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Thirsty Thursday: My Take on the Lupines

Rambler: Beth

Drink at Hand: Tolosa Rose of Grenache

Hey Welliver Photography fans...Thirsty Thursday here again. Time to pour something yummy and make those weekend plans. Terry has been carrying the blogging workload around the home office due to my MBA homework. But tonight I couldn't ignore the pretty lupine photos from last weekend sitting in my Aperture library any longer, so I decided to ignore my homework and take care of Thirsty Thursday night.

We didn't have to travel anywhere fancy for these photos. We probably park at this trailhead two or three times a week to take the dog for her favorite run. All that means we are ridiculously spoiled to have easy access to such beauty a mere five or six minutes from home, depending on the one spotlight along the way.

While I'll be doing my homework, please get out there and find a field of flowers this weekend for me!

Thirsty Thursday: Instagram Lupines

Rambler: Terry
Drink in Hand: 2010 Montoya Merlot

We've made a mistake recently. It's actually tragic. There is a field full of lupines very near here that we have yet to photograph with proper cameras. Although the old saying goes that the best camera is the one you have on you, it would be nice to get a few photographs with something other than an iPhone. I mean, they are okay, but we could do better...we should do better. Perhaps this weekend we can sneak away (about a mile from here) and capture some of the magic. For now, enjoy the Instas!

Thirsty Thursday: Wildflower Season

Rambler: Terry
Drink in Hand: 2011 Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay

It's been a crazy busy couple of weeks. I think that Beth and I have worked more in the last couple of weeks than we have all year. Perhaps it's because we're both trying to change our organizations. I think we are both making progress, but change is slow. Always was, always will be. That's probably a good thing. Sometime through the mix of staring at computer screens, editing pages, and creating content we found time to get out for an 8 mile hike. It was refreshing to get away from it all and watch Massey do her thing. It's also the start of wildflower season! Yay! The hills are so gorgeous and now covered with lupines. Last weekend when we went on the hike, little yellow flowers were everywhere. I've heard it may rain this weekend, but hopefully we (and you) can get out there and take some more photographs or just enjoy the outdoors!

Thirsty Thursday: Mt Whitney Trail

Rambler: Beth

Drink at Hand: Bogle Vineyards 2010 Old Vine Zinfandel (thanks Kelly!)

Hey friends, Thirsty Thursday is here again! Time to pour something yummy and make those weekend plans. Here at Welliver Photography we're already planning our summer weekend adventures, and we're hoping that we win a lottery slot for an assault on Mt Whitney for one of those weekends.

For those who might not know, Mt Whitney is the highest point in the continental US. We summited the highest point in Japan three times in three years when we lived there, so the fact that we live mere hours from the highest (and easily hikeable) peak in the lower 48 and haven't climbed it yet is a little embarrassing. So when we were in Lone Pine over Thanksgiving, we did a little piece of the Mt Whitney Trail up to Lone Pine Lake.

I had such a great time on our Thanksgiving hikes. Hopefully we'll get to do the full Mt Whitney trail this summer! Massey is pouting because she won't get to go, but we'l make it up to her. In the meantime we'll be getting out for some training hikes and trail runs on the weekends. Get out there and find your own fun trails!

Thirsty Thursday: Crabbies!

Rambler: Beth

Drink at Hand: 2007 Scheid Reserve Chardonnay

Hi Welliver Photography friends...its Thirsty Thursday. Time to pour something yummy and make those weekend plans. I've been slacking a bit on my blog duties around here lately (stooopid MBA), so this post is a little late, but I figure better late than never.

My favorite season of the year is crab season. Without a doubt. We are quite spoiled to live right next to the dungeness crabbing grounds, so fresh dungeness goodness is pretty easy to come by from roughly November through January each year. At least a couple times during the season I convince Terry, who usually doesn't complain, that we need a crab for dinner. Since boiling crab is pretty easy for his culinary abilities, I usually can scam a bacon-wrapped scallop or some sort of prawny treat out of him, too. We don't have all the fancy crab tools, but spreading newspaper on the counter and gently whacking the crabbies with a rolling pin usually works just fine.

