March in Like a Lion ( and leave the same way!)
For me this was a March for the history books! For me March has been a Lion all the way through. I cannot remember a March in which I experienced such a diversity of photographic experiences.
March roars in like a lion
So fierce,
The wind so cold,
It seems to pierce.
The month rolls on
And Spring draws near,
And March goes out
Like a lamb so dear
Lori Hill
March roars in like a lion
So fierce,
The wind so cold,
It seems to pierce.
The month rolls on
And Spring draws near,
And March goes out
Like a lamb so dear
Lori Hill
March is a transition from Winter to Spring - Reservoir on the Tejon Ranch
The theories on the origins for the saying “March in like a lion and leaves like a lamb” are multiple. Some are based on folklore describing the shift from winter to spring in the northern hemisphere. March is usually the month where winter shifts from winter to spring. So it usually starts off cold and stormy and ends calmer and warmer. Usually is the key word as there is nothing totally predictable during the transition between seasons. Which makes them so wonderful.
Another theory is based on the stars in the beginning of March Leo (the Lion) on the horizon at sunset but is replaced with Aires (the Ram) on the western horizon.
The most interesting insight was a Christian interpretation. It follows the thought that Jesus came into the world as a Lamb and will return as a Lion - in weather language means having a false spring.
Anyways for me, this March has been a “Lion” all month long. Its been one for the history books! Normally, March is kind of boring. Its cold, it rains, you stay inside. This March is different, I cannot remember one in which I experienced such a diversity of photographic experiences. It started off with a wonderful hike on the Tejon Ranch.
A storm had just broken up the night before and its remnants were hanging around the mountains. The result was this beautiful sunny day blessed with wonderful clouds that kept changing the light and shadows on the ground. A friend on the hike quipped “you could stand in one spot for the day and the scene would change a thousand times.”
The light kept changing creating these beautiful scenes
Beautiful Day
Beauty as far as the eye can see!
Then during my once a week work commute between LA and San Diego, Waze directed me out to the I-15. Well, from the I-15 there is no missing , the now infamous, Walker Canyon “super-bloom.” Luckily, I stopped to enjoy it weeks before the massive crowds made it a zoo.
Walker Canyon and I-15
The Hills are alive
Poppies prove that if small things join together they can make a big difference
Mountains, Clouds, and Spring Flowers what more could you ask for?
Even with spring wildflowers starting to bloom the March “Lion” was not finished yet. We took a trip up to the Eastern Sierra to check out how much snow was left. Oh my. We tend to be summer/hiking folks and don’t get up to the Sierra much in the winter months. 2019 has been an exceptional snow year and based on the snow still left on the ground and the fact it is still snowing the “Lamb” part of March missed its flight and won’t get into town till April.
First Light on Snow Covered Sierra
Closed for Winter! ::-)
All Roads Lead to Snow
Finally, I took a trek out to Death Valley to see the military pilots practice low level flying in a canyon nicknamed Star Wars Canyon (or called by the Pilots “the Jedi-transition.”) Talk about coming in like a Lion! The best description I can give about this canyon, other than “Oh sh*t”, it is the only place I know that you point your camera lens down to take a picture of a jet going by at several hundred miles an hour.
You can read the names of the pilots on the side of the plane!
Reminds me of a scene at the end of the “Dragnet” movie
I would call it tree top flying except there are no trees…
Hats off to these pilots they have a lot of “huevos” and I am glad I am on their side
While March still has few days left it will be snowing in Mammoth so I am not sure we will see the spring “Lamb” until April.
With a March like I had I cannot wait to see what April brings!
If you enjoyed this please share. Comments are always appreciated.
The End of the Line (well maybe) - Keeler
On the east side of the dry Owens Lake, southeast of Lone Pine on Hwy 136, is town named Keeler. I think the best description of Keeler comes from the website Weird California:
“Keeler is practically a ghost town. Many of the buildings are falling apart, the lake it sits on is dry, the mines the town was built to support have been played out, yet still about fifty people live in the town, so a complete ghost town it is not.”
On the east side of the dry Owens Lake, southeast of Lone Pine on Hwy 136, is a town named Keeler. I think the best description of Keeler comes from the website Weird California:
“Keeler is practically a ghost town. Many of the buildings are falling apart, the lake it sits on is dry, the mines the town was built to support have been played out, yet still about fifty people live in the town, so a complete ghost town it is not.”
Owens Lake Silver-Lead Furnace State Registered Landmark
First things first. Thousands of years before Keeler existed there where humans living in the area. The proof is the petroglyphs in the area. The interpretation of these petroglyphs is a bit more interesting and controversial than most other petroglyph sites. Scholar Berry Fell has hypothesized that these petroglyphs were created by early European Celts thousands of years ago. That some of the markings were designed to mark the equinox(s). Many find that hard to believe. For an interesting read see the Equinox Project website.
Owens Petroglyphs
While it does not look like it now, the establishment of Hawley, Keeler’s original name, was based on capitalistic business competition. Mortimer Belshaw who was a miner and a smelter owner in Cerrro Gordo area wanted to bypass the Owens-Lake Silver-Lead Company which had a smelter and the only shipping dock in a town called Swansea. In 1873 Mortimer bought a shipping paddle wheel vessel named the Bessie Bradie. He built his own dock in Hawley (Keeler) just south of Swansea so he could bypass the the struggling Owens-Lake Silver-Lead Company. Things got even worse for the Owens-Lake Silver-Lead company when a flash flood in the summer of 1884 created a mudslide that inundated the town of Swansea.
Swansea - This was taken a few years ago today the roof is now gone. One heck a view they had though!
Hawley really wasn’t a town just a transit hub. That was until Julius Keeler showed up in 1879. In 1880 the Cerro Gordo mine was having a revival and Julius wanted to take advantage of it. He started dreaming up plans for a new ore mill and town to surround it. He made his dreams a reality and the mill opened in 1881 and the town was formed.
Good fortune seldom lasts and Julius had some bad luck in 1882. He spent a ton of money to refurbish the Bessie Bradie only to see it catch fire and burn just after the project was completed. The loss of the Bessie Bradie ended shipping ore over the Owens Lake for good.
