practicing night photos again 

Sunday we took a minute to stop by the inside breakwall 

Here's what Mia was looking at  

On Friday I left work and went bodysurfing on the way home, Conditions were bad and felt sharky so I hurried home to take some photos before it got dark 

one of the only boat projects I've done lately was putting a bug screen up around our companionway to allow breeze in while keeping mosquitoes out 

Saturday we went with friends to a multiple band music show at the Queen Mary in Long Beach. One of the members of the hosting radio show took a photo with me. 2 years ago he waged a small social media feud against me because I pointed out that he makes this same ridiculous face in every photo. He didn't know that I was that guy from 2 years ago when he posed for this photo and I knew he was going to make the face 

Lake Louise on a smokey morning 

the hike up offered and empty trail and cool air while the sun was behind the mountains  

just off the trail on the way up, trying slower shutter speeds to blur the water 

Mia and Maeve already did this hike earlier in the week before I arrived but Mia really wanted me to see it, the only way to fit it in would be by waking up at dawn on the final day - which we did, and Maeve was a trooper and came along with us

the tea house at the top of the trail and Abbot one of the house dogs. Tea house workers haul up propane and supplies and stay for about a week before hauling down trash before they get a few days off and do it all over again 

we had tea and biscuits while listening for glacial or rock falls. They echo through the valley sounding like thunder.  

on the way down we were actually running (during the safe parts) because we had to get back to the hotel before checkout and were losing time 

by this time in the late morning the bottom of the trail was a mob of people clogging the path, people riding horses to the tea house rather than walking, and rock climbers doing their thing 

another stop off the trail on the return to peek at the rushing glacial stream which fills Lake Louise 

We spent the last afternoon getting a post-hike breakfast and strolling around downtown Banff and the Bow River to Bow Falls and finally to the airport 

Moon rise  

Moraine Lake on Sunday. We were lucky to enter and get a parking spot. They limit the crowds by closing down the road when it gets busy. 

breakfast Sunday morning at the Post Hotel, along a steam that flows into the Bow River. 

The canoe rental dock  

water temp was 38 degrees and felt (shockingly) refreshing after a paddling across the lake. James at the top and me in the middle jumping off a rock 

view at the top of the rock pile into the clear blue water 

the sun was beating down and the chilly water felt great to swim in

a natural damn of logs bottlenecks the glacial runoff from leaving Lake Moraine, also allowing a crossing to a large rock pile to climb.  

After Lake Moraine we went to a ski resort where you can take chair lifts above the ski runs. In the summer there are often bears eating berries below, but we were told that there were not any sightings this afternoon and took Bow Parkway, along a railroad track, on the way back. There was a good chance of spotting bears because they eat grain and things that fall off the train cars so we kept our eyes peeled through the forests, yet we didn't see anything. Back in town early enough to walk around under the smokey skies, we could feel an extra level of energy because it was the eve of a Canadian national holiday and many people were out enjoying the summer weather. 

Saturday morning, Calgary airport. The flight landed after 3am and many of us were stranded here to wait and try to sleep until rental car companies opened again. 

I got my rental car as soon as I could and drove to Banff in the eastern Canadian Rockies. Promptly met with Mia's family and we headed out for the day - saw bears on the side of the road 

Bow Lake

after driving into the park and seeing bears, we stopped here first. I was already obsessed with this national park  

hike up to Parker Ridge and views of the Columbia Icefield glacier  

Parker Ridge is a farther drive north on the Ice Field Parkway almost to the end of the park.  Here is the Columbia Icefield Glacier and Mt Athabasca on the right. 

waterfalls coming from Big Bend Peak

the clearest weather was my first day there so we took advantage by going to all the big lookout spots we could. A fire nearby caused smoke for the other two days  

Waterfowl Lakes

the coolest outhouse I've ever seen  

Peyto Lake Panorama  

admittedly I was exhausted by the end of this day, having about an hour sleep on the plane and an hour at the airport at the end of a brutal work week. 

we went to the Park Distillery for dinner both nights I was there because it was so good.   

