Still Looking back(wards)

Working on cleaning out my inbox of thousands of emails as I have been for many months now, I keep running into those sent emails with images! It's so thought-provoking to see these past moments of my Life now, and makes me sad yet proud of what I have seen and photographed. 

These are from 2015 and in San Francisco ~ where I was at the time ~ where "we" were to be one of the "lucky" areas of the USA to be able to see the Blood Moon eclipse then. We actually were not believing all that stuff about luck, as San Francisco gets a lot of clouds and fog, which was forecast for that day....  

I went to the piers that afternoon to await the sunset, and saw many with tripods and cameras, all waiting to see the eclipse. There was a huge cloud front that blocked the moon and any color of the blue sky, plus a bit of fog was present too. 

After the sunset, I turned around to see if there was anything I might be missing, and immediately noticed the cloud front had slipped away but still visible, and the moon had just popped out!! It was an eerie sight seeing a bloody moon, and I immediately started running to get a snap, while many other photographers were running around too, trying to get away from the many other photogs to get their unique shot!!

A September Blood Moon becomes visible in cloudy San Francisco!

Did YOU also see that Blood Moon of 2015?

San Francisco's Russian Orthodox Church

I've been here before, but wanted to get some better images as the first visit was without a tripod and handheld, I lacked a bit of detail. Priest P. Perekrestov is very kind to allow me to return to snap new images so I try to get in quickly to do what I must, and not interfere with anything. It's a glorious church and though one may not think the interior looks nice by the size outside, it is a mansion of beauty within!

Have a new toy....

I went and purchased the newest Canon toy on the market... the EOS 7D and at the price paid, I am surprised and disappointed it doesn't drive me home and collect the mail. Hold it ~ that's what I do every weekday!!!The camera has a great feel, very sturdy and weighty, which is what I like. I am in the process of testing it with my various lenses of which I have varying from a Tokina 12 ~ 24 to a Sigma 170 ~ 500. In the meanwhile, my new Sigma 28 ~ 300 was being repaired and am retesting this lens too. In less than a few months, already am having problems with this new lens and of course that doesn't make me happy. The 28 ~ 300 focal length makes that lens my primary lens covering almost everything I need a lens for without having to carry a multitude of various lens.

Just a few test pictures, though I really wish I had a model to work with this new camera. Soon I'll be gone on a two-week trip to Sydney, so will be absent.... maybe! :-)

ToDAY....

I am still copying files - it gets tedious often but I manage to survive. Over the past two and a half days, the computer has been ON 50+ hours and guessimate I've moved 30+ gigs of images during these past few days. At one point I just completed a short move that lasted about two hours (the others took up to 12hrs) and looking through three different screens for more files to move, deleted the 3gigs of images I had just moved! On the image of the move progress above, that number reflecting how much time remains is what I usually see AFTER about four to six hours.... it doesn't show anything during thr initial period, and when it finally displays the remaining time, I then know I am getting "close" to the end! Why is this taking so long? With the majority of my images copied off 200+ CDs now onto my slower than turtle desktop HDs, I am moving them onto external HDs, and one that I had purchased in Spain back in 2006 is slower than my desktop!! That is the reason why it's taking a longer time now.... grrrrr

I have got to get a life!!!!

from Lombard Street the cable cars

are always great to photograph

Even now as I write this, I had accidentally stopped a move in session, so I had to go to the only folder that was recreated, see what was and wasn't moved, then move over the remaining files. Once that is done, I return to the partition and move over 15 folders containing about 12gigs of images.

Lombard Street spiders are HUGE!!

Today while returning to home after dropping off the sis at her work, I saw lenticular clouds over Mount Diablo in the distance. I rushed home to get my camera with the longer 170-500mm lens as my Sigma 28-300 has been in the shop getting repaired for weeks now, and to get a file move started... but by time I go up to the top of Russian Hill for a shot, the clouds had disappeared.... sigh But I heard those crazee parrots so tried to snap a few of these, but there weren't to be seen, except blocks away.... but there were other things to snap also, and I did get those!

this spider attracted my attention and many

other Lombard Street tourists

Walking back to my car, I spotted a dollar bill wind-blown to my feet! I've found homeless money before, the most being a $5 bill in the rain while jaywalking through a red-light intersection. hahahaaha

today's sunrise could be a changing factor in my life

Could this be a change in my luck? Who knows?