Luckily my Lousyana gumbo pot works perfect for boiling crabs.

Key appetizer before crabs...bacon wrapped scallops with rosemary skewers. — Key appetizer before crabs...bacon wrapped scallops with rosemary skewers.

Ready for whacking. — Ready for whacking.

Unfortunately fresh crab season is over now, so no more fresh-off-the-crab-boat goodness until next fall. I already can't wait!

Thirsty Thursday: Views from Fort Ord

Rambler: Terry
Drink in Hand: Ventana Monterey Red Wine (Table)

Not a bad week. Fairly productive at work (still a few too many meetings, but it's been worse). The photographying was a bit sparse again and so was the editing. I think tonight, I'll just put on a little Friends and just relax. Perhaps I'll edit some more Thailand photos.

A few words about tonight's post. Most of the time, when we're at Fort Ord, we're either running without a camera trying keep up with the Massey or we have a camera and we're taking pictures of her. So, here's some of the views we get to see while doing both of those...at least when it's nice outside.

Thirsty Thursday: Thailand

Rambler: Terry
Drink in Hand: Ventana Monterey Red Wine #tablewine #welliverfamilystaple

So, I think the last time I wrote a Thirsty Thursday I mentioned that the photographing adventures so far this year have been few and far between. Unfortunately, I wasn't lying. Other than getting out and photographing that damn cute puppy dog (a.k.a., the Mas; a.k.a., MFT; a.k.a., Massadishalicious; or just plain Massey) for a Massey Monday post, we just haven't found the time to get out and shoot #lazy #justtoobusy. Fortunately, we have an extensive library of past photographs that we somehow never managed to find time to edit or post #realphotographerproblems. In fact, we have a thousand or so we took when we were in Thailand in 2006 (wow, that's 7 years ago) #alongtimeago #yesicansometimesdobasicmathematics. So, I've been slowly trimming the number of "keeper" photographs and slimming the master library down a bit.

The shots for today are all in Bangkok and all taken with an EOS300D #yepthefirstone. Now, I must admit that my "eye" for the shot was definitely not that refined as it is now (although it still needs mucho more work), but I think some of the shots in today's post are okay. I can't say that I'd want to print them out poster size...I'm not even sure if the resolution is high enough to do that. No matter though, enjoy the shots from archive.

I think what struck me about the temples and palaces in Thailand were the intricate details of the rooftops. The rooftops were so grandiose. Then, there was the old versus the new. Temples and palaces scattered around with modern day high-rises. I remember finding it hard to shoot many of the places we visited because we were there during the middle of the day with the harsh light (not much craft back then) or there were just too many people in and around the temples. Funny, most of the pictures I kept don't have people in them. I must have been trying hard to cut them out (and no there is no photoshopping of people out of these pictures #nothistimeatleast)! The last thing I'd mention about these photos is that I'm a much more refined editor now than I used to be. Being skilled in Aperture gives the pictures more life I think. They're not quite as flat as they used to be...well, at least I think so.

Happy Thirsty Thursday....Cheers!

Thirsty Thursday: On the Coast

Rambler: Terry
Drink in Hand: 2008 Cobblestone Chardonna

So, it's been another long week. Actually, to be honest, it's been a long couple of weeks. I don't know what it is lately but it's been rough. I'm not sure why but it has. I'm sure it's been just me. I hope everyone else has had a good couple of weeks. The highlight of last week was our short little trip down the Big Sur coastline. I think we may need to do this more often as neither of us has taken very many photographs this year. 2013 is currently making itself out to be one our thinnest years as far as photography is concerned. Perhaps that's okay. Maybe we'll finally be able to sift through our early photography years (a.k.a., 2004-07ish).

