Tag: nature

More photos of truly amazing sky and clouds.

Scale-like clouds above Mission Valley.
Scale-like clouds above Mission Valley.

I snapped these photographs late Monday, a few minutes after five o’clock. I was walking in Mission Valley, near the intersection of Friars and Frazee. The sky was absolutely incredible!

Clouds and reflections on two office buildings.
Clouds and reflections on two office buildings.
Sky and clouds on a grid of windows.
Sky and clouds on a grid of windows.
Clouds reflected on several angled planes.
Clouds reflected on several angled planes.
Lines of radiant, gilded clouds.
Lines of radiant, gilded clouds.
Looking upward at endlessly changing beauty.
Looking upward at endlessly changing beauty.
Gauzy clouds above a silver building.
Gauzy clouds above a silver building.
Straight washboard clouds seem unworldly.
Straight washboard clouds seem unworldly.

Beautiful clouds in the San Diego sky!

Clouds and changing light provide endless beauty.
Clouds and changing light provide endless beauty.

The clouds above San Diego yesterday afternoon were amazingly beautiful. Here are some pics!

Boats in tuna harbor between splashes of light.
Boats in tuna harbor between splashes of light.
Tall trees reach up into the San Diego sky.
Tall trees reach up into the San Diego sky.
Late afternoon clouds above trees by the bay.
Late afternoon clouds above trees by the bay.
Sailboat passes fishing pier as sun falls toward horizon.
Sailboat passes fishing pier as sun falls toward horizon.
Golden afternoon light flows across the gentle water.
Golden afternoon light flows across the gentle water.
Silvergate ferry heads out under stunning clouds.
Silvergate ferry heads out under stunning clouds.
Windblown clouds radiate above San Diego Convention Center.
Windblown clouds radiate above San Diego Convention Center.
A big yacht seems ready to head toward the light.
A big yacht seems ready to head toward the light.
Clouds above metal trees in front of Hilton hotel.
Clouds above metal trees in front of Hilton hotel.
Bridge over Harbor Drive shines silver as folks ascend.
Bridge over Harbor Drive shines silver as folks ascend.
Imperial Transit Station clock tower and Padres banner under clouds.
Imperial Transit Station clock tower and Padres banner under clouds.
Looking straight up alongside the new Central Library.
Looking straight up alongside the new Central Library.
East Village buildings frame dramatic afternoon clouds.
East Village buildings frame dramatic afternoon clouds.
Light reflects from windows in San Diego's East Village.
Light reflects from windows in San Diego’s East Village.
Amazing sky above a shining downtown building.
Amazing sky above a shining downtown building.

Cool modified images of cacti in Balboa Park.

People take a walk through Balboa Park cactus garden.
People take a walk through Balboa Park’s amazing Desert Garden.

My walk through Balboa Park last weekend ended at the Desert Garden, located east of the Natural History Museum just across Park Boulevard. I was able to get some cool cacti pics before my camera’s batteries finally fizzled.

Here are some photos that I modified using good old GIMP.  It’s fun to goof around randomly and produce different effects!

While I recognized many different types of cactus, I sadly don’t know many names. Sorry about that.

Fuzzy cactus with red thingamajigs attached.
Fuzzy cactus with red thingamajigs attached.
I played with the brightness and contrast.
I played with the brightness and contrast.
Slightly altered pic of jagged cactus in Balboa Park.
Slightly altered pic of cool jagged cactus in Balboa Park.
I fiddled with contrast, darkness and color saturation.
I fiddled with contrast, darkness and color saturation.
Sunlight amplified on green cactus in Balboa Park.
Sunlight amplified on a green cactus in Balboa Park’s Desert Garden.
Barrel cactus photo with super high contrast applied.
Barrel cactus photo with super high contrast applied.

Here are even more modified cacti photos from late 2014!

Contrast increased on photo of a spiky cactus.
Contrast increased on photo of a spiky cactus.
Some fat barrel cacti in a large desert-like garden in Balboa Park.
Some fat barrel cacti in a large desert-like garden in Balboa Park.
A cool image I created by goofing around with various settings.
A cool image I created by goofing around with various settings.
This huge tangled cactus visible from Park Boulevard is the craziest thing I ever saw!
This huge tangled cactus visible from Park Boulevard is the craziest thing I ever saw!
Now I'm radically altering some pics.
Now I’m radically altering some pics.
Cool silhouette in Balboa Park's cactus garden.
Cool silhouette in a popular Balboa Park cactus garden.
I completely changed these colors just for fun!
I completely changed these colors just for fun!

After early morning rain by the San Diego River.

Joggers and a dog on the partly wet street.
Joggers and a dog on the partly wet street.

These photographs were taken this morning in Mission Valley, in the general area of Hazard Center. It had rained during the night and early morning, and the last remnants of dark clouds were rolling away.

