Grey Skies and Great Mountains

I went out to the Buttermilks with a couple friends the other day.  The girls wanted to hike where it was warm, and I wanted to re-visit a favorite place of mine, and try and get a couple different perspectives.  The ladies were happy…and so was I.

Grey Skies Over Mt. Tom

This shot uses the same dead tree as my “Storm Over Wheeler Crest” shot from August of this year.  I wanted a new perspective, and with the much higher cloud base, I was able to get Mt. Tom in the shot this time.  Than I looked south…

Basin Mt. and Mt. Tom

This other fallen tree seemed to beg for attention.  I gave it some, but I didn’t get this one quite right.  It’s not bad, but I’m gonna go back.  I think a blanket of fresh snow at sunrise might be in order…

Thanks for looking!

Trying Something New

So…I picked up a photography magazine the other day.  Can’t remember which one, but it’s around here somewhere…  Anyhow…  It had this article on creating a really neat optical illusion.  You take a normal photograph, and make it look as though the viewer is looking at a miniaturized model of whatever your subject is.  So I tried it out…

Desert Diorama

Tiny Sabrina

Paradise, CA and Mt. Tom

I don’t know…it’s pretty neat.  I suspect it will be over used and become cliche fairly quickly, but…it’s a neat trick, and can make an interesting image from something you might not otherwise even process.

Let me know what you think, and if you want to know how…I’llbe happy to explain.  Or I can find the magazine and tell you what it was.  Wish I could remember…

Thanks for reading!

Local Legend

The Sierra Phantom.  He’s a local legend…sort of.  One part eccentric, one part mountaineer, 3 parts Enigma.  Add contents to bowl, mix thoroughly, and pour into a local river.  What you get is the Sierra Phantom…

Sierra Phantom

He’s in his mid-60’s now, but he doesn’t let that slow him down.  He spent many years living the life of a hermit, up in the mountains, in the backcountry, eking out a living from the bounty of the backcountry through fishing, hunting, and what little gardening can be done at 11,000′.  He has played an important role in the Search and Rescue of countless individuals lost in the mountains.  He has been party to searches, pack trains, mining companies, and environmental lawsuits.  The man has seen a lot…

I made arrangements with him to get together on a nice warm day, head to the river for some fishing, and to get some really good shots of the Phantom playing in his environment.  I hope we can really make that happen…

I also ran across a really neat car yesterday…

Cadillac LaSalle

You don’t see many of these anymore.  I have no idea what year she is, but I know her owner, so I can find out.  Sure is a beauty of an old luxury car, though, ain’t she?

Thanks for coming along!

Local and Live!

Bishop.  It’s a tiny little town nestled quietly between the western slope of the White/Inyo Mountains that border California and Nevada, and the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which separate Coastal California from the rest of the U.S.  We have about 4,000 full-time, year-round residents, a total of 4 stop lights, 3 bars, a grocery store, and a K-Mart.  We don’t even have a Wal-Mart…

But one thing we do have is a great appreciation for all genres of live music, and community events.  This weekend was the Inyo County Council for the Arts Main St. Festival.  Part of the festival is the ability of local artists to display their works along the Main St. Promenade.  Another aspect is the great live music scattered about town.  This is about the music…

Fiddlin' Pete and Neal

Fiddlin' Pete

 

Pete and Neal

 

Pete and Neal.  These guys were a lot of fun.  They played a mix of folk, country, and blues, and each song had a story about the History of the Owen’s Valley.  It was really a nice afternoon.

Special Thanks to Fiddlin’ Pete Watercott for allowing me to photograph the event, and post these pictures.  Great Job, Gentlemen!

Today’s Spotlights…

Went and talked with a couple local shopkeepers today, and convinced them to let me take some shots while I was there.

Brian and Brian of Aerohead Cycles were busy, but they didn’t mind that I snapped a few candids while they worked…

Than I went over and talked to Brent.  If you’ve ever needed an electronic device fixed in Bishop, you probably know Brent, or at least you’ve spoken.  He wasn’t busy, but he didn’t mind muggin’ about while I took pictures.  At least…he didn’t mind too much…

Thanks for taking the time to look!