Author Archives: anyonecantakeapicture

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San Diego 2009

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In preparation for the San Diego 2012 trip, I thought I would reminisce about the San Diego 2009 trip ;-)

Much like the one coming up, Mom had a work conference there, which I piggy backed on in order to take advantage of the “free” hotel room.

Days 1 & 2 –  Started on a Saturday, flew in, checked in, dinner, lights out early due to the 3 hour time difference. Our hotel was right on the bay.

Our first full day we decided to go back to where it all began, to San Clemente where I was born.

And yes, that IS the view from the first place I ever lived! We then drove up and down the coast (or PCH) for a bit, stopped in Laguna Beach and walked around.

Had dinner in Coronado, just across the bay from where we were staying.

Day 3 – Our third day took us to the famous San Diego Zoo!

The first exhibit just happened to be the Flamingoes! Before we left for our trip, I stumbled upon a picture of me at the age of two, standing in front of a bunch of flamingoes. Could that have been the start of my little obsession? Wouldn’t it be cool to get a recreation twenty-five years later? We later realized that the location was not in fact the Zoo, but instead it was taken at Sea World. Oh well, a good side by side nonetheless.

More pictures of flamingoes, of course!

Also on our adventure, we happened upon Peacocks, Rhinos, Polar Bears, Giraffes, and Elephants.

In the “Bear Canyon” we saw the Koalas, and of course the Pandas.

My love/hate relationship with zoos stems from images like the ones below. I understand that some animals are born/bred in captivity in order to help save the species, others are injured and can’t be released back into their natural habitat. But I hate seeing animals in cages, regardless of how much room they have to roam, it still breaks my heart. But I love the fact that I can see these animals, even if from afar, because I highly doubt I’ll ever get a chance to see them any other way. If you stare really hard at the grass in the middle left, you can see a tiny bit of the tiger’s face (talk about blending in!).

Here’s another guy, hanging close by to the cage door, waiting for his meal.

Despite my sadness for the animals, I still remembered to be silly and have fun! Isn’t that what zoos are really for?

Day 4 – Mom had classes all morning, so I’m was on my own for a while. I made my way to Balboa Park where the roses in the Rose Garden were in full bloom!

Ther were so many varieties, I had to try to take a picture of all of them!

After mom’s class, we did a modified 59 mile drive that I had found on the internet that hit some “must see” spots in and around San Diego.

Sunset Cliffs, which is just what it sounds like, is a stretch of cliffs offering spectacular views of the ocean (while we didn’t stay for a sunset this trip, I definitely want it on the itinerary this upcoming trip).

Mom was none too happy to take this picture of me, fearing that I would actually fall. Sad thing is, a couple of days later we were watching the news and someone DID fall.

Soledad Mountain offers 360 degree views of La Jolla and San Diego. While the infamous SMOG of Southern California was abundant that day, the views were still nonetheless spectacular. 

We then headed down the mountain to La Jolla.

One of my favorite places in SoCal is the La Jolla Cove and the seals. Why pay to go to Sea World when you can see these guys for free (granted, they don’t do flips or tricks, but then again, see love/hate from the zoo). BTW, this is one of my all-time favorite pictures. Talk about reflexes and being at the right place at the right time ;-)

Day 5 – I was on my own ALL day! I drove around for a bit to kill time, then headed to the Birch Aquarium. It’s a small one, not too many exhibits, but it has fish, sharks and a really nice view!

I drove around a bit more, went back to Sunset cliffs to read a book and watch the water.

Day 6 – Mostly spent beach hopping, from Carlsbad down to Pacific Beach.

Day 7 – The second half of the day was spent on a harbor cruise. An interesting side note on the Coronado Bridge; in order to receive federal funding for the bridge, the City of San Diego curved and lengthened it to meet the minimum length for federal standards. The original plans had it much shorter and almost a straight shot across.

Day 8 – We took a tour of our other old neighborhoods and homes we lived in while in SoCal. It was so sad to see the neighborhoods fall into bankruptcy and decrepitude in the 10 years we had been away.

Day 9 & 10 – I was on my own again and spent it either driving around or lying about in the sand, soaking up the beautiful sun. The evening of day 10 (and my last evening), found mom and I at a restaurant in La Jolla overlooking the Cove. Every single night we had hoped to catch a sunset and we were either busy and missed it, our itinerary took us away from the coast, or because it was cloudy and overcast. However, on my last night, I was finally able to catch it and it was worth the wait ;-)

7 weeks and counting down until we return to the sunny and bright San Diego, California!

Unknown's avatar

I survived!

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The day started out like any other. Work started at 8:30, did some recaps, made some copies, went to a short meeting and then met at the bus at 10:30 for the Account Management Fun Day at The Diamond!

It’s Richmond, Virginia, in late June. It’s warm. But it’s not just warm; it’s hot, humid and sunny without a cloud in sight! But it’s going to be a good day. Picnic area (mostly) to ourselves. Free hotdogs and hamburgers. Free Beer! Free LARGE beers! And wait, we’re “working” and “on the clock” and they are letting us get away with this? Hell yes!

We even get to rub the belly of the pig!

