A climb to climb.

There is a hill near where I live, well there is actually a lot of hills then those hills eventually become the Sierra Nevadas. I will only be writing about one specific hill. One that has been vandalized in a semi-positive way. Mt. Campbell is the name of this hill. This hill stamped with the letters, "S" and "R" for the towns Sanger and Reedley. Its a climb many do, some for the physical exercise and others to add more paint to the boulders. Either way its a cool climb, takes about an hour to climb at a decent pace. The summit is at a atmospheric level of 1,729 feet a feat similar to reaching the summit at Mt. Everest. Ha!

ISO 200  f/2.8  1/1600

Getting closer to the base, there you may encounter free range cows and several fences. Both harmless unless you lack the ability to climb a fence, which in that case you probably shouldn't go any further. The cows I think would be scared of you but I wouldnt know, they were to far from where we entered.

ISO200  f/4  1/4000

After the first hundred feet or so of the climb you need to become aware cause all those stones can do some good damage to your ankle. A lot of the rocks also move easily. So don't get hurt at the bottom of the hill, not a good story to go share.
In this picture you can see the scale of the hill, my woman is just ahead of me climbing, her friend is in the center of the image about 50 feet further. This part also isnt very steep. Enjoy this part.

ISO200  f/4  1/2000

Here is a view from the top, I would say you are able to see reedley, and yes reedley is there but it's difficult to distinguish. Right side near the horizon. Its so silent up here still, its almost a bit creepy. Here I took a break and took in the serenity of the mountain/sight.
Another wierd thing I discoverd about cows, regardless of their extremely high center of gravity, those guys can climb. In the kinda technical spots I would find cow pies. not fresh but recent enough they could be spotted. I would like to go up there and see cows climbing up there. It'd be quite the sight.
All this was shot with a fixed Canon EF 20mm 2.8. =D
Bye.

edit: Open images in new tab/window to see full image. Blogger cropped a bit to much.

Olive plant

Many years ago on Santa Fe Ave south of Walnut ave in Visalia. There was an olive plant, I have no details about the plant at all whatsoever. But I do know, that in present day it is no longer an olive plant. The plant has actually lost its walls and all you see is the bare chassis of the buildings. The property is very large, which I assume that it was a happening place at one point. Now many years later or not, a group of skaters decided that they need this place to skate. And what do skaters do, they skate wherever they feel is a good spot. Then little by little with the little money they had they began to buy concrete and bring in materials to build their own little "skatepark". It has been three weeks since their initial beginning and lots of progress has been made. There is a spine, a taco hump, a pyramid/box couple rails and ledges. This may be gibberish to you but not to skaters. That alone is a big accomplishment.
In the many many years of skating this is the first time I am able to experience and see something this great happening. This is something that I wish I could've been a part of back when I was in the prime of my skating. Still glad I can still somewhat be involved in my own way.
The Sunday I spent there was nostalgic, there was a small group of friends and this awesome spot. All skating 10/10 hoping to go home hoping that today was a day one of them finally rolled away from the smith revert they put so much effort in to. Such a great feeling to learn something new.
I spoke to several kids about this spot and each one was so passionate about it. Telling me all the hard work they have put into it and all the plans for future obstacles. This really pumped me up a lot that I decided to take pictures and help spread the word. I then brought out my film slr and shot these kids having an ordinary day at the olive plant. I got several good shots of each kid there. I didn't have the opportunity to finish the roll which is why I don't have magical shots to show today. All I know is that I have a good feeling about this spot and hope for this place to grow.

www.skatechowder.blogspot.com is the blog one of the skaters runs, he is heavily involved in the creation of this spot. He has a ton of cool shots of the plant and the skating. Check it out. I am going to try and work with them to attempt to have a way for people to have an option to make donations that would help out on funds for gathering supplies.

The end of the '12

Christmas has came and gone. It was a great yet disappointing day. Though I think that is usually how most days end up being like. I hope many people disagree.
I slept at my grandmas for the first time and damn was it cold, one detail I do not miss about that woman's house. Our Christmas takes place on the eve of the day. Which I would consider part of the day I will call great. I didn't get any gifts except for a target gift card... Mexican tequila is how we ended the night.
Then following the cold sleep at my grandmas, the family reunited once again and ate another huge feast. Got a good deal of food to keep my night active with my buddies on a day I feel is the most boring of the year. Several of my pals got together baked some salt wrapped chickens and consumed quite a bit of "fun" beverages and stretched the good times till the day ended making Christmas Day a non boring day. The disappointments of the day are a bit complicated and I feel are too personal for the Internet. Sorry y'all.

No picture today, there will be pics up soon, very soon. Thanks to my target gift card, I will use it to replace my lost card reader! Yes! Highlight of my week.

Hasta la vista baby!

Events

My events of tonight. Made Mac n cheese. I ate every noodle of it, then baked hot wings for a long 30 minutes. As I waited, I sat and used up my phones battery. The waiting period has ended and wings were my next enjoyment. Washed my hands thoroughly of all wing residue. Sat in bed and jumped onto Netflix. I began watching a piece about The New York Times. As I allowed a sudden and persistent wave of inspiration over me. Other things were happening throughout my body. I began to think of ways I may become a better writer and storyteller through my conscious mind. Meanwhile my subconscious mind had a completely different game plan. As the 90 minutes went by on the documentary 90 minutes was the time it took for my body to say, "erick, those wings and macaroni didn't make me happy" a little bit of heat and persistence by body put through to me, I now sit here on an unusual but common looking seat, satisfying my writing inspiration and the indirect housecleaning of my dinners'e outcome.
And here is the picture of the night.

