The Grand Canyon at the Moment of Sunrise

The Grand Canyon at the Moment of Sunrise

Yea, once the sun rises, so does your adrenalin level. I have never seen the Grand Canyon after a snow storm but all I can say is Wow!

Those trees in the picture are 25 footers. The Canyon was created by the Colorado River over 6 million years and is 277 miles long and ranges in width from 4 to 18 miles.  In places it is more than a mile Deep. The Grand Canyon is considered a holy site by The Pueblo people.

I hope on my next visit to get this shot from the Bottom of the Canyon.

Photograph Taken on: 2-05-08 6:34AM  Aperture Mode / HDR Photograph
Model:Nikon D80  Shutter Speed: 1/15 Seconds  F-Stop:f11  ISO:100
Focal length: 11mm  Lens: Tamron 11-18mm

The Approach to the Nojoqui Falls

The Approach to the Nojoqui Falls

This is the view of the falls as you head up the trail. Wow…

And Below is the Forest that surrounds the Falls and Park, Very Cool…

The Forest that surrounds the Falls and Park, Very Cool...

This is the final shot in the No-HO-wee Falls series.

Date Taken: 1-24-08 10:39AM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:Aperture Mode F-Stop:f16 ISO:100
Focal length:11mm Lens: Tamron 11-18 Wide Angle

Knarley Roots with Mini Falls. Nojoqui Falls, CA

Knarley Roots with Mini Falls and Water Fountain from back in the Day… Nojoqui Falls, CA

Here are more shots from our No-HO-We Falls visit. Walking back from the Falls I saw this cool mini falls. The roots formed the sides and steps of this mini falls. It was a very cool and relaxing place to chill for a few minutes.

On the way out I say this awesome rock water fountain from back in the day. It look’s like a gravity pipe was run from the base of the falls to this fountain from back in the day…

Water Fountain from back in the Day... Nojoqui Falls, CA

Tomorrow I will show the Trail approach to the falls.

Date Taken: 1-24-08 10:32AM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:Aperture Mode F-Stop:f16 ISO:100
Focal length:15mm Lens: Tamron 11-18 Wide Angle

Nojoqui Falls – The Little Dripper

I had the opportunity to visit this Cool Place in the Santa Ynez Hills called Nojoqui Falls. It’s Pronounced No-HO-Wee Falls. A vernal Fall (it only flows when it rains or snow melts), it’s the perfect place to visit with all the storms this Year in California. The local’s call these storms, “The Pineapple Express” cause they come from Hawaii. This morning the Falls were blasting like I have never seen or heard of before:

On a day like today the stream was gushing and The Falls were Blasting …

I had to stand back 30 or 40 feet just to keep the lens clear to get this shot.

Here is Parks Web Site: http://www.sbparks.org/Scripts/ParksDetail.asp?ParkID=14

The Nojoqui Park is beautiful. There is this fun trail that meanders back and forth along the stream flowing from the falls. Lots of Wooden Bridges, Mini Falls and tributaries to the main stream flow all around you. At the beginning of the trail there is this old Rock Water fountain from about 75 Years ago. All very Cool.

It takes about 10 minutes to hike up. It’s not handicap friendly.

More Pictures of our visit to follow another Day.

Date Taken: 1-24-08 9:57AM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:Aperture Mode F-Stop:f11 ISO:100
Focal length:18mm Lens: Tamron 11-18 Wide Angle

Sunset From Circle X Ranch - Santa Monica Mountains, CA

Sunset From Circle X Ranch – Santa Monica Mountains, CA

There is this really cool place in the Santa Monica Mountains called the Circle X Ranch. Picture this !, drive straight up the mountains on one of these skinny, violently twisting roads, to the Sandstone Peak Trailhead parking lot near the Peak. Walk on to the backbone trail: http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/circlexranch.htm

This hike goes 1.1 miles up to this Rocky peak called inspiration point. This day we did not make it there due to the timing of Sunset. This shot is about a quarter of the way up the Trail. This photograph was taken about 10 minutes before Sunset. The sun blasted thru a few cracks in the clouds, then was gone for the night…

We also heard the local Mountain Lion nearby just before we left the trail. Maybe she was saying goodnight. Here is the Mountain Lion calling US to come back…

Looking forward to retuning soon if the weather and clouds are just right like tonight. This is also my first High Dynamic Range Photograph (HDR Photography). I intend to focus a lot on this new exciting realm of Photography.