I always think.....

... that someone somewhere is having the last laugh on me.... or is it actually having the last laugh on us?be my wingman,
and I'll be yours

I was told when I first arrived to live permanently in Spain almost two decades ago that I would never make big money with my photography, something I perfected over the previous two decades while in the Navy. Through pushing my photography and working some very long and hard hours, I soon had a lot of business. What's long hours? At that time I still shot my own bulk-loaded film - never had enough money to buy pre-loaded store-front film. I would shoot up to four individuals a day, then spend all night developing the film, drying it and having the contact sheets to show all four. Yes, to show them their contacts the very next day! If I shot in the morning, I'd show them the contacts the next afternoon. If I shot them in the morning, if my schedule wasn't very busy, I could even work my butt off and show them their contacts that very same night!

Granted, I didn't sleep much but I never sleep much. I see sleep as lost time - I never needed more than a few hours even as a kid. Plus I liked doing the processing and printing in my darkroom during the night, so I could leave windows open... the fan is blowing and it was much cooler during those hot spanish summers.

I made quite a few bucks/pesetas in those early days. I later proved the person who told me I'd never make money in photography, then everything started to fall apart. Now I can count the pennies I earn - if that at all - in years.... I sometimes think a homeless person on the street gets more change than I do in a year.

People don't realize that an artist feeds off society. That society now hates me is proof why I am not making any money with my camera. Life hates me so much that even my cameras breaks when I should be broken, and it pains me immensely to have a broken camera and because I have no money, it's hard to think: I need a new lens but how do I get it?

When that passion gets the worst of an artist, soon it turns to self-pity and soon after: suicide. I have gone through all of it, even to be abandoned by people who know me, people who called me their best friend, and by people who wanted me dead. If you want to be truly miserably depressed, be someone alone who lives without friends.... that is one nightmare I wouldn't wish my enemies, and believe me I have a lot of enemies!

But oftentimes, I wonder what my purpose in Life is, if I have any purpose at all. I started typing thinking to put up a few pixs recently captured, but instead it has turned out to be a revelation of worth (or worthlessness), passion and compassion, and dam scared of my future. I know I am moving back to Spain, well-knowing it was STuPiD of me to even leave in the first place. I didn't have the money to support any of these decisions or directions taken, and here I am again in that position of what am I going to do?

Life is endless, but so is misery, death, and doubt. If you know an artist, support that artist or you might be seeing blood sooner than you think. Art needs to be cultured, appreciated and shared, and it seems we all do so little of it in our lives.

Here's a few pixs taken within the last few weeks.... yes, I am copying image files seemingly without end. I've been doing this for over a year now, bit by bit trying to reach my goal of finishing it before I leave San Francisco and am back in my apartment (piso) in Spain.

Everywhere I have gone to live, people told me I would be very successful with my photography and in my life, when in reality it bombed worst than before.... I wish someone would predict I will die, so I can begin living!

sometimes the things we should see,

are the things we don't see throughout
our whole lives

it only takes a second to see
and
appreciate the wonders we miss each day

don't ask nor hesitate, just take a seat

do it, and do it well and someone will notice

there's always light at the end of the tunnel

forward, always forward through the chaos
what are YOU looking at?

streetwise.....

.... things are always changing, and no matter what your destiny holds for you, each day brings new surprises for us all. I love being on the street, and hate to be closed in as has happened to me various times in my life, and even voluntarily when I have so much work to do on this computer before I leave in just a few months.

