This is July 2012

This is almost the same location November 2, 2012

This is to the left of the main falls area

This is the area behind lookout 3 where the kayakers usually do beginners training.
( the water is not usually to the tree.)

November 2, 2012 - the storm has passed. The road has reopened. And my car in once again running after drying out and getting a new battery and alternator.  This means I am once again on the road.  Since there were many signs of damage all around, I thought I would take a short detour to Great Falls and see what the storm had done to the park.  I start here with a photo from July that shows what the water level is normally like.  If you look at the tree line you can make a comparison.  All the lower photos show how high things were after the storm.

Great Falls always has something new to see.  Here are just a few of the things I saw on my hike including this spider which was HUGE

Yesterday aftershooting some video in the morning and afternoon I was out of memory on the videocamera and back to my regular camera.  I caught this gentleman going to, then coming down from, the upper falls-something the rangers do not allow singular individuals to do...too risky.  I was hoping I was not watching him commit suicide but was very happy as he made it all the way through.  Here you go.

Yesterday was a busy day.  I started out by shooting some video at Great Falls National Park on the Virginia side.  Using a Samsung HMX-W300.  I have posted a couple of the segments.  I am disappointed with the  images.  The Samsung does not have image stabalization and the buffering makes the image look jerky when panning.  For those looking for a small camcorder this one is not any better than your IPhone.

Sunrise

I would wake up between 3 and 4 am. and although the idea of going back to sleep was nice, it just wasn't going to happen. The first morning I went out see the Bay Bridge (they are the first three photos) and the second morning I went to the Golden Gate Bridge. The two of the sunrise from the Golden Gate Bridge are actually looking back at SF from the park under the bridge. At about 6AM there were already men fishing from the pier. The third morning it was pouring rain. So although I did go out there was no pretty sunrise to see.

So, finally continuing the story of SF. I was at the Hyatt near the piers. It had a great view and it let me go to the bay bridge at sun rise. Here are some photos of the bridge at different times of the day. Thanks to the time change I saw sunrise every morning. Following I will have some of my favorite sunrises.

Since I got in so early on Weds., I went for a walk to check out my surroundings. I did as I do in most cities I am not very familiar with, I got on public transportation and rode around to see a little of how things fit together. And like most public transportation you come back to where you started if you keep going in the same direction. Here the advantage is the transfers-you can get on and off as much as you would like in the amount of time shown on your transfer. And although it says you have 90 minutes I never got a transfer with less than 3-4 hours. I was usually exhausted within my time limit and ready to go back to my hotel. So for cheaper than a day pass I could go almost anywhere. I started with the trolley (not cable cars although I did see them)

SPE in San Fran

Well, as most of you know, I just went to CA for the SPE (Society for Photographic Educators) conference. I am going to start with the flight. It was from IAD at 5am, then to Charlotte to SFO. I got to SFO at around 1030AM and to my hotel by noon their time.
Since I am a photo geek. I do try to take photos from the plane. I just love the clouds and seeing the landscape from so far away. The one image to me looks like a sundial, but its size gives me no clue as to what it really might be. There is a perfect circle with a tower in the center and what look like hands. I thought it might be a large cell tower and the "hands" shadows of guide wires or supports. So if anyone knows please tell me I would love to know.