What Karen Sees

California Trip - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Fri, 17 Dec 2021 18:52:00 -0700

Several months ago we went to southern California for a family event, then I talked Jeff into a quick trip up the coast a ways, then across the state to Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. These are my favorite shots from this quick vacation.

Huntington Beach

Our first stop was Huntington Beach, one of my favorite hangouts as a teenager. On Sunday we ate coconut french toast, (heavenly), at Duke's, which is right on the water front at the beginning of the pier. For those of you who might be Jimmy Buffet fans, he has a mellow song actually called 'Duke's On Sunday'. Duke's is named for the legendary Duke Kahanamoku, (who died in 1968 at age 78), a native Hawaiian, Olympic swimmer, and considered to be the 'father' of modern day surfing. Huntington Beach is a well known surf beach and we sat on the pier for awhile and watched a few of the surfers do what they love.

Capitola

Heading up the coast we made a quick stop at Bubba Gumps on the Malibu Pier for a bowl of clam chowder (yum). Then drove the rest of the day and ended up in the quaint, sleepy little seaside town of Capitola, which is in the Monterrey area. This little village welcomed its first guests in 1874 making it the first beach resort in California. Now, the charming and colorful cottages right on the beach make it a photographer's dream. (While not exactly Santorini or the Amalfi coast, it is a lot cheaper and quicker to get here!) I missed the sunset so I was counting on a beautiful sunrise. I 'encouraged' Jeff to get up with me around 5am and we headed to the beach when it was completely dark. The weather report called for a clear day and I could see stars everywhere so I thought my chances of a good sunrise were pretty good. We stumbled onto the beach and as the first light appeared it was beautiful, especially the sky and the colorful cottages and lights reflecting in the water. I was basically in the same spot for both the first 2 photos, just facing in opposite directions. Then almost before I realized it, the fog rolled in so quickly that within minutes the ocean, sky and anything farther away that a few yards was not visible anymore! The surfers in the last shot disappeared seconds after I took this photo. (I can't imagine how they could surf in such dense fog, but they did, along with about 10 others.) Of course I never saw the sunrise, but I am happy with the shots I got!

Shark's Fin Cove

We spent most of the next day wandering up and down the coast near Capitola. The fog stuck around for most of the day, at times lifting a bit to let in some sunshine and blue sky, then darkening again to create dull and muted landscapes. My dreams for a beautiful sunrise/sunset/sky were not going to happen! But I made the best out of what I had to work with and sometimes it paid off. This image turned out to be one of my favs. The location is appropriately named Shark's Fin Cove. As we started walking toward the view, everything was dull and muted. But when we found the Shark's Fin, I spotted this one little patch of pink, and I knew I found my photo op. No beautiful sunset, but I think a more unique photo with the neutral browns, pop of pink and turquoise water.

Seagulls, Pumpkins & Flowers

Just a few miles from my last post of Shark's Fin Cove, we stopped at this overlook located at Natural Bridges Park. The seagulls looked like they were more interested in the ocean and the kayaker than they were in me taking their photo. Beautiful coast vistas around every bend. On down the road we stopped at this cute farm store and bought strawberries for a morning snack. I've never seen this flower before, but it was pretty enough for a picture.

Favorite 2021 Fall Photos

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Tue, 9 Nov 2021 16:57:00 -0700

Monsoon Clouds and Sage - Kayenta

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Fri, 3 Sep 2021 15:43:00 -0600

Beautiful monsoon clouds develop over Kayenta, Utah. I drove through the neighborhood looking for a foreground showing one of the varieties of purple/magenta sage that is blooming all over the area right now. Lavender and orange are a beautiful color combination in landscapes. (This is the driveway entrance to a home just outside the frame on the left. Who would like a desert home with this view!)

Sunflowers and Monsoon Clouds

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Wed, 1 Sep 2021 11:14:00 -0600


Sunflowers and Monsoon Clouds Before the Storm

Unlike yesterday's post, no beautiful sun in the sunrise today.....just beautiful monsoon clouds. Glad I brought my camera along on an early morning errand. I took a detour and drove until I spotted these sunflowers by the side of the road. (A very wide angle lens gives a unique perspective of the sky.)

Smokey Sunrise from Pine Mountain Fire

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 16:46:00 -0600


Smokey Sunrise from Pine Mountain Fire

The good news for a photographer who wakes up before dawn and can't go back to sleep, is that there is always a sunrise photo to be takan! Unfortunately the beautiful sky is partly due to the smoke from a wild fire burning nearby on a local mountain. (This is Sand Hollow State Park.)

