Marching Into March

"Stare. It is the way to educate your eye, and more. Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long."

~Walker Evans

It's a brief post today. I am going out with the camera a little later, and it will be a bit of an adventure, so I am taking care of my Fibromyalgia by resting and going to bed earlier than usual. I will post the photos from the day either tomorrow or perhaps Monday. 

Stay Tuned.

San Francisco Bay here I come!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

A Look Back At February 2014

"I tend to think of the act of photographing, generally speaking, as an adventure. My favorite thing is to go where I've never been."

~Diane Arbus

February... come and gone. Am I sorry about that fact... ummm... nope! I am actually having fun this year, so I am more than ready to move on to a March! But for the last day of February there will be rain, and wind, and thunder. Hopefully thunder. I like thunder. It's unpredictable. Will it strike the yard? Don't know! Will it strike my stupid, mean spirited neighbor's yard? Hope so! LOL. But it would be wrong to sit here wishing for that. Right?

Right?

Anyway, here is the month of February in pictures. 

Enjoy!















 

So, what will March be like in terms of my photography? Well, I can tell you that tomorrow (Saturday) I am going to be on a boat in the San Francisco Bay. The weather is taking a break from rain and wind, just when I need it to. I can't wait. I love the bay and would spend more time on or near it if I could. It's my inner mermaid I think. Or maybe I just love the water. Who knows?

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

A Sunset In The Twilight Of Winter...

Pacifica, California 2/25/2014

"Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour."

~John Bosworth

I spent Tuesday afternoon chasing public art around San Francisco. Both a new installation in the downtown area, and the natural art that is the beauty of the coastline along HWY 1. In previous winters, I have done the majority of my winter sunset photography from atop Grizzly Peak in Berkeley, but this year I have been fascinated by the sun setting over the ocean. I guess it's the feeling of life, and the sunset, going on forever, even though I know that night does indeed come in it's own time. 

This sunset wasn't quiet as colorful as other ones I have seen, but there was something about the muted gold, the soft blue, and the glint of silver that captured my imagination. I loved this sunset for it's gentleness, and quiet beauty. Some sunsets are so bright and colorful that it almost seems like it's shouting at you, but this one was but a whisper.

The clouds were a prelude to yesterday's downpour. It rained yesterday... hard and fast. It is such good news for the Bay Area. Finally a little relief from the relentless sunshine, and unseasonable warmth. I had been looking forward to the dark, rainy winter, but this year winter seemed more like a mild summer, than a winter. I didn't get to wear my favorite coat, or many of the sweaters that I love so much. And the thing is, I know I should feel grateful, I know other folks across the country have been cursed with unrelenting snow, but if only I could have had a little bit of the snow, I would have shared all the sunshine I could. 

Funny how things work out sometimes.

Oh well, the spring will be here soon enough.

A Sunset In The Twilight Of Winter...

Montara Beach February 25th 2014


Half Moon Bay February 25th 2014






There are several more storms due in this week, including one on Friday, which will be lingering into Saturday, when I plan to be on a boat in San Francisco Bay. Personally, I hope it pours... I can't wait! :)

Mood: Quiet

~Me :)

On A Late Winter's Day

"A garden to walk in an immensity to dream in... what more could he ask? A few flowers at his feet and above the stars."

~Victor Hugo, Les Miserables

It was so beautiful yesterday in Golden Gate Park, but words aren't really needed to convey that are they? The poppies are gorgeous, but in about another week or so, the tulips will be fully open! I can't wait... there is more to come!

Stay Tuned!

Mood: Happy

Me :)

Art About Town: Berkeley... "Oh What A Beautiful Morning" On Addison!

"The most important thing is to enjoy your life... to be happy... it's all that matters."

