More color ...

I can't believe it's been over a month since I posted here.    I wanted to share the gorgeous sunset last night as seen from the Ocean Beach Pier.     My sister & I went for a walk on the pier and decided to stay for sunset.

  I think we watched the sunset close to an hour and the colors we saw were unbelievable. Minimal processing on these two photos (cropping only).   No need to mess with Mother Nature.

A little spot of color

I like B&W, but sometimes it's fun to have just a spot of color.  Here are three of my favorites that I converted.

Photos by Shane

A few days ago I posted a photo of grandson Shane, taking a photo of the Tall Ship Surprise crew members furling the sail.   Here's what he saw -- and two of his other photos from that day.  What I liked about his photos is that he verbalized why he took each photo.

When we were walking past the guys in the rigging, he was excited about seeing them way up in the rigging -- snap!  When we were on the  Pilot boat,  he saw the Port of SD building and said "Oh look, I was there" -- snap!    His favorite t-shirt, "angry birds" -- snap!    Well, there were about 100 other "favorites" but I'm not going to post those, I'll  save them for Shane!   Fun day for me!  

Photos from London

Hoddesdon Parish Church

One of the highlights of being in London (besides hanging out with my cousin Tricia) was being able to visit the church where my maternal grandparents were married 108 years ago.   Tricia's grandmother was in the wedding party and listed on the wedding certificate as a witness.   It was a very emotional experience, knowing that our grandmother's stood in this same church that long ago.   The Vicar's wife said that the pews were the same then as they are now.  The church was originally built in 1732.

Unexpected "company" this weekend.  My grandson, Shane, spent the night.  Sunday morning we had some choices and he decided he would like to go with me to the SD Maritime Museum while I dropped off some paperwork.  The guys were practicing their furling -- we got some good shots of everyone up in the sails.  I, of course, got a photo of Shane photographing the crew.

Fun day at the Maritime Museum with Shane.  We rode on the Pilot boat for a 45-minute tour of SD Bay and enjoyed that very much.  Lots of photo opps along the way, but this one was my favorite.

Eiffel Tower experience

Several photos of the world-famous Eiffel Tower.  It was thrilling to ride to the top.   Maybe one day I'll walk the steps -- NOT!  There are 300 steps to the 1st level, then 300 more to the 2nd level, then to get to the top, lift only!  

I enjoyed a sip of champagne with friends while up there, and an incredible view.  

Night views.  So beautiful!

Take while in the elevator on the ride up!

Made it to the top!

Dias de los Muertos

I attended a Meet-up today  with the  Pacific Photographic Society.  We met in Old Town for the Dias de Los Muertos.   Great day shooting with this group, thanks Lisa for the invitation.

 

She was one of the face painters.  

Just a small part of one of the shrines.  

Paris Restaurants

Look at the beautiful glass room divider. 

Menu cover 

Appetizer

Main course, salmon! 

Thanks to Valerie, we had some wonderful dining experiences while in Paris.  Our first night we ate at Bouillon Racine -- great food, beautiful surroundings, and, of course, terrific people.   We did have dessert but I ate it before even  thinking about photographing it.  It was good!

Back to Paris and color

 The flower shops in Paris are wonderful, I spent time photographing them as we walked around.   Here are two favorites from the shops.

And the fall colors -- just beautiful!   

Regatta day

Didn't get to posting yesterday because I spent the day on the water photographing the annual Carolyn Nute Snipe Regatta (held at Mission Bay Yacht Club).   Then computer time processing photos to be used as trophies and gifts for all recipients.  I had a blast!   Incredible day on the water on a committee boat with a skipper who maneuvered  the boat in great positions for photography.  Thanks John!

Here are a few of my favorites from the day, including a Photoshop-stitched together panorama.  

Others included a shot of the stand up paddler that was hanging around for awhile

And rounding the mark!

Great day racing by all.  

Artists at work

We visited Place du Tertre (Bohemian Montmartre according to one guidebook).  Cafes, artists, tourists and, of course, photographers.  I had coffee while people watching, then walked around photographing the artists at work.  Only one refused!   Here are  two favorite photos from the day.

Paris in black and white

I've admired  Valerie Jardin's  black and white photos of Paris, so decided to convert a few of my street photos into black and white.  The rainy day photos seemed appropriate -- what do  you think?

In the photo left, I brought out the color of the pigeon because I liked it!  I think I was as startled as the bird when I snapped the photo, was happy to see what I got!

Photographers at work!

Denise and Jill are focusing on the flowers at this street corner flower shop.















Photograph below was taken one morning while shooting:   Valerie, Martin & John appear to be discussing their morning.   I loved the light behind them and the thick stone archways.

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Home Sweet Home !

I just arrived home today from a week in Paris and a second week in London.  Paris was a photography workshop with Valerie Jardin.   I've been following her blog for a year or so and when she announced her first Paris workshop, I signed up!   Initially she set up a FaceBook account for the participants, so we had a few months of sharing and when we met in Paris, it was like meeting old friends.  Our "home" while in Paris was at the lovely Hotel du Pantheon, walking distance to the Jardin de Luxembourg and close to many wonderful restaurants.   

This first photograph was taken in my room.  

The "wallpaper" is actually fabric.  

I couldn't have asked for a nicer room.   I was on the third floor  (with an elevator) but some mornings walked up & down.   At the end of the day (after walking miles) I definitely used the elevator.

This is a view from the 6th floor looking down to the ground floor. 

More photographs coming ... as soon as I finish unpacking & do the laundry.    

Change of pace

My sister & brother-in-law were here for a quick visit.  We went to the San Diego Botanic Gardens and wandered around for a few hours.  There's always something new to see here and always an enjoyable visit.  Here are two of my favorite photos.

I think the leaf above is a Rex begonia.  I forgot to write down the name, so if anyone knows for sure, please drop me an email.

The bottom one was a favorite, the plant looks like these fronds were dipped in rust-colored ink.

Pair of palms

I really like palm trees and photograph them whenever I can.  I used several together in a photo montage, then added rainbow colors with an iPhone app.

Last two in the Festival of Tall Ships Parade

The parade ended with the American Pride and the Spirit of Dana Point.  Two fine tall ships, cruising into San Diego Bay.

Here's the Tall Ship American Pride -- I love the richness of the red sails.

The last tall ship was the Spirit of Dana Point.





The San Diego Maritime Museum hosts the Festival of Sails every Labor Day weekend.  So if you missed it this year, it'll be happening again next year.   Hope you've enjoyed the photographs of these tall ships.

More Tall Ships ... can you take it?

Tall Ship Bill of Rights is a 136-foot gaff rig topsail schooner.  It's available for charter out of Oxnard.

The Irving Johnson sailed into the harbor next.   Sister ship (brother ship?) to the Exy Johnson.
Getting to the end of the list, two more to come.   There were other tall ships, but not in the parade that I  remember.  I wasn't writing these down, but relying on a printed list I was given later, and looked up the web sites & identified the ones I didn't know.

More of the Tall Ships Parade

Here are the third & fourth boats in the parade (8/30/2012).

Jada   is a local boat & available for charter.  









And the Curlew was the fourth (82' schooner from Dana Point).    If you use this link it takes you to a short video of the boat getting underway.