Fire Lake, Ivins & Paddle Boarder

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 13:36:00 -0600

Just the Paddle Boarder and the Photographer Enjoying a Peaceful Sunrise

Today's Story: I drug myself out of bed early and drove to Fire Lake, hoping for a beautiful sunrise. I was disappointed because the sky was boring, the wind was blowing, and the colors were dull. I decided to stick around anyway, found a composition, set up my tripod, and waited...and waited, and waited. I was the only one there. After waiting longer, a few clouds drifted by, and then the landscape started to slowly warm up just before the sun peaked over the cliffs. Just when I thought I might actually get a decent photo, this paddle boarder floated out from behind the trees. He saw me and knew he was being photographed. About an hour later, after the magic was gone, and people started arriving, I was walking back to my car and noticed this same paddle boarder who was loading up his car. I decided to stop and introduce myself and tell him I was the photographer taking his picture. I told him I would send him the photo if it turned out well. He grinned and said he would love that. He'd never had a photo of himself on his board. I told him not to get too excited because he would not be big enough in the frame to be recognizable, but it might make a great computer screen saver. I just now texted this image to him, and he texted back immediately, to thank me again and said it looked 'amazing'. This little experience reminded me that with just a little bit of effort we can brighten someone's day!

Water Lily in the Desert

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 13:30:00 -0600


Water Lily in the Desert

Most of us are rarely able to go to faraway or exotic locations to photograph epic landscapes. But we can always find intimate, interesting and often beautiful vignettes in our own neighborhood. I call these 'drive by shootings'. (Side note: I must say, NO PEOPLE ARE SHOT, since one time someone actually thought I meant someone was literally shot in the neighborhood!) But that phrase so aptly describes many of my photos because I often find my subjects by the side of the road. You would not think I took this photo in a desert climate with the temperature hovering around 100 degrees.

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 11:14:00 -0600

Trick photography? Nope, just a pond reflection.

Bryce Sunset

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 13:25:00 -0600


Sunset at Bryce National Park

We were rewarded with a beautiful sunset after a lovely afternoon drive to Bryce National Park. As we stopped at various look out points off the main road, tourists visiting for the first time would turn to whoever was standing next to them and comment almost reverently, about how this was the most amazing landscape they had ever seen. Of course there are many, many beautiful landscapes on this amazing Earth, but I was reminded yet again, how fortunate I am to live where I can witness views like this in just a short drive from home.

Snow Canyon at First Light

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 13:23:00 -0600

After a wild and torrential lightning, thunder and rain storm late last night, we woke up to a glorious and calm sunrise. Here is Snow Canyon at first light.

Bryce National Park

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 13:19:00 -0600

A late afternoon drive and I get to see scenes like this at Bryce National Park. Love southern Utah landscapes!

For Our New Friends from Boston

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Sun, 15 Aug 2021 10:10:00 -0600

It was so nice to meet and visit with your family in Bryce last night. We hope the rest of your vacation is wonderful and wish the best to Vighnesh at Berkeley. Here are a few of my photos of the places we talked about that are on your way to California:

Zion

Snow Canyon - This is a short drive, but very pretty and close to where we live. Be sure to enter from the north end.

Snow Canyon

Snow Canyon - overlook view taken from road above the canyon.

Snow Canyon

Valley of Fire - Exit off of I-15 before you get to Las Vegas.

Valley of Fire
Valley of Fire

Valley of Fire
Valley of Fire
Valley of Fire

Wildflowers at Soldier Summit

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Sat, 14 Aug 2021 13:14:00 -0600

Adorning my Son-in-Law and Daughter's Mountain Cabin

Smoky Skies in Ivins

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Mon, 9 Aug 2021 13:10:00 -0600

Smokey Sunrise in Ivins

Last Saturday we woke up to a very dark, smoke filled sky that blanketed most of Utah. I was sure there must be a local fire nearby; however, I was amazed to learn we could receive such dense smoke blowing over this far from the devastating fires in California and Oregon. So heartbreaking for people living in those areas. (This looks like a sunset, but it was taken just after sunrise. I was surprised to see how my camera captured the sun with the circle of orange. I didn't see this until I downloaded to the computer.)

St George Temple & Lightning

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Mon, 2 Aug 2021 17:50:00 -0600

St George Temple during a Monsoon Lightning Storm

Lake Powell Sunrise - 2021

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 17:05:00 -0600

I was up every morning at 5am hoping for a beautiful sunrise, which is usually the norm at Lake Powell. On this trip, however, it only happened one day. With everyone still asleep, It was peaceful and still, a brief moment in time before the excitement, activity and laughter of children would commence and last for the next 14 hours of the day. I was standing on the back deck of the houseboat, camera in hand, hopefully waiting for a photo worthy moment, when my son-in-law quietly paddled around the back of the houseboat in his kayak and headed easterly. A few seconds later he was just in the right spot when the magic happened.

