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.

Monday, August 8, 2005
La Jolla Evening

We were just marveling at an unseasonably beautiful sunset here in Santa Barbara tonight. Usually this time of year the air is too dry to make an interesting show. But, even with the beautiful show, we still didn't get anything quite like La Jolla in the winter. Partially because we have a south facing beach here and the sun sets over the mountains rather than the water.

Saturday, May 7, 2005
Santa Barbara Sandpiper

These guys are fun to watch on the beach, sometimes they seem to forget they can fly as they run from the waves. I particularly like the perspecive of this shot. I got down more at his (her?) level and it made for a much more interesting photo.

Wednesday, May 4, 2005
Sunsite Kite

Since Monterey lies on the North East side of the Monterey Peninsula you have to go around to the Carmel side to see the sunset over the ocean.

Of course, I did get some nice sunrises from the Monterey side :-)

Saturday, April 30, 2005
Sunset Run

This was taken from above, on Stearns Wharf, which gave it the interesting perspective.

Thursday, April 14, 2005
Gold Coast Sunset

I just got back from a trip to Carmel and Monterey. It was a much needed vacation, it's been over two years since my last one. I had a great time, although I did find out that my Hound Dog's idea of a vacation is a long morning walk at about 6:30am (we normally try to sleep in.)

Those morning walks did give me a great opportunity to explore with my camera though. I shot over 38 rolls of photos while I was there, it was very relaxing. Of course, quantity by no means equals quality, but I hope to have a few nice shots for the site anyway! :-D You be the judge!

This shot is from a drive down Highway 1 (Pacific Coast Highway) in the late afternoon on a hazy day. The haze and low sun made a beautiful golden glow. And, it was a particularly windy day, a few rain showers had just passed through which made for some nice waves.

Wednesday, March 2, 2005
Beach Rock

Some pictures are all about the timing. I like the fact that the close side of the rock is dry. I took a couple more pictures on the next waves, but they are not quite as cool 'cause the rock was already wet.

Sunday, February 20, 2005
Evening Surf

I talked to a friend on instant messenger last night. He had just arrived in Europe for a week. It made me start to think it had been too long since I went on a nice trip. So I went to Sammy's today to stock up on film, my primary requirement for vacation supplies. ( Think... Hmmm, did I forget anything? nope, got film!... oh, I forgot to pack any shirts! )

In keeping with that thought, this is a shot from my first trip to La Jolla. Walking along the edge of the bluff by the beach gives you a great perspective on things happening at beach level.

Well Steve, I hope you are having a great time! Take lots of pictures!

Friday, February 18, 2005
I GOT IT!!

I have been around a lot of dogs in my life. And yet, they never cease to amaze me with their capacity for all of the best traits we would love to see in each other. For a while I thought I had just had the incredible good fortune to have encountered a few outstanding individuals. I mean, I have seen my share of dogs that are "problem dogs," untrained and unpleasant to be around. But, the dogs that have been members of my family have had something about them. Something that made them seem like real beings capable of much more than a simple submissive role. They actually had something to contribute to the family, and they were given the opportunity to express themselves and become the true friends they wanted to be.

Now that I am finally owned by the Basset Hound I have dreamed of for 15 years I am starting to realize that perhaps there was not as much "special" about our dogs as I originally thought. Perhaps every dog has that spark of greatness in them, and it is up to us to nurture it... or to tie it out in the back yard and throw really bad kibble at it until even the greatest spirit would shrivel.

What are you still doing reading this, go hug your dog!!
(or better yet take them for a romp in the park!)

Don't have a dog!?

Perhaps I can help...

• PupRescue.com
  My parents' dog rescue.
• www.BassetHoundRescue.org
  The Basset Hound Rescue of Southern California, where I volunteer
• PetFinder.org
  A GREAT place to find a pet who needs a home in your area

Saturday, January 29, 2005
Ventura Sunset

Before I lived in Santa Barbara when we visited here this was one of our favorite stops on the way home. It is a nice beach in Ventura about 30 minutes south of Santa Barbara. At the beach end of this pier is a great Seafood restaurant called Eric Ericsons.

Thursday, January 20, 2005
Butterfly Beach Dog

If you are wondering if this dog was having a good time you can actually see his tail wag if you look at the arc of drops of water coming off of his tail.

Thursday, January 13, 2005
Hazy Day at the Beach

Well the rain has been crazy, and as I am writing this I have the news on to hear if we have to evacuate. Strange since we do not live very close to anything that you would think would be a problem. But, it seems there is a culvert in the mountains above here (by State Route 154). Well there was a mud/rock slide into the culvert that blocked it. Now there is a lake building up behind the man made berms on the side of what is left of the highway, and I would guess they are not really made to hold eight million gallons of water.

On the up side, the rainy days make for some interesting pictures. I have always loved taking pictures in odd lighting. Noon on a sunny day is the most boring time to take a picture.