Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Reflections

Ahh sailboats, I know it seems like a theme lately. It's only partially because I really love them (especially the bright colors in this shot.) The other reason is, near the water is about the only comfortable place to be these days. The cool air coming across the breakwater is the only thing that makes a walk bearable during the day lately. Well that and the cool water if you don't time the waves right. Still humid summer or not, it's absolutely beautiful!

Thursday, January 2, 2014
Santa Barbara Harbor Golden Hour

Just after the sun dipped below the mountains in the distance the sky still had some amazing color. An evening walk on the breakwater is a great place to watch the sunset.

Friday, December 13, 2013
Christmastime at Stearns Wharf

Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara decorated for Christmas.

Friday, November 15, 2013
Peaceful Evening on the Water

I love to walk on the beach and at the harbor and look at all the boats. There are a wide variety of amazing crafts around Santa Barbara, but the sailboats have to be my favorites. It's been a long time since I've been sailing, and I'm pretty sure I'd have trouble living full time on one. But it sure looks like a nice relaxing way to spend the sunset hours. Someday soon I'm going to find the time to spend more time out on the water.

Friday, August 30, 2013
Santa Barbara Breakwater Twilight

Walking along the Santa Barbara Harbor breakwater at sunset, the perfect end to a really warm day.

Saturday, June 15, 2013
Santa Barbara Harbor Twilight

I love to look at the boats at the Santa Barbara Harbor, think about how much fun each one would be. I'm not the worlds expert on watercraft, but I know enough to spot the nice wood sailboats that are beautiful (but a lot of work), and the crusiers that look like they could almost be an appartment inside, and the beautiful racing boats. It seems like they must each have a story and they are just waiting for the next chance to go out and write another chapter. But in the evening like this they sway peacefully in their slips dreaming of the open water.

Saturday, March 16, 2013
Skimming Pelican

Have you ever seen a Pelican surf? On the land they seem a little comical, but in the air they are amazing. They often fly right along the surface of the water taking advantage of "Ground Effect" an aerodynamic effect giving more lift in close proximity to the surface. It makes sense that they would do this to save energy, but at times they move closer to the breakers, riding the front of the wave just like a surfer. They wait until the last moment to slip gracefully over the top of the wave as it crashes below all gliding without a flap. This evening I caught this guy skimming the surface, but as he slowly flapped he actually ran the tip of his wing through the surface of the water just like a surfer playing in the front of the wave with his or her hand. He wasn't being as playful as some in the breakers but he was very graceful and relaxed. It was a pleasure to watch him and his friends fly off into the sunset.

Saturday, March 2, 2013
Shoreline Snowy Egret

Time for another local resident! I love all the birds that frequent our shores, but the Egrets have to be some of my favorites. This is a Snowy Egret, fishing at the beach at Shoreline Park. If you ever get the chance to watch them fish it\'s definitely worth the patience to stay still and let them get comfortable with your presence. They like to slowly walk through the shallow water, reaching out with their free leg and large foot to agitate the water, trying to scare any tasty treats out of their hiding places. Their large feet, combined with the fact that they actually walk on their toes giving the impression that their knees bend backward (when in fact it\'s their ankle) makes them look like they are reaching out with a hand just like a person would. This guy does not normally have an upright crest, but those beautiful wispy neck feathers were getting quite blown by the wind. So they have another human-like trait, they can have bad feather days!

Saturday, December 22, 2012
Christmastime in Santa Barbara

Ahh Christmastime in Santa Barbara, when everyone decorates their... umm.. rigging? Which of course makes the beautiful Santa Barbara Harbor even more enjoyable than usual.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Stearns Sunset Reflections

There's no better place to be at sunset than Stearns Wharf at the end of State Street in Santa Barbara. Great restaurants, souvineers and ice cream are all found out here. And they even have been known to film a movie or two out here.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Great Blue Heron Silhouette

