough night--I'm starving".


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

the Seabreeze - Frank Quan's old shrimp boat

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photo by Donald Kinney

I've seen old photos of Frank Quan's old shrimp boat, the Seabreeze, floating and in apparently good condition, but I'm afraid she isn't going back into the water anytime soon. Her stern now has major damage and where her motor used to be is now just a spacious cavity. Crude signs and chicken wire warn against climbing on her--a real temptation for a big boy like me.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Oh gosh, I've told the historic story of China Camp in dozens of blog posts, so I won't bore you again with all the details. Lets just say that rampant discrimination was imposed on newly arrived Chinese, and the netting of Bay Shrimp was one of the few occupations the immigrants were allowed in the late 1800's. China Camp is located about 30 miles north of San Francisco on San Pablo Bay, the northern "thumb" of San Francisco Bay.

Frank Quan is getting up there in years, but has lived here throughout his life. Frank and his brother modernized the shrimp drying operations by building a brick lined kiln in the 1930's. Previous to that the tiny Bay Shrimp were spread on straw mats on the nearby hillside for drying. That small craft at the end of the pier in this photo (above) is Frank's "new" boat. Mr. Quan is just about as shy as I am, but some day I'm going to get up enough nerve to ask if his new boat has a name, other than the required registration numbers boldly displayed on each side. I've always gotten a chuckle out of the name for his 12 foot dinghy--the "Zero Two". Frank is an old bachelor, just like me.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

Pierce Point Dairy -- one quart of history

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photo by Donald Kinney

Dairy ranching at Point Reyes started on a small scale when Franciscan missionaries introduced feral cattle to the area in 1817. The plan was to supply food to a "recuperative center" known as San Rafael Asistencia, for ailing Coast Miwok and Ohlone natives who were succumbing to the diseases of the White Man at an alarming rate.

Starting in 1849 the California Gold Rush brought wealth to just a few and heartache to many, and the real fortune was made by catering to the basic needs of wannabe miners. Due to scarcity, just one egg could cost as much as $10 and butter and cheese became only a fond memory.

Although isolated and difficult to get to, some of the more enterprising immigrants saw an opportunity here at Point Reyes. For centuries the native Indians had taken great care of this land with frequent burning, weeding, pruning, and harvesting. There was abundant grass, a long growing season, and sufficient fresh water.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Many of the new arrivals, disillusioned by their lack of success in the gold fields, already had experience with dairy cows and saw an opportunity. With the lack of refrigeration, transporting fresh milk was problematic, but shipping out butter and cheese in casks or in long rolls was entirely do-able. By-products from the butter and cheese operations were slopped to hogs and suddenly the dairy ranchers another product they could sell to hungry San Franciscans--fresh pork. Once again, the lack of refrigeration required that the hogs be shipped out to the City un-slaughtered.

In 1867, Marin County produced 932,429 pounds of butter, the largest yield of butter in California. These huge amounts of butter were produced in an era when the finest restaurants served every good steak with a melting slab of butter on top. Yum.

Eventually, transportation to San Francisco was improved. Schooners were replaced by ferries and rail, but there were hard times ahead for the dairy ranches of Point Reyes. The earthquake of 1906 did major damage to many ranches, and in 1929 the stock market crash spelled disaster for many of the major landholders. Speculators moved in to pick up the pieces, resold dairy parcels, and made a bloody fortune. Due to overgrazing, the quality of the pastures declined and only a handful of dairies survived. Beef was seen as a more promising commodity.

A few milk producers still operate here under special leases from the Federal Government who now own all of Point Reyes, but Pierce Point Dairy at the extreme north end of Point Reyes remains as an example of what it must have been like in the 1800's. The inability to keep up with improving food purity laws forced the shutting down of Pierce Point Dairy in the 1940's.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

Point Reyes -- a friendly welcome

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photo by Donald Kinney

I am told that the original inhabitants of Point Reyes, the Miwok Indians, were the first human beings to live in this area. 120 known village sites have been discovered. It is thought, and sometimes disputed, that Sir Francis Drake landed here in 1579, the first European explorer to do so. By the early 1800's the entire population of Miwoks had been wiped out by diseases the White Man brought with him, although missionaries from Mission Dolores, 40 miles to the south in San Francisco, probably did their best to "save the souls" of the "savages" before their demise. By the way, try to avoid shooting here in the middle of the day--advice I ignored in this photo (above).



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photo by Donald Kinney

This photo, taken in December of 2012 is the placid view of Point Reyes and part of her 12 mile long white sandy beach, looking west towards the lighthouse on the tip of the peninsula. For you photographers, the best time of year to visit Point Reyes is in Winter, when the sun is at a low angle.

Point Reyes was once again "saved" in the 1970's by the Federal Government, who formed the first National Seashore and opened the beaches and bluffs to the public. By then two dozen dairy ranches and one oyster farm had been established, and were allowed to continue their operations. Currently the Feds are in the process of a heavy-handed attempt to shut down the oyster farm and restore that part of Drake's Bay to its original and pristine condition. The majority of the public is against eviction of the oyster farm, but the family operated business has lost every appeal thus far.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

a wide angle on the world

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photo by Donald Kinney

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that we boys need our toys--and I've got a new one--a wide angle zoom lens, and a whole 'nother way of looking at the world.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Yes, this is new and it is going to take some time for me to hone some new skills, but so far--so good. I am digging what I'm seeing. For years I've been seeing in an isolated and narrow fashion from the center of my eye, picking out forms and details in the distance with my 70-200. Now I am able to attempt a much wider view with this new 24-70.

