Bloggers Community Photo Challenge Hearts 09

I hope I am doing this right, this is my first entry in to the Bloggers Community Photo Challenge http://communityphotochallenge.blogspot.com/



This is my entry:

Heart of Stone

Flowers

I spent the weekend taking pictures of two Tulip plants I bought, one of the lucky things about living in Southern California, the plant departments never closes. The farmers market rarely gets rained out and if your lucky, you have flowers in the yard to use as a subject year round.

So what are these photos of, fake flowers..... But the flowers are really not the subject. I used my background stand and mono block strobes to take the tulip photos, but I was thinking about my snow bound friends with no strobes. Too cold for available light out side, so what do you do it you don't own strobe lights?

You hit the hardware store!

I took this flower photo using a pair of clip lights and 60 watt bulbs. To make a light stand I went to OSH and got some 1/2" PVC parts, I picked OSH because I knew they sell pre-cut small pieces so there would be little cutting. I used only slip connections (not to say I did not find a few threaded ones I had picked up by mistake-double check)

Parts List (one light stand $3.48):

3 x 18" pipes (.29 each)
5 "T"'s (.29 each)

4 caps (.29)

Cut two of the pipes in to 4 6" sections and 4 3" sections, this all the cutting this project took. Do not use glue if you want to make this super portable, if you have a place to store it, just glue the base and not the upright part

1.) attach 2 6" pipes to one of the slip T's at either of the straight side and cap the ends, make 2 sets like this.

2.) attach 2 3" sections like the first sections then attach the 2 longer sections at the "T"

3.) attach an 18" upright with a "T" on top

4.) adjust so the legs rest evenly on the table and the upright is straight and your done!

For my table top background stand $6.02:

11 x 18" sections .29 each (so it is easier to collapse or make shorter)

1 slip "T" .29

4 90 degree elbows .19

2 caps .29

3 couplers .14

and the only threaded parts (to add a bit of length to the back support)

1 T threaded coupler (with the angle part threaded) .45

1 slip to threaded adapter .33

1.) the top use; one "T" with a pipe on either side of the straight part of the "T"

2.) attach a 90 degree angle at either end.

3.) Make 2 uprights for the sides with 2 pipes and a coupler

4.) Make 2 legs using a cap at one end and a 90 degree angle at the other

5.) attach top to legs and legs to feet.....It will want to tip over so set something on the feet at this point. A bag of beans works well for this.

6.) back support; attach 2 pipes together with a coupler, at one end attach the threaded adapter and screw on to the angle part of the T

7.) attach to the center of the top and angle backwards for stability.

Now the fun begins! A towel, sheet, fabric, throw....use for your back ground or shorten one section of pipe and use foam core.

If you take this outside in your garden, remove the feet and add couple of water bottles and rubber bands to the legs and back support.

If your going to the wildflowers (like I plan) you might want to get 4 24" pipes. Use 2 for the sides with out the coupler, one for the back and cut one in half for the top with a "T" in the center.

This all will store easily in a bag and you can always use later for your sprinkler system. Think Tinkler Toys......

Oh, don't forget to set your camera for tungsten! You may want to use stronger bulbs, if you use fluorescent, set your camera to match. In RAW you can make adjustments too. You will need to either up your ISO or use a tripod. If you don't have a macro, try your widest lens, they usually have a better Depth of Field, but you will make what ever is closest to the lens look even bigger than it is, have fun!

Carmel California

On the way back from the weekend Monterey trip, we had to stop in Carmel. I was thinking of my east coast friends while walking through the streets. Betty, Rebecca and Vicki would love staying, dining and people watching here.

It is an arty town, full of rules and regulations on how buildings must look. As frustrating as that may be for some business owners, it makes visiting Carmel like going to a very special place.




We stopped in the Weston Gallery and enjoyed some interesting prints, wandered a few streets and stopped for a great cup of coffee to go.

It was getting late and as much as we did not want the weekend to end, driving Highway 1 in the dark is not nearly as fun (or safe) as having some light. Besides, we had either a lighthouse or waterfall to shoot for sunset.

We stopped for some whale watching and missed the sunset at the waterfall, but it was okay cause we got the lighthouse at sunset instead.


Next trip up there will have to include more time, the Carmel Mission is an incredible place well worth spending time.

There were more galleries to visit and of course......some fine dining to be had!


I was having fun with my new "happy snappy" point and shoot camera too.

Point Sur Light Station

The Sunday end of the weekend trip back home, was down Highway 1. I love the drive, there is so much to see. First stop was in Carmel, more on that in a different post, coffee was needed and then off down the road.

Coming around a corner, whales were spouting as they migrate along the coast. Even though they were far out to sea, it was incredible to see them and in the numbers that were there.

I figured they were enjoying the coast as well. Since it was getting late, it only seemed appropriate to watch the sunset over the Point Sur Light Station after all, we had spent a lot of time shooting the Point Pinos Lighthouse.

Point Sur is now a State Park with limited tours available, info at http://www.parks.ca.gov/ , I have taken the tour in the past. Do not let a foggy day stop you from going, the fog on the light is really special. The Lightstation is in the process of being restored and is really worth the visit and braving the walk UP the road to the top.

There is a beautiful beach with waves that roll as they come in, I think I could sit and watch for a long time.

