End of the Rapids, Hillsborough River State Park, FL

I had the opportunity to visit this, one of Mother nature’s little gems on Saturday night.

We meandered past the Suspension Bridge which I will Post Tomorrow night towards the Rapids section of the river. As we approached I saw this shot, just downstream from the rapids…

HDR Photograph Taken on: 11-04-08 11:17PM
Model: Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera
Shutter Speed: 6 Seconds F-Stop: f11 ISO:100
Focal length: 18mm Lens: Tamron SP 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Di II LD Aspherical (IF)

Lone Tree - Click on Photo to See Larger Image

Lake Seminole Park - Seminole, FL

If you live in the Seminole Area in Tampa Bay, you already know of this gem of a park.

Big Pines - Click on Photo to See Larger Image

Right on the east side of Lake Seminole , it as has two smaller lakes on the east side of the Park. Brand New Boat Ramps.

Boat ramps - Click on Photo to See Larger Image

A 2 Mile hiking trail, lots of pavilions, Rocks for jumping across the sprinkled creeks here and there, Playgrounds, well enough to see and do that I’ve spent a lifetime visiting and enjoying this wonderful place.

Small Lake along the Trail - Click on Photo to See Larger Image

It is currently enjoying a reawaking as the lake has been dredged of all the sediment and tons of improvements are finished or almost done park wide. The small lake with the over the lake Pavilion has been drained so improvements can be made around the shore.
Empty Middle Lake and Pavilion under Construction - Click on Photo to See Larger Image

I love to go there and watch all the abundant Wildlife, All of which have been or will be shown here on The Awesome Photograph Blog. Lastly no Good Photo series is complete with out the sunset. Here a Lone tree and a Pair of Cormorants longing on some branches watching sunset on the Shores of Lake Seminole Park…

Sunset Lake Seminole Park, FL - Click on Photo to See Larger Image

Map to Lake Seminole Park:
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/maps/color/location/seminole.pdf

Map of the Park with all amenities listed :
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/maps/color/amenities/LAKESEMINOLE.pdf

Official Lake Seminole Park Website on Pinellas County dot Gov site
http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/08_Seminole.htm

Photo Taken on: 02-03-08 All Shots Taken 5:45PM to 6: 30 PM
Aperture Mode / HDR Photograph
Model: Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera Shutter Speed: F-Stop: f11 ISO: 100
Focal lengths: 11mm Lens: Tamron SP Autofocus 11-18mm f/4.5-5.6 Di II LD Aspherical (IF) Wide angle

Boulder Mountain’s SNRA, ID - First Winter Storm Approaching.

Ah, Memories…

I was going through my portfolio looking for my 50 Favorite Photographs of all time. I came across this hidden Gem. I did not even know It was there. Here are my field notes:

This is a shot of the first winter storm of the season approaching the Boulder Mountains in the Sawtooth National Recreation area. When we heard that old man winter was throwing his first salvo of the season we dropped everything and raced ( A term, we went briskly) to the mountains. We headed up the road leading to the old Ghost town of boulder. Where Clint Eastwood filmed “Pale Rider”. I came over this hill and saw the storm just starting to let loose…

Notice the fall colors in full bloom in the foreground, Ahh, October in Sun Valley, Idaho…

Date Taken: 10-01-07 4:38PM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:1/160 F-Stop:f6.3 ISO:100
Focal length:40mm Lens:Nikon 18-200 VR

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Sunset From Circle X Ranch - Santa Monica Mountains, CA

There is this really cool place in the Santa Monica Mountains called the Circle X Ranch. Picture this !, drive straight up the mountains on one of these skinny, violently twisting roads, to the Sandstone Peak Trailhead parking lot near the Peak. Walk on to the backbone trail: http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/circlexranch.htm

This hike goes 1.1 miles up to this Rocky peak called inspiration point. This day we did not make it there due to the timing of Sunset. This shot is about a quarter of the way up the Trail. This photograph was taken about 10 minutes before Sunset. The sun blasted thru a few cracks in the clouds, then was gone for the night…

We also heard the local Mountain Lion nearby just before we left the trail. Maybe she was saying goodnight. Here is the Mountain Lion calling US to come back…

Looking forward to retuning soon if the weather and clouds are just right like tonight. This is also my first High Dynamic Range Photograph (HDR Photography). I intent to focus a lot on this new exciting realm of Photography.

