As a hiker approaches the top of Wagner Butte the scene changes again. Instead of forest, desert, wildflower-covered field, or grassy meadow there are a few rocks to climb (not difficult) to get to the top.

I have never seen a dandelion seed head this big before. I should have put a finger in the photo to give the viewer a point of reference. Usually they are smaller than a golf ball, but this one (and the others in the field on the Wagner Butte trail) was bigger than my fist.

The sign on the top of Wagner Butte has been there for probably a couple decades now. The elements have not been kind, and it is now barely readable.

Posted on September 9th, 2011 under nature, outside of ashland, places. Tags: flowers, hike, nikon d7000, signs, Tamron 10-24mm lens, wagner butte. Comments: 1

Northern California mountain ranges from Mt. Ashland in Southern Oregon

Another photo today from Mt. Ashland as the sun was beginning to set last week. I’d really like to head back up there for a sunrise before the snow makes it impossible. Mt. Shasta didn’t look so great at sundown, but I think it could look great from Mt. Ashland at daybreak.

Posted on September 5th, 2011 under nature, places. Tags: mt. ashland, nikon d7000, sunset. Comments Off on The sun goes down

Sunset facing Medford from the top of Mt. Ashland

The lights in the distance are in Medford. I took this photo from the top of Mt. Ashland in late August. There aren’t many days in the year when you can get to the top of Mt. Ashland in a car (because of snow).

For a reverse view (from Medford during the day), a couple months earlier, check out this pic.

Posted on August 31st, 2011 under nature, only in ashland, places. Tags: landscape, medford, mt. ashland, nikon d7000, sunset, trees. Comments Off on Mt. Ashland sunset

Aimee Mann takes the stage at Britt Festival 2011

After narrowly missing Aimee Mann’s performance in Tokyo a couple years ago, I have finally been able to attend one of her shows. Last night at the Britt Festival in Jacksonville was wonderful. More photos to come soon…

Aimee and part of her band at Britt (August 23, 2011)

Posted on August 24th, 2011 under outside of ashland, people. Tags: aimee mann, britt festivals, concert photography, nikon 18-200mm vr ii, nikon d7000. Comments: 2

I picked up a few lenses for my Nikon on Craigslist at a great price. I’m not sure if I will keep them forever, but it’s nice to know that I can sell them for more than I bought them for. The one I used for this photo was a Nikon AF-S VR Zoom-NIKKOR 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED Telephoto Zoom Lens. The lens is great for outdoor sports photography. However, it doesn’t fit in my bag (with the lens hood on anyway), and 70mm is too telephoto to make this lens at all versatile. The 300mm zoom isn’t that much of a difference from the telephoto end of my 18-200mm so I don’t see myself using this lens much. Still, it delivers nice sharpness and bokeh for scenes like the above. By the way, I took this photo at Garfield Park in Ashland.

Posted on July 17th, 2011 under only in ashland, people. Tags: Nikkor 70-300mm VR, nikon d7000, photography, volleyball. Comments: 1

There is a bit of controversy over where exactly the “Pear Capital of the World” is. Kelseyville, California call themselves the Pear Capital of the World, but they don’t grow nearly as many pears as the Rogue Valley in Southern Oregon. Plus, Harry & David (famous for pears) is located in Medford, not Kelseyville.

I took today’s photo on the last day of April, when the pear blossoms were at their peak, in a field with thousands of pear trees located in Talent or Phoenix (or somewhere in between the two). For some, unknown reason the annual Pear Blossom Parade and Run takes place in early April, before the pear blossoms and usually before decent weather.

There aren’t many pear orchards right in Ashland, but we have a pear tree in our backyard that just finished blossoming. We are now past the cherry blossoms, pear blossoms, and daffodils. Now, in mid-May, we are getting the dogwood blossoms.

Posted on May 15th, 2011 under nature. Tags: flowers, nikon 18-200mm vr ii, nikon d7000, wildlife. Comments: 1