Northern California – A Photo's Worth

A Photowalk in Niles

Getting away with photo friends and introducing them to my brother Alan made for an enjoyable and interesting day. My brother lives in Freemont, Ca. and found this little old town flavor in Niles about a mile from his address. Car loaded with friends, cameras, and gas we headed off to Niles. I was driving Subi Blue, and just as we started the infamous I symbol appeared on my dashboard indicating a low tire sensor. We boldly continued the two-hour journey.

After passing under a railroad trestle we arrived in Niles, Ca.

This old restored gas station serves as a meeting spot for car enthusiasts.

Unique stores line 1st Street (Main Street). Forget trademarks here. Plenty of antique stores, but since we are here on a Thursday we find many stores closed.

My brother served as our own personal guide to a town he walks around frequently. He knows most of the small business owners and often photographs events in town. The weather cooperates and we found plenty of photo opportunities in nature and architecture.

This wisteria tree has over the years intertwined with another tree.

I liked the way the light fell on these hats

Silent movies and Charlie Chaplin have solid connections with Niles, Ca. On our way home, we drove through Niles Canyon used as a backdrop for cowboy films in the early days of movie-making.

I was sorry this museum was closed on Thursday.

It turns out the air in the tire was low, so off to find a working air pump, and tossing in a bunch of quarters, and home we went.

This little Tortuga Talavera followed me home.

And we returned safely.

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #150 Let’s Get Wild

For this week’s Lens-Artists Photography Challenge, let’s get wild! Dianne is talking about Mother Nature untouched and untrammelled, allowed to get on with her work without human help or hindrance.

Looking through my images I am more inclined to capture images with human interactions. My travels haven’t taken me far from home.

Squirrels take up residence in the trees.

And a dragonfly lands on a bush in my backyard!

I did manage to take a trip to the Island of Kauai with some of my photo friends.

A wild discovery at Effie Yeaw Nature Center in Carmichael, Ca.

Sorry, this wild blog may seem a bit scattered. My very special doodle, Charlie is in the hospital. His liver is not working to its best. The doctors are trying to figure this out. HIs numbers are quite unexpected for a such a young dog. Think good thoughts that Charlie will be home with me soon. We have never been apart.

POTW

Just purchased Luminar 2018 to assist in photo editing.

I processed the photograph to give it a more vintage look.

1810_23_MRRF4603

Rosie

Want to get out of the heat? If you are in Sacramento and your looking at the 7 day forecast of triple digit temps, you may.

Remember, Sacramento has access to both the coastal area and the mountains. When I was in high school 5 decades ago I had a history teacher who came from California. She told us that it was a 2 hour ride west and she could be surfing. Going east 2 hours she could be skiing. Coming from Long Island, N.Y. this sounded great. Well, I never surfed, or skied, but the concept that the climate could be that different impressed me. Last week my granddaughter spent the week at camp in Lake Tahoe. On Sunday June 11th it was snowing. Roads were icy, and we white knuckled it back home to Sacramento. My husband picked her us on Friday, the weather in the mountains had warmed up to the 80s. Yesterday in Sacramento we reached a record high for the date of 106. Happy for my air conditioning.

In Richmond, California there is a Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park. This is a gem of a museum. Lots to see, and it is easy for photographers to capture. Easy to get to, easy parking, and if you have a National Park Pass admission is free.

1611_29_RosieRedOak_5353 — National Historical Park

1611_29_rosieredoak_5343 — Richmond scene

There is a cafe right next door, but this time we decided to venture into Port Richmond. A local pointed us in the direction of a sandwich shop. After a salad sampler the streets of Point Richmond beckoned.

What I like about my outings and photography is coming home and diving deeper into the history of the places I visit, or learning more about my natural surrounding. I came across this interesting website, and learned more about this statue of an Indian in the center of a little park.