sjfphotography: *fine art images *natural light portraits *greeting cards


Wednesday, October 31, 2012

'til death do us part
 
Ghouls Wedding
Halloween Display
Healdsburg, California
10.28.2012

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

hillside vineyard
 
Hillside grape vines are reflected in the pond in the afternoon sunlight. 
 
Alexander Valley Highway 128
Healdsburg, California
10.28.2012

Monday, October 29, 2012


Grape-stomping (also known as pigeage) is part of a method of  maceration used in traditional winemaking.  For a slight fee-- on the California scale, one could participate grape-stomping and receive a tee-shirt with grape-juice footprints.  These grapes, in a half-barrel, await a stomper.  I passed.

Wine Country Series #3
Napa Valley - Rutherford, California

Sunday, October 28, 2012

fall vineyards
 
The vineyards of northern Sonoma County are splendid in the gorgeous fall weather with their colors of red and gold.
 
Northern Sonoma County
Highway 101
Healdsburg, California

Saturday, October 27, 2012

grapes
 
Although the harvest is over, we spent a delightful morning in the vineyard looking for forgotten clusters amid the colorful leaves.  The lesson was backlighting and use of reflectors.
 
 
Wine Valley Photography Tour
Healdsburg, California

Friday, October 26, 2012

california coast
 
Goat Rock Beach along Sonoma County
Pacific Ocean, California

Thursday, October 25, 2012

 
i left my heart in san francisco

San Francisco Bay Bridge viewed from Treasure Island - between San Francisco and Oakland
(So I missed a turn,  had to pay $6 on the toll bridge to get to Treasure Island to turn around.  But sometimes the nicest opportunities come with detours.)

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

cinderella's pumpkin
 
Did you know that the pumpkins for Cinderella's coach are grown down the road in Plains, Texas?  I wished and wished but it didn't turn into a Ferrari!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

glass pumpkins - not glass slippers
 
Tracy Weisel, glassblower in Jerome Arizona, demonstrates his skills.  Topical subject for October was a glass pumpkin.  Formerly from Manhattan, he said he'd spent decades on his art.
 
Jerome, Arizona
10.12.2012

Monday, October 22, 2012

which way?

Sunday, October 21, 2012

hear our prayers

The Children's Chapel at the Sanctuario de Chimayo is lined with hundreds of pairs of children's shoes, some with names and dates, left as offerings with intercessory prayers.  Portrayed as a small Spanish pilgrim boy, the image of the child Jesus is known as Santo NiƱo de Atocha.  The shoes are left so that the Holy Child may replace his worn shoes as he travels on his journey to provide comfort to those in need. St. Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, watches over the chapel.

El Sanctuario de Chimayo
Chimayo, New Mexico
3.10.2012

Saturday, October 20, 2012

night lights
 
Built in 1893, New Orleans’ first skyscraper is located on the corner of Carondelet and Common Streets, one block off Canal.  Originally the Hennen Building by architect Thomas Sully, it is now apartments.  A one-bedroom, 600 square feet and no parking, is $1150 a month -- but you're only a few blocks from Bourbon Street! This is the view from my room at the Pere Marquette.

10.17.2012

 

 


Friday, October 19, 2012

honor guard
 
Today the fire bell rang in the pattern 10-7, the old telegraph code signifying "out of service."  Deputy Chief Angerer retired from the Lubbock Fire Department after 27 years of service.  He was instrumental in the formation of the LFD Honor Guard, which marched today with the Pipe & Drums to honor the Chief.

Thursday, October 18, 2012




you rang?

Last night we stayed in a historic hotel near the French Quarter. Originally built in 1925, the decor is modern.  Local photographers were used to implement a neat concept for artwork.  A color photograph of the brass letters denoting the address "603 Julia" in New Orleans was framed over the desk.  My colleague's room was 606 painted on a wall on Bourbon Street.  I would have liked to go into each room just to see the photographs.  She never even noticed what was on the wall.

