Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photography. Show all posts
September 18, 2013
Fog and Presidio
I took Poppy on an early morning walk through the very foggy Presidio. The combination of light and fog created the opportunity for some nice images.
June 24, 2013
Photo a Day - Last Week of May
Lately, I have been taking a close look at what I spend my time on and one of the thoughts from that is - why I do this "Photo A Day" project. Unfortunately, I don't yet have a good answer. Part of me thinks it is laziness, or lack of "time" to tell you the real story behind the photograph, the one I really want you to know. In the meantime, here are some images from the last week of May.
May 24, 2013
Poppy on a walk through the Anza Vista neighborhood.
May 25, 2013
Poppy, Paul and I on a very windy day at the beach near Crissy Field.
May 26, 2013
A guided wild food walk plant identification class in chilly Golden Gate Park. Apparently clover is edible in small amounts!
May 27, 2013
Wild radish, in its prime. On my own wild food identification in the Presidio.
May 29, 2013
Another walk in the woods, I like the one thread of a spider web trailing off of this plant.
May 30, 2013
In the area around Mountain Lake I spot a bird who poses for me.
May 31, 2013
I am on my way to Oregon through the dry rolling hills of California, west of Sacramento on Interstate 505.
May 24, 2013
May 25, 2013
May 26, 2013
May 27, 2013
May 29, 2013
May 30, 2013
May 31, 2013
June 14, 2013
May 23, 2013
Thursday
On this morning, we go, once again, to the Presidio for a morning walk. In thinking of my favorite places on Earth, I would add this grove of trees to the list. Come to think of it, nearly all of my favorite places are set in the woods. There is a wooded gully at Fair Hill in Maryland, on the Orange trail, that I would also include and a grove of giant trees growing amongst giant boulders in a small forest along The Golden Bay of the South Island of New Zealand. I get to see these places often, except New Zealand, but I promised myself I would go back there someday. These places are like old friends, I am humbled by them and they remind me of who I am.
On this morning, we go, once again, to the Presidio for a morning walk. In thinking of my favorite places on Earth, I would add this grove of trees to the list. Come to think of it, nearly all of my favorite places are set in the woods. There is a wooded gully at Fair Hill in Maryland, on the Orange trail, that I would also include and a grove of giant trees growing amongst giant boulders in a small forest along The Golden Bay of the South Island of New Zealand. I get to see these places often, except New Zealand, but I promised myself I would go back there someday. These places are like old friends, I am humbled by them and they remind me of who I am.
May 21, 2013
Tuesday
Happy Birthday to me! I have decided to fill my day with fun and inexpensive things, mostly. After toast for breakfast at The Mill, Poppy and I drive down to my guitar lesson. I have a vegetarian Vietnamese sandwich for lunch before hiking at Stevens Creek Park - a birthday tradition. My very first birthday in California was spent here, hiking to the end of the Tony Look trail and lying in the tall grass by the reservoir, listening to Rumours by Fleetwood Mac on my headphones. This year, I have Poppy and we don't get all the way to the end of the trail, but it is always nice to come here, even for just this one magical grove of oak trees. It is one of my favorite spots on Earth.
Happy Birthday to me! I have decided to fill my day with fun and inexpensive things, mostly. After toast for breakfast at The Mill, Poppy and I drive down to my guitar lesson. I have a vegetarian Vietnamese sandwich for lunch before hiking at Stevens Creek Park - a birthday tradition. My very first birthday in California was spent here, hiking to the end of the Tony Look trail and lying in the tall grass by the reservoir, listening to Rumours by Fleetwood Mac on my headphones. This year, I have Poppy and we don't get all the way to the end of the trail, but it is always nice to come here, even for just this one magical grove of oak trees. It is one of my favorite spots on Earth.
May 19, 2013
Sunday
Today was about being in Santa Cruz. We woke and left the house before 7am to avoid the Bay-to-Breakers craziness that was about to unfold in San Francisco. In the waning hours of sunlight, we had dinner at the Crow's Nest overlooking this typical California beach scene.
Today was about being in Santa Cruz. We woke and left the house before 7am to avoid the Bay-to-Breakers craziness that was about to unfold in San Francisco. In the waning hours of sunlight, we had dinner at the Crow's Nest overlooking this typical California beach scene.
