Coastal California

Just wanted to post these few photographs together from recent outings locally here in Sonoma and Marin County. I hope everyone is having a great weekend :)

Mossy Woods - Sonoma County California

 lovely oak and mossy rocks

 found some deer sheds in the woods, these two were only a few feet from each other when I found them, I'm guessing they were from the same deer.

interesting formations of the California Bay trees

fragrant bay laurel trees and mossy rocks, looks like a natural Japanese garden

 giant grandmother California Buckeye tree

 

had to look close to find some cladonia lichens

View of the lake after the woods....Sonoma County is so vibrant in the early spring especially this year since we have had so much rain. Being from the Pacific N.W. I savor every little bit of the winter and green while it's here for a short while before everything turns golden again.

Leaves and Pink - botanical still life photography

A small collection of some leaves from earlier this year. I got a little carried away and took way too many shots but the shapes are so lovely. Eucalyptus, ceriman and ferns.

Sonoma Coast California - Landscape Photography

little cows on a big hill on the way to the coast

trail above the sea with a view for miles in every direction

above Wrights beach campground

creek meeting the ocean

wild Yarrow on the cliffs 

The lovely Sonoma County California coast.

Recently I got a new lens, the Nikon 18-140mm. It's the first zoom I've purchased since my first kit lens 18-55mm which came with my first SLR many years ago. I generally don't use zooms and prefer a fixed lens but I would like to start capturing more birds and wildlife, so entering the zoom lens reality seems necessary. It did alot of research and considered the 2.8f stop lenses and thought those would be the best option, mostly at the recommendations from other photographer friends who mainly shoot portraits and weddings and need good low light capabilities. I shoot outdoors almost exclusively so I took a chance on the 3.5-5.6 and I have not been disappointed yet, I love this lens! 

 I also did some portrait photography recently, which was alot of fun, volunteering in Santa Rosa last month for the Help Portrait organization which was indoors and the images were great, and the focus was fast and clear.  I have mostly used the 35mm fixed lens for the last many years on my D7000 and it has been my favorite lens of all and so versatile, but now this new 18-140mm is currently living on my camera. It's a bit heavier, but so nice to use. The zoom is tight so the lens does not creep and the image quality is wonderful. I also got some macro attachments for super close ups. More of those images later :)

Early Autumn Figs - still life photography

 the skins remind me of a stary night sky....

"The tea kettle whistled, and Melissa poured it over the tea at the bottom of the glass pot. While it steeped, Melissa opened the back door to her favorite sight in her corner of the world—her herb and butterfly garden. Blue and purple lupine, shocking pink four o’clocks, orange poppies, and sunny-yellow damiana greeted her, still shaded by the fig tree on the east side of the garden.”- Leslie Leigh - Murder and Moonflowers

Mistletoe - Viscum album

and what an interesting plant it is up close..... :)

Peonies

Gorgeous pink peonies!

I've fallen a little behind in updating my blog, these beauties were photographed in May just now getting them posted. I have been unsure about the blog for a while and trying to see if I will keep it going as there are now so many online platforms and social media. I keep coming back to the blog though because I love the format and it's a quieter space than all the other sites that have adds and news and so much chatter.  I had Instagram and after about 8 months deleted it, just not the format for me, had twitter for a couple years, deleted it also not for me. I have been enjoying listening to these two guys 'The Minimalists' on their pod casts ( < link to pod cast titled "stuff") and have been paring down alot in my life, already live quit simply and now with alot less clutter. Hope you all are enjoying your summer and a few peonies here to brighten your day :)