Ashland was chosen as one of “The 20 Best Small Towns in America” by Smithsonian. But today’s photo comes not from Ashland but from one of the other 20 Best Small Towns, Laguna Beach. I took this photo of a Great Egret (Great White Heron) this past Sunday when I was exploring Laguna Beach.

This isn’t the first time Ashland has made one of these “Best of” lists. Ashland was previously chosen as one of the “Best Places to Retire” and “Best Places to Live” and “Best Ski Towns” and “Best Places to Thrive” and “Best Town Ever“.

Posted on April 19th, 2012 under nature, outside of ashland. Tags: laguna beach, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, nikon d7000, wildlife. Comments Off on The 20 Best Small Towns in America – Smithsonian

During my first full day in Southern California late last week there was a huge storm, more like typhoon or monsoon. More than an inch of rain fell during the day, and the wind was incredible. For a brief period of time things cleared up. I headed to the beach to take this photo. Soon thereafter it was crazy windy and rainy again.

Posted on April 18th, 2012 under nature, outside of ashland, places. Tags: newport beach, nikon d7000, sunset, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX Autofocus Lens for Nikon. Comments Off on Corona del Mar, Newport Beach sunset between storms

Matt Kemp didn’t win the National League MVP last year, but that isn’t because he wasn’t the best. He came in second in the voting because he played for the Dodgers, and the Dodgers didn’t make the playoffs. On this evening, Kemp went 2 for 4 and scored a run. But on this pitch, a fastball from Jeff Karstens of the Pittsburgh Pirates, he swung…

… and missed.

Posted on April 16th, 2012 under outside of ashland, people, places. Tags: baseball, los angeles, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, nikon d7000. Comments Off on The biggest offensive threat in the National League

I drove from Ashland to Los Angeles in a single day on my own. I made three or four pit stops along the way and this was the view from one of them. I was somewhere on I-5 heading south between The Bathrooms and The Angels (Los Banos and Los Angeles) when I took this photo.

I left Ashland before 4 a.m., traveling through quite a bit of snow and rain along the way. The sunrise was a dazzling contest between the sun and storm clouds for several hours between Redding and Sacramento. Unfortunately, I didn’t make any photo stops until this one.

I’m not sure what kind of trees these were, but they seemed to go on forever, like many of the orchards and farms along I-5.

Posted on April 15th, 2012 under nature, outside of ashland, places. Tags: california, clouds, nikon d7000, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX Autofocus Lens for Nikon, trees. Comments Off on California’s Central Valley

I’m in Los Angeles for a few more days. Here is a photo I took on Thursday as I was pulling into town. Actually, this is a number of photos merged together spanning more than 180 degrees. On the far left is Griffith Observatory. On the far right is the Hollywood sign. Click on the image for a lot more detail. I’ll be posting more photos of Los Angeles on my other blog.

Posted on April 14th, 2012 under outside of ashland, places. Tags: california, los angeles, nikon d7000, panorama, photography, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX Autofocus Lens for Nikon. Comments Off on Los Angeles Panorama

To the left you can see the Fairmont Hotel and to the right is the Bank of America Building (and Bay Bridge in the distance). The Transamerica Pyramid Building is in the center. I took this photo from the top of the Mark Hopkins Hotel.

Posted on April 6th, 2012 under outside of ashland. Tags: night photography, nikon d7000, san francisco, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX Autofocus Lens for Nikon. Comments: 2

I took a series of eight, wide-angle images while standing on a barrel in the middle of William Hill Vineyards at 6:20 a.m., and this is the merged/stitched result. This panorama probably covers about 200-250 degrees of the view. Unfortunately, it was the wrong season (no grapes or leaves on the vines) and the sunrise was a bust (totally overcast). Otherwise, it could have been spectacular. The William Hill Winery is to the left. For a better view, click on the image from a computer with a big screen.

Posted on April 4th, 2012 under outside of ashland. Tags: california, napa, nikon d7000, panorama, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX Autofocus Lens for Nikon. Comments Off on Vineyard panorama

Another photo today from my adventures this past weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco is one of four or five places I call home. I spent about a year tour guiding in San Francisco in the early 1990s. For some reason I never made it to this overlook of the Golden Gate Bridge until now.

The weather forecast was for heavy rain (over half an inch). Luckily, it didn’t happen. We had rain in Napa and a bit in San Francisco, but I think the high winds may have messed up Mother Nature’s rain plan.

Posted on April 3rd, 2012 under outside of ashland, places. Tags: california, nikon d7000, san francisco, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX Autofocus Lens for Nikon. Comments Off on Golden Gate Bridge

I spent the past few nights in the San Francisco Bay Area. A couple of those were spent at the Silverado Resort in Napa, a place I hadn’t visited since my wedding reception 20 years ago. I woke up early the first morning to see if I could get some sunrise photos. Unfortunately, the sun never rose; we had nothing but clouds the entire time in Napa. I still got some decent pics I’ll be sharing with you.

Posted on April 2nd, 2012 under outside of ashland. Tags: buildings, california, napa, night photography, nikon d7000, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX Autofocus Lens for Nikon, trees. Comments Off on Silverado Resort