Dan's Outside

I go, I see, I do, I walk, I think, I like…

Ruins


QuicksilverRuins2004|07|29: Ruins of an old wooden building at Almaden Quicksilver Park. July 29, 2004
Ruins of an old wooden building. July 28, 2004.
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August 27, 2004 Posted by | Commentary | Comments Off on Ruins

English Camp Building


Full2004|08|26: Old Building at Almaden Quicksilver. August 26, 2004Full2004|08|26Full2004|08|26FullFull
Old building at English Camp. Almaden Quicksilver Park. August 26 2004.
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August 26, 2004 Posted by | Commentary | Comments Off on English Camp Building

U.S. Report, in Shift, Turns Focus to Greenhouse Gases

Previously, the administration had emphasized uncertainties in understanding the causes and consequences of global warming. By Andrew C. Revkin. [<a href=”http://www.nytimes.com/index.html?partner=rssuserland”>The New York Times > Home Page</a>]
U.S. Report, in Shift, Turns Focus to Greenhouse Gases
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/26/science/26climate.html?ex=1251259200&en=e2f0d6cabc5bf2a4&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland

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August 26, 2004 Posted by | Commentary | Comments Off on U.S. Report, in Shift, Turns Focus to Greenhouse Gases

Whalers Cove


WhalersCove2004|08|23: Whalers Cove. Point Lobos State Reserve. August 23, 2004.
Whalers Cove. Point Lobos State Reserve. August 23, 2004.
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August 24, 2004 Posted by | Commentary | Comments Off on Whalers Cove

Seals… or sea lions?


SealsPtLobos2004|08|23: Seals (sea lions?) at Point Lobos. August 23, 2004.
Seals (sea lions?) at Point Lobos. August 23, 2004.
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August 24, 2004 Posted by | Commentary | Comments Off on Seals… or sea lions?

Weston Beach


WestonBeach2004|08|23: Weston Beach. Point Lobos State Reserve. August 23, 2004.
Weston Beach. Point Lobos State Reserve. August 23, 2004.
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August 24, 2004 Posted by | Commentary | Comments Off on Weston Beach

Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur

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

ChinaBeach2004|08|23: China Beach. Point Lobos State Reserve. August 23, 2004.
China Beach. Point Lobos State Reserve. August 23, 2004.
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August 24, 2004 Posted by | 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.

HaciendaOaks2004|08|21: Oaks on the Hacienda trail. Almaden Quicksilver. August 21, 2004.
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.

HaciendaTrail2004|08|21: Hacienda Trail. Almaden Quicksilver. August 21, 2004.
Hacienda Trail. Almaden Quicksilver. August 21, 2004.
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August 21, 2004 Posted by | Commentary | Comments Off on Hacienda Oaks

Photo trickery?


TrailOwensVirga2004|08|12: Virga over Owens Valley. August 12, 2004.
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.

TrailOwensVirgaOriginal: Virga over Owens Valley - unretouched. August 12, 2004.

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 | Commentary | Comments Off on Photo trickery?

Col flowers and rock


ColFlowersRock2004|08|12: Three flowers and rock at Lamarck Col. August 12, 2004
Three flowers and rock at Lamarck Col. August 12, 2004.
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August 20, 2004 Posted by | Commentary | Comments Off on Col flowers and rock