The Renaissance Pere Marquette
New Orleans, Louisiana
10.17.2012

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

street musician
 
Bourbon Street
French Quarter
New Orleans, Louisiana

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

japanese jack'o'lantern
 
The orange lanterns leading to the Sushi Cafe are reminiscent of jack'o'lanterns - especially in October.
 
Sushi Cafe
Luling, Louisiana

Monday, October 15, 2012

bridge over the mississippi


    

As I sit in my hotel room, all that is between me and the Mississippi River is the two-lane Louisiana Highway 18, the West Bank Levee and about 300 yards.  Thank goodness for good weather reports.
 
Luling, Louisiana


Sunday, October 14, 2012

mounted shooting
 
According to the webpage, mounted shooting is one of the fastest growing equestrian sports, with regional and state level competitions. Samantha was practicing for the worlds.
 
Ben Avery Shooting Center
Phoenix, Arizona
10.13.2012
 


Saturday, October 13, 2012

towel bar
 
Desert Ridge Resort
Scottsdale, Arizona
10.9.2012

Friday, October 12, 2012

coffin maker
 
Explorations along highways and byways sometimes bring strange encounters.  At the end of a dirt road a mile out of Jerome is the Gold King Mine Ghost Ranch.  The site is a 30-year accumulations of rusted mining equipment, old trucks and remnants of a mining town, interspersed with chickens, goats and Pedro the begging donkey.  As we left, we met this fellow and asked what he was building.  The answer?  Coffins.  Since it was his day off, he thought he could make some cash off coffins.  We had noticed a model upon entering the ghost town, but thought it part of the Western decor. With Halloween approaching he thought he'd get about $150 per coffin.  He also noted that the rough-pine boxes could also be used as coffee tables.
 
Gold King Mine Ghost Town
Jerome, Arizona

Thursday, October 11, 2012

study in blue
 
Pots at Desert Gardens
Glendale, Arizona

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

spot o' tea
 
English Rose Tea Room
201 Easy Street
Carefree, Arizona
10.8.2012

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

photographer and artist
 
Today at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum, noted photographer Dan Budnik spoke of his sessions with artist Georgia O'Keefe.  This silver gelatin print "Georgia O'Keefe at Ghost Ranch with Pots by Juan Hamilton was made in 1975 and is one of the more famous portraits of the New Mexico artist.
 
Desert Caballeros Western Museum
Wickenburg, Arizona

Monday, October 8, 2012

be careful in carefree
 
Golden Barrel Cactus
(or Mother-in-Law's Cushion, if you wish)
Carefree, Arizona

Sunday, October 7, 2012

the guest in room 158
 
LaQuinta on Greenway
Phoenix, Arizona

Saturday, October 6, 2012

paris flea market
 
One need not take a transatlantic flight to visit this Paris Flea Market.  It is located in the Glendale Historic District.  The shops of Catlin Court are housed in Craftsman-style bungalows built in the early 1920s according to the "Ye Planry" plan book.  Many are on the National Registry of Historic Places.

Catlin Court
Glendale, Arizona

Friday, October 5, 2012

bird of paradise
 
Tropical foliage surrounds the hotel -- this bird of paradise blooms next to a tree loaded with lemons.  High today - 95 degrees.
 
Phoenix, Arizona

Thursday, October 4, 2012

saguaro
 
The saguaro cactus blossom is the official state flower of Arizona.
 
Phoenix, Arizona

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

yellow door #2
 
Cesar Chavez Drive
Canyon Lake #1
Lubbock, Texas

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

the color of fall

Monday, October 1, 2012

fallen
 
The landscape light in the courtyard at the International Cultural Center is a nature collector -- rose petals, acorns and seed pods.  This evening's lecture by photographer Nevada Wier was great.  Catch the exhibit on Cuba by Mac Rowley. 
 
International Cultural Center
702 Indiana
Lubbock, Texas