Red-tailed Hawk

Large here.

The Picnic Table at the End of the Universe

Picnic site and tule fog, Mount Diablo State Park.

Downtown Militia

Spanish-American war monument, downtown Portland.

Passamagamet

Let's Go Camping in the Woods

On Monday, Mrs. G and will leave the safety and security of our quaint little SF neighborhood for a week-plus adventure in the scary, spooky wilds of the Eastern Sierra. We expect to encounter deer, squirrels, bears and Republicans, and will do our best to come face to face with some good-sized trout. Wish us luck.

See Your West: Crater Lake

We got to Crater Lake it was socked in, zero visibility. Had been all day. Hung around the Great Room at the Lodge, drank a couple martinis, hoping for maybe a break in the weather. Nothing. In the middle of dinner Jody said "hey, look, there's a little bit of blue!" Ten minutes later mostly clear, the whole dining room applauding, everybody running outside to shoot pictures.

Meatbullet

Mobster Meatballs food truck in Portland.

A Patch of Blue

Seen at the North Beach Fair last Sunday.

Required Reading

Mural on the Portland State University campus.

Gray Catbird

Gray Catbird and I like to keep an eye on one another in summertime. Here he is singing his jazz in the Prairiefire crabapple while monitoring my front porch activities. Large here.

One More from Haight Street

Much as I love black and white, there are some pictures that just scream to be shot in color. Like this one, for instance, and the one just below it.

Hippies for Life

Went to the Haight Street fair for a few hours last Sunday. Some things never change in that neighborhood.

Choo-Choo

This is one of five photos I submitted this morning to a project called 200 Yards. The proprietors of a site known as Lightbox SF have set this up, picking a spot for a show and then drawing a circle with a 200 yard radius around the spot. Photographers are then asked to take pictures within that radius and submit them for possible inclusion in the show. I'd read about the one they did in the Lower Haight a few months back, but this is the first one I've submitted work to (it's the fifth such show over all). Submissions close June 30th, and the show will be some time in August. Wish me luck!

Stepping on Ahab's Toes

"Grab your camera and come out to the fire escape, quick!" Mrs. G said. Good thing she did, or I might have missed this red-tailed hawk on the building directly across Polk Street from us. Apparently he had grown tired of his usual diet of gophers and field mice and was looking for a change of pace: a little pigeon, perhaps, or maybe seagull. In any event, I was very happy to be able to catch him spreading his wings and getting ready to take flight.

Apologies to my talented bird-capturing blogmate!

Rue Pavée

More...

Pop Ups and Splash Hits

I'm a sucker for fireworks, always have been. I even missed this month's Ale & Quail Club outing for baseball and fireworks last night.

Filling in the Blanks

A hip shot that turned out okay.

Flatiron District

I was saving this one until E-6 came around. This is his kind of subject.

Still fighting my new computer. I've lost my most recently-added 5,000 songs on iTunes, at least for the time being. What a nightmare. Photo software setup is up next...

Colors

Wrestling SpongeBob

The intent look on this little girl's face as she struggles to carry a balloon version of SpongeBob SquarePants that is as big as she is at the Carnaval street fair just captivated me.

Now Appearing on a Dead Tree Near You

Backpacker Magazine, June 2011 issue, page 55. Teeny tiny thumbnail, but hey--published is published.

Common Mergansers

These beauties are the largest and maybe the toughest catch of the three varieties of mergansers we get on our lake. This shot is from a couple of months ago, just before they flew the coop. More mergansers here.

Don't Look Back

As promised, here's one from the Carnaval parade that's more in keeping with the spirit of the event.