In 1883, with the arrival of the Carson and Colorado Railroad Keeler again became a freight hub. As with almost all mines the Cerro Gordo began to peak in the late 1880 and 90’s.
No 18 Slim Princess of the Carson and Colorado Railroad
Keeler was resilient however, and was saved in the early 1900’s by renewed mining activity. In 1906 a smelter was built at Keeler to process silver ores. In 1907, zinc mining became king and created another Keeler revival. Mining operating would increase and decrease in spits and spats until the Cerro Gordo mines closed permanently in 1933.
1913 marked another important turning point for Keeler. It was the first year water was diverted from The Owens Lake to Los Angeles. Initially the shrinking lake provided an economic opportunity for Keeler. Soda processing from the dry lake helped Keeler survive after the Cerro Gordo mines closed.
Time was not on Keeler’s side however. In 1960, economic activity had slowed enough that the railroad terminal closed and the tracks were removed. Since then Keeler has slowly deconstructed into what it is today.
Keeler Beach
Currently around 50-60 folks live in the town. Keeler is now part ghost town, part desert outpost, and part eclectic entity. Call Keeler what you want, I call it a cool place to visit.
Eclectic Residence
Old Gas Pump
I have yet found the land marker that has the quote below but somewhere in Keeler there is this historical marker that says”
”Keeler End of the Line
From Mount House, Nevada, narrow gauge rails of the Carson & Colorado reached this site in 1883. As Cerro Gordo and other mines faltered, the rail line fell on hard times, so plans to extend the line to Mojave were abandoned, leaving Keeler as "End of the Line".
Dedicated May 12, 1973 Slim Princess Chapter E Clampus Vitus Inyo County Board of Supervisors”
Keeler Swimming Pool looking out towards the Sierra and Horseshoe Meadow Road
Keeler may be the end of the line but is worth a visit!
For some great old pictures of Keeler check out Owens Valley History - Keeler page.
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Lone Pine the Little Town Below a Big Mountain
I have been going to Mammoth since I was a teenager. Until we bought our place in Mammoth we would do a non-stop drive to Mammoth ignoring all the amazing stuff between LA and Mammoth. With a place of our own we started spending more time in the Eastern Sierra. With that regularity the need to rush straight through to Mammoth went away We started exploring cool things all along Hwy 395. It was then I fell in love with the towns in the Owens Valley. These towns seem one dimensional as you drive through but when you get to know them they have multiple layers that make them gems in their own right. Today’s post focuses on the town I know best - Lone Pine.
I have been going to Mammoth since I was a teenager. Until we bought our place in Mammoth we would do a non-stop drive to Mammoth ignoring all the amazing stuff between LA and Mammoth. With a place of our own we started spending more time in the Eastern Sierra. With that regularity the need to rush straight through to Mammoth went away We started exploring cool things all along Hwy 395. It was then I fell in love with the towns in the Owens Valley. These towns seem one dimensional as you drive through but when you get to know them they have multiple layers that make them gems in their own right. Today’s post focuses on the town I know best - Lone Pine.
Lone Pine has incredible layers both natural and man made
Let’s start with a trivia fact. The famous hills to the west of Lone Pine are called the Alabama Hills. The name for these hills were given by pro-Confederate prospectors They chose the name after the CSS Alabama, the most successful Confederate war ship in the war. The CSS Alabama captured 65 ships, flying the American Flag, and sunk one Union warship. The pro-Union prospectors were not to be out done. They named the pass above the Alabama Hills the Kearsarge pass after the USS Kearsarge which was the ship that sunk the Alabama. Pretty funny when you think about it.
Lone Pine and it’s Alabama Hills are famous for its relationship with the movie industry. Over 300 films have been filmed here over the years including the 1938 classic Gunga Din, countless westerns and famous movies like Spencer Tracey’s Bad Day at Black Rock and Humphrey Bogart’s High Sierra.
You can check out this rich history at the Lone Pine Film Museum.
If you go be sure to watch the film it is pretty cool.
The Alabama Hills are also famous for there unique rock formations that are both beautiful to view but also spark your imagination. Explore enough and you will start to see figures in their shapes.
The Mobius Arch is one of the most famous arches in the Alabama Hills
But it is not the only one.
After a while you start to see images in the formations.
Jabba the Hut
Octopus maybe. If you look close you might find a laughing pig.
Towering above Lone Pine is Mt Whitney. With a height of 14,505 feet it is the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States.
About 9,000 feet up is Whitney Portal. There are camp grounds there and it is the trail head for the hike to the top of Mt Whitney. The portal is a wonderful stop on its own, It has a small pond with trout in it. Many like to fish others just like to sit and relax.
Fishing Pond at Whitney Portal
There is also a gorgeous waterfall as well.
If you don’t want to hike all the way to the top of Mt Whitney a much shorter but rewarding hike is to Lone Pine lake.
Lone Pine Lake sometimes looks like a scene from Jason and the Argonauts
If all this physical activity makes you hungry then the Whitney Portal Store has you covered with their huge pancakes!
Two plates are required to hold these pancakes.
If you want to wait to get back to town to eat there are some awesome restaurants it town. A few of our favorites are:
The Alabama Hills Cafe - Breakfast and Lunch
Alabama Hills Cafe
Seasons - Dinner is a great sit down restaurant.
Lone Star Bistro - Great sandwiches, hot dogs and ice cream
Frosty Chalet - for a quick bite to eat.
There is a nice grass area and shaded patio to enjoy your food at the Frosty Chalet
If you want just to sit down have a beer and possibly meet folks from around the world Jakes is a great little old saloon-. We have met folks from France, England, Australia, and more while we were there.
Bud sign at Jakes
Just north of Lone Pine is Manzanar one of the WWII Japanese Interment camps. It is now a National Historic Site where you can see both the hardships endured and the courage that our Japanese citizens displayed.
A barracks at Manzanar
I hope you see there is much more to do in Lone Pine than grab a burger and gas. Next time you are heading up 395 plan to spend time in Lone Pine!
Mt Whitney and the Alabama Hills always look good in snow!
The Word of the Month for February - Snow
Well, we asked for it and we are getting it. Seemingly all at once. I am talking about snow.
