Just Above Sunset Photography

Sunday, 21 May 2006

Sad News

Sad News

Faithful companion and partner for more than seven years, Harriet-the-Cat passed away this morning, Sunday, May 21, 2006. One hopes there are fresh shrimp in cat heaven. A good cat. The best.

Posted by Alan at 3:18 PM PDT | Post Comment | Permalink
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Saturday, 20 May 2006

At a distance...
Topic: Technical Exercises

At a distance...

More experimentation with the telephotos lens and fast shutter settings - Venice California, Thursday, May 18, 2006, early afternoon - low light due to moderate ground fog and the persistent marine layer.

Bird Study - Venice California, Thursday, May 18, 2006, early afternoon

Posted by Alan at 7:49 AM PDT | Post Comment | Permalink
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Friday, 19 May 2006

Egrets in Context

Egrets in Context

"An egret is any of several herons, most of which are white or buff, and several of which develop fine plumes during the breeding season. Many egrets are members of the genera Egretta or Ardea which contain other species named as herons rather than egrets. The distinction between a heron and an egret is rather vague, and depends more on appearance than biology.

"Several of the egrets have been moved around from one genus to another in recent years: the Great Egret, for example, was traditionally classified as either a member of Casmoderius, Egretta or Ardea.

"In the 19th and early part of the 20th century, some of the world's egret species were endangered by relentless hunting, since hat makers in Europe and the United States demanded massive numbers of egret plumes and breeding birds were killed in locations all around the world.

"Several Egretta species, including the Eastern Reef Egret, the Reddish Egret and the Western Reef Egret have two distinct colors, one of which is entirely white. Little Blue Heron has an all-white juvenile plumage" - or so it says here.

These appear to be egrets, in the muck of an old silted-in canal in Venice California, Thursday, May 18, 2006, early afternoon. Which sort they are is a mystery, but they provided a chance to experiment with the telephoto lens and various shutter speeds.

Egret, Venice California, May 18, 2006

Nosey neighbor -

Egret, Venice California, May 18, 2006

Posted by Alan at 7:26 PM PDT | Post Comment | Permalink
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Updated: Friday, 19 May 2006 7:30 PM PDT

Thursday, 18 May 2006

Wretched Excess: Another Ferrari in Malibu
Topic: Oddities

Wretched Excess: Another Ferrari in Malibu

Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, the stretch of highway where that crazy Swedish guy wrecked his rare Ferrari Enzo - high gas prices

Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, the stretch of highway where that crazy Swedish guy wrecked his rare Ferrari Enzo, snapping off a telephone pole at 162 mph and walking away from it all with just a cut lip. He's been arrested - the Ferrari wasn't really his, he was in the country illegally, he had an unregistered gun in the car, his electronic games company is bankrupt and all sorts of creditors are after him, and he already has a criminal record, having spent time in jail in Europe for fraud and such, before he became the CEO of the electronics thing.

He seemed to think coming to California and pretending he was cool, rich and successful would make it all better. This is where people reinvent themselves, after all. But he drove a bit too fast. It's kind of classic. They write songs about such things, like the Eagles' classic "Life in the Fast Lane" - the words of that number (here) will do nicely.

This is Thursday, May 18, 2006 - late morning with fog off the Pacific a few hundred feet to the left. Note the gas prices here a few feet from Malibu Colony where all the stars live. Business was fine, thank you. It doesn't matter.

Below, across the street at Malibu Creek Plaza, there was this parked by the local Starbucks - a Ferrari 456M. These were produced from 1992 through late 2003, and this may be one of the last, with its front-mounted 436-horsepower 5.5-liter V-12 (no mid-engine crap here), a top speed of 186 mph, and one of the better Pininfarina bodies. The original retail price was just shy of two hundred thirty thousand.

Ferrari 456M parked at coffee shop in Malibu

Contrasts - palm trees reflected in the glass, the Just Above Sunset staff Mini, and a surfboard.

Ferrari 456M parked at coffee shop in Malibu

Note - they do have brakes. You can slow down, and even stop.

Ferrari 456M parked at coffee shop in Malibu, wheel detail

Posted by Alan at 4:47 PM PDT | Post Comment | Permalink
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Updated: Thursday, 18 May 2006 4:49 PM PDT

Wednesday, 17 May 2006

Orange in the Shadows
Topic: Technical Exercises

Orange in the Shadows

In the shadows at Will Rogers Memorial Park on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills, at the north end of Rodeo Drive, just across the street from the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Polo Lounge – an exercise in low light. Tuesday May 16, 2006.

Orange blooms in the shadows at Will Rogers Memorial Park on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills

Orange blooms in the shadows at Will Rogers Memorial Park on Sunset Boulevard in Beverly Hills

Posted by Alan at 10:10 PM PDT | Post Comment | Permalink
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