Happy Easter!

For +SacredSunday™ curated by  +Manfred Berndtgen , +Robyn Morrison ,  +Chatchai Rombix , +Justin Hill ,  +Steve Barge , +Carolyn St.Charles , +Sherrie von Sternberg

#sacredsunday   #easterbunny   #easter   #iphoneography   #nikcollection  

Spring Cycling
West Contra Costa County, California

With no traffic around and sunny hills of green grass and yellow blooming mustard before me, I took the opportunity to take a picture while riding my bike this weekend.

For +Leading Lines Monday  by +Pam Boling +Andreas Levi +David Murphy +Elle Rogers +Michael B. Stuart +Simos Xenakis

Shot in TIFF mode with 645 Pro, cropped and converted in CaptureNX2, adjusted with NIK plugins.

#leadinglinesmonday   #cycling   #spring   #nikcollection   #iphoneography  

Chi Chi Sticks
Chinese Fortune Sticks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kau_cim

After a meal to celebrate an occasion, my wife's family would bring out the Chi Chi Sticks and everyone would have their fortune told. She was recently re-united with this ancient set and the tradition was revived on Saint Patrick's Day, which happens to also be her birthday. Each player must carefully shake only one bamboo stick from the can. A number on the end of the stick corresponds to the correct fortune to read. The book has seen many years of use, but the fortunes seem to still work.

For +Know-how and traditions by +Jean-Louis LAURENCE.

And for +Jules Falk Hunter who has a similar looking, but very different game called Jack Straws, that I confused with my wife's game. I wasn't even close, except that they both inherited the game from their grandmother! Jules, I finally got around to taking the picture I promised!

Here's Jules' game of skill, taken by a skilled photographer:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/100519245975462538531/albums/5840091423937320065/5843400167705650802

#know -howandtraditions      #games   #iphoneography      #foodfriday     #nikcollection

Flowering Pear
(Pyrus calleryana)
Dublin, California

Happy first Friday of Spring 2013! I missed the official day of Solstice this week,  but it's never too late to celebrate the arrival of spring. And the trees and bees know it's here. The ornamental pears are scenting the air of Dublin this week, bringing showy white flowers along with their strong fragrance.

For +FloralFriday curated by +Tamara Pruessner.

#floralfriday   #iphoneography   #spring   #spring2013   #floweringtree   #nikcollection  

Celebration

Happy Lunar New Year!
Gong Hei Fat Choi!

After an endless battle with an ear infection, I was finally feeling up to getting out to celebrate. Happily, my slow recovery and returning energy coincided with the Lunar New Year, aka Chinese New Year. So out we went to a local brewpub and then to a movie. Since the calendar New Year went by in a fevered blur, I celebrated the Lunar New Year instead!

We had two wonderful beers at Elevation 66 Brewing Company (http://www.elevation66.com). I chose the choconut stout. It was dry with a nice chocolate, coconut, and toasty note. My wife had the Kölsch, a bright and slightly hoppy lager. We couldn't decide which tasted better, but I like how the lager caught the light in a nice golden glow reflected from the metal brewing tanks.

For #metallicmonday   by +Thomas Raschbacher.

#iphoneography   #beer   #beerpoker  

Frozen in Action

Johnsville, Plumas Eureka State Park, California

A view of snow covered mountain in the northern Sierra Nevadas while on a brief outing to a local sled hill to watch my daughter and her friend get wet and tired in deep fresh snow. 

For the better part of December and the beginning of the new year I have been struggling with some sort of nasty sinus infection. The holiday seasons went by with a blur, and I missed so much holiday fun and activities and tested the limits of my family's patience and caring nature. Rest and cutting back on activities didn't help and I ended up on powerful antibiotics.

The good news is that they may be working and I think I am on the road to recovery. Gone are the chills and high fever. Now to regain to some strength and rid myself of the headache that has plagued me over a month.

I feel like I've been frozen in action and I have missed out on so much. With the return to health I am anxious to return to my normal activities and get back to cycling, skiing, photography, and G+. I have missed interacting with the wonderful community here and I am looking forward to feeling energetic and engaged again.

#landscapephotography #winterlandscape   #nikonshooters   #plumascounty  

Transmission

The National Alliance for Public Safety GIS Foundation Summit Meeting
Martinelli Event Center, Livermore, California

The sun sets over the rolling Livermore hills as an informative day of presentations comes to close, and a few hours of socializing over wine from the local winery begins.

Including +Powerline Friday  by +Natosha Davis ,
and +iPhoneography Friday by +Christianna Pierce and +Jose Vazquez.

#powerlinefriday   #iphoneography   #iphoneographyfriday   #livermore  

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Weathered

Echo Peak, Desolation Wilderness, California

Dead but not lifeless, the bare wood of an old Sierra Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) provides a home for lichen among it's nooks and crannies. Years of exposure to the harsh elements has crumbled the hard rock and left interesting patterns in the grain of the tough wood. Perhaps the wood will outlast the boulder on which it rests.

Including +Tree Tuesday curated by +Christina Lawrie and +Shannon S. Myers,
and +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard, +David Heath Williams, +Bill Wood, and +Jim Warthman.

#treetuesday   #landscapephotography   #ImproveMyPhoto   #nikonshooters  

Weathered

Echo Peak, Desolation Wilderness, California

Dead but not lifeless, the bare wood of an old Sierra Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) provides a home for lichen among it's nooks and crannies. Years of exposure to the harsh elements has crumbled the hard rock and left interesting patterns in the grain of the tough wood. Perhaps the wood will outlast the boulder on which it rests.

Including +Tree Tuesday curated by +Christina Lawrie and +Shannon S. Myers,
and +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard, +David Heath Williams, +Bill Wood, and +Jim Warthman.

#treetuesday   #landscapephotography   #ImproveMyPhoto   #nikonshooters  

Window Rock

Desolation Wilderness, California

For +Monochrome Monday curated by +Hans Berendsen +Jerry Johnson +Manuel Votta +Nurcan Azaz +Steve Barge.

#monochromemonday   #nikonshooters   #landscapephotography  

Added photos to Best Mountain Photos Contest | December 2012 | by Mountain Photos Theme Page.

Lookup

Agentine Rock Forest Lookout
Plumas National Forest, California

Built from local lumber by local craftsman in 1937, the old wood weathers the harsh conditions of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It was once a shining pearl of white atop the highest peak above Quincy California, clearly visible from below, a welcome sight that gave security from forest fires to the abundant timber lands.

The fire lookout programs were mostly ended in the 1980's due to budget cuts, and this lookout was one of the first to be abandoned.  It now makes a precarious hide out for high school kids who make the journey to hold secret parties.

For +Wooden Wednesday curated by +Jennifer Landua, +Stefan Bittner, and +Jan Lindenberg,
and for +White Wednesday  by +Synnøve Zynne Tilrem.

#woodenwednesday   #whitewednesday   #nikonshooters   

Lookout
Agentine Rock Forest Lookout
Plumas National Forest, California

Look out where you step and watch for broken boards. Once a functioning and staffed forest fire lookout, the building has seen better times. Storm and sun ravaged wood still clings to the rock outcropping, stripped of the once gleaming white paint down to the wood harvested and milled from local forests. The lookout has amazing views in all directions, and someone used to watch the forests all summer and report the first sign of smoke.

Normally this time of year, the dirt access road has too much snow on it to even get within a few miles of the lookout. But the last storm's rains washed away the snow, making it possible to get to 7,200 feet above sea level without hindrance. Fog still lurked among the valleys as high clouds dappled the sky.

For +Mountain Photos curated by +Baki Karacay,
and +Mountain Monday by +Michael Russell,
and +Monochrome Monday by +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, +Steve Barge, and +Nuraini Ghaifullah,
and +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins +Carra Riley +paul t beard +David Heath Williams
+Bill Wood +Jim Warthman +Ben T +jeff beddow  +Jeannie Danna +Tom Hierl
+Vishal Kumar.

#mountainphotos   #mountainmonday   #landscapephotography   #monochromemonday   #nikonshooters  

Bon-Sho
Temple Bell

Green Gulch Farm and Zen Center

Inscribed:
Awakened
By this Japanese bell
The sky-headed sea-tailed
Green Guld dragon
Stirs the fine mists and rains
Of right Dharma
For East and West

The bells hangs from a tree while it awaits the constructions of a proper bell tower. The metal has taken on a nice green and blue patina in it's damp coastal setting. It took all my will power to resist hitting the bell with it's easily accesible striking log.

For +#MetallicMonday curated by +Thomas Raschbacher,
and +All Things Green by +Cicely Robin Laing,
and a day late for +Zen Sunday by +Charlotte Therese Björnström , +Nathan Wirth  and +Simon Davis-Oakley.

