Saturday, August 15, 2015
Sandpiper Glow

I've never been much of a golfer, but I do love spending my time on the beautiful courses around Santa Barbara. This is Sandpiper Golf Course in Goleta, where some good friends hold a golf tournament just about every year. Although I wouldn't be much help to them with a club, I take great pleasure in wandering the course with my camera trying to do the amazing views justice. If you've ever tried to make a business out of something you love to do, you know it can have its challenges. But days in a spot like this are definitely the reward.

Friday, August 14, 2015
Montecito Golden Hour

The perfect end to an absolutely beautiful day. Sometimes the mist in the air does such wonderful things with the light as the sun dips low it seems almost magical. This particular evening the clouds were looking beautiful, but the sun was a little hidden behind them. Still a nice day for a drive to the nurseries in Carpenteria. But as the sun started to peek below the clouds, the light passing through the low mist on the water turned the most amazing shades of yellow and orange. As vibrant and beautiful as any south pacific island sunset. It's subtle in the photo, but the crepuscular rays created by the shadows of the trees on the hills were a sight to see.

Thursday, August 13, 2015
Cypress and Perseid

Last night at Butterfly Beach hanging out under the beautiful Cypress Tree watching the meteors go by. There were some really spectacular displays, this was just a tiny one, but every one was really exciting to see!

Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Evening Sentinel

I love this palm tree. He's one of a few who live up at the edge of the hills above Santa Barbara keeping watch, as the evening mist rolls in like a gentle fluffy blanket to tuck in the city below. From down there the fog is sometimes called "June Gloom" but from this angle gloom is just about the last word I would use to describe it.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Shoreline Vibrance

Yet another one of those evenings recently that had such vibrant colors from horizon to horizon that you could actually hold your hand out and see the color of the sunset light falling on it. Interestingly, although the moisture came from the same weather system as my recent photos, the clouds this evening were completely different. The thing that was the same though was the beautiful light that bathes everything in such richness. Add that to the natural beauty of Shoreline Park during a nice walk with your best friend and you have a truly memorable evening.

Monday, August 10, 2015
Ready for Action

Kayaks, Paddle boards and Surf Boards at the Santa Barbara Harbor at the end of a long day of fun in the water.

Sunday, August 9, 2015
Ice Cream Castles in the Air

This beautiful view is actually a little bit of nostalgia. This is Laguna Blanca in Hope Ranch. Or rather this was Laguna Blanca about a year and a half ago, back when we actually had so much water here it actually fell from the sky. But these days they are really doing their part there to help with the drought. The last time I was in the neighborhood it didn't quite look this lush at all. Still it's a great place to see the beautiful sunset colors on the mountains.

Saturday, August 8, 2015
Harbor Glow

Another view of one of the spectacular sunsets from this week. This is our reward for the hot humid days, usually we have to wait until winter to see sunsets like this. But every once in a while we get a nice surprise.

Friday, August 7, 2015
Butterfly Bluff

A beautiful evening walk on Butterfly Beach. I love the last glow of the sunset. After the main show is over, and there is just a hint of color in the sky, everthing takes on a completely different feel. The same scene in the middle of the day is still beautiful, but the steep angle of the remaining light brings out the textures in the cliff and bathes everything in an amazing glow.

Thursday, August 6, 2015
Thoughtful Dolphin

This evening was another unseasonable evening of beautiful clouds and moist air. In fact the clouds were so heavy it looked like there wouldn't be much of a sunset at all. The clouds had completely blocked the sun about an hour before sunset. But it was still a beautiful evening for a nice walk. As we were wandering along the breakwater, it became apparent that the sun had other ideas. Even though we never actually saw the sun itself, just after sunset it decided to make its presence known. The sky started to glow pink, and it just kept getting brighter until the whole sky from horizon to horizon was involved. It was truly a spectacular scene and as vibrant as the colors are in this image, it was even more amazing standing there. At the peak of the sunset we reached the end of the breakwater. We watched the show with this beautiful dolphin who seemed to be pondering the sunset as much as we were. He is actually part of a memorial sculpted by Bud Bottoms in memory of those lost at sea. You can't see it from this angle, but the plaque in front of him reads "IN MEMORY OF OUR LOVED ONES WHOSE LIVES AND DESTINIES HAVE BEEN CLAIMED BY THE SEA." I guess that's why he looks so thoughtful.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Reflections

Ahh sailboats, I know it seems like a theme lately. It's only partially because I really love them (especially the bright colors in this shot.) The other reason is, near the water is about the only comfortable place to be these days. The cool air coming across the breakwater is the only thing that makes a walk bearable during the day lately. Well that and the cool water if you don't time the waves right. Still humid summer or not, it's absolutely beautiful!

