January, 2007


Shifting gears, these are photos from various hikes and they are mostly from two trails: Priest Rock above Lexington Reservoir and Sierra Azule off of Kennedy Road in Los Gatos.  If you want to know specifically which trail for a photo, drop me a line and I'll try to nail it for you.

 

This is a creek running besides my favorite Lime Kiln Trail.

There is not very much contrast in this photo but there is a bird in it.
To the casual observer, this appears to be an ordinary mountain bike and rider.  Now that you know it isn't, look closely for the anomaly.

I'll try to remember to post a hint in a couple of weeks (for those of you who may be visually challenged or maybe not know bikes that well.)

If you "get it," email me what you think it is.

This is guidance at the top of the Sierra Azule Trail.  The trail head at Kennedy Road (where I started) is at about 700' elevation and at this point it is about 2700'.   The 4.1 miles is a given.  I do this trail in about a half hour.  (Just teasing.)  My friend Joe and I did the Hicks Rd. twice on our Mountain Bikes, starting from Los Gatos.  The good ole days when we were in our fit fifties.  Now we are in our sedate sexy sixties starting all of our stories with "Remember when...." (LOL)



Just a great Mushroom photo composed by Mother Nature.

Wild Radish or Turnip?  If you know, let me know.
I have been photographing this Lichen for 3+ years.  It seems to be waning and struggling to survive as it's host becomes apparently less capable of supporting it.  The gray lichen is abundant but the reddish orange Lichen is unique to this single location. 

I have kept a look out for any like it elsewhere and I have not located even a hint of any. 

I researched it once and it is apparently abundant for Southern CA but it is rare for Northern CA
The tree roots have been exposed by erosion and then covered with moss.  The result is very surrealistic, at least to me.

This area is very moist and if I posted the photo in its original size, you could see water droplets dripping off of the roots.

I am not sure why this mushroom split like this.  It did make for a great photo op.

It is the last week of January and the Daffodils are just starting to bloom.
Every year, I make a point of being on this trail to observe and appreciate these flowers.  In spite of the fact that they get harvested regularly by unthinking hikers and bikers, they continue to thrive and propagate.  Five years ago there were maybe a few clumps.  Now there is well over an acres worth. 

I used to be upset about people cutting them but I feel more relaxed now seeing that they continue to prosper in spite of the harvesting of the flowers.

Oh, I have to mention the fragrance.  It is heavenly, wafting across the air as you walk by.
I know this photo is fuzzy but I feel it adds to the flower's beauty. In another words, my craft is not just about the perfect photo, it is about the art process as well.

The "Mister" horizontally challenged, woodpecker.

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All of the pictures in this series were shot with my digital SLR Canon EOS 20D camera and one of two lens: a panoramic zoom lens; EFS 17-85mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM and my reach out and touch somebody zoom telephoto lens the; EF 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM.  (The EOS 20D camera has a 1.6 lens multiplication factor so the 300mm lens really looks like a 480mm lens, zoom wise.) 

Disclaimer:  No animals or humans were hurt in the taking of any of these photos.

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Some images on this site are also available in full size Giclee Prints (pronounced zhee clay) suitable for posters and framing.  Currently available sizes are: 2 ea 5x7 on one 8.5 x 11 sheet,  one 8x10 on a single 8.5x11 sheet,  anything larger then 8 x10 up to 12 x 18 are printed on a single 13 x 19 sheet.  All Giclee Prints are printed on Epson 2200 using Premium Glossy paper with inks that are highly resistant to water and fading.

The smaller sheets up to 8x10, are $25 each and the larger sheets are $35 apiece.  All prints are guaranteed, money back, to please.  I can also produce custom calendars from any set of photos as well.

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