Bay Nature Magazine / Flickr Group

I have become a big fan of the magazine Bay Nature and have mentioned it before on this BLOG. A fantastic magazine focused on the natural world in and around the the San Francisco Bay Area region of California. I also received a subscription over the Holidays.

Their website is also a great resource and full of very interesting content. One of the cool features is how they highlight their FLICKR Group - a community of photographers focused on shooting nature around the Bay Area. Many of the folks who have joined have actually had their photography highlighted within the magazine. The magazine will actually reach out to this community via the FLICKR Group with specific requests for images they need for future articles (my first submittal). Once I stumbled upon, I eagerly joined and have subsequently learned a lot - a very active photo community!

That in and of itself is pretty cool. But what I think is even cooler is how they randomly select recently posted images and rotate them on their homepage (scroll down a bit when you hit the homepage). So once you upload images to the FLICKR Group you can then go to their site - usually within an hour or so and sometimes see your image on their homepage.

Nothing earth shatteringly technological. Nothing that is necessarily seen by the masses. Just a cool way to share what is going on in their FLICKR community. Below are some screen shots that I have captured just to prove I'm not BS'in you!

^ Frog infested cattle trough in East Bay Hills

^ A shot from my Urban Redtails collection

^ Juvenile Night Heron, Mission Creek, San Francisco

^ Flotsum from Ocean Beach, Winter 2010

^ Mother Nature reclaiming Sloat Street, San Francisco

San Francisco Art Benefit for Haiti, March 12, 2010

A friend of mine, local photographer Paul Ferraris, has put together a benefit silent art auction, "San Francisco Community Art Show for Haiti". Paul asked if I'd like to donate artwork for the benefit coming up on March 12, 2010. My response was quick, "Absolutely!". All the proceeds from the show will go to Architecture for Humanity and their work in Haiti. Paul helped me select the photo above as the one to donate for the benefit.

This will be a great show and Paul has put together a seriously talented group of folks; Adam Warmington, Aleks Petrovich, Alexander Schaffer Czech, Barry McGee, Chris Burkard, Elizabeth Pepin, Peter McBride, Rob Brodman and that is only a few of the artists donating their work.

Come on down to the show, bid on some great artwork and do your part to support the rebuilding effort in Haiti. You can view and pre-bid on some of the work HERE.

WARNING: I'VE INCLUDED SOME IMAGES FROM HAITI THAT ILLUSTRATE THE DEVASTATION AND LOSS OF LIFE. LOOKING AT THESE I'M HAUNTED BY THE FACT THAT WE TOO LIVE IN A SEISMICALLY ACTIVE AREA.

(I apologize ahead of time for not crediting the photographers)

True Wilderness VS. Metropolis

It is really easy to get boxed into the urban fabric of the City. Sometimes it is important for us City dwellers to obtain a vantage point that takes us outside the confines of our concrete environment. There have been several vantage points I have been recently poking around to get some shots of the BIG surf showing up this Winter Season - like the shots above and below.

What I appreciate most about this vantage point is how it clearly illustrates the close proximity of true wilderness to the Sunset District's western edge. It is easy to forget that whales, dolphins, great white sharks, orcas, seals and a whole multitude of marine life not listed, ply the waters just off shore. What really separates us from the wilderness is just a Great Highway, sections of dunes, a concrete seawall, a large sandy beach and for most, cold water.

Think about it.

We live in a very unique and special place.

A 10 minute detour...

So the cold snap has not let up! Frigid out at the beach and even colder inland. Can't recall a spat of a weather this cold for quite some time. Regardless, the snow on Mt. Diablo is having a hard time melting in these conditions. When it has snowed in the past it is usually gone within 24 hours.

On my way into San Francisco for a meeting I decide to take a quick 10 minute detour to snap some more pics. Was glad I did because these are definitely better than my ones from the other morning. And found another good vantage point from which to shoot from in he future.

Thanks Mother Nature!

Photography: All about Time & Place

Let me start off by saying that I by no means consider myself a professional photographer. I love photography and have shot consistently over the past (8) years - enough to pick up a few skills, compose some nice shots and gain a confidence in showing my work. I still have a lot to learn though especially as it relates to the technical side of photography.

One thing I have learned over the years and can confidently state is that good photos don't necessarily find you. You have to go out and seek them. Whether it be a specific location, subject matter or activity, I find the more work you put into seeking/scouting your shots up front, the better the pay-off.

I've also learned that having a full time job can some times get in the way of my photographic pursuits. Don't get me wrong, I love my job - wouldn't change a thing. There are times when duty calls (work) and I'd really like to be out and about pointing my camera at cool subject matter.

Case in point, this past Monday I was on my daily commute to the East Bay, when all of a sudden I popped out of the Caldecott Tunnel and into a winter wonderland! I had forgotten about the cold front moving in and did not pay close enough attention to the radio when they stated that snow levels would drop to 2000 FT. I'll listen better next time because in hindsight I realize that I missed out on something very special. I have never seen Mt. Diablo covered with as much snow as I did that morning. Incredible!

Alas...I was only able to shoot Mt. Diablo this morning, early before work. Certainly not as compelling had I shot it on Monday morning but enough to get the point across and to scout a perfect spot for when the next Arctic cold front sweeps over us. I'll be there snapping away!

Did you get some good shots of Mt. Diablo with snow? I would love to see them or hear about where you chose to shoot from. Here is a link to some nice shots from a woman on FLICKR. I like her shots, they remind me of Montana.