P.S I still have not found my card reader. Damn!

This is the word

I have been super unproductive and a huge procrastinator. It is not a good way of living. I think I am lacking that motivation that will make me MOVE! Or I need to realize what I am realizing right now and get up!

So that is what I am going to do. BYE! well Updating this here blog will be the start of the productivity. So... yolo?? haha.

-No picture today-

I have misplaced my card reader and still in search for it. Until then.

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The City by the Bay

This past week my family went to San Francisco for a mini trip out of the annoying heat/humidity of the valley. It was a sudden trip without much planning. There are several things I always take with me to any trip Jessica and I go on. My tool set for an unexpected hiccup, two bikes, and my camera. On this trip that is all I took. oh and a change of clothes for us both. The spontaneity of the trip didn't allow me to think and think of what else would be needed. We left Reedley late Tuesday evening and went straight to my friends house in a nearby city. The next day we slowly got ready for the day, took a quick mid morning nap then went to the big city. We didn't have a single plan on what we would do, we just thought winging it would be a good experience. First place we went to was downtown, where all the big name stores are at. The reason for going there was because we forgot to pack warm clothes, it was soo windy and chilly. Downtown is always a cool place to go, it is such a different area there. Its busy, there is a lot of foot traffic, vehicle traffic and my favorite: bicycle traffic. For me, I think just sitting and watching the cyclist would have been enough for me. 

Waiting for the green light. Shot at ISO 250: 17mm: f/4: 1/400

The V shaped building. Shot at ISO 250: 17mm: f/4: 1/640 

 

After the hustle and bustle of downtown, we ventured off to the Golden Gate bridge. I have been there once before but it was at night and not the best way to experience it. So today I had my camera ready to get the best image I can get. When we arrived at the view point there were plenty tourists snapping away at the scenery. As I watched this happen, i thought to myself. "I never take the standard tourist picture of the pretty view in the background and my friends, family etc as the foreground." I am not sure why I don't do that but I am just fine knowing that I don't shoot like that. As I walk around I hear other people worrying of how they are going to fit the entire family into the frame and who is going to click the shutter release. I did take a couple pictures of Jessica and I. I had no worries though, I had a tripod and a 10 second timer. After seeing the bridge from every view we got back in the car and drove up the hill on the opposite side of the bridge, here is where you get a nice wide view of the bridge. The sun was hiding behind the fog/clouds. That was not a problem with me. I actually enjoy shooting with the clouds. The problem I did have was the wind on the face of the hill. It was pushing me over and trying to overtake my balance. I was a fighter though, I stood my ground and took the battle and came out a winner. The wind did get annoying so after I was satisfied with the shots I returned to the car to warm up.

Southbound view of the bridge. Shot at ISO 640: 85mm: f/5.6: 1/400

A shot from the hill. Shot at ISO640: 17mm: f/4: 1/250

 

To end the night we went to pier 39 to get Jessicas sisters some souveniers of the City. It was extra windy there so we made it a quick trip. We left the city and headed back to a little pub near my friends house. Very good price for a good generous amount of beer and some tasty wings. A bit after that we began our 3 hour drive home around 1am. I had a really good time with my Jessica. This was exactly what we needed, it was very nice to get out of the town, even if it was sudden and not very eventful. We were very happy with the outcome of the trip.

Extra! Extra!

I  just read my previous post, wow did I screw that one up. I just left you hanging at the introduction to my trip to Mexico. Like I said, time has gone by, it is now August 2nd and here is my second post of the year. I figured that I can more easily post from my phone now. So hopefully you'll be hearing more from me.

To start things off this has been a very exciting summer. A lot of changes will begin to occur as time goes by, all of these changes I have been wanting to share to those that would read. So here I go. June 20th around 2:00pm. My girlfriend (my interest from last post became my girlfriend) came to me with a surprise. I was given the option to turn around and forget about her and live our lives apart, or step up and become a man. I'm sure that you are guessing that she asked me to marry her. Ha! You are wrong I was given the news that I will be a father. The first hour or so after finding out. I was speechless, so much was running through my head. But as the seconds ticked I began to see that the only option was to be a man. Our commitment to each other is pristine, except for the countless hiccups of living with someone for the first time. Everything seems to change with out notice, that is a transition that no matter who you are; the change may be difficult. It has been over a month and we are beginning to act more and more as a family, although, it is only Jessica and I for now. Since then I have been as frugal as possible. Saving has been a bit tough since work has been slow. Being frugal is really helping me out in becoming a man who will make the right choices in where the money flow will go towards. I still occasionally eat out at fast food joints and buy things that will only benefit me. That will soon change. 

Everything that has been going on this summer is all revolving around our pregnancy. I have slight plans for the living arrangements, which won't go into affect until the summer relaxes with the heat. New windows will replace the old antique non-insulating windows. The 3 1/2 foot tall bed will be lowered to accomodate for a beautiful lady carrying our offspring. I will separate sleep from work and hobbies by moving my non-sleep things to another room that will become my office. The bedroom will be that, a bedroom. Containing a bed, crib, dressers and a mirror. Nothing less and nothing more. That is the biggest update I have. 6 followers, I promise I will post more, this pregnancy is very exciting for me and I will have much to say.

Like always I will leave you with two mandatory updates.

  1. I have a total of 9 bicycles now. One was sold today, one may be sold and replaced with a nicer one tomorrow. 4 of the 9 are functional and ridable. 

  2. Here is a picture for your viewing pleasure.

Shot in Santa Monica. 

85mm: ISO 100:  f/4: 1/400th