The dawn photo is from a summer trip; I made my boys roll out of the tent before the sun and drive from our campground in the redwoods at Pfeiffer Big Sur, they did not appreciate the sunrise as much as I did. We watched as the sun slowly touched the hills and lit the rock with the light station on top.

Sunday, 1-18-09, the light house is having a whale watching picnic after the shorted tour of the light station. I would love to be sitting there

watching the whales again and enjoying the view of the lantern room from the hill top. Maybe

next time........

We stopped at Ragged Point for another cup of coffee.

And still managed to make back to Pismo in time for clam chowder at the Splash Cafe.

More photos from the trip and light station are here: http://www.carolsimages.com/gallery/7040786_pRGcf#450958475_f6gjW

And from the drive down Highway 1: http://www.carolsimages.com/gallery/7040511_5wVaT#450940091_hgDpi

And even more photos from previous trips: http://www.carolsimages.com/Travel/354080

Point Pinos Lighthouse

Back to the Monterey Trip


Saturday, January 3rd was a good day to sleep too late and then go for a drive to the Lighthouse in Pacific Grove. The Lighthouse is open for tours from 1 to 4pm Thursday to Monday, since it was 12:30 the best thing seemed to drive around to the beach side and take a look from that angle. The light was good and if you hurried, you could get a shot off with out a golf cart load of people.


Another photographer came up to see what we were looking at, turns out I had been to his gallery when he had it open in Santa Barbara. Dan Merekel, http://www.danmerkelmedia.com/stock/show-panoramics-page-1.htm , was shooting with his 6x17. He has some incredible night exposures on his website.


We had a nice visit with him and met up again when the gates opened and we could get closer to the lighthouse.

He went on to shoot the 17-mile drive Lone Pine, we took the lighthouse in the dark.


We were so busy talking, we forgot to take the tour, but the light house is decorated for the period.


It was built in 1855 and is currently surrounded by a golf course. Often your photos can include the local deer enjoying the greens.

For more information on the lighthouse http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=30

For more of my photos of the Point Pinos Lighthouse http://www.carolsimages.com/gallery/7043046_BuyTw#451331321_ETASM

Pixley National Wildlife Refuge

One of my friends, Kim, found that the Sandhill Cranes we have been wanting to see were at a Fish and Game Dept refuge just 45 minutes north of her in Bakersfield. So we had to take a trip there since it was so much closer than the other places we had scouted out. http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=81612

Of course, we had to be there for sunrise over the reserve. Two of us had to leave our homes by 3:30 am to meet and carpool to Bakersfield. I had checked the weather forecast the night before and found that there was a fog warning, but in this part of central California, fog warnings are common and the CHP reports said the roads were clear. As we came over the pass, we were happy to see the lack of fog....and then we hit the fog and it got thicker and thicker. The reserve was down a small farm road, we could hardly see the fields next to the road for the fog.

Once we got to the reserve we could hear the birds, sounds all around us, but we could not see them. It was 31 degrees, cold damp and frosty, we stood around the parking lot a bit debating the fog, but since we had come so far, we had to gear up and head down the trail.

Most of the refuge is off limits so the birds can nest in peace but the road in was an easy walk. We arrived at the view platform, we knew we were surrounded by birds, we could hear there calls and in the breaks in the fog overhead, catch a glimpse of them flying over head. But that was it. We found a few other things to shoot and decided what all good nature photographers in this situation would do is, go for breakfast and hope it clears up. So off to the Black Bear Cafe in Tulare we went.

By the time we got back, the fog had lifted some in most areas but since there is water at the refuge, the fog was still pretty thick. We walked back out to the viewing area and with our longest lenses and telecoverters, we could see birds. We hoped that some where the cranes, they were so far away and hazy it was hard to tell.

We did see:

Sandhill Cranes

Hawks

Canada Geese

Ducks

Swans

Meadow birds

and an eagle

One thing I learned, when calling for information, ask how far from the viewing areas are the birds. I would guess with strong binoculars, it is a fantastic birding location, for photographers with out the big buck lenses......it is a great experience.

Oh, and we did find the Sandhill Cranes, they were in the farmers field we drove past 3 times but it was too foggy to seem them. And they are very nervous critters to try and sneak up on. even in a hybrid quiet car!

More photos here: http://www.carolsimages.com/gallery/7078184_aHXn5#453648008_uVJgh

Monterey ~ Cannery Row ~ Pacific Grove

I am back....finally! Between work, holidays and a crashed computer, I have been otherwise occupied.

I was also really in need of a break and some quality photography time. While debating options for a weekend away, the Monterey Peninsula was an easy choise. With the economy as it is, the fires that scorced so much of the hills and the time of year; hotels had lots of vacancy and good deals. A small group of us met and stayed with in a quick walk from Cannery Row and the Aquarium.

I think next trip, one of these Bed and Breakfasts will be calling my name. They have such a nice view and really unique rooms from what I can see on their websites http://www.pginns.com/ and http://www.greengablesinnpg.com/

Monterey is a great get away with more than you can see or do in a weekend.

The Aquarium is worth the trip, even if I did not go this time (photo tip-those old fashioned rubber lens hoods held against the glass of the tanks will reduce the reflection)

There are birds and marine animals to see up close and this time of year, the whales are mirgrating too.

A glass bottom boat gives tours as well

The lighthouse, Fishermans Wharf, Surf, Beaches and of course fine dining are just a part of the options of things to do.