These Pride of Bolivia trees line one side of the sidewalk, jacarandas the other. When not flowering, they look so similar that I didn’t realize they were two kinds of trees until they started blooming. #yellow #trees #prideofbolivia #jacaranda #spring #hadtolookitup
Images
Companies break up, rename & merge, but the stamp on a manhole cover never changes
Companies break up, rename & merge, but the stamp on a manhole cover never changes. #mabell #logos #history #branding #phonecompany
Wispy late afternoon clouds
Wispy late afternoon clouds. #sunset #clouds #silhouette #sky
Fleeting Rays of Sunlight
I’m fascinated by the interplay of sunlight and clouds, particularly oddly-shaped clouds and optical effects like haloes and sundogs. The trick with photographing them is that you have to take the picture now. You can’t run and get another camera and come back. You can’t wait until you reach your destination even if it’s only 5-10 minutes away.
Lighting conditions will change. A halo might get stronger, or it might vanish entirely. A cloud that looks like a flaming dragon or phoenix right now will be a dull gray in a few minutes. Patterns of rays will fade from view. I’ve missed my chance a lot of times by being stuck on the road, unable to find a suitable place to stop until the moment had passed.
This last shot is a circumhorizon arc formed by ice crystals. It always appears parallel to the horizon, like a flattened out rainbow, and if the crystals cover enough of the sky it will actually form a circle all the way around the sky. I spotted it while walking back to work from lunch and only had my phone with me — and I actually ran the rest of the way to the office so I could get my camera. I was lucky, since these really don’t appear very often.
The buzzing power lines of the South Bay
The buzzing power lines of the South Bay. When I first moved to the area, the fact that so many of the high voltage lines buzz constantly worried me. Now I’m used to it. Mostly. #power #powerlines #california #buzz
Just another Friday night sunset in SoCal
Just another Friday night sunset in SoCal. #sunset #trees #palms #losangeles #silhouette
The Sign Says: Don’t Even Think About It!
I couldn’t decide between these two photos for the latest photo challenge. The first is a warning sign at the edge of Del Cerro Park in Rancho Palos Verdes. It’s a part up at the top of the hill, ending in if not exactly cliffs, a steep drop hundreds of feet down as the hills roll toward the ocean.
“Danger” signs are a dime a dozen. It’s the “Don’t even think about it!” that struck me as photo-worthy.
As for this second one, it’s not so much the sign that I found interesting as the fact that the bird looks like it’s staring at it, dismayed.
“Gee, I hope this doesn’t apply to seagulls, too!”
I collect pictures of funny/odd/interesting signs at K-Squared Ramblings, so if you’re interested in more, head over there for a look.
Rosemary hedge
For the whole length of this hotel, the sidewalk is bordered in rosemary. When they trim it, this part of the walk smells more like a kitchen or spice shop instead of an airport.
While discussing the HOBBIT…
Party like it’s 1977…
Comments on Facebook:
Brion Vibber: I assume that’s playing the disco version of the Star Wars theme…
May 27, 2013, 12:00 AM
Kelson Vibber: Or the Cantina song.
May 27, 2013, 12:10 AM
Lia Brown: Oh man, those record players were the best. Does it still work?
May 27, 2013, 9:36 PM
Kelson Vibber: Believe it or not, it’s new. It turns out there’s a whole subset of the toy market for retro toys.It’s a bit different under the hood – I’ve had to fix it once already, and it’s actually chip-driven, not classic music box works. I figure it’s probably cheaper these days to make it with fewer moving parts.
May 28, 2013, 8:34 AM
Marisa Saam: I had one of those! 🙂
May 29, 2013, 12:58 PM
Toddler photography
If only life was f’n easy…
If only life was f’n easy… #stayclassy #freshandeasy #signs
Leaving the Moon
Leaving the Moon on Flickr.
Pink and Yellow Flowers on Flickr.
Pink and Yellow Flowers on Flickr.
Seriously, have you SEEN these things?
Seriously, have you SEEN these things? #creepy #doll #lalaloopsy #coraline
Radio flyer.
LAX Giant Letters
Photo taken at: LAX – Los Angeles International Airport
LAX Giant Letters #airport #sign #LosAngeles #LAX
Google Street View’s face-blurring algorithm is a little more zealous than it needs to be…
Google Street View’s face-blurring algorithm is a little more zealous than it needs to be.
(Incidentally, this restaurant closed last year, and a new restaurant has taken over the location. Apparently the chain is still around, but until I saw this one, I was under the impression it was long gone.)
Cassette Media is Dead
Cassette Media is Dead on Flickr.
Alternate title: Digital killed the audio tape (by running over it).
On Tumblr
Shortly before sunset, Katie noticed a really yellow quality to the light outside the window, …
Shortly before sunset, Katie noticed a really yellow quality to the light outside the window, like an eclipse (we’re *way* outside its path) or inside the smoke plume from a large fire. I went out to see. As near as I can tell, it was the reddish/golden hour light from the sun reflecting off of the cloud layer above us that was making everything look yellow. J came out too, and while he wasn’t terribly interested in the clouds or sunset, he had fun watching cars and people and looking at stuff down here on the ground.