This shot was taken with my point and shoot camera but I still like it.  Hope you do, too…Carlsbad, CA…The dots in the water are late day surfers…nice way to spend a Saturday night….Have a good week!

Today, I started cleaning out my office closet and ran across a note a favorite photographer had given me last November.  I asked him what are channels in Photoshop?  His answer helped me to process my Fresh Tuna photo today…..Here is what he said to do…open up an image in PS and notice the box to the right….it should default to the layers view…change it to channels and select one color…then drop a curves adjustment on it, trying to get the optimal color range..do the same for each color…go back to layers mode and change the blend mode to luminosity or multiply or soft light…depending on what you want….   adjust the opacity and copy the layer….   change the color mode to lab…repeat the process…As for sharpening, change to lab mode again and create a unsharp mask over JUST the “L” channel…Yes, this is a bit over my head but I was able to figure out a few things…The above photo is the results to his instructions..

Funny thing is, when I received these instructions last November, I had no clue as to what he was talking about, but today I had a clue!   YES!   Finally, I am catching on….So  THANK YOU Neil Kremer on Flickr!

p.s.   We actually bought fresh tuna off that boat for $2 a pound….I bought 10 pounds and didn’t blink an eye!    It was soooooo yummy…..

This empty and deserted looking landscape photo was taken off highway 395 just south of Lee Vining, California.   Actually, it was taken in the middle of the day, using a ND filter #8 and a tripod.  Two photos were stitched together to get the panorama shot.  It looks like the wild west to me….

Have a good day and keep on Shooting!   This shot, “Made My Day”…:)

Here is my “panorama” that I took recently at Mono Lake, CA.  Hope I spelled it right this time…:)  I certainly didn’t on the file name of the photo…LOL   Sorry about that!

Nothing like finding a flower photo that you photographed long ago, and bringing it back to life…..That is what happened with this  image.   I can not believe that I didn’t appreciate the beauty the first time around.   Isn’t that how it is at times….So, here is some sunshine for you and a good old song to go with it.

Peace…and sunny days to you!

On the other hand, there are those that have lost many more valuables or family treasures than me.   I’m thinking of the fire victims,  the hurricane victims, and the  home robbery victims.   I was absolutely shocked to hear that some folks fleeing the Colorado fires with some of  their valuables in their cars were victimized by thieves or their homes were vandalized when they were evacuated.     Tragic…and mystifying as well….How?  Why?  For what reason…makes no sence… The tragedy of the disaster was enough for these folks.   I think the tragedy is triple fold for some of these folks,  due to the “greedy” preying on them while they are in  their heartbreaking circumstances.   What a shame.

The first step to the Road to Recovery is the DEFINITION.   CANCER is the uncontrolled growth of cells.  When the immune system lets down, even temporarily, the dividing cells gets established to the point that the immune system cannot control them, then ,we have cancer.  

Second, COMMITMENT is required to make up your mind to fight the cancer battle with all that you have.  You must commit to accomplishing everything in your power to win the battle.   This is difficult but absolutely necessary.  It isn’t easy or convenient.  Just do it!

Third,  you can count on KNOWLEDGE  being the cancer patient’s best friend.  Find out as much as you possibly can.  The third step for the Road to Recovery,  suggested that you read,  Fighting Cancer,  available free from 800-433-0464.   Also, your doctor, second opinions, support groups, the library, and  internet are valuable resources for information.   Seek knowledge!  It is out there!

The Fourth Road to Recovery step, was to decide on  TREATMENTS for your cancer.   Find a Doctor that believes you can be successfully treated.  Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion.   You are the boss of YOU.  Do what the Doctors says if you feel he will help you.  Then, just do it!

The fifth step was  PHYSICAL WELFARE.   A well-balanced diet can help you maintain an effective immune system.  Exercise as much as you can to maintain your strength and health.   Again, call 800-433-0464 for support and help from someone who has overcome the same cancer as you.

MENTAL WELFARE was the 6th step  on the Road to Recovery.  Relaxation exercises are strongly recommended as stress accelerates cancer growth.  Visual imagery, prayer, positive outlook and attitude can certainly help and cannot hurt on your road to recovery.

The last step for recovery was the SUMMARY.    Concentrate on the moment and do everything in your power to get rid of the cancer.  Most cancers can be successfully treated, but you might only have one chance so give it everything you have.   There is no downside risk to this effort…

Be a survivor, you have a good change of beating it…There’s Hope and  many good treatments out there.   Folks are successfully beating the odds daily.

In the park there was a sculpture by Victor Salmones.   The back figures in the sculpture are cancer patients preparing to enter treatment and going throught the tunnel of treatment.  The people in the front have gone through the treatment  are cancer free.   Note their joy and happiness. The sculpture is called,  “Cancer…There’s Hope”.

   Yes, there is hope.   A  lot of folks care and want to help, but it is up to you.  Give it all that you have and then some more. I wish you and or yours successful treatment and cancer freedom….

I dedicate this blog to my friends fighting cancer today and to their successful treatment.

The line is hard to see but it is there.  Look on the body and down the right leg.

Hopefully, this humble post will make a difference and cause someone to dispose their fishing lines correctly and not hurt the bird.

Mr. Elmer Long, the creator,  has a special thing for discarded bottles and old “stuff” which others have thrown away.

This was interesting on its own,  but throughout the forest were bird feeders.  Beautiful hummingbirds came to rest and drink in the bottled forest.  I even got to meet the artist,  Mr Elmer Long!  The farm is located in the high desert passed Victorville, Ca., off route 66 on the National Trails Highway.  There is no charge but some people leave a tip.