We go to our seats, practically on the third base line.

Gotta love the sun. We make it about 20 minutes until we need a refill of beers and some shade. We make our way up higher in the stands for some reprieve from the broiling sun. No wind, but at least we won’t get burned. Fifth inning and it’s time for a bathroom break. Socializing and two innings later, it’s time for the raffle prizes. I walk away with nothing, but three, yes THREE of my fellow Financial Managers walk away with a prize. Today is a good day!

The Richmond Squirrels are down, by a lot, so we head back to the stands to cheer on our team! The clouds multiply and darken, but are still a ways off. They get ominous, but still we sit and cheer. If there’s anything certain about Richmond, it’s that when a storm is brewing, 9 times out of 10 it skirts around the invisible dome of weather. Or, if it happens to break through, it lasts 5 minutes. So, we sit.

The wind picks up, but it’s a warm wind. Unless it’s a cold wind, you stay put. Hmm, wait, that gust was a bit nippy. Someone a couple of rows over with their smart phone in hand gets up and says there’s a Tornado warning for our area. Oh Sure.

Seconds later, we see a tiny twister develop in the bull pen. Where’s my camera!?!? Then, the wind REALLY picks up. We get up and scramble for shelter. Nanoseconds later, the rain starts pounding down and the wind picks up even more.

For a while, it’s fun! Where did this come from?!?! Then, hats and sunglasses go flying off of heads and faces. Most get rescued, others do not. Hair gets whipped around; people are protecting their beers, SAVE THE BEERS!

Then, chairs start getting lifted and carried. Some even knock into people’s legs. Hmm, ok, getting a little scary. But there are some mighty men still sitting in the stands. Can’t be that bad.

Then, the ushers start screaming GET INSIDE! Some duck into a janitorial closet, others rush off to the enclosure of the restrooms and some of us duck into a VIP box and watch from the windows as all visibility is reduced to a rainy blur. We grab napkins and blot our drenched faces and soaking hair. We look around in disbelief at the other wet rag dolls. “Is this really a tornado?!?” Yes, yes it is.

We all watch in amazement as debris goes flying by. Flags are whipping. Lights are flickering. Then, as quickly as it started, it lets up. We cautiously make our way back into the picnic area, still drizzling a bit, but better than the cramped, stuffy room.

“Are the buses here, can we go?!?” We make our sopping way down to the buses. Head counts, tales of bravery and pictures are shared all around. We survived Account Management Fun Day 2012!

Can’t say I ever had a feeling of imminent, absolute danger. Can’t say that my life flashed before my eyes. But I can say I will take Mother Nature more seriously the next time someone says there’s a weather warning in our area.

A bit melodramatic? Perhaps. But 100% eye-witness account? You bet.

Unknown's avatar

Anyone…who plays Peek-a-boo!

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Anyone can take a picture and I do mean anyone! You point and click and voila! You have taken a photograph! Your subject matter, framing, focus, light source, color contrast and balance are not important, what is important is that you’ve captured that moment. That moment that is special to you.

I have an affinity for taking shots with what I have dubbed the “peek-a-boo” effect. Your main subject is further in the distance, but to give it some texture and depth, I shoot through something, like trees or shrubbery. It just gives your photograph a bit of substance rather than just a square building against a plain blue sky.

Or add some greenery to that white waterfall against the brown rocks (while beautiful in and of itself, sometimes you need a punch of color).

I try to get a little creative, sometimes a little too creative, and the effect my eye caught either doesn’t translate to the photograph or it just looks silly.

 

Point is, you don’t have blinders on, you don’t just see what is directly in front of you. Walk around, squint, squat and tilt your head and see what else your mind’s eye can capture.

Unknown's avatar

Anyone…with patience…

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Anyone can take a picture and I do mean anyone! You point and click and voila! You have taken a photograph! Your subject matter, framing, focus, light source, color contrast and balance are not important, what is important is that you’ve captured that moment. That moment that is special to you.

Anyone can take a picture. But if you’re like me, those moments are even more special when you DO capture something unusual, when it IS in focus, when you DO catch the light, when you CAN create contrasting colors.

I can be a little picky and those that know me know I can be VERY picky about some things. I’m also very impatient. I mean VERY impatient. Picky and impatient are not good bed fellows. But when it comes to photography, I will actually wait patiently to capture that photo of exactly what my mind and eye sees. I wait for the crowds to clear, the cars to pass, for a break in the clouds and for the wind to stop blowing.

I have a boarderline obsessive love (ok, fully obsessive love) with aquariums and sea life. It usually takes great patience to wait for something to swim right into the perfect view…after the umpteenth time.

I’m not sure what this guy was, but he was ugly and his eyes were burning into my soul!

Ok, full disclosure, I have to admit that I did enhance the contrast of the Albino Crocodile in Photoshop (which I do endorse on most occassions), but that’s a whole other topic for a later time ;-) But the whole patience lesson still applies.

But I will linger. I don’t mind waiting for the cheery family with 3 kids to ooh and aah over the exhibit, then get bored and move on. Then oh, here comes another group running over, still I wait my turn. Because I know that if I am patient long enough, that perfect shot will swim into view ;-)