Daily Picks 2008

December 19, 2008. Part of the creche exhibit at the Summer Stroll. I'm going to have to limit my comments and posts for a while, as I'm suffering a bout of repetitive stress injury from to ...

2008-12-18T16:15:56Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 19, 2008. Part of the creche exhibit at the Summer Stroll. I'm going to have to limit my comments and posts for a while, as I'm suffering a bout of repetitive stress injury from to ...

December 15, 2006. Another shot through the window at Yuba City Florist.

2008-12-14T16:21:31Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 15, 2006. Another shot through the window at Yuba City Florist.

December 14, 2008. Through the window of a local florist. One of the partners in this business is a really big deal in the world of floral design -- arrangements in the White House, wedding ...

2008-12-13T16:56:14Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 14, 2008. Through the window of a local florist. One of the partners in this business is a really big deal in the world of floral design -- arrangements in the White House, wedding ...

December 12, 2008. This is my Mom. I think she looks pretty darned good for 79. I'm not sure I like the propped on the hand pose, but this is the one she likes, so who am I to argue? This w ...

2008-12-11T16:15:22Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 12, 2008. This is my Mom. I think she looks pretty darned good for 79. I'm not sure I like the propped on the hand pose, but this is the one she likes, so who am I to argue? This w ...

December 10, 2008. It needs a white horse.

2008-12-09T16:13:25Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 10, 2008. It needs a white horse.

December 9, 2008. I'm running late for work, so no lengthy commentary today. This is Mindy, who is due for another face-trimming so she can see again.

2008-12-09T00:00:06Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 9, 2008. I'm running late for work, so no lengthy commentary today. This is Mindy, who is due for another face-trimming so she can see again.

December 8, 2008. Not very Christmasy, I know. My sister was born on December 15, and we always waited until after her birthday to start decorating, just to make sure she didn't feel cheated ...

2008-12-07T16:51:56Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 8, 2008. Not very Christmasy, I know. My sister was born on December 15, and we always waited until after her birthday to start decorating, just to make sure she didn't feel cheated ...

December 7, 2008. "Don't you EVER get tired of pointing that thing at me?"

2008-12-06T16:19:42Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 7, 2008. "Don't you EVER get tired of pointing that thing at me?"

December 6, 2008. Like I said, there are still some blossoms among the Fall foliage. This flower is my great-niece Alayna.

2008-12-05T17:48:12Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 6, 2008. Like I said, there are still some blossoms among the Fall foliage. This flower is my great-niece Alayna.

December 5, 2008. More Fall flowers.

2008-12-04T16:13:32Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 5, 2008. More Fall flowers.

December 4, 2008. Even though the snow is just 15 miles up the road from here, there are still a lot of flowers left among the fall colors. I shot this hibiscus on November 22, the same day ...

2008-12-03T16:13:31Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 4, 2008. Even though the snow is just 15 miles up the road from here, there are still a lot of flowers left among the fall colors. I shot this hibiscus on November 22, the same day ...

December 3, 2008. Details of the Fall #5.

2008-12-02T16:12:55Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 3, 2008. Details of the Fall #5.

December 2, 2008. Details of the Fall #4.

2008-12-01T16:13:14Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 2, 2008. Details of the Fall #4.

December 1, 2008. Details of the Fall #3.

2008-11-30T16:11:31Z

Mark (blackstrat)
December 1, 2008. Details of the Fall #3.

November 30, 2008. Fall shots are often big splashes of spectacular color, but sometimes I like the detail shots just as well.

2008-11-29T16:14:36Z

Mark (blackstrat)
November 30, 2008. Fall shots are often big splashes of spectacular color, but sometimes I like the detail shots just as well.

November 29, 2008. Elvi have left the building... We still have a little Autumn left around here, so I thought I'd post a few sort of microcosmic detail shots.

2008-11-28T16:23:12Z

Mark (blackstrat)
November 29, 2008. Elvi have left the building... We still have a little Autumn left around here, so I thought I'd post a few sort of microcosmic detail shots.

November 28, 2008. Well, I hope all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving had a wonderful day. I, for one, will not be eating again until at least Sunday or Monday. I also hope we will all keep ...

