Monday, March 19, 2012
Santa Ynez Grapes on the Vine

Grapes in the Santa Ynez valley. Ok it feels like summer, Spring is just starting, so here is a picture from last Fall. Just because I really like it and I realized I never published it. This is in a nice little vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley.There was a space through the vines that I was able to frame the beautiful valley in the background. The red flowers in the lower right are roses that are planted at the ends of the rows of grapes.

Monday, December 27, 2010
Tendril in the Rain

The excessive ran we've had in California for the last week and a half has caused no end of problems. (Yeah, I know, if you're in the north east under three feet of snow, you probably can't feel much pity.) On the plus side the rain gives many interesting options for beautiful photos.

Monday, November 15, 2010
El Paseo Restaurant Courtyard, Virtual Reality

This spot is a slecluded little courtyard behind the El Paseo restaurant. It's an amazing spot all around but I really love the wonderful Mandeviiia vine. It's got to be at least fourty years old.

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Friday, August 27, 2010
Translucent Santa Ynez Grapes

It's getting to be just the right time of year to start to wander around Santa Ynez. The grapes have just got to the point where they are starting to look juicy and delicious. They change fast this time of year. It won't be long before the leaves get some amazing colors in them. The day I took this shot I was looking for a nicely backlit bunch. This was the last shot of the day, when I saw the three grapes on top with their seeds perfectly visible in the afternoon sun I knew I had what I was looking for.

Sunday, March 7, 2010
Santa Barbara Historical Museum Courtyard Portico

The Santa Barbara Historical Museum is a wonderful treasure. As with so many of the local architectural jewels, the beauty is only amplified by the evening light. Many times I have gone out of my way to walk through their beautiful grounds. It is an amazing change of environment in the middle of down town Santa Barbara and it is one of the things that makes our city special. With just a small detour you are taken not only to another place and time.

Friday, September 18, 2009
Santa Ynez Valley Grapes

I've been working on trying to get an image that captures the feel of the Santa Ynez Valley. Of course, vineyards are a big part of that area of California these days. Especially after a rather popular movie about the area a few years ago. But wine is not the only thing they are known for. This weekend Solvang is having their Danish Days festival. If you've never eaten an Aebleskiver that alone could be worth the trip. Of course, I prefer just making my own and avoiding the crowds. Then again, maybe I'll brave the sand castle festival in Santa Barbara this weekend. Could be a busy weekend!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008
La Arcada 360° VR

This is a nice little shopping center called La Arcada where I've spent a bit of time in the past with my camera. It was a fun night of shooting. I got so many shots it is going to take days to sort and process them all. I hope you like it, 'cause you'll probably see more! The response to the evening Santa Barbara shots has been very good lately so I'm betting that won't be a problem.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008
La Arcada Palms

I guess I've been on a vine covered building kick lately. But Carmel by the Sea is not the only place that is vine covered, this one is much closer to home. It's a beautiful little pathway lined with little shops in downtown Santa Barbara. There is even a gallery there that has had a few of my images from time to time.

Friday, August 29, 2008
Carmel Doorway

When I was taking this photo last week I was thinking of the last time I took pictures of this doorway. I was really surprised to find out it was more than three years ago. I need to get out more often!

Friday, August 22, 2008
Carmel Lamp

As if you couldn't tell already, I'm still going through the photos from our recent trip to Carmel. This was actually across the street from yesterday's photo of the day. They like vines there. And I can't blame them, it's a beautiful place.

Thursday, August 21, 2008
Carmel Architecture

The clouds in the photo are actually not much further away than the roof of the building. In fact if you look closely you can see that the peak of the roof is actually in the haze. The afternoon fog in Carmel was beautiful and swirling, almost like a time lapse video of clouds. We spent the last few days there and they were all cool and misty, which is a nice change from the heat at home lately.

Carmel is one of the best places I know for an afternoon walk. Of course, you should probably wear your hiking shoes since the main street gets a bit steep at places.

Sunday, September 16, 2007
Fresh from the Garden

This was taken a couple hours before yesterday's photo of the day. This was the scene in the middle of the table that inspired the three hour photo shoot.

The cool purple garlic bulb is from a recent trip to Gilroy for their Garlic Festival, but most of the others are fresh from the garden.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Garden Path

There are a bunch of these little pathways in Carmel. Some of them lead to little shops in the center of the city blocks. This one lead to a little garden shop that sells all sorts of plants and garden figurines. One of the cooler things on the path was the enormous vine that made an archway at the center of the path. You can see it at the top of the photo with the little red Christmas lights in it. It was truly a different world compared to the city street at the other end.

Saturday, December 9, 2006
Costa Rican Butterfly Vine

Now there's somthin' ya don't see every day! Well, unless you have one of these vines in your front yard.

This one is growing in a garden center near Santa Barbara. It's pretty wild!

Thursday, September 21, 2006
Grapes on the Vine

Mmmmm, grapes! I love the color of them.

Sunday, September 10, 2006
Backlit Grapes

This is another shot from yesterday's trip to Seaside Gardens. The grape leaves are amazing in the sun. Makes it look like autumn.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Glorious Morning

Actually, it was in the afternoon. But it was a really nice day!

This was on a recent "escape the heat" trip to San Luis Obispo. Not that it was that much cooler there. But the hotel had air conditioning. :-D

Saturday, March 18, 2006
Passion Vine

Another view on my Passion Flower vine from a few days ago.

We did not get any more rain as promised. So no more rain photos yet, perhaps later this week! I'm sure the Basset will sniff out some beautiful subjects for me this weekend anyway.

Tuesday, March 7, 2006
Drops of Passion

Well yesterday was a really gray rainy day. It was starting to bug me. Then I took my camera into the back yard. Rain can be a wonderful thing for a photographer!

Recently, our Passion Flower vines made an incredible come back. We originally got them to attract butterflies and they were almost wiped out by their own success! The resulting caterpillars LOVED them.

This is an extreme close-up of one of the tendrils the vine sends out to climb things. It seems to have an amazing grip!

Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Carmel Architecture

Looking forward to going back to Carmel soon. This is the same building as in this image of the day.

Friday, July 22, 2005
Passion Vine

This is from one of the vines in my back yard. I really like the little tendrils this vine puts out to climb on things. You would think nothing could stop it. Of course, the butterflies that we got this to attract have almost done it in. When it comes back it comes back with a vengeance but I think I am going to have to get it some friends before the next invasion of butterflies.

Tuesday, March 1, 2005
Vine Arch

One of my favorite things to do is to just wander down the street and take pictures with no particular subject in mind. This was from one of those walks down a street in San Diego.