To help in taking a break from all the sitting, I had an opportunity to take a short cruise aboard the USS Potomac, formerly used as the presidential yacht of President Franklin D Roosevelt. A gorgeous ship, it's now touring around the bay waters from its Oakland home-base, and educating guests of the fine FDR legacy. Also during Fleet Week there are always some participating naval ships inport for general tours, and this year it included two Canadian naval vessels, two Coast Guard cutters and one US naval ship: USS Green Bay (LPH-20). Very new - just a year commissioned so I made it a point to visit before they departed. Wow, am I ever so surprised by how the Navy has adjusted to the new technologies available. I wish I could've seen the sleeping quarters also, but I know those areas are closed during inport tours.The navigational bridge ~ where the steering and navigation of the ship is conducted ~ seemed to me the most interesting area... no longer are circular radar screens used but now square computer screens! Wow!! Most of the duties I previous had in plotting and manually computing approaches and collisions to objects and/or vessels are all now computerized and done in seconds with a higher degree of accuracy!
Streetwise, there are surprises that abound around us as we traverse those concrete halls throughout the our cities, IF we elect to see. Recently with a friend, I went walking around the San Francisco Embarcadero and the Financial District and saw things I haven't seen on previous occasions.... I was walked toward the corner of Spear and Howard Streets, where my friend told me she had read somewhere that there is a statue of a tourist with a camera. When we reached that corner, I realized I had passed this corner many times, and don't recall not one statue. The address was for the Folger Coffee Company Building.... among the people outside and passing by, we did not see not one statue that looked like a tourist, let alone holding a camera. Walking around the building, we noticed a small side sidewalk lined with steel benches on Howard that lead to a small plaza.... walking slowing down this area were people sitting and enjoying a snack or a late lunch, talking on cell phones or (yuck) smoking... and as I moved further into this shadow-darkened walkway, noticed a couple sitting on the first bench, which turned out to be a statue of a couple, complete with a purse on the bench. Around the corner was the tourist permanently implanted in his footsteps with rock-steady outstretched arm pointed out, steadily diercting a friend on how to stand or where to look, while a oldtime Instamatic camera held with the other hand.Wow, I've never even seen these "people", let alone the the walkway they are located in, though I'd passed through this intersection many times. Instead I am always with eyes skyward, neck aching as I snap the huge and reflective skyscrapers.

As this day ended, the fog started to sneak in... smooth and silky, this was a change from the usual cottony fog I have seen on other occasions. It was gorgeous and reminded me of fog in my youth.... some things never change.

I often have to look elsewhere in order to see changes in my environment, which opens my eyes to new sights.

Sometimes.....

It amazes me constantly. Having attended a wedding recently, I am always reminded of the unique and constantly changing moods of Man. How an individual can change so much, to show great compassion or hatred... to be so tender in some moments and then display brute force in another. Oh, I am not referring at all to the wedding - but as a general statement of my observances of Man.

Being ex-military (there... I've said it!) and having crossed this world a few times, plus having had the opportunity to live in difference places in my life, I've seen more than what the normal individual should be allowed to see and experience. That I have worked positions of physical security has exposed me to even more.... of course a normal citizen shouldn't be thrust into such levels of revelation... and while I don't enjoy seeing the sad face of Mankind, it is also a very interesting story and performance.

As a photographer, I have seen even more.... is it possible? I have captured many faces... virtually and real, construed to be real and posed to appear real. I've seen nice people act mean, and mean people who seemed incapable of feeling emotion, but cried like a baby. I have worked alongside those who seemed physically incapable of great feats of strength and in the time with them, noted that they surpassed their physical limitations in a positive way. Bossy people without a kind word would show a rare and in-depth side of themselves that surprised me... while shy and kind folks shocked me by acting out the opposite sides of their personalities.

The human side of Man is such a constant; it is no wonder that throughout the ages Man is and will always be the subject of many words and film performances.

Though I have been honored to have been able to associate with very kind and generous people during my lifetime, I have also seen my share of stupid acts of immaturity ~ age in my opinion, does not improve the level of intelligence, but only serves as a constant reminder that the old can be foolish and childish, and the young can oftentimes be more mature than their elders.

One does not have to be a certain age or having some vast experience in anything, in order to make a fool of themselves. Nor does it pertain to just one gender over the other, but of course my observations are not exactly approved by the members of most of the Earth's population.

Life is a roller coaster of emotions, experiences, trying times and beautiful moments however rare. It gives me wonder often, and also saddens me to the point of tears. I see the homeless and the rich, and think of such constants - what if they were to be traded in positions and homes for just one year? I have laughed at the maturity of tiny six-year olds, and in awe by the foolishness of 40-year olds. I have seen and felt the compassion of complete strangers and the wrath of "friends" who left me by the wayside.

Life is the best reality anyone can have. There is a world beyond our computer monitors and the tiny animated screen in the living rooms of the world. To live and rejoice in its color, its pleasures, the sadness, and the wonder of this Reality is more than anyone can ask. There is NO script, no lights but that glorious sunlight a few trillion miles away....