Photograph Taken on: 1-21-08 7:53PM
Model:Nikon D80  Shutter Speed: 1/2 Second  F-Stop:f11  ISO:100
Focal length: 18mm  Lens: Nikon 18-200mm  VR

Yosemite Falls with Rainbow in Winter, Yosemite National Park, CA

I love Waterfalls !!! Any size, any place, Mother natures or Man made, they all offer a special fascination to me. I had the opportunity to hang in Yosemite over the weekend. So, I climbed the rocks to the base of the Lower Yosemite Falls (320 feet tall). When I arrived at the pool at the base of the Fall, I saw this rainbow…

I chilled there enjoying the cool mist and the scenery. I’ll post the shot from the base of the falls looking towards the observation bridge, Half-Dome and the meadows, Tomorrow…

Photograph Taken on: 1-12-08 2:25PM  Aperture Mode
Model:Nikon D80  Shutter Speed: 1/15 Second  F-Stop:f11  ISO:400
Focal length: 18mm  Lens: Tamron 11-18mm

A Few Sea Shells and a Mermaids Lei that got washed off her after a Big Storm, Sunset Beach, FL

A Few Sea Shells and a Mermaids Lei that got washed off her after a Big Storm, Sunset Beach, FL

After a Big storm I love to go walk the beach. Many interesting things wash up after a really good winter storm. All sorts of interesting shells and other stuff are found on the beach. Those Gorgeous Amber Pen Shells with their golden color, especially radiant in the light of Sunset are my absolute favorite post storm shells.  I have even read stories of pieces of old shipwrecks washing up. If only I were so Lucky…

One of my favorite post storm stories is where these interesting plants that almost look like a natural Lei, you know the Type that Hawaiians and Mermaids would wear, wash up on shore. You can see the “J” shaped piece above in the photo. I can imagine some poor Mermaid weathering the storm out in her favorite Coral Reef Home and the currents washing her hair too and fro. The Lei being torn from her neck and washing up on shore…

Great Mermaid Site: http://www.isidore-of-seville.com/mermaids/index.html

Photograph Taken on: 1-04-08 5:36PM  Aperture Mode
Model:Nikon D80  Shutter Speed: 1/15 Second  F-Stop:f11  ISO:100
Focal length: 90mm  Lens: Nikon 18-200mm  VR

Lone Cabin – near Old Cannery, Hood Bay, Alaska

Our man in Juneau, AK,  Robert J Maass is back in action. He writes in his Log:

Jerry Just got back from most amazing expedition to Admiralty island 10 days of Hunting fishing and taking pictures ,wait till you see a place called Hood Bay you will not believe.  This is a cabin left from old cannery built right in Tongass National Forest. The most amazing forest in this area. Lots of Virgin Forest for hundreds of miles. Creeks and rivers every 8th mile.

A lot of people think you can’t enjoy Alaska in winter. I beg to differ! Alaska’s Southeast interior, the Chatham Straits very habitable in January. In the 30s the whole time. When we were there it was a bit of a warm spell, notice the ice still on the water.

Robert sent me a half dozen of his favorite photographs from his latest trip. I will feature them over the next week or so…

Photograph Taken on: 1-04-08 2:25PM
Model:Nikon D50  Shutter Speed: 1/125 Second  F-Stop:f4  ISO:100
Focal length: 60mm  Lens: Nikon 55-200mm

On The Canal before Hood Bay, Alaska

This shot from Rob is just before Hood Bay Proper. I will post his next shot tomorrow. A shot of the bay and the mountains surrounding it….

Photograph Taken on: 1-04-08 8:00AM
Model:Nikon D50  Shutter Speed: 1/125 Second  F-Stop:f5  ISO:100
Focal length: 60mm  Lens: Nikon 55-200mm

Hood Bay, Alaska – Winter

Here is Rob’s Photo of  Hood Bay in Winter. Love them mountains…

Photograph Taken on: 12-29-07 11:59AM
Model:Nikon D50  Shutter Speed: 1/250 Second  F-Stop:f11  ISO:200
Focal length: 185mm  Lens: Nikon 55-200mm