2008-11-27T16:15:11Z

Mark (blackstrat)
November 28, 2008. Well, I hope all of you who celebrate Thanksgiving had a wonderful day. I, for one, will not be eating again until at least Sunday or Monday. I also hope we will all keep ...

November 27, 2008. Thanksgiving Day. "Uncle Bob? AAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGGGHHH!!!!!"

2008-11-26T16:11:24Z

Mark (blackstrat)
November 27, 2008. Thanksgiving Day. "Uncle Bob? AAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUGGGHHH!!!!!"

November 26, 2008. Okay, I'm going to start easing you back into the Elvi for a couple of days, then we're done. How's James Brown for a transition?

2008-11-25T16:18:28Z

Mark (blackstrat)
November 26, 2008. Okay, I'm going to start easing you back into the Elvi for a couple of days, then we're done. How's James Brown for a transition?

November 25, 2008. Bob Hechtman, a.k.a. "Bob Hackman," was a character actor in Hollywood for many years, until he retired to the foothills near here. But he couldn't leave the spotlight alo ...

2008-11-24T16:11:47Z

Mark (blackstrat)
November 25, 2008. Bob Hechtman, a.k.a. "Bob Hackman," was a character actor in Hollywood for many years, until he retired to the foothills near here. But he couldn't leave the spotlight alo ...

November 24, 2008. I thought I'd give you a break from the Elvi for a day or two. This is "Hey, Big Spender," complete with original Bob Fosse choreography. Not that I'd know Bob Fosse from ...

2008-11-23T16:11:30Z

Mark (blackstrat)
November 24, 2008. I thought I'd give you a break from the Elvi for a day or two. This is "Hey, Big Spender," complete with original Bob Fosse choreography. Not that I'd know Bob Fosse from ...

November 23, 2008. Elvis #3. Are we beginning to see a trend yet?

2008-11-22T16:15:53Z

Mark (blackstrat)
November 23, 2008. Elvis #3. Are we beginning to see a trend yet?

November 22, 2008. Elvis #2 charms the little ladies. Technically, it was Conrad Birdie, but he was just an Elvis wannabe.

2008-11-21T16:12:21Z

Mark (blackstrat)
November 22, 2008. Elvis #2 charms the little ladies. Technically, it was Conrad Birdie, but he was just an Elvis wannabe.

November 21, 2008. Elvi are in the building. Every year in our area there's a musical theater showcase called "Way, Way, Way Off Broadway." It's a revue with performances by the area's most ...

2008-11-21T10:35:57Z

Mark (blackstrat)
November 21, 2008. Elvi are in the building. Every year in our area there's a musical theater showcase called "Way, Way, Way Off Broadway." It's a revue with performances by the area's most ...

November 20, 2008. Well, I'm back, after nearly three weeks of stinking dreadful computer problems -- the problem being that I didn't want to go near the stinking dreadful thing. I've worked ...

2008-11-19T16:11:04Z

Mark (blackstrat)
November 20, 2008. Well, I'm back, after nearly three weeks of stinking dreadful computer problems -- the problem being that I didn't want to go near the stinking dreadful thing. I've worked ...

October 31, 2008. A quick grab from the archives this morning before I dash off to work... A detail shot from the ancient glass truck I posted in an earlier daily pick.

2008-10-31T01:15:46Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 31, 2008. A quick grab from the archives this morning before I dash off to work... A detail shot from the ancient glass truck I posted in an earlier daily pick.

October 30, 2008. At the Harvest Festival, a polka-dot princess finds the goat pen a great place to work on building her immune system. It's nice to see kids taking an interest in their heal ...

2008-10-29T17:10:47Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 30, 2008. At the Harvest Festival, a polka-dot princess finds the goat pen a great place to work on building her immune system. It's nice to see kids taking an interest in their heal ...

October 29, 2008. "Say, Mom, let me run something by ya, OK? Why don't we make a new rule so I get to rip things to shreds all the time, instead of just once a year? Wadda ya say? Shall we r ...

2008-10-28T17:09:39Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 29, 2008. "Say, Mom, let me run something by ya, OK? Why don't we make a new rule so I get to rip things to shreds all the time, instead of just once a year? Wadda ya say? Shall we r ...

