Laughing in the face of Death (Valley) III:

 Death Valley Palms

The Furnace Creek Inn is truly an oasis in the desert.

In-between long, hot hikes, I was able to replenish with cold Long Island Iced Teas (nectar of the gods, don't ya know) and enjoy these palms that fill the gardens at the Inn. 

Laughing in the face of Death (Valley) II:

 Father Crowley Point, Death Valley NP

Angie poses with our rented 4wd at Father Crowley Point. 

This is just one of the breathtaking views that you can see in Death Valley.

Laughing in the face of Death (Valley) I:

 Death Valley Dunes

Angie and I just spent 5 days in Death Valley.

We spent one morning watching the sunrise over these sand dunes - enjoying the breeze, basking in the warm sunlight, spotting tracks, and marveling at the color and lines of the naked earth. Amazing...

Wisteria Flowers in Japan:

 In Nara Park, at Kasuga Taisha

Currently, there are stunning wisteria flowers hanging over the San Tomas Expressway near my house.

There's something very wabi-sabi about seeing beauty in an otherwise 'ugly' place.

In honor of those heroic highway flowers, here's an image of wisteria in Japan. I took this photo at Kasuga Taisha, a quiet shrine nestled against the hills of Nara.

I chosen to accompany it with one of my favorite haiko by Matsuo Basho.

exhausted, i sought  

a country inn, but found 

wisteria in bloom

Balinese Calendar Maker

in Tengannan

Angie bought a traditional Balinese calendar from this man in the ancient town of Tengannan.

The calendars are carved onto bamboo and strung together like a scroll.

He had a great spirit that I hope this photo captures.

It was a joy to be around him...

Fallen Leaf

in Vermont

I took this photo in 1993, when we were living in Vermont.
The fall is a spectacular time there. The color of the leaves is something everyone should experience.

Lunagraphy II

San Francisco Bay

This moonlight picture capture the San Francisco Bay Bridge at night.

Baby Snake

How cool is that?

I caught this little snake in the Rocky Mountains, while visiting my brother.
Snake-catching is one of my favorite hiking pasttimes.

A hike isn't really complete if I don't get the chance to chase down and grab one.

Bamboo!

My Japanese Friend (1995)

Sayori Takebayashi was a co-worker of mine in Japan for quite a few years.

When I first met her, as asked what her name characters stood for and immediately started calling her 'Bamboo-san' (the 'take' character means bamboo).

She liked it, and eventually most of the office called her Bamboo.

Water Flows Downhill

over, around, and through barriers

Water fascinates me.

Ocean, river, lake, waterfall... doesn't matter.

This water is near some caves in Limerick, New York.

Yokohama Fireworks

over the Marine Tower (1995)

July 20th is Marine Day in Japan.
In Yokohama, that means fireworks (or hana-bi - fire flowers) over the harbor.

In 1995, we lived in an apartment that provided an excellent view of the event.

Roadrunner

in Death Valley National Park

Today, we're headed to Death Valley for 5 days of desert hiking.
So, until I return with photos, here's a roadrunner to whet your appetite.

Sydney Opera House

on the waterfront in Sydney, Australia (1994)

Yogya Smile

a sample of Indonesian friendliness

Indonesia is one of my favorite countries, and Yogyakarta is one of my favorite cities in Indonesia.

It's a great walking city, with a lot of interesting history, architecture, and people... smiling people...

Bats!

in Belize

We found these bats in a Mayan temple at Chan Chich in the rainforest of Belize.

I'm a big bat fan, myself... though I realize they aren't everyone's cup of tea.

Nice Rack...

they grow 'em big in the Rocky Mountains

My brother lives near Denver, so any visit eventually leads to the Rockies, where there is plenty of camera food.

Moutains, skies, clouds, and - of course - wildlife, like this elk.

Castle Patterns

at Himeji Castle, Japan

You can't walk through a Japanese castle without feeling like a samurai... well, at least I can't.

Balinese Dancer I

performs the Legong

When we visit Bali, I insist on watching dance almost every night.
The gamelan creates a shimmering hypnotic backdrop that the gorgeous dancers float on.

I captured this dancer at Puri Saren Agung.

One in a Million...

that's what you are

I'm working and listening to my iPod and - yes - Guns and Roses came on.

Contrast is a powerful tool.

Surprise... difference... the unexpected...

It informs our art, our science, our lust and our love.

I guess it's important?

Taiwanese Opera

in Hsinchu, Taiwan

I'm a sucker for surprises.

I wander around for hours in Asian cities, just waiting to be surprised.

This raises a question... is it surprise if you're looking for it?

I don't know the answer, but I'm guessing 'yes'.

I was looking, but didn't know if I'd find anything.

When I did, it wasn't what I expected.

But it was what I wanted.
I grabbed a bowl of noodles at this temple, sat down with some locals, and took photos. An excellent night...

Beauty

is everywhere

I took this photo of an actress filming a TV spot in Saigon in 1996.

We spent a month in Vietnam and it wasn't enough.

One of the best trips of my life.

Give Me Five

Greg Schuster at Stanford

We're lucky to have a couple of the most beautiful college campuses in the world here in Northern California. One of those is Stanford University.

This is a photo from around 1988, when a college buddy of mine - Greg - and I rode our motorcycles out to Stanford and walked the grounds for a day.

I'm going to be in the Stanford neighborhood in the next couple of days, so - as always - I'll visit their bookstore and enjoy the atmosphere.

Ray of Light

Like a Star in the Sky

Redwood forests are so dense that the sun becomes only an occasional companion.

Moss, ferns, streams, and mud occur in greater quanities than does the sunlight. But that only makes you appreciate the sunlight that much more.

This shot captures the sun poking through three giants of the forest and casting a little warmth on us.

Sempervirens Falls, Big Basin

Sempervirens falls is a beautiful 17-foot waterfall in Big Basin State Park.

The fact that waterfall recieves secondary attention gives you an idea of how spectacular the trees are.

Then again, a 17-foot waterfall doesn't stand much chance against a 300-foot tree, does it?

Banana Slug Heaven

April Fool?

I know today is April Fool's day, but what can I say that would be more bizarre than a banana slug?

We saw this guy (and about a dozen others) while hiking on the Skyline to Sea trail at Big Basin State Park.

They are a) brightly colored, b) cute, c) poisonous, d) the mascot of the University of California at Santa Cruze, or e) all of the above.