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.
This is a picture of the cabin at Wood’s Lodge we stay at in Mammoth, CA every year for 3 weeks. Wood’s Lodge looks down on Lake George.
We love this cabin at Wood's Lodge, Mammoth, CA.
I’m beginning to upload some photos I’ve taken here in Mammoth to the Portfolio section of this website. Here is the direct link to view photos of Crystal Crag Lake. The hike Ray and I took begins at the far end of where we are staying. We hiked about 1.5 miles up to 9,600′. We are finally beginning to acclimate a bit and as you can tell, we aren’t rushing into any strenuous activity.
What I learned from this morning’s shoot:
I need to use a split level neutral density filter shooting Crystal Crag and its reflection in the lake.
Wait until there are white puffy clouds in the sky to shoot the Mammoth Crest and Crystal Crag.
Pay attention to my background when shooting the birds and squirrels.
Change the White Balance setting to cloudy from auto when shooting early so I don’t have to change the settings in Lightroom later.
Plan ahead and REMEMBER what works and what doesn’t and don’t fire off frames that aren’t lit right, action isn’t interesting, background is yucky.
Take my time. I get so excited.
Remember to change from one shot to multiple shots so when my shutter speed is high enough I have a better chance of in focus fun action shots.
Breathe! Hours go before I know my back muscles are killing me.
And, take time to smell the roses while I’m shooting…..like I did yesterday late afternoon on my walk around Lake Maime.
To illustrate how lost I get in either shooting or post production, I went out to shoot at 6:00am. It is now 11:00am and I’m finally going to have breakfast. I must be having fun or I wouldn’t have forgotten to EAT!
Sierra Crest reflection behind this stellar jay.
Gotta love the 6am feeding frenzy.
My best subject lets me get so close. This is cropped to best show off his prayer pose.
Cropped shot.
The bird on the left is always talking. He's loud and we always know when he is around.
Early boater on Lake George.
Close up of Twin Lakes and its bridges.
A heavily cropped, Osprey flying over Lake Maime.
Reflections in Lake Maime around 6pm. My favorite of the day.
A bird by the shore of Lake Maime. I looked and couldn't find the name of this guy. He looks juvenile so maybe that's why I couldn't recognize him in the bird book.
I used my 50mm lens with a 25 extension tube. I had to get right on top of the low growing flower (and tick?) which meant I was on my knees while the mosquitos feasted on all uncovered parts of my body.
We pulled up to the cabin and parked the over packed car yesterday. I needed to get the keys to the cabin. After walking up the short path (totally winded) to check in, Stan said, “Take it easy the next few days and enjoy just hanging out getting used to the elevation.”
We are at 9600′. Thanks for the suggestion Stan but that’s a no brainer. Ray and I are feeling light headed, listless, out of breath and OLD! But thrilled to be back at Wood’s Lodge.
Lake George
Porch view at 6:30am.
Morning scratch. I so relate.
Looking inside. Ray enjoying his morning routine.
Tomorrow Ray and I head out to the cabin at Woods Lodge in Mammoth. Can not wait.
Hopefully today, after meeting with someone at 9:15am and a massage at 10:45am, I will get packed up, leave details for our house sitter, and finish up some paperwork.
Today started out with a steeper, backpackless, hike up the bump & grind. Getting exercise the first thing in a day always makes for a great day.
Another, steeper, trail up the bump & grind.
I asked Jen to hike ahead so I could get this first full sun light, shadow and linear length of trail.
Last night around 8:20pm.
I hadn’t shot a photo for the blog last Friday. Moments before we left to go out last Friday night, I got my camera because I was curious what the skylight fixture lighting the bathroom (and Paula) would look like. After I took a few photos of Paula she asked if I wanted her to take one of me.
And yes, I did ask Paula if it was ok to post any of the photos we took.
Fat arms me.
Nice back Paula!
Mary Kay and Jen this morning on the b & g.
Why was the bump & grind so crowded this morning?
A shoot from the hip shot of some young ones.
Spotted these guys as I was coming home through the MHCC gate.
The next four days I’ll be busy and not shooting much.
I went out the door twice today looking for a shot. This was all I could come up with. The geese are loving that the Palmer Golf Course is closed for reseeding. The workers spread the new seed and the geese eat it up.
Trying to get in close up on the geese is not easy. I’d move off to the right of the geese and they’d turn and move off left. Then I moved over to the left, ahead of the geese a bit, and the geese would turn and move back right. After a while I felt like a sheep herder, making small movements to see what it would take to get the geese to change direction. The geese were quite responsive to my small movements left and then right. I got bored with the shots I was getting and left them to their eating.
Geese in front of our home.
He was cold when I found him this morning.