Recently in Photography Category

Here is a slideshow of some photographs I took at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Palm Desert, California yesterday.

Related articles:

• Desert Odyssey (nytimes.com)
• Disputed Solar Energy Project in California Desert Is Dropped (nytimes.com)

I photographed artist Dale Chihuly’s amazing glass sculpture exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix yesterday. The exhibit ends on May 31st and I wanted to see it before it left. I also got some good shots of the plants and surrounding landscape.

Related articles:

• Chihuly Exhibit At The Desert Botanical Gardens (joetech.com)
• Photo of the Day (2.21.09) (gadling.com)
• Seattle Symphony, Chihuly team up (seattletimes.nwsource.com)

Here’s an interesting photo I took last year in San Juan Bautista. It is the hood ornament on a Cadillac that I saw in a funeral procession at the Mission. I don’t know anything else about it.

I do know that hood ornaments are collector’s items. I suppose that’s why this photo gets so many views. I’ve been toying with the idea of doing some artistic manipulation of this image in Photoshop. 

Related articles:

• What’s The Best Hood Ornament Of All Time? [Question Of The Day] (jalopnik.com)
• Hood Ornament Of The Month: 1960 Rover 100 [Down On The Street Bonus Edition] (jalopnik.com)
• Mission San Juan Bautista (whatimseeing.com)

Here is another of my most highly viewed Flickr photos. I took this one at a rally for marriage equality in Sacramento.

 

Related articles:

• How We Talk About Marriage (andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com)
• Prop 8 and Families: A Compilation (bilerico.com)
• LGBT Tax Day Demonstration Shut Down By Police (lezgetreal.com)
• 30 Favorite Flickr Photos from 2008 (offonatangent.blogspot.com)

This is the most viewed photo in my Flickr Photostream. It is the Mission San Buenaventura in my hometown, Ventura, California. I don’t know why is is so popular. I took it on a cloudy day and was kind of disappointed by the results. This photo is part of a project to photograph all of the California missions.

Related articles:

• One Photo a Day for 365 Days on Flickr, Wish me Luck :) (guitarchic.net)
• LAMB OF GOD: Ventura Photos Posted Online (roadrunnerrecords.com)
• Photo of the Day, March 30, 2009: Warning Sign (bostonist.com)

Here is a photo that is one of the most viewed in my Flickr Photostream. It was taken at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose, California. It is a replica of King Tut’s sarcophogus. I hope people don’t think it is the real thing.

Related articles:

• Earthquake rattles San Jose, California (inquisitr.com)

I just got a message from Vivian Nelson Melle telling me she used one of my photos to illustrate a travel article:

I used your great picture for an article I wrote on the Wildlife World Zoo. It’s an adorable shot. Thanks so much. Here’s the link.

 

I make all of my Flickr photos available for use with attribution. This particular photo was taken as this ostrich slowly strolled up to me. When I lowered the camera, I was surprised to see that the animal was close enough to give me a good peck if she was so inclined. Luckily, she was in a friendly mood.

If you want to check out all of my photo sets on Flickr, here is the link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fritzliess/ 

Related articles:

• Photo of the Day (4.12.09) (gadling.com)
• Photo of the Day 4.13.09 (gadling.com)
• 30 Favorite Flickr Photos from 2008 (offonatangent.blogspot.com)

Seeing the photos and video of the German woman who jumped into the polar bear exhibit at the Berlin Zoo reminded me of the day I recently spent with my dad at the Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium near Phoenix.

The tigers were in an enclosure that consisted of a wire fence and a small wooden barrier that keeps vistors at a little more than arm’s length from the big cats. All of the tigers were sleeping except one white tiger who was pacing wildly (as you’d expect a tiger to do).

 

I recall thinking that it would have been very easy for a small child to crawl under the wooden barrier and stick his or her entire arm through the fence. There were a few parents who were just letting their tots run around unattended. 

My dad and I actually saw a little girl who must have been about three years old sticking her hands in the water of an exhibit of turtles. Her mother shouted at her, but she was at least 10 yards away eating her lunch. For all she knew, the pond could have had a school of piranha in it!

Related articles:

• Polar bear attacks woman at Berlin Zoo (cnn.com)
• Lonely Man Leaps into Polar Bear Cage Because “He Looked Lonely” (treehugger.com)
• Sousa Family Sues SF, SF Zoo Over Wrongful Death (sfist.com)

A few weeks ago, my friend Cliff and I went on a photo hike to Garland Ranch Regional Park in Carmel Valley, California. Here is one of the photographs I took and converted to black & white in Photoshop. 

