Redwood National Park - California

After a long 12 hour drive up from Southern California I got into Crescent City to meet up with a friend that had driven south from Idaho and we were both glad to be out of our cars.
The next morning it was into Starbucks for the morning heart starter and a look around the town, first stop was Battery Point Lighthouse, sitting on a small island just of shore, the tide was in so the only way over would of been to swim, "note to self check tide table next time," would of been nice to get across, also check out the group of seals living in the harbor enjoying leftovers from the fishermen.

Battery Point Lighthouse - taken from the breakwater across from the island

Redwood National Park - Northern California

Making our way down the coast on a very misty morning, stopping at False Klamath Cove for a walk out to the point and a look around Lagoon Creek.

Looking down onto False Klamath Cove from the 101

Trees of Mystery is a self guided walk through the Redwood ($15pp) and a ride to the top of the hill on the Skytrail gondola very enjoyable (check out Paul Bunyan and Babe)

After the tress of mystery, Klamath was the next stop for fuel etc, just over the bridge (going south) turn right and take the Coastal Drive road that follows the coast for a few miles some great vistas of the coast and also a great spot to watch the salmon fisherman and seals competing for a feed (when in season) and the old WW2 radar station.

View from the Coastal Drive Rd - looking north

Elk Prairie was our camping spot for the next 2 nights, all I can say about it - it's great camping under these giant trees another spot is Mill Creek, these two are a must stay. From Elk Prairie you can do the Cal-Barrel road, drive over to Gold Bluffs Beach (the road is dirt) and do the short hike to Fern Canyon and check out the Beach, there is also camping there.

Gold Bluffs Beach - Redwood National Park

 Also close by is Lady Bird Johnson Grove on Bald Hills Rd (great view at the top of Bald Hills Rd) Elk Meadows, watch the Elk feed in the afternoon/evenings.
Two of the Hikes I enjoyed the most were Damnation creek trail and Boy Scout trail both about 3 miles each way, there are also loads of smaller walks around if you just want to take is easy. Remember to put your arms around a tree and give it a hug (probably have to be a group hug unless you find a small tree)  enjoy. Now for that long drive back to work.

Misty Morning hike on the Damnation Creek Trail

A misty morning at the end of Damnation Creek Trail

Redwood Sorrel(Oxalis oregana) at the base of a Redwood tree

Redwood National Park - Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park - Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park

 Wildlife Around Us - People and Places

Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens

The Conservatory in the Botanical Gardens

A Great way to spend the day around Los Angeles for Art Lovers and Botanical Garden fans. 

Not far from Pasadena in San Marino you will find the the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens on 120 acres of well keep grounds. (not counting the work that is being done on the grounds)
 First off I'am not the Library, Art collection type of person, however I did walk through most of the indoor exhibits, but at a faster pace than most stopping at the more well know bits "Gainsborough's Blue Boy and Lawrence's Pinkie, Gutenberg Bible on Vellum. (well cultured now you say)

Bamboo and Graffiti

The Botanical Gardens was the part that I liked the most, from the Chinese Garden to the Australian Garden, there was an abundance of wildlife to check out, from local resident birds to the hummingbirds buzzing around in front of us, and the lizards that were scurrying across the walkways and between the cactus, stopping for a quick look up and then carry on their way. Not a bad way to spend 4 hours or so.

Koi fish and lilies

Next time, and there will be one, I would go on a weekday (gates open at 10am) take a zoom lens for the hummingbird and Lizard shots, tripod and my Gopro for some time-lapse, the photos here were taken with a Sigma wide angle 17 - 70 that I was testing and using for the first time (very pleased with it)

The Wildlife Around Us

Over the last month we have had this Coyote coming into our back yard for the shade. As long as you are on the tractor or using the mower he just walks pass and takes his spot under the trees for the hottest part of the day.

California Coyote

Another visitor is the the Red Tail Hawk that can be seen in the mornings hunting squrriels around the property

Young Red Tail Hawk

Zanzibar: The Spice Island

Zanzibar

Just off the coast of Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) You will find Zanzibar one of my favorite spots to hang out in. You have the resorts in the North (Nungwi) or you can stay in Stone Town, where ever you end up staying, swap around so you experience both places. You can catch the ferry from Dar es Salaam and enjoy an 1 1/2 ride across, inside with Air/con or outside on a bean bag, once you get there fill out the paper work, stamp the passport and you are in. To fly over it takes around 40 min great views of the islands, when we landed on this occasion they never looked at our Passports.

One of the Resorts Near Nungwi, Zanzibar

If you are going to be going to one of the Resorts in the north of the island you can catch a taxi van just out the front of the ferry terminal ask around, prices can very.
Once there you have beaches, diving, swimming Cold beer and great food, dinning next to the ocean you can look down and see lion fish in the clear water below. When you are tired of doing that GO AND DO a spice tour which I would recommend as this what Zanzibar is know for.

