circadianreflections

Monochrome Madness 2 23/52 1901 Trestle Bridge

August 9, 2015August 11, 2015Posted in California, Monochrome Madness2, Railroad, Railroad Bridges, Siskiyou County, Trestle BridgesTagged Black and White Photography, Monochrome Madness2, Railroad Bridges, Trestle Bridges of CA, Union Pacific Railroad2 Comments

I made this image last week-end while on the way home from Lassen National Park.

To get to this old railroad bridge one must hike along the tracks, or the side of them for a mile+.
There is heavy vegetation on both sides of the bridge so getting an image of the under side wasn’t possible.

Sacramento River Bridge (Siskiyou County, California)
Built 1901
Pin-connected Pratt through truss bridge over Sacramento River on Union Pacific Railroad~Bridgehunter.com

Since the trestle is so old I thought I’d develop this image with an old/vintage film look. I think it works.

If you have time check out Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness 2! There are so many talented photographers posting weekly.

Nikon Df| AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm| Tripod| Hoodman STEEL Ultra High Speed Digital Film

More to come…

P52 32/52: Banana Bread

August 6, 2015Posted in Baking, Bananas, Food Photography, From the Kitchen, Project 52, Quick BreadsTagged baking, Banana Bread, Food Photography, From the Kitchen, Project 52, Quick Breads, Still Life6 Comments

I had nearly a full bunch of bananas that are perfect for eating and baking but, too much to eat before they go bad, so what else do you do but bake with some. With a 2 1/2 yr old to chase it’s much easier to make a quick bread than a pie so, that was my morning project.

#1 Grandson loved watching the paddle beat the batter, but he wasn’t interested in tasting the batter or helping to make it. He loves spinning wheels and mechanical things; I’ve known since early on he’s got an engineering brain leading me to think he won’t be much of a helper baking in the future, but he might grow to love licking the bowl and beaters. 🙂

This recipe is super easy, and really moist. I made this loaf sans nuts or chocolate chips because I’m sharing it with the construction crew. I’m thinking simple is better in this case. I can avoid nut allergies at any rate.

Banana Bread Recipe:

1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup granulated sugar-(you can use 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 c granulated if you like)

2 Eggs

1 1/2 cups flour. I used all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1tsp salt

3-4 very ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup vanilla yogurt ( can use sour cream instead)

1tsp Vanilla Extract- use a good one!

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans * optional

1/4 cup chocolate chips * optional

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350ºF (if using a dark pan preheat to 325ºF)

Butter & Flour 9x5x3 inch loaf pan (or 2-3 mini loaf pans)

With an electric mixer with the paddle attachment, cream the butter, and sugar until light and fluffy.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating well.

In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, salt, and baking soda then add 1/2 to the butter/eggs mixture, mix until incorporated, then add the last half and blend well.

Add the mashed bananas, yogurt, and vanilla and beat just until incorporated.

*If adding nuts, and chocolate chips add them at this stage.

Pour batter into buttered and floured loaf pan(s) tap on counter to remove air bubbles and level the batter.

Bake for 1 hour 10 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Cool on bakers rack for 10 minutes then turn out to continue cooling.

Eat it warm, or at room temperature.

Enjoy!

Nikon Df| AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm @ 35mm| Hand-held| Hoodman STEEL Ultra High Speed Digital Film| CS6

More to come…

Monochrome Madness 2 22/52 Bridges

August 4, 2015August 4, 2015Posted in Black and White Photography, Bridges, Cable-Stayed Bridges, Monochrome Madness2, Sundial Bridge, ThemesTagged Black and White Photography, Bridges, Monochrome Madness2, Redding CA, Santiago Calatrava, Sundial Bridge, Turtle Bay13 Comments

It’s “THEME” week over on Leanne Cole’s Monochrome Madness 2. The Theme is Bridges.

I pulled this image out of my archives because I didn’t think I’d have enough time to shoot a bridge over the week-end and get it to Leanne on time for today’s posting. I’m glad I thought ahead!

I made this image back in 2011 when He-Man was competing in a 100 mile Bicycle Road Race (a Century). Myself and 3 friends went up with him to Turtle Bay, Redding, CA. USA to photograph the area, and waterfalls. At the end of the day we found ourselves back at Turtle Bay for sunset. This image was taken just before the sun went down.

