Landscape, Nature and Travel Photography

It’s taking more time than anticipated, but photos are being added to my Photo A Day page. Check in and check it out

So I’ve been joking around with some friend and co-workers about a crazy neighbor that I have in my neighborhood. Fortunately this person is 4 or 5 blocks away with a very steep hill in between his property and where I live. Every day driving out of my neighborhood I see this house and every day the junk on this guys lawn is swapped out. On the weekends every bit of junk this person owns is brought out, rearranged and magically on Monday its back to this state of tacky chaos. For your submission I’ve included a sample of two days… click on the following images for the full size versions and see what you notice is different. I apologize for the poor view. The following photos were taken from my car on the way to work. I didn’t feel like artfully composing my shot. I was too busy cursing under my breath.

I found out late yesterday that my friend suffering from her terminal illness passed away Monday morning (around the time I wrote my first post about her). RIP Barbara I’ll miss you.

The third episode of EXIF and Beyond has been released. This is an audio podcast and can be viewed or downloaded via iTunes:
EXIF and Beyond: Art Wolfe Interview Part I

For the non-iTune listeners a streaming version of this podcast can be accessed here.

Enjoy and by all means feel free to pass on feedback.

Previous podcast episodes can be found at EXIFandBeyond.com

This past week has been very hectic with work, family and photographic endeavors, but my thoughts have become occupied more and more with a friend who is terminally ill. My friend isn’t the closest, but we shared two great passions… dogs and photography. We would talk and share a good laugh at the dog park. Over time we learned that we both shared a deep interest in photography and eventually my friend joined a local photo club that I had been a member of for a few years. We crossed paths more in the dog park than at any other time and I’ve slowly become aware how much I’ve missed our conversations. I spoke with her just the other day to let her know how I and my wife were thinking of her. Her voice weak and faint, my heart sank. My friend likely won’t survive the next week or two and I’ve been thinking about the frailty of life ever since talking to her. In time I will only have her photographs to remember her by. Moments of time and fading memories. Clearly photographs have a greater meaning and value over time. Things that are here one day are gone the next whether its people, animals, cultures or landscapes. The world we live in is built on a cycle of life and death and for that we all struggle to cope. Interesting how photography has intertwined itself into all our lives as we all, even if subconsciously, grapple with this fact of life.
My thoughts are with you Barbara.

This year I made my yearly pilgrimage to Macworld to take photos of the latest offering by Apple, Inc. (formerly Apple Computers, Inc.). As part of their announcement the company has changed its name as it expands into product offerings well beyond computers.

The centerpiece of todays Keynote speech by Steve Jobs was the demonstration of Apple’s iPhone. I was expecting something neat, but nothing as mind blowing as the UI and application offerings shown. It was definitely an eye opener if not a jaw dropper. Unfortunately the price seems a bit high and I’m not sure it will be coming down anytime soon. The product is set to be released mid-year after clearing FCC approval and the prices range from $499 (4GB model) to $599 (8GB model).

Photos can be found on here in my Flickr Macworld Expo & Keynote Speech set.

The second episode of EXIF and Beyond has been released. This is a video podcast and can be viewed or downloaded via iTunes:
EXIF and Beyond: Mobius Arch

Enjoy and by all means feel free to pass on feedback. This podcast like the last is a little rough, but as more come out I’m hoping they become more refined.

Previous podcast episodes can be found at EXIFandBeyond.com

Technorati Tags: Mobius, Arch, Mount Whitney, Alabama Hills, landscape, photo, photography, dawn, sunrise, EXIF and Beyond, podcast

This went completely under the radar as of late. Federal pressure has the California State Parks and Recreation Commission re-evaluating the wilderness status give to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. To virtually quote Diana Lindsay, the President of the Anza-Borrego Foundation and Institute, this would be the first time in American history that either state or federal wilderness has been de-designated in order to allow development. As you might predict the industry pushing for this change is the energy industry specifically San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) who wants to erect 150 miles of transmission line straight through this protected area. If the government is successful in repealing protected status of lands deisgnated as wilderness a dangerous precedent will be set putting all protected land in jeopardy.

Sadly the perception is that this may be a done deal, but with your participation it can be stopped.

The California State Parks and Recreation Commission will be holding
its ONLY southern California hearing on the proposed powerline route on 2/8/07 at 7:30 PM at the Borrego Springs Resort.

See the remainder of this blog entry for further details and follow this link to stay caught up on the “Sunrise Powerlink” project.

The few news articles that have documented the proposed changes to the public:
Santa Ysabel learns Valleyites informed SDG&E plan at PUC (a must read)
Sunrise Powerlink would be first power line approved in existing park (a must read)
Naming of national power corridor delayed
Utility Consumers’ Action Network - Sunrise Powerlink Rulings, Comments & Testimony Read more… »