October 28, 2008. On her first birthday, little princess Isabella was far too dainty to touch that sticky cake with her hands.

2008-10-27T17:11:42Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 28, 2008. On her first birthday, little princess Isabella was far too dainty to touch that sticky cake with her hands.

October 27, 2008. This is my great-nephew Gehrigg. Can anyone guess what sport his Dad is into? (I'm not sure what the extra "g" signifies.) Actually, I don't think Lou was his favorite; he ...

2008-10-26T17:31:55Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 27, 2008. This is my great-nephew Gehrigg. Can anyone guess what sport his Dad is into? (I'm not sure what the extra "g" signifies.) Actually, I don't think Lou was his favorite; he ...

October 26, 2008. Gordy the Banjo-ologist is a regular at street festivals in this area. He has more banjos than I have socks with missing mates. That's a lot of banjos.

2008-10-25T17:53:37Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 26, 2008. Gordy the Banjo-ologist is a regular at street festivals in this area. He has more banjos than I have socks with missing mates. That's a lot of banjos.

October 25, 2008. Missed a day. Rats. Oh, well, life happens. Shot these during the day playing around with a single flash.

2008-10-24T17:20:18Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 25, 2008. Missed a day. Rats. Oh, well, life happens. Shot these during the day playing around with a single flash.

October 23, 2008. My brother Paul shoots some pool with his son Preston. Their amusement isn't the result of the game; my sister-in-law Tanya perpetrated a drive-by tickle on both of them -- ...

2008-10-22T17:16:38Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 23, 2008. My brother Paul shoots some pool with his son Preston. Their amusement isn't the result of the game; my sister-in-law Tanya perpetrated a drive-by tickle on both of them -- ...

October 22, 2008. This kid was the best base runner on my nephew Preston's little league team. He also bit his tongue a lot.

2008-10-21T17:08:24Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 22, 2008. This kid was the best base runner on my nephew Preston's little league team. He also bit his tongue a lot.

October 21, 2008. There are some hibiscus planted at one end of my house, and about 4:00 pm every day the setting sun filters through the trees behind them; I've been visualizing this shot f ...

2008-10-20T17:05:45Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 21, 2008. There are some hibiscus planted at one end of my house, and about 4:00 pm every day the setting sun filters through the trees behind them; I've been visualizing this shot f ...

October 20, 2008. Vision problems run rampant in my family.

2008-10-19T18:22:04Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 20, 2008. Vision problems run rampant in my family.

October 19, 2008. Shutterbuglady inspired me. :)

2008-10-18T17:19:33Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 19, 2008. Shutterbuglady inspired me. :)

October 18, 2008. Something tells me we're going to see a proliferation of princesses in the next couple weeks.

2008-10-17T17:22:46Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 18, 2008. Something tells me we're going to see a proliferation of princesses in the next couple weeks.

October 17, 2008. "Oh, my gosh! He looks JUST like his father!"

2008-10-16T17:08:26Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 17, 2008. "Oh, my gosh! He looks JUST like his father!"

October 16, 2008. After all the kids thoroughly thrashed the pinata, a big blue and white bird, Alayna thought the critter's neck made a perfectly enchanting hat. Works for me.

2008-10-15T17:06:13Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 16, 2008. After all the kids thoroughly thrashed the pinata, a big blue and white bird, Alayna thought the critter's neck made a perfectly enchanting hat. Works for me.

October 15, 2008. After a long and fiercely fought battle, cousin Zachary finally emerged victorious from his bout with the big plastic ball.

2008-10-14T17:08:04Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 15, 2008. After a long and fiercely fought battle, cousin Zachary finally emerged victorious from his bout with the big plastic ball.

October 14, 2008. Pink Carnations.

2008-10-14T00:49:02Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 14, 2008. Pink Carnations.

October 13, 2008. During the Summer Stroll, the dinosaur wrangler brings the raptors an afternoon snack.

2008-10-12T17:05:16Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 13, 2008. During the Summer Stroll, the dinosaur wrangler brings the raptors an afternoon snack.

September 12, 2008. The father in this family connected with me for a moment at a street fair in Yuba City. His daughter was clearly impressed with the goats.

