Beach Photos

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Saturday, April 26, 2008

San Simeon Sunset

This was taken the evening before my VR Highway 1 Sunset, just a little further up Highway 1. If you turned around from where we were standing you could almost see the top of Hearst Castle in the hills.

Of course if you looked to the left... and I apologize in advance for ruining the tranquil California sunset day dream you're having right now... there were a bunch of Elephant Seals. And they were quite loud and very comical. I'm sure I have a few shots of them to get on-line soon.

Now back to the regularly scheduled day dream... Right up the road, a little closer to the lighthouse is a scenic point that has less seals, and when we were there they were just laying enjoying the evening sea breeze. One had her flipper over her baby like she was hugging it. So if you'd rather picture yourself there that would work too. :-D

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Stearns Sunset

I have learned to make the most of the clouds when they come out around here. during the summer we just have haziness and fog. Most of the rest of the year it's clear and blue. But as I have said so often on the photo of the day, the clear blue skies don't make for much of a sunset. But the evening I took this shot was just amazing! We almost did not go since we were getting out a little too late for the sunset. Turned out to be a better image with the stars in it anyway!

So now that I have the VR functionality down I thought I would take the time to fine tune the process. I created this image and recreated it from the 120+ individual shots that make it. This is my fourth complete revision, after trying out about ten different programs for different parts of the process. I can now confidently say there is no substitution for hard work. (I'm hearing my 7th grade english teacher in the back of my head asking me if the computer I did my homework on did the work for me when I pushed a single button) Maybe some day, but we're still not there yet. Quite to the contrary, with each new advance in computing power you just get more room to find a new level of creativity.

I hope you enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed making it!

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Highway 1 VR Sunset

If you have Flash installed in your browser, click and drag on the image once it loads, you should get a pleasant surprise.

This image has been quite a few days in the making. I had the good fortune to be in Cambria (north on the coast, 'bout half way to Monterey) last week around sunset and I just happened to have my new panoramic tripod head with me. Seeing as how I don't have a good fish-eye for my digital camera, I used my widest lens available. To get the whole image it took 36 shots. Of course, the difference shooting into the sun, and away was more than a single exposure setting could handle. So I had to take three separate exposures and combine them into a High Dynamic Range Image.

From that point, I just had to see how far I could push my computer. Rather than scale the images down I wanted to see just how big I could make the image. In the end the 108 images combined into a two gigabyte, 240 megapixel image. I figure it would print nicely at around twelve feet wide. I spared your internet connection the full size image. But as I mentioned above, users with Flash should be able to experience a nice point of view. I can tell you the VR interface gives the closest experience to actually standing there taking the photo I can imagine.

Enjoy, and please let me know if you experience any difficulties with the new interface.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

East Beach Woodcut - No Lifeguard On Duty

I went out this evening to get some evening shots of the city. I was not sure exactly what I was looking for, but when I drove by East Beach I saw it. :-D

This scene reminds me of a woodcut technique where the black silhouette is printed over a gradient background. The sky was cloudless, the dark outline at the left on the horizon is Santa Cruz Island part of Channel Islands National Park.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

California Sunset

Santa Barbara (where we live) is beautiful in general, don't get me wrong. And, I have heard people try to extol the virtues of our south facing beach. But you just don't get a sunset like this off of a south facing beach! Which is probably one of the main reasons I like exploring the rest of California.

Friday, February 23, 2007

I Can FLY!

I took several shots of this dog, but the thing I like about this one in particular is the fact that none of his feet are touching the ground. He was running far ahead of his friend, the guy to the left. Then he would run all the way back. Apparently the pace of the walk was not quite as fast as he would like.

In my case, it could be me making multiple trips back and forth waiting for The Hound. Not because she is lazy, but because when she really gets into her walk she likes to inspect every inch along the way. I experience our walks with my eyes and camera. She is all about her nose. I don't think she even pays attention to her eyes unless something out of the ordinary happens. As evidenced by the orange traffic cone that snuck up on her tonight and made her jump straight up in the air when she realized it was there.

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Shoreline Access

One of the many beautiful images that are a result of an early morning hound walk during our last trip to Monterey. As I have said before, that was not really my idea of a relaxing trip but the hound sure can sniff out a good photo opportunity!

Friday, October 20, 2006

Attitude Gull

I liked this photo when I took it. But I had no idea what I could possibly do with it. Then, when I was getting ready for a show one evening I started playing in Photoshop. I decided that the space above the bird was perfect for a little creativity. The way he was walking made him seem very determined, but there was just a little something missing. The reflection in the glasses is the palm trees from another one of my cards.

