The Alcázar of Seville is magnificent palace. This is the baths of Dona Maria de Padilla which are rain water tanks below one of the patios.
Along Highway 32
Highway 32 between Chico and Chester snakes along Deer Creek. I slid down the hill to the creek to take this shot. I had headed up to Plumas County to catch the fall color but alas I was a little early. This was the one the few spots with red leaves I saw.
Bay Bridge From Treasure Island
Treasure Island gives the only good vantage of the city’s skyline. It was cold and windy on Treasure Island the evening I took even though the weather in San Francisco itself was quite pleasant.
Copyright © 2009 Mike Chowla
A Slow Decay
I stopped on the way home from the Reno Balloon Races at the Nevada State Railway museum. I was surprised to learn that many of the steam engines that the museum has in its collection were saved by Hollywood’s penchant for train movies.
Copyright © 2009 Mike Chowla
Taming Fire
A member of crew manipulates fire as part the Fire Vortex exhibit by Nate Smith at the Crucible’s Fire Arts Festival 2009.
Click here for my full set of pictures from the Fire Arts Festival.
Copyright © 2009 Mike Chowla
Summer Solstice Sunset
Shot just north of Davenport, CA on Summer Solstice 2009. Both summer and winter solstices are important days to me. For thousands of years of humans have marked the solstice with some ancient civilizations building massive moments on solstice alignments. For me, it’s both a day to appreciate all the glorious sunlight of the longest day of the year and to think about our connection to our ancient ancestors.
Copyright © 2009 Mike Chowla
Mike vs. The Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge has always frustrated me as a subject. I find it very difficult to get a picture that I don’t dislike. I was hoping to break my zero for too many to count streak of outings to shoot the bridge. Tonight’s outing was at least not a strike out. Taken from Baker Beach.
Update: Reaction has been good to this image so I’m declaring this round for myself. I’m now 1 for 15 or so with the bridge.
Copyright © 2009 Mike Chowla
Dia de los Muertos
From the Day of Dead Festival in San Francisco
Copyright © 2008 Mike Chowla
Dawn Patrol
The magic of the Dawn Patrol at the Great Reno Balloon Race. This was my first balloon festival. I was completely entranced by the experience. So much so that I forgot the pain of getting up at 4:30am.
Full gallery available here.
Copyright © 2008 Mike Chowla