#metallicmonday   #allthingsgreen    #zensunday   #nikonshooters  

Chasing Seagulls

Stinson Beach, California

She runs free, through foam and cool sand, to the seagulls that float in the surf, who stay put till the last minute, as the laughing girl quickly approaches.

For +iPhoneography Friday  curated by +Christianna Pierce and +Jose Vazquez,
and for +FeelGoodFriday by +Rebecca Borg and +Jason Borg.

#iphoneographyfriday   #iphoneography   #feelgoodfriday   #beach  

Ponder

Echo Lake, California

My daughter stares out the window at the trees and lake on our last day of summer vacation. Two weeks of hiking, swimming, and playing with friends will come to a close, and a new school with new challenges awaits her.

For the special Single Window theme of +#Window Wednesday curated by +Simon Davis-Oakley, +Cheryl Cooper, +Jason Kowing, +J.J. Bentley, +Catherine Furet, and +Jules Falk Hunter.

#windowwednesday   #nikonshooters   #reflection  

Added photos to Best Mountain Photos Contest | November 2012 | by Mountain Photos Theme Page.

Huddle

Mount Tallac, Desolation Wilderness, California

Buffeted by storms and sun, this scraggly Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) huddles next to a granite outcropping to seek a little shelter and warmth from the harsh conditions. Thunderclouds build over Mount Tallac, and rain followed later that day.

For +Tree Tuesday  curated by +Christina Lawrie and +Shannon S. Myers,
and +Mountain Photos by +Baki Karacay,
and +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard, +David Heath Williams, +Bill Wood, and +Jim Warthman.

#treetuesday   #mountainphotos   #landscapephotography   #nikonshooters  

 Flame of Friendship

By Leonardo Nierman of Mexico City
San Diego Convention Center, California

A gift from the Government of Mexico that was presented to the people of San Diego as a gesture of friendship.

For +MyMobileMonday Photography curated by +Sinead Sam McKeown,
and +#MetallicMonday by +Thomas Raschbacher ,
and +Monochrome Monday by +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Steve Barge, and +Nurcan Azaz.

#mymobilemonday   #metallicmonday   #monochromemonday   #iphoneography  

Baby Boomers

Freel Peak and Job's Sister, Sierra Nevada Mountains, California

Thunder clouds build over the tallest peak rimming Lake Tahoe and leave a patterned shadow on the slopes of Freel Peak. The slanted flat face of Job's Sister points to the clouds and yearns for moisture after a hot and dry summer.

Taken from Echo Peak looking south east. The clouds continued to build but no rain came that day.

For #bwlandscapewednesday  curated by +Manuel Votta, +Victor Bezrukov, +Margaret Tompkins, and +Charles Lupica,
and +Summer Photos by +Tiina Niskanen and +Bieke Boonen.
and +Weather Wednesday by +Jason Borg.

#summerphotos   #weatherwednesday   #nikonshooters  

Kelp Archway

Wildcat Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, California

Separated from the ocean floor, washed ashore and dried in the sun, a stalk of kelp takes on new characteristics and becomes an impromptu sculpture, planted up side down in the sand by an anonymous beach lover.

In it's proper environment in the sea, the thin end is attached to rocks with strong roots, and the seaweed tapers in thickness, ending at a round buoyant bulb that keeps the long leaves at the ocean's surface.

For +Whatever Wednesday!!! curated by +Cicely Robin Laing.

#whateverwednesday   #iphoneography  

Poised

Wildcat Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, California

She crouched in the setting sun, ducking under the streaks of clouds that criss-crossed the sky, watching the final burst of colorful light spread out over the calm sea.

I rejoiced in her observation of nature's splendor as she forgot about her cell phone, the internet, or TV, and instead embraced the beauty before her.

For +MyMobileMonday Photography  curated by +Sinead Sam McKeown,
and +NationalParksMonday by +Juan Pons,
and +Leading Lines Monday by +Pam Chalkley-Boling, +Michael Stuart, +Elle Rogers, +David Murphy, +Andreas Levi, and +Simos Xenakis.

#mymobilemonday   #nationalparksmonday   #leadinglinesmonday     #iphoneography  

Directions

San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park

http://www.nps.gov/safr/index.htm

A tall sculpture of wind vanes shows how the wind varies with altitude, something sailors have to pay attention to when trimming sails on tall masts. It's slim profile makes it easy to miss by the throngs of pedestrians walking the path along the water front in front of the maritime museum.

For +WindyWednesday curated by +Trevor Farrell,
and +Weather Wednesday by +Jason Borg ,
and +NauticalWednesday  by +Annelies Kroen, +StPaul Herrmann, and +Dale Collins.

#windywednesday   #weatherwednesday   #nauticalwednesday   #iphoneography

 Sentinel

Desolation Wilderness, Tahoe National Forest, California

A hardy Western Juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) braves the harsh conditions of an exposed rocky slope and stands alone overlooking the beautiful view of Lake Tahoe.

For +Tree Tuesday curated by +Christina Lawrie and +Shannon S. Myers,
and +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard, +David Heath Williams, and +Bill Wood.

#treetuesday   #landscapephotography      #nikonshooters   #tahoe  

Beautiful Break

Ocean Beach, San Francisco, California

San Francisco finally had a nice break from our persistent cool foggy weather and a perfect day of breaking waves to play in. The beach was full of talented surfers who shredded till the light faded and they rode the last wave in. Big smiles and happy discussions of a great day in the water were the norm as numerous wet-suit-clad-surfers strolled home in the golden light. 

For +Sea Tuesday curated by +Julia Anna Gospodarou,
and +Summer Photos by +Tiina Niskanen and +Bieke Boonen.

#seatuesday   #summerphotos   #iphoneography   #surfing    #under5k  

Grand Fun

Levi's GranFondo, Santa Rosa, California

On a chilly Saturday morning at 8 am, 7,500 fellow cyclists gathered for an epic ride and bicycle festival. A year's worth of training was behind me and 103 miles of beautiful scenery through redwoods, up steep narrow roads to hot exposed grass covered ridges, down the foggy coast, and back to over more steep roads, was before me.

The camaraderie of thousands of riders along the same route propelled me along my second attempt at this challenging century. We all started with excitement and the desire to move and get warm in the 54 degree weather. The cowbells from fans lining the streets and whoops of happy cyclists were later replaced with moans and groans as the steep climbs and warming sun took it's tool on us. The last remaining miles seemed to take forever and I was never so happy to see the finish line and my cheering family greeting me.

Congratulations to all who made the ride, and a warm heart felt thanks to the volunteers and my supportive family.

http://www.levisgranfondo.com/

My ride was slower this year than last, so now I have some work to do over the next 12 months.

http://app.strava.com/rides/23543288

For +Monochrome Monday curated by +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, +Steve Barge, and +Nuraini Ghaifullah,
and +Plus All The BIKES by +Mac Bikeman.

#monochromemonday   #plusallthebikes   #iphoneography   #cycling  

In Loving Memory

Green Gulch Farm and Zen Retreat, California

Remembering our mom a year later with a memorial plaque placed on a garden bench in beautiful surroundings. My sister arranged the engraving and dedication and she places a green ribbon for the final touch. We will have a beautiful peaceful place to visit to remember our dear mom.

Summer Salads

Green Gulch  Farm, California

Where food comes from! This little working farm and Zen retreat center grows wonderful organic vegetables and offers a tasty lunch made from their own produce. While the hills are brown and dry, the farm remains lush and productive through the dry summer. Fog creeps up the gulch from it's close proximity to the cool Pacific Ocean and it's a short walk to Muir Beach.

http://www.sfzc.org/ggf/

For +Leading Lines Monday curated by +Pam Chalkley, +Michael Stuart, +Elle Rogers, and +David Murphy,
and +Summer Photos by +Tiina Niskanen and +Bieke Boonen.

#leadinglinesmonday   #summerphotos   #nikonshooters   #under5k   #farm  

The Beacon Beckoned

Mount Diablo, California

Goal accomplished! I finally made it up the mountain and back home, without the use of public transport. The lure of the views and the test of endurance tempted me back this weekend. It was also the last chance to fit in a hard training day prior to a big benefit ride in two weeks.

True to it's name, the devil mountain radiated heat and my bike thermometer reached 105 F degrees (40.5 C) at one point. Plenty of water and occasional breezes provided some relief, but it was the promise of grand views and a cold Coke at the top that kept me going.

The clear skies that tortured me with heat on the ride up, gave way to expansive views and blue skies. The top of the mountain is crowned with an old stone and metal lighthouse to warn night time pilots of the highest peak around. The mountain is visible from a great distance, and it's used as a main surveying reference point for much of northern California and Nevada. A plaque inside the beacon tower commemorates this important landmark.

http://app.strava.com/rides/22090069

For +MyMobileMonday Photography curated by +Sinead Sam McKeown,
and +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard, +David Heath Williams, and +Bill Wood.

