LAX: Leaving LA

Someone on their way out of town...........as we drove by LAX.

The Drive for "The Californians"

Some of you may be Familiar with the SNL sketch "The Californians" a send-up of both the LA lifestyle and it's preoccupation with the best route to get anywhere, and vapid soap operas.......

Carpooling........

Respect the Carpool Rules!

On the 101

But not bound for San Francisco...............

I was shooting fast film and I actually love the graininess.................

Decomissioned: San Onofre Nuclear Plant

Star of the 1979 movie"The China Syndrome", the San Onofre Nuclear Plant is in the process of decommissioning.  Always a bad idea, since it was built very near a fault.

In 2012 We decided to drive from Colorado to San Diego for Christmas.  You've seen some of our other Road Pictures.  I recently found a roll of undeveloped B&W from the Trip.  We drove up to Santa Barbara to visit and friend.  I affectionately call it the "LA Woman Series", because we listened to the Doors as we drove through LA.

Print Comparisons: Mt Evans Bristlecone Pine

I'm spending more time in the darkroom now.  Haven't felt especially inspired to shoot in the cold and it has been too stormy in the Mountains.  Spending the next couple of days in the darkroom.

So I will be posting more of the Print scan vs. Negative scan comparisons.  Most of us film users scan the negative and post that directly.  But as I make prints I want to revisit some of these and see whether you can tell the difference between the scanned negative vs. the scanned print.  What does the actual printing add to the process?

Above the scanned negative.  Below the scanned 8X10 print.  Which do you prefer and why?

Now granted the scanning process itself tends to homogenize things.  But there are subtle differences that make me prefer the print scan.

Manatee Refuge......A Good Use of Power

It was in the upper 30's during the beginning of my Florida trip.  Quite cold for Tampa Bay and dangerously cold for Manatees (you can only see their noses here).

Discovered by the Manatees in 1986, a refuge was created at this Tampa Bay Power Plant:

Unlike many animal, Manatees do not survive on instinct alone.  They must be taught the best places to eat and stay warm by their mothers.  There are many more here now than when I first visited about 20 years ago.  Obviously the location of this special place is being passed down through the generations.

More from Fort De Soto

Fort De Soto 12-inch Mortars:

Only remaining 12 inch rifled, breach loading mortars in the U.S.  Used for coastal defense throughout the U.S., most were melted down prior to WWI to build bigger and better guns.............Part of the 1896 Coastal Defense Plan, these mortars were only fired during gunnery practice.

Fort De Soto County Park

 Entrance to North Beach

Late Afternoon on the Gulf of Mexico

 Twisted Palms