I shot this one from the parking lot of the Tahoe Pad last summer, which is on Milky Way Court (thus the title of this blog). I don't quite have all the settings down for night photography just yet, but I feel like I'm getting there. The building in the foreground isn't ours, otherwise I'd have requested the porch light to be turned off. But the building and trees provide a little subject matter to what might otherwise be just a boring night sky photo.
If you've ever traveled the I-395 from Southern California, say, to Mammoth or to Lake Tahoe, you may have noticed a turnoff for Fossil Falls near Little Lake. In our continuing effort to discover and experience more along our road trips, Darcy and I decided to check it out this area a couple years back. After driving about a mile to a parking lot, we found a short trail to the "Falls." The shapes of the rocks in this area were formed from rivers that ran through the volcanic rock, making a very fun playground, of sorts, to hike around on and in. Bailey certainly enjoyed her visit there!
So, the next time you find yourself with an extra 30 minutes to spare, take the turnoff and explore a bit, you won't be disappointed.
This beautiful lake can be found just 2 miles off California Interstate 395 not too far south of Mammoth. It is one of many very interesting places that Darcy and I have explored on our many trips to or from Lake Tahoe. Due to its close proximity to the freeway, the timing is usually very good to take the exit, park by the lake and walk around to find a good place to enjoy lunch or a snack. We'd like to camp there sometime, as the entire area is very scenic and serene.
Convict Lake is named after an incident in the late 1800s when several escaped convicts from Carson City made their way into the area, resulting in a shootout. The lake was integral to a paradise settlement portrayed in the 1998 Star Trek film, Insurrection.
This one looked like a fun one for Fun Photo Friday. It is a group of cacti that I found along the cliff-line at the Self-Realization Meditation Gardens in Encinitas, above Swamis beach, right before sunset. This was shot on Christmas Eve, and you're looking at an HDR blend of 3 shots of varying exposures.
We didn't believe we'd ever find a lake as beautiful as Tahoe, but Crater Lake is a sight to see. It doesn't offer all the same recreational activities that Lake Tahoe does, but it has an amazing color and spectacular views all around the rim. We got there early in the season in 2012, so we unfortunately couldn't take the Rim Road all the way around (too much snow). We enjoyed the visit, though, and look forward to returning again some day.
On our first afternoon in Dublin, we decided to walk around a bit, making our way near the National Concert Hall, where we stumbled upon this amazing bronze statue, titled The Kiss. The statue is by Rowan Gillespie, who perfectly captured an everlasting moment of love. There is so much expression and emotion in this work of art. We were fortunate to capture it. A fitting photo to share as we celebrate love this weekend. Happy Valentine's Day!
The “Let It Snow” sign had been on display all year. The Snowman necklace was close at hand. The "Snow Dance" had been danced. What do you do when day after day the snow just did not seem to come? You close your eyes and dream of a day not too long ago where the forest was blanketed in white, the wind was calm enough that the carefully placed snow remained on the branches, the clouds in the sky promised more, and the vibrant blue of the lake seemed somehow unreal. As you open your eyes, before you is everything you dreamed of and more and you celebrate a long lost friend.
