Yosemite and More

 Spent a little time in Northern California. Here are a few of the photos I took of the various mountain from different directions when possible. You can really only get a photo of the Eddies from this side unless you want to go into the wilderness. Could someone please tell me why what's obviously not a butte is named Black Butte?  Notice the winter difference between the northwest side and south. Each side of Mt. Shasta has a unique view. You can choose your favorite. And on the way home a hazy Mt .Lassen Go, See, Enjoy, Stay Safe and Photograph. Dave

 Went to the Mt. Shasta area a while back and came back with a few Fall photos. Go, See, Enjoy, Stay Safe and Photograph Dave

 Was recently in Northern California for a few days. It was really good to get back up there. The McCloud River was running high and deep with the warm weather and the snow melt. The days were almost perfect. The California Lilac were prominent along the river and these were growing just in front of lava rock that is throughout the region. My brother and I took the Military Pass Road which goes around the back side of the mountain. We actually only made it part way (very slowly) until we met with snow drifts that were a little too deep. This is not a well maintained road. The north side of the mountain is generally very windy and this might explain the general lack of snow except in drifts. We also took a trip to Castle Lake which has an elevation of about 5400 feet.  This is actually lower than the Military Pass Road but had a lot more snow and still covered in snow and ice. Probably my favorite photo from the trip, parent and child enjoying the snow. Go, See, Enjoy, Stay Saf...

 I recently went to Northern California to see my brother and do a little photography. These images are from the beginning and end of the trip . These first few are from the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge, It's mostly drained but I got a few photos I liked. I like the contrast of the Red Winged Blackbird behind the Wild Mustard. Who doesn't like a good reflection I'm not good with naming birds but this one stretching it's wing I believe to be a Western Kingbird Next up a little farther north. The wildflowers weren't very abundant but these small yellow ones with  Mt. Lassen (peak to the left) in the background made me turn around and take a few photos. Then came Burney Falls State Park. I used an ND filter on the shots of the Falls One of the unique features of Burney Falls is that some of the water  comes out of the hillside and not over the top. This continues in the summer even when the water over the top stops. As I grew up in this area we always thought of Manzanit...

During my trip to Mt. Shasta I took some time to photograph the area near the city itself. Of course the most prominent feature of the area is the mountain. As you can see in this image there are actually two peaks. The smaller peak to the left is named Shastina, the larger is Mount Shasta itself.  As with many features in the area Shastina would be quite a attraction by itself.  Right beside Interstate 5 sits a cinder cone named Black Butte, another feature that would stand out  if not in the shadow of Mt. Shasta. The road shown is not Interstate 5. Since it's named Black Butte I thought it appropriate to post it in black and white. On the opposite side of the freeway and a bit farther off are the Eddies. Mount Eddy being the most prominent one. All part of the Trinity Mountains. I.ve always wanted to get a photo of the reflection of Mt. Shasta in  Lake Siskiyou. The farther I went to the right the more the lake was rippling from the wind. Not a perfect reflection b...

I grew up in Northern California, no not Sacramento or San Francisco, those are in Central California. Anyone from where I grew up would tell you Northern California starts a little below Red Bluff. Anyway.....I took a trip up to see my brother who lives in Mt. Shasta. While on the way up, back and there I had a little time to photograph. It has been many years since I drove out Highway 299 to the Big Valley area. Along the way I spotted this horse and cows in a field, stopped and just enjoyed the peacefulness in these uneasy times. How peaceful? Well I was able to literally stop in the middle of the road to take the photograph above and the one following. The next one is heavily cropped. The Ruffed Legged Hawk was quite a ways away, but I caught it hovering in the wind before it lunged and got some critter. On one of the side roads I came across this beautiful little church. Now known as the Glenburn Community Church is was originally the Burgettville Church and built in 1885. As I me...

I took a couple of days and went up to the Mt. Shasta area. While my photography time was somewhat limited I was able to get a few shots I liked. Fall was evident and so.... Some ferns in the shaded areas of the forest had turned, some  not so much. Love the way the light shines thru the 'hairs' The Milky Way was not as prominent as I would have hoped but it still showed up. The Milky Way is best viewed in the summer since it it predominantly in the southern hemisphere. I was planning on going back near this location the next night but it was pouring rain. Still, better than nothing. If you look west from Mt. Shasta you'll see the Eddy's. The sun just happens to set over these hills that are part of the Cascade Mountains.  The morning after the storm it was still overcast. I was actually heading south on Interstate 5, going home when I looked in my rear view mirror and saw Black Butte, with a cap...