I while back I watched a YouTube video with Scott Kelby, one of the world’s Photoshop gurus. In this particular video he was talking about how to get good travel photos when on family vacation. I picked up several points but one that stuck with me was “if you see amazing light, find something to photograph” or something like that. I took this sage advise on a recent trip to the Bay area. I was on a walking bicycling path along Coyote Creek in the South Bay. The woodland surrounding the creek is full of birds and other wildlife in addition to the natural landscape of the area around the creek. Of course I had a camera with me and truth be told it was a two fold trip. I wanted some exercise and if the opportunity presented itself I wanted a few new photos.

Late afternoon turned into the golden hour while I was getting my woodland/outdoor exercise when it happened. I wanted to shoot monochrome during my afternoon and had the camera set appropriately when I came across a small grove of eucalyptus trees with some carefully arranged picnic tables. The light wasn’t quite low on the horizon yet but the shade helped make good black and white conditions.

Here are a few keepers from my session. The sunset was so beautiful that I gave in and took a color photo. I was already in color mode with the red shouldered hawk that tried not to pose.  I hope you enjoy a small respite from your busy day with these examples of my day without deadlines or external expectations. Don’t forget, cameras don’t take pictures, people do!