California Road Trip

mount shasta, California

Took a little road trip around California during the last week.  Mostly to visit old places that I haven’t been to for a while, such as Mt. Shasta (above), which I climbed back in 2005, but haven’t seen since.  Up every morning at 4:30, but the light was pretty dissapointing for the most part.  Still nice scenery though, if not so good for photography.  Still managed a few nice shots though.  More in the next days…

Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Parade

Today (Saturday) was the annual summer solstice parade here in Santa Barbara.  This was the first time I’ve gone in years and years so I thought I might go and take some photos.  Definitely a lot more colorful and sunny compared to how they celebrate midsummer in Germany, but I don’t think we could get away with huge bonfires here in Southern California.

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Lots and lots of colorful costumes: some cool looking, some funny, some strange and some just a little bizarre.  But hey, it’s summer now…

Click here for a gallery of more photos

Gylen Castle

Gylen castle, Kerrera island, Scotland

Overlooking the Firth of Lorne, the ruins of Gylen castle sit on a cliff at the southern end of Kerrera island.  Build in 1582 by clan MacDougall, the castle met its demise in 1647 when it was burned by the Covenanters during the civil war.

Moonlight

Bright moon and clear night over the weekend.

moonlight-barn

moonlight2

One from tonight

Had some strange weather in Santa Barbara today, for this time of year anyways.  Ended up on a couple hour drive down a dirt road along the mountain ridge.  Good way to spend a Friday night.  Every time I would pull over to take a photo, the clouds would roll in and I couldn’t see more that a few feet.

Santa Barbara, California

Approaching Storm – Tasman Valley

Clearing storm over mountains and Tasman valley, Mount Cook national park, New Zealand

Last rays of light before several days of rain over Tasman Valley and Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand.  Another old one from April, 2006.

Tasman glacier and lake, Mount Cook national park, New Zealand

Tasman glacier and Tasman lake covered in mist.

Storm over Tasman glacier and lake, Mount Cook national park, New Zealand

Storm over Tasman glacier and lake.

Clear Night at Milford Sound

Night photography: Clear night sky over Milford sound, New Zealand

A cloudless sky is a pretty rare sight at Milford Sound, a place with an average of 6.8 meters – 22 feet of rain per year.

Old photo from March 2006.  June Gloom has been in full effect these last weeks here in Santa Barbara and I haven’t been out shooting much lately.  I figure I’ll just post some old stuff that has never seen the light of day before…