Tuesday, August 4, 2015
Butterfly Catamaran

There is this beautiful spot I love to take a walk at sunset. Sometimes it's more crowded than others, regularly there are weddings and parties and all maner of tourists passing through from drifter types to the executives staying in the very nice hotel across the street. But if you spend more than a couple of nights in a row there you start to recognize the regulars. Being a dog person, the people who are owned by the more recognizable pups are the ones who stand out the most. There are the Weimaraners, the golden labs and one very slow moving but adorable older Dachshund. Lately one of the regulars is this beautiful catamaran that comes for the sunset. Not sure which one it is from the Santa Barbara Harbor, but it usually just stays for the sunset then moves on. Must be a really nice perspective from out on the water.

Monday, August 3, 2015
Harbor City Lights

This afternoon it looked like we might have some beautiful sunset clouds. But the sun at the end of the day was just a little too much for them. As the sun faded so did the last beautiful wisps of clouds. But they left in their wake an interesting haze that scattered the late twilight with a beautiful glow making for some particularly beautiful long exposures.

Monday, July 27, 2015
Evening Arches in the Clock Tower

Evening view from the Santa Barbara County Courthouse clock tower. One of the most amazing views in the city, even more magical at twilight.

Sunday, July 26, 2015
Clocktower Reopens

The beautiful view from the Santa Barbra County Courthouse Clock Tower officially reopened Friday after many months of work. Now the view is easily accessible by all with the elevator opening right out on the observation deck. The only drawback is, newcomers might not notice the beautiful clock gallery below that you had to walk past to get to that last flight of steps to the tower. The elevator still stops at the Clock Gallery though, so you can still enjoy every part of this local treasure!

Sunday, July 19, 2015
Dolores Sunset

Yesterday the most amazing thing happened. We were out enjoying the beautiful day and water actually started falling from the sky. Unfortunately it came with lightning bolts, so we postponed the walk we were planning on the beach, but it was still a very welcomed change. And by the end of the day the sun streaming through the clouds was so beautiful we decided to try again. As you can see we were greatly rewarded!

Sunday, July 12, 2015
Stearns Reflections

On one of our evening escapes from the heat recently I found myself wandering Stearns Wharf with my wife. The reflections on the water were particularly beautiful this evening (as was the company). It took a little creativity with the railing and a standpipe to do the view any justice without a tripod, but I'm pretty happy with this nice memory of a wonderful evening.

Sunday, June 21, 2015
Golden Hour Mountains

Golden hour walking on the Santa Barbara Harbor Breakwater looking toward Stearns Wharf and our beautiful mountains. I love catching the little starbursts of sunset reflected in the windows of the homes on the hill. This evening was particularly golden.

Friday, June 19, 2015
Evening Walk at the Mission

It's been a few weeks since I Madonnari, but the faint images of the beautiful artwork still persists on the ground in front of the mission. It's a perfet time for a cool evening walk around the mission grounds.

Thursday, June 18, 2015
Harbor Sunset

Walking back along the breakwater at the Santa Barbara Harbor. No better place to spend this time of day. Unless of course you happen to be able to take one of these beautiful sailboats out for an evening cruise.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Whale Tail Golden Hour

Sitting on the whale tail bench enjoying the sunset with my best friend. There are actually two of these beautiful benches next to each other, we were sitting on the other one. These beautiful benches are by Bud Bottoms, the creator of our wonderful "Dolphin Family" fountinan at the base of Stearns Wharf.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Santa Barbara Harbor Reflections

Walking at the Santa Barbara Harbor enjoying the reflections in still evening water.

Sunday, May 31, 2015
Twilight Over Santa Barbara

Evening view from the Santa Barbara County Courthouse Clock Tower where construction continues to make the tower more accessible. In the very near future everyone will be able to easily enjoy the view from the top. In the mean time, however, the trek to the top for this shot was even more of a walk than normal. With no elevator at all you start to appreciate really how tall the clock tower is. Currently the tower is still closed to the public, but the major elevator work is nearing an end with the opening at the top already complete.

Sunday, March 15, 2015
Golden Hour Paddle

Evening on the Santa Barbara Harbor breakwater. The afternoon was a little more cloudy than expected, it gave us a nice break from yesterday's heat. But the sun still managed to peek under the clouds at the end of the day to bathe the city in golden light. I had the good fortune to spend the day exploring with my best friend, location scouting for beautiful spots for a new senic shot of the city. But in the end everything came together at one of our favorite locations. That's ok, we still found some good spots for another day when the light is different, and had a great time!