May and it's beautiful bounty.

Well...Here we are, the first of June.  Half way through the year.  Have I met my goals.  Oh...you have to have goals to meet them.  I did have some idea though, and I haven't come close to most of them.  I am supposed to be in a restructuring mode for my business and I haven't had a chance to do much, other than think of what I'm going to do.  DO I REALLY WANT A BUSINESS?  I hated my first one so much I really think I'm one of those who is afraid of success.  My first business was not in photography.  I worked it for ten years.  I keep taking photos though.  I don't think I will ever stop doing that.  I have taken a number of seminars this year so far.  That's good!  I continue to improve my work, both taking the images and the post work.  I have spent a lot of time thinking of light and how to use it.  If I can't capture it in the photograph, I work hard in the digital darkroom to achieve what I was looking for.  I guess one teaches you how to look for it when taking it.  It sure helps anyways.

May started out slow.  I was wondering where the time went, and looking at what I had for the month.  Not too much.  Just some flowers.  I like photographing flowers, and always look forward to it this time of year.  Was it enough...NOOOOOOO!  Did a lot of gardening though.  So my wife, Diane, convinced me to get out before the end of the month and get some more.  So, we did!  We went looking for waterfalls here locally.  Come to find out, there are a lot of them.  I love waterfalls.  So I photographed a number of them.  Come to find out, there are about 300 or so of them in Northern California.  I will have to make a point to see as many of them as possible.  Unfortunately, there at there best this time of the year.  Well, here I am rattling on and on and not showing you the bounty.  Thank you for your patience.


These are the flowers, either from my yard, or wildflowers on our walks and rides.  Lets start with our state flower and move on from there.  If you click, or double click on the image you will see it a bit larger. 

"California Poppies"

"Popping Poppies

"The Eye Of An Iris"

(Look Closely)

"Mandarin"

"Cali Lily 2010"

"Wacky Cali"

"Gerber Daisy 2010"

"Flowers In Abstract"

"Purple Bells"

"If The Winds Blow"

"Potato Vine"

"Yellow Azalea"

"Purple Stars"

"Purple Trumpet Vine"

"Ookow"

"Redmaids"

"Yellow And Wild"

"Canyon Dudleya I"

"Canyon Dudleya II"

"Bush Monkeyflowers"

Whewwwwww!  Did you think these would ever end?  Are you bored yet?  OK, how about some of the waterfalls we saw.  Enjoy!

"Bear River"

OK, not really a waterfall, more of a rapid.  Off Hwy 174.  It was still awesome.  

"Roadside Falls I"

"Devils Falls"

"Yuba River"

OK, OK, another rapid.  Couldn't resist.

"Hidden Hillside Falls"

"Pauley Creek Falls"

"Loves Falls"

This was a two tiered falls and I couldn't get all of it together.  Was sort of aggravating.  The bottom part of the falls was much more powerful, somewhat like the above Pauley Falls.

"Big Springs Garden Falls"

"Roadside Falls II"

There was some fun stuff too.  Here are a few of them.

"Sandhill Cranes"

This was a real surprise for me.  I see a lot of these during the winter months, but they migrate and you don't see them during the spring and summer.  At least I haven't.  They are usually gray with some brown/rust spots when I see them.  It was great to see them in there summer plumage.

"Fence Decor"

"Happiness"

"Valley Springs"

"Checkerspot"

"California Sister"

Well, I know this is a big post.  I probably should post in smaller amounts, but I have decided that the fees for copyright registration would be better budgeted on a once a month basis.  I hope you understand this and enjoyed the photos.  I enjoyed sharing them with you.  I also did some high school senior pictures this month, but haven't gotten the release yet.  If the young ladies give me the release, I will certainly post them.