Let's bask in its warmth, its cold, its compassion and its hatred.... solely because it is Life, and it's the only one to lead us along our Destiny to the fin of the book, the end of the movie, the final commercial, and to our last pages....

Life has its times good and bad ~ we all know how it goes. It's sadness that bring misery to our hearts but without the heartache, how can we appreciate the good times, the pleasures and the joy? Sometimes one has to hit rock bottom in order to realize the climb back to the top can be one of joy too.

And when you reach the top, rest your body and take in the view.... I'll be there to enjoy it with you.

Can't live without them...

Well, the unthinkable happened. After having my car in the shop twice last month, I didn't think it would happen where my car would return to be worked on, so soon again and so unexpectedly. Yesterday as I prepared to go pick up my sister from work - and leaving earlier than normal as more cars are on the road in warmer temperatures than in colder weather, plus lots of road projects are in progress in the downtown area causing jams and headaches - but the car wouldn't start! The starter was okay but the car engine just wouldn't crank. After a few moments of several attempts, I just gave up. Called my sister to inform her (she doesn't check for messages and didn't hear my voicemail mesages) and called AAA Emergency road services. They gave me an estimated time of arrival at my North Beach location of 40 minutes, so I settled down, made phone calls trying to find a vehicle, etc... when after only 10mins I saw the yellow tow truck coming down the steep hill toward me. I didn't have to even flag him down; he turned on his emergency flashers and drove to my side of the street where the car was parked on the street and instantly went to work.

After a few tries, he simply asked me where I wanted the car to be towed. The AAA service will have the car towed to a place of your choice within five miles for free, so I asked him to take it to a garage I've been using with great results, then called them to advise them of my car problems and that the car would be there soon. This tow truck driver hitched up my car, assembled the little rear tires wheel jack, and faster than I could finish moving out my things from the car, flipped out his clipboard for a signature and took off even before the estimated time he was supposed to be here!!! wow!!! Talk about service!

This morning I rented a vehicle from Enterprise at Fisherman's Wharf, just a quick four blocks from my sister's apartment - it was a tiny 4-door Chevy Aveo. RED - same color as my car!! It's strange to be renting a car because first-off, I usually don't have money to do it. Second, I've never rented a car in my hometown of San Francisco! sigh... I am doing so much here that I never was able to do as a youngster! I did a quick check and adjustments, then drove off. Spiffy power, handled well on the hills and stops, and then I was home. Parked on the street in exactly the same spot as my car when it died on me, then spent five minutes looking for the little buttons to raise/lower the windows, etc. I had opted for a economy-priced car that didn't have electric windows, or electric door locks. Boy, this nice Honda has really spoiled me!! I finally found how to roll up the windows: it has the same devices as in my old car in Spain... roll them up manually in a circular motion!! hahahaaaaa

So, I drove around all over the place while delivering my sister to various medical appointments and running errands. I called and got updates on my car repair and by early afternoon, came the call that my car was fixed and waiting for me. Now, trying to juggle driving my sister here and there, and getting to the garage to get my car before they close, plus turn in the vehicle so I'm not charged for another day! Impossible? Never! Difficult, perhaps... fun and an excuse to walk up hills: YES!!! Her last medical appointment would get her back in the rental car at about 5:30pm, and we were way across town and rush hour was at its peak, BUT still possible. It took 32 minutes driving in streets and traffic that makes a marine boot-camp training seem baby's play, zig-zagging in and out of traffic... but I finally arrived at her favorite place on Lombard Street, half a mile from the garage. So, I dropped her off there, drove to the garage and parked the rental. Did I say I hadn't eaten much over the day previous and this same day? ;-) Got my car, then drove back to the restaurant. Walked back to the garage and got the rental, then drove it half a mile towards the rental car agency at Fisherman's Wharf, about a mile away now. Using this method of "leap-frogging", I succeeded in a very slow manner to get both cars closer to the rental agency to return it a day earlier.

Things along the way... I had to do the last fill-up, so drove to a gas station where I promptly waited behind a sedan with Oregon plates and three girls each trying to get the pump working - with no success. I stepped out and made a joke about customers not needing to pump their own gas in Oregon, to which they agreed, and thus when necessary not knowing how!! We all laughed and I helped them with the credit card and pumping... they were very excited about being in the City.... an hour before while leap-frogging the two cars, I had seen a man walking with a Oregon "O" hat on!! hahahahaa

While parking the rental on a steep hill on Hyde street, a tourist helped me guide the car backing UP the steep incline.... nice tourist - must be from the boonies!!

