Sunday, March 23, 2008
Sunday, August 07, 2005
FOUR FROM BIG BEAR (2005)
These four pictures were taken during our annual family vacation--this time to Big Bear Lake, California. This particular shot was in front of the Discovery Center at Big Bear Lake. There were three thunder/lightning storms while we were there, but we managed to outrun this one, even though we were looking for a place to take a hike. I thought the clouds were dramatic and powerful, though.
This was during our hike, by the Discovery Center, and near the lake. I think I was working on composition.
This was also during the hike.
This was near something called the Alpine Slides. There are concrete slides (kind of like an Olympic luge ride) that uses small carts to race the riders down the slide. A chair lift takes you to the top of the hill and then you cart down a winding luge-style slide. We took our daughters on them. It was fun. While we were waiting for our turn, I snapped this of the skyline. I had to tilt it kind of high to avoid buildings, telephone wires, etc. It turned out okay, but I still managed to get a bit of a roof eave in the corner. Oh well.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
SUNSET IN POWAY
One night there was an amazing sunset over the houses on our block. Since moving to our new house, we've been blessed with a number of beautiful sunsets, but this one was so dramatic that when I saw it, I rushed into the house and grabbed the camera. I really like the red in this picture. I snapped this shot from the street in the middle of our cul-de-sac. Once again, I just feel really fortunate that views like this are possible really from just the front of our house.
STILL LIFE IN LITTLE ITALY
This is my sad little attempt at a still life. It really is what was left of my lunch at an Italian restaurant I ate at in Little Italy that weekend. You can see the remnants of my Miller Genuine Draft, a basket of bread and little wrinkled olives (that while pictureque, didn't taste very good). In the foreground, you can also see just a bit of my salad. At least it's colorful and approaches an "old world" feel. . .at least as well I can muster in my first attempt.
COFFEE IN LITTLE ITALY
All my life I'd heard of Little Italy and, being of Italian descent, it was a very interesting idea to me. And yet, even though I was born and raised in San Diego, I'd never visited Little Italy until the Spring of my Forty-first year. I sat on the patio of the coffeehouse you see here ("It's a Grind") and thought the building was interesting--artsy, bohemian, etc. I liked the angle I caught it from, and it's a nice souvenir from my trip. I had a very relaxing time sipping a White Mocha on the patio and reading.
OLD BANK IN OLD TOWN
This building is in Old Town. If I'm seeing things right, it says it's an old Wells Fargo Bank Building, but I think most of the buildingsin Old Town are "re-creations." When I was young and naive (last week, basically), I thought they were all REALLY from the 1800s. Silly me. It seems like I was practicing composition here and working with colors and placement. While not completely successful, I like this picture and how it looks.
STAINED GLASS WINDOW IN OLD TOWN
I was on a trip to Old Town in San Diego and shot some pictures of this historic village. This is a stained glass window on the old-fashioned Catholic Church (when I find the name I'll edit this post). I liked the heavy feeling the door gave, plus the ornate decoration in it. I went inside the church that afternoon and it was very peaceful. The whole weekend I spent in Seaport Village, Little Italy, and Old Town, was an attempt to mellow out and find some peace.
It seemed, too, like there would be nice contrast in the picture if I wanted it to be a black and white photo. There also was the extra gravity the spiritual nature of the building gave, although I'm not sure from this photo if you can tell it was a church.
SEAPORT VILLAGE, SAN DIEGO
This was during a Saturday morning in Seaport Village near Downtown San Diego. I think I liked the composition I saw over the bridge, and I was able to frame it nicely. It gives me a real sense of serenity and was a nice reminder of the time I spent sitting on a bench near the bridge, just enjoying the day.
Monday, July 11, 2005
RAINBOW IN POWAY
After a Spring shower, I stepped into my front yard and snapped this shot. Mainly, I wanted to capture a picture of a rainbow for my eldest daughter, who wasn't home at the time. It turned out pretty well. It reminds me how blessed I am to have the life I have that this picture is possible from my front yard.