The Color Among the Plants This beautiful peacock portrait was taken on Peacock Day at the Los Angeles Arboretum earlier this year. There are three types of peacocks - this is the Common Peafowl also known as the India Blue Peafowl. In 1963 it was declared the national bird of India! The overcast day provided a soft box effect which helped to bring out the vivid colors in the feathers.
Deana Martin at The Vibrato!Deana Martin, the daughter of Dean Martin, was in town last month for rehearsals and two nights of sold out performances at Herb Alpert's Vibrato Grill & Jazz Club.Deana starred in numerous Broadway plays, major motion pictures, spent a great deal of time on television, and has several albums to her credit. I was pleased to be her photographer while she was in town - one of my favorite jobs to date. (For more images Click Here)
Celebrate the history of the American West! "The Vulture Mine began in 1863 and became the most productive gold mine in Arizona history. From 1863 to 1942, the mine produced 340,000 ounces of gold and 260,000 ounces of silver." (Wikipedia) The Vulture City Ghost Mine is located 12 miles outside Wickenburg, AZ - 36610 355th Ave, Wickenburg, AZ . Tickets available on their website www.vultureminetours.com
Eritrean Baptismal MassA family has their baby baptized during Mass in Kampala, Uganda.
Paused during COVID-19 - funerals are backAs the country begins to open, families are finally able to attend funerals for loved ones, but there are rules that must be strictly followed. Only ten members of the deceased family, or friends, are permitted to attend and all must wear a face mask. Other members of the family need to remain inside their vehicles during the ceremony and security will halt the service if anyone attempts to join the group.
Colorado 4X4 ExperienceRalph drives through a recent cut in an avalanche in Colorado on his way up the mountain pass. Afterwards we got out of the Bronco and you could hear the water rushing downhill under the ice. It was amazing. (For more images click here)
Hadzabe Village - TanzaniaA young man prepare his arrow for a hunt later in the day. (For more images Click Here)
Red Cross Responds Red Cross responds to the devastating 2016 Sand Fire by sending volunteers to seek out people in need of services following the fire.
The LionessIf you visit Tanzania, you must visit Ngorongoro Crater, a conservation area that is home to the "big 5" (the elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo and rhino). I have been there three times and each time is unlike the other. Ngorongoro is the largest unbroken caldera in the world - a deep volcanic crater. The number of safari vehicles are limited each day to a certain number so it doesn't become overcrowded. My fondest memory was my last visit when it started to rain as we were heading to our exit. Before climbing the steep dirt road we stopped, turned off the engine of our Land Rover, and sat quietly as the rain fell. Tranquility.
Catalina Island, The HarborOne day just isn't enough when you visit Catalina Island. Last summer we visited the well known city of Avalon graced by the famous Avalon Bay that faces the California coast. The bay, pier, city shops, restaurants and the iconic Catalina Casino with it's red roof (right side) are easily visited in a day but you should really experience a sunset and early sunrise before leaving. We took a small bus tour of the island and the Zip Line Eco tour, just over the hills, to get a better taste of what Catalina has to offer. Peaceful.
"The Faucet"On Saturday December 15, 2018, I was honored to receive a Gold medal and a certificate from the 2018 Los Angeles Chinese International Photographic Festival. The title of the image is “The Faucet” and was taken in the small village of Kabingo, Uganda at the primary school during lunch. / Thank you to Ramiro Gaytan II, owner of the California Photography Center for letting me be part of this great event and to the Los Angeles Chinese Festival Community. Thank you to my husband for picking up the award for me as I was in the hospital following a knee replacement.
Fun Time at the LA County FairThe Los Angeles County Fair is an annual county fair and was first held on October 17, 1922 in a former beet field in Pomona. Highlights of the Fair’s first year were harness racing, chariot races and an airplane wing-walking exhibition. (Wikipedia) (For more images Click Here)
Halloween has become one of the most popular celebrations in the US. This year we had great fun with the kids and parents trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. We took pictures of them in costume then dropped them into a scary background. What joy!
Ruppell's Vulture The Ruppell’s Vulture is one of six types of vultures found in Africa. Each of the six is categorized as either endangered or critically endangered. Declining numbers are blamed on: their eating a carcass of livestock that has been treated with certain medicines toxic to vultures, the deliberate poisoning of vultures (to avoid their giving away the illegal killing of rhinos or elephants by poachers), people poisoning livestock predators which in turn kills the vulture eating the carcass, and the that some tribes still use vulture parts in their traditional medicines. This rather healthy guy was making a landing a few feet from a dozen or more others who were feeding on the leftovers of a wildebeest on the Masai Mara.
Responding to Chaos St. John Vianney Catholic Church. April 16, 2011: Red Cross volunteers respond to the fire that destroyed the church by providing canteen services to the fire department during the very early hours of the morning. I post this picture in honor of Doris Beery, American Red Cross Disaster Volunteer, who was killed along with her husband, in a car accident on October 11, 2016. She was a good friend and a dedicated and long time Red Cross volunteer.
Giving Tuesday: 2018Nation’s Photo Lab selected me as their 2018 winner of their “Photographers with Heart” contest in November. This image is a young school boy who had just filled two Jerry cans with water and was waiting for a school mate to help him get them home.
The Los Angeles ArboretumThe Los Angeles Arboretum, Arcadia, CA. The Arboretum is known for it's beautiful gardens and colorful Peacocks that grace the entrance and cafe area. It is a wonderful place to spend your time walking, listening to speakers, having a picnic lunch or taking photographs. The Meyberg Waterfall is a must see on the 127 acre grounds. I shot this Saturday morning, January 28, 2017 under blue skies and temperatures in the 70's.
Classic 1975 Ford Bronco by Ralph Schorbach visits the LA County Fair early this year!The LA County Fair is taking visitors on a nostalgic road trip of iconic highway attractions, neon signs, Wigwam motels and all the kitsch that makes up the vanishing American roadside. Announcing the 2018 theme: Get Your Kicks…at the LA County Fair. The Fair runs Aug. 31 through Sept. 23, 2018
Graduation During COVID-19Graduation has not been the same this year due to the recent pandemic. University classes have been held on-line or canceled, and there won’t be a graduation ceremony. Social distancing and face masks have become the norm. Victor has just graduated from Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Public Health and will be moving forward to study for his master’s degree. Congratulations and best wishes to you!
Grace and BeautyJannet works magic in the afternoon shadows at the Pasadena City Hall. Her background in dance and ballet add to her grace and beauty evident in this photograph.