China Ranch Date Farm, Tecopa, CA

Click on images for full size.

We settle in as best we could at Tecopa Hot Springs Resort our day (quite a funny story about the place, it needed a little work..OK more than a little but the hot spring were wonderful. We will never forget our stay there.)

CamraJoky, Tom arrived earlier and scoped out area, suggested we take a short ride before dark to China Ranch Date Farm....I am so glad he did, the scenery was spectacular, to go along with excellent lightings that time of day, along with a beautiful drive to the place. The dates were delicious.

NOTE:  I have been asked about shooting in the raw format.  I am new using the format but have asked for help, enable me to post information. Stay tuned.

Tags: China Ranch Date Farm, Tecopa, CA, Photography Shoot

Back From Death Valley

I returned last Wednesday, visiting Death Valley with online photographer friends. It was great!!! Death Valley is photographers dream, great people also a learning experience...what a great trip.

Most the photographers at the meet are professional also joining us was Don Mason, co-author of Color Management for Digital Photographers for Dummies. I bought Don's book, his book is excellent and a heck of nice man.  Don's book is very helpful, easy to follow (I am a novice).

One of my photographers suggestions, I start shooting in the RAW format. I was nervous shooting in the RAW format, having no clue how to retrieve my images and work with the format. After a few tears, help, I was able to figure it out :).  I love the format!!!! 

My first images were taken at Tecopa's old talc mine.

Tags: Tecopa, Mica Mine, CA

Snow On Leaves - Trip to Death Valley

Back to snow images for a another few days.

Stay tuned!!! Next Friday a group of us are meeting at Death Valley CA for a photo shoot. Talk about a change in landscapes!!! I cannot wait to return home and share my images with you.

Tags: Snow, Leaves, Death Valley, Ca, Trip

Just Because I Feel Like It :)

Daylily

Clemantis

My Summer Garden - a photoset on Flickr and checkout  Summer Garden -- created with PhotoSite

I feel like taking a break from winter images and events. Something colorful and NOT white LOL.  

Tags: Break, Summer Garden, Not Winter

Winter Scenery

FINALLY we had a snow fall, about 5 inches, enough to showcase winter scenery in NH.  I bought polarizer for my lens....using the filter for the first time and I could see the difference when taking my snow images.

Tags: Winter Scenery, NH

Old Shed With Green Door

I found an old shed on Rt. 113a in Tamworth, NH.  A previous road trip, I had to  passed up the shed, do to lighting, time of day was all wrong.  I was glad this road trip conditions allowed to take the images.

Tags: Winter, Old Shed, Green Door, Tamworth, NH

Greg Asks Who Inspires You?

Greg posted in his journal a question who Asks Who Inspires You?

The person who has really inspires, challenges me over the years is my mentor and good friend Flatland Photo, Charles Loy. Be sure to check out his People section of his site, my favorite.

He has always taken his time to teach, explain, offer his expertise, offering me 100% honest critique.  At times his comments have been very rough but I know his honesty is what inspires and challenges me to improve. I really appreciate his help. Thank you, Charlie.

Of course my family, children and grandchildren are a major contribution.

Others who have inspired me are a close friend Rebecca, Marie, Greg and the wonderful people who read and post in my journal.  I will share with you in the future, others who have inspired me.   

Tags: Greg, Who Inspires You?

Ice Fishing On Meredith Bay

I took the above image of the anglers setting up for  Meredith Rotary 2007 Fishing Derby. Thankfully our weather turned colder and our lakes are finally freezing.  

Weather permitting I will be taking more images...it's a fun event and I love checking the bob houses. I really enjoy attending the winter events our area offers.

Tags: Winter, Meredith Bay Fishing Derby, Ice Fishing

Ice Fishing On Newfound Lake, NH

I took a series of images of ice fishing on Newfound Lake, NH.  It was the first weekend the ice was safe to set up.

Tags: Ice Fishing, Newfound Lake, NH

Old Workshop?

A few weeks ago, on one of my photo shoots rides we passed an building.  Do to the traffic we were unable to back track so I could take a few images.  Last weekend we went back. 

I have no clue what it might have been used for.  My husband thinks it might be an old work shop. 

Tags: Photo Shoot Ride, Old Workshop

Meet My Namesake "Rap"

Rap (photos taken by Connie)

Rap on the left and Reb on the right

Our friend Connie and her husband raise goats. Recently twins were born. Connie informed Reb and me yesterday she named the twins Reb and Rap.  What an honor...they are adorable.

Connie is a professional photographer check out her site  ''Capturing moments'' -- created with PhotoSite

While you are at it check out Reb's site also  R Raybon Photography -- created with PhotoSite
Tags: Namesake, Goats, Rap and Reb, Connie

Round and About NH: Cheever Chapel

I found a quaint chapel on Rt. 118, Groton NH.  It was snowing at the time adding to charm when visiting the chapel. 

The chapel had also had a beautiful stain glass window I took.

Reply to Sonny's Post About Ice Formations on the Side of Roadways In NH

Hi all,

I decided to post my reply to my  Ice Formations On The Side Of A Road to Sonny about the ice formations. After reading Sonny's post it occured to me some of you who live in the warmer climate, may never seen the ice formations.