#mymobilemonday   #landscapephotography   #iphoneography   #cycling   #mountdiablo  

Pink Monkey Flower

Mimulus lewisii Pursh
Desolation Wilderness, California

A little spring kept these perennials moist enough to continue blooming late into August. Most of the meadows dried up early this year, taking away the colorful wildflowers, but a few little native snapdragons remained to brighten the trail.

For +FloralFriday curated by +Tamara Pruessner,
and the +PurpleCircle by +Lynn Langmade, +Craig Szymanski, +Alexis Coram, and +Sinead Sam McKeown.

#floralfriday   #purplecircle   #nikonshooters   #desolationwilderness  

Hors catégorie

Mt. Diablo, California

The highest or toughest category given to a climb on a cycling route, the route up Mt. Diablo is the only HC climb within reach of my house. It's a cycling mecca for those wishing to make their legs hurt.

Mt. Diablo is aptly named. On Sunday I took my second ride up the devil mountain and it nearly defeated me with sun exposure and heat and nonstop effort. It's a 13 mile climb to 3,864 feet (1,178 m). But the views are spectacular and panoramic overlooking the Pacific Ocean behind the Golden Gate Bridge to the west and to the Sierra Nevadas on the other side. A combination of haze, bright sun, and fatigue made getting any good photos an impossibility, so I captured my trusty bike overlooking the slopes I would soon descend.

My goal was to ride to the top of my the mountain from my house. For years I could see the prominent slopes far in the distance and could never imagine riding to the base of the mountain, let alone up it. It's been a goal of mine to tackle the route and long climb. I got to the top from my house, and back down, but I bailed out on the return and took our trusty public transport home. My ego was only slightly bruised on giving up early, but I had enough sun and soreness for one day, and I was thankful to have an alternate way to get home. But I still have my goal to accomplish!

http://app.strava.com/rides/21463360

For +MyMobileMonday Photography by +Sinead Sam McKeown,
and +Monochrome Monday by +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, +Steve Barge, and +Nurcan Azaz.

#mymobilemonday   #monochromemonday   #iphoneography   #cycling  

Sierra Buttes

Lakes Basin, Plumas National Forest, California

The view from Mount Elwell looking down on the glacial basin holding Long Lake in the foreground and across to the jagged peaks of the Sierra Buttes.

In all my years growing up hiking in this area, I never made it up the big mountain to take in the views. We spend Labor Day weekend in this area, and have long admired the lofty peak of Mt. Elwell, and this year we finally made the trek around the lakes and up to the peak. It was well worth the effort to see the work of the ancient glaciers and admire the beckoning waters of refreshing lakes that we would we soon descend back to for a nice swim.

http://www.lakesbasin.com/

The sun was not in my favor, and my kit lens threw in a nice flare, so it's my first submission to #throwawaythursday  curated by +Lynn Langmade, +Doug DeTraz, +mary sass clark, and +Michael Lawson.

But I like the view so it's also for +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard, +David Heath Williams, and +Bill Wood.

#tat   #landscapephotography   #nikonshooters   #under5k  

Added photos to White Wednesday!.

Crystal Views

Desolation Wilderness, California

After an early rise and nice hike up the trail, I was rewarded with many grand views as I approached the summit of Ralston Peak at an elevation of 9,300 feet above sea level. This is the view looking west at the Crystal Range over Lake of the Woods in the foreground and Lake Aloha in the background.

The effects of long ago glaciation scoured the white granite into a a beautiful basin and left behind smooth exposed rock and sapphire blue lakes. This year's drought is evident in the low levels of Lake Aloha, which normally covers much more of the basin.

For  +White Wednesday curated by +Synnøve Zynne Tilrem,
and +Mountain Photos by +Baki Karacay,
and +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard, +Ke Zeng, and +David Heath Williams.

#whitewednesday   #landscapephotography   #nikonshooters  

The Calm Before the Storm

Echo Lake, California

An approaching thunderstorm loomed in the distance as I embarked on my paddle home before the rain and lightening came. There is nothing like the threat of lightening over a lake while holding a conductive paddle to speed one's journey home, but I took a moment to enjoy the view before retreating to safety.

For +TransportTuesday curated by +Gene Bowker, +Joe Paul, +Steve Boyko, and +Michael Earley,
and for +Summer Photos by +Tiina Niskanen and +Bieke Boonen.

#transporttuesday   #summerphotos   #iphoneography   #mobilography   #padling   #kayaking  

Vacation!

Echo Lake, California

A much needed and long awaited vacation awaits me tomorrow. I will be looking at this mountain and lake for the better part of two weeks. It's a chance to unplug and get back to nature and enjoy hiking, swimming, and kayaking and time with my family in a relaxed setting. 

No internet and spotty cell phone coverage is the perfect excuse to spend time offline and practice trying to capture some of the beauty around me with memories and with the camera. I will return with a bounty of nature and landscape shots, a relaxed mind and body, and a lot to look forward to catching up with the all the wonderful people and photographs I'll miss while I'm gone.

Summer has been far busier than I ever remember, both at home at work, but with the rapidly approaching start to school and a normal fall routine, I wil be back to interacting the way I prefer to. I'm sorry for my lack of comments in the last few weeks and the weeks ahead, but I haven't left G+, and I'll be back!

Happy summer everyone!

#monochromemonday   #landscapephotography   #summerphotos   #nikonshooters   #under5k  

Thimbleberry

Rubus parviflorus

A lush thicket of thimbleberries showed off their complex leaves and had me looking for tasty treats of their delicate red berries, but all I found was a nice view of the soft light through their green leaves.

For +Leaves On Thursday by +Marilou Aballe, +Margaret Tompkins, and +Ray Bilcliff,
and +All Things Green by +Cicely Robin Laing.

#leavesonthursday   #allthingsgreen   #nikonshooters   #under5k  

Foot Bridge

Tilden Park Botanical Gardens, Berkeley, California

A shady path winds it's way through chaparral and over a small foot bridge to cross a babbling brook. On a rare warm sunny day in Berkeley, the shaded bridge makes a nice cool spot to rest and take in the beauty. My hiking companions blend into the background of dappled light and bokeh, reminding me how quickly things can become obscure and lost in the woods.

For +On The Fence Wednesday curated by +Natosha Davis,
and for +Bridge Wednesday by +Mara Acoma, +Mark Hall, +Alan Gurling, and +Nigel Smith.

#onthefencewednesday   #bridgewednesday   #nikonshooters   #under5k  

Rounding the Mark

Sailing on the San Francisco Bay

A late season regatta of classic boats is known for it's irreverence and post-race party, and for it's cheering squad. The race course crosses the south bay in a large triangle and then loops back and forth along the Bay Bridge twice. Each leg requires going close inshore to round a buoy, or mark, before heading out across the bay to round a downwind buoy.

The inshore mark is particularly challenging because of shifting winds blocked by buildings, but even more so, because of the boat club's spectator boat is known for it's exuberant cheerleaders who try to distract the crew members going by. They did their best to throw everyone off course as they showed their appreciation for the race and crew.

Spiriti of Elvis  looks good in the background as they prepare to jibe around the buoy and and follow our course close to the spectator boat. Normally it's a frantic event to hoist the big colorful spinnaker for the downwind leg of the race, but every boat took their time rounding the mark that day. 

For +TransportTuesday curated by +Gene Bowker, +Joe Paul, +Steve Boyko, and +Michael Earley,
And for +Catch Shot ... by +Gena Slash.

Taken with 645Pro for iPhone, touched up with NIK software and I added an intentional blur to make it G+ safe.

#transporttuesday   #catchshot   #iphoneography   #sailing  

Surf Fishing

Wildcat Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore, California

Perfect weather and nice waves drew this lone man down to the surf to try his luck at catching dinner. He didn't appear to catch anything more than seaweed while I was there, but he was having fun and staying cool.

For +Monochrome Monday curated by +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, +Steve Barge, and +Nurcan Azaz,
and +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard, +Ke Zeng, and +David Heath Williams.

#monochromemonday   #landscapephotography   #seascape   #nikonshooters   #under5k  

Pedestrian Bridge

For +BridgesOverTuesday by +Steve Boyko and +Clare Bambers.
And a day late, but it seemed so fitting, to +Leading Lines Monday by +Pam Chalkley, +Michael Stuart, +Elle Rogers, and +David Murphy.