Lake Powell Reunion - 2021

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 12:08:00 -0600

Our Lake Powell family reunion was awesome! The kids were in the water almost 12 hours every day and there were plenty of activities to keep them all busy.......water skiing, wake boarding, tubing, jet skiing, kayaking, standup paddle boarding, fishing, swimming, snorkeling, jumping off the top deck of the houseboat, or sliding down the water slide, building sand castles, having water gun fights or relaxing on a very large, floating 'lily pad' that held about 5 adults or multitudes of kids. Our last day ended with an epic water balloon fight (about 900 balloon bombs). To those activities we add night games, fabulous food, tons of junk food and cases of soda, (stuff their parents would never let them eat at home). Last thing we do every night is called 'My Day In Six Words'. Everyone writes their favorite memory of the day, but must only use one 6 word sentence. We read them out loud and love hearing the best part of everyone's day. Then family prayer, and after a few hours of sleep it's time to do it all over again. Jeff and I are exhausted when the week is over, but it is ABSOLUTELY worth every single minute! We feel so blessed that our children and grandchildren not only love each other but like each other and have great times together. After the fun ends, everyone sends me the photos they took. I add mine and I make a hard cover book of our vacation and give each family a copy as a Christmas present. The parents tell me their kids look at those books all through the year as they anticipate their next Lake Powell adventure. (The one thing that was not great this year was night photography. Most days and nights there was a thick, dull haze that must have been caused by wild fires nearby. It cleared one day only to be replaced by cloud cover. On the last day, I kept watching the sky, and finally there was a break in the clouds and I could see the stars and Milky Way for a brief time. This year we anchored the houseboat where I could not get a shot of the lake and the Milky Way. I was standing in front of the houseboat with the lake at my back to have this view. I took one shot to expose for the foreground and cliffs, and another shot tho expose for the sky, and combined them. Enlarge to see more detail.)

Cedar Breaks - Spring 2021 - Favorite Photo

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 10:59:00 -0600

I think this could be my favorite photo I've ever taken at Cedar Breaks, Utah

PHOTOGRAPHY PEP TALK:

This is for landscape and nature photographers who USED to chase the light by hiking up mountains, enduring adverse conditions and traveling around the world, in order to find and capture that perfect photo. But now those days are only memories, either because of physical limitations, advancing age, or other barriers limiting mobility and endurance. But I say, DON'T GIVE UP WHAT YOU LOVE TO DO. There are still beautiful photos to be taken in your current situation. You just need to look harder and recognize what is in 'your own backyard' or at least nearby. This photo and spectacular scene was taken at over 10,000 ft. elevation and I started at 2800 ft. to get there. But I didn't have to hike, I drove in a nice air conditioned car, and this view is seen from a parking lot. I walked about 8 steps from my car to find this composition and take my photo. So dust off your camera and find a way to keep doing what you love!

Cedar Breaks Spring 2021 - 1

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 10:46:00 -0600

It was a beautiful afternoon and evening in Cedar Breaks, Utah. After a week of temperatures well over 105 degrees in St. George, it was a very pleasant 73 degrees here.

Bridal Veil Falls - Spring Green

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 09:36:00 -0600

Monument Valley

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Fri, 18 Jun 2021 16:28:00 -0600

On the road to Monument Valley we watched this thunderhead develop and stopped along the road to take a quick photo before the rain started. Inclement weather can turn an ordinary scene into something dramatic and interesting.

Meequite Car Show - 2021

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 18:47:00 -0600

Festival of the Americas - Kayenta, Utah

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 17:52:00 -0600

Bridal Veil Falls in Springtime

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 17:35:00 -0600

noreply@blogger.com (What Karen Sees) — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 21:10:00 -0600

Datura Stramonium

A story and a word of caution for those of you new to the St. George, Utah area, (or are visiting). This plant is called Datura stramonium, (Jimson Weed). It is common, 'showy', invasive and pops up in many places this time of year. It has large white flowers that are attractive, have a pleasant fragrance, (so I'm told), and capture the attention of nature lovers, flower photographers....and small children. We had one pop up in our back yard and hadn't bothered to remove it. Last week some of our young grandchildren were visiting. My granddaughter began picking tiny yellow flowers from another bush to make a bouquet for her mother, without asking permission. I noticed her doing so but did not care as the bush was loaded with these unremarkable flowers. A while later she came and asked me if she could pick one of the big pretty white flowers in the back of the yard. This time I was thankful that she asked first. I recall knowing they were poisonous, (but didn't know how poisonous), so of course I told her "no". Depending on which source you read, these plants are extremely poisonous under certain conditions and when ingested, have been used as a hallucinogen and known to cause intense visions, delirium, hypothermia, tachycardia, bizarre behavior. The effects on both mind and body are subjectively perceived as highly unpleasant, causing a state of profound and long-lasting disorientation with a potentially fatal outcome. Yikes! We now have one less plant in our backyard!