Did you know Sierra Nevada, in Spanish, means “snowy mountain range”? If you have seen any pictures from Mammoth or the rest of the Eastern Sierra lately that name is very appropriate.
“The snow was endless, a heavy blanket on the outdoors; it had a way about it. A beauty. But I knew that, like many things, beauty could be deceiving.”
― Cambria Hebert
Is there any better view than the Eastern Sierra Dressed Up in White
Well, we asked for it and we are getting it. Seemingly all at once. I am talking about snow.
Did you know Sierra Nevada, in Spanish, means “snowy mountain range”? If you have seen any pictures from Mammoth or the rest of the Eastern Sierra lately that name is very appropriate.
As of February 17th, a series of December/February storms has given Mammoth Mountain over 543 inches of snow; as reported by the National Weather Service. That is a tad over 45 feet! Enough snow to make Mammoth Mountain the official “snowiest ski resort” in the nation! It should be noted the show isn’t over yet either. With all this snow Mammoth Mountain announced that it will be open for skiing through July 4th.
The California Department of Water Resources has reported that the Sierra Snow Pack had a snow water equivalent that was 130 percent of normal as of February 11, 2019. Compare that with February 15, 2018, when the snow cover was just 21 percent of normal.
This is great news for California. The coming melt from the Sierra Nevada is crucial in recharging California’s reservoirs. Our reservoirs are already looking good. Recent data shows that the majority of reservoirs are already more than half-full, and some are above average for the middle of February.
From a few seasons ago. Unfortunately the roof is down now
Those officials that track the rainy season and declare drought conditions are hopeful that current above average snow pack could insulate the state from drought this summer.
We can thank a phenomenon called atmospheric rivers, a storm system type that transports a narrow, low-level trough of moisture across the ocean and then dumps large amounts of precipitation on land.
It is fun when the snow gets all the way down to the Owens Valley
Let’s hope the season continues, but gives the folks who live in the Eastern Sierra a few breaks to dig out!
The Wildflowers are Coming, the Wildflowers are Coming; are You Prepared?
It’s February and raining and snowing a lot. The skiers in the Eastern Sierra are in heaven, but what are the non-skiers to do with our time? Prepare for the wildflower season of course. The flowers are already popping up here and there already. I wanted to provide a list resources to help you plan your wildflower hunting season. We will cover:
Where to look for wildflowers and websites that track the wildflower blooms
How to know what you are looking at. Yes, there is an app for that and I found a great website.
Tips on how to take great wildflower pictures
It’s February and raining and snowing a lot. The skiers in the Eastern Sierra are in heaven, but what are the non-skiers to do with our time? Prepare for the wildflower season of course. The flowers are already popping up here and there already. I wanted to provide a list resources to help you plan your wildflower hunting season. We will cover:
Where to look for wildflowers and websites that track the wildflower blooms
How to know what you are looking at. Yes, there is an app for that and I found a great website.
Tips on how to take great wildflower pictures
Forgive the length of the post but it gives you a lot of info.
Locations
Tripsavvy has a great list. I suggest you check the website out because they also have resources by site. Here is an overview of their list and excerpts of their descriptions:
Anza-Borrego Desert: January through March - located south of Palm Springs, Anza-Borrego State Park often puts on the best desert wildflower show in California.
Death Valley: February-April - when they show up, Death Valley's wildflower displays are eye-popping because they occur in a landscape so devoid of color the rest of the year.
North Table Mountain: February-April - in a good year, North Table Mountain is decked out in more than 100 kinds of wildflowers.
Valley of the Oaks: March-April - west of King City that is little changed since Spanish colonial days. The land has never been cultivated, making it a great place for spring wildflowers.
Carrizo Plain: March-April - the wildflower displays that follow a rainy winter there are some of the state's best. During that time, docents lead tours to see them.
Antelope Valley: February-May - in a good year, the carpets of orange-hued California Poppies…
Hite Cove Trail: March-May - most visitors speed right past the Hite Cove Trail on their way to Yosemite, but the number of cars parked near a seemingly insignificant trailhead is a clue. In fact, the Hite Cove Trail is one of the most spectacular places in the Sierras in late spring. Some say it's the best wildflower hike in California.
Eastern Sierras: May-July - the iris blossom between late May and July, depending on elevation They start first around Bishop and bloom later near Mammoth Mountain.
Resources
Modern Hiker is a great site and it is not surprising it has a great page on wildflower resources. Here is a summary of the resources they recommend:
The Theodore Payne Foundation’s Wild Flower Hotline – this reader-submitted flower update covers most of Central and Southern California and is often a good place to start your search.
DesertUSA’s Wildflower Reports – DesertUSA kicks off their wildflower reports in January, which gives people plenty of time to start planning their trips as well as researching early predictions on which areas look like they’re experiencing the right conditions for good blooms.
What’s Blooming in the Santa Monica Mountains – This list focuses on the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Here, the reports are divided into different parks and even specific trails within those parks.
Park Specific Sites – Many of the better-known wildflower viewing areas have their own park-specific reports, with varying degrees of regularity and specificity.
Finding Out What You’re Looking At:
There are smartphone apps that help you identify what you are looking at. This page gives a review of several of them out there.
Desert USA has a great page that has pictures and descriptions of a ton of desert wildflowers
Photography Tips
Now that you know some good California locations and how to check how the blooms are doing. Here are some tips on how to take pictures that will wow your friends.
Fields and Flowers – There are two basic approaches to taking wildflowers.
Use objects in the foreground and background to provides a sense of scale
Fields of Dreams - One approach is to take an image of the field. With hundreds and possibly thousands of bright colored flowers make for an incredible scene. To take these scenes over the top try placing something in the foreground of the image to give the viewer a sense of scale. You can also build a layered composition. For example, you could have a tree in the foreground, wildflowers in the midsection, and a building way off in the distance.
See with the flower on the right how fast things get out of focus. On the left the camera was perfectly aligned with the plane of the flower and everything is in focus
Individual Superstar – Some of the most impactful images are of individual flowers. First, pick a good flower that has not been beaten up. Second pay attention to the background. If you have an adjustable camera use an aperture setting to blur the background. Your viewer’s eye will immediately concentrate on the part of the flower that is in focus. Plan out what you want in focus. The front, center, or all the flower. If you want all the flower in focus, make sure your camera is in parallel with the main plane of the flower.