And finally when parking the rental at the garage's top floor to finally be DONE with the rental, it was a gorgeous view from the top of the garage, so I snapped the below pix with my cell camera!

Dam cars; cannot live with cars and can't live without them!!! But when I live in Spain again, I won't be buying a car!!! ;-)

Flames and Fire

What a busy camera weekend but I love being busy!! The weekend had cleared up and was forecast to be cool in the evenings and Saturday the same conditions but with just a touch of clouds.... just imagine how really great it was to be... cool nights with just a slight haze over the whole Bay Area, with just a bit of wind sufficient to push away both clouds and smoke. To make it better, the waters of the Bay was just about still and it was just a very magical night! But I'm getting ahead of myself so please allow me explain my weekend started with late Friday night.

I drove to Davis - almost a two hour drive in traffic, the first jam being caused by a single CHP vehicle with lights on following a single car which caused 300 cars to drive the speed-limit. Once past that situation, the traffic cleared up drastically so I could make up for lost time.... to get to the campus of the University of California at Davis for their Whole Earth Festival celebration. Upon arrival I thought for a long hard moment as though I was transported to hiPPieLand (once again), or did I drive too far and actually end up in Eugene? hahahahaa Part of their events included two hours of fire-dancers from the area but also coming from as far away as Santa Cruz, so with my passion for fire-spinners growing, I wanted to see and photograph the fire-dancers performing at this event. The weather was great and though I brought a jacket, I didn't even need it! There was a slight hint of humidity which disappeared as the night came, though the flying bugs bothered me now and then during the performances ~ but not enough to ruin the magic I was to witness!

After a brief sight-seeing tour of the downtown area of Davis, I spent the rest of the night at a I-80 rest area, it being so late. Though a car isn't the best place to rest/sleep, it did give me fond memories of previous road-trips... the longest being my four-day road trip(s) to and from Germany from Spain, plus a few trips while living in Oregon.

With not even enough time to download and "process" the resulting images, Saturday night was to be just as busy - preparation and driving to the Marin County headlands and to be walking up a very rocky trail to a mountaintop to the top with the most gorgeous view of the Bay Area, and of my gorgeous hometown as I've never before seen. I went here to see the annual KFOG KaBOOM fireworks display which I've never seen, though I've seen a few other fireworks in SF.... What was to make it special was a full moon rising out of the East Bay hills, through the low fog and behind the fireworks!! It was a sight to treasure forever!!

Seriously, if I died that night I would've LOVED to see San Francisco as I saw it last night - in such a glorious view - from this high and tranquil location! Behind me the sun just set in a most intense and golden sky and the hike had me gasping for air but it was all worth it. I did take note of all those loose pebbles and rocks, and that I would trot down this same trail in the darkness, though I do have a tiny keychain light which has a very powerful blue light and I also ~ just in case ~ took a hand-crank light that I keep in my car.But what an experience this weekend has been - except for Sunday (now) when I have to process all of these image files, spending more time in front of the monitor which I just hate, and looking out the window to the nice day.... it was a fanTasTic weekend!
At our mountain-top location a group of hikers did appear shortly before the fireworks started, standing behind us and noisily watched both the fading sunset glow and the fireworks. Soon afterwards though, they left without so much of a single goodbye - and considering that I and fellow Flickr friend Stargazer introduced ourselves to them, they just left... taking their noise with them. I thought how rude!!!

Dangerous Hills of North Beach

I live on the outskirts of North Beach, bordering Fisherman's Wharf on one side, and Russian Hill on the other. Only a few blocks away is Chinatown and Telegraph Hill also.... all within a "toss" of a loaf of sourdough bread. All areas complete with hills and very steep hills... I remember screams of pain when I was a kid living in this area, when cars zoomed down the hills and hit people and/or cars. At the corner of Lombard and Taylor, there were so many seriously fatal accidents they finally put up a stop sign.... but these little branchless trees with a single word on it does not stop the pain and misery caused by speed and drivers.So imagine my lack of surprise when I walk out and start up Taylor Street - yes, the same street where just weeks prior they filmed a speeding car down the same stretch of cement - and saw this sobering sight......
I didn't even bother to ask details of what happened or how many injured... I just starting snapping with my cell camera so that I could blog this to warn anyone else, no matter the location, that speeding and running stop signs doesn't accomplish anything.

