A Photo's Worth

Determined to keep on enjoying my photography

The hot summer weather puts a crimp in my outdoor exploration. Sacramento has been hot, and dry with little humidity.

My group of fellow photogs are having a hard time coming up with new places to explore. Sometimes it is good to go back to the same place because after I review my work I come up with new ideas to get a better capture. Sometimes I enter the venue with a different perspective. And sometime, I use a different lens or in this case a new camera.

So to keep on learning, lightening my camera load, and getting ready for future adventures I recently switched to the Fuji X system. Now I need to get out in different circumstances and take more photographs. The only way to get to know the camera is to get out and take pictures.

A familiar destination is Old Sacramento. For the locals we call it Old Sac. There we hoped to practice some street photography. With expected high temperature we arrived early just to find the town pretty empty. Because this was the day after Labor Day many shops were closed. With new camera in hand my spirits were lifted just being out and about with good company.

Candy Heaven, located right near the parking garage on Front Street, always welcomes customers and photographers. And I even can grab a salt water taffy.

_MRF0229 — Smiley Faces available at Candy Heaven

_MRF0267 — Another candy shop invites temptation. Not this time.

The Delta King brought me to the dock where I looked for a new shot.

In my next few shots I tried to capture a story in my street images. I also experimented with a new plug-in Luminar 2018 for post processing.

_MRF0257-Edit — Outside the Railroad Terminal.

_MRF0243-Edit — Not racing the trains, this time!

So far I am very pleased with my new photographic tools! Ready for another day out with my friends and camera!

More People Watching on Pier 39

Embarcadero means a “place to embark”. Looking up this information led me to this 1906 documentary, A Trip Down Market Street. Click on the link and travel down the road. Taken from a cable car weeks before the 1906 earthquake. It is amazing to see what traffic was like then.

My friend and I walked down the Embarcadero to Pier 39. Stop for lunch and do more people watching.

_DSF1225 — So many food choices. Go healthy or not?

_DSF1228 — Careful those knives are sharp!

_DSF1290 — Throwing a kiss. Spray paint sidewalk artist has music, movement, and spirit!

_DSF1296 — Balloon artist not happy to have a photo taken. Oh well.

_DSF1284 — So many cell phones. What is so interesting?

_DSF1299 — Explanation of height restrictions on the Segway

_DSF1305 — Serious driving skills being tested

When you grab some fast food you are warned to watch out for birds. They are known for helping themselves to your delicious seafood and sour dough bread.

_DSF1315 — Gulls Rule at the Fishermen’s Grotto

Arriving at Pier 41 to take the ferry back to Vallejo.

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Fun day and lots of fun images to add to my memories.

San Francisco People Watching

It is summer, and in Fair Oaks that means it is hot. A photography meet-up group planned to meet in Vallejo and travel by ferry into San Francisco. Great escape from the heat, and great way to capture some images with my new Fuji x100f.

The Vallejo Ferry goes to the San Francisco Ferry Building or Pier 41 near Fisherman’s Wharf. The drive is easy, and parking early on this Saturday morning was simple. The parking fee and round-trip ferry ride cost $22.00 (for Seniors). Cheaper than finding parking around the Embarcadero. I like hassle free travel.

_DSF1149 — We pass under the Oakland Bay Bridge

Arrived at the Ferry Building and right away the group scattered. I like to spend the day photographing with a friend, and so Anne and I forged ahead. Preparing for this day I decided that I would focus on little stories or interactions between people. There was no shortage of people out enjoying the day. The San Francisco Ferry Building was getting busy when we arrived just before 10 a.m.

Lighting was tricky, and we decided to head out to walk the Embarcadero. Plan to meet @ Pier 41 for our ferry ride home at 4 pm.

_DSF1175 — He shows me what he was eating. Looks yummy.

Families, tourists, and locals crowd the street.

_DSF1205 — The little red haired girl caught my friend’s eye. I was interested in how the rest of the family reacted to her getting the attention.

There are lots of ways people travel down the Embarcadero.

_DSF1214 — Many tour buses allow for on/off possibilities

_DSF1206 — A modern version of a rickshaw

_DSF1190 — Go-cart tours stopped in traffic

_DSF1189 — Attention Grabbers from Alcatraz

My friend and I click away as we walk down the street.

_DSF1201 — Spotted this lone man waiting to cross the street

_DSF1202 — Having trouble taking everything with him into the restroom

It is about lunch time, and we arrive at Pier 39.

I leave you with the promise to post more from this adventure soon.

Street photography is fun! Where do you go when you want to capture your images?

Fog and Photography

Our last day on the Central Coast is spent at Hearst Castle. As a first time visitor with limited mobility (Plantar fasciitis) my choice was the Grand Rooms Tour. I ordered tickets online, and arrived ready for an early morning tour.

Woke up to plenty of fog. It actually felt like a misty continuous rain.

Our group met at the Visitor Center where we hopped on a bus to take us from the coast up the winding road to Hearst Castle.