Shutter Speed – Wildflowers are delicate, any amount of wind will begin to blow them around. If you have an adjustable camera set your shutter speed to 200 or 400. It is better to increase your ISO and get a slightly grainy but sharp image than one with no noise that is blurry.
Weather – It may be counter-intuitive, but an overcast day is probably better than a sunny day. Sunny days create harsh shadows and blown out color.
Best Time of Day to Shoot – Early morning when the sunlight is low and there is no wind. One thing to know some flowers don’t open until they get sunlight.
Equipment
Tripod – the flower is moving which means your camera shouldn’t be.
Telephoto Lens - the longer focal length will help you isolate a wildflower in front of a blurred background. It's important that your telephoto lens has a very short minimum focusing distance (at most 5 feet), so you can get close enough to flowers to fill the frame.
Use a telephoto to blur the back ground and put the focus on the flower
Remote Shutter Release – again the flowers are moving so your camera should not be moving. Pushing the shutter release on the camera tends to move the camera. Don’t have one, don’t worry. Just set your camera’s delay timer to 2 or 10 seconds.
DSLR or Mirrorless Camera – Don’t mean to sound snooty but these types of cameras have more options, shutter, aperture, ISO, etc. that gives you more control making the image you want. Don’t have this type of camera don’t worry go anyways. It’s better to go and take pictures, with whatever you’ve got, than not going at all.
Happy hunting!
Nature’s Vastness is Good for Our Souls
“Not till we are completely lost, or turned round, do we appreciate the vastness and strangeness of Nature.”
Henry David Thoreau
Lately, I have been obsessed with the idea of nature’ vastness. I am lucky because as I meander about the Eastern Sierra, I have gotten to personally witness the vastness of undisturbed nature. It truly stops me in my tracks. Staring into the scene I start to ponder my existence. The impact of an uninterrupted open space for as far as you can see just does that to you. A scene so epic, yet perfectly orchestrated, shouts to you; “you are only a small spec in the universe and that is perfectly OK.”
“Not till we are completely lost, or turned round, do we appreciate the vastness and strangeness of Nature.”
Henry David Thoreau
View from Sage Hen
Lately, I have been obsessed with the idea of nature’ vastness. I am lucky because as I meander about the Eastern Sierra, I have gotten to personally witness the vastness of undisturbed nature. It truly stops me in my tracks. Staring into wide open spaces I start to ponder my existence. A scene so epic, yet perfectly orchestrated, shouts to you; “you are only a small spec in the universe and that is perfectly OK.”
The moment I started to understand how I really felt about open spaces came when I was hiking the Little Lakes trail. I had started out early and was the first and only one on the trail. The sun was just coming up and its golden light was kissing the landscape. I crested a ridge and the view in front of me was stunning. I stopped and started to set up my tripod and camera to capture the scene. Then I realized there was no sound at all. No wind, no birds, no sound of running water. Just total and complete silence even though I could see miles in almost every direction around me. While other memories I have tend to blur together, I can still see that scene and my feelings like I am still standing there right now. It impacted me that much. I have been told that God speaks to you in silence; after that morning I now believe it.
It was in that moment, just staring into the vastness, that I truly began to understand the need for all humans to experience the vastness of nature because you realize that not only that you are just a small part of the universe, but your problems are even smaller, almost irrelevant. It is a feeling you cannot truly understand from looking at a two-dimensional image or even a video. You have to be there.
Which brings me to the point of this post. While the vastness of nature is massive and overpowering, at the same time it is extremely fragile. A few buildings here, a commercial mine there and the positive impact of nature’s vastness on your soul is gone.
I believe it is critical to humankind’s well being to save as much of the remaining open spaces as we can. Once they are gone, they are gone forever. We should embrace the philosophy of visiting these vast wildernesses but then leaving, allowing the vastness to stay intact for others to enjoy. The following images are my attempt to win you over to this belief. Hopefully, if you feel the feeling I do, you too will stand up to protect the remaining wild open spaces.
Sunrise Over the Owens
Little Sycamore Canyon - Tejon Ranch
Sage Hen Wedges
View from Parker Lake Trial
Sierra God Rays, Independence
View of the Tablelands with Clouds
FYI, there are several organizations that are doing great work to preserve open spaces in our patch of the woods. They include: The Eastern Sierra Land Trust, Tejon Ranch Conservancy, and the Friends of the Inyo. You should look them up and hopefully support them.
Hike Big Sycamore Canyon - Tejon Ranch
If you go to the Tejon Ranch Conservancy website they have this quote:
“There is no other place like Tejon Ranch in California...and perhaps in the world.”
I have to say it is true, it is true.
It is immense at 270,000 acres, the largest contiguous private property in California.
It is diverse lying at the boundaries of multiple ecosystems as diverse as the Sierra Nevada and the Mojave Desert.
It is magnificently beautiful. Especially when there is weather happening!
If you go to the Tejon Ranch Conservancy website they have this quote:
“There is no other place like Tejon Ranch in California...and perhaps in the world.”
I have to say it is true, it is true.
It is immense at 270,000 acres, the largest contiguous private property in California.
It is diverse lying at the boundaries of multiple ecosystems as diverse as the Sierra Nevada and the Mojave Desert.
It is magnificently beautiful. Especially when there is weather happening!
The Ranch is private property but through the hospitality of Tejon Ranch Conservancy you can explore it for yourself. I highly recommend you do. Hopefully this post will inspire you to sign up to visit the Ranch.
The hike today was in Big Sycamore Canyon. It was a moderate five mile in-and-out hike.
A major storm had hit the day before and the storm was clearing out the day of our hike. Driving to the Ranch from the south, Mt. Pinos was stunning covered in new snow. There were low lying clouds in the direction of where the hike is so I was excited for the possibility of some awesome views. I was not disappointed.
I enjoy entering the Ranch from the gate we used because there is an experimental wind turbine that in the vastness of nothingness looks out of place. It is so surreal, it reminds me of the planet Tatooine where Luke Skywalker grew up in the first Star Wars movie.
The hike starts out with a gentle grade f or a long while in a mix of Oaks and Sycamores. As you get farther into the canyon the grade gets a little steeper.
