Blue and Gold

Blue and Gold
Originally uploaded by 24thcentury.


Bears
Originally uploaded by 24thcentury.

The weather is nice and spirits are high as the campus gets ready for graduation celebrations

Few More to Begin

Plant in the Wall
Originally uploaded by 24thcentury.


Iconic
Originally uploaded by 24thcentury.

On the way to get a bag for the new camera (The Crumpler 5 million dollar home), I got a few shots in Berkeley.

First Shots

Blue and Pink
Originally uploaded by 24thcentury.


The Big MUNI Line int he Sky
Originally uploaded by 24thcentury.


Iris and Friend
Originally uploaded by 24thcentury.


Mania
Originally uploaded by 24thcentury.



Originally uploaded by 24thcentury.

The first photos are in from a two weeks with my new camera, the Nikon D40. And I like it!

Having cut my teeth on my dad's 1965 Nikomat, it's nice to be shooting with an SLR again. In addition to the kit lens (18-55), I also have the 55-200 zoom. Not only is it fun to shoot with, but I like the photos it's producing.

These are a sampling from the first few shoots I've taken the camera to. San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, a residential neighborhood outside of Sacramento, and one in the LA area.

A Few from the Archives

Just a Bit Outside
Originally uploaded by 24thcentury.


Fine Arches
Originally uploaded by 24thcentury.




Originally uploaded by 24thcentury.

Had these three photos from the past month or two waiting for the right moment to post. It became clear that moment wasn't coming, so, in a fit of Spring clearning, they're posted today.

Napa Valley Wine Country

untitled
By 24thcentury on 29th March, 2007.


Ruby or Garnet?
By 24thcentury on 29th March, 2007.




Depth of Field of Purple Flowers
By 24thcentury on 29th March, 2007.

This trio came from a day trip to the Napa Valley. The weather was gorgeous - warm with a breeze and not a cloud in the sky. The scenery was also quite nice.

Napping in the Park

Napping in the Park
By 24thcentury on 22nd March, 2007.

This couple was enjoying a lovely afternoon in the park. I cropped the image down to put them way at the bottom of the frame. I'm drawn to the large green expanse and that slashing gray path across the center.

Bunch o' Buds

Bunch o' Buds
By 24thcentury on 20th March, 2007.

Another one from the Palace of Fine Arts. These little yellow buds were just starting to bloom on different parts of the grounds. I do like the off-vertical background. If only the sunlight was more direct.

Fine Spring Day

For the Birds
By 24thcentury on 16th March, 2007.


Columns
By 24thcentury on 16th March, 2007.


Rippley Rotunda
By 24thcentury on 16th March, 2007.


Spray
By 24thcentury on 16th March, 2007.


Dynamism
By 24thcentury on 16th March, 2007.


Parklife
By 24thcentury on 16th March, 2007.

Driving back through San Francisco this afternoon, I was overwhelmed by the beautiful day going on all around. I took a detour along the Embarcadero and continued on past the Fisherman's Wharf and through the Marina, ending up at the Palace of Fine Arts. My drive turned into a stroll as I spent the better part of an hour wandering the grounds and taking photos.

Hang On

Hang On
By 24thcentury on 16th March, 2007.

The trees are sprouting seeds - or whatever the expression is for trees - in Berkeley. The spikey seedpods on this tree remind me of my neighbor's tree growing up. I like the sense that the branch just curls in out of the top of the frame, ready to drop its payload on the unsuspecting squirrels below.

Left

Left
By 24thcentury on 12th March, 2007.

Came across this tableau in Golden Gate park. One child's shoe, left behind on a patch of grass. Imagine the stories that might explain its presence.

Park Bench

Park Bench
By 24thcentury on 11th March, 2007.

An unassuming bench, but I like the lush background along this one entrance to Golden Gate Park. Lots of greens.

Curb

Curb
By 24thcentury on 8th March, 2007.

Waiting for the bus in the rain, these colors were the only bright field in my vision. You do see them all over the city. Pay attention, or the Department of Parking and Traffic will be all over you.

Waiting in the Rain

Waiting in the Rain
By 24thcentury on 7th March, 2007.

A couple days back, I noticed this weighty stone bench parked off the path. The rain had let up, but had left a muddy moat 'round it. The photo is an exercise in composition.

Looking for the Sun

Looking for the Sun
By 24thcentury on 7th March, 2007.

Later in the day, the sun did break out and illuminate these early blossoms. An exercise in light.

Not Much of an Eclipse

Not Much of an Eclipse
By 24thcentury on 3rd March, 2007.

So there's supposed to be a lunar eclipse tonight - unfortunately, California is so far away from the main coverage area that we're just supposed to see a red moon with maybe a little cutout. As you can tell, from the top of my apartment building, I couldn't even see that. Just a slightly murky almost full moon.

It does make for a rather attractive night landscape, though.