Stone Town

Staying only 10 min from the ferry Terminal at the Safari Lodge the place was clean handy to every thing and they do breakfast, With a Labyrinth of walk/bike ways, Stone Town was a great place to get lost in (in a good way) from the Spice market to the Fish and Meat markets too the Tinga Tinga paintings that can be found down every street.

Streets of Stone Town, Zanzibar

In the evenings you can find locals cooking seafood on the waterfront (try the octopus) cooked as you wait and watch, as you walk along the waterfront you will come across the road tunnel once through, there is a ATM to your left that can be used, take the next street to the right and walk down to the beach and you can find them making boats by hand, taking the street to the left, you will pass Freddy Mercury's birth place and some bigger shops (little park on you right has a ATM in it also) at the end of the street there is Africa House great place to watch the Sunset and have a cold one, check out the smoking room.

Catching a boat next to Mercury's Bar out to one of the local islands (Bawe Island) were you can feed some of the Tortoises they have there, ranging from the young and small to the big and old.

local Boy, Zanzibar

Things to Remember

Ladies look at what the local woman are wearing before you go out in your little shorts and tops it's ok in the resorts but when in the towns cover up a little and you wont get the funny looks.
Carry water.
Enjoy the Local People their culture and the great food. 

Western Fence Lizard

Male Western Fence Lizard

Western Fence Lizard

What ever you like to call these guys, ranging from Western Fence lizard, Pacific Fence or California Fence Lizard they make great subjects to photograph sitting on their tree stump or rock soaking up the the morning sun as the males do their pushups to impress the ladies. You can get quite close to them and over time they don't seem to mine you being around.
       On this particular day he was out sunning himself trying to impress everything that walked passed, after setting up the tripod and camera this little guy seem to get more friendlier and came out for longer periods of time enjoying the spotlight.
       I was using a Canon 7D and Sigma 50 to 500 zoom lens for these shots, photos taken in the morning around 8am, Setting ISO 800 | 500mm | f/14 | 1/400

Male Western Fence Lizard

  Larger photos can be seen at Wildlife Around Us 

Gorillas Of Rwanda

Small Cameras are Great

Swimming in the Clear water's off Zanzibar (fujifilm XP)

Small Cameras are the Best

         Traveling for 6 months in Africa (Self drive and Tour Operator) We wanted a camera that you could carry everywhere, besides your main camera and this is what I came up with, a Fujifilm XP water/shock/dust and freeze proof, great for your pocket, I even carried it in my boot sock. walking around in towns/cities you stand out and scream rob me if you have a big DSLR hanging around your neck (with a group it's safer ) and I have seen this happen on a number of occasions and even warned one guy not to take his camera into town, he came back without it and had only just started his trip.
     With this camera we only used 2G cards just in case it did get taken, so we wouldn't lose to many photos in one hit (cards are cheap)

The Sand Dunes of Sossusviei in the Namibia Desert (fujifilm XP)

Dune 45 in Sossusviei, part of the Namibia Desert was another great reason to have a camera of this type with you. SAND

Namibia / Angola river Float (fijifilm XP)

What ever brand you choose it is a must have camera on any big or small trip, the benefits outweigh the negatives.
Keep it in your pocket, your sock, or down the front of your swimmers
It's better to have something than nothing.

Burrowing Owls of Yuma, Arizona

Burrowing Owls of Yuma Arizona.

On my visits to Yuma, I alway take the time to find the burrowing owls that live close to to were we stay and get some photos, In November the little family group that lived next door were doing fine, but by Christmas they had moved out due to the work that is taking over their living space, after checking out another area close by we found 8 birds happily standing in front of their holes, willing to sign model releases. The only problem with this spot was the light, it would have to be an afternoon shoot ( I prefer the mornings, something about the light at that time) the light was not strong on this day due to low cloud, as I use a Sigma 50 - 500 light is important as I like to keep my ISO down, 800 or less.(Yes, I could go higher) On the Canon 7D you can set a maximum ISO (if you have updated your firmware) I like 800 and then use auto, using shuttler priority mode, this gives me a good working ISO range starting at 100 to 800 and a good shutter speed around 250 depending what type of wildlife I’am shooting,this is not everyone cup of tea just mine.

Burrowing Owls (Athene Cunicularia) 

At this location they don’t seem to mind you been around if you move accordingly, After setting up my tripod and camera I got around 40 min of good -+ light before the sun hit the clouds and it was over. If you can’t take photos, hang around and watching these little guys can also be just as rewarding and give you ideas for the next time and there will be a next time.

Gear: Canon 7D sigma 50-500 and a tripod is a must.

Morning

Afternoon