California – Page 8

California’s Moro Bay

California, Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Weather

Along California’s central coast, Moro Bay is a home for one nice marina and one large ubiquitous rock.

Sailboats harbor at California's Moro Bay. — These houses are stacked on top of each other, like cards in a deck.

Sailboats harbor at Moro Rock at California's Moro Bay. — I also forgot the ubiquitous smoke stacks of the local power plant.

The Hills Are Alive With The Color Of Green

That drought that caused brush fires in California that I highlighted earlier this week, is now a recent memory. California gets rain in the winter and the hills get green, but this winter , they are green green. These hills are east of Paso Robles, on the way to the San Joaquin Valley.

A rainbow appears just after a rainstorm in rural California — Where there are clouds, rain and sunlight, look out for the ephemeral rainbow.

Pacific Sunsets Without The Sun

California, Ocean, Pacific Ocean

You don’t necessarily need the sun in your image to produce good sunset shots. It’s the soft light from the sun shining on nearby objects that can result in a memorable image.

The light from the setting sun casts a soft light on clouds over the hills along California's central coast. — The light from the setting sun casts a soft light on clouds over the hills along California’s central coast.

California’s Eucalyptus Trees

California, Ocean, Pacific Ocean

Originally imported from Australia during the 1850s because of its appearance and use for lumber, the Eucalyptus Tree is prevalent throughout California. It was determined that it took 100 years of growth to be a sufficient lumber product, so the growing of Eucalyptus was relegated as a wind breaker or for its oil.

These Eucalyptus images are from Montana De Oro State Park along California’s Central Coast.

Scorched Earth

California, Weather

Remnants from a brush-fire ravaged scene at Placerita Canyon, California. As of December 11, 2016, 6,938 fires had burned 565,070 acres (2,286.8 km²), according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.^[1]

Thankfully, heavy rains and snow in California in December and January have alleviated the drought to some extent.

screen-shot-2017-01-17-at-12-22-12-pm — Reported wildfires this past autumn in California

Images Of 2016

Arizona, California, Death Valley, Desert Southwest, Flowers, Grand Canyon, Images, National Parks, Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Photos, Seasons, Utah, Waterfalls, Weather, Wildlife, Zion

My favorite images from 2016. I enjoyed the adventure of capturing them all for my website Dawn2Dawn Photography Looking forward to a great 2017. Happy New Years everyone. Watch in HD at full screen. Music is “Stranger Still” by Vetiver and can be purchased at iTunes

Hearst Castle- Searching For Rosebud.

California, Pacific Ocean

I’ve driven past the turnoff to Hearst Castle along California’s Pacific Coast probably 50 times and never stopped in to check it out. Too touristy. Along with my friends Jon and Amy, we made the trip last month to Hearst Castle since we were camping only a few miles away. The place is amazing and lavish but a bit pretentious. The 45 minute tour cost a whopping $25 and with that you’d think you wouldn’t have to pay 3 bucks for a small Starbucks. Yes, there was a Starbucks at the evil gift shop at the entrance. Along with a million other Hearst Castle curios, knickknacks, ornaments and other assorted trash. The castle is now run by the California State Parks and it must be a huge revenue generator. Didn’t see Rosebud however and a young guide there had no idea what I was talking about. Rosebud, a snow sled, seen in the movie Citizen Kane (Based partly on WR Hearst) signified Kane’s childhood innocence. Maybe the presence of the sled at Hearst Castle would have given me a more childhood -like perception of the place.