Animals

Another Scavenger Hunt but this time in the graveyard

Picked the location for the next CTT outing. Back to the Sacramento Historic Cemetery. My husband thought that creating a scavenger hunt bordered on the insensitive. I thought otherwise, and so the trip was planned.

This is such a beautiful setting. Full of reminders of our historic past. Volunteers each tend their garden area with such passion. Flowers bloom throughout the year. Bulbs, roses, succulents, perennials, and annuals. And if you stop one of the volunteers you will learn a lot about gardening.

To add a bit of interest to this outing I created a photographer’s scavenger hunt. No prizes awarded, just a new way of looking for photo opportunities.

The bright sun worked hard to warm up the day, but the wind blew harder. Seems like the mild winter is showing its force these last few days of February. The record hail storm the night before even made national news. Looked like it snowed in Sacramento, but it was actually many inches of hail. Did not see this in Fair Oaks, but one of the gardeners came to the cemetery to check on his flowers. Such devotion.

I looked up a number of lists for this scavenger hunt, but I created my own to go along with the venue. The most surprising thing I did not find was Roman numerals. I just thought that there would be easily found. Not!

Starts with the letter P

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Something Red

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Reflection

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Looking Up

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Informational Signs

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Wilted

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Seedling in a Crack demonstrating Rule of Thirds. This was 3 in 1 find

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Wilted

 

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Environmental Portrait

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Poem

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Texture

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Decorative Metal Work, and Light Leak

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Religious Symbol

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Critter

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Patriotic

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Spending time outdoors with my camera and friends makes my day.

Enjoy each day, and until next time.

 

Gemini and Personality Two

My astrological sign is Gemini and up till now I didn’t feel like the definition fit. But looking at an Internet definition a Gemini is, “Expressive and quick-witted, Gemini represents two different personalities in one and you will never be sure which one you will face.” Ok, I may be indecisive at times. And the tug of war between going out to be with others, or just staying contently alone at home may fit. Yup, I’m a Gemini when I come to think of it. Probably explains why I’m busy sharing my life in this blog, and why  you just don’t hear from me sometimes. Just saying.

Here are some Sacramento Zoo photographs I captured in twos.

 

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Just helping remove a bit of schmutz.

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Thanks for pointing out my imperfections,

 

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I can spit further than you!

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If I stay very still, they may think that they are seeing double.

 

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I will follow you…

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Hold me, squeeze me, never let me go…

 

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Is the photographer still there? I’ll come out when she is gone.

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We are there for each other.

And today I am in a sharing kind of mood.

People who need people are the luckiest people, or so they say. What do you say?

Until the next time.

 

Image

Point Reyes National Seashore: Ocean Calling, but first explore the area’s history.

My friends know that I am drawn to the ocean. So we head to Point Reyes on a Saturday morning.

First stop is the Bear Valley Visitor Center where we meet with other photographers from Exploring Photography Meet Up. Laura picks up a hat, and I purchase a tee shirt celebrating the National Parks 100 year anniversary. 100% cotton, and made in the U.S.A.

We head out for a hike. Following the Earthquake Trail This is not my first time on this trail, but this time I have my Nikon with me.

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Easy, short 1 mile hike

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Serene lush setting

The San Andreas Fault line runs through the Point Reyes National Seashore area. The Pacific plate moves 2 inches per year, but on April 18, 1906 a 7.8 earthquake caused the Point Reyes peninsula moved 20 feet northwestward. The San Francisco earthquake caused much damage due in part to the fires that followed.

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Walking along the San Andreas Fault line

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Bird grabs a blackberry

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Morning Glory

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Quiet bench along the way

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Spider web captures the sun

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Hanging moss

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Profile of relaxing pose

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Elephant running

 

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Much information to assist in preparation for the “Big One”

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Don’t ignore the power of mother nature!

This meet-up has set up an itinerary, but the schedule allows for some changes. Before we head to our next destination, we pay homage to the infamous S.S.Point Reyes. This 380 ft. cargo ship is grounded on a sandbar in Tomales Bay. Located in the town of Inverness this ship has been a magnet for photographers. It was towed to its location, and was never shipwrecked. The protected inland area allowed the slow decay of this vessel. Until one night about 6 months ago when it accidentally caught fire during a photo shoot. Damage was done to the back end, and there is a question as to how long it will remain here. There are so many photographs that I was not totally interested in capturing it myself. But  how can I resist. Recommended time for shooting is the golden hour, but with fog that was not going to happen. Anyway, I Iike the foggy atmosphere.

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A perfect photographic spot to end its journey.

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I played around with some processing techniques. It is not hard to see this as a painting.

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During the earthquake in 1906, the pier in Tomales Bay sustained considerable movement. During restoration it was found to be curved, and 12 feet shorter.

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Bailey’s pier at Inverness

Our next stop was to Abbott’s Lagoon. Here my friends and I encountered an easy trail with much nature to photograph. Now that I am home I can learn about some of the plants in the Point Reyes National Seashore.

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This is a thistle, but I’m not sure which kind. I like the splash of color it lends to the area.

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Even with closer photographs my chart to identify this plant is lacking.

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My path forward

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California Quail

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There was a crooked tree…

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This black beetle may have landed on some Cow Parsnip.

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Two friends resting

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Abbott’s Lagoon trail

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This may be Brownie Thistle

Our next stop was Pierce Point Ranch. No sign of promised sun, and we picnicked nearby. I was surprised by how many dairy farms were located so close to the coast. Pierce Ranch was one of the most successful dairy ranches in the area, and the buildings provide some interesting photo opportunities.

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I like the way the fence leads your eye to the farm house.

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Lovely light in this barn

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Foggy and cool

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Outhouse

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Reflections and foggy

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Reflections and a peek through the door

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Self guided tour through the farm complex

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Goldfields

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This interesting bumble bee is targeting this yellow wildflower.

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I can’t identify the flower, but the bee sure knows what he wants.

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Monochromatic capture

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Though the fog I see the Pacific Ocean

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Careful not to step on this catarpillar

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Farmhouse scene

As we were leaving the Pierce Point Ranch area we finally see some Tule Elk. This is also home for the Tule Elk Preserve.

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Tule Elk

Still hoping for sun we head to the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Too foggy to even see the lighthouse.

We head to North Beach, and here comes the sun. Yeah!

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Only a part of North Beach is open for the public.

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Finally get to hear the roar of the ocean waves!

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Wildflowers along Point Reyes North Beach

Great day, and a big thank you to my friends Anne, Laura, and Linda!

Until the coastal waters call to me again.

 

Effie Yeaw

This nature center always produces different images each time I go. In April I met my Camera Totin’ Tuesday group for a look at nature in the late spring.

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This eensy weensy Spider met me at the pond

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Don’t know what flower will appear.

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Caterpillars two-by-two

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Jackrabbits two-by-two peeking

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Another one scampers away

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A field of wildflowers

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Wild Turkey strutting

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Not much help in case there is a fire. No sign of hydrant nearby.

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Finally located the fire hydrant.

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Looking over Effie Yeaw to keep nature safe

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Butterfly stops for a drink

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Hawk peers out from nest

I’m glad I live close to the Effie Yeaw Nature Center. Almost time to go again. This time I will get a head start with the heat, and go for a sunrise shoot.