This little lake on the eighteenth hole of the Sandpiper golf course is one of my favorite sunset spots. The birds seem to like it too. This particular evening I was coming back after getting some sunset shots of the rest of the course when I noticed this beautiful Heron resting at the near edge of the island. But try as I might, I could not get a good shot. After he watched me pace back and forth a few times he must have decided I looked too much like a hungry cat. So he decided to go get some dinner of his own. I watched him slowly cruise across the island moving as elegantly and stealthfully as possible hoping he would move into the remaining glow of the setting sun. After a few minutes you can see that my patience was rewarded.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012
The Getty Center Magical Sunset

The Getty Center is as beautiful as the art it contains. This was about twenty minutes after sunset with a nice glow in the western sky. This spot by the fountain in front of the West Pavillion is one of my favorites but there are many spectacular views to choose from.

Sunday, June 29, 2008
Theresa Ann

Another shot from our recent wanderings at the Santa Barbara harbor. It's a nice peaceful scene, but just to my left was a popular restaurant on a balcony overlooking the harbor. There were lots of people around waiting to get in and having a good time. Next time I'll get an image that includes the restaurants.

Thursday, June 19, 2008
Santa Barbara Sunset Harbor

We spent a couple of evenings walking around the Harbor watching the sun set this week. I think I could take a walk at the Harbor and the Wharf every night with my camera and never get bored. Every evening when I get home each photo that I love gives me the ideas for three more next time.

This one was partially inspired by another vertical panorama I took at the harbor almost two years ago. It was later in the evening when I took that one, and you can see the stars. But at the time I wondered what it would look like from the other direction with the sunset sky. Now I have my answer!

Monday, June 9, 2008
Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens Gazebo VR

When I posted the image of the day on the sixth there was a little disapponintment that it was not a 360° image. Well here it is! Takes a little more time to build this kind of image.

Of course, this is across the lake from the other shot, in the gazebo. This is one of my favorite spots in Santa Barbara. If you are new to the site and like the 3D images be sure to check out another one of my favorite Santa Barbara spots.

Friday, June 6, 2008
Alice Keck Panorama

Click the main image for a larger view.

A couple days ago I was working on a particularly difficult statistics problem. (mmm math what a concept.) In the midst of my preparations to fling my computer out the window my wife suggested a nice walk at Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens. Or as we like to call it... Alice Keck Park Park.

The clouds were beautiful and it was a wonderful evening. I wish I could say I came home and solved the problem right away, but at least I got a lot of really beautiful shots out of it. And I was much happier continuing on my statistics project.

Oh yeah, I've also been tinkering with some other images that are not my own. I have not been able to figure out how to get my own camera there yet so I had to work with what was available.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Lotus & Lily Pads

Seems like a fitting image. As I upload this it is raining like crazy.

I love the way the water beads on the lily pads, and the ruffled edges of the pads themselves.

Friday, June 9, 2006
Duck Taking Flight

I think these are the same ducks from our last trip to the gardens! I think she said something to insult the Koi. Because the Koi jumped out of the water near her and made her take off like this. Of course I can't say I blame her. The Koi was twice her size!

Saturday, April 15, 2006
Alice's Ducks

We had another nice walk through Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens today. (Commonly mistaken as just Alice Keck Park. As in Alice Keck's park, but her name was Alice Keck Park, and it is her Memorial Garden.) I only point this out because it was not entirely clear to me until today. Actually, I guess I just never thought about it before today.

So, on to the Ducks. They were chasing each other around the pond the whole time we were there. Ahhh, spring is here! :-D

Friday, May 27, 2005
Lake Los Carneros

There are some places that you can live right next to and never know they are there. The Monarch Butterfly Overwintering spot in Santa Barbara is one of them, and this is another.

I know I am not the only one that is surprised by this place. Last week at the Art Walk I listened to a "Local" tell his friends from out of town that this was the bird refuge, right down the street from where we were standing (which, of course, it is not).

Where I was standing to take this picture, I had my back to the 101 Freeway about 50 feet away, right near the Los Carneros exit. But, due to the rolling land and the trees, you would never have any idea it was here. Fortunately there is a good adult education program here that has some excellent nature hikes.

Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Pool Whirl

Love those close-ups!