365/63 – Scavenger Hunt Work, originally uploaded by ronWLS.

Today I was out with my team members to start our part of the spring scavenger hunt. It is all about portraits and we were working on a silhouette today. We had to up the shutter with the sun behind the subject. I tried with 1/1000 and f11 but that was not the right setting though in ACR I can pretty much make it work almost right.

Dog Creek Bokeh, originally uploaded by ronWLS.

Saw the Dog Creek bridge for the first time earlier this year and have been waiting for the chance to get back with the camera. It turned out that we went in the afternoon right after the sun disappeared from the area. The light was pretty cool but no good sky to go with it. At the end of our time I pulled out the 50 and got this cool shot.

Diestelhorst Bridge, originally uploaded by ronWLS.

Crown Camera had their first of many(I hope) photo walks. I was glad to participate as I want to support the local camera stores to the best of my ability. Crown is unique in the great number of employees working there that know the photography business and share their knowledge with their customers.

Mossbrae Falls, originally uploaded by ronWLS.

Well I finally made it to Mossbrae Falls. Tried to make once in the winter and it turned out I was dressed way too warm and had no water with me and the snow on the tracks was way too thick. (I will go back in winter some day) It was nice to finally make it there and such a sight to see and photograph. I know I will be back someday.

Afternoon Light, originally uploaded by ronWLS.

Coming down from the top of the world we stopped at Brandy Creek. The sun was getting low the light was right. Wish I would have had my new tripod at this point but I didn’t. Still I like the light and composition of this.

Top of the World, originally uploaded by ronWLS.

Had a chance last week to catch a ride up Shasta Bally. I was on the top of the mountain about 15 years ago but then we had to walk up from Sheep Camp. It was a 4 hour hike up the road. With a four-wheel drive it was closer to 30 minutes.
It is such a great view from the top. You’re able to see Whiskeytown Lake, Redding, the Sacramento River and Lake Shasta among other points of interest. Since our drive up to the top it has snowed and I would imagine the road will be closed the rest of the winter.

Post Rain River, originally uploaded by ronWLS.

Yes. Fall is coming. Well actually it is already here but I don’t really consider it really here till I start wearing long sleeve shirts. The leaves are still green for the most part but a nice rain last weekend has brightened the sky and cleaned the air. Anticipation is in the air!

Up River

Originally uploaded by ronWLS.

Here’s a view looking up the Sacramento River from Diestelhorst Bridge. I was there later in the evening that I should have been for this shot so I converted to gray scale and colorized. One on to save a decently composed but not too well exposed photo.

River’s Edge

Originally uploaded by ronWLS.

One of the coolest things that I’ve discovered along with my renewed insterest in photography is the fact there are so many beautiful places close by. I just never got out and really looked at what was around before but now I am amazed at what I can find within minutes of home. The Sacramento River I am sure will be an almost unending source of photos for me. Not only are there so many accessible spots along the river but it is winter now and other seasons will follow making many spots completely new.
Redding has a fairly good system of trails along the river and I still have many miles to explore. Some I have been along before but now with an eye to what beauty might be there. The biggest hurdle I face now is having to the time to get out and explore these places.