Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Great Blue Heron Silhouette

This little lake on the eighteenth hole of the Sandpiper golf course is one of my favorite sunset spots. The birds seem to like it too. This particular evening I was coming back after getting some sunset shots of the rest of the course when I noticed this beautiful Heron resting at the near edge of the island. But try as I might, I could not get a good shot. After he watched me pace back and forth a few times he must have decided I looked too much like a hungry cat. So he decided to go get some dinner of his own. I watched him slowly cruise across the island moving as elegantly and stealthfully as possible hoping he would move into the remaining glow of the setting sun. After a few minutes you can see that my patience was rewarded.

Friday, September 14, 2012
Sandpiper Mountain Panorama

Late in the evening as the sun is low and the shadows are long is the time I love to wander with my camera. Downtown, when there are lights and buildings, I usually start a little later. But out here where things are a little more wide open the golden light in the hours before the sun actually sets is amazing. This day had the perfect combination of clear skies to capture our amazing mountains with just enough marine layer out over the ocean to give the sun a golden color as it dipped low in the sky. This is near one of the middle greens on the bluff at Sandpiper. I was traveling the path just looking for interesting angles, planning to come back when the clouds were more intense for a time-lapse shot. But as so often happens on these scouting trips, I was able to get some beautiful images that were different than what I was planning on for the final shoot. Eventually I did come back and get that time-lapse and I was really happy with it. But the shots I got on the scouting trip to this day are some of my favorites.

Friday, January 18, 2008
Shorline Sunset Panorama

Click the main image for a larger view

As I have mentioned before, there are very few places you can see the sunset over the water in Santa Barbara. Our coast faces the south for the most part. But there are a few small sections that give you a glimpse of the setting sun.

This is a combination of thirteen shots covering more than 200°. My intention was to shoot an entire 360° image. In the end this particular set of images caught the best lighting to bring out the beautiful texture of the clouds. But it did not quite make the full circle.

If you like the panoramas, you should check back. My wife got me a couple of nice tripods, and one will be perfect for a panoramic head I have been drooling over... er, I mean carefully considering investing in. :-D

Thursday, December 6, 2007
Mission Nativity

By request! This is actually a little older shot, I still have not seen if they are doing the nativity this year. I'll have to go check it out. This is one of my favorite Christmas attractions in Santa Barbara too.