Dark morning rain clouds break for the rising sun.
Dark morning rain clouds break for the rising sun.
Morning light emerges from behind a bank of clouds.
Morning light emerges from behind a bank of clouds.
Tree by San Diego River beneath passing rain clouds.
Tree by San Diego River beneath passing rain clouds.
Rain on fallen leaves, a spider's web and stems.
Rain on fallen leaves, a spider’s web and bent stems.
Blue patch reflected in a building beneath clouds.
Blue patch reflected in a building beneath clouds.

Weirdly artistic photos of San Diego River.

San Diego River mottled with algae, behind grey branches.
San Diego River mottled with algae, behind grey branches.

Usually I keep my old camera on Auto mode then just aim and shoot.  I take a million pics and hope a few come out okay.

This morning, during my walk to work through Mission Valley, I was fortunate to capture some weirdly artistic photographs.  I paused a few times on the south side of the San Diego River as the sun rose.  The slanting light illuminated patches of red algae, bright green reeds and tangles of dry branches.

San Diego River looks like an Impressionist painting.
San Diego River looks like an Impressionist painting.
Red algae and bright green reeds in San Diego River.
Red algae and bright green reeds in San Diego River.
Morning light on San Diego River and swirls of color.
Morning light on San Diego River and swirls of color.

Beautiful photo of San Diego River.

the beautiful san diego river

This photograph was taken several mornings ago while I walked through Mission Valley. It looks west from Mission Center Road along the San Diego River.

The bright green, I believe, is Yerba Mansa.

People are often surprised that such a beautiful, peaceful scene can be found in a busy city. Had I turned the camera in any other direction, I might’ve captured buildings, shopping centers, cars and several freeways. So much depends on the direction in which we turn…

Here are two more pics which I took in late February 2015…

The San Diego River Trail follows natural beauty through Mission Valley.
San Diego River Trail follows natural beauty through Mission Valley.
Taking a look at the river from the other side of Mission Center Road.
Taking a look at the river from the other side of Mission Center Road.

Very cool photo of rainbow magic at sunrise.

very cool photo of rainbow magic

Here’s a photograph that qualifies as cool!

This is a glimpse of the huge rainbow over San Diego created this morning by a golden sunrise and some light scattered showers. Check out my previous post for another pic. This photo was also taken on Sixth Avenue, but near Laurel Street, just west of Balboa Park.

The reflections in the windows, the amazing color and interesting composition all come together to make a magical image!

Morning rainbow cast by San Diego sunrise.

morning rainbow over san diego

This morning I walked to work again. I started in the semi-light a little after six o’clock, and it was already muggy with broken dark clouds overhead. Several blocks from home the sprinkles began. But I could see it wouldn’t last long.

As I headed up Sixth Avenue through Bankers Hill, I suddenly became aware of a gigantic full rainbow to the west. It looked like a glowing multi-colored halo over the waking, sunrise-illuminated city. And it lasted a good fifteen minutes. I learned later on while listening to the radio that the incredible rainbow could be seen throughout San Diego.

I took numerous photographs as I proceeded north. The rainbow was so gigantic I couldn’t capture the entire thing in one pic.

A couple photos with buildings and palm trees in the foreground came out really good. Here’s the first one!

Splashes of color in Balboa Park lily pond.

bright color in balboa park lily pond

One of my favorite places in Balboa Park is the reflecting pool, or lily pond, as some call it. This tranquil body of water lies between El Prado and the enormous wood lath structure which is the Botanical Building.

Flower beds, green grass and families enjoying picnics surround the pond, and colorful lotus flowers grace the surface. All sorts of interesting creatures call it home. In addition of numerous large koi (two can be seen in this photo), and floating turtles craning their heads to gaze at tourists, there are crawdads and a variety of fish that people have dumped into the pond. Years ago a small shark was spotted in the serene water!

An interesting historical fact: during World War II, when Balboa Park was utilized to mobilize American soldiers, the Navy used the reflecting pool to train sailors! You can still see old black-and-white photos of men rowing on the pool when you visit the San Diego History Center, a bit further to the east down El Prado.

These photographs are of the small pond-like section right next to the Botanical Building. This is the best place to watch brightly colored Koi swimming about.

Looking down at bright colors in the reflecting pool.
Looking down at bright colors in the reflecting pool.
Lots of color can be found in this section of the reflecting pool, by the Botanical Building.
Lots of color can be found in this section of the reflecting pool, by the Botanical Building.
Turtle comes out of the water to enjoy a bit of San Diego sunshine!
Turtle comes out of the water to enjoy a bit of San Diego sunshine!
Crowd gazes into small section of Balboa Park reflecting pool.
Crowd gazes into small section of the Balboa Park lily pond.