Fireworks and "Snow"

The beauty of having an annual pass to Disneyland is being able to go for a few hours, just for the fireworks on a random Sunday night.  There are so many interesting things to photograph and it's constantly evolving.  I love being able to head there whenever with a DSLR in tow... though I may try a series with just an iPhone or normal point & shoot just to test my photographic eye.

Lights during the candle lighting ceremony

Shooting stars... do you believe?

Soap snow!!!

Sleeping Beauty castle... iced out.

Active Shooting Hours: 2
Review Hours: 2
Total Hours to Date: 96 - almost to the first 100 hours!!!

Berkeley by Day, San Francisco by Night

Not unlike college days of old, I wandered Berkeley by day and then hopped on BART to play in the city at night.  It's amazing how natural it all felt and there was the bonus of being mistaken for a student and a local when more than one person stopped me for directions.  I also retained my uncanny ability to nap on BART and wake up just in time for my stop - mildly interesting superpower?

Despite loving the conveniences and logical city planning of suburban paradise, I do find the order confining and uninspiring at times.  It's hard to find inspiration when you're staring at the back of a Prius that nearly backed into you in the parking lot of Whole Foods (true story).  Still, I find that plenty of people who live in the old cities with architectural masterpieces let their mundane daily agendas drive their attention and they miss the forest for the trees.  It's probably why they always say it's important to travel and see the world for all the wonders it has to offer.

This was also my first attempt at nighttime photography with a tripod - definitely a third time's a charm situation since I lugged that thing all over the place and finally got to use it my last night in the city.  Good thing it's only 2lbs and conveniently fits into my camera bag.  Also would have doubled nicely as a makeshift bludgeon in the unlikely yet possible event that we would have been jumped by weirdos.  I love how the shots came out even though they were pretty stock in nature and not particularly visually dramatic.

Campanile over Wheeler - some of my favorite classes were in that building

Sather Gate - fun discovery: the lights have swirly lightbulbs in them

Two of the larger bells of the carillon in the Campanile

San Francisco City Hall

Columns at the Palace of Fine Arts

Palace of Fine Arts

Seeing the city through the trees

Coit Tower

The Bay Lights installation on the Bay Bridge

Hours to Date: 41
More Berkeley
More San Francisco in the Dark

In the Summertime When the Weather is Hot

It's fair season.  Carnival rides abound, farm animals, fried foods, blue ribbons for handicrafts... things that are oh so quintessentially summer.  I think fairs are a quaint visit to a different time for most people and a spotlight once a year on the people who still make a living (or at least a hobby) around raising livestock and various vegetables.  Not to mention the carnival workers - I wonder if this is their livelihood or do they look at it as a way to bring in extra income during the summer months.

I went on a Thursday night to avoid massive crowds and the heat that's been plaguing us lately.  Up side, it was cooler and less crowded, but I'm also surprised that I still didn't see a whole lot of interesting things to photograph without nonsense crap in the background... and for a lot of subjects.  I'm not sure if it's a result of feeling uninspired last Thursday or just not seeing things from the right angles.  In any case, some snapshots, nothing particularly noteworthy:

A sunflower, clearly marching to the beat of its own drum.

Giant sand sculpture... this was pretty impressive, wonder who gets to knock it down

Carnival lights

Ferris wheel... perhaps made of ferrous materials?

Carousel - probably my favorite shot of the night

Fried cookie dough... aka heart attack in a bite

Hours to Date: 26