My Favorite Place - The Ocean

My favorite place has always been and will always be the ocean. Okay, maybe not always. I love other places just as much but there is something about the ocean that makes me happy. The feel of your feet in warm sand, the sound of waves crashing onto the shore, and the vibrant colors as the sun sets.

We just got home from spending two nights at the coast with some friends and I've been busy editing all the pictures I took.

Your can't go to the ocean without watching the sun set and for once there was no fog ruining this experience.

I got these sunglasses at walmart for $5.  They are so cute and I love how reflective the lens are.  Been wanting to take a picture like this for a while.  

My sister found this neat shell like thing and I couldn't help but take a picture of it.

The sunset wasn't as stunning as I wanted but what can you do.  You get what you get.  I boosted the saturation and it looks better.  I love the bluffs fading in the background.

This was in the other direction away from the sunset. I love how the longer shutter speed blurred the water.

I am extremely proud of this shot.  I did photoshop the volley ball in.  I've always wanted to capture an amazing silhouette and well, here it is.  beach volleyball at sunset.

Facing Fears and Having Fun

For as long as I can remember I've had a fear of rollercaosters.  I enjoy small ones that don't go high and have no loops on them.  Yesterday me and my brother went to Six Flags with some friends and well, knowing that I'm going to be 20 (yeah, I'm old) soon and haven't faced my fear of rollercoasters didn't sit to well with me.  

My brother was so encouraging and he was probably the only reason I was able to usher enough courage to jump in line and go on two of the big roller coasters at Six Flags.  In the picture below the green rollercoaster, which is called Medusa, is one of the two I went on.  I'm just gonna come right out and say it,  I screamed my head off.  Not just screaming cause it was fun, my screams were screams of terror.  But Overall I think I liked it and I'm so proud of myself conquering one of my fears.

I also went on the high swings in this picture and that is also pushing my limits cause I don't like heights.    

My brother who like me has always had a fear of roller coasters conquered his fears too.  The first ride he went on was called the Daredevil and it went in one continuous loop.  It was one huge loop and it would linger at the top. I guess you can say my brother is a Daredevil to go on this ride.  My brother has the blue shirt on and I just love this shot I captured of his first big thrill ride so much.

I'm entering this shot in a contest and I had to crop it for a 8 x 10 print.  The theme for the contest is "In the Moment".  I think this shot captures the essence of that very well, what do you think?

Finally Another Post...

Well, it seems I've either been not taking pictures or neglecting this blog.  I've been taking pictures so, yeah, I guess that means I've been neglecting  this blog. Sorry.

The last few months have been crazy, busy and so much fun, but now I'm back to my slow and not busy life. Okay fine, that's just sounds depressing.  I have a great life, really.

Anyway, here's some pictures that I've taken in the past few weeks.  We've been getting some rain, flowers are starting to bloom (and die), and my family went on a camping trip. 

And I promise I'll try to post more to this blog in the future.

We have a rose bush that has so many roses's and they are all starting to bloom.  There's at least ten roses bloomed at the same time.  It's so pretty.

We've been getting lot's of rainy days which is so weird cause it's June.  But we need the rain so bad so it's very welcome.  And it gives me a chance to wear my rain boots.

We went to Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake for a camping trip.  It was so nice and relaxing.

My brother's dog Shasta loved the beach

The mountains around lake Tahoe.  Tahoe is so low :o we need water.

You can't go camping without roasting marshmallow's as family.  Yum!  They tasted so good!!!

I love Spring

Today was another beautiful spring day.  It was breezy but the sun was shining.  As soon as I stepped outside I realized that even through the sun was out it was not warm out.  Okay, it was in the 60's but I live in California, that's cold to me.  And the wind wasn't helping.

I found a few flowers in my backyard to take pictures of.  Here's a few of the many pictures I took.

 I know, this flower is not perfect but It was the most perfect one I could find.

 I was trying take a picture that could almost have a story to it

 I know this one is over exposed in the background, but I like it that way ;)

I've heard that these flowers are poisonous, but I also know that kids like to suck the nectar of these flowers.  I'm hoping I'm wrong about these flowers being poisonous.

I was soooooo happy to find one single tulip in our front yard.  I LOVE tulips. I check on this flower daily cause I love it so much. But the other day I checked on 'my' tulip and it had aphids all over it!!!!  My mom sprayed it but I don't think it will be around much longer :(

Spring Already

Yesterday was such a beautiful day. Grabbing my camera and my favorite lenses I went outside to take some pictures.  I wanted to take some pictures of the flowers in my backyard but it turned out most of the flowers in my backyard were already dying.  Spring here in California came fast and it looks like we are going to be having an early summer. Ugh, we really need rain, not warm clear blue sky days.

So as I was taking pictures of the few flowers I managed to find that were still alive I saw a lizard sunning himself on the ground.  He didn't mind becoming my next photography subject.  He stayed perfectly still and I was able to get some nice close ups of him.  He only ran away after I touched him with a stick while trying to get him to move so I could try to capture him in a different angle.  

Below are a few of my favorite captures from yesterday:

  This was the only flower I found that wasn't dying.  

This little guy was just waiting for his picture to be taken.   His poor tail though :(

An edited close up of my little lizard friend