Nikon D300s| AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm| Lexar Professional Digital Film| Tripod| Cable Release

For the Historians:
The Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay crosses the Sacramento River in the heart of Redding, California. Opened July 4, 2004, the bridge links the north and south campuses of Turtle Bay Exploration Park and serves as a new downtown entrance for Redding’s extensive Sacramento River Trail system.

The bridge celebrates human creativity and ingenuity, important themes of the 300 acre Turtle Bay Exploration Park. The steel, glass, and granite span evokes a sense of weightlessness and the translucent, non-skid decking provides for spectacular viewing at night. The bridge is also environmentally sensitive to its river setting. The tall pylon and cable stays allow the bridge to avoid the nearby salmon-spawning habitat there are no supports in the water while encouraging public appreciation for the river. Plazas are situated at both ends of the bridge for public use; the north-side plaza stretches to the water allowing patrons to sit at the river’s edge.

In addition to being a functional work of art, the Sundial Bridge is a technical marvel as well. The cable-stayed structure has an inclined, 217 foot pylon constructed of 580 tons of steel. The deck is made up of 200 tons of glass and granite and is supported by more than 4,300 feet of cable. The structure is stabilized by a steel truss, and rests on a foundation of more than 115 tons of steel and 1,900 cubic yards of concrete. The McConnell Foundation, a private, independent foundation established in Redding in 1964, funded the majority of the bridge’s $23 million cost.

World renowned Spanish architect and engineer Santiago Calatrava conceived the Sundial Bridge’s unusual design, his first free-standing bridge in the United States. Calatrava has built bridges, airports, rail terminals, stadiums, and other structures around the world. His notable designs include the new PATH transportation terminal at the World Trade Center site in New York City and several projects at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, including the main stadium where opening and closing ceremonies were held.
~Turtle Bay Exploration Park

FWIW- He-Man finished the ride earlier than we expected, so he had a yummy BBQ lunch the race organizers put on for the riders and gabbed with other riders while we finished up. We met up with him for sunset. He-Man and I stayed for hours. There was an astronomy night sky group there that night with telescopes to view the stars, and planets that He-Man enjoyed while I was down on the beach photographing “Blue Period”. That image is here.

There are bridges from all over the world being posted this week on MM2. If you have time click over to Leanne’s MM2 page to view them.

More to come…

Sunset Lake Helen, Lassen National Park, CA. USA.

August 2, 2015August 2, 2015Posted in Lake Helen, Lakes, Lassen National Park, Sunsets, USA National ParksTagged Clouds, Drought, Humid, Lake Helen, Lassen National Park, Lupine, Reflections, Rocks, Spring in the High Country, Sunset9 Comments

I went up North to Lassen National Park with a side trip to a Lavender Farm, and a fabulous waterfall with good friends. We were hoping to shoot the Full Moon, and later shoot the Night Sky since we’d be in up in the mountains and away from light pollution. Unfortunately, Mother Nature had a different idea. As the afternoon wore on the clouds got thicker, and darker.

On the bright side… It was Spring up in the high country: the Lupine was in full bloom, and the sunset was gorgeous.

This is Lake Helen…very low, but it’s still gorgeous. I said they miss named this Lake because what you really can’t see here is the water is a lovely inky blue.

Shortly after this image was made there was lightning to the southeast! We rarely see it here so we chased it. It was fun!

I’ll be catching up with all you did this past week, and sharing more from my week-end in upcoming posts.

To get an early look of what we did visit my Instagram site here My Instagram Site

Nikon Df| AF-S Nikkor 17-35mm| Hoodman STEEL Ultra High Speed Digital Film|

More to come…

P52 31/52 “Float like a Cadillac, sting like a Beemer.” Lightning McQueen-Cars (2006)

July 30, 2015July 30, 2015Posted in Cars the Movie, Disney Characters, LensBaby Composer Pro, Macro Photography, Movie Characters, Project 52, ToysTagged Cars the Movies, Disney Characters, LensBaby Composer Pro, Lightning McQueen, Macro photography, Project 52, Quotes, Toys3 Comments

I hope I never outgrow toys, or fast cars!

