Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

This is a mix of shots from last week or so around my house, everything from snow to fog and even some home made bread. Lately I've started making some homemade artisan sourdough bread, my wife likes it so well that I'm now making it around twice a week (first shot). The second shot is of some fog that was laying in the valleys to the East right at sunrise. The next shot is my best image so far of a sharp shinned hawk that has become a daily visitor to my backyard. The hawk likes to invite the other birds that come to my bird feeder to lunch (note the size of his talons). The next sequence of shots is of the first snow we have had this season. The next shot is a panoramic view of the Sierra Crystal range made from 5 shots taken about 1/2 hour before sunset before approaching clouds blocked the light hitting the mountains (note: the slight reddening of the light near sunset and the bank of clouds around the base of the mountains). For this panoramic view I took the shots with the camera turned 90 degrees to get more of the vertical image in. This pano came out much clearer than an earlier shot made with 16 images since I didn't need to compress it as much and the thermal currents in the air had also calmed down a lot a this time. The final shot is a sunset shot looking to the southwest, you can see the reflection of the sunlight in flooded fields in the California Central valley (I climbed up on the roof to take this shot 500mm shot).

Homemade sourdough bread

(Download)

Fog at sunrise

(Download)

Double download will bring out details

(Download)

Snow and fog to the northeast

(Download)

Just a bit of blue sky trying to poke through

(Download)

Looking south

(Download)

looking west

(Download)

Looking west just a later later once the sun came out (note the snow was quickly melting off the trees)

(Download)

With a double download you can find a number of birds that where flying by at the time

(Download)

Note: the multiple sets coastal Range hills in the distance

(Download)

NMGal Loc: NE NM

You have some beautiful views from your place.

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Hi NMGal
Thanks for checking out the images and for the comment. I'm right at the top of the hill and have great views in multiple directions.

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

Great variety of shots. Being a birder I like the Cooper's Hawk.

Ourspolair

All gorgeous captures, well composed and rendered. 3 & 4 are my favourites - the mist is giving an extra touch of atmosphere. Kudos. Thanks for sharing - please stay safe.

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Hi Curmudgeon
Thanks for viewing the images and for the comment. I originally thought it was a Cooper's hawk, but was told is a sharp shinned hawk but I'm not a expert on this.

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Hi Ourspolair
Thanks for checking out the images and for the comment. Yep the mist is nice and changes rapidly for moment to moment.

Sinewsworn Loc: Port Orchard, WA

Nice set! Your house has some beautiful views! Thanx for sharing.

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Hi Sinewsworn
Thanks for viewing the images and for the comment.

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

What a great place to live with so many beautiful views...

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Hi nanaval
Thanks for checking out the photos, for the comment and the Thumbs up. It is a pretty area and I really like digital photography as I would go broke with film around here.

nanaval Loc: Cornwall

When I used film it was hit and miss and as you say expensive.. Digital is much better.. My Dad used to do all his own film in his darkroom and was very good but I had no interest then being young. Was just a model

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Stunning set!

Ballard Loc: Grass Valley, California

Hi UTMike
Thanks for checking out the images and for the comment.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Nice shots, but that hawk is in another world Awesome capture