Sandhill Cranes at Bosque del Apache NWR

" Greetings " Happy New Year ! Wishes all the best in 2014, good health and happiness !

 

Lena

Concentration

Lumix G5, Lumix 100-300mm

I often see this Great Blue Heron at Golden Gate Park near the Polo Fields. I wondered why he would stand right next to the road and totally ignore the passing cars, joggers, and walkers. The other day, I brought my camera with me and saw him there again, and I found out why. It's because he is too busy concentrating on hunting gophers! In this picture, he is staring at a gopher hole waiting for the gopher to stick its little head out of the hole. I watched as he snatched one out of the hole and fly away, but it all happened too fast for me to get a picture of that. But I did get some while he was being very still.

--Warren

Razr cell phone camera

 

Since we are on the subject, cell phone camera.  I took these from South San Francisco on the 25th of December.  I used my ancient Razr cell phone camera.  It actually produces decent night photos.  Cheers! 

Immigrant Point Lookout

HTC One X Cell Phone

I am back into cycling after a long time out of it. Since I carry a cell phone with me on my rides and the cell phone has a decent camera in it, it's fun and challenging to take pictures on my rides. I like to compose shots during rest stops and it's interesting to include the bike in the compositions.

These two are from a few days ago, taken in the Presidio.

--Warren

Wildlife

Birds

Lena

Wildlife

Fantastic sunrise scene 

Lena

Sunrise at New Mexico of Albuquerque

Sunset view

Sunrise 

Lena

Virgin de Lourdes

Adding to the Strangers Project!

I was wandering outside a church in Naranjo, Costa Rica. This gentleman came up to tell me about the structure. His name is German. The 'G' is pronounced as an 'H'.

The stone cave was built 65 years ago and it is to honour the Virgin de Lourdes. There is a rock plaque beside him that you are supposed to touch while visiting. The rock is supposed to have been from the cave that is of significance in the story of the Virgin de Lourdes.

German was very friendly and spoke pretty good English! He was interested to know where I was traveling from and welcomed me and wished me well on my stay.

Abandoned Industry

Walking around West Marin, and settled into a concrete plant that recently went out of business.  I started this series with the bridge leading up to the road and some of the eccentric scenes around the area.  Leica M240, Zeiss 21mm Biogon.

Dan

American Kestrel at Half Moon Bay

Lumix G5, Lumix 100-300mm

I've been going to this section of Half Moon Bay for years because I read that at certain times, there is an abundance of raptors to be seen there. But every time I go there, I only see a few at a time.  I went there a couple of weeks ago, and this time was no different, I only saw this lone America Kestrel, also known as a Sparrow Hawk, roaming his territory. It's a small raptor that moves and flies quickly which makes it very difficult to photograph.

--Warren

Summer Time Coffee, Costa Rica

Adding another pic for the strangers project.

There is a long break from school beginning tomorrow for these four young siblings. Their family grows coffee beans and harvesting takes place over the children's break from school (now until February). So it is their work for summer, to pick the berries.

The red coffee berries smell great and are very sweet. Two kinds of coffee that can be made are red coffee, and green coffee. The difference is whether the berries were red or green. Red is more sweet; green is more bitter. (I had a chance to try a cup of both, and thought they were both nice!)

They have dogs and puppies and a swing out there with them to help enjoy the time and take breaks. But it is still a lot of work. They have very positive attitudes and enjoy their homestead. I felt very lucky to have met them. The brother loves all the puppies. The youngest enjoys the swing. The second oldest is smiling all the time, I think she has a calming influence for the others. And the oldest is the responsible big sis who keeps them all together and leads the way.

Costa Rica's rural charm

Rainbows and flowers and layers of mountainous scenery... Cows in the trees...

Part of the pleasantries here.

Warren I hope you and Gail have a chance to visit Deb Mountain in the future! Thinking of you guys often.

Progress on the project is still being made. They are hoping to have the road paved next year before June. :)

Low tide scene at Cliffs House

Reflections

Seals Rock scene

Lena

Egret in Flight

Lumix G5, Lumix 100-300mm

It's always a challenge to get pictures of birds in flight, but it's fun.

--Warren

Blue Dress at the Soap Shop

I thought I'd add this pic to the long-term Strangers project. This woman works in a soap/cream/shampoo shop in a tiny town in Costa Rica.

The shop employs five women and they use plants grown on site to infuse aromas and health benefits.

This is the back yard of the shop. She is standing beside a big leafy tobacco plant, and holding on to a plant with smaller leaves that smell like delicious lemon.

I thought the colour and pattern of her dress was beautiful in front of all the greens & browns. It connects just a tiny bit of the dark blue showing through in the background.

She later gave me a sample of some eucalyptus gel which seemed like Vicks VapoRub.

I do not speak Spanish and she does not speak English so it was mostly gesture-conversation between us... So that's about all I learned about her. ;)

She seemed really sweet.

Urban Solitary

Lumix G5, Lumix 100-300mm



--Warren

My Brain

Leica M240, Zeiss 21mm Biogon

Dan