Photo ABCs

Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron

The juvenile Black-crowned Night-Herons at Lindo Lake are all out of their nests and testing their hunting skills. 

This one perches in a California Pepper Tree.

Traje de Luces

I love photographing tourist souvenir trinkets!

Here is a souvenir chaquetilla, or matador's jacket, part of the traje de luces, or suit of lights, found outside the Plaza Monumental, Tijuana, Mexico.

I purposely shot at f2.8 to give a very shallow depth of field.

Aqui hay una chaquetilla souvenir, un parte del traje de luces, afuera de la Plaza Monumental, Tijuana, Mexico.

Para ver mas fotos de los toros, por favor de mirar en mi galería de los toros.

One Half Million

Today, my pbase site received its 500,000th view. That is, individual pictures on the site have been viewed 500,000 times! Now, this is not a large number for pbase accounts. Popular accounts may get thousands of views per day, millions per year, I don't know. 

But for me, the number is thought provoking. In all of my gallery shows combined, the number of people looking at individual photos could not possibly approach a fraction of this number. Of course, most visitors to pbase just look for an instant, but I'm sure some stay for a while. 

What we now take for granted, the ability to share photos around the world, instantly, could not be conceived of only 20 years ago. Now it is commonplace. It's worth a small celebration, I think!

Which photo of mine has been viewed more than any other?

This photo of Ana Ivanovic has been viewed over 44,000 times. Why? Because I misspelled her name!

When I posted the photo, I spelled her name Ana Ivanovich. So, every time someone googled Ana Ivanovich, my photo was listed #1! If I had spelled her name properly, it would have been listed far lower...

 

Jorge Hernandez Garate

Rejoneador Jorge Hernandez Garate performs at Tijuana's Plaza Monumental, June 27, 2010.
Rejoneador Jorge Hernandez Garate, en La Plaza Monumental, Tijuana, Mexico. 

Para ver mas fotos de toros, por favor de mirar a mi galería de los toros.

Ryder Hesjedal

Ryder Hesjedal is my longshot to finish on the podium of this year's exciting Tour de France (since teammate Christian Vandevelde has withdrawn). He won the hilly final stage of the Tour of California.

We'll see how he fares in today's critical stage in the Alps!

Here he competes in the Los Angeles time trial in the Tour of California.
 

Los Forcados de Mazatlan

In Portuguese style bullfighting, after the rejoneador (bullfighter on horseback) finishes most of his work with the bull, a group of forcados will attempt a "pega de cara," or face catch, in which the lead forcado incites the bull to charge, catches the bull between its horns, and hangs on on to the back. The others will then jump on the bull until it stops.

It is an act of sheer bravado.

Here the lead member of the Forcados de Mazatlan performs a successful and acrobatic pega, at Tijuana's Plaza Monumental, June 27, 2010. The audience was extremely appreciative.
 

Los Forcados de Mazatlan hacen una pega de cara, en la corrida de toros en La Plaza Monumental, Tijuana, el 27 Junio, 2010.

Para ver mas fotos de toros, por favor de mirar mi galería de la corrida.

Other World Marketing Plans!

A number of years ago I was a finalist in a photo contest sponsored by a large magazine. The magazine is now producing some kind of documentary showcasing past winners, and chose my photograph. I just signed a release form allowing them to use the photograph, as well as in materials to promote the show.

In the fine print, I agreed that they could use the photo to promote the show "throughout the universe, and in perpetuity"!

Wow! Wouldn't it be great if 10,000 years from now, on another planet, some creature is looking at my photo! 

 

Cancellara and Martin

What an exciting start to this year's Tour de France! 

Only Fabian Cancellara was able to best Tony Martin's superb early ride, to win the prologue time trial.

More interestingly, Lance Armstrong showed he may have the form to seriously challenge Alberto Contador, as he finished five seconds ahead for a fourth place finish.

If you need me during the next three weeks, I'll be watching the Tour! (on television, unfortunately...)

Here are Tony Martin 
and Fabian Cancellara

  during the recent Tour of California Los Angeles time trial.

Waiting For An Audience

Most who know me know that I spent 100 days over five years photographing Route 66. 

I put together a Blurb book of my photographs two years ago to show my work to publishers. While I don't yet have a publisher (that's a long story!) my book is viewable online (and can be purchased, as well!).

Unlike every other Route 66 book, this one is organized not geographically, but by subject matter, (gas stations, diners, motels, etc.)

Please click here to take a virtual trip down Route 66, and let me know what you think!

Colors of The Past 

Gaston Santos

It's been a while since I've used my abstract motion technique. Last Sunday was a perfect day to try it. Overcast and dark, it was easy to use the slow shutter speeds and to avoid the blown highlights which can occur in direct sunlight.

Here is rejoneador (bullfighter on horseback) Gaston Santos, at Tijuana's Plaza Monumental.