Earthwatcher

Near Auburn, CA, the middle and north forks of the American river join and begin the journey to Folsom lake where they join the south fork.  Dams control the flow of the water but it still runs rapidly over the rocks creating picturesque rapids.  It was early morning; the sun was just high enough to begin illuminating the steep canyon wall on a cool, foggy morning.  The fog was lifting.  The muted thunder of the rapids below wafted up canyon.  A hole opened in the clouds allowing a shaft of light to spotlight a fog shrouded section of the forest below creating a surreal image of the forest reawakening.

Larry

Images are available for sale at my website: http://www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting me directly.

I visited the Marin Headlands, the stretch of the California coast just outside the San Francisco Bay; just beyond the Golden Gate Bridge with Rick Bieniek, a fellow photographer. It was mid-afternoon, the sun was bright in the sky, it was unusually warm and a breeze was flowing in from the ocean. Hiking down the trail to the beach, the ocean thundered but the sea looked rather tranquil. Upon reaching the beach, the reason for the thunder became apparent. Waves were breaking rhythmically. But every 5 minutes or so, a series of waves would arrive that were breaking 8 – 12 feet high. The shore line dropped off steeply, so the broken waves receded rapidly, crashing into the oncoming giants that followed them. The sea roiled, creating thick, white foam. The position of the sun caused the sea to reflect in silver tones and to backlight the rising breakers. It felt beckoned; I felt embraced by the raging sea.

Larry

Images are available for sale at my website: http://www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting me directly.

The Canada Goose is a year round resident of Sacramento, and seemingly everywhere else. The Common Goldeneye is only a winter resident; a snowbird if you will. They, the ever present mallard, gulls, mergansers, herons, coots and egrets grace the landscape of William Pond Park, on the American River Parkway, in Sacramento County.

I have a favorite ‘go-to” spot at the park – a spot where the American River widens and is dotted with small islands. The cool winter temperatures cause fog. The winter sun rises, providing a golden hue to the fog shrouded grasses and trees. I love being there before sunrise to watch the light unfold. Though the geological forces shaping the river valley progress too slowly for me to comprehend, weather conditions, light and the actions of the critters make every visit different.

I trust these images will convey a sense of what I get to experience while I am there.  Please click on the pictures to get a larger view of the image.