Snapped

LA Chinatown

Lori — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 04:28:27 +0000

Temescal Canyon

Lori — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 04:06:36 +0000

Here are some photographs I took while on a hike in Temescal Canyon, which is in the Santa Monica Mountains. It is only minutes from a heavily populated urban area, yet here the rangers warn you to keep an eye out for cougars, coyotes, and rattlesnakes. It is truly wild. Since it is spring the brush is still green and at parts so dense that it felt like twilight. I only hiked about an hour and a half since I have not hiked like this for a very long time and I am out of shape. My goal was to reach a waterfall a short distance up the canyon; however, the trail became so steep and rocky and it was already hot at 9 am in the morning, I felt that I couldn’t risk it. Although there were plenty of people on the trail, I didn’t want to have to bother to ask for assistance if I got heat stroke. So I turned around without making it to the waterfall. That’s okay… it will motivate me to come again when it is not so hot and I’m in better shape.

This is where I was heading. I didn’t make it to the top this time.

The name of the canyon, Temescal, is the Chumash word for “sweat lodge” and I presume at one time before the Europeans came there was a sweat lodge in the canyon. Sweat lodges were used by the native Americans in the area for spiritual purposes. Supposedly, sitting in a sweat lodge helped them connect with the spirit realm. I have to to admit that the canyon does have an otherworldly feel to it. I am not surprised they chose this place to connect with the spirits. After a few minutes of walking, the sound of traffic on Sunset Boulevard faded away and I was surrounded by the sound of chirping birds and running water. Serene. Peaceful. It was like being in the sanctuary of a proper church. In some places, the vines (wild cucumber, I think) had grown up the trees and arched over the trail– again it felt like I was surrounded by the soaring vaults and arches of a cathedral. It was truly humbling to stand in the presence of 300 year old oak trees. Extraordinary!

Sycamore trees are the other lords of the forest.

The canopy was extremely dense in some areas.

A grove of coastal oak trees.

I didn’t meet any coyote or cougar today, but I did come across this little fellow along with rabbit, lizards, monarch butterflies (their breeding area) and singing birds of all kinds.

And looking back towards the Pacific Ocean.

Winter Snow

Lori — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 17:02:32 +0000

I don’t often get to see snow where I live. This is a treat.

Into the Blue: The Video

Lori — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 07:38:36 +0000

More Images from the Deep

Lori — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:29:11 +0000

Taken at the Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, CA

Coral Life

Lori — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 22:47:07 +0000

Coral Life

Surf’s Up

Lori — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:43:35 +0000

This is my first attempt at an “action shot”.

Taken at Lunada Cove, Calif.

A Morning at the Aquarium

Lori — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 07:25:34 +0000

I love the aquarium. Here’s a selection of images from the Aquarium of the Pacific. Enjoy.

Korean Friendship Bell

Lori — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 15:22:39 +0000

Head-Banging and Learning Curves

Lori — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 01:15:23 +0000

I finally got myself a decent camera with more megapixels and a great zoom capacity. I had a frustrating last two days trying to install the camera’s software (which still doesn’t work so I used Photoshop to download my images).

Now I am getting acquainted with the functions of the camera. Below is a medley of images I took today, and I am so pleased with the results.

The lesson I learned today, which I hope newcomers to Web 2.0 will also learn, is that, yes, there will be head-banging technology glitches and a steep learning curve, but the outcome is well worth the efforts.

I think these are ginko leaves but I’m not sure. If someone knows, let me know. Thanks.

Here I was playing with the zoom controls and I captured this denizen of the night slinking home at dawn. Anita Marie, I think this is Blitzer’s doppelganger.

This is Manhattan Beach pier. I am so pleased with the clarity of the image. No low-resolution jaggies here.

Knowing that I will now get decent images, I am stepping out a bit and taking some creative chances. For this image, I climbed down under the pier. Thank goodness there were no scary people under there!

I am pleased with the color as well. This view is of Santa Catalina Island taken from the top of Palos Verdes Peninsula. Yes, the ocean was that blue today.

I have no idea what this flower is called. If anyone knows, please tell me. Isn’t this an amazing color of purple?

So, whatever technology you are struggling with at the moment, don’t give up. Keep plugging away. You won’t regret it.