Category: out and about

My patient husband and I wandered around downtown Martinez looking for the shot of the day- and he was the first to spot it- a raccoon!  He was actually a pretty HUGE raccoon who wandered casually across the street and into the bushes.  I took a few photos of him crossing the road, and, when I rounded the corner, there he was again- STANDING straight up!  By the time I changed my settings, he was no longer standing, but I did get this shot of him in the partially shaded greenery next to the sidewalk.

f/5.6, 1/50 (!), ISO 200, 200mm

I used Aperture Priority- and look at the shutter speed! Good thing he was still!  The harsh lighting of midday drives me CRAZY, so I did a little Photoshop magic with the multiply blend mode to darken the areas around Mr. Raccoon.

Searching for photo ops, my husband and I drove around town today and ended up at Vista Point overlooking the Benicia Bridge. I was photographing the railroad bridge when a train chugged over, giving the photo a bit of a focal point.

The camera came with me today when I went across the bridge to get my hair cut, eat lunch out with my husband, and then go to a matinee of The Help (what an amazing job they did bringing this wonderful book to the screen!). I snapped a few shots at the plaza where my husband was waiting for me during my hair appointment- and decided this one was more effective in black and white.

f13, 1/160, ISO 250, 35mm

My friends Kathryn and Scott’s backyard vineyard is the subject of today’s photo.  They have spent several years growing these fabulous vines which are producing magnificent pinot noir grapes- and soon- wine!

f/5.6, 1/80, ISO 400, 200mm

I shot many photos of their gorgeous backyard and I plan on editing more sometime soon.  I’m a little busy, because tomorrow my grandbabies arrive!!!

It was a beautiful day down by the water- a little breezy, but beautiful just the same.  My friend, Barbara suggested the marina for a photo shoot and accompanied me for a quick walkabout while I snapped a few photos.

It is Texture Tuesday, so I worked in Photoshop today. I applied a few textures- hmmmmm….   Then I added a black and white layer to increase contrast- I liked what it did to the water.  But then I kept looking at that bright blue technicolor sky- didn’t like it.  After looking at my very complicated layers palette and the resulting image, I decided I really didn’t like this photo with texture- at least the way I was doing it.

So I started over in Aperture 3- did a simple edit, desaturated the sky a bit and am calling it done.  Textures will have to wait for another day. . .

f/14, 1/640, ISO250, 24mm

I didn’t take any photos today until we stopped at Chipotle tonight for a quick dinner.  The reflection on the table in the corner provided me with my photo for the day- snip, snap, snout, this tale’s told out!

f/5, 1/200, ISO 1600, 75mm

Lonnie and I spent a wonderful day at a retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains. In between all the activities, I ran around like a madwoman- OK, a serene, enlightened madwoman, but a madwoman nonetheless- trying to capture our beautiful surroundings.

I don’t think that I am far enough along in my photography to limit myself to a certain style, but, beyond grandchildren, I see closeups and flowers (and closeups OF flowers) as what I am drawn to. I vowed to step out of the box today- photographing interesting lighting and angles and patterns- and some wide angle shots.. I was determined today to not shoot flowers, but gave in eventually with the promise to myself to not post them.

I photographed shadows and stairs and reflections and the undersides of patio umbrellas- and several wide angle shots. I looked at all of them (except the flowers- I didn’t want to tempt myself), and chose the one I like the best, which happens to be the last picture I took.

So- these are weeds, not flowers. And they are backlit- so I did get interesting lighting.

Out of the box- but standing right beside the box . . .

f/5.3, 1/500, ISO 200, 95mm