Hey guys, looks like you had a great time!

You may have started a new trend - shots of meet-ups between members.

Ohh and before I forget we were getting sand blasted as well. It took me a good hour just to clean my tripod legs from all the sand. But then again I'm just a neat freak and everything must function as if it come off the factory floor. But here is a shoot, when viewed at full rez,.. for you all to see what I'm talking about.

Ok so lets get one thing straight out of the way the owner of the Hasselblad was a noob. He had no idea how to use it but had the funds in his life to buy it. The body to me was brand new, given that the strap of that comes with looked like it was just put on. Second who on earth take a Hasselblad to a shoot on the beach where: 1) the action is moving very fast, hence the birds, and 2) you don't knw how to read your memory capacity in order to make sure you have enough storage to take the shoots you seek. Moreover, I know I'm a very trust worthy individual to be handed a $40K plus worth of gear, but the owner did not even bother telling me how to go about using the setting on the camera...it was is if he himself was using it in Auto....auto...I mean come on. Never the less, It was fun for the short time I has the body in my hand to play with, I must admit, the shutter sound of the uni is quite louder than I would have expected. Not sure if I got the shot on his Hasselblad I quickly pulled up my D4 /w the 70-200 2.8 and took the shoot below.

In addition here are some of the shoot of Ironheart and I took while at the beach.

Here's a snap of golf007sd; he just talked these tourists from Amsterdam out of their Hasselblad. Too bad the 'blad ran out of memory :) Then again I think Golf was shooting it like his D4 at a sporting event...

What a great day spent shooting with Ironheart. Photo's will be coming soon of our adventure. Currently my hotel ISP suck on the 3rd floor so it will upload them once I'm back home.

Lastly, I have always thought to myself what is behind our member name. Well with respect to Ironheart (a.k.a Drew), the man truly has a iron plate in his heart from a previous heart surgery.

And , let's not forget the Lone Cypress, the most photographed tree in the world ( and it is copyrighted so you can not use its images for commercial purposes or sell :-) )

Could not resist...In, December 1965 I drove US 1, and some on 101 from LA to Frisco and back...in my new 1966 VW. These were the days of Route 66 as well, which I drove back in part to South Dakota later in December.

Now we have to search bit more to find the beauty of our land. In the past we were a part of it. Enjoy your venture and show us some images.

Hope the coast is not fogged in, sunsets and rugged coast make some excellent images. Have fun.

Hello dear friends,

All those places you have all been so kind to recommend is on my list. Been up in the Northern California many times, but not as a amateur photographer. I assure you my agenda is filled with places to hit. Been on the 1 already or the better day of Saturday. In fact, I have to tell you the most amazing place I drove on was not the 1, it was the road to Kruse Rhododerndro State Reserve. OMFG...it make the 1 look like a walk in your local park. You all much take this road which is off the 1 toward this little camp called Plantation Farm Camp. Be forward however, the road is very tight and narrow...if you have truck you will have a hard time making it past some of the turns and narrow openings between the trees. My E320 was as just right.

Going to meet with one of our members, Ironheart, tomorrow morning to hit the coast again. Should be a blast. Lots of pic's coming to PAD once I'm done here.

FYI I will be in Napa area till this Friday, then I head in to SF for all the goodies many of you have recommended.

Thank you all for you input and hope to run into more member in the coming week.

Cheers...

so you are in my weekend home, sorry to have missed you I am in Vegas. I spend my weekends in Calistoga, we have a small place. you just missed the crush and i am sure you are getting wet. One of my favorite places is the pope valley and Howell Mountain, away from the main stream. Great wines and great vistas and you can also take the road all the way to Lake Berryessa.

There is a great walking path through the town that leads through the vineyards by two small ponds full of turtles and if you go the other way will send you towards the geyser.

Lastly if its not to wet the golf course (9 hole) is a great value at $23 for all you can play.

Enjoy!

Obviously the big draw there is Big Sur and Carmel, but I found some of the building in SF's financial district to be really interesting. All that glass and steel was beautiful.

When driving down 101 going to SF if you have time exit at Highway 1 before you cross the Golden Gate Bridge and drive to Muir Woods National Monument to shoot a redwood forest. It is just a short walk from the parking lot to the big trees. You might have the best light if you can get there around noon because it is a mountainous area and when the sun dips below the top of the mountains to the West the already low light on the forest floor gets even lower.

Hi,

I was stationed at both Presidio of San Francisco (closed) and Presidio of Monterey several times in my military career and enjoyed the area.

You won't be at a loss for things to do or photograph. Big Sur is terrific, too, just South of Camel-by-the-Sea, where people like Edward Weston and Ansel Adams lived. I lived there when I was stationed at the Presidio.

Highway 1 is a beautiful drive that you can do in a day, but I'm going to do it this April in two days just to spread it our and take a lot of pictures.

Have a lot of fun! Be prepared to be in a lot of mist and fog, and a bit chilled. It's one of the places where they heat the outdoors.

My best,

Mike

Hi Golf !

I only have one suggestion.........spend a LOT MORE time on the coast road on the way down and a lot less in San Fran ! (it's a lot more interesting !)
Cheers....
Charley C

Hello fellow members,

I'm visiting Napa, CA (hope to meet up with Eric) for a week on a little R&R. If any of you would like to meet please send me an email with your contact number so we can set something up. Hitting the streets of Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga etc, etc this week and the greater surrounding area all week. Heading to SF on Friday night. And yes the coast line is on the books too.. hwy 1 has got my name written all over it.

So if you have the time...hit me up.

Cheers...