Photograph Taken on: 01-21-08 4:53PM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed: 1/125 Second F-Stop:f11 ISO:100
Focal length: 18mm Lens: Tamron 11-18mm

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Hood Bay, Alaska - Winter

Here is Rob’s Photo of Hood Bay in Winter. Love them mountains…

Photograph Taken on: 12-29-07 11:59AM
Model:Nikon D50 Shutter Speed: 1/250 Second F-Stop:f11 ISO:200
Focal length: 185mm Lens: Nikon 55-200mm

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On The Canal before Hood Bay, Alaska

This shot from Rob is just before Hood Bay Proper. I will post his next shot tomorrow. A shot of the bay and the mountains surrounding it….

Photograph Taken on: 1-04-08 8:00AM
Model:Nikon D50 Shutter Speed: 1/125 Second F-Stop:f5 ISO:100
Focal length: 60mm Lens: Nikon 55-200mm

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Lone Cabin - near Old Cannery, Hood Bay, Alaska

Our man in Juneau, AK, Robert J Maass is back in action. He writes in his Log:

Jerry Just got back from most amazing expedition to Admiralty island 10 days of Hunting fishing and taking pictures ,wait till you see a place called Hood Bay you will not believe. This is a cabin left from old cannery built right in Tongass National Forest. The most amazing forest in this area. Lots of Virgin Forest for hundreds of miles. Creeks and rivers every 8th mile.

A lot of people think you can’t enjoy Alaska in winter. I beg to differ! Alaska’s Southeast interior, the Chatham Straits very habitable in January. In the 30s the whole time. When we were there it was a bit of a warm spell, notice the ice still on the water.

Robert sent me a half dozen of his favorite photographs from his latest trip. I will feature them over the next week or so…

Photograph Taken on: 1-04-08 2:25PM
Model:Nikon D50 Shutter Speed: 1/125 Second F-Stop:f4 ISO:100
Focal length: 60mm Lens: Nikon 55-200mm

Half Dome and the Yosemite valley from the Base of Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, CA

Here is the follow up Photograph from Yesterdays Blog entry.

The clouds were clearing fast after a winter storm blew thru the Valley. You can see the observation bridge in the middle below were most people take their photo’s of the Falls.

To get there, you go thru the woods to the left. A very rocky path meanders it’s way up the mountain to the base of the Falls. It a fun climb but not to hard. Lots of Caves here too, I was hoping I would not wake any smokies sleeping nearby…

Photograph Taken on: 1-12-08 2:25PM Aperture Mode
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed: 1/320 Second F-Stop:f11 ISO:400
Focal length: 18mm Lens: Tamron 11-18mm

The Mott Adobe Ruins, Fireplace, Malibu Creek State Park

The Malibu Creek State Park has a wide and Varied History. It’s abundant water, Wildlife and Forests make it a great place to live in the relativity dry California landscape. The Native Chumash Thrived here for Millennia. In the Early 1900’s part of the present day park was purchased by a group of wealthy businessmen who built Crags Country Club. Many of these Country club members built Homes here.

Johnny Mott a famous LA attorney built his Adobe here along Malibu Creek in 1911. Here he often played host to his good friend and travel companion, President Herbert Hoover. The Mott adobe was also used in the Movie “Viva Zapata!” released in 1952, starring Marlon Brando. Here is a map of Area:
http://www.venturacountytrails.org/TrailMaps/MalibuCreek/AreaHome.html

Over the years it has fallen into disrepair and only a small part of one wall and the fireplace remain. Around the fireplace you can see stone flooring and remains of the brick mortar
foundation

On the day we were there, the sun broke thru the clouds and gave the remains an eerie glow…

Photograph Taken on: 12-08-07 2:01PM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:1/30th Second F-Stop:f11 ISO:400
Focal length:11mm Lens: Tamron 11 - 18mm Wide Angle

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Rock Pool, Malibu Creek State park, Santa Monica Mountains, CA

The Rock Pool has been a backdrop and featured in so many films, I will refer you too this great web page with a brief history of the Area.
http://www.venturacountytrails.org/News/0168-MalibuCreekStParkHistory/NewsPage.htm

The Rock Pool was also a famous “Hollywood” Skinny dipping spot back in the day. Picture this Crystal Clear Water, Beautiful Surroundings, rich history, All the Famous people have hung here, Many a famous Movie was filmed here, Shear Volcanic Rock Cliffs with which to Leap Off for that perfect Dive. Yeah…

Right now the Fall colors are here, So…
I Climbed the “Planet of the Apes” Rock Wall and took this shot.

Photograph Taken on: 12-08-07 3:30PM
Model:Nikon D80 Shutter Speed:1/50th Second F-Stop:f11 ISO:400
Focal length:14mm Lens:Tamron 11 - 18mm

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this image and set it as your desktop background.