A Getty Birthday Outing

Today is daughter number two (Kailey) birthday and see asked me to go with her to see the Getty Museum in LA. I have never been - Why? but today, post rain, was a gorgeous day to be on a hill overlooking the basin of LA. So crystal clear with a few puffy clouds. Planes taking off over the Bay toward the Island - could see them as well - Just Beautiful.
The Museum is a wonderful attraction. The Tram line at the parking structure was very busy, but once on top of the hill the crowd just disperses to seemingly on one around. Great venue!
I didn't even attempt a shot of the panorama, just too big, and I enjoyed it with Kailey.
Here's a shot the did strike me as a bit funny:

The Life of Art

Draining water is an art, don't you know!

Enjoy your family

The Saddle's on a stand...

I want to get going and use the new MoHo, but there are a couple of things needing attention, minor but necessary on the coach.
The other and bigger needs is to take care of my sinuses. It is defiantly a fungus infection that is the cause of my pain and suffering. Surgery is scheduled for 4/10 and then I'll have to stay close for most of that month to check my progress while I heal. With that in mind, I decided to go to Dodger's Spring training for the week of the 16th and see some of the southwest desert. That should calm my itchy feet while I go through the surgery and recovery.
I want to take a month trip come May and then be back for daughter and grand daughter's birthdays in early June. It's a plan and then we'll see what happens.
It seems that my calendar is as full as when I was working.
Later

Back in the Saddle again...

My Gawd, it's been over two months, and I had been doing so well, too.
Well the Holidays are defiantly over and the new year of 2015 has gotten off to a start - sometimes rocky - but a start.
I have decided to travel in the US this year and in order to facilitate that endeavor, I have done something I swore I would never do again - I got a motor home. Remember "Never say Never!!!!" It's a small class C from Forest River. So far there are more greats than ah shits, so I am hopeful.
I took the maiden voyage this weekend - who told me it was a three day Holiday weekend!!! I'm retired remember! Anyway I got in to Carpinteria State Beach for Thursday night with Lindsey, Michael and Dahlia. Grand daughter at the beach and playing in the surf was more than worth the price of admission. Many more to come, I hope.
We split up today - I went North to Morro Bay and they went back home to do ....
Okay, I got the camera out tonight and shot the sun setting at the beach. Here's one and more to follow in the future. Sorry to be so lazy - but I think I needed a bit of a break.

I was just trying to get the wave breaks on the rock and up pops this surfer.

Sunset - WOW!!

I have said it before and I will say it again - Sunsets are my favorite times to shoot.
Someone once looked a sunset photo of mine and said that it was beautiful, but what is your subject. Granted there was no person, no mountain, no foreground, no etc. just the clouds and the changing light. If that isn't interesting enough to find a "subject", I don't know what is. Depending on the amount of wind and I guess your position on earth that would determine the speed of the setting sun, everything changes and often dramatically every few seconds. I have shot several hundred exposures (not counting the fact I usually shoot HDR with at least 3 frames per) during a sunset, just marveling at the changes I see.
Last night I looked out my door and ran to the beach for sunset. It had rained yesterday, bringing clouds to SoCal that it normally doesn't have. I was a little late getting there and saw some incredible moments sitting at a traffic light. I remember looking at the cars next to me and seeing that no one was even looking at the view that was right in front of them.
So here is the first shot I made when I got to Mandalay Beach, looking toward the Anacapa Islands.

This is a few minutes later - I only shot 150 images last night - I just watched a lot.

And this one is the last shot just as I was leaving to go home to fix dinner.

As you see, it is a constantly changing light show. If I was inclined to be an early riser, I would try to compare the views of Sunrise with Sunset.

Here's a shot of the clouds during the sunset that just looked interesting to me. Subject: Clouds!!

For you techies, all shots were three exposure HDR processed with Photomatix Pro 5; then back to Lightroom 5 for final touches.

Enjoy

Come visit the website

I have been working on the website. New look, more pictures - yes, I have been able to upload more of the Summer Trip.
I invite you to stop by:
http://www.pixstix.biz
Let me know your thoughts and remember the shopping cart is always below the photo.
Best

Jet Lag

Here it is Saturday and though my body arrived in LA Monday night after about 21 hours of traveling, my mind is just now beginning torealize it is back in SoCal.
Holloween was fun watching my granddaughter being the little Princess she is and stalking the neighborhood to get candies. Fortunately, her mom only allows her to have two pieces.
Next week I must begin work on some of those photos from the trip that I just dumped onto the hard drive, but haven't even looked at. I am afraid that Rome was left alone.

 Here is a shot taken at 6 AM Rome time from my plane as the sun was rising.

And here is sunset over the Pacific as I headed intoLAX about 6:30 PM, PST

 These were taken with my iPad Mini, with the new upgrade iso, and they are not too bad.
More to come,so stay tuned.

Time to go Home

What have I picked up while on my "expedition"?

1. Patience is a virtue, but you waste a lot of time achieving it. I can't tell you how much time I have waited for idiots, who have no clue that other people inhabit this world, to move out of a shot. 
2. Croisants in Italy have powdered sugar and a filling.
3. You have to lock your hotel door from the inside, it is often not a automatic thing, and you have to lock it on the way out. Twice around.
4. Crossing streets in Italy is a game of intimidation. Make eye contact and force them to stop while you walk across, otherwise they will have the advantage and never let you go.
5. Traffic lights are sort of there just to add color to the intersection. Few people pay attention to them. If no one is ready to go when the light changes, they keep going.
6. Scooters are everywhere and worse than cars. They sneak in between cars.
7. If there is a space of more than 5 feet in front of them, Italian drivers try their best to hit 100KPH.
8. Remember when you sit down at that beautiful patio table that you will be surrounded by smokers. It is the only restaurant seating that allows smoking. And it seems EVERYONE smokes. Walking the street is contact cancer.
9. Always use the front or rear cars on the subways and metros, as the majority get on in the middle, and that's where the pickpockets work. Don't let anyone slow you down getting on board, cause they are taking your goods. PUSH THROUGH!
10. I haven't met anyone that a simple smile and a laugh won't help translate a language barrier.
11. The food in Europe is healthy, fresh and good for you. American food is trying to kill you!!
12. Caffe gets everyone going in the morning, and by mid-morning most are crashing and nodding off. Then they light up and keep going.
13. The trains are great in Europe. Even in Italy where they are never not on time - the passenger is either early or late!
14. There is so much to see and do here, that it is overwhelming. Calm down and don't expect to do it all. Plan on coming back.

There's more I am sure but I am packing my bag for that 6:30 flight tomorrow and with an hour's drive to the FCO, and two hours ahead of international flight, I up at 3AM. Then it's three flights and a drive to Ventura. Let me see if I can find a shot to fly home on.

Saint Peters on left, Castel St Angelo on right

Castel Saint Angelo

Another old Ruin in Rome

Ciao to Roma, Farewell Europe - It has been fun and I promise to return!!