Waterfront View

If you can’t see the image above, please click on this link: https://melinda365.com/blog/

Above is another view of the Benicia waterfront from our trip to California. All my photos were taken in the rain, which I didn’t mind at all. I have been taking photos of this particular scene for years and years, and I noticed that the yellow crane seems even tippier than the last time I was there. I googled and found this article: https://beniciaheraldonline.com/is-cove-crane-tipping-into-the-carquinez/

Evidently it is a controversy right now.

Tech note: If you would like to help get to the bottom of why my images are not showing up full size most days in your iPhone mail program, please click through to see the image in Safari. Does it show up there? It always does for me. And if you REALLY want to help, go to your computer and check to see if the images show up in your computer mail program. If you have another type of mobile phone, I’d love to know how the images look there. So far, WordPress is saying that this seems to be a device issue- but I can see images from other WordPress blogs at the right size on all my devices. I have nothing to do with editing the emails- they go out automatically. But I am wondering if there is a setting in my account or blog theme that has changed. Thank you for your patience. If you have info for me, please put in comments.

MelindaLeave a comment

Just Passing Through . . .

Click here if you can’t see the photo- this is a photography blog, after all: https://melinda365.com/blog/

How many times have I taken this photo? We passed through Benicia, where we lived for almost 30 years, on our way to Petaluma for my friend, Georgia’s memorial. We ate lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant (Sandoval’s!), running into two people we knew! This almost never happens in Arizona- and that’s one of the things I miss most about living in Benicia. One of the other things I miss is this scene! This view of the fog-shrouded Carquinez Bridge, where the waterway leads out to the San Francisco Bay says home to me!

Tech Support: If you are viewing this post on your phone, it is possible that the photo is missing or is just a thumbnail. I have made WordPress aware of it, and they are thinking it is an iPhone problem. However, I can see my friend, Carol’s WordPress blog just fine on my phone! I believe WordPress is still working on the problem. I have put a link to my blog right under the photo, so if you can’t see the photo, that link should take you to my blog.

MelindaLeave a comment

The Fishing Fleet

A group of pelicans fishing is evidently called a FLEET. This group was not far offshore in Bodega Bay, and I was surprised to see them huddle up like this. It appeared as if one small group found their prey and the others quickly joined them to grab as many fish as they could.

These two were separated from the group for a bit and then joined them.

This might be my favorite of the three photos- because of the “bunny ears” on the right! There are at least six pelicans in the fleet. It looks like it was a good day for fishing!

MelindaLeave a comment

Mirror

We took a few hours to go over to the Sonoma Coast last week while we were in California. Since our dating days (over 50 years ago), we have headed over to Bodega Bay to walk the beach and have a bowl of clam chowder at the Tides Restaurant- and every time we come back to the Bay Area we make it a point to return. This time we were greeted by egrets walking through the shallows by the Tides. Of course I had to get my camera and take a few shots of them and also of the sea lions basking on the pier out back. We then broke with tradition and headed over to Spud Point Crab Company for clam chowder on our friend, Jack’s recommendation- and it was delicious!

MelindaLeave a comment

Light the Way

I have always had a strong interest in “old things”, even as a child. When I discovered that we actually had a real attic FULL of old things, just like in the mysteries I loved to read, it was one of the most memorable events of my childhood! That fascination continues to this day and is very strongly tied to my obsession with family history.

A few years ago, I discovered that my grandmother’s second cousin, William Chamberlain Embury, designed and manufactured railroad lanterns. Born in Canada in 1873, he moved to New York, and began the Embury Lantern Company. The Embury Lantern Company became one of the most successful lantern manufacturers, second only to Dietz. William turned the company over to his sons in 1936, and Dietz ended up buying the company in the 1950’s.

The photo above was taken in Bodie- I could not resist taking a photo of railroad lanterns! No, they are not Embury lanterns. The ones on the left may be a Dietz- not sure about the one on the right. I own a lantern like the ones he manufactured, but it is a Dietz, not an Embury. When I visit an antique store, I look for Embury lanterns, but I haven’t seen one yet.

MelindaLeave a comment

Band of Gold

Here is one of the views along Hwy 395 between Mammoth Lakes and Bodie. The aspens were in their full glory during our visit, and wherever there was a viewpoint, we would stop and admire the splashes of gold set against the mountain backdrop. Others were stopping too, and we all would smile as we exchanged shooting positions and comment on how lucky we were to be there at the perfect time.

Melinda1 Comment

First View

This was one of our first views of the Sierras as we headed to California a few weeks ago. There was a enough room to pull over, and I climbed up the hill a bit to be able to get a view of the curvy road as well as the Sierras in the distance. I was born and raised in California, so this view pulls on my heartstrings. California will always be HOME to this Arizonan!

Melinda1 Comment

Gold Rush

We took a quick trip to the Eastern Sierras recently to view the Fall color and to revisit Bodie, the highlight of our 2019 photo trip. We spent two very busy days visiting Bodie and following the trail of golden aspens along Hwy. 395. As you can see from the photo above, our timing was great!

Melinda3 Comments

Memories of Tumacacori

Above is part of my venture into abstract photography- multiple exposures and often layering the resulting images in Photoshop to create an impression of place, feeling or memory. The Tumacacori Mission in southern Arizona is one of my favorite places we have visited since living here. The old buildings, the history of the O’odham people who still live in the area, the cemetery with its rocks and simple crosses all make a strong impact on visitors. It is my fourth grade history lessons brought to life! Beyond that is the deeper understanding of colonialism and its impact everywhere.

I took many photos while there- despite the incredible HEAT- and have created a small series of abstracts which I will continue posting here.

MelindaLeave a comment

Tumacacori

I don’t know why we had never visited this beautiful old mission (founded 1691) before our Tucson trip a few weeks ago. I’d seen photos, but perhaps I didn’t realize how close it was to Tucson, Tubac etc. Even on that blazing hot day, it was well worth the visit and gives you such a sense of how Arizona is connected to Mexico, with its shared history of indigenous people and Spanish colonization.

MelindaLeave a comment

Doors, flowers, color. . .

and don’t forget HISTORY! Tucson’s Barrio Viejo is a magnet for Southwest photographers and never disappoints, even with construction happening. Many of the historic buildings have been updated and restored but keep the character of the original barrio. This is a multiple exposure of two houses, still with their cracks and imperfections.

Melinda1 Comment

Colors of the Barrio

Last week we took a mini-vacation to Tucson and stayed in a rental right on the edge of the Barrio Viejo. Despite the heat, we took walks and spent time admiring the colorful old houses in the neighborhood. Today’s abstract is a multiple exposure tribute to the colors of the Barrio- I think the only color missing is purple.

Melinda1 Comment