#bridgesovertuesday   #leadinglinesmonday   #iphoneography  

Ruby chalice clarkia

Clarkia rubicunda
Tilden Botanical Garden, Berkeley, California

Happy Friday! It's been a crazy busy week for me! I've had my head buried in software and databases and maps too intently for too many hours. I feel like sitting in a meadow in the warm sun with pretty wildflowers surrounding me. But the best I can do for today, as I cram through a long list of projects, is to daydream of such as place with the image of this native lilly I found at our local botanical garden.

For +FloralFriday curated by +Tamara Pruessner,
and the +PurpleCircle by +Craig Szymanski, +Alexis Coram, +Sinead Sam McKeown, and +lynn langmade,
and +HQSPPromotion by +Carina Marsh, +Marina Versaci, +Syuzanna Avetisyan, +Mukundh B, +Thierry Raemaekers, and +Rinus Bakker.

#floralfriday   #purplecircle   #hqsppromotion   #nikonshooters   #under5k  

Sister Ships

Cape Hudson and Cape Horn
San Francisco, California

These twins are berthed together alongside a pier near McCovey Cove and the Giant's ballpark. Called "Roll-on/Roll-Off Ships, they can carry more than 200 tanks, or any vehicle that can be driven aboard.  They are known are floating parking garages. They dwarf the small boats that pass nearby, that must keep away by at least 100 feet, according to large warning signs plastered on the side of the hull.

For +MyMobileMonday Photography curated by +Sinead Sam McKeown,
and +Leading Lines Monday by +Pam Chalkley, +Michael Stuart, +Elle Rogers, and +David Murphy,
and +Monochrome Monday by +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, +Steve Barge, and +Nurcan Azaz.

#leadinglinesmonday   #mymobilemonday   #monochromemonday   #iphoneography   #mobilography  

Power Conduits

Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley, California

Looking over the Berkeley hills to the fog enshrouded City of Richmond and the sunny hills of Marin County in the distance. 

The windy slopes of Volmer Peak make a nice perch for the high power transmission lines that feed a portion of the Bay Area's energy needs. A gap in the coast range allows the powerful currents of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers to flow into the San Franciso Bay, and powerful winds carry cooling fog far inland through the same conduit.

For +Powerline Friday curated by +Natosha Davis.

#powerlinefriday   #nikonshooters   #under5k  

Railfan

Pennsylvania, mid-1970's

I must have been about 12 or so when I took a solo trip to Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania to visit my mom's family. Her dad was a mechanic and loved motors and engines of all kinds. I'm sure that my enjoyment of tinkering with moving parts and my love of trains comes from him.

I would have pleaded and annoyed my parents to death with requests to visit a working train museum, but papy was more than happy to take me on an excursion to a working steam train. I remember the excitement we both had of the sounds of the puffing engine and clickety-clack of the rails as we lurched and rocked down the old rails through lush green scenery. 

An even older, non functioning, steam engine placed on an unused section of track was fun to poke around, but my grand-dad made me stop inspecting the steam works long enough to pose, and I wasn't too happy about being in a picture, or being robbed of precious time to study the impressive locomotive.

I'd love to know where we went that day, so that maybe I can return with own family someday. I'd also like to know where my mom found the funky t-shirts I see in old pictures, but I have a hunch they were blindly picked from a sale bin, with only the proper size a requirement for purchase.

For the wonderful +Blast From The Past by +Cheryl Cooper, +Isabelle Fortin, and +Mark Rodriguez.

#blastfromthepast  

Artichoke thistle

Cynara cardunculus
Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley, California

An invasive weed that spreads easily in the grassy hills east of San Francisco Bay causing problems for cattle grazing and native vegetation. It's purple flowers attract bumble bees, while the pointed leaves jab clumsy hikers who get too close with a camera.

The California Invasive Plant Council describes the plant well:
http://www.cal-ipc.org/ip/management/ipcw/pages/detailreport.cfm@usernumber=38&surveynumber=182.php

For the new tag #weedwednesday  which would make a nice +Daily Photography Themes page,
and for the +PurpleCircle curated by +lynn langmade, +Craig Szymanski, +Alexis Coram, and +Sinead Sam McKeown,
and +HQSPPromotion by +Carina Marsh, +Marina Versaci, +Syuzanna Avetisyan, +Mukundh B, +Thierry Raemaekers, +Tammy Boldt, and +Rinus Bakker.

#purplecircle   #hqsppromotion   #nikonshooters   #under5k

Water Fountain

Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley, California

A refreshing stream of water to quench the thirst after hiking the beautiful park trails on warm day. Our regional parks provide cool clean water at many locations, often using interesting metallic fixtures. This one had a nice patina and angular design to catch the water and direct it away from the drinker's feet.

For #oneprimewednesday  curated by +Alfie Goodrich,
and +Summer Photos by +Tiina Niskanen and +Bieke Boonen.

#summerphotos   #nikonshooters   #under5k  

Fog River

View from Vollmer Peak, Tilden Park, Berkeley, California

Looking over the Berkeley hills and Richmond beyond, to the hills above San Rafael. The fog flowed across San Francisco Bay to blanket Richmond and Berkeley with cool breezes.

San Rafael stays warm enough to repel the fog, but the East Bay hills were enshrouded in fog by the evening. Elsewhere in the country, summer means hot days and air conditioning, but for me, it means cold foggy mornings and evenings, with hopefully a warm afternoon thrown in.

For +Misty Monday by +Martin Rak,
and +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard, +Ke Zeng, and +David Heath Williams,
and +Monochrome Monday by +Charles Lupica, +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, +Steve Barge, and +Nurcan Azaz.

#mistymonday   #landscapephotography   #monochromemonday   #nikonshooters

Cotton Candy

Pursuing happiness!
July 4, 2012 Berkeley, California

A fun little neighborhood Independence Day festival had a cotton candy machine. It wasn't just the kids that waited in line for a cone of sugar fluff. This man voraciously attacked his treat with glee!

For +Catch Shot ... curated by +Gena Slash,
and +Food Friday by +Nicholas Ong, +Natty Netsuwan, and +D. DeMonteverde,
and +FeelGoodFriday  by +Rebecca Borg and +Jason Borg.

#catchshot   #foodfriday   #feelgoodfriday   #independenceday   #streetphotography   #nikonshooters   #under5k   #hashtagblitzkrieg  

Liberty

Independence Day, July 4, 2012
Berkeley, California, United States of America

Celebrating another milestone of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Thank you forefathers for having the wisdom to bring so many disparate people together, sometimes getting along, sometimes kicking and fighting along the way, but united behind simple principles. May we all find happiness and liberty through our lives.

For +FeelGoodFriday  by +Rebecca Borg and +Jason Borg,
and +FloralFriday by +Tamara Pruessner.

#feelgoodfriday   #floralfriday   #nikonshooters   #under5k   #independenceday  

Devil Horses

Wildcat Canyon/Tilden Regional Park, California

Our local regional parks are multi-use and home to cattle grazing and horse pastures. Within the park boundary, hikers often encounter herds of cattle sprawled across the trail. Sometimes the trails exit the park into private property, where horses may roam free.

I often mountain bike on such a trail, and I've always had trepidation going through the gate of safety and into the land of the devil horses. At least that's what I called them. I lived in fear cycling through the 1/2 mile of trail, trying not to spook the horses, but they always took notice of me and approached me with hooves scratching the ground and glares of red glowing eyes. I was sure they would carole me into the small canyon and block my escape and put an end to the offensive mountain biker that dared cross into their pasture. I would sigh with relief when I reentered the park through the other gate of safety.

But my daughter would not heed my pleas to choose another trail on a hike last weekend, and she boldly marched up the path looking for the marauding creatures. We were quickly spotted by the lead mare who came right at us. I knew we were outnumbered and far from help. Our end was near. I could see smoke rising from the flared nostrils. I begged my daughter to run, I would do my best to fend them off.

As it turns out, this was the nicest herd of horses we could ever hope to meet. They were disappointed we didn't have treats, but they were happy to have the attention of an enamored girl who loves to spend time with horses. She dispelled the devil horse myth and I won't be so scared to ride through that pasture again.

For +#EquineTuesday curated by +Jillian Chilson,
and +Grass Tuesday by +Margaret Tompkins, +Marilou Aballe, and +Ray Bilcliff.

#equinetuesday #grasstuesday    #nikonshooters   #horses   #under5k  

Golden Hills and Summer Fog

El Sobrante Hills as seen looking east from Nimitz Way in Wildcat Canyon/Tilden Regional Park

No longer green, the grass covered hills shine brightly while the lush canyons of oaks and laurels stand out like darkened veins in the landscape. The marine inversion layer crept far inland, providing cool hiking conditions and dramatic skies.

