Fun with the Olloclip

I recently acquired an Olloclip.  This is a nifty little iPhone attachment that contains 3 different camera lens - fisheye, macro, and wide angle.  The macro is limited...but insane; you have to get uber close (within an inch for it to focus on your subject).  The fisheye is fun.  I haven't really found a whole lot of use for the wide-angle, but I'm sure it'll be useful.

I first tried it out at John Muir National Historic Site in Martinez.

Here are a couple from that day, but you can check out more of them at this link.

Yesterday, I played around with the Olloclip some more; this time at the Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm.  They were busy setting up for Christmas season.  Lincoln and Chester (the resident dog) wandered around...finding things to pee on...while I searched for a subject to shoot.  They have an impressive patch of sunflowers which were basically done blooming and I was going to continue walking by but then I noticed a bee working on one of the flowers and just like that I settled on my photo subject.  The combination of the moving bees and the swaying plants made getting a clear macro shot nearly impossible.  To get the 15 photos I posted, I probably took near 50 photos.

Here's a sample, but check out all of them at this link.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the impressive compact camera on the iPhone.  I continue to be surprised by the quality and detail I can capture with this camera.

Olloclip's website

Dirty and Loving It!

Weekly "rescue runs" to overcrowded Central Valley shelters are definitely a highlight of my job.

Inevitably, the days are long (6+ hours of driving), hot (summers in the Central Valley are ridiculous...how do people live there), and dirty (see photo of my dirt covered hand). But we are changing lives! Not just the lives of the 20 or so dogs that we rescue, but the lives of the guardians that eventually adopt the rescued dogs and give them a "forever home".

Read more about ARF, their mission, and their foster and volunteer programs here: www.arf.net

The Nepalese

Nepalese...Nepali?  Not sure.  Wikipedia tells me Nepali is the correct term for the people of Nepal.  Sherpa describes a Nepali ethnic group from the mountainous regions of Nepal.  Fascinating people.

They've been hiking these vigorous trails as part of their "daily commute" for millennia.  They are built for the altitude and the mountains.  They are short in stature.  I wonder if the lower center of gravity gives them an advantage when hiking at altitude?  It definitely makes it easier to carry large loads of cargo supported by woven baskets and bands around their heads.  They must have incredible neck muscles.  A common "job" for boys and men is as a porter.  Porters get paid by the pound of the load they carry.  It is not unusual for porters to carry twice their body weight up and down these steep Himalayan slopes.  And often time they are just wearing flip-flops.  The young porters carry their mp3 players on their load and hike to music. 

My mom next to a Sherpa porter.  That entire load is supported on his forehead.  Amazing!

All the "rigs idling at the truck stop".

While altitude sickness is not a big issue for the local Sherpas, the government posts plenty of literature to educate the silly tourists.  Recent reports from 2012 Everest Expeditions indicate that there may be a record number of illness or deaths from altitude sickness.

Enjoying a cup of hot tea at 15,100'.  The highest point of my trek.  Amu Dablam Base Camp.

Durbar Square, Kathmandu

Waiting for my laundry to finish in the wash...perfect time for a quick blog post.

Below are a collection of photos from Nepal.  These ones were when we were sight-seeing around the capital, Kathmandu.

Miss Me?

I'll be the first to admit that I've been slacking.

I can assign blame to my busy work schedule, my fabulous vacation (to Nepal), catching up once I got back, playing for a regional semi-pro volleyball team, and sitting in my hammock (which encourages me to nap rather than blog).

My sister is talking about starting up a blog (url coming soon), so I figured I was in need of a fresh blog post.

Let's talk Nepal.

Amazing trip.  Rafting, trekking, sight seeing.  Mountains, small planes, lots of tea, Buddha, sherpas, Everest, altitude, warm down jackets, wood stoves, etc...

I have lots of pictures in a Facebook album.   Below are some of my favorites:

Mani Stones

Boudhanath - Largest Stupa in the World - In Kathmandu

Thangka Art

Blossoms

And now...I need you assistance.  Which of the next two photos do you like better...#1 or #2?  Leave your vote in the comments section.  Thanks for your help!

#1

#2

I'll post some more Nepal photos and videos soon.  There is definitely enough Nepal material to support at least a dozen blog posts.

Sister's blog coming soon....

Photography Adventure

Went on a Photography Adventure today.  Hiked along some of my favorite spots and took pictures of the same thing with 3 different cameras (4 including my Fish-eye, but those photos deserve their own post).  Below are some of those photos with details regarding which shot is from which camera in the caption.  Either my iPhone 4s, my 8 year old Canon EOS Rebel (takes 35 mm film), or my Canon Powershot Digital.  All are unedited/unadjusted.  I really wish 35mm wasn't so costly, because I absolutely love having control of my lens.

35 mm. iPhone. Pocket Digital

35 mm (top). Pocket Digital (left). iPhone (right).

Pocket Digital (top). iPhone (left). 35 mm (right)

35 mm (top). iPhone (bottom).

Pocket Digital.

iPhone.

 Any favorites?

Flowers at the Zoo

Pretty flowers at the zoo today.

Vegas for Volleyball

I was doing so well with my daily posts, and then I got in a rut.

I'm in Vegas right now. Coaching my volleyball team in a big tournament. I'm not a gambler, but I do enjoy seeing all the elaborate hotel designs and all the pretty casino colors and lights.

Staying at The Orleans where there is a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory inside!!

Muffin to Lift the Spirits

Bizarre, frustrating end to my day. But all can be forgotten with the help of a warmed up poppy seed muffin.

Someone else was interested in the muffin too.

Ken Ramirez = Awesome

Day 2 of Ken Ramirez workshop.  (Day 1 photos).  This time at the Oakland Zoo.  Lots of great, great, great information, and some time at lunch to wander around the zoo.  I'm always too pressed for time to walk around when I'm normally there volunteering, so I finally got to wander around and see some the animals that I never get to see.

Mr. (Well Fed) Baboon

Flamingos

Giraffe

Warthog doing some rooting

And a couple notes on Ken Ramirez.

Ken is the executive VP of animal care and animal training at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.  He's being training for 35+ years and has a background in animal behavior and biology.  He occasionally travels the world consulting and educating.  He is an amazing presenter, and anyone who can manage to listen to him will leave feeling as inspired as I have been.

His passion and dedication to his profession are clear and charismatic.  I am SO GLAD that I forked up the $$$ to go listen to him, and I am SO LUCKY that this workshop was local.

He leaves one feeling like the possibilities are endless and that no challenge is impossible to overcome.

Read more and get inspired: http://kenramireztraining.com/

New Friends

Day 1 of a Ken Ramirez Animal Training workshop.  Today we were at Six Flags Animal Kingdom.  We were in a conference room all day except during lunch.  The park was closed to visitors, but some animal management staff let us meet some of the park residents.

6 month old Serval

 

14 year old Mexican Porcupine

SLOTH!

Hungry Sloth

I am a Dog Person

But I do make exceptions.

Electric Soap

The brightness of this soap has always weirded me out!

Baby Giraffe

Today was my first day seeing Maggie out on exhibit.  She was adorable.  Frolicking around and chasing the Eland.  I can't wait to see her grow to be as tall as the rest of the herd.

A Little Much

Hurts to look at it.

It doesn't look real.

It doesn't look comfortable.

No thank you.

What is it ... Part 2

What in the world?

Parting Shot

Squeezing this post in at the end of the day. Bye bye. And good night.

No More Electricity

Candles are making a come back.

Relief: Just Down the Street

Lincoln and I love stopping at the Clayton Valley Pumpkin Farm. We get to visit with Chester and explore all the farm sights and smells.