That is a neat formation.  If the sunlight was to shine through the formation,, at the right angle, I wonder what prism effects, if any, one could see.  From a far off vantage point, sunlight shining on this spot might resemble an extra-ordinary bright spot of sorts.

To me, this formation is odd.  Is there ice, as this, all along the roadside or just in this spot?  That's a lot of water to have frozen that way.  If just in this spot, then I would think there is some water source that has been diverted, in order for all that water to flow to this area, and hence cascade in this otherwise unnatural spot (unnatural "stream" path).   If this is the case, I wonder what water source has been diverted (to here) and how the source was diverted.... Ice jam, mini-landslide (of some sort), ???? (other).

The first pic indicates you are on top of a hill or rise, when taking this pic.  My assumptions, in the above paragraph, may be totally off base.  A significant water source, on top of a hill, may not be practical.   ...... I just don't know.  It just made me think, on the scene as a whole.... and those that might be just out of the picture.  Maybe I study (the images) too much, LOL.

Sonny
Comment from cedarsonny - 1/27/07 8:50 AM

I want to thank everyone for you for your wonderful comments and challenges you send my way. Because of you, blogging is so much fun and I enjoy hearing from you!!! Sonny in particular, a close online friend, I always welcome his comments and suggestions...now I have to go back and try to obtain pictures with the sunlight shinning on the ice :). 

On the side of the roads in NH/New England roads, roadways mapped out, are blasted through granite/stone.  You will always find water seepage coming out of the rocks in certain sections on the roadways.  In the winter they freeze over forming the cascades of ice.  In this particular area there must a lot of water runoff, drainage is not problem they way the highways are constructed.

My photos were taken from the car window; I was unable to get out of the car. I would have preferred taking the images standing further back for a better prospect.

Tags: Reply, CedarSonny's Comment, Ice Formations, Roadways

Ice Formations On The Side Of A Road

After months of extremely mild weather we finally are now experiencing winter in NH.  Taking ride and looking for views to shoot, I came across this beautiful ice formation on the side of the road.

Tags: Winter, Ice Formations, Road, NH

Winter Interest In My Yard

Snow on my ornamental grass

My other passion is gardening.  For winter interest in your yard, it's best not to cut down all your flowers and plants, the reason why, it is called "Winter Interest".  You can see how pretty the grass is with the snow and blue sky.

Tags: Gardening, Winter Interest in Garden, Ornamental Grass and Snow

Fire, Ice and Snow

Our golf course crew is cutting down huge 80 to 90ft white pines.  The crew trims the branches and burns.  The trunks of the trees are used for fire wood, heating in their building.....a lot of fire wood!!!

I grabbed my camera, I had to take pictures. Walking to the area where the bonfire was a little dangerous, what looks like snow was really ice.  I could not pass up an opportunity for pictures.

Tags: Winter, Fire, Golf Course

Weekend Shoot: Pemigewasset River

Pemgewasset River Winter Images

I love exploring back roads looking for images to take.  The Pemgewasset River caught my eye!!!  I do have a problem when taking images in the winter, the fear of the slipping on the snow and ice, landing in the river.

Tags: Pemgewasset River, NH, Winter,

Weekend Shooting: Wishing Well

Make a wish....wishing well

It's been a few weeks since I have gone shooting.  I keeping hoping for snow, allowing me to photograph our snow events: dog sled racing, radar runs on the lakes, snowmobile races, ice skating and ice fishing tournaments.  Our lakes have not frozen over and we lack snow :(.  Looking at our weather, I might receive my wish four days of snow....bring it on!!!

Tags: Winter, Well, Scenery

January's Snow and Ice Storm

Ice and snow can be pretty

Yesterday we has our first real snow and ice storm...not as bad as first predicted but shoveler/snowblower type. 

Tags: Winter, Ice, Yard, Holly.Ornamental Grass

Wildlife In NJ....Hair Do

Wildlife Hair Do

If you read my journal, you know of my conquest to photograph wildlife....is not successful.

Attending my sister Judi's surprise birthday party, Judi's neighbor's son in law was sporting a wildlife hair do.  His wife, a hairdresser experimented on him. He allowed me to take a picture and post on my journal :).

Ah success ...wildlife in NJ :).

Tags: Wildlife Hair Do, NJ

NH Logging

Riding behind a logging truck can be a little precarious. 

NH has a huge resource of white pines. Close to 85% of our state's 5.7 million acres are forested and the logging industry contributes $1.7 billion dollars of revenue.  Our New Hampshire - Our Renewable Resource 

Tags: NH, Logging

Abandon Doll Carriage: Returned to fire ruins of the old house

Abandon Doll Carriage

 

 Propped Up Old Shed on the property

I posted pictures of the an old house Fire Ruins Of An Old Home we came across on our weekly back road's ride looking for scenic sites to photograph. 

Leaving the site, I walked by a doll carriage...the thought of carriage has haunted me enough to go back again to the site to take pictures.

A talent photographer, artist friend Benu (you can read her  Creativity--Bits and Pieces  journal) shared advice with me.  When you find a place to photograph, take the time to photograph all angles and subjects of a site. 

Returning yesterday the fireplace ruins I took a couple a weeks ago had completely collapsed.


  

Tags: House fire, abandon doll carriage