Yosemite and More

This is my last post of my Death Valley trip. Lately there has been a lot of press about the super blooms happening in the southern part of California. I was told by the Rangers that it probably wouldn't happen in Death Valley and I was too early anyway. So I did the best I could to find something to photograph. This is creosote, and happened to be just outside the Visitors Center, the wind was blowing pretty hard so I set my camera on rapid fire hoping to get one shot in focus.  Along the road one morning I spotted this cactus. Pulled over and took a little walk back to get this one. Along with Death Valley I went to the Ash Meadow National Wildlife Refuge. Just like Death Valley I was a little early for much to be blooming. And honestly didn't see much wildlife. But still..... This is the top of Arrow Weed. Rangers told me the Indians used to use the lower reed portion to make arrows, hence the name. I looked in my ...

I went on a short vacation to the north state. I stayed in Yreka which is in the northern part of the Shasta Valley in Siskiyou County. Not too far from where I grew up. On the way up I decided to take a detour and travel on Highway 299 then go to Mt. Shasta on Highway 89. My intent was to take some of the side roads. Unfortunately there was just a little too much snow for my car to travel on the. I did get this nice view on Highway 89 The next morning when I got up it was very foggy and about 25°. After warming up my car I headed out to the area around the small town of Montague.  As I drove the backroads I came across this herd of deer. As I mentioned it was very cold and pretty foggy. Everything had icicles or better yet ice spikes. Here's a newer version of barbed wire. That's right, that isn't snow on the trees, it's ice. Didn't know what to label this one since I...

Almost all the new growth in the Rim Fire area is subtle. You really have to watch where you step. This was in a recently logged area. Go, See, Enjoy! Dave

I drove to the Hetch Hetchy area of the Rim Fire. It looks pretty grim. But if you look closely......... I was especially happy with the wonderful background on this shot. Go, See, Enjoy Dave

After so little rain I was afraid it would be a terrible wildflower season. Turned out I had nothing to be afraid of. Go, See, Enjoy. Dave

They're everywhere.   I've taken plenty of shots of this type of flower. Why not they're everywhere. I like the soft backlighting from the evening sun. Your eye immediately goes to the flower then you discover the seedpod on the lower right. Go, See, Enjoy Dave

I took this photo of a yellow mum in my front yard. It begin as a rather ho-hum photograph. Now I like it. I don't use the presets in Lightroom very often. But I was bored and decided to see what effect they would have on the mum. By the way the black specks are dirt that was thrown up by our recent rains. The presets gave me a variety from almost no change to, well the outlandish. I liked how this one came out. I think even the dark speckles add something.  Let me know what you think. Go, See, Enjoy. Dave

I took this earlier (duh) this year and had forgotten all about it. Who knows you may drink the wine made from these grapes, after it's properly aged.....it could happen. Go, See, Enjoy Dave

I took a quick trip to Yosemite last Sunday.  I found this seed pod waiting for a little wind, a wet winter and spring.  I love the fall colors as a background for this photograph. Now is the time to explore Yosemite, the foothills and anywhere else there are fall colors. Go, See, Enjoy! Dave