MM.Rogers Photographs: california

Showing posts with label california. Show all posts

January 5, 2014

Shark Fin Cove (California)

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

Approximately ten minutes from Santa Cruz, Davenport Beach is just across the highway from the town of Davenport. This is a view from Bonny Doon Beach (first photo below). On the other side is what many people call Shark Fin Cove (second photo) - a popular spot for photographers.

September 17, 2013

Steam Train at Roaring Camp

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

A wonderful day trip to Roaring Camp in Felton, California took me and my family on our very first ride on a 19th century steam train. What used to be a train to haul giant redwood logs out of the mountains is now a popular fun ride for families who are looking forward to a real steam train ride experience. This well-preserved locomotive travels through redwood groves to Bear Mountain, all the while blowing that exciting sound of steam train whistle. Tickets are $26 for adults; $19 for children ages 2 and up. If you are bringing babies and toddlers, make sure you get them earplugs prior to the trip.

Related article: Santa Cruz Beach

September 15, 2013

Stanford

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

August 12, 2013

Santa Cruz Beach (California)

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

Mid-August is here. With it comes that feeling something's ending - yup, the end of summer. Getting the most out of what's left of this season, my family and I headed to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk last weekend to soak all the sun and frolic by the beach. The day trip includes a stroll down the boardwalk, sprawl by the beach, take fun iphone photos, get amused by a flock of seabirds feeding on bread crumbs, get full on a serving of huge roast turkey legs and garlic fries at the food court and of course, a visit to the nearby surf shop hoping to find an affordable long board. It was amazing to watch the surfers in their wetsuits wait patiently in cold water for pitiful small waves to ride and yet, the feeling of satisfaction's there. A day at Santa Cruz Beach is a great, cheap escape on a mild lazy afternoon. What's best of all is watching how the majestic setting sun turn the skies toasty gold, bathing us in sunshowers.

See Half Moon Bay entry

Panoramic view of Santa Cruz Beach

View along West Cliff Drive

Mark Abbott Memorial Lighthouse

August 4, 2013

Petaluma (California)

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

When you plan to visit Sonoma county, you got to plan it right. There are several cities you could drive through for a quick walking tour and even an overnight. Prior to the Sonoma Hot Air Balloon Festival, my family and I spent a night at Petaluma - a small old town in Sonoma County, minutes away from the balloon fest venue. I read that Petaluma is popular for butter. Though I was curious, I didn't get my hands on some blocks of butter due to a tight schedule. Butter, you can let go but don't miss out on Water Street Promenade-Historic Downtown-Putnam Plaza tour for dining (especially along Petaluma River) and get a taste of what the city has to offer to a foodie like me (ok, I define foodie as someone who loves watching cooking channel but doesn't do well in kitchen and her love for authentic food is an undying affair).

Photos were taken with a Nikon Coolpix point and shoot.

July 25, 2013

Napa Valley: Castello di Amorosa

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

Less than 30-minute drive will take you from Downtown Napa to Calistoga where numerous wineries doors are open for wine tasting and tours. St.Helena is also a favorite when it comes to winery tours. To spend a day going in and out of these wineries is enough to tipsy you out so I suggest choose 2 or 3 popular ones, spend some bucks on each tour (about $25-$75 depending on the winery) and come out sober (remember it is 'tasting' not gulping) with several bottle purchases to take home. This is our second trip to Napa and I suggest buy the Castello di Amorosa wines because they are perfect! Napa County is located north of San Pablo Bay, about an hour away from San Francisco, CA.

During our February trip to Napa. The grape trees have been planted. It was still cold and there wasn't much to see around just as yet but it was awesome to just drive around and see what Napa is all about.

Castello di Amorosa is very interesting, modern-day castle.
Read about how it started.

View from the castle tower

During our recent June trip. It's summer and the grape trees have grown. The weather was warm and it was perfect timing to walk around the castle.

I call them 'baby grapes' - this early June 2013

July 20, 2013

Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

To photograph hot air balloons at the break of dawn has been on the top five of my photography list ever since that day I picked up a camera thinking I finally found a lifetime hobby. Now in California, I know hot air fest is just within reach, possibly road trips away because of its ideal climate and geography. And I was right. I googled events happening in this state and I was able to pull up several hot air events happening this year. However, I didn't want to travel miles and photograph 2 or 4 balloons while they silently float away. I wanted dozens at a time and I wanted to get confused by the splash of colors and quantity. It wasn't hard to come across Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Festival 2013. Decided, I google mapped it, bought pre-sale tickets for six bucks (instead of $10) and drove 3 hours two days before the event. To make it a weekend-long fun escape, I also visited the nearby towns of Petaluma and Napa Valley. Waking up at 4am for the festival-it was all worth it!

NEXT: National Geographics Museum (Washington DC)

May 28, 2013

San Diego Beluga Whale

A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

As much as I would like to say this was taken somewhere in the Arctic Ocean where these whales are commonly found, no, I didn't get that far. Yet. These belugas or white whales are the well-cared for crowd-pleasers of San Diego SeaWorld. Along with the white bear and king penguins.

Despite what seem like huge creatures, the beluga whales are smallish, ranging from 13 to 20 feet in length easily distinguishable from other whales with their white outer color, rounded forehead, no dorsal fins, no sharp teeth. They whistle and make various sounds, feed on fish and crustaceans. Contrary to what many people instantly assume, the belugas are not the source of beluga roe or caviar.

May 15, 2013

Berkeley (California)

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A photograph can be an instant of life captured for eternity that will never cease looking back at you. - Brigitte Bardot

My first Mother's Day was spent outside elbow-rubbing with the busy on-the-day shoppers, along the head-scratching jam-packed car parks and roads, along the quaint Santana Row shops, then finally along California's famous city of Berkeley. Our reservation at Skates on the Bay was at 7:30pm, we got enough time enough to sit and relax at the nearby park, hang out with the setting sun, recall my husband's stories of his days with yachts and catamarans, walk along the pier and literally "chill" with the pier fishermen and golden sun worshippers.

View of the Berkeley Pier at night

The Berkeley Pier extends out for more than 3,000 feet; as such, it is one of the longest piers in the bay, as well as the state. This reflects the shallow water around most of the pier. Bottom is primarily mud and there are few rocks with the exception of the shoreline area. The pier was originally built in 1926 so there are a considerable number of old pilings but mussel growth itself is fairly light. In the summertime there can be considerable growth of kelp along the shoreline.(pierfishing.com)

Skates on the Bay restaurant has an excellent view of they bay, great food with reasonable prices. Always make a reservation prior to visiting.

The Berkeley Marina is the westernmost portion of the city of Berkeley, California, located west of the Eastshore Freeway at the foot of University Avenue on San Francisco Bay.