For +Misty Monday by +Martin Rak,
and +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins, +Carra Riley, +paul t beard, and +Ke Zeng,
and +Monochrome Monday by +Charles Lupica, +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, +Steve Barge, and +Nurcan Azaz,
and +HQSPPromotion by +Rinus Bakker, +Carina Marsh, +Marina Versaci, +Syuzanna Avetisyan, +Mukundh B, +Thierry Raemaekers, and +Tammy Boldt.

#monochromemonday   #landscapephotography   #mistymonday   #nikonshooters   #hqsppromotion  

RESHARE:


Reshared text:
The BRAND NEW Amateur Photographer's Circle

#CircleSharingForThePeopleAPC1  

READ before asking for inclusion!

Are you an amateur photographer? Do you want to learn more about photography? Do you want to meet people just like yourself? Do you want to have your work promoted on a page exclusively made for amateurs here on Google+? Then this is a circle for you.

This brand new circle will focus on amateur photographers who wants to learn more about photography. I will add a page for this circle and promote the work from people who are in it. We will share tips and tricks about equipment, photography and editing –– and there will be exclusive content available only to the circle members. Plus a few surprises along the way... :)

Do you want to join the APC? Then do the following:

1) Circle me. This is important so that I can add you to the APC VIP Circle.

2) Reshare this post. Why? If you want to be promoted, it's only fair that you help promote others. Do NOT remove the reshared post from your feed after I have added you to the circle.

3) You may NOT be a professional photographer, in fact, you may not even be a semi-professional ditto to become a member in this group. 

4. Ask for inclusion in the comments and please state which kind of photography you are into and that you HAVE reshared. I will check every feed.

5. Make sure that you mainly share your own original images in your feed. If there are too many reshares of other peoples' work, irrelevant YouTube clips, animated GIFS, blog post teasers etc., I might not add you to the circle. The APC is a validated quality circle that should bring people great amateur photography to their feeds.

NOTE! If you see that I have plussed your comment, then you know that I have added you to the circle. I didn't PLUS your comment? Make sure that you have reshared this announcement post and let me know that you did so.

*This announcement post is hash-tagged with #CircleSharingForThePeopleAPC1 so that you may mute the reshares this post will generate. That way you will avoid seeing multiple copies of this post in your feed and your adrenaline level will stay normal. I will add a new hash-tag for every announcement and circle post in the future. That way you won't miss out on any of the action but still can mute all the duplicate reshares.* 

Here is an excellent add-on that will help you to mute the reshares: http://code.google.com/p/nonplus/

Cheers!

Horsetail Fern

Equisetum arvense

Glass like in appearance, from the silica contained in their epidermal cells, they catch the filtered light from the overhanging heavy canopy of redwoods and laurel, their delicate stalks making a little home for a pair of ladybugs.

Technically no longer classified as a fern, but because of their similarity, they were long grouped together with ferns and mosses. Like true ferns, they function much the same way and reproduce with spores instead of seeds. A prehistoric plant, horsetails have survived since the age of the dinosaurs with little change.

For +Forest Friday by +Rudolf Vlček,
and #fernfriday  by +Dusty Gedge and +Shawn McClure,
and +Buggy Friday by +Ray Bilcliff, +Sherry McBriar, and +Margaret Tompkins.

#forestfriday   #buggyfriday   #under5k  

Bare Bottom and Bell Bottoms

At least someone had pants on at the beach that day! My mom and I enjoy a warm afternoon on the sand, protected from the cool ocean breeze by a rock alcove. Oh to be so young and carefree, shed of constraining clothes, and playing in the sand. But then I remember that sand on a bare bottom isn't so fun!

For the wonderful +Blast From The Past by +Cheryl Cooper, +Mark Rodriguez, and +Isabelle Fortin.

#blastfromthepast  

Catching light

Aermotor Windmill, Bolinas, California

I've been looking for a proper windmill to follow-up to a previous post of a warped and twisted skeleton of a defunct windmill. On the drive home from a great hike on the coast, I spotted this little working wind mill catching the golden light from the setting sun. There was no breeze to turn the blades, but the sun's glow was almost enough to put them into motion.

So here's a standing and functioning water pumper for +WindyWednesday curated by +Trevor Farrell and +Tricia McDonald Ward.

#windywednesday

Serene Shores

Double Point and Alamere Falls, Palmarin Trail, Bolinas, California

North of San Francisco, the land meet the sea with dramatic cliffs and rolling hills and depressions. The vegetation ranges from redwoods, to oaks and bays, to chaparral, and opening to grasslands and wetlands and even lakes.

The area is full of sag ponds, which are caused when earthquake movement makes enclosed depressions, and they are found along many portions of the San Andreas Fault. Their sparkling blue waters draw the attention of hikers, and many birds and amphibians make their home in these special habitats. The trail skirts along the right edge of this pond, and it feels like a different world down in the tall grass and reeds.

For +WetWednesday curated by +Susanne Schweiger,
and +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins and +Carra Riley,
and +HQSPPromotion by +Carina Marsh, +Marina Versaci, +Mukundh B, +Thierry Raemaekers, and +Rinus Bakker.

#wetwednesday   #landscapephotography   #hqsppromotion   #plusphotoextract  

Serene Sea

Bolinas Point, California

On the Palmarin Trail looking south past Bolinas to San Francisco and Pacifica. Cool light winds and a bright sun made the day crystal clear, giving the chilly waters a nice deep blue.

For +Sea Tuesday curated by +Julia Anna Gospodarou,
and +Landscape Photography by +Margaret Tompkins,
and +AllThingsBlue by +Josef Ehrlich.

Editing notes: I used an old Nikkor 50 mm prime lens with a polarizing filter. I like the setup of controlling aperture on the lens body and it has nicer optics and it's faster at 1.8 than the kit lens my camera came with.

The lens also puts the camera is full manual mode without a light meter, so I use a phone app light meter, and reviewed the histogram of each shot, and bracketed multiple shots hoping one of them was right. The only drawback to this lens is the camera has no split ring or prism pattern for focusing, and I've gotten a few out of focus shots with it.

I used Capture NX2 for a minor crop, to set the white balance, and to adjust the the exposure slightly, and to convert to JPG.

Suggestions or input are always welcomed.

#seatuesday   #landscapephotography   #allthingsblue   #plusphotoextract   #hqsppromotion   #under5k  

Serene Seat

A view of the Farallon Islands, taken from the Palomarin Trail near Bolinas.

The islands are nearly 27 miles off shore and they are normally obscured by fog or haze. A sunny day with clear air made them stand out against the horizon, and they looked much closer than they actually are.

A lone bench has been placed on an overlook along the hiking trail to provide a bit of rest and a place to sit to enjoy some solitude while overlooking the vastness of the Pacific Ocean, made all the more apparent by the context of the islands looking so diminutive in the expanse of the sea.

For +Leading Lines Monday curated by +Charles Lupica, +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson , +Manuel Votta, +Steve Barge, and +nurcan azaz,
And for +Leading Lines Monday by +Pam Chalkley, +Jakob Nilsson, +Michael Stuart, and +CJ Sros,
and +HQSPPromotion by +Carina Marsh, +Marina Versaci, +Mukundh B, +Thierry Raemaekers, and +Rinus Bakker.

#monochromemonday   #leadinglinesmonday   #under5k   #hqsppromotion  

Gaia

Civic Center, Dublin, California

I look at this mosaic of unity nearly every day, and finally the clouds and light caught my attention and I realized I have never photographed this interesting and thought provoking sculpture. Woven into the patterns of tiles are silhouettes of people holding hands and encircling the globe. The artist titled this piece "Gaia" but I might have chosen a "World United".

For +MyMobileMonday Photography curated by +Sinead Sam McKeown.

Taken with 645 Pro in TIFF mode and edited in Snapseed

#mymobilemonday   #iphoneography   #mobilography   #under5k  

Power Poppies

For +Powerline Friday curated by +Natosha Davis,
and +FloralFriday by +Tamara Pruessner.

#powerlinefriday   #floralfriday   #under5k   #mybackyard  

Summer Veggies

Celebrating the official start to summer with grilled organic goodies of fresh white corn, crook neck squash, garlic, and yams.

For +iPhoneography Friday curated by +Christianna Pierce and +Jose Vazquez. Sometimes we do grill only vegetables, and I wanted to take this opportunity to present a vegan option to the food photos you get on the theme.
And for +FoodFriday by +Natty Netsuwan, +D. DeMonteverde, and +Nicholas Ong,
and +Summer Photos by +Tiina Niskanen.

#iphoneographyfriday   #mobilography    #foodfriday   #summerphotos    #under5k  

Succulent Circles

I like the unfolding spiral circle that the leaves create on these little succulents.

