Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2007/03/18
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Doug these are very good images. I like both. We don't get to see predators enjoying their dinner very often! The first image, however, is a favorite of mine. I think people are a little hard on I-5, especially the segment north of Kettleman City and south of Tracy. The freeway runs along the eastern edge of the coastal range so it's a bit of a rolling drive. Unfortunately that makes traffic along this increasingly heavily traveled artery nasty because there are lots of trucks, they want to pass each other, often uphill. Coupled with folks who want to be going, say 90, and others who fixate on the posted speed limit of 70 and consider it not only their right but their obligation to do this in the left lane and you can have some seriously nasty traffic. BUT...the hills to the west of the highway have wonderful textures. In the spring the vast orchards bloom at different times and in different colors. The fields, when plowed, are deep black. The hills range from the verdant green of the spring annual grasses (all exotics who have pushed out the native bunch grasses) to the autumn rich golds. We drive this highway a lot going to and from Arizona. I enjoy the scenery but hate the traffic. In the winter there's this FOG thing. Great image though, Doug. On 3/18/07, Doug Herr <telyt@earthlink.net> wrote: > Today I visited Mercey Hot Springs near Firebaugh California > (merceyhotsprings.com). located in the hills west of I-5 in the > central valley. For those who have not travelled this stretch of > freeway, it's considered one of the most boring freeways in > California; winter at least has some green in the grasslands, but in > summer the hills are light brown with dead grass and the sky, > influenced by automotive pollution and grass fires, is nearly the > same color. > > Mercey Hot Springs is an oasis with a year-round water supply and a > small grove of tamarix trees, the only substantial plant growth for > many miles. During the winter months these tamarix trees are host to > numerous Long-eared Owls who hunt for Kangaroo Rats in the > surrounding desert by night and roost communally in the tamarix trees > by day: > > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/strigidae/leow01.jpg > http://www.wildlightphoto.com/birds/strigidae/leow02.jpg > > Technical stuff: (both photos) R8/DMR, tripod > > leow01: 560mm f/6.8 Telyt at f/6.8 > leow02: 280mm f/4 APO at about f/8 for DOF. > > I also expect to have some film photos of these birds in about a > week. All comments welcome > > Doug Herr > Birdman of Sacramento > http://www.wildlightphoto.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >