Soft sky
I am amazed how much of the U.S. is under deep freeze right now. Many of the bloggers I follow are doing a great job finding the beauty or just chronicling the phenomenon of the polar vortex. Here are a couple, in case they aren’t in your WordPress Reader:
http://sethsnap.com/2014/01/06/cold-close-up/
http://herladypinkrose.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/a-few-hours-later/
http://herladypinkrose.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/north-pole-vortex/
Meanwhile in California, we’re having a warm, dry winter. Here are shots from my evening walk:
I just had my phone with me. Sorry… the DSLR and even the compact camera are better. But at least I could get these shots. That’s the saving grace of a phone.
I’m blogging every other day this year so I have more time to visit other blogs.
Capitola, California
Life was conspiring against me completing my one year of daily blogging. (Today is the last day.) I had hoped to take new photos today but had forgotten to take all my cameras including my phone. But today, Capitola looked much like it did in June when I posted this picture (except for the cute seal we saw today, *heart pang*) so I decided to go back and do a painting rendition of that photo.
On that day I also didn’t have my camera so the phone saved the day.
One of these days I’ll get to the beach with my DSLR. Maybe on a stormy day…
I think that long dark streak is seaweed.
San Diego morning
I worked with the RAW file and maximized shadow while minimizing highlights to bring out more of the sky.
Palm trees after the party
Facing the morning after, lights all hung over…
Christmas from around the world, Santa Monica California, Leanne Cole Photography
I need to do two posts today because I took some new Christmas photos for Leanne Cole’s Christmas from around the World series and the deadline is today. Actually, I’m a little late. There are already some gorgeous photos on her site so perhaps mine will go up next week. But do click on the above link because the photos have so much heart they brought a tear to my eye.
These were taken at
To put it in context, this is the beach scene in California during the holiday season:
A November Evening, Saratoga
The sky was amazing last evening. I shot these with my DSLR.
Out and about in San Jose
Across from the very modern and fancy Santana Row is this old coffee shop. The sign is so faded you can barely see “Coffee.” Circa 1950s?
But here’s some important news. There are food trucks at Valley Fair mall! Here’s the mall entrance:
And right down there, in front of a restaurant (!) are a couple trucks:
I’m surprised the mall allows them to compete with their tenants.
I didn’t notice the strings of lights until I loaded these pictures this morning. Interesting how many things we don’t notice.
Third snow! Alpine Meadows, 9/26/13
Nicci Carrera 