For +Leaves On Thursday curated by +Marilou Aballe, +Margaret Tompkins, and +Ray Bilcliff,
and +All Things Green by +Cicely Robin Laing,
and +HQSPPromotion curated by +Carina Marsh, +Marina Versaci, +Mukundh B, +Thierry Raemaekers, and +Rinus Bakker.

Camera+ and Snapseed

#leavesonthursday   #allthingsgreen   #mobilography   #iphoneography   #under5k   #hqsppromotion  

Looking for Shells

Point Reyes, California, 1973

Happy Summer Solstice 2012
(Or Winter Solstice for my southern hemisphere friends)

I celebrated the day with a nice bike ride over looking the San Francisco Bay, but my mobile phone shots did not give justice to the gorgeous sunset over the bay.

I would rather have spent the day at the beach, as I was doing so many years ago! 

My aunt is helping me sift through the sand to find pretty little shells. I was adept at finding small treasures and I was clearly enjoying the handful of ocean keep sakes. 

For the delightful +Blast From The Past curated by +Cheryl Cooper, +Mark Rodriguez, and +Isabelle Fortin,
and +Summer Photos by +Tiina Niskanen.

#blastfromthepast   #summerphotos  

Foxglove

Digitalis purpurea

While on a long hike through Redwood Regional Park to celebrate Father's Day, we came across a small clearing in the redwood forest to find a vibrant stand of Foxgloves in perfect bloom. They ranged in color from purple to pink to white. I chose to focus on the tallest specimen of the bunch, which towered a few feet over my head and had deeper purple blooms than it's siblings.

Submitted for +SpringFeverTuesday curated by +Vesna Krnjic,
and +Bokeh Tuesday by +Bob Baxley,
and the +PurpleCircle by +lynn langmade, +Alexis Coram, +Sinead Sam McKeown, and +Craig Szymanski.

#springfevertuesday   #bokehtuesday   #purplecircle   #under5k  

Happy Anniversary!

Triangle Lake, Desolation Wilderness, California

Thank you +Alexandra Eisler  for the an amazing 19 years of fun and adventure! Here's to many more years of exploring and enjoying all that life throws at us and wishing for more moments of sitting by a lake, soaking in the sun and the sounds of nature together.

#anniversary   #sierranevada   #summerphotos   #iphoneography   #mobilography  

Circled by Light

Chabot Space and Science Center, Oakland, California

Light and dark, like knowledge and the unknown, mix together in a fluid view from the present to the obscured future.

The endless repeating patterns of circles in a sleek metal railing fit in so well with the high tech theme of museum built to showcase the quest to understand the universe.

Submitted to +#MetallicMonday curated by +Thomas Raschbacher,
and +MyMobileMonday Photography by +Sinead Sam McKeown and special guest co-curator +Nancy Sproul Carter,
and +Monochrome Monday by +Charles Lupica, +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, and +Steve Barge.

Taken with 645Pro in RAW TIFF mode, converted to b&w in desktop CNX2, balanced and framed in Snapseed

#metallicmonday   #mymobilemonday   #monochromemonday   #under5k     #iphoneography  

RESHARE:
Resharing a favorite of mine for the +HQSPPromotion curated by +Carina Marsh, +Marina Versaci, +Mukundh B, +Thierry Raemaekers, and +Rinus Bakker.

Oh how I wish I was at this beach today!

#hqsppromotion  

Reshared text:
Descending Fog

McClure's Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore

The warmth of the sun heating the sand all day kept the cold fog off the beach and on the headlands. But by the end of the day, as the sun was setting and casting a golden glow, the fog was creeping down the slopes signaling a good time to take our leave and avoid the chilly onslaught.

Another for +MyMobileMonday Photography curated by +Sinead Sam McKeown,
and for +Misty Monday by +Martin Rak.

#mymobilemonday #mistymonday #iphoneography   #plusphotoextract    #under5k  

RESHARE:
If you are looking for positive interactive people on G+, +Rinus Bakker put together a great circle that continues to grow.

Reshared text:
I DID NOT FORGET YOU, JUST BUSY WITH HQSP CIRCLES

If you want more friends share the circle with others!

FREE JUMP IN FOR POSITIVE PEOPLE
NOT VERIFIED BY ME (FREE JUMP IN)

IF YOU THINK: I AM POSITIVE, THATS NOTTHING TO BE ASHAMED OFF, STAND UP AND SAY: HERE I AM PUT ME IN

Hanging out

My dad, giving me tree climbing lessons, is caught in an admiring pose

Better late than never for the special Father's Day edition of +Blast From The Past curated by +Cheryl Cooper, +Mark Rodriguez, and +Isabelle Fortin.

I'm sorry for very the very late submission! A stomach flu tore through our house this week and I missed a few day on G+, but when I saw that this was a special week for the theme, I had to post the picture I had planned for Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there!

#blastfromthepast     #fathersday2012   #fathersday  

Salt Flats

From Hayward looking towards San Mateo, California

Funky looking salt flats line the edges of San Francisco Bay. Once part of a large salt mining operation, many of these are being returned to natural habitat. Historically the shallow tidal flats were flooded with bay water, then sealed off and allowed to evaporate, leaving sea salt behind.

Now the flats are allowed to flood daily with the tides, but they still carry higher concentrations of salts, providing a unique habitat, and creating interesting colors.

A belly flu tore through our house this week, and we are just starting to feel better. I've had some vibrant feverish dreams and a mix of funky feelings that that this image seems to encapsulate. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and we are powering through!

For +Powerline Friday curated by +Natosha Davis,
and +iPhoneography Friday by +Christianna Pierce and +Jose Vazquez
and the new +Landscape Photography theme by +Margaret Tompkins!

Apps: 645Pro using FC5, Snapseed

#powerlinefriday   #iphoneographyfriday   #under5k  

Weathered Windmill

Briones Regional Park, California

Beyond weathered, this windmill has seen better days. I can imagine it was majestic and useful years ago when it used the strong prevailing winds to pump ground water into a near by cattle pond.

At first I thought this was the remnants of a old abandoned horse-drawn tractor, or maybe a fossilized giant alien bug. Years of weather, cattle, and moving slopes have deformed the stout structure into a twisted sculpture of the fragility of our creations that we think will stand the test of time. Nature prevails!

Submitted to +WindyWednesday  curated by +Trevor Farrell  and +Tricia McDonald Ward.

#windywednesday   #under5k  

Diablo Rises

Mount Diablo (elevation 3,848 feet or 1,173 m) as seen from Briones Regional Park

The tallest range around, Mt. Diablo stands above the tree and grass covered ridges of lesser hills that envy the moisture laden clouds the taller peak gets. Mt. Diablo has long been used as a navigation aid and it's still used as an accurate anchor point for existing maps and surveys.

For +Tree Tuesday curated by +Christina Lawrie and +Shannon S. Myers,
and for +Grass Tuesday by +Ray Bilcliff, +Marilou Aballe, and +Margaret Tompkins,
and for +All Things Green by +Cicely Robin Laing.

#treetuesday   #grasstuesday   #allthingsgreen   #under5k     #plusphotoextract  

Beach Umbrella

Stinson Beach, California

Colorful umbrellas spotted the wide warm flat beach, providing a little shelter from the intense sun. I was struck by the vibrant blues in this sun shade that seem to meld with the sky and ocean.

For +MyMobileMonday Photography curated by +Sinead Sam McKeown,
and  +AllThingsBlue by +Josef Ehrlich.

Apps: 645Pro using FC5 film mode, Snapseed

#mymobilemonday   #allthingsblue   #beachphotography   #under5k  

Sea foam and sand

Stinson Beach, California

Saturday turned into a gloriously warm day and brought throngs of people to the beach. Despite the frigid water temperature, many people cooled off in the surf. This is the most frequented beach north of San Francisco, complete with life guards and snack shacks.

For +MyMobileMonday Photography curated by +Sinead Sam McKeown,
and +Monochrome Monday  by +Charles Lupica, +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, and +Steve Barge.
And after a thoughtful suggestion, edited to include +Leading Lines Monday by +Pam Chalkley, +Jakob Nilsson, and +CJ Sros.

#mymobilemonday   #leadinglinesmonday    #monochronemonday   #iphoneography     #under5k   

Apps: 645Pro using FC5 film mode, Desktop CaptureNX and Snapseed

Painted Leaves

Tropicanna Lily, Canna 'Phasion'

I found this variegated purple leafed plant decorating the entry way to a new condo complex and was struck by the painted look to the leaves.

Thank you to +Karin Bronner for helping me identify this pretty plant.

For +iPhoneography Friday by +Christianna Pierce and +Jose Vazquez,
and the +PurpleCircle by +lynn langmade, +Alexis Coram, +Sinead Sam McKeown, and +Craig Szymanski,
and for +Curvy Friday by +Peter From and +lorena masi.