 

The park has lots of great trails for hiking and there all a few old farm buildings from the 1800s on display. I particularly like this old outhouse. It is an interesting photography subject.  

Related articles:

• Convert to Black and White for Better Concert Photos [Photography Tip] (lifehacker.com)
• Developing a view in monochrome (doonster.blogspot.com)
• Learning Photoshop the Fastest Way (cutewriting.blogspot.com)
• Adobe eSeminars for photographers (blogs.adobe.com)

I’m not really a big fan of zoos. The animals always look depressed — especially the primates. But, my dad and I had a great time at a wildlife park and aquarium near Phoenix last week. Check out the slideshow:

My friend Glen had the day off today and suggested that we drive to nearby San Jose (yes, we know the way) and check out a museum there called the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum and Planetarium.

I don’t know much about the Rosicrucian Order, but I love everything about Ancient Egypt. I’ve been fascinated by mummies and Egyptian artifacts since I saw the touring King Tut exhibit back in the 1970s.

Here’s what the museum’s Web site has to say:

The Egyptian Museum at Rosicrucian Park has been a fixture of San José life for so long that it is difficult to conceive of a time without it. Hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors to Northern California have experienced “history coming alive” through the exhibits, tours, lectures and other activities at the Museum. How did this landmark come to be here in the Valley first known for citrus and prunes, and now famous for silicon chips?

From the beginning of the work of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC in the 20th century, Egypt loomed large. From 1915 to 1927, at the Order’s early headquarters in New York City, San Francisco and Tampa Dr. Lewis, the first Imperator of AMORC began to collect artifacts from “the Orient,” through the generosity of members.

In 1921, Dr. Lewis urged Order members to support the excavations of the Egypt Explorations Society of Boston in Tell el Amarna, the city of the King Akhenaten and as a result garnered significant funds for the project.

In gratitude, the Egypt Explorations Society donated several artifacts from their finds. After the Order’s headquarters settled in its present San Jose location, Dr. Lewis conceived of a public collection, “The Rosicrucian Egyptian Oriental Museum” in 1928. 

It is an interesting place. There are several authentic artifacts and many reproductions of important museum pieces from around the world. 

 
  
 

There are 78 photos in my Flickr set:

http://flickr.com/photos/fritzliess/sets/72157611337605111/ 

For those of you who may have noticed, I’ve been taking a short break from blogging. But, I just have to post a few of the photos I took yesterday at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. The aquarium lets locals in free of charge every year and Cliff, Glen and I headed over there with our cameras.

One of my favorite exhibits features jellyfish. I recently read in the newspaper that this jellyfish exhibit will soon be replaced by a new one featuring sea horses. So, I knew that this would be my last chance to take some shots of these awesome creatures.

  
     
 

I stayed up all night editing the photos I took yesterday at several old cemeteries. I like the way they look in color. However, there’s just something eerie about graveyard photos when they are in black and White.

I converted the photos to duotone in Photoshop. I think many of them really turned out great.

 
 
  
 
 

You can view all 188 photos in my Flickr photo set here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fritzliess/sets/72157610799799514/detail/

A few weeks ago, I started a new photography project. My goal is to photograph all 21 of the California Missions. Yesterday, I drove four miles to Mission San Carlos Borromeo del Rio Carmelo — that’s right this one is so close to my house I could walk there if it were possible.

The Carmel Mission — as it is commonly known — is actually the second Mission San Carlos. The first was built in Monterey in 1770. Father Serra moved the Mission to Carmel-by-the-Sea in 1771. The original San Carlos Cathedral still stands in Monterey as the first stone building constructed in California.

Anyway, the Carmel Mission is a lovely place. Here are a few sample photos:

 
  
  
 

There are 130 photos in this Flickr set:

http://flickr.com/photos/fritzliess/sets/72157610753636236/detail/

Yesterday, my friend Mike and I visited the Marsh Building in Monterey. I’ve always been fascinated by this strange example of California’s unique architecture. The building was constructed in 1927 at what was once the “gateway” to downtown Monterey. It is located right next to San Carlos Cathedral, the first church built by Spanish missionaries in California. It was built to house an asian art gallery and furniture store and given an over-the-top design to attract tourists. I’m willing to bet that the Catholic Church was not too thrilled about having the view of their cathedral obscured by what probably looked to them like a “pagan” temple.

Several years ago, the Catholic Diocese of Monterey purchased the Marsh Building and announced plans to tear it down and replace it with a parking lot for the cathedral. That was when several people organized to have the building declared an historic landmark. While the debate regarding the future of the Marsh Building heated up, the Diocese allowed the building to crumble in disrepair. It got so bad that tiles were falling off the roof and the sidewalk surrounding the building had to be fenced off.