~Audrey Hepburn

In previous entry, I brought you a poem from the Addison street poetry panels, and it was a great poem, but the poetry panels are not all that amazing street has going for it. In fact, there are different kinds of works of art all along the street, including historical panels, mosaics, and the art that is the Berkeley Repertory Theatre! I love walking along the street, and taking it all in! The two pictures featured in this blog post, are among the wonderful, inspiring works of art. In case you don't recognize the words, they are from the marvelous song, "Oh What A Beautiful Morning," from Rodgers and Hammerstein's, Oklahoma! There is no way to walk along Addison and remain in a bad mood. In fact, I dare you not to burst into song! LOL.

Sing It With Me Now...









Smile.

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

San Francisco Landmark #254: Doggie Diner Sign

"Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious."

~Ruth Reichl

Hi Dog...

Yay! The dog has returned to it's rightful place, Sloat avenue at 45th street, San Francisco. Actually the Doggie Diner sign was rededicated, after a nifty refurbishing, on Valentine's Day, but unfortunately I wasn't able to be there for the celebration. So, the first chance I got, just this past week in fact, I visited the happy doggie, back in it's rightful place, and took a new portrait of his gorgeous self! I love these signs, even if the Doggie Diner has been out of business since 1986! You see, when I was a little one, it was a fun, familiar landmark to look for when traveling either in San Francisco, Oakland or Hayward, here in the East Bay. And now, the sign makes me smile because it's a rarity to see business adopt this kind of logo symbol. Gone are the big buckets of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Gone is the large, slightly chubby, Bob's Big Boy. Gone is the Jack-In-The-Box clown. Sigh. I don't know about you, but I kinda miss that simpler time and era. Yes, everything is much more sophisticated and streamline, but I am afraid the trade off is the charm.Well, at least I have this guy to remind me of the fun and gitchiness of the past!

Welcome Doggie! San Francisco City Landmark #254.

Doggie Diner, September 6th, 2006

Note: If you look very close at this photo, which was taken in 2006, you will see a bullet hole in the doggie's chef hat. Now I ask you... what nimrod would do such a thing to a poor innocent pup? LOL.

To learn more about the history of Doggie Diner, visit their official website.
DoggieDiner.com

I need to go back and do some additional photos of the dog, as I am not happy with the lighting last week. I am going to being a new series of San Francisco Landmark photos, so stay tuned for this update, and to see some brand new, never before featured on this blog!

Mood: Happy

~Me :)

Looking At Photographs, Thinking About Life

"You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again. You can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all your life."

~Joan Miro

I took the black and white photo you see above, while riding as a passenger in the car the other day. Sometimes I take photos while I drive, but that is a rarity. Most of the time I am in the passenger seat, and I am always looking, always mindful of what is in front and to the side of me. Sometimes I only have a fraction of a second to capture a feeling. That's not easy. Moments, and feelings, are fleeting, so if something in that fraction of second reminds me of something, or makes me smile, or just brings about some sort of emotion, I tend to want to hold on to it for as long as possible. Who wouldn't?

Well, the other day, there was just something about this particular turn in the road that resonated with me on some level. Maybe it was the lighting. Maybe it was the thought that crossed my mind that there should really be a cow standing on that hillside. LOL. Maybe it was the dry grass, that in a year with normal rainfall, there would instead be plenty of green grass. Maybe it was the idea that if there had been green grass, where the brown was, then the picture would kinda look like the picture Windows used for XP.

Shrug.

Usually I know why I snap a photo when I do, but this time I am not quite sure why. I know I like the photo, but I am not sure why. I can't say. So, in an effort to look further into myself, and my reasoning, I converted the photo from color to black and white. The result? Well, I still don't know exactly why I snapped the photo, but I know I feel happier with the black and white, than with the color version. Maybe it was just the day. Rain was coming in, and the sun was waxing and waning, and a moment simply happened, and I let myself experience it. 

I am glad I did, because that moment will never come again, and clearly it was a moment that I was meant to be aware of, if even to just spend a little time reflecting on the scene.



Any thoughts? Do you like the black and white version or the color?

Tell me everything!

Mood: Reflective

~Me :)