Taken with 645 PRO for iPhone

#iphoneographyfriday   #curvyfriday   #plusphotoextract    #purplecircle   #under5k  

Valencia Oranges

My neighbor fastidiously tends to three mature orange trees, watering and pruning, and keeping away the deer, so that he can pick fresh oranges each morning for juice. They are quite tasty in addition to looking like golden ornaments hanging amongst the dark green shiny foliage.

For +Leaves On Thursday curated by +Ray Bilcliff, +Marilou Aballe, and +Margaret Tompkins,
and for +AllThingsOrange by +Nina Piccoli, +Kenneth Williams, and +Lauren Kelly.

#leafonthursdays   #allthingsorange   #citrus   #iphoneography   #under5k  

My First Camera

Pennsylvania, 1972

Posing with my mom in our funky farm house kitchen, playing with my first Fisher Price camera. I wonder what sort of images, if any, these toys produced. Clearly I was more focussed on taking pictures, than being in one, a trend that started young and never ceased.

My mom is happy and radiant as she anticipates the addition to our family with the impending birth of my sister in a few month's time.

For the wonderful +Blast From The Past curated by +Cheryl Cooper, +Isabelle Fortin, and +Mark Rodriguez.

#blastfromthepast  

Keep Out

Cattle gate in rural Pleasanton, California

Ouch, don't get too close. This cattle gate protects a lonely dirt road winding it's way into the rolling hills of cattle grazing land. I'm not sure what purpose these protruding triangles serve, other than to maim the front end of unsuspecting vehicles. There are no reflective markers to warn anyone trying to ram the gate, and the No Trespassing sign is small and superfluous next to the message these barricades send.

For +On The Fence Wednesday by +Natosha Davis,
and #bwlandscapewednesday  by +Francesco Gallarotti.

#onthefencewednesday   #blackandwhitephotography   #iphoneography   #under5k  

California Yarrow

Achillea millefolium var. puberula

Pungently fragrant with medicinal qualities, this native flower looks neat and tidy in a field of grass, like a clean lace doily on a messy table.

For +White Wednesday by +Synnøve Zynne Tilrem.

#whitewednesday   #springtime   #flowers   #under5k  

Purple Clematis

This standout clematis is in full bloom with cascades of purple flowers covering my fence.

Submitted to +SpringFeverTuesday curated by +Vesna Krnjic,
and the +PurpleCircle by +lynn langmade, +Alexis Coram, +Sinead Sam McKeown, and +Craig Szymanski.

#springfevertuesday   #purplecircle   #under5k  

Marin Headlands

Just outside the Golden Gate Bridge

Coming home from a long day out on the ocean, clouds from an approaching storm obscure the sun. The breeze picked up throughout the day and the following waves made for a nice run back through the gate and a speedy trip across the San Francisco Bay. Today we got the rain, which is very unusual this time of year for the area.

For +Moody Monday by +Philip Daly and +Carole Buckwalter,
and for +Monochrome Monday by +Charles Lupica, +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, and +Steve Barge.

Camera+ and Snapseed

  #moodymonday    #monochromemonday   #iphoneography   #under5k  

Happy Hooker

Offshore of San Francicso

A party boat full of happy folks relocates to try to find the elusive salmon. The captains will motor upwind, then cut the engines and drift downwind while the anglers drop their bait and wait. Not many salmon were found that day but people seemed to be enjoying themselves.

We also did not catch any salmon despite our best efforts, but we did bring home some tasty rock fish including my favorite, Ling Cod.

This was shot was taken from a smaller private boat that I had the fortune to spend the day on with good friends. Thanks for the wonderful day +Jimi Dunn! 

Taken with Camera+ and processed in Snapseed

Submitted to +MyMobileMonday Photography curated by +Sinead Sam McKeown,
and +ActionMonday by +Adrian Buturca.

#mymobilemonday   #actionmonday   #iphoneography   #under5k  

RESHARE:
An updated circle of awesome mobile phone photographers worth taking a look at.

Reshared text:
Mobilographers and Mobilography Pages

This is a combined circle containing 88 mobile photographers, with 18 pages dedicated to mobilography, both for the iPhone and Android. It constitutes the beginning core of Mobilography on Google+. Get used to us :) We are a strong, close, and tight knit community that posts our Mobilography regularly. Of all circles I have created and am a part of, this one creates the most amazing content and also interaction. So it comes highly recommended.

Since it is over 100, I am only notifying the photographers, and some of the pages. For those who have already added this circle previously, there are a few great additions, both personality and page wise. Please do reshare it.

#Mobilography
#Mobilographers

Water Iris

Iris pseudocorus 'Holden's Child'

This gem of an iris lives in a little water garden and adds a splash of color to the patio every May. The sleek leaves and slender flower petals differ so much from the fluffy terrestrial variety that I never have to water. 

Submitted to +iPhoneography Friday curated by +Christianna Pierce and +Jose Vazquez. Glad to see you back Jose!
And to +FloralFriday by +Tamara Pruessner, who may or may not see this while she's gone.
And to the +PurpleCircle by +Sinead Sam McKeown, +Alexis Coram, +Craig Szymanski and +lynn langmade.

#iphoneographyfriday   #floralfriday   #purplecircle   #plusphotoextract     #under5k  

Western Redbud

Cercis occidentalis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cercis_occidentalis

Previously identified as Populus tremuloides (Quaking Aspen) but thanks to +Taimi Krys I now know what these leaves belong to.

A volunteer redbud bush has taken a hold in my dad's garden. It will be nurtured and allowed to grow. The leaves make a nice shimmer in the breeze and turn into wonderful shades of red in the fall and fill with pretty pink blossoms in the spring. I missed the bloom this year but hope to see it next time.

Submitted to +Leaves On Thursday curated by +Ray Bilcliff, +Marilou Aballe, and +Margaret Tompkins.

#leafonthursdays #iphoneography #under5k

70's Plaid Couch

My sister and I are forced to pose on an early 1970's plaid couch.

I'm sure the ceiling had popcorn texture to match the shag rug. My mom did her best to make it homey and bring some of her Pennsylvania Dutch past with her. Both the quilt and circle rug were hand made.

For the wonderful +Blast From The Past by +Cheryl Cooper, +Mark Rodriguez, and +Isabelle Fortin,
And for fun to #halfnekkidthursday by +Teresa Stover and +Ian Ference.

#blastfromthepast

Wrapped Rocks

McClure's Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore

Seaweed and algae covered rocks exposed at low tide. They look like inviting places to stand to avoid the incoming waves but they are slippery and treacherous. Apparently this is similar to the Japanese seaweed used to make the nori wrappers for sushi. It doesn't look nearly as appetizing in it's natural form!

Submitted to +WetWednesday curated by +Susanne Schweiger,
and +All Things Green by +Cicely Robin Laing.

#wetwednesday #allthingsgreen #iphoneography #under5k

Smoke Break

Hipsters in downtown San Francisco

On a side street, local office workers gather to take a smoke break and engage in people watching. There isn't much interaction going on, but heads do swivel. I was watching this flannel clad hipster admire the young woman strolling by, and he turned my way just as I snapped the shot. It wasn't the scene I intended, but I liked his knowing stare even more!

Submitted for +Catch Shot ... curated by +Gena Slash,
and +#WayWednesday by +Peter Carroll.

#catchshot #waywednesday #streetphotography #iphoneography #under5k

Hilltop Prairie

Briones Regional Park, Orinda, California

Taken on a breezy walk through the still green hills of a regional park east of San Francisco. The grasses were still lush from late Spring rains but they have already turned brown, giving the slopes the typical golden California look. It's a fleeting moment when our hills are transformed into expansive rolling prairies. I kept looking for the little house perched alone in the sea of blowing grass.

Submitted to +Bokeh Tuesday curated by +Bob Baxley,
and +Grass Tuesday by +Ray Bilcliff, +Marilou Aballe, and +Margaret Tompkins.

#bokehtuesday #grasstuesday #under5k

Descending Fog

McClure's Beach, Point Reyes National Seashore

The warmth of the sun heating the sand all day kept the cold fog off the beach and on the headlands. But by the end of the day, as the sun was setting and casting a golden glow, the fog was creeping down the slopes signaling a good time to take our leave and avoid the chilly onslaught.

Another for +MyMobileMonday Photography curated by +Sinead Sam McKeown,
and for +Misty Monday by +Martin Rak.

#mymobilemonday #mistymonday #iphoneography   #plusphotoextract    #under5k  

Sentinel

McClure's Beach, Pt. Reyes National Seashore

Remnants of the coast stand tall against the constant waves, reminders of the power of the water against the receding land. Many seabirds find refuge on these rocks, their evidence left as white stains on top.