2008-10-12T02:09:17Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 12, 2008. The father in this family connected with me for a moment at a street fair in Yuba City. His daughter was clearly impressed with the goats.

October 11, 2008. These are my niece Karrie's kids: Alayna, Dylan and Keeanna.

2008-10-10T17:30:26Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 11, 2008. These are my niece Karrie's kids: Alayna, Dylan and Keeanna.

October 10, 2008. I was taking pictures of my cousins Brittany and her younger brother Cedric, and I have two shots taken at the same time. In the first they are both looking at the camera a ...

2008-10-09T17:06:06Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 10, 2008. I was taking pictures of my cousins Brittany and her younger brother Cedric, and I have two shots taken at the same time. In the first they are both looking at the camera a ...

October 9, 2008. This is one leg of the road that circumnavigates the Sutter Buttes.

2008-10-08T17:07:14Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 9, 2008. This is one leg of the road that circumnavigates the Sutter Buttes.

October 8, 2008. "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore..." You think this little guy's thinking about his sweetie? Edit: I thought it was obvious, but in the inter ...

2008-10-08T15:27:51Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 8, 2008. "When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's amore..." You think this little guy's thinking about his sweetie? Edit: I thought it was obvious, but in the inter ...

October 7, 2008. I don't usually like man-made objects in my bird shots, but I think the flower pot give this an interesting graphic quality.

2008-10-06T17:03:41Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 7, 2008. I don't usually like man-made objects in my bird shots, but I think the flower pot give this an interesting graphic quality.

October 6, 2008. This is my great-nephew Logan. This is SOOC; his eyes really are that blue.

2008-10-05T17:09:49Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 6, 2008. This is my great-nephew Logan. This is SOOC; his eyes really are that blue.

October 5, 2008. Pretty in pink. Hannah is my sister-in-law Tanya's niece.

2008-10-04T18:26:56Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 5, 2008. Pretty in pink. Hannah is my sister-in-law Tanya's niece.

October 4, 2008. The young ladies on the right were so intent on the stage they missed the Superman flyover.

2008-10-04T08:42:30Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 4, 2008. The young ladies on the right were so intent on the stage they missed the Superman flyover.

October 3, 2008. My great-niece, Taylla, one of the family fish. They all remain pruney from April to October.

2008-10-03T00:29:39Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 3, 2008. My great-niece, Taylla, one of the family fish. They all remain pruney from April to October.

October 2, 2008. I often like to convert flower shots to b&w. They're uncommon, and help draw attention to the delicate textures and patterns that color so often overwhelms. This backlit Day ...

2008-10-01T17:12:25Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 2, 2008. I often like to convert flower shots to b&w. They're uncommon, and help draw attention to the delicate textures and patterns that color so often overwhelms. This backlit Day ...

October 1, 2008. This summer Austin was finally, by stretching as much as he could manage, tall enough to reach the "you must be this big to ride the water slide" mark. He swims like a fish, ...

2008-09-30T17:10:00Z

Mark (blackstrat)
October 1, 2008. This summer Austin was finally, by stretching as much as he could manage, tall enough to reach the "you must be this big to ride the water slide" mark. He swims like a fish, ...

September 30, 2008.

2008-09-29T17:04:10Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 30, 2008.

September 29, 2008. This little horsewoman was riding the ponies at the Summer Stroll. Like most kids, she learned very early on that any task is best accomplished by sticking out one's tong ...

2008-09-28T17:04:52Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 29, 2008. This little horsewoman was riding the ponies at the Summer Stroll. Like most kids, she learned very early on that any task is best accomplished by sticking out one's tong ...

September 28, 2008. "Let's go into this stereo store just for the halibut." Sorry. This sign is just begging for a punny comment.

2008-09-27T17:09:28Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 28, 2008. "Let's go into this stereo store just for the halibut." Sorry. This sign is just begging for a punny comment.

September 27, 2008. Self-portrait.

2008-09-26T17:31:22Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 27, 2008. Self-portrait.

September 26, 2008.

2008-09-26T00:34:49Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 26, 2008.