View looking east from the top of the trail in Sierra Madre  

Mia and Syd, backpacking summiteers  

Saturday morning I caught the finish of a Santa Barbara to King Harbor race that my friend Connor participated in. He's seen in the pictures on Bully helping take down the jib. Later Mia and I went to Sierra Madre and got up early Sunday to take our weighed-down packs and hike 6.6 miles roind-trip to a summit and back. It was steep, it was heavy, I was sore.  

At 8am I was biking on the strand and could see the first place boat ghosting out of the fog bank in light air.  

Bully after finishing  

They ran out of fuel on the trip north from San Pedro and had to replace a busted fuel pump, but they finished the race in good standing!  

Guess I'll throw in a picture of my own boat  

Finishing strong  

Photos during a high king tide sunset.  

The tide was over 7 feet and over flowing, grabbing the attention of tourists.  

Local fishers  

My neighbors winches. Playing with f-stop looking at my teak. One of the pterodactyl esque birds in the marina.  

We had one more birthday celebration day for Mia. A day at a pool hosted by our friends and then out in Santa Monica for food, drinks and bowling.  

Some art in Manhattan Beach while stopped in commute traffic.  

Got back what is probably the last film I will have developed for a long time or ever. Sums up a few fun trips of spring 2017 in San Luis Obispo and Pine Mountain Club where the film camera fell over. 

One of my favorite photos taken. This guy with paint on his hands, no-BS stoic look, loyal dog and trusty old truck. Then you can see my hands turning the focus and aperture rings in the windows reflection. 

Imitating the Poler brand advertisements  

Maeve taking Journey on a walk

Mia taking George on a walk  

New puppy means new dining area for kitty, upstairs on a table  

James and Mia  

Pine Mountain Club  

grocery shopping and playing house during a weekend away from the boat.  

George  

Inside the stables  

I love seeing people stretch the life of their toyotas tacomas with campershells. Some may call it a worktruck while others call it a mini mule. 

the Ojai Valley Inn has perfected having photogenic grounds. This area is usually covered with people taking selfies. 

getting there Friday night  

Mia and James both have July birthdays which meant double desserts at the table  

The days were filled with a little working out at the hotel gym and relaxing by pools  

there was a sign advertising the "pink moment", stating the time of sunset when the nearby hills all turn pink. 

I tried to get night photos but still have a lot to learn.  

Just switching the camera to starlight setting isn't enough to get it right, but here's evidence that I tried.   

James riding one of the complimentary bicycles on the grounds  

waterfall nearby one of the pools  

happy 27th, Mia! 

we had to pump out and took the opportunity to anchor out. It was in the mid 80s and humid so we got some breeze and watched boats go by. This older boat above, I've seen it for the past 2 years in Catalina at different times and in Redondo. It's an old man and his old dog, really fitting the stereotype of a salty sailor. 

I had my first attempt of street photography walking with Mia to pick up fresh halibut at the fish market.  

with the exception of the picture of Mia, all of these were taken inconspicuously usually with the camera at my hip.  

long 4-day weekend of patriotic puppies and fireworks. we pretended, after a bet, to be digging up the Anderson's front yard after they took us out on Lake Nacimiento. 

Saturday morning hike up Madonna mountain  

west from Madonna mountain  

Sunday hike to the same peak and looking east at James  

spending time walking Rosie, trying out my camera, enjoying home cooked food and surfing 

James paddling over while I caught this wave. The afternoon weather was perfect for a surf

cliff climbing and jumping at Lake Nacimiento  

Mia's family's friends, the Anderson's invited us up to their Lake Nacimiento house and on the pontoon and wakeboard boat. The pontoon boat acted as a mothership anchored in a cove with the cliffs while people took turns out skurfing (my first time), wakeboarding and tubing. It was a perfect lake day that I've been wanting to have for years.