Nikon Df| Lensbaby Composer w/Soft Focus Optic & 16mm Macro Converter| Hoodman STEEL Ultra High Speed Digital Film| CS6| OnOne Perfect Effects 9.5

Monochrome Madness 2 21/52: Harbor Seals

July 28, 2015July 29, 2015Posted in Photography7 Comments

It’s week 21 already for Monochrome Madness 2! Time races onward no matter what we Humans are doing, or are hoping to do each day, week, month, or year. I present my contribution to Leanne Cole’s MM2 project.

I spent the morning with several friends out in Elkhorn Slough photographing wildlife from a Pontoon Boat. It was good to hang out with my friends, and get out on the slough. These young Harbor Seals were enjoying the beautiful sunny morning on the warm mud bank. Nikon D300s| AF-S Nikkor 300mm| Hand-Held| CS6 & Silver Efex Pro 2

This is an image I made while out on Elkhorn Slough on a Pontoon Boat with 17 other members of a Favorite Photography Meet-Up group. It was a lovely morning for me, and a very relaxing Summer morning for these Harbor Seals who are on the bank basking in the morning sun.

Nikon D300s| AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4| Lexar Professional Digital Film| CS6| Hand-held

More to come…

A few hours in Elkhorn Slough

July 27, 2015July 27, 2015Posted in birding, Brown Pelican, Elegant Tern, Elkhorn Slough, Moss Landing CA, Sea Otter, Sea Otter Pup, Vintage BottlesTagged Birding, California Sea Otter, Elegant Tern, Elkhorn Slough, Harbor Seal, Moss Landing CA, Sea Otter Pups, Sea Otters, Vintage Bottles, Wildlife20 Comments

3 girlfriends and I joined one our favorite Photography Meet-Up groups for a morning in Elkhorn Slough, Moss Landing, CA. Our group of 18 spent a couple of hours on a 27 ft Pontoon Boat cruising around the slough observing and photographing wildlife and birds. It was my second time going out on this boat. Both times were lots of fun. Captain Joe, and Naturalist John Carlo were both very informative about the wildlife and birds that call Elkhorn Slough home.

The Slough seemed quiet compared to other times I’ve birded there. We missed early morning feeding time I think, and there weren’t as many Sea Otters as I’ve seen in the past, but there was still plenty to look at.

Here are some of the birds, and animals I saw while out in the Slough-

Brown Pelican- There were quite a few of these gliding around the slough looking for tasty fish.

a Harbor Seal sun bathing:

an Elegant Tern in Flight

Those Terns are so fast and agile! It was challenging getting a sharp image of them in flight.

A Mom Sea Otter and Nursing pup. This might be tricky to see; Mom’s face is at the back grooming the pup, while the pup nurses with its face near Mom’s feet/flippers.

I photographed the Mom and Pup for a minute then turned around to see if anything good came along in the meantime, and there was! An old bottle with a lovely lavender/purple patina was floating our way. I called it out and said I wanted it. John Carlo very kindly said he’d get it for me. I asked if he had a net, and he replied, “A net. I don’t need a net. I’ll pluck it out.” With that Captain Joe maneuvered the boat to within grabbing reach, and John Carlo true to his word, plucked it from the water and presented it to me. My trip ~~souvenir~~ treasure.

There’s a little shell inside the mouth, and it looks old. John Carlo said the Sea Otters probably found it, or dislodged it while looking for food. It once was clear glass, but has seen the sun because it’s turned purple. Especially at the top. The only markings the bottle has is a number on the bottom; no other maker’s mark are evident. I’ll probably never know how old it is, or who made it, but I love it! Thank you John Carlo!

A small Sea Otter Raft- They group themselves together, sometimes holding hands, and they tie themselves up in the sea grass, and kelp to keep from drifting out to sea while they’re eating, grooming, and sleeping. When they’re grouped like that they look like a raft. This Raft had less than 20 Sea Otters in it.

Sea Otter wrapped in Sea Grass

It was a wonderful morning for me, and a relaxing, lazy one for this yawning Sea Otter…

Nikon D300s| AF-S Nikkor 300mm f/4| Hand-held| Lexar Professional Digital Film| Developed in Photoshop CS6

More to come…

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