The photo was taken as I drove by a gas station a few years back.  Prices were high then…Ha  What a joke…Do you remember gas in the one dollar range?  I do…I guess all we can count on these days is CHANGE…YIKES, again!

Esther De Waal, Seeking God, The way of St Benedict

I think she has a point!  Her words make sence to me and I appreciate her way of thinking.

Have a good day.

When I saw this video posted by my niece on Facebook, I decided to view it.  Oh my, what a treat it was.  I have to admit I had tears  in my eyes as I viewed this amazing show of talent and love.  Bravo for the contestants and may they always keep their pure and beautiful spirit.  You can’t judge a book by its cover is right! Talent is talent!  That boy has TALENT!!!!    Amen for that..

Thank you to Buffy for sharing this one! (video on Facebook that I shared in this blog)

I added the photo of the yellow rose that I took just because it is beautiful,  and because I think the video/talent is beautiful as well.

This I know, I love photography and certainly enjoy seeing other photographers work as well.  Photography is grand….Keep on clicking…

Until, my next blog…Take care….

 I am very happy that they asked my permission  as well.   Of course, she wanted a high-resolution image, not the low resolution that I publicly publish on my computer sites.    Anyway, it sure feels good to have my image appreciated and to be able to share a special moment in time with others.      Life is good.

As we sat there, we noticed a car parked in a handicapped space with surf-racks on the top of it.    Before long two surfers , a man and woman, came with their surfboards under their arms.   Both appeared to have no difficulty walking or putting their surfboards on top of the car.   Both appeared to have just gotten out of the water.  Both appeared to have had a wonderful time .   Both appeared to be in good spirits and quite able to get a round with little difficulty…As they took their handicapped  card off the window, and drove away, I was wondering what kind of handicap they suffered….Who knows?   I’ll never know for sure, but I smell a rat…

I can remember my first “Brownie” camera that was made by Kodak.   That was one of the best Christmas presents that I ever got!   This girl was THRILLED when I got that camera.  It went with me everywhere, even to “Brownie” girl scout camp.   I’ve some old photos taken with that camera somewhere.  Finding them is another story…Ha!

Anyway, thank you to Kodak for helping me along the way.  Your company really helped me, and isn’t that what it is all about?  Helping others and providing a good product and service?

 I wish you well and hopefully, somehow you will get through this bankruptcy and continue to provide camera support and services…

 but the day temperatures were in the 50′s which wasn’t too bad.  

Here are a few photos that represent the refuge and the wildlife that I happened upon.

The first photo shows the moon going down as dawn was appearing.    It was a beautiful sight to see for sure.  The birds in the water were just awaking.  They had spent the night in the water, so the coyotes couldn’t reach them….Both the Sandhill Cranes and the Snow Geese were present, as well as smaller water fowl that are not in the photo.

Here is a closer view of the birds sleeping in ~ waiting for the sun rise…

As the morning progressed, I saw the sandhills starting to jump around, maybe trying to attract a little attention or flirt a little.

When the dawn came,   off they flew into the sky away from their night “water bed”, and  on to breakfast in the fields.…

 The item came from the company, Plow and Hearth, and what a unique gift it was!  Never have we seen anything like it..  color cones that add a rainbow to your fire…Ha!  Well, we read the directions and you just toss 2 or 3 cones into a well burning fire and watch  the flames shimmer with vivid color!  

We couldn’t wait until Christmas and tossed in a few cones with our fire this morning…How fun…We couldn’t believe the flames as they glowed in blues and greens…

There is a caution about these cones…Don’t eat or cook anything over the burning cones, which was no problem for us…Our children are grown and my pet doesn’t eat pinecones…

So, we will have a beautiful blue Christmas this year and will love it!  Thank you, Buffi-san and family!

I could never be a hunter, but I felt like one taking this photo…Have a good day…

The other evening I joined a group of folks from the Redlands Camera Club that  went to the Mission Inn, Riverside, CA. to photograph the Festival of Lights. 

 The Mission Inn is a sight to see  in Southern California.  Not only is the Mission Inn a very historical building that Presidents (Benjamin Harrison,  William McKinley,  Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft,  Herbert Hoover, John Fitzgerald Kennedy,  Gerald Ford,  George W. Bush, and  Richard Nixon.  Pat and Richard Nixon were married there!), social leaders ( Susan  B. Anthony,  Henry Ford, Andrew Carnegie, John D Rockefeller, Collis and Henry Huntington, Albert Einstein, Joseph Pulitzer, William Randolph Hearst, Hubert H. Bancroft, Harry Chandler, Booker T. Washington, Helen Keller, and John Muir), and other celebrities (Raquel Welsh, Barbara Streisand, Clark Gable, Cary Grant, and the list goes on and on)  have frequented the Mission over the years, but it  still  is a  well persevered National treasure that many normal regular  folks, like me, can  appreciate and enjoy today.

It is especially beautiful during the holidays when the Mission holds  the Festival of Lights.   I have tried to capture the display to share with you on this blog.  I used my trusty, Canon Rebel EOS T2i with various lens.   A tripod was necessary for the evening shoot.  I also, used a setting for white balance for tungsten lights and ISO 100 when possible.   During the shoot, I found it necessary to shoot various settings to get the desired results.  Night photography is a challenge for me at this stage of the game….

For your knowledge,  the Mission Inn is listed in the U.S. National Register of Historical Places, U.S. National Historical Landmark and as a California Historical Landmark.   The location is 3649 Mission Inn Ave., Riverside CA.  It was built-in 1902 and has multiple types of architect but mostly Mission/ Spanish.  It is now privately owned.

The last photo shows  the large clock overlooking the courtyard in the Spanish wings.  It is a grand medieval-style clock .

I could go on and on about this place,but will stop for now.  Hope you enjoy the photographs….