Even on a trip to an area with beautiful scenic views like Eagle Lake in Lassen County, my favorite photos usually end up showing the small details and tiny creatures that also abound. I probably shot more pictures of butterflies than anything else during my stay! But I had a feeling it would have a good camera trip just as […]
It’s not the type of terrain I normally fall in love with, but just look at the beautiful sagebrush hills and plains near Lassen County’s Eagle Lake! This is California’s second largest natural lake, and although the lake is low right now, I saw butterflies everywhere I looked. Cattle were bawling from somewhere across the fields. A cool breeze kept […]
Not all my photos of insects were a great success on my most recent trip to Lake County, but I am pleased that I spotted my very first Lorquin’s admiral. According to Wikipedia, these handsome butterflies are very territorial and sometimes go after larger animals rather aggressively; luckily, this one was in a peaceful mood! On this outing I also […]
I’ve learned (unfortunately, the hard way) that however weary I might feel after a long day of driving on the highway, it’s usually a good idea to find a place to have a walk around outside. No matter how much I would prefer to throw myself onto the bed and not move until morning, things go much better if I […]
About a month ago, I discovered an amazing undeveloped green space along the border between Roseville and Rocklin completely by accident; and once the rainstorms finally let up I was able to get out and do some exploring. As I wandered the many trails that crisscross the area I was reminded of the pre-development landscape near Whitney Oaks in Rocklin. […]
While I do like to shoot (and share) photos of the houses we’ve rented near the coast, I try to keep a couple of ideas in mind in doing so. One is that rather than just record the structure, I usually try to focus on details — items that seem to create a unique and memorable atmosphere. Secondly, I like […]
Whenever a trip to Clear Lake has us staying in Nice (same pronunciation as the city in France!) one of the first things I like to do is take a stroll along Lakeshore Boulevard with my camera, preferably in the morning. Despite its rather grand name, this street is a narrow side lane without markings or sidewalk; I normally see […]
When I first noticed these yellow-and-white irises growing wild at Lake Berryessa’s Steele Canyon Campground, I had no idea that ladybugs had already moved in and were making themselves at home. It was difficult for me to get close enough to see precisely how many of these bright red insects were there; but I did also spot at least a […]
I didn’t spend too much time in the small garden abutting the redwoods of the Jack Hume Grove in Vacaville. The flowers were few, and the sun was very bright when I arrived, not long after 12 noon. But a few colorful autumn blooms did catch my eye as well as the attention of some insects. Sadly, although there were […]