Autumn Color
One crisp fall afternoon, when raking leaves in my yard, I noticed wonderful clouds. They didn't extend down to meet the horizon of hills in the west as is most common. Hoping that these conditions would hold and the clouds would be lit from below as the sun set, I packed my equipment and hiked out into my neighbors large pasture. My reward was this stunning interplay of light and clouds in the autumn sky.
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Oak and Flowers
My daughters fifth grade spring field trip went to the "Boy Scout Camp", east of Willits. The flowers were particularly lush that year and I obtained permission to return early the next morning. I liked flowers and tree with the lake and sky.
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Zantedeschia
This Oriental Lily was given to me as a gift. As the buds began to unfurl, I became fascinated with the interaction of color and form. I placed the small pot in front of a black fabric backdrop next to a window and marvelled at the wonderful translucent nature of this flower.
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Hyacinth in Blue
Lack of deer fencing requires that much of my flower gardening is done in pots. I sometimes move things to different locations, so that I can enjoy them anew. This lovely hyacinth had just been relocated to the kitchen window. I commonly photograph potted flowers inside my home next to a window. However, this one caught my eye, while on the deck looking in. I photographed outside, through the opened window. The background is simply the inside of the house and a window on the far wall.
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Ke'e Sunset
The rugged cliffs of the Napali coast make a large stretch on the north side of the island of Kau'ai impassable to roads. This beach is at the end of the road. I had to boulder hop and straddle my tripod on several rocks in order to get this vantage point of the setting sun. A few drops of water on my face raised concern about salt spray on my equipment, when the clouds that had rolled over the cliff behind me let loose a sweet shower of fresh water. My camera has never been cleaner.
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One clear fall afternoon, I found this leaf on the sidewalk next to Main St. in the city of Willits. I went home and photographed it, backlit by late afternoon autumn sun. The first working print revealed the essence and form of the tree in a single leaf.
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Mono Lake and Clouds
Most of the time I spent in the Mono Lake area was blessed with blue sky weather, offering comfortable temperatures but not much drama in the heavens. Luckily for me, on the last evening of my visit the wind began to blow and the conditions "deteriorated" giving me one last chance to capture the unusual lenticular cloud formations that sometimes paint the sky near the mountains.
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Poppy and Lupine
The poppy is rather coy for the photographer. Only the warmth of the sun can entice her open. By that, time the stillness of the early morning air is long gone and the dance of the flowers begins. While most beautiful, this can make close-up photography almost impossible. A spring morning spent delicately positioning myself and tripod on the ground, yielded this image of delicate, enduring beauty.
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