I decided against buying a Canon lens which would have cost an additional $1000--this is a Tamron SP24-70 f-2.8 Di VC USD. Consulting the MTF charts, this lens should be just as good as a Canon. I traded in some old equipment at B&H, so I purchased it for a song.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

one is the loneliest number

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photo by Donald Kinney

(((with apologies to Three Dog Night)))
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It's the loneliest number since the number one

No is the saddest experience you'll ever know
Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
'Cause one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do

One is the loneliest number, worse than two
It's just no good anymore since you went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday

Nobody has ever asked, but occasionally I ask myself; "If this blog is named AphotoAday, why then do I usually post two or even three photos each day?"

After all, there is a bit of jeopardy in trying to pair two or more photos.
Additionally, there is great wisdom in the often heard artistic adage of "less is more".

So, today, I am giving you just ONE photo. I'm pretty sure it can stand on its own.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

light, camera, action -- at Rodeo Beach

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photo by Donald Kinney

I feel SO sorry for all of you poor souls who don't have beaches-and-breakers in your backyard. That action on top of the wave is called "spindrift". Pretty, isn't it?



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photo by Donald Kinney

My ears always perk-up when I hear warnings on the news of dangerous waves on the coast. Hell, danger is my middle name. I'll try my best to stay safe, but send no flowers. Donations to your favorite charity. It's been nice knowing you.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

Black Oaks of Back Ranch Meadows

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photo by Donald Kinney

On weekends hundreds of mountain-bikers descend on Back Ranch Meadows at my beloved China Camp. The best strategy for not getting run over is to stay out of their way.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Better yet, I like to visit on a weekdays, when the majority of the speed-demons are safely back at work. Quiet enough to hear a bird chirp. Peaceful enough to imagine the Miwok Indians who once lived here, who might have enjoyed the spreading branches of this same Black Oak, albeit a bit smaller a century or more ago.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

from Mt. Tamalpais -- looking West

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photo by Donald Kinney

In school I got in trouble more than once for detaching myself from the current situation by staring out the classroom windows towards an interesting, or even plain vanilla sky.



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photo by Donald Kinney

So here I am, a half century later, still staring out into the sky and being absorbed by clouds, or even no clouds at all. The sky holds secrets. I try to listen carefully.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

morning on Tam, and not another human in sight

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photo by Donald Kinney

Hey, don't get me wrong--I like people--oodles and bunches, but there are times--here and there, when I can most certainly do without. Yes, you guessed right--I never married.



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photo by Donald Kinney

And to think that I can spend these quiet times by myself--all alone, in perfect harmony with my surroundings, well, it is pure and unadulterated bliss. Welcome to MY world.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

the grand view -- plus a few traces of humans

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photo by Donald Kinney

That, my friends, is the "Whoop-de-Whoop" bridge in the background. Apparently great numbers of autos and trucks need to get back and forth between San Rafael and Richmond--I wouldn't be able to tell you why.



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photo by Donald Kinney

That is just steam belching forth from Chevron Refinery, but it was a different story on August 6, 2012 when a cloud of noxious gas and smoke (see below) sent thousands to East Bay hospitals.


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photo by Donald Kinney


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

sunrise -- a three bean salad

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photo by Donald Kinney

1 (16-ounce) can dark red kidney beans, drained
1 (14.5-ounce) can cut green beans, drained
1 (14.5-ounce) can cut golden wax beans, drained



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photo by Donald Kinney

1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 cup chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons minced red onion
1/2 cup vegetable oil (((Paula Deen's recipe, by the way)))
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons Greek seasoning (((and/or a few racial slurs about Greeks)))



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photo by Donald Kinney

In a medium bowl, combine first 6 ingredients.
In a small bowl, whisk together oil, vinegar, mustard, and Greek seasoning. Pour over bean mixture; cover and chill 4 hours, (((cussing occasionally))).


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

Rodeo Beach -- getting there is half the fun

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photo by Donald Kinney

A more organized photographer would consult tide and weather charts and maybe even pack a dry pair of socks, but most of the time I prefer to just arrive casually at my beloved Rodeo Beach with no formal expectations.



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photo by Donald Kinney

And besides, getting there is half the fun... Two routes will take me there...
1) Conzelman Road hugs the coast from the Golden Gate Bridge, up and over Hawk Hill, then and out to Pt. Bonita Lighthouse. From there, I just follow my nose to Rodeo Beach.
2) The old one-way dark and dank tunnel, a military remnant (above), crosses deeply under Highway-101 and Slacker Ridge. From there, I just follow my nose to Rodeo Beach.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book   

a big and colorful mess

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photo by Donald Kinney

As I like to say; "I swam in colors", but more accurately I was chief cook and bottle-washer for a number of years at an obscure paint factory--a rather microscopic company in size, but big on color. (We made a textile printing ink called Versatex) Oh lord, could I ever make a colorful mess.



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photo by Donald Kinney

Spectators with a front row seat. Swimming in subtle colors of a new day.


Photographing Marin County - the exhibit and book