A Reflection of Grapes & Ivy

Painting with the computer

 I have always noticed this dilapidated house near the freeway for a while now. I had my camera. What did you expect me to do?

Thank you, my patient children

I have awesome kids. They humor me, in my quest to find subjects for my photography...

First we went downtown, where they had no trouble keeping themselves occupied:

 balancing on rocks ("I'm a goat mom!")

 playing with a roly-poly (they're sooo cute, mom!)

and playing with an imaginary soccer ball (look mommy, I'm kicking fast!).

When my daughter decided that she had enough of "walking and stopping and waiting until mommy is done taking pictures" (haha) we went to the Railroad Museum. Talk about a photographer's paradise...those pictures deserve a post all to themselves.

St. John Vianney Church

Created using 3 DSLR images and tone-mapped to bring out the details in the shadows. Pretty nifty, eh?

HDR photos

I tried my hand at creating some HDR images today. I had more fun with this technique than I thought I would. The following are just two of the ones that I created today. In both sets, the top photo is the original:

Morning Shots

I woke up early this morning and couldn't go back to sleep. 

So I went to Coloma. 

 Sutter's Mill

© 2011 Gryffngurl

 Front of St. John's Catholic Church

© 2011 Gryffngurl

 View of St. John's Catholic Church, as seen from Marshall's Cabin

© 2011 Gryffngurl

John Marshall's Cabin

© 2011 Gryffngurl

Reflections

Today was fun...

Coloma

After dropping my daughter off at a friend's pool party and my son off at camp, I had 3 hours all to myself. I ventured to a semi-ghost town, Coloma, the 1848 Gold Discovery Site. The weather was agreeable; even so, I wondered how the miners and dwellers in this area withstood the heat in wooden cabins, with not so much as an air fan to bring the delta breezes into their homes. 

© Claire Toney All Rights Reserved

 Modernization meets the 1840s
© Claire Toney All Rights Reserved

 I am certain that some of the residents used the state's flower to liven up their homes. How could they not?
© Claire Toney All Rights Reserved

© Claire Toney All Rights Reserved

A Step Back

I have decided to expand my photography repertoire. I've claimed my husband's DSLR camera (not that he uses it anyway) and played around with it. I have to get used to the rectangle again - ha! - and the dimmer colors (darn the atmosphere!). It's a lot heavier than my IPhone, but it allows me take really good pictures in very low light, unlike my IPhone which doesn't pick up any detail in shadows.

Here's to growth:

From my Wanderings through Old Folsom

Calla Lily © Claire Toney All Rights Reserved. 

Sunbathing

Little Dog Sunbathing © Claire Toney All Rights Reserved. 

Of Guitars and My Favorite Man

My Morning Nirvana

I took off by myself this morning. It was nice to have time to myself and capture the moments that are too soon lost...

like this cyclist on the bridge (one of many, believe me),

the colors of the area...

Two Friends Fishing © Claire Toney All Rights Reserved.

One of them told me that they started fishing early that morning and they started about a mile upstream. 

This sign made me laugh. 

It reads: $5 fine for driving over this bridge faster than a walk, $25 fine for driving more than 20 head of horses, 50 head of cattle or 200 sheep, hogs or goats over this bridge at one time. 

Outdated, me thinks...

Of a Bridge

Old Town Auburn

Multifarious

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. ~John Muir, 1913

Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they're looking for ideas ~ Paula Poundstone 

Every flower is a soul blossoming in nature. ~Gerard de Nerval

Caption Needed

I had a great day out with the kids today. My little sprouts were so good about letting me take pictures while we were sightseeing that I felt they both deserved some ice cream. 

They are so goofy...

Robot Boy

My son had an eye doctor's appointment this morning. No surprise here, everyone else in our family wears glasses. The only difference is, he wants to wear glasses...I took this picture of him and he was tickled by it, giggling and saying, "I look like a robot!"

Yes, you do son...yes you do... 

Of Summer's Colors

I love colors, especially the colors of fresh produce. Today was awesome because I was surrounded by it. Even better, I was able to eat a lot of it. My husband laughed when I told him that if I could, I would eat fresh fruit all day, everyday. Just so you know, he is one of the sort that only eats blueberries for the health benefits (!) because he thinks they are too tart. Oh, well - I tell my kids, "More for us! Hahaha!" (in my best evil laugh)

My son declared that, "Strawberries are awesome!"  On this, I totally agree, although ripe Ruby Grapefruits and Rainier Cherries are so very close to the level of awesomeness that Strawberries hold in my book. Enough about my obsession over summer fruit - enjoy the photos!