September 25, 2008. OK, just one more hummingbird shot and then on to something else tomorrow. She looks like she's doing a swan dive. This probably isn't the best view of a hummingbird I've ...

2008-09-24T17:05:37Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 25, 2008. OK, just one more hummingbird shot and then on to something else tomorrow. She looks like she's doing a swan dive. This probably isn't the best view of a hummingbird I've ...

September 24, 2008. Arnold Schwartzenegger has his Hummer, and I have mine. I bet mine can do zero to sixty a LOT faster than his.

2008-09-23T17:06:14Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 24, 2008. Arnold Schwartzenegger has his Hummer, and I have mine. I bet mine can do zero to sixty a LOT faster than his.

September 23, 2008. I shot this little lady as the light was starting to fail, so I had to push the exposure and it's a little noisy. I'd been watching her all afternoon, and she was even mo ...

2008-09-22T17:06:29Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 23, 2008. I shot this little lady as the light was starting to fail, so I had to push the exposure and it's a little noisy. I'd been watching her all afternoon, and she was even mo ...

September 22, 2008. Somethimes dead things have their own kind of beauty. This shot is from two or three years ago, so it's probably gone now. I'm glad I got it when I did.

2008-09-21T17:08:54Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 22, 2008. Somethimes dead things have their own kind of beauty. This shot is from two or three years ago, so it's probably gone now. I'm glad I got it when I did.

September 21, 2008. I live up in the Sierra foothills, but my job is in town. I stopped on the way home one evening and took this 5-panel panorama of the Sutter Buttes from the top of the le ...

2008-09-20T17:06:21Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 21, 2008. I live up in the Sierra foothills, but my job is in town. I stopped on the way home one evening and took this 5-panel panorama of the Sutter Buttes from the top of the le ...

September 20, 2008. Alayna is one of my favorite photographic subjects. Who could resist snapping pics of that smile?

2008-09-19T17:17:08Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 20, 2008. Alayna is one of my favorite photographic subjects. Who could resist snapping pics of that smile?

September 19, 2008. The cliffs near the mouth of the Russian River at Jenner, California.

2008-09-18T17:07:41Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 19, 2008. The cliffs near the mouth of the Russian River at Jenner, California.

September 18, 2008. "You like my hat? It's new. I had matching shoes, but they were itchy."

2008-09-17T17:04:35Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 18, 2008. "You like my hat? It's new. I had matching shoes, but they were itchy."

September 17, 2008. If you're fond of color, the Cultural Celebration is a photographer's wonderland.

2008-09-16T17:05:52Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 17, 2008. If you're fond of color, the Cultural Celebration is a photographer's wonderland.

September 16, 2008. While they were waiting for their turn on the stage, these young ladies from the Punjabi-American Heritage Society whiled away their time counting photographers. One of t ...

2008-09-15T17:25:33Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 16, 2008. While they were waiting for their turn on the stage, these young ladies from the Punjabi-American Heritage Society whiled away their time counting photographers. One of t ...

September 15, 2008. This young lady and other members of the Punjabi-American Heritage Society were performing the Bhangara at Yuba City's annual Cultural Celebration on Saturday. Sutter C ...

2008-09-14T17:06:08Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 15, 2008. This young lady and other members of the Punjabi-American Heritage Society were performing the Bhangara at Yuba City's annual Cultural Celebration on Saturday. Sutter C ...

September 14, 2008. In the U.S. there was some kind of controversy about bussing once, but Donna doesn't seem to mind being bussed at all. Of course, knowing Scott, there was probably tickli ...

2008-09-13T17:09:06Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 14, 2008. In the U.S. there was some kind of controversy about bussing once, but Donna doesn't seem to mind being bussed at all. Of course, knowing Scott, there was probably tickli ...

September 13, 2008. This is my cousin Scott shortly after tossing his niece in the pool. I think this picture really captures who he is: d*** the torpedos full speed ahead gleeful mischievou ...

2008-09-12T17:11:32Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 13, 2008. This is my cousin Scott shortly after tossing his niece in the pool. I think this picture really captures who he is: d*** the torpedos full speed ahead gleeful mischievou ...

September 12, 2008. I don't know who's cuter here, Taylla or Cinnamon.