Despite 10-20 mph hour winds with cold fog on the headlands and ridges, the beach was calm and warm. Small fleets of fishing boats were offshore looking to land a nice salmon. Seals popped their heads out of the water to observe the few dedicated beach lovers that made the treck down the steep trail. And for my first time ever, I saw whales spouting and surfacing offshore today.

Submitted for +MyMobileMonday Photography curated by +Sinead Sam McKeown,
and +Monochrome Monday by +Charles Lupica, +Hans Berendsen, +Jerry Johnson, +Manuel Votta, and +Steve Barge.

#mymobilemonday #monochromemonday #iphoneography #under5k

Thumbs Up

Street Performer, San Francisco

I listened to this saxophonist for a while, feeling good to his jams, before I realized he was very photogenic and approachable. I found a spare dollar, tipped him, and asked for a photo op. He was delighted I asked, and he played me a little piece with some theatrics thrown in. He was very animated, causing his sax to blur as I snapped his portrait.

Thumbs up to Friday and to the long holiday weekend to start the summer season!

Submitted to +FeelGoodFriday curated by +Rebecca Borg,
and +iPhoneography Friday by +Christianna Pierce, +Jose Vazquez, and special guest star +Liz Calderón.

Camera+ and Snapseed

#feelgoodfriday #iphoneographyfriday #streetphotography #under5k

RESHARE:
Big Hair Day

Having a blast hanging out in real life

I had a great time meeting new friends in San Francisco yesterday thanks to G+ and photo themes. Interacting with the many great photo themes on G+ has changed the way I see the world and introduced me to talented artists and lovely people. It was so nice to meet a few them in person! Before we departed, we solicited a nearby hipster to snap a photo to commemorate the occasion.

So in the spirit of having a blast, and for "Big Hair Day" to support cancer awareness through "Locks of Love", I'm resharing this to +Blast From The Past curated by +Cheryl Cooper, +Mark Rodriguez, and +Isabelle Fortin.

I had big hair yesterday after driving to SF with the top down on my car over very windy bridges. I know it's not more than a day in the past, but I like the importance of this week's special theme too much to pass up!

Here is the link to find out more about participating and helping a great cause:
https://plus.google.com/104635450513456833657/posts/6psaK9N6ubQ

#fckcancer #bigwig #blastfromthepast

Reshared text:
iPhoneographyFriday Hangout-in-Real-Life (HIRL)!

In my opinion, one of the greatest aspects of G+ is the way it facilitates meeting new people in the virtual community and then actually meeting them in Real Life! Yesterday I had the very happy opportunity to hang out with +iPhoneography Friday guest co-curators +Tim Eisler and +Liz Calderón at Union Square in San Francisco. I was there for the G+ Photographers Conference, Liz was there for a different conference, and Tim kindly left work early and drove into town just to see us.

It was so great meeting them both and one hour was not nearly long enough! Next time we will meet at a more convenient location so +Jose Vazquez can join us! Which brings me to the reminder that tomorrow we will be enjoying the able assistance of our second-ever guest co-curator at +iPhoneography Friday: none other than +Liz Calderón! Liz is a very talented, prolific iPhoneographer who shoots 100% of her images on her iPhone. Please be sure to circle her if you haven't already! And be sure to also tag +Liz Calderón with your +iPhoneography Friday shots this week so she doesn't miss any of your shots. Can't wait to see what you've got! #iPhoneography #SanFrancisco #HIRL

Happy Times

Me and my Dad

I recently spent a wonderful weekend at my Dad's house helping with major yard work. We had a fun time all working together.

Lucky for me there are many photo albums with treasures I haven't seen in a while. I took advantage of his scanner to capture a few.

This one felt appropriate today to reflect the happiness of spending time with with my Dad and for the joy of spending a little time in San Francisco this afternoon seeing some wonderful friends I've met on G+. Thank you +Christianna Pierce and +Liz Calderón for making my first Hang Out In Real Life such a blast!

Submitted for the wonderful +Blast From The Past curated by +Cheryl Cooper, +Mark Rodriguez, and +Isabelle Fortin.

#blastfromthepast

Sindicich lagoon

Briones Regional Park, Orinda, California

From a windy hike in the rolling green hills on a windy day a few weeks ago. This is an old cattle pond created in a natural basin that is now protected from grazing and allowed to flourish as a vibrant wetland.

Submitted for +WetWednesday curated by +Susanne Schweiger,
and for +All Things Green by +Cicely Robin Laing.

#wetwednesday #allthingsgreen #under5k

Hay Field

Livermore, California

Taken on rural back road between Dublin and Livermore. The striped pattern of the mowed hay got my attention and I liked the round hills beyond.

Submitted for #bwlandscapewednesday curated by +Francesco Gallarotti.

#iphonography #under5k

I took the Chevy to the Levee

American Valley, Quincy, California

But the levee was dry. I always think of that song when I drive my dad's old Chevy pickup.

On a return trip to drop of yard waste at the mill I was struck by the beauty of the area I grew up. My trusty phone was handy, and the road was clear, so I took a shot out the window and got the surprise of the nice reflection in the rear view mirror. I did a pass a levee, and it was indeed dry.

Submitted for +Mirror Monday curated by +Elizabeth Edwards and +Gemma Costa,
and +My Town Tuesday by +Melanie Kintz and +Jamie Furlong,
and +Grass Tuesday by +Ray Bilcliff, +Marilou Aballe, and +Margaret Tompkins,
and #fromthecartuesday by +J. Rae Chipera.

#mytowntuesday #grasstuesday #icarshot #iphoneography #under5k

Log Deck

Quincy Lumber Mill, Quincy, California

Mountains of stacked pine and fir logs ready for milling. This is at the last operating large saw mill in the state. They sprinkle recycled water over the logs to keep them from twisting.

I remarked to a worker on the quantity of logs and he said they were low. They can mill 3,000 logs in a day and all the trucks in the area can only haul 300 a day. Most of these logs are from salvage operations taken from areas burned by a large forest fire or selectively removed to reduce fuel loads to minimize fire potential. It seems like a lot of logs to me, but it is a renewable resource when managed correctly.

Trees of another kind for +Tree Tuesday curated by +Christina Lawrie and +Shannon S. Myers,
and for +Repetitive Tuesday by +Frank Schillinger, +Andy Q., and +Ping Doherty.

#treetuesday #repetitivetuesday #iphoneography #under5k

RESHARE:
iPhoneographyFriday Top Picks

I had a wonderful time guest co-curating with +Christianna Pierce on the wonderful +iPhoneography Friday theme last week. I had always wanted to know the inner workings of curating a theme page and I was thrilled to get the opportunity on one of my favorite themes. A big applause to +Christianna Pierce and +Jose Vazquez for their approach to curating and making the theme so enjoyable.

Thanks to everyone for their submissions. I met some amazing new artists this week. Congratulations to the 11 Top Picks of the week. I'm thrilled we had a record of number of Top Tips which shows the quality of the submissions. +Liz Calderón is in for a treat when she takes up the guest role next Friday.

Reshared text:
iPhoneographyFriday Top Picks
We have a record number of 11 Top Picks for +iPhoneography Friday this week! Thank you to each of you who submitted your wonderful images to our theme. And a round of applause to guest co-curator +Tim Eisler for his willingness to share his very thoughtful comments and to help select this week's Top Picks. We hope you enjoy them. Meanwhile, stay tuned next week, when the lovely +Liz Calderón will help out as our featured guest co-curator!

Without further ado, and in no particular order:

+Mary Gotsi
https://plus.google.com/109918631905002824833/posts/G4oK2tVRRb5

+Randy Ortiz
https://plus.google.com/107202284889068740889/posts/UXYP2XQssr4

+Photogenix
https://plus.google.com/100675313636058200566/posts/7rm5iJimFqA

+Michelle Robinson
https://plus.google.com/118208834515255752193/posts/BZ52s5FUVj8

+Lynne Goodwin
https://plus.google.com/105213636585253009224/posts/8L6fY36W13P

+Nicolas QUENTIN
https://plus.google.com/110416105267101245369/posts/1Czgo662ZQQ

+Gretchen Chappelle
https://plus.google.com/108729164162563480433/posts/awK5ZEKVhom

+Nicholas Carron
https://plus.google.com/105141741561173673927/posts/BTkx3aM6HVD

+Viktor Elizarov
https://plus.google.com/113104944605785201866/posts/SvgWyFrXaXG

+Sue Butler
https://plus.google.com/101901232143740160078/posts/FANRvsPfvF2

+Andy Torres
https://plus.google.com/103637162978776725632/posts/G759rKS65V2