June 11, 2013
May 4, 2013
Saturday
We took Poppy to Ocean Beach. The fog blew in and the fog blew out, as we sat there, warmth and cold, back and forth. Previously hidden people became visible and things emerged from the fog, like a long drawn out surprise.
We took Poppy to Ocean Beach. The fog blew in and the fog blew out, as we sat there, warmth and cold, back and forth. Previously hidden people became visible and things emerged from the fog, like a long drawn out surprise.
May 19, 2013
April 28, 2013
Sunday
We are driving home from Bend, Oregon and it is the middle of the night. I am driving and we are near Redding, California. The moon in the sky is like nothing I will ever be able to adequately describe and my photograph is a dismal failure. But I will try. The moon was two or three times larger than normal, hanging a bit in the edge of the sky. It was glowing orange and dark, night clouds moved in and out about it. It was like seeing right into outer space, to another world, which of course, outer space seems like to me. It was magical and breathtaking and exciting.
We are driving home from Bend, Oregon and it is the middle of the night. I am driving and we are near Redding, California. The moon in the sky is like nothing I will ever be able to adequately describe and my photograph is a dismal failure. But I will try. The moon was two or three times larger than normal, hanging a bit in the edge of the sky. It was glowing orange and dark, night clouds moved in and out about it. It was like seeing right into outer space, to another world, which of course, outer space seems like to me. It was magical and breathtaking and exciting.
May 18, 2013
April 27, 2013
Saturday
We are in Bend, Oregon. Desert flowers are blooming and I am frustrated with finding a way to compose them. Poppy and I walk, she was not supposed to be with us on this trip, but she is now.
We are in Bend, Oregon. Desert flowers are blooming and I am frustrated with finding a way to compose them. Poppy and I walk, she was not supposed to be with us on this trip, but she is now.
May 17, 2013
April 22, 2013
Monday
Back to the beginning, of the week, this is. It is still warm and we are at the park where Poppy and I both spot two fluffy white dogs. They want to be pet. I hear two young women speaking a language I can't place. It sounds a little like Japanese, but not quite and it does not sound like Chinese, so I figure it must be Korean. I ask them where they are from and I wonder if that is rude so after they say "Korea" I try to be friendly. They are nice and shy or at least, that is how they present themselves as I observe that they judge their little white dogs as obnoxious, while I think they are just flirtatious. I wonder why the one girl wears pantyhose with her shorts, maybe that is fashionable somewhere I have never been. The two girls don't stay long and as I hear them leave the park I hear them scolding their dogs.
Back to the beginning, of the week, this is. It is still warm and we are at the park where Poppy and I both spot two fluffy white dogs. They want to be pet. I hear two young women speaking a language I can't place. It sounds a little like Japanese, but not quite and it does not sound like Chinese, so I figure it must be Korean. I ask them where they are from and I wonder if that is rude so after they say "Korea" I try to be friendly. They are nice and shy or at least, that is how they present themselves as I observe that they judge their little white dogs as obnoxious, while I think they are just flirtatious. I wonder why the one girl wears pantyhose with her shorts, maybe that is fashionable somewhere I have never been. The two girls don't stay long and as I hear them leave the park I hear them scolding their dogs.
May 16, 2013
April 21, 2013
Sunday
We spend a few hours at the beach, warm, with shorts! Poppy chases ball into the water, jumping over the little bit of wave that makes it all the way out to here. It is refreshing to have warm weather, so rare. Summer is coming and this warm weather won't last, probably. In the evening we splurge a little and head to Giordano Brothers for a couple of sandwiches. It is still warm and no one wants to sit inside. I watch the Mission life go by.
We spend a few hours at the beach, warm, with shorts! Poppy chases ball into the water, jumping over the little bit of wave that makes it all the way out to here. It is refreshing to have warm weather, so rare. Summer is coming and this warm weather won't last, probably. In the evening we splurge a little and head to Giordano Brothers for a couple of sandwiches. It is still warm and no one wants to sit inside. I watch the Mission life go by.
