You're all invited ...

I'm participating in a juried photography show at the  Escondido Arts Partnership Municipal Gallery    http://www.escondidoarts.org/  It will be held in the Expressions Room, 262 E. Grand Ave., Escondido CA 92025

The artist's reception will be this coming Saturday on July 9th, 5:30 - 8:00 PM.   Wine and cheese will be served.  I'll be showing my photographs along with 11 other photographers.



 This photo of the Ocean Beach Pier is one of three photos I will be showing.   Thank you to Kati and Ernie Cowan (Packtrain Photo Tours)  for organizing the show.

Strawberry Moon

The night before the full moon I was out on Shelter Island for practice, then the night of the full moon at Balboa Park (not happy with either location for what I wanted).   Then I found my spot -- Harbor Island.   This was actually taken the night after the full moon.  Thanks Susan Elms for your encouragement and company.   

Back to Tonopah NV

We were at the WWII hangars for sunset and we weren't disappointed.  

Outside for a few minutes.  

Then inside for these views through the huge doors, windows and cracks in the roof.    

Change of pace here ...

The "All Girl Sail Jam" was held this year again at Mission Bay Yacht Club.  Thanks to Aine Fretwell for organizing the regatta again this year.     With friend Susan Elms driving, we had a boat and motored around the course while I took photos of the racers.  Love seeing the girls out competing.   Fantastic day on Mission Bay!  

Snipe sailors round the mark 

Sabot girls all in a row ... heading for the mark 

Joyful sailors!   

We had to share the bay with   Moth sailors.  These guys buzzed by us several times.  Loved taking their photos!

Tonopah, NV

Terry and I arrived the night before the workshop began, had a leisurely breakfast and then wandered around the town.   We spent time at an abandoned building, then at  the museum.   Back to the Mizpah Hotel to meet up with the group.

Abandoned building

Miners cabin 

Loved the texture on this building

Brushing off the cobwebs ...

I realized that I haven't been posting many of my current photos, and I can't believe my last blog post was in April.  I decided to post some of my favorite photos from the past few months, but won't overload you all at once, just  a few here and there.

Last month,  Terry Myers and I did a fantastic weekend workshop with Keith Douglas Skelton in Tonopah NV.   On the way up we stopped at the Amargosa Opera House, (Death Valley Junction)  and had a look inside at the beautiful paintings Marta Beckett has done.   If you don't know the history, be sure and click on the link above.  She's an amazing woman, and although not performing anymore, still lives on the property.  It is still visited by people from all over the world, and we were told that the day before we stopped by, they had two busloads of folks (about 90 people total) who came for a visit.  

Angels all around us.

Ceiling of Opera House

Stage

The back of the Opera House.  The story told goes back
to when she first bought the property, started performing her dance, but no one came to watch.
She decided to paint the audience on the walls, and what you see in this photo apparently was from the early days.  

Crew Classics Regatta, Mission Bay

This year I joined other photographers with the Pacific Photographic Society group on the shore, photographing the annual Crew Classic Regatta.  Just a few of my photos, including two I used Topaz Filters for a different look.

Early morning meet-up.  Why don't I do this more often?
So beautiful at this time of day.  

Timeless 

Blacksmith in Las Trancas

After learning how to make tortillas from our wonderful cook, Yolanda, as our group was moving outside, I got in a little closer to her to take one last photograph of the tortillas.   There were a few other photographers still in kitchen area also, and Yolanda invited us to see her son, the blacksmith.    It was a nice surprise, one we hadn't expected.  

Round up time ...

The Hacienda has horses available for riders and they are fun to photograph both  in their pens or out in the corral.  One day we were able to get photographs of a "round-up".  The burros  wanted none of the action, and tried to stay in the far end of the corral, but were finally included.  Here are a few of my photos from the round-up.   

Burro trying to stay away from the action. 

Didn't work ... back to the group.

Pat was trying to say thank you ... 

Horse wasn't interested in thank you scratches ...  

More Mexico!

A few photos while wandering through the Hacienda.   Besides admiring the plants in the lush garden areas, I fell in love with all the wonderful textures on the walls.   Each bedroom has a different color scheme used, different textures and detail added in each of the rooms.   The inside and outside of the Hacienda provided the background for these plants.  

Mexico!

I just returned from a wonderful trip to Mexico, and decided it was time to do a blog post (vs. Facebook).  I've shared a few images on Facebook, but will be sharing more here as I process my photos.   Hope you'll enjoy the wonderful "Hacienda Experience" with me as I post my photos.

Thanks to my friends CJ Middendorf & Rich Baker, I was invited to Eddie Soloway's  "Hacienda Experience."   We flew to Leon, Mexico, met up with our mutual friend June White (from Phoenix)  then were bused to Las Trancas and a bit of paradise here.   

The Hacienda Las Trancas  was our home for a week, and what a week.   Time to slow down, enjoy photography talk & shooting, great food and more slowing down, more photography, more food.  Margaritas and guacamole at 6 pm every day at the Hacienda, then dinner.  Life is good!  

Here's the start of our Hacienda Experience.   We pulled up to the entrance, unloaded people and luggage, then on to our rooms.   

Hacienda Las Trancas 

This is the courtyard,  with beautiful garden areas on either side, and our  rooms surrounding this beauty.     

Center walkway

Plenty of areas here & there to sit and visit with new friends.   It is just as comfy as it looks.  

One of the sitting areas. 

Happy New Year to all.

I hope 2016 brings you happiness, good health and wonderful experiences.

I joined up with the Pacific Photographic Society on 12/31/15  at the San Diego Zoo for a last day of photography in the (now) old year!   Just a few of my favorite photos from the day.