Then, Jerry Janssen, a dealer in Asian antiques who had a lifelong affinity for the Marsh Building purchased it. He has since restored the building to its former glory and created a home for Orientations, a store and art gallery featuring fine Asian antiques and works of art.

Here are my photographs of Orientations at the Marsh Building and the surrounding area:

 
 
  
   

Today, I started a new amateur photography project. Over the next two years or so, I will photograph all 21 California Missions.

The Missions span the coastal regions of California from San Diego to Sonoma along a route called El Camino Real. The first Mission I’ve checked off my list is the Old Mission San Juan Bautista. Dedicated in 1797 to Saint John the Baptist, San Juan Bautista is the 15th of the 21 Missions. In addition to the Mission, the site is also home to several historic buildings. 

 
 
  
 
 

There are 110 photographs in the set at my Flickr page:

http://flickr.com/photos/fritzliess/sets/72157609671775440/detail/

It has been quite a day. Cliff and I are exhausted after working all night making signs and then marching in the streets of Monterey this morning. I took 200 great photos of the event. I’ll write about it tomorrow.

For now, enjoy the slideshow:

I needed a break from politics and trolls today. So, I drove over to Pebble Beach and took a few photos on 17-Mile Drive. My house is actually 1/4 mile from the Highway 1 gate of 17-Mile Drive. I’m very lucky to live in such a beautiful place. Sometimes I take it for granted. Today, it was a wonderful respite.

Here are a few sample photos:

 
 
 
 
 

There are 121 photos in this set on my Flickr page:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/fritzliess/sets/72157608750277945/detail/

On Sunday, my friends Glen and Cliff and I attended a political rally at Window on the Bay in Monterey, California. It was a combined effort between the local Democratic Club and No on 8. The Obama rally began at 11 a.m. and overlapped with a No on 8 rally that began at 1 p.m.

Most of the people came early and stayed for both events — which really ended up being one big rally for both Obama and No on 8. Some Obama folks were holding No on 8 signs and vice versa.

The event was an educational experience for me. I have attended several No on 8 rallies. This was my first Obama rally. What shocked me was the overt racism and aggressive tactics used by the Republicans who showed up to counter demonstrate.

Just minutes after I arrived, I heard someone shout from a passing car, “White power!”

There was just one lone Yes on 8 supporter across the street. This has been typical of the No on 8 rallies at this location. However, a crowd of about 30 McCain supporters attempted to crash our rally!

They marched up on us and began to chant “B.O stinks!” Then, they began heckling us with “terrorists” and “go back to Russia!”

I asked the Democratic Club organizer if their rallies always draw hecklers like this. She answered that they did.

Anyway, here are a bunch of photos from the event:

The Democratic Club setting up for the event.

A lone Yes on 8 guy was across the street.

Check out the No on 8 Flickr Group Pool for hundreds of photos of people getting involved and taking a stand for marriage equality!

http://www.flickr.com/groups/865962@N20/pool/

Wow! This young lady really lucked out this year. She is a dead ringer for the “B” hoax woman, Ashley Todd. I hope she enters some costume contests.

Today, I took a short photo hike through Asilomar State Beach in Pacific Grove, California. It was an absolutely beautiful day, warm and sunny. The ocean was typically deep blue and wild with white foam waves.

     

See more photos of Asilomar at my Flickr.com page.

I found this random photo while doing a Google search for something totally unrelated to cute shirtless guys. I swear. But, take a look at the older man in the background. The look on his face as he notices this guy’s buddy snapping a photo is priceless.

I have to lose 40 pounds. That means I have to get more exercise. Today, I started what I hope will be a new routine. I went on a hike with my new camera. I’m going to call these 60 to 90 minute outings “photo hikes.”

One of the great things about living on the Monterey Peninsula is that I’m surrounded by beautiful locations. I could go on a different photo hike every day. There’s Big Sur, Point Lobos, Monterey, Pacific Grove, Pebble Beach, on and on.

This afternoon, I took a walk from Cannery Row in Monterey to Lover’s Point in Pacific Grove. The pedestrian/bike path along Ocean View Boulevard offers spectacular views of the Pacific.

       

Look what I found in my driveway today. Aren’t they cute? My neighbor has an apple tree in her yard and the deer just love them (I steal a few on occasion, too).

This mama and baby have been by every day for the past couple of weeks to eat their fill of juicy apples. I tried getting a few candid shots of them under the tree, but they saw me and sauntered away. 

You can tell that they’re used to people. There is also a big buck that stops by. I stay away from him. He gets kind of aggressive. His nostrils start to flare and he doesn’t seem like he’s willing to scamper off as readily as the female and her young.