Eventually one day you won't be able to stop in time due to your routine of sliding through the intersection. Just last week there was a very serious accident I saw on Van Ness Avenue where a smaller car speeding through an intersection on Van Ness hit a crossing huge black SUV, and slammed it off the street and on its side on the corner of the SW pavement. The car was still there, like two wild animals in a clearing still engaged in the kill......If you see a STOP sign, do as it directs you. I see so many cars zipping through the intersections and wonder why I haven't yet witnessed a death or worst... yes, what can be worst than a death?
Let's all take care out there. WE are our own worst enemy and unfortunately, many times it's the innocent who suffer more in these situations

flames, the cold or the cars?

Fire and flames is something I've always been fascinated by. I can watch a bonfire for days... entranced by the jumping crackling flames... colors so inviting and seemingly drawing you into their deadly hot embrace. Even more exciting are those creative people who dance with fire, and after leaving Spain and living in Eugene, I had found some individuals who fire-dance.... we talked of taking some pictures but it never happened. The Northwest's rainy season started and the rain was a big negative for those who work with fire, plus I started to work.

So imagine my excitement when an East Bay friend tells me there's a FREE fire-dance performance in downtown San Francisco? I had already known about this, but forgot.... and am so happy I went!The chilly wind had been blowing strong all day, but as the sun dipped lower in the sky, it seemed to get even gustier. Of course this could and did affect the fire-spinning but even then it was still an awesome display!!
The chilly wind had been blowing strong all day, but as the sun dipped lower in the sky, it seemed to get even gustier. Of course this could and did affect the fire-spinning but even then it was still an awesome display!!
At six they were setting up in Union Square for the 4th Annual Temple of Poi Fire Dancing Expo! I didn't even hear about this last year but will be sure to search the web next year to be sure of the event dates! Featured on the stage would be internationally renowned fire dancing performers, some who had traveled from three continents and at their own expense. In all, the show had a total of 25 separate acts consisting of over 47 different fire dancers and troupes, which also included GlitterGirl of San Francisco fame and founder of the Temple of Poi, Manda Lights from France, and Mireneye from far-away Sweden.

There was a good amount of people present for this show, many not knowing what was going on but decided to stay... considering the wind and cold, I was eventually surprised at the amount of people who watched - I know they were not disappointed!I was there very early to claim my spot, and other photographers soon arrived like clockwork; I did see a few flickr friends, plus even some fellow-Yelpers! Knowing it was to be cold, I actually walked from home carrying my little-used tripod, thinking I was to freeze so much tonight that I wouldn't get any good snaps with shaking-cold fingers, and it was probably the best decision I've made in a long time!

It is not easy to use a camera in low-light situations. It is made more difficult when the fingers and soon the mind is frozen over.... add to that a subject that has in their hands a very bright flame, and their performance routine takes them from one side of the stage to another, plus stepping toward the camera a few steps, then back again. Add to this equation a wind that exhausted the fuel used for the flame sooner than expected.... all very difficult but not impossible, but with just an inkling of estimating the peak of any movement can one perhaps capture the mood of the event and even better: of its performer(s).

I really enjoyed the accompanying music and in one case, there was a solo guitar player strumming a flamenco bit which I loved immensely!

I'm a lousy dancer but it was so cold I was soon dancing in place! I could look around and see people wrapped in blankets and wondered if they would be angry if I stole/borrowed their blankets? Soon the performances started and the tripod saved my life and images!! I was able to focus well and quickly, and got some decent pictures which you see here. Many more as usual are posted at my foto site.EnJoy!! On the way home, walking up and down the steep SF hills with cold frozen stiff legs, I passed the Fairmont Hotel, where I saw within its garage a classic antique car... I walked inside and saw a whole garage filled with antiques as an antique car convention would start in the City the very next day!! I snapped away with the cell fone till I got frustrated, then eventually got my frozen camera out of the bag.... ;-) more pixs are posted at the website!!!