May 15, 2013
April 20, 2013
Saturday
It is a beautifully warm day and the three of us walk out the front door, down a couple of handfuls of city streets to the Panhandle. We walk parallel to the park until we reach Golden Gate Park. We explore all the unknown trails, through meadows and tree groves, past ponds and sports complexes we have never seen or knew existed and yet, we were still in the city. At the park's edge, across the street from the ocean, we sit in the grass at Beach Chalet and share some fries and a burger before heading back home. It was a wonderful, eight mile city hike!
It is a beautifully warm day and the three of us walk out the front door, down a couple of handfuls of city streets to the Panhandle. We walk parallel to the park until we reach Golden Gate Park. We explore all the unknown trails, through meadows and tree groves, past ponds and sports complexes we have never seen or knew existed and yet, we were still in the city. At the park's edge, across the street from the ocean, we sit in the grass at Beach Chalet and share some fries and a burger before heading back home. It was a wonderful, eight mile city hike!
May 13, 2013
April 18, 2013
Thursday
And we walked in the Panhandle, Poppy waiting patiently, while I enjoy the cartoonish vision of cherry blossoms dancing in my head all the way back to my childhood.
April 22, 2013
April 13, 2013
Saturday
I barely noticed the week went by, I was so buried in work. I think, if I am taking pictures each day, then my head is probably in a good place. It is good to set yourself in and focus on something, especially something that needs to focus, but it almost feels like I am living with my head in the sand. Finally, on Saturday, I took a break, back at the Presidio, our getaway within the city, where some new wildflowers had bloomed in earnest in the past week. I made a study of them, taking my time, we did not travel too far. Poppy, who had an infected paw all week and was not supposed to be doing too much walking, seemed happy to scamper in the woods just a short walking distance.
I barely noticed the week went by, I was so buried in work. I think, if I am taking pictures each day, then my head is probably in a good place. It is good to set yourself in and focus on something, especially something that needs to focus, but it almost feels like I am living with my head in the sand. Finally, on Saturday, I took a break, back at the Presidio, our getaway within the city, where some new wildflowers had bloomed in earnest in the past week. I made a study of them, taking my time, we did not travel too far. Poppy, who had an infected paw all week and was not supposed to be doing too much walking, seemed happy to scamper in the woods just a short walking distance.
April 7, 2013
Sunday
Our little trio goes back to, guess where? The Presidio. But, determined to add some variety on this trip, Poppy and I take a different route for our walk while Paul hits golf balls. We walk along the now defunct road on the edge of the Presidio, wandering our way around diverging paths. I stop for many photographs most of which I deleted, except this image of wild strawberry blossoms. It makes me happy to know that strawberries are growing wild in such abundance. Poppy and I walked all the way to Baker Beach, a beach in San Francisco that I have never been to. Of course, the nice weather comes as soon as my Mom leaves. It continues to get nicer as the week goes on. I don't take photographs, I bury myself in my "work" which will end with something that I can show. But I lose myself in it and I wonder about that...
Our little trio goes back to, guess where? The Presidio. But, determined to add some variety on this trip, Poppy and I take a different route for our walk while Paul hits golf balls. We walk along the now defunct road on the edge of the Presidio, wandering our way around diverging paths. I stop for many photographs most of which I deleted, except this image of wild strawberry blossoms. It makes me happy to know that strawberries are growing wild in such abundance. Poppy and I walked all the way to Baker Beach, a beach in San Francisco that I have never been to. Of course, the nice weather comes as soon as my Mom leaves. It continues to get nicer as the week goes on. I don't take photographs, I bury myself in my "work" which will end with something that I can show. But I lose myself in it and I wonder about that...
April 15, 2013
April 4, 2013
Thursday
They promised rain today and they delivered. Mom, Beth and I went down to the Ferry Building where we participated in another free city walk on the history of the Ferry Building. My poor mother looked like she was barely going to make it, since she is still not feeling well. There were a few markets out front and all the usual stores inside. I nearly wet my pants when we left the parking garage, $36 for parking! Next time, like usual, I will take the bus. In the evening I made sole with lemon butter sauce and we had a nice salad made from the Miner's Lettuce we collected the day before. Delicious.
They promised rain today and they delivered. Mom, Beth and I went down to the Ferry Building where we participated in another free city walk on the history of the Ferry Building. My poor mother looked like she was barely going to make it, since she is still not feeling well. There were a few markets out front and all the usual stores inside. I nearly wet my pants when we left the parking garage, $36 for parking! Next time, like usual, I will take the bus. In the evening I made sole with lemon butter sauce and we had a nice salad made from the Miner's Lettuce we collected the day before. Delicious.
