Shorebird Flyway

Flocks of shorebirds were all over this beach in San Francisco.  We're lucky to live in the Pacific Flyway; so many birds pass through here on their migration.  I'm not that familiar with shorebirds but maybe these are dowitchers.  They were walking along the beach, and I was following them with my camera in front of my face, until I stubbed my toe on a brick sticking out of the sand.  Not my smoothest move!  But whatever noise I made sent them all into flight.

Heading up to Seattle today to take Eric back to school.  I have already uploaded photos, so hopefully I will be able to post from my hotel.  If not, I'll be back posting on Saturday. 

Making Tracks

Day 23 in black and white.  These tracks led us along the beach just off the Great Highway in San Francisco; not sure what the name of the beach is though.  Despite the haze in this photo it was sunny and in the 70s at this point, and the sand was the perfect temperature.  I don't know where these tracks came from.  We didn't see any vehicles driving around down here, something that is common up in Washington.  But the tracks caught a nice amount of shadow for a photo in this direction. 

Bauhaus

Friday's weather was true to its forecast: morning fog gives way to afternoon sun.  We found ourselves with a little extra time before meeting Eric's friends at the zoo, so we stopped to kick around at the beach.  Easy parking along the Great Hwy.  Homes on one side of the street, and ocean on the other; we just happened to park in front of this smartly painted little house.  So cute! 

International Orange

I didn't have a chance to post this photo before I went out of town last week, but this is also a photo from Fort Point in San Francisco.  The orange buntings are part of an art exhibit called International Orange, commemorating the 75 Anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge, in honor of its rusty orange color.  I'll include a video link  (click here) to the artist, Allison Smith,  who crafted the buntings.  She explains the significance behind them.  I've written before about the history of Fort Point, but I think this video is nicely done and explains the history well.

April 4

I had a different photo to post today, but I can't seem to properly download and then upload it from my hotel.  I'm in Seattle.  Hooray!   No this is not Seattle.  This is a photo from San Francisco that I had previously uploaded on blogger.  So this photo was taken through the windshield when we were stopped in heavy traffic.  And the reason I took it was that I liked the red glow on the overhead cable.  It's the powerline for the busses; the cable cars are pulled from beneath the street.  Anyway, I guess I saved this photo because I liked the colors.  I'll try posting my other photo tomorrow...

January 2

Today I went to the San Francisco Botanical Garden and Zen Garden.  I like so many photos from today's visit that I'll have a nice reserve for my bad days in January, I'm happy to report.  This one was taken at the botanical garden.  It's a Giant Fishtail Palm, from Southeast Asia.  Or at least my close up view of it in a flattering light!  So far a colorful start to January.

December 15

This is also from my trip to San Francisco yesterday.  Downtown, near Chinatown and Union Square, although I'm not sure of the exact location.   I just liked all the colors.

September 18

Fort Point lies just under the San Francisco side of the Golden Gate Bridge.  In past trips to the bridge I've always viewed the fort as a photo nuisance because it got in the way of my bridge photos.  But today we actually went in the fort and walked around, and wow, was it worth it!  I definitely could have spent more time exploring all the rooms and passageways.  It's a pre-civil war fort, completed in 1861, and the last major stone masonary coastal fort built in America.    f/8 at 0.62, ISO400, 17mm

September 9

 Eric and I had a fun trip exploring the shops and restaurants in San Francisco's Chinatown today.   I struggled with photos though.  Maybe because it's such a visually overwhelming place?  Maybe because we weren't there long enough?  Not sure.  One of the things I found my eye drawn to were the lanterns and flags strung across the streets.  This photo is looking up at strings of these colorful lanterns on the store front of a shop called Peking Bazaar on Grant Ave.  f/8 at 1/500, ISO400, 50mm.