New Year's Resolution

Beginning of the year usually correlates with me trying to re-ignite my blogging.  Hopefully, with the help of my New Year's resolution, I can make that a reality.

So what is my resolution?

Challenge myself on a weekly basis.  I've put together a list of 52 (well, actually 47 right now...still in progress) "goals", and I will attempt to take on a new one each week of 2013.  Some might be worthy of a blog post.

Here are some examples:

- No TV for a week.
- Watch the sunrise each day for a week.
- Sleep on the opposite side of the bed for week.
- Only drink water for a week.
- Eat a banana every day for a week.

If anyone can think of five more "goals", let me know!

Cheers to 2013!

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?