April 04, 2013
April 1, 2013
Monday
There is no fooling today, as I work with obsessive focus to finish my new website before my mother and Beth come. I do take a break to drive Paul to work and walk Poppy at Crissy Field while the rain clouds break up into sunshine. Tomorrow our guests will be here!
March 31, 2013
March 29, 2013
Friday
As we arrived at the driving range I thought, this is one of those beautiful days where only fools go to work. Immediately after, I realized that I would be one of those fools, because even though I was going to be outside at the Presidio for the next hour enjoying the warm spring day, I would spend the rest of the day indoors taking care of what needs to be taken care of, just like all those "fools". It is nice having a dog that requires exercise because it forces you outside rain or shine and how many days would I miss such weather if I didn't have a dog? I took the day off from jogging because of a pain in the top of my left foot. Unfortunately, the nice weather did not last and by the time I had to take Poppy for her evening walk, it was cold and breezy once again.
March 29, 2013
March 28, 2013
Thursday
I awoke in the morning hours long before the sun rises by the sound of the toilet running. It was loud, as it is when you first pour water into any empty container. That's when I knew that the seal in the tank was letting the water leak out and when it was empty, it would start to fill with water again. Mystery solved, I guess that's a relief? Not really, just another thing to add to my To Do list. I got up and turned the water to the toilet off.
Sometime later, Poppy got up and started pacing around the house, her toenails clicking on the hardwood floors. When you are trying to sleep, every noise seems to be amplified and her toenail noise sounded unnaturally loud. I got up and let her out in the backyard, but this only satisfied her for a short time. What I'm trying to say is, I didn't sleep very well, this is only the beginning. When I did finally get up for the day, it was 9:30 and although I felt I finally got rest, it came with a huge price tag. Guilt. Guilt for sleeping so late and then, the self loathing, a common theme for me.
I go for a jog and let all that go. I remember to be appreciative. I welcome this, like a friend I haven't seen in a long time. Then I start in on my unproductive day, that's how I judge it, but really, I am pretty focused. Other than getting sidetracked with doing research on the history of police matrons in the United States and what New Jersey shore towns had wooden roller coasters in the 1930s, I am on task, things just take time, more time than I ever seem to be able to wrap my mind around. In the evening, Poppy and I walk to Anza Plaza park, where I photograph some of the views and she plays with new dogs, but I am not thrilled with any of the images I get, they are just snapshots, boring. But I catch a few on our walk that I like better, the long shadows on the sidewalk, just a few blocks from our house. It amazes me, that I walk all the way to another neighborhood in hopes of a nice photograph and the one I like best is only three blocks from my house.
I awoke in the morning hours long before the sun rises by the sound of the toilet running. It was loud, as it is when you first pour water into any empty container. That's when I knew that the seal in the tank was letting the water leak out and when it was empty, it would start to fill with water again. Mystery solved, I guess that's a relief? Not really, just another thing to add to my To Do list. I got up and turned the water to the toilet off.
Sometime later, Poppy got up and started pacing around the house, her toenails clicking on the hardwood floors. When you are trying to sleep, every noise seems to be amplified and her toenail noise sounded unnaturally loud. I got up and let her out in the backyard, but this only satisfied her for a short time. What I'm trying to say is, I didn't sleep very well, this is only the beginning. When I did finally get up for the day, it was 9:30 and although I felt I finally got rest, it came with a huge price tag. Guilt. Guilt for sleeping so late and then, the self loathing, a common theme for me.
I go for a jog and let all that go. I remember to be appreciative. I welcome this, like a friend I haven't seen in a long time. Then I start in on my unproductive day, that's how I judge it, but really, I am pretty focused. Other than getting sidetracked with doing research on the history of police matrons in the United States and what New Jersey shore towns had wooden roller coasters in the 1930s, I am on task, things just take time, more time than I ever seem to be able to wrap my mind around. In the evening, Poppy and I walk to Anza Plaza park, where I photograph some of the views and she plays with new dogs, but I am not thrilled with any of the images I get, they are just snapshots, boring. But I catch a few on our walk that I like better, the long shadows on the sidewalk, just a few blocks from our house. It amazes me, that I walk all the way to another neighborhood in hopes of a nice photograph and the one I like best is only three blocks from my house.