2008-09-12T00:43:41Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 12, 2008. I don't know who's cuter here, Taylla or Cinnamon.

September 11, 2008. On the north side of the Sutter Buttes in the Sacramento Valley there is a national wildlife refuge called Gray Lodge that is right in the middle of the Pacific Flyway. E ...

2008-09-10T17:05:52Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 11, 2008. On the north side of the Sutter Buttes in the Sacramento Valley there is a national wildlife refuge called Gray Lodge that is right in the middle of the Pacific Flyway. E ...

September 10, 2008. Study in pink. Alyssium growing around the pond in the back yard.

2008-09-10T01:09:32Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 10, 2008. Study in pink. Alyssium growing around the pond in the back yard.

September 9,2008. The boid's days are numbered. The rest of the pinata didn't survive the first kid, and Austin is about to deal the coup de grace.

2008-09-08T17:25:10Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 9,2008. The boid's days are numbered. The rest of the pinata didn't survive the first kid, and Austin is about to deal the coup de grace.

September 8, 2008. Dylan is mighty proud of his bling.

2008-09-07T17:03:48Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 8, 2008. Dylan is mighty proud of his bling.

September 7, 2008. "That's all very interesting. Now let's talk about ME."

2008-09-06T17:04:13Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 7, 2008. "That's all very interesting. Now let's talk about ME."

September 6, 2008. Birthdays are not for the faint of heart. Poor Dylan was the victim of another senseless birthday cake accident.

2008-09-05T17:10:10Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 6, 2008. Birthdays are not for the faint of heart. Poor Dylan was the victim of another senseless birthday cake accident.

September 5, 2008. My nephew Preston can leap tall buildings with a single bound. He's still working on the speeding bullet thing.

2008-09-04T17:07:49Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 5, 2008. My nephew Preston can leap tall buildings with a single bound. He's still working on the speeding bullet thing.

September 4, 2008. I don't think a chocolate bar has ever come within a mile of "Sunset Thunder," winner of Best in Show at the Summer Stroll car show.

2008-09-03T17:06:46Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 4, 2008. I don't think a chocolate bar has ever come within a mile of "Sunset Thunder," winner of Best in Show at the Summer Stroll car show.

September 3, 2008. This old barn sits on a hill near where I live, and I pass it every day going to and from work. I'm still waiting for the perfect sunset shot. The sun sets behind it, but ...

2008-09-02T17:09:19Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 3, 2008. This old barn sits on a hill near where I live, and I pass it every day going to and from work. I'm still waiting for the perfect sunset shot. The sun sets behind it, but ...

September 2, 2008. I caught this little beauty on the pony rides at a street festival. I love taking pictures of kids; their faces are such windows to their feelings, with none of the self-c ...

2008-09-01T17:17:09Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 2, 2008. I caught this little beauty on the pony rides at a street festival. I love taking pictures of kids; their faces are such windows to their feelings, with none of the self-c ...

September 1, 2008. Day lilys in the sprinkler. I like how the water droplets are picking up the colors of the flowers below them.

2008-08-31T17:21:53Z

Mark (blackstrat)
September 1, 2008. Day lilys in the sprinkler. I like how the water droplets are picking up the colors of the flowers below them.

August 31, 2008. Chance isn't sure what to think about the Jack O'Lantern.

2008-08-30T18:19:25Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 31, 2008. Chance isn't sure what to think about the Jack O'Lantern.

August 30, 2008. This is my mother's dog Mindy. She's from the same litter as the speed racing pup from a few days ago. (Mindy is, not my mother.) Mindy is half Shih Tzu and half Jack Russel ...

2008-08-30T11:54:30Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 30, 2008. This is my mother's dog Mindy. She's from the same litter as the speed racing pup from a few days ago. (Mindy is, not my mother.) Mindy is half Shih Tzu and half Jack Russel ...

August 29, 2008. Even Groucho and Chico were kids once. Here they are tooting their own horns.

2008-08-28T17:22:49Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 29, 2008. Even Groucho and Chico were kids once. Here they are tooting their own horns.

August 28, 2008. This spotted towhee took a respite from the rain under a gardenia bush.

2008-08-28T00:47:25Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 28, 2008. This spotted towhee took a respite from the rain under a gardenia bush.

