Dan's Outside

Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur

We took a family trip to the Monterey Peninsula today, visiting Point Lobos, Big Sur, and Monterey.

China Beach. Point Lobos State Reserve. August 23, 2004.
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August 24, 2004 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur

Hacienda Oaks

I took a different trail today at Almaden Quicksilver Park. Instead of heading straight up Mine Hill, I turned right at the English Camp Trail cutoff and followed the Hacienda Trail to Capehorn Pass.

Hacienda Trail oaks. Almaden Quicksilver. August 21, 2004.

Although this trail ended up in the same place (Capehorn Pass) it seemed considerably longer and it included a lot more climbing. Since the start of the trail drops away from the Mine Hill trail and then climbs above it near Capehorn Pass, it may involve an extra 100 feet or so of climbing. It is also quite a bit steeper in places.

Hacienda Trail. Almaden Quicksilver. August 21, 2004.
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August 21, 2004 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Hacienda Oaks

Photo trickery?

Virga over Owens Valley. August 12, 2004.

Just for fun, here’s the original version of this shot, more or less as it came from the camera. The light was terrible and I had to underexpose a lot to avoid blowing out the sunlit areas in the distance.

Basically, I ended up working the image in four parts: the snow field, which needed to be brighter and have more contrast; the sky and distant mountains which needed additional contrast; the foreground which needed some color, contrast, and detail; and the intermediate ridge, which needed more contrast and to remain dark so that it would stand out a bit from the foreground.

What did the scene really look like at the time? Probably not exactly like either of the images. If it really looked like the lower image, do you think I would have bothered takng a picture? ;-)

My recollection of what it seemed like at the time is more like the upper image, though it clearly amplifies the effect. Provoking a reaction to the image that is closer to my experience of being there led me to create the upper version.

So, which do you like best? ;-)
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August 20, 2004 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Photo trickery?

Col flowers and rock

Three flowers and rock at Lamarck Col. August 12, 2004.
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August 20, 2004 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Col flowers and rock

No pictures!

I hiked today and took no pictures! After being lazy since my return from the Lamarck Col trip last Friday I finally got out today for a quick hill climb at Almaden Quicksilver.

Mid-August in the coastal central California hills brings some changes that foreshadow autumn. Although it is definitely still summer by the calendar and the thermometer (91 degrees today), some trees are starting to turn colors and lose their leaves. Although this is likely more the result of the hot, dry California summer it still feels a bit like fall.
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August 18, 2004 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on No pictures!

Forest floor

Forest floor near North Lake. August 13, 2004.
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August 16, 2004 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Forest floor

Lamarck Col Trail

Lamarck Col trail above Upper Lamarck Lake. August 11, 2004.
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August 16, 2004 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Lamarck Col Trail

Mount Dana

Mount Dana from near Saddlebag Lake. August 10, 2004.
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August 16, 2004 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Mount Dana

Elizabeth Lake

Elizabeth Lake, Yosemite. August 9, 2004.
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August 16, 2004 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | Comments Off on Elizabeth Lake

Sunset virga

Mt. Agassiz, the Inconsolable Range, and virga at sunset. August 12, 2004.

August 16, 2004 Posted by gdanmitchell | Commentary | 1 Comment