Thema's

One of the nicest trips I've ever taken was a North Sea Jazz Cruise with Marcus Miller as the host. The best thing about the cruise was the user-friendly venues for seeing great artists like Roberta Gamborini, Tamir Kendleman, Kurt Whalem, Lionel Loueke, Herbie Hancock, & Dee Dee Bridgewater. The Holland America ship left from Copenhagen, visited Goteborg, Sweden, Oslo, Norway; Warnemunde, Germany; and ended in Rotterdam.

Although I’m not a fan of parades, the Ocean Beach Christmas Parade is one of my favorite annual events. I think this is because it’s such a home grown affair; featuring old cars, fire engines, motorcycles, kids, pets and groups like ‘‘We Just Want To Be In The Parade,’ ‘The Geriatric Surf and Drill Team,’ and its imitator, ‘The Pediatric Surf and Drill Team’ from the Children’s Energy Center, a local preschool.

Shots taken while skiing/boarding/climbing and shots of the players. Feel free to post.

This area is a haunt of Douglas Arrasin who together with Peter Boehringer planned a great agenda. We met at the Mono Inn for dinner. Saturday, after meeting for sunrise, we hiked to Lundy Falls, then to Bodie, finally sunset at the South Beach Tufa towers. Sunrise Sunday returned us to South Beach where we watched the full moon set over the Sierras; then headed over Tioga Pass to Yosemite. Next year's meeting will be in June 2008 at Point Reyes National Seashore.

I was sure there would be a theme for this spectacular light show but I couldn't find Aurora or Northern Lights; later I found them both.

In Alaska, I went to a show by a fellow that has taken photos of Northern Lights for years and here on TE there are many that far exceed his best.

Bend, built around a bend in the Deschutes River, has made the river its centerpiece. Parks run along much of the river. The Bend Park and Recreation District, along with the City of Bend and private land holders, The community is is working toward an uninterrupted river trail. It’s nearly completed and runs from Sun River to Tumalo state Park, about 50 miles This map shows those existing trails.

I love the unique and charismatic birds & animals of Australia

Here in at the beach in San Diego, the Santa Ana winds bring out surfers in droves. Blowing from the desert, they warm the air and smooth swells to glass. At night temperatures drop to near freezing.

Funneled by the mountain passes, they gust up to 100 mph/60kph. They dry the air; faning a spark to an inferno. Two friends have lost their homes to fires. In 2004, a fire spread so fast that 20 people lost their lives to the flames.

Live performances have so much more feeling. Taking photos really enhances the experience and it's a great way to get unposed portraits. The performers seem to like it too as we give usually email them copies. Please feel free to add your own jazz shots