In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
Haven’t been shooting during the day except for this shot taken on our morning hike, but I’ve been knocking off some long over-do to-do’s.
Ann and Jen.
LR, you got me thinking about Pismo Beach again. So here are a few more shots from a couple of weeks ago.
Standing on the pier shooting with a 200mm lens, I filled a 16 gig card.
I watched this couple for quite awhile. They couldn't keep there hands off each other:-)
I was intrigued by the pillars under this pier. The repeating verticals, coupled with the vertical shadows, kept my attention until some kids starting running in front of my lens. I rarely shoot motion.
Someone requested I post some "dark" photos as a change. Does this qualify J?
What a fantastic place Pismo Beach is. Note to self…..Check out rentals for a longer visit.
Not my best. Not my worst.
One photo, from one uploaded card. Four more cards uploaded tomorrow.
Goodnight.
Lane using his iPhone LCD for lighting.
Stacy. We reluctantly stopped shooting at 12:30am. We were having too much fun.
It was the 2nd to last night we were camped on the CDT that Duane and Mike obviously heard us in our camp just off the trail and came over to say hello. For a while I listened and talked to Duane (who arrived first) through the closed tent door. But soon I had to open the door to see this interesting sounding character. If only I had thought to video Duane as he related story after story about how he and his cousin Mike camped without tents, without sleeping bags and minimal clothing on the CDT at elevations of 10,000 feet plus in conditions I’d be shivering in while camped in a tent, deep in my warm sleeping bag, wearing heavy layers of fleece and down clothing. This was a REAL mountain man. Neither had much gear.
Duane arrived and the shared mouth dropping stories continued. We chatted for about 20 minutes or so before the two hiked off to find a place to camp and start a campfire.
The next morning we happened upon Duane and Mike again as we passed their camp and ended up happily giving them most of the rest of our excess food. (Tailwinds and I always carry too much food. You know, the fear of not having enough syndrome.) It was a win/win handing over food to the guys…. We got to lighten our loads for the upcoming long downhill trail and they got enough food that they wouldn’t have to get off trail to buy more food (and waste time they could be hiking). Mind you at this point of this morning I really believed we’d be reaching trail end that night. Meaning I wouldn’t need another dinner, breakfast the next morning. Turns out we couldn’t make the miles and spent another night out but I still found plenty of extra food to eat.
Duane.
Mike.
Here is what my friend Tailwinds wrote in her blog about Duane and Mike.
http://suzannefinney.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/dwaynemike.jpg Once you follow Suzanne’s website link, scroll mid way down through the photos to see a photo of Duane and Mike.
The guys had graciously allowed me to continue to take photos of them. I gave both Duane and Mike my card and said have your family email me and I’ll send you some of these photos I’m taking.
Today I heard from Candace, Duane’s mom. I sent her photos of the boys. Again, a win/win. I got some fun photos and they got some photos too.
A trail angel is anyone who gives assistance to backpackers. Fred is more than a trail angel, Fred makes things possible that wouldn’t be possible without his help. Fred has helped me and my fellow backpackers on two trips to date. The PCT last year and the CDT this year. There were four of us on the CDT this year, Tailwinds, Me, Carmen and Lorna.
Fred has flown me over trails I’m about to hike, he has horse-packed in resupplies, he has asked his friend to fly me to a city where I would catch a flight home after a backpack, and this last trip he and Tailwinds (they are mates) picked me up at the Rock Springs, Wy airport, housed us in his trailer before our hike, drove us to the CDT trailhead at Big Sandy Lodge, hiked in with treats!!!! and picked us up at our ending Elk Park trailhead (near Pinedale), driven us to Green River Valley where we stayed the night with Lorna’s sister, drove us out to view the Green Lakes area, and then drove us back to where he and Tailwinds were staying so Tailwinds could drive me to the airport.
Fred, please know how much I appreciate all you do for us.
Fred, trail angel extraordinaire. And Zipper, his side-kick.
Fred's truck and trailer. We spent the night in his trailer before starting our hike the next morning. My backpack is the green one, far right.
Another photo of Fred and Zipper.
Carmen. Fred, Lorna and Tailwinds.
Four of us slept in the trailer the night before we hit the trail. Loren slept in the backseat of Fred's truck.