There are enough interesting sights along the way that you tend to stop, check them out, and catch your breath.
Is it me or do you see a Dolphin too?
With the low clouds and a bit of fog the colors of the canyon were very rich.
The turn around point is a small meadow with a half built abandoned cabin and an open barn. They have a picnic table in the meadow that makes a nice place to rest, talk, and have lunch.
When we got back to the car, Reema our excellent guide, drove us over to the entrance of Little Sycamore Canyon. It is ironic that some of the biggest Sycamores we saw that day were at “Little” Sycamore canyon.
As we packed up to head off the ranch the clouds continued to give us a beautiful send off.
It was a great day on the Tejon Ranch. I highly recommend you give it a try. The Conservancy has a great outreach program and you can check out the calendar of events here!
Have a great week!
Bob Kent
www.bob-kent-photography.com
Clouds and Glass
My personal favorite landscape scene is of a lake with water so still it looks like glass, a sky with clouds, and framed by mountains. I call then Clouds and Glass.
To capture this type of image you tend to have to be at the location ungodly early or just after sunset. Even when you do get there at the right time there is no guarantee you will find the scene you want. A little wind and you are doomed. Finding a lake with glass and clouds is like finding a winning lottery ticket.
Here are a few images that demonstrate why these are my dream scenes.
My personal favorite landscape scene is of a lake with water so still it looks like glass, a sky with clouds, and framed by mountains. I call then Clouds and Glass.
To capture this type of image you tend to have to be at the location ungodly early or just after sunset. Even when you do get there at the right time there is no guarantee you will find the scene you want. A little wind and you are doomed. Finding a lake with glass and clouds is like finding a winning lottery ticket.
Here are a few images that demonstrate why these are my dream scenes.
Convict Lake Early Morning
It was a cold morning and during the fall color season; where photographers flock the Eastern Sierra. That morning there were probably 40+ other photographers at the lake. Most gathered in the same spots - on the bridge or on the breakwater rocks trying to get the same shot. I had those shots already and wanted something different. So I walked along the road occasionally crawling through the trees to check out the views from the shore. Finally, I stumbled on this spot and I knew it was the one. Unfortunately, there were no clouds, but the lake was glass and the alpenglow marvelous.
Horseshoe Lake Under Clouds
Horseshoe lake is gorgeous, but I have struggled over time to get an image that I truly liked. This day it had all the making of a great image. Glass water near the shore and the most delicious big sky clouds you could ask for. It just sucks you right into the scene.
Silver Lake Reflection
I think Silver Lake is one of the most photographic lakes in the Eastern Sierra. Mainly because it can look so different with differences in weather and time of the year. I have captured several awesome images from this same spot that look totally different. I know it will be a special image when the water is glass and there are storm clouds like the ones we had this day. It is something special to behold. Even better this was in the afternoon so I did not have to get up way early in the morning to capture the scene.
Horseshoe Lake Reflection
As I had said in a previous description Horseshoe Lake is gorgeous, but it is hard to translate what you see and feel into a two dimensional image. Sometimes however the lake poses for you. No clouds this day but the water was perfect glass providing a crystal-clear reflection. It was cold that morning but well worth it.
Tenaya Sunset
We had gone up to Yosemite to have a picnic. Tenaya Lake was the perfect spot. Our puppy could swim, we could have a picnic, and it was just off the chart beautiful that day. Sometimes inconveniences turn into blessings. We had trouble with the car and with no cell service we were having trouble flagging any park folks to stop and help. We were not planning to be there this late. Then something magical happened. The lake went perfectly calm and the cumulus clouds in the distance went nuclear in color. The entire lake turned a shade of orange. It was incredible. Eventually, we got the issue with the car resolved but the delay gave us a beauty show the likes of I have not seen again.
Well now, you know my favorite type of scene and hopefully after seeing a few examples you know why.
My 12 Best Images of 2018
The 12 Best of 2018
Why 12? To be different. Everyone else has a Top 10. Besides I like the idea of one for each month. Even though I did not take as many images last year, it was an awesome year for my photography. Mainly for two reasons.
During most of my trips up to the Eastern Sierra there were luscious clouds in the sky. Nothing improves a landscape photo like clouds.
I started concentrating on the improving the composition of my images. Specifically working on improving the foreground area. To me, it made a huge difference.
So here we go.
The 12 Best of 2018
Why 12? To be different. Everyone else has a Top 10. Besides I like the idea of one for each month. Even though I did not take as many images last year, it was an awesome year for my photography. Mainly for two reasons.
During most of my trips up to the Eastern Sierra there were luscious clouds in the sky. Nothing improves a landscape photo like clouds.
I started concentrating on the improving the composition of my images. Specifically working on improving the foreground area. To me, it made a huge difference.
So here we go.
# 12 Independence God Rays
The most unexpected spots sometimes consistently provide the most awesome images. In this case there is a pocket park located on the south side of Independence. It is a nice spot to stretch the legs and take a health break. On multiple times I have captured incredible images like this with awesome light and clouds. Right from within 15 feet of the street next to the park. Notice how the foreground creates an alter for the God rays.
# 11 Hot Creek Sunset
The area behind the Hot Creek gorge is one of my favorite places to watch a sunrise or sunset. The area around a certain white bridge is well magical during a sunrise or sunset. Add awesome clouds high enough to catch the suns last rays and change colors, well see for yourself. Think a couple of chairs, a bottle of wine, and some good company.
# 10 Clouds Over the Owens Valley
Remember the first reason I said my 2018 images were awesome? Yes clouds. I have always loved the cumulus clouds that have a flat bottom. Bit of trivia as here is the explanation of why they have flat bottoms. The flat bottoms of cumulus clouds define the exact height at which a critical combination of temperature and air pressure causes water vapor within the rising current to condense into a visible cloud.
# 9 Minaret Sunset
Sometime bad things produce beautiful scenes. Forest fires are natural but with the drought and other factors the fires of late have been terrible. Their smoke at sunset though creates some of the most beautiful sunsets you will see. This is the case with this sunset over the Minarets and the smoke from the Lions fire. The Minaret vista has a wonderful view but trying to capture it as a still image is difficult. In some places there are tall trees that obstruct the main image. In others there is nothing and the impact of the image gets lost in a mass of complexity. Even though I only had a few minutes to capture the scene I walked around and found the foreground to anchor the image. I think it paid off. Do you?
