December 31

I'm reading the Steve Jobs biography right now, and really loving it!  I had just finished the mac design section this morning when I took Clover for her walk.  I'm sure it influenced what I saw, because the simplicity of this tiny valley oak leaf and shadow really stood out to me.  *The journey is the reward!*

December 30

Pretty late December blossoms. 

They remind me of suns, which is nice, because it was so overcast today. 

Or maybe they look a little like fried eggs. 

Sunny side up.

December 29

Another shot from my favorite road in Yolo.  I always have good photo luck on this road.  And today this scene really surprised me, because I've never seen it before.  I wonder why.  Anyway, I'm going out there every few weeks for eggs because the chickens at our local farm are molting.  Even when the local hens are laying again, I think I'll still have to drive out to Yolo with my camera.  I'm always excited when it's a Yolo day because I never know what scene I'll find out there. 

December 28

I pass by these seed pods everyday on my walk with Clover, and I always think they look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book.  I'm a little iffy on this photo though.  I thought I would like blurring the background to color patches, but overall I'm not sure it works.

December 27

We had lunch at Shoki Ramen today in Sacramento.  We went at one o'clock, hoping to miss the lunch rush, but still we had to wait outside for one hour!  So that gave me a chance to walk up and down the street looking for photos.   I found this scene on the building next door.  I love the colors and shapes here and I tried this shot from lots of different angles.  Here's my favorite.  And yes, the ramen was worth the wait!

December 26

Christmas Eve we went to my sister in law's family celebration.  She has a large and festive family, and one of the things they did was have a lighted Christmas parade with caroling up and down the street.  I had fun practicing with using rear camera flash and a long exposure time.  I couldn't choose between photos today; I like them both. 

  The little girl above came up with the parade idea, and acted as grand marshall.  I love how the colors are spread out here, and just wish the flash had lighted her a little more.

Much stronger flash here, as this girl would tell you!  We just watched the movie Princess Mononoke this week, and so I think this photo makes her look like a Reindeer Goddess!  Especially since her legs don't show up.  It looks as though she's materializing into the scene.  This is because my new lens blocks the flash from illuminating the lower section of the photo, so I guess that means I'll need to get an external flash now.  :)

December 25

Merry Christmas!

December 24

Stopped by my favorite farm on CR 96 last night to get this photo just as it was getting dark.  The son came out to greet me and to tell me that their pig was giving birth!  Eight piglets had already been born, and were they cute!  They were trying to get the mama into the barn because it was getting cold.  Such a commotion too.  So even though I envisioned of this as a Christmas Eve photo, it just reminds me of piglets!

December 23

There was a nice winter light today on my walk with Clover.  And these rose hips were look perfectly ripe.  If the city landscape crew didn't spray here, I would have picked them to make tea.  Still they make a nice red photo!

December 22

Well, I went back to Locke today with the family.  Stores were open and people were out and about, I'm happy to report.  Just as many cats as last time too.  And hard as I try to get some photos of the buildings, I always seem to like the cat photos best. 

Look at that face! 

Ahhh...to be a cat in Locke! 

Now that's the life!

December 21

I just can't help but see shadows this month, and given that today is Winter Solstice, a shadow photo seems appropriate.   This pattern reminds me a little of Charlie Brown's shirt.

December 20

Yet another foggy morning, and honestly, I'm absolutely helpless to it.  I tried to resist heading out with my camera this morning, but the fog was mocking me.  It actually grew thicker as the morning wore on, and before I knew it, there I was parked along the side of the road with my hazard lights flashing. 

December 19

I was parked next to a white car, and in front of a brick wall in midtown this morning, and the reflection off the car looked really interesting.  The original photo was actually much more pale, with the histogram just in the middle of the spectrum, so I tried using the autocontrast adjustment and this is the result. 

December 18

Ped Xing's feet, just before the light turned green.

December 17

Another beautiful foggy morning here.  I took a different route today and found these trees all lined up for a photo.  From this angle it sort of looks like they lined up tall to short.  By the way, the leaf balls in the trees aren't nests, but are actually mistletoe, which is a pesky invasive species here.