August 27, 2008. This young man was milking the dinosaur rides for all they were worth at the Summer Stroll in Yuba City in late June. The whole event was almost cancelled because of all the ...

2008-08-26T17:26:36Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 27, 2008. This young man was milking the dinosaur rides for all they were worth at the Summer Stroll in Yuba City in late June. The whole event was almost cancelled because of all the ...

August 26, 2008. Nice view from the back deck. The Sutter Buttes, the Sacramento Valley's most prominent geological feature, is almost entirely private property. You can drive around them, b ...

2008-08-25T17:17:29Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 26, 2008. Nice view from the back deck. The Sutter Buttes, the Sacramento Valley's most prominent geological feature, is almost entirely private property. You can drive around them, b ...

August 25, 2008. Every once in a while I shoot something besides kids and pets. Even though it's kind of soft from hand-holding at 200mm and shallow DOF, this is still one of my favorite hu ...

2008-08-24T17:26:06Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 25, 2008. Every once in a while I shoot something besides kids and pets. Even though it's kind of soft from hand-holding at 200mm and shallow DOF, this is still one of my favorite hu ...

August 24, 2008. Thank you all for yesterday's wonderful comments--it's nice to know that Spencer's story touched you. I wish you could have met him; he was a delight. No tears today, thoug ...

2008-08-23T17:23:59Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 24, 2008. Thank you all for yesterday's wonderful comments--it's nice to know that Spencer's story touched you. I wish you could have met him; he was a delight. No tears today, thoug ...

August 23, 2008. This is my friend Kurt and Spencer, "the world's greatest doggy," as Kurt called him. That's Spencer on the left. Spencer was a stray who haunted a deli Kurt frequented, wh ...

2008-08-22T18:59:31Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 23, 2008. This is my friend Kurt and Spencer, "the world's greatest doggy," as Kurt called him. That's Spencer on the left. Spencer was a stray who haunted a deli Kurt frequented, wh ...

August 22, 2008. Taylla was heading out the patio door to play with her cousins and I was following with the camera. "Ooh, nice light," I said, "let's see your modeling shot," and snapped th ...

2008-08-22T00:44:34Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 22, 2008. Taylla was heading out the patio door to play with her cousins and I was following with the camera. "Ooh, nice light," I said, "let's see your modeling shot," and snapped th ...

August 21, 2008. That's one dirty little gardener. There's nothing in the world my Dad likes better than working in the yard, and there's nothing in the world Chance likes better than doing ...

2008-08-20T17:10:27Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 21, 2008. That's one dirty little gardener. There's nothing in the world my Dad likes better than working in the yard, and there's nothing in the world Chance likes better than doing ...

August 20, 2008. There's a huge 40-foot high rock formation behind the house that's a favorite hang-out for nieces and nephews, and consequently, along with the flower beds in front of them, ...

2008-08-19T17:18:31Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 20, 2008. There's a huge 40-foot high rock formation behind the house that's a favorite hang-out for nieces and nephews, and consequently, along with the flower beds in front of them, ...

August 19, 2008. My niece Dallas's husband, Eric, gives their daughter Isabella her first swimming lesson. A good time was had by all. I'm not sure who that blue kid with all the teeth is. ...

2008-08-18T17:15:24Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 19, 2008. My niece Dallas's husband, Eric, gives their daughter Isabella her first swimming lesson. A good time was had by all. I'm not sure who that blue kid with all the teeth is. ...

August 18, 2008. I'm convinced that if I could capture a picture of a six-year-old holding a puppy on the hood of a vintage car beside a pond full of water lilys under a feeder swarming with ...

2008-08-17T17:13:09Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 18, 2008. I'm convinced that if I could capture a picture of a six-year-old holding a puppy on the hood of a vintage car beside a pond full of water lilys under a feeder swarming with ...

August 17, 2008. A friend told the boys he'd give them $5 if they could get their hand in their mouth up to their wrist. Logan almost made it.

2008-08-16T19:00:22Z

Mark (blackstrat)
August 17, 2008. A friend told the boys he'd give them $5 if they could get their hand in their mouth up to their wrist. Logan almost made it.