# 8 June Lake with Moon
June Lake is gorgeous. For years I have tried to get an image of June Lake that captured the feelings I get when I view the lake. I have always come up empty and this year I focused on getting an image that I liked. I got several, but I think this one shows the lake off at its best. Morning alpenglow, still water, clouds, and the moon.
# 7 Heart Lake Viewpoint
The Heart Lake trail out of Coldwater campground, was a hike I did not take for years because I thought it was too short and did not have any special scenery. Was I ever wrong as it had some spectacular view, wildflower, and if you walked past the lake just a bit this scene?! This scene has three of Mammoth’s most widely recognizable locations in one view: Mammoth Mountain, Lake Mary, and Mammoth Crest. Another example of using the foreground to make the image more interesting.
# 6 Heart Lake
Heart Lake is a small lake with only a hint of any interesting geology formations visible Just a simple little alpine lake. Sometimes simpler is better.
# 5 Grant Lake with White Line
Three things led to this capture.
One, the willingness just to wander. We had done the June Lake Loop earlier from the other direction but coming home with the clouds and sunset we decided to do it again.
Two, preparedness - five minutes before the clouds were ten times more colorful, five minutes after the light was gone. Like Goldilocks’ porridge this was just right. I usually travel with the camera ready to go and already on the tripod. Being ready allowed me to capture the image.
Three, listen to your photographer’s assistant. My wife has developed a keen eye for scenes worth stopping for. I was in a keep driving mode and she told me to stop and take the image. She was right, this image got more comments on Facebook than almost all my other posts.
# 4 Parker Lake with Logs
I do most of my shooting very early in the morning or around sunset. The hike to Parke Lake is one of my favorite hikes; one I have done many times. When I went with some others on a mid-morning hike, I did not plan on doing much shooting. I was stunned when we reached the lake, the water was still fairly calm and the light was not too harsh. I took my time to find the foreground to anchor the image and came away with one of my favorite images of my favorite lake. Shows that you should never assume and approach the creation of your art with an open mind.
# 3 Sage Hen Road with Trees
We were taking some friends on a day tour of the cool things around Mammoth in the fall. Even though this location had passed its fall color peak, I thought the views were worth going there. Well sometimes it all just works; the light coming through the leaves, the blue sky with clouds, and a nice leading line.
# 2 Whitney Fish Hatchery
The Whitney Fish Hatchery is a wonderful oasis in the Owens Valley. The building is picture card perfect but one I had never captured to my liking. This day all the elements of a great image were working overtime; the clouds, the light, just everything. While my photographer’s assistant was setting up our picnic, I walked around to see if I could find a new perspective. Did I hit the jackpot! This was the FB post and calendar page that got the most comments. I think you can see why.
# 1 Cloudy Silver Lake
I knew as soon as I took this picture it would be the best image I captured on this trip and probably of the whole year. It is a rare gift to get still water and storm clouds. It is even a rare gift to get them late in the day. This image is taken from one of our favorite places to sit and have a picnic. We just sit and soak up the beauty around us. Occasionally, we will have deer and ducks join us to make it even more special. it was tough to choose between Whitney Fish Hatchery and this image as the best. Our personal connection to this spot was the tie breaker.
The above is my ranking, which of these images was your favorite? The bar is set high for 2019 but it will be fun to beat this list. Just pray for a cloudy 2018!
Dad Why Do the Trees Change Colors?
Every year I reluctantly hang on to summer and resist the coming of Fall. Despite my best efforts the days keep getting noticeably shorter, the nights have a chill, and heck it is mid-September and just snowed in the Sierra! So, I will throw in the towel and look forward to Halloween and Fall colors. Hopefully, this post will give you a bit of trivia and a lot of information on how to successfully see Fall colors in the Sierra.
Bishop Canyon
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Every year I reluctantly hang on to summer and desperately resist the coming of Fall. Despite my best efforts the days keep getting shorter, the nights have a chill, and heck it is mid-September and it just snowed in the Sierra! So, I will throw in the towel and look forward to Halloween and Fall Colors. Hopefully, this post will give you a bit of trivia to impress your friends and a lot of information on how to successfully see the Fall colors in the Sierra.
Bishop Canyon
Why do leaves change color?
The short answer is simply the leaves get less light. There is more to it than that! Here is your trivia facts that you can use to impress your fellow Fall Color lovers.
Trivia Fact 1. In fall the days grow shorter. The reduction in the total amount of light the tree leaves receive induces a chemical change causing a corky wall to form between the twig stem and the main portion of the leaf.
After a while this corky wall causes the leaf to drop off the tree. Before it falls however, the wall blocks the in and exit vessels which traps sugars in the leaves. With reduced light an no new food the green chlorophyll pigments die. This allows us to see the two other pigments the leaves always have had - carotene (yellow) and anthocyanin (red).
Trivia Fact 2. The reason the leaves look more vibrant after sunny days is that the sunlight continues to produce anthocyanins after the blockage occurs. During cloudy days less anthocanin is created and the leaves take on a more pastel tones.
Weir Pond
Eastern Sierra Fall Colors Locations
While the Maine, Vermont, and the Rockies are better known for their fall colors there are plenty of places in the Eastern Sierra that put on quite a show. As the California Fall Color Web Site says “Dude, autumn happens here too.” Here are a some of the locations that usually have good showings:
- Big Pine Canyon
- Bishop Creek Canyon
- Lower Rock Creek
- Rock Creek Canyon
- McGee Creek
- Convict Lake
- June Lake Loop
- Sagehen Summit (Hwy 120)
- Lee Vining Canyon
- Lundy Canyon
- Virginia Lakes
- Conway Summit
- Walker River Canyon
- Lobdell Lake
- Monitor Pass
- Hope Valley
Viewing Etiquette
During the peak viewing time, there are tons of site-seers and photographers. Lately there are a lot of Photography Tour groups as well. There is enough beauty to go around to see so folks please be respectful of your fellow viewers! I remember a time where I was at North Lake very early in the morning. The sunrise was so beautiful and peaceful. That was until a large group of tourist that had broken up into two groups decided it was okay to loudly yell things to each other across the lake, ruining the peace for all others. Think before you yell, walk in front of someone’s camera scene, or bogart a location while other photographers are waiting behind you.