I was actually able to convince many of the kids at various art shows that I had to bribe the seagull with fish to get him to wear the glasses. :-D

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Foggy Gull

This is actually an older shot. I was surprised when I looked and found that I had never used it on the photo of the day. The poles in the background are masts of small catamarans that are on the beach for rent. They were not far from where I was standing to take the picture, that gives you an idea how fast and heavy the evening fog was rolling in.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Great Bounding Beach Bassets!

Bassets are quite possibly the cutest creatures on the planet IMO. This guy was just having a good old time following his nose cruising along, falling behind. Then his owner (food-slave in proper Basset terms) called him. He looked so happy bounding along to catch up. There's nothin' quite like a sixty pound dog running on 4" legs.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Butterfly Beach Sunset

It was a nice sunset this evening. No clouds, but still a nice glow in the sky.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Sunset Exercise

I went to the doctor and, big surprise, I have to eat healthier and get more exercise! (should have seen that comin') On the plus side, walking is his recommended way to do that. And I figure, if you're gonna walk, you might as well do it someplace nice!

This is Butterfly Beach in Santa Barbara. It is one of the less traveled beaches around here. It is not in an area that you would normally stumble on. And it is our favorite beach. So after making one good pedometer out of two broken ones, we had a nice sunset walk. Oh, I mean... we went out and got some exercise!

Friday, July 7, 2006

Santa Barbara Sunset at the Wharf

This image reminds me of visiting Santa Barbara, about nine years ago, on vacation with my best friend. When we first got here she told me that she had to warn me that I probably was not going to want to leave. She was right! But Santa Barbara was not the only thing I got attached to. Now that we live here, my best friend has also become my wife!

Friday, June 30, 2006

Stearns Sunset Panorama

(click to see a bigger version)

More shots from yesterday's wharf walk. Actually, it's a combination of 9 shots. It was a beautiful evening.

Thursday, May 11, 2006

Santa Barbara Beach Bums

We have not been seeing the sun much lately. But, it is a beautiful day when we do!

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Happy Beach Hound

This guy was having a really good time! 'Course who wouldn't have a good time running on the beach in Santa Barbara at sunset?

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Santa Barbara Beach Panorama

(click to see a bigger version)

Ok I got a new toy! This is actually seven images stitched together in a panorama by a cool little tool named PTGui. Actually it is quite powerful. I am a bit fanatical about image quality and size. I usually work with 16 bit originals from my scanner and the this tool can work with them which is rare.

To truly appreciate this image you have to realize the full resolution version is over 500 megabytes and could easily be printed almost nine feet wide.

Wednesday, December 7, 2005

Carmel Beach Fire

The people on the beach look almost insignificant under this awesome display. And, believe me that is how it made you feel! And, at the same time, it filled you with awe.

Some days I see things that make me wanna kick myself for leaving my camera at home. The days like this one make up for them many times over!

Saturday, December 3, 2005

Sunset Beach Walk

Carmel beach is a beautiful place to watch the sun set. I took a lot of shots that evening, but this is my favorite. I wonder what they were talking about.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Sunset Reflection

Well I tried to find a Turkey, but I guess a couple of sea gulls will have to do!

Happy Thanksgiving anyway!

Monday, October 17, 2005

Bounding Beach Vizsla

Dogs are wonderful creatures. And, it's hard to take a bad picture of one of them. This is a Vizsla doing what they do best. They are a tracker, retriever, pointer kind of huntin' dog and they are extremely high energy.

Of course you would never see my hound dog doing something like this. She would explain that she is far too dignified for that. She would continue to explain that she is a scent hound. So once she leads you to where the tennis ball is, it is YOUR job to go and get it. Besides, she has not been excited about the water at the beach since she realized someone ruined the recipe with too much salt. We have been known to have some high energy romps on the beach though.

Friday, August 26, 2005

Smiling Dragon

Another shot of Gracie the Sand-Dragon. This is what we spent last Saturday doing in a contest to benefit the music Academy of the West.

beach ₅₁ | dragon ₃ | sand ₁₅ | Sandcastle ₂

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Gracie the Musical Dragon

This is Gracie the Dragon, she was designed by my best friend for our church's entry in a sandcastle contest to benefit the Music Academy of the West. (That explains the keyboard she is playin'.)

Gracie won first place in the adult division!! Not really the point, but it really was exciting after all of the hard work. We carried about a hundred and fifty gallons of water to the spot to make the sand wet enough to stick together.