March 28, 2013
March 27, 2013
Wednesday
I am dragging all day, dreaming of taking a nap, instead, I lots of tea. It is balmy out. I have the mysterious ache that has plagued me since childhood, today it is in my right low back, hip, knee and ankle. I haven't felt it in a long, long time, maybe a year or two. It doesn't stay too long. Concentration and I are not One and the day trickles on and I with it, but not in command. In the late afternoon, my mystery ache reappears, but not the same strength as earlier and I limp a bit as I take Poppy on her evening walk through the Panhandle. At some point it disappears and I don't even notice. The fog is rolling in like the gods breathing warm breath on a cold day. The magnolia trees are blooming and the nearby air is heavy with their sweet scent. I make a point of smelling all the low hanging blooms whenever we walk by. The white ones are more fragrant. I photograph the pink magnolias as the homeless campers watch me. I hear them commenting on my actions, but then most of them get up, walk in my direction and keep going past me, and where they go I do not notice. Today I add in the cherry trees (maybe not cherry, but some other flowering tree) as well, who are small yet striking, how could I leave them out?
March 27, 2013
March 26, 2013
Tuesday
I panic in the morning about the time I don't have but I finally give in. I drive an hour in silence to my guitar lesson where Bob asks me, in the farthest opposite from scolding as one can manage in a tone, why I have not been practicing. One of the great gifts that Bob has, is to never judge, or at least, I have never felt judged by him, not even once. The thing is, Bob wants me to practice and if that means getting to the bottom of my own guilt, then that is part of my lesson. It is always a relief. We spend the rest of the lesson studying the bluegrass scale.
Grocery shopping makes me feel brain dead and after, on my drive back to the city, I listen to Beautiful Ruins and my jaw starts to hurt. Upon arrival at home, I am uncharacteristically spontaneous, jumping in the car with Poppy and Paul to go back to the Presidio, where Paul hits golf balls again and I photograph in the woods. Poppy and I run, like small children, down large sweeping hills in the woods which always makes me smile. Then I try to match Poppy's enthusiasm for bounding back up the hills, like a game, with joy. I am not so successful at that.
We put our names on the list at the Japanese bathouse and wait over an hour. We make our round, steam room, then hot pool, then cold pool, four times. When I ease myself quickly into the cold pool I remain calm and relaxed, up to my neck in 50 degree water. After a minute and a half I get out. The cold pool always feels best after you get out. This place always reminds me of myself, my real self. I hear myself saying, "Psssst!" and a whisper, "Kathleen! You can relax."
"Pssst! Kathleen! You don't have to take yourself so seriously."
"Pssst! Kathleen! You can enjoy life."
"Pssst! Kathleen! You don't have to worry about time."
Afterwards we sip some wine and share an Allagash FV13 Sour Ale at a bar before heading home at midnight to eat dinner.
Grocery shopping makes me feel brain dead and after, on my drive back to the city, I listen to Beautiful Ruins and my jaw starts to hurt. Upon arrival at home, I am uncharacteristically spontaneous, jumping in the car with Poppy and Paul to go back to the Presidio, where Paul hits golf balls again and I photograph in the woods. Poppy and I run, like small children, down large sweeping hills in the woods which always makes me smile. Then I try to match Poppy's enthusiasm for bounding back up the hills, like a game, with joy. I am not so successful at that.
We put our names on the list at the Japanese bathouse and wait over an hour. We make our round, steam room, then hot pool, then cold pool, four times. When I ease myself quickly into the cold pool I remain calm and relaxed, up to my neck in 50 degree water. After a minute and a half I get out. The cold pool always feels best after you get out. This place always reminds me of myself, my real self. I hear myself saying, "Psssst!" and a whisper, "Kathleen! You can relax."
"Pssst! Kathleen! You don't have to take yourself so seriously."
"Pssst! Kathleen! You can enjoy life."
"Pssst! Kathleen! You don't have to worry about time."
Afterwards we sip some wine and share an Allagash FV13 Sour Ale at a bar before heading home at midnight to eat dinner.
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