McGee Creek
Incredibly Helpful Resources for Planning Your Trip
Generally, the colors start changing first at higher altitudes usually in late September and the 1st week in October is best overall for color viewing. Unfortunately, it is not that simple. The change in fall colors is a very fickle thing. It does not always start on time. One location might look gorgeous one day then after a sudden wind storm, cold freeze, or snow storm be totally decimated the next day.
Fortunately, there are a lot of kind people that actively track and publish the current conditions. Some of the best sites are:
- California Fall Color
- California Fall Color Map
- Parchers Bishop Creek great for the Bishop Creek Canyon; North Lake, South Lake, Aspendell, and Lake Sabrina.
- Mono County Fall Color
- Calphoto Yahoo Group need to join.
- Sierra Fall Colors
- Natural History Wanderings Foliage Reports
Lower Rock Creek
Best blog post and How To Book
G. Dan Mitchell provide an incredible amount of valuable info!
· Sierra Nevada Fall Color Season – Coming Sooner Than You Think!
Hope this helps you in your quest to see one of nature’s best shows. Maybe I will see you out there among the colors!
Cannot Fight It Might as Well Join It
It's been falling for weeks and its everywhere. With 217 inches of snow and counting January 2107 has broken the record for most snow EVER! This weekend the snow feel everywhere even as far south as Olancha. Facebook is full of images of folks cars and porches under a gazillion feet of snow. Well if you cannot beat them, join them so here are some images of snow in the Sierras and Owens Valley over the years.
It's been falling for weeks and its everywhere. With 217 inches of snow and counting January 2107 has broken the record for most snow EVER! This weekend the snow feel everywhere even as far south as Olancha. Facebook is full of images of folks cars and porches under a gazillion feet of snow. Well if you cannot beat them, join them so here are some images of snow in the Sierras and Owens Valley over the years.
I will start in the Owens Valley. I heard it was going to snow in Lone Pine on a Friday. I got up at the un-Godly hour of 3 AM Saturday morning so I could be in Lone Pine before Sunrise. Around Little Lakes the black top of 395 was totally white and you could not see the yellow divider line! I got there with time to set and get some images well worth the early morning alarm!
Snow all the way from the Alabama Hills to the top of Mt Whitney
Snow on the Mobius Arch
On the way To Keeler - unfortunately the roof finally gave up its fight against gravity a few years ago and is on the ground.
Moving up to Mammoth there was on incredible Memorial Day that got hit by a late season snow storm. Almost 12 inches came down. The cool thing about this storm in May was the roads that are normally closed in the winter were open because it was, well May. Instead of snow shoeing for miles to get images of places with snow on them you could now drive to. Sweet!
Picnic table at Horse Shoe Lake covered in snow!
A Lake Mamie Christmas Tree post card!
The storm took everybody by surprise. When I took the picture below of the rental bikes the one of the girls working in the shop came out smiling asking me "if I was making fun of them!"
Bending trees reflection
Twin Lakes
Moon over the Crest
I will leave you with one of my favorites. A dead stump looking down on Twin Lakes.
So it is a pain to drive in, a pain to shovel out but it will be incredibly gorgeous when the sun comes out after this incredible snowy month!
Clouds are the Photographers Spice of Life
Clouds are a landscape photographer's spice to add flavor to their images. Don't believe me, do a google on "Ansel Adam on cloud" and see how many hits come up of his images that have "cloud" in the name.
My point is this, There are a lot of good images that have a bright blue cloudless sky. There are many more "great" images of the same location that have clouds in the sky! I love the Owens Valley, it is gorgeous. That said, would the above image be so moving if it did not have those wonderful clouds in the sky? I think not.
Hwy 395 in the Owens Valley
Clouds are a landscape photographer's spice to add flavor to their images. Don't believe me, do a google on "Ansel Adam on cloud" and see how many hits come up of his images that have "cloud" in the name.
My point is this, There are a lot of good images that have a bright blue cloudless sky. There are many more "great" images of the same location that have clouds in the sky! I love the Owens Valley, it is gorgeous. That said, would the above image be so moving if it did not have those wonderful clouds in the sky? I think not.
At times I travel a lot. When I do I spend a lot of hours in airplanes. It was during those hours that I really fell in love with clouds and how God paints the sky with them. I am amazed how many folks who have window seats who never even look out at the incredible scenes that are going by their windows.
Now, I always try for a window seat. It soothes my soul watching those wonderful clouds float by. It makes the hours of the flight, fly by (pun intended.) I take my camera almost every trip and have come away with some incredible images. See a few below. Most think I am crazy because I root for the plane to get closer to those thunderheads, damn the turbulence, I want to get my picture!
Prehistoric World from 30,000 feet
The Octopus
Wingtip Almost Touches the Clouds
Can You See it? Near the top of the cloud, just to the right of center there looks like a scratch in the image. It is actually another airliner. So just imagine the immense scale of that cloud!
So forgive the long download time. I am going to let my cloud images do the talking for me. After an hour + of trying to whittle the number of images down I still have too many images in this post . If you like the images with clouds you may want to check out my friend Matt Granz work http://avax.news/charming/Storm_Clouds_by_Photographer_Matt_Granz.html. He has gone head over heels for Storm chasing and a lot fo his images are breathtaking!
So sit back and enjoy the clouds!
Reflections
Tenaya Lake, Yosemite - Stormy Above, Calm Below
Venice Beach California - Looking into a Mirror
Horse Shoe Lake Mammoth Lakes, Ca - Big Sky
Stormy
Shrouded Half Dome Yosemite, Ca
Stormy North Lake - Bishop Ca
Crowley Lake, Mammoth Lakes, Ca - Sunset was competing with the 4th of July Fireworks
Clearing Storm over the Minaretes, Mammoth Lakes, Ca
Tuscany, Italy - Clouds Add Spice Everywhere in the World
El Matador State Beach, Ca - God Painting His Canvas with Color
Sunrise over Mono Lake, Ca - Trail to Parker Lake
Sunset Mammoth Lakes, Ca - This is under 10 feet of snow right now!
