Tag: #montereybay

Monterey Bay in Watercolor

Just one year ago, I stood on Hurricane Point looking north into Monterey Bay, admiring the white Cumulous clouds and the boulders offshore. I shot a wide angle landscape photo, so I could remember the beautiful scene.

#montereybay, #hurricanepoint, #route1, #california, #iconic, #cost, #seascape, #clearday, #september
From Hurricane Point on this clear day, the offshore boulders form leading lines to the most prominent boulder.

A year later, I processed the same image in a new way to simplify the shapes and colors with a watercolor effect. What do you think?

#topazlabs, #simplify, #processing, #montereybay, #bigsur, #routeone, #route1, #seascape, #california, #westcoast, #hurricanepoint
I gave the image a dynamic boost and simplified the details to create a watercolor effect with Topaz Simplify.

 

Meet the Avocet

I met an avocet for the first time at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. These birds sometimes live on the south east shores of the United States, but they are more common on East Texas coast and in California. I was captivated by the unique thin beak  curving up. The bird is about 16″ tall and slender with delicate legs and beak. If you find it feeding in the wild, you will see it wading along the shore and in marshes, sweeping for little insects and other edible creatures.

#avocet, #bird, #wildlife, #monterey, #aquarium, #shorebird, #wadingbird
The avocet’s delicate beak sweeps the sand for tiny bits of food.

While American avocets display a rust colored neck during breeding season, this one was purely grey and white.

#bird #wildlife, #monterey, #aquarium, #shorebird, #wadingbird, #beak
The graceful avocet at the Monterey Bay Aquarium has an unusual beak that curves upward.

Have you seen this bird? Where?

Gifts of Point Lobos

Today I had two conversations about holistic ways of countering stress — whether that stress comes from your personal life or worries about national and world events. One friend suggested turning one’s attention to community and religion. Another hailed the healing power of Nature.

Point Lobos State Reserve in Monterey Bay, California is one of those healing places. A long hike along the coastline is salve for whatever might ail you. This image features the yellow blossoms of early September.

#pointlobos, #monterey, #montereybay, #california, #hike, #nature, #bay, #pacific, #bluesky, #freshair
Point Lobos State Reserve is a marvelous place for a hike. Monterey Bay, California.