Shadow Shot Sunday: Profile in the Sand

A misshapen fire pit at Ocean Beach in San Francisco casts a long shadow that resembles the profile of a baboon. How does that work? It must be Shadow Shot Sunday, just like so many Shadow Shot Sundays past.

Shadow Shot Sunday

Early morning ice-scraping at the seasonal rink in Justin Herman Plaza, San Francisco.

Shadow Shot Sunday is sound both in theory and in practice.

Vanishing Muni Line

Last weekend, Muni canceled service on a number of lines, some of which had been in existence for many years. One of the lines cut was the 4 Sutter, which ran right where this disappearing bus is today.

When I looked out the window this morning, I saw that the streets were wet, and something clicked. I took my tripod out with me and set up next to where the car was parked, used the remote and a long exposure (ISO 100, f16, about 10 seconds) and waited for traffic. This is the result. I'm pretty happy with it.

Travel Thursday: Route 66 Liquor Store

Seen in Upland, California, when I was down there earlier this year.

Travel Thursday: Lake Tahoe

The last time we were all together--all four brothers and our folks (plus SOs & my niece)--was in 2006, when we rented a big condo in South Lake Tahoe. The dates overlapped by a couple of days with my Monarch Divide trip, so I got home from Kings Canyon and the next morning we set out for Tahoe. Coming from the farthest reaches of the middle of nowhere to the sprawl and traffic and crowds of Lake Tahoe was a bit of a shock. I kept thinking: to a lot of Northern Californians, this is the Sierra.

Disorientation aside, though, it was a great time. We went on a paddle-wheel cruise; we went up to Eagle Falls; we went to a casino; the usual stuff, I guess. And when you look past the crowds and the overdevelopment and all, it really is a beautiful lake. And of course I have to remember it fondly, because it was the last in a series of family vacations that began (for me) 40 years before.

This was shot at a big old estate west of town, now a park of some kind.

See Your West

Mt. Whitney from the Alabama Hills.

On Balance

A couple of British acrobats perform near the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero on a Saturday afternoon.

Sculpture Guardin'

At the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Skating Rink

In Justin Herman Plaza. It may not actually be cold enough to freeze a pond today, but it is pretty darn cold.

Cupcakes

Segway Army

Spotted last week at Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco: a gang of Segway riders cruising up Jefferson Street. The morning sun gave me the opportunity to make them unknowing participants in this week's Shadow Shot Sunday. To see some of last week's SSS shots, go here.

Marais Magnifique

Blank Expression

Blue Heart

Travel Thursday: Paris

Glass player making music on the street.

Footprints

Seen on Ocean Beach last Saturday.

See Your West

The Cabinet Mountains from the Bull River Valley, northwestern Montana.

Pinball Quartet

Saturday I did something I almost never do -- I went to Fisherman's Wharf. While I was there, I checked out the Musée Mechanique on Pier 45, which is a free exhibition of all sorts of old-time arcade games and mechanical amusements from yesteryear. Here's a close up from a vintage pinball machine.

Broken Wing

At Olivet Memorial Park in Colma. (This one is for Donna, who wanted some color lichen shots.)