Sessions No 3 & No 4

Safe to say most of the surf community around these parts would agree this has been a pretty dismal Fall surf season. The surf and good surf conditions really have not been in alignment and shown up with much gusto until this past weekend. So it hasn't been since August that I have been out with my waterhousing to snap some water shots. Felt good to get out. The pic above was from a session of overhead + surf the biggest I've been out in so far - a bit sketchy at times. The pic below was from a session up in the far reaches of Northern California.

San Francisco Street Art / 8 Year Retrospective / Part 1

After my recent visit to the Kommunitas Allery, I started to go back to my archives of Street Art photography, singling out the shots that I have really appreciated over the years. I have realized that there are just too many for one posting. So I'll try a post a collection each month.

Now what defines Street Art? That is a tough one to define and please everyone at the same time. The definition for me is any act of self expression layered into or on top of the Urban Fabric of our fine City of San Francisco. Stickers, stencils, tags, pieces, graffiti, readymades, you name it - as far as I'm concerned they all fall within the definition, no matter how senseless or benign they may be interpreted.

The following are just a few that have caught my eye over the years. If you know anyone responsible for these or if you remember seeing these also, would love to hear from you. Enjoy!

^ A favorite from the tail-end of DOT-COM boom

Bus Shelter @ 5th & Mission

^ A clever reminder that we are a country at war

Sidewalk near Duboce Park

^ Always liked this guy's style

Doorway on N-Judah Line, Inner Sunset

^ Have a happy emergency

Emergency call box, Upper Market Street

^ The Original

Outer Sunset, Judah Street Restrooms

^ Fence tag

Laguna & Page

^ Amoeba Parking Lot

Upper Haight Street

^ Mission District alley

^ Utility box

3rd Street & Townsend

^ Rowdy @ empty retail

South of Market, near 9th St & Howard

^ C&M Bar

48th Avenue, Outer Sunset

^ Retail window

South of Market, near 9th St & Howard

KOMMUNITAS an Urban Allery

While waiting to get my windshield replaced down South of Market, I decided to take advantage of the 2 hours of time to roam around the area and shoot some photography. I've always enjoyed aimlessly wandering around this neighborhood shooting pictures because inevitably you are always bumping into interesting... well... stuff.

People, art, filth, grime, industry, businesses, restaurants, poverty, wealth, vacated spaces (especially nowadays), new condos, old condos, train yards, new cars, old cars, delivery trucks, gutters, cyclone fences, rust, broken glass, flyered telephone poles, quiet clubs, weeds sprouting out of cracks, the lone community garden, wandering souls. I'm never let down when I criss-cross these streets, there is always something to point the camera at. The area is always changing but in some weird way it kinda stays the same... stuff just seems to shift around.

I decided to go by an alley that I knew had a considerable amount of Graffiti / Street Art in it. I was surprised to find the pic above posted on the fence at the front of the alley. What I thought was just a random stroll to a non-descript alley was actually a visit to one of the cooler Galleries (or an Allery) that I have been to in awhile. It is actually managed or curated by KOMMUNITAS. Go here to not learn much about it. Or go here to learn more about the individual that runs KOMMUNITAS.

The work / art / graffiti / street art that I have found here over the years has always been exceptional and worth a visit. I'd highly recommend stopping by. Please note the colors of my uploaded images do not do the art justice. It did not help that it was overcast as well that morning.

Have you been to this alley before? Do you know the names of these artists? What do you think of the work? Do you know other great areas in SF to see art like this? Drop us a line I'd love to know. Also stay tuned as I will be posting an (8) year retrospective of some of my favorite street art that I have documented over the years of living and working within San Francisco. 

A few more images for your enjoyment.

For information on Jimmy McGriff, click here to check out some of his albums. Gotta love some of those covers!!!

Bay Nature Magazine: Great White Sharks Submission

I have mentioned Bay Nature magazine previously within this BLOG. I find it to be an outstanding magazine focusing on our natural world surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area. They have a great website filled with interesting content too.

Beyond just recently joining their FLICKR Group online, I submitted my first set of photos for an up coming article slated for the next issue. The article focuses on Great White Sharks and will be written by the SF Chronicle's former environmental reporter Glen Martin. Within the submission request they asked for photos of the Sharks themselves. Photos of the sharks I could not help out with, but I do have a collection of images that I submitted that could essentially help to tell the broader story of the Bay Area's connection to Great White sharks. The following text is the introduction I sent to Dan Rademacher of Bay Nature:

Dan, Greetings. First time submitting. I've fallen in love with the Bay Nature Magazine. It is my personal goal to get some of my photographic work published in your fine magazine. This may take awhile as it seems you are connected with some very talented photographers! While I do not think the attached images fit the exact description of what you described on the website, I did want to send them to you anyway. As a local surfer and photographer (I live with my family in SF), I am constantly reminded that I recreate within the home waters of Great White Sharks. It humbles me and I often think how incredible it would be to run into one of these creatures - while on a boat of course! I do have a couple friends that have had confirmed run in experiences while surfing. I often find myself shooting images that relate to GWSs when they present themselves. This collection of images are random but definitely a part of our daily fabric that intertwines with these awesome creatures habitat - small reminders they are never that far away from us - even heavily populated City Centers! Isn't that what makes the Bay Area so special? So enjoy, I hope there is something you find interesting here, if not no harm done. Again, hope to contribute to the magazine someday.

Just joined the FLICKR Group. Take care.

DAK WAS HERE

Below are the images that I submitted. Enjoy and please leave me a comment if you are inspired by these images or if you have a Great White story to share.

Car @ Ocean Beach

Posted Flyer @ Stinson Beach

Posted warning at front gate to Stinson Beach

The Farallons, seasonal home base, Mile Rock Light

Posted warning @ Ocean Beach near deceased whale

Pt. Reyes, North Beach, "Shark Area"

A Bolinas "welcome/warning"