Have I convinced you? Don't landscape images look better with a touch of photogrpaher's spice?
Sunrise to Sunset in Southern California
My brother and his family come home every holiday season. He is a photographer too, so we look for some time while he is here to go out to shoot. I enjoy his company and it forces me over the rest of the year to get out and to check out places in Southern California for his next visit.
Now I am a 3rd generation Angeleno. I have lived in Southern California all my life. Between work and exploring I get around a lot and considered myself a seasoned local. I thought I had been to most of the interesting places we have here. Wow was I wrong. After a few years of checking sites out for our shooting day, I have realized there is absolutely no way possible you could ever see all that is interesting in Southern California.
My brother and his family come home every holiday season. He is a photographer too, so we look for some time while he is here to go out to shoot. I enjoy his company and it forces me over the rest of the year to get out and to check out places in Southern California for his next visit.
Now I am a 3rd generation Angeleno. I have lived in Southern California all my life. Between work and exploring I get around a lot and considered myself a seasoned local. I thought I had been to most of the interesting places we have here. Wow was I wrong. After a few years of checking sites out for our shooting day, I have realized there is absolutely no way possible you could ever see all that is interesting in Southern California.
This year's photo shoot happen to be on a day where we also had a lunch planned in Marina del Rey with one group of friends and a dinner with family in Calabasas. So we figured we would find a place to shoot the sunrise down south and work our way up to catch the sunset at El Matador State Beach. This way the social engagements were in sync with our photo shoot.
Sunrise from the Observatory
We chose to do the sunrise at the Griffeth Park Observatory. I have been to the Observatory many times at night. I had never even thought about going there for sunrise. It was awesome. It was a clear day and Los Angeles in the golden glow of the morning is beautiful.
Golden Arches looking over Downtown
Curved Vanishing Point
After a while it was time for breakfast. Since we were close to downtown and my brother wanted to shoot the Bradbury building I suggested Philippe. Most people know Philippe for their French Dip sandwiches; usually before a Dodger game. What most don't know is Philippe has a great breakfast. My favorite is their Pork Chops.
After breakfast we headed over to the Bradbury building. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Bradbury it is a historic office building at the corner of Broadway and 3rd. It was built in 1893 and has this incredible 19th style century interior with very intricate ironwork ornamental railings and a glass ceiling. One of the building's claim to fame is being used in the cult classic movie Blade Runner. That is only one of the many movies and TV shows shot in the building. Others including Pay it Forward, Marlowe, Outer Limits, and Chinatown. It is free to check out the lobby and the first staircase platform. Well worth the time to visit and there is a host of other things to see within walking distance including the Grand Central Market, Disney Concert Hall, and the new Grand Park.
From the Staircase
Looking Up at the Glass Ceiling
All Decked Out for Christmas
Right across 3rd street from the Bradbury is one of my favorite building murals. It is called the “Pope of Broadway” and is a painting of Anthony Quinn dancing. Eloy Torrez painted the mural in 1985. He portrays Anthony Quinn as a Christian icon. The image of Quinn has the traditional posture of Jesus on the cross; outstretched arms, slightly bent knees and head tilted to one side. The small enclosed parking the mural is behind gives it a church-like setting to view the mural. The religious theme is reinforced by crosses under Quinn's arms. These crosses are painted in arched doors which mirror the design of the door in the north entrance to the Bradbury building just across the street. I was so excited when I saw the mural this time. Over the years it had gotten pretty worn down. It was faded and the paint was flaking off. Viewing it this time I was overjoyed to see that it had been restored to its original glory.
Pope of Broadway
So after the Bradbury, we went to our lunch and then headed for El Matador State Beach. It was suppose to rain later that day and there were these beautiful high clouds heralding the storms coming. It looked as though they would not block the horizon. This would set up the possibility that they would turn that nuclear red you sometimes see just after sunset. Alas, that was not going to be the case. We had the wonderful subdued pastel sunset instead. What gave the soft sunset some character was the fact that there were 20+ commercial fishing boats just off the shoreline. There must have been one hell of a big school of fish off the beach because they were all still there well after sunset.
Subdued Sunset
Reflections
Time Lapse of the Last Light
Big Stopper
We then headed off to dinner. It was a great way to spend sunrise to sunset and a reminder that Southern California is a treasure trove of beautiful places.
My Top Images of 2016
Everyone seems to make a list at the end of the year. Best of, Top X, etc. Not to be left out starting in 2016 I am going to build a list of my top images. The selection is a combination of a great image and a sort of category of themes during the year.
2016 was a busy year with an emphasis on getting out and doing more. I had my pledge drive 54 for Dave to thank getting my out on the trail in the Sierra. Probably more than 30 miles this summer. Last year I missed going to see the huge Yellow Rubber Ducky so I made a pledge to myself to check more things out this year, Balloon Fests, Huge White Rabbits, and a long road trip up Hwy 1 and back again.
There were too many great images to chose from. So I created categories and chose image(s) to visuualize each category:
- Try Something New
- Check Out Your Local Digs
- See Something Don't Be Afraid to Stop and Check it Out
- Give Due to Those Who Have Earned It
- Bucket List
- The Blues
- Clouds are Mother Nature's Spice
- My Beloved Sierra
- Operation Santa
Everyone seems to make a list at the end of the year. Best of, Top X, etc. Not to be left out starting in 2016 I am going to build a list of my top images. The selection is a combination of a great image and a sort of category of themes during the year.
2016 was a busy year with an emphasis on getting out and doing more. I had my pledge drive 54 for Dave to thank getting my out on the trail in the Sierra. Probably more than 30 miles this summer. Last year I missed going to see the huge Yellow Rubber Ducky so I made a pledge to myself to check more things out this year, Balloon Fests, Huge White Rabbits, and a long road trip up Hwy 1 and back again.
There were too many great images to chose from. So I created categories and chose image(s) to visuualize each category:
- Try Something New
- Check Out Your Local Digs
- See Something Don't Be Afraid to Stop and Check it Out
- Give Due to Those Who Have Earned It
- Bucket List
- The Blues
- Clouds are Mother Nature's Spice
- My Beloved Sierra
- Operation Santa