We should probably try and get out a bit more...at least as far as shooting is concerned. There was something about being behind the lens again trying to capture the moment. Trying to create a feeling. I'm sure things will pick up as winter turns to spring and we get into the swing of things this year. Until then though, you may be seeing some old photos of ours for Thirsty Thursdays. Here's too looking forward to the end of the week and the start of a couple days of break. Perhaps raise your glass to taking a few more photographs. Cheers!

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Thirsty Thursday: Different Views

Rambler: Terry
Drink in Hand: Ventana Red Table Wine (for the price...awesome)

What is a photographer (wow, I just referred to myself as a photographer...that just seems weird) to do when he's forgotten his tripod (or doesn't have a functioning one)? Fortunately, this happens to me quite often (I think I'm lazy). Regardless, I always seem to find a secure (or quasi-secure) place to set a camera...say, like on a rock in the middle of water. Beth, please ignore that last sentence, I always take care on where the I put the camera...wink, wink. Okay, that was a complete lie, but I do try, I really do. The three shots in this post are of the same small waterfall in the Hoover Wilderness. Nothing special, nothing fancy. Just me setting a camera on a rock in the middle of the water (photograph 2 and 3) or precariously on top of a larger rock (photograph 1) trying to find that perfect shot. Either way, I think they turned out. So, what should you be doing on this three-day weekend? Well, you should be forgetting your tripod and finding a quasi-precarious place to set your camera to capture a serene moment.

Thirsty Thursday: Waterfalls

Rambler: Terry
Drink in Hand: Ventana Monterey Red Wine (Table)

The last time Beth was completing her residence weekend (at least I think it was the last time, I could be wrong here) in Portland, I was with her...well sort of. I was staying in the same hotel room as her, but the Mas and I were out exploring. These waterfalls were above Multnomah Falls . Not quite as grand, but still quite impressive. Both shots were taken using a Big Stopper filter.

Thirsty Thursday: More Swiss Alps

Rambler: Terry

Drink in Hand: 2009 Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

It's been a busy week again, so this is another short post. All I can really say is that I'm still in love with the Swiss Alps. Grand and peaceful. They were simply awe-inspiring.

Thirsty Thursday: Swiss Sunset

Rambler: Terry
Drink in Hand: 2010 Pianetta Cabernet Sauvignon

Something today made me think of hiking in the Swiss Alps. Perhaps it's just the majestic views of the snow-covered peaks that I remember. Or perhaps it's being the only people at the top of a mountain to photograph sunset. Or maybe it's a bit of both or neither. But, looking through the images now, I don't know if it really matters. It was simply awe-inspiring to be there, to see the sunset, and to be in the sunset. Our photographs don't seem to give the spot its due credit. Amazing.

Thirsty Thursday: Driving Sunset

Rambler: Terry
Drink in Hand: Ventana Monterey Red Wine (a.k.a., the red table wine)

Okay, so I understand the laws that govern driving–like following the speed limit, stopping at red lights, and not talking on the phone without a handsfree device. I sure hope there's not a law for taking pictures of the amazing sunset while driving. Because, if there is, I'm definitely guilty. Sometimes, the moment requires you to just bend the rules just a bit. I promise I was careful and next time, I'll have Beth drive.

Thirsty Thursday: Last Hike of 2012

Rambler: Terry
Drink in Hand: 2010 Ancient Peaks Zinfandel

The last day of 2012 and the last hike of the year. It was supposed to be a casual hike, but the Mas decided to make it interesting. She was her typical rambunctious self...but this time it caught up to her. She decided to go vertical (i.e., up the side of a cliff) and in doing so, she sliced (yes I said sliced) her paws. Actually, she sliced a front one and a back one. So, that pretty much ended the hike and poor little Massey is now out of commission. After a visit to the vet, she's okay, but she won't be running until probably next week. Tear. So, our simple hike turned into a "Let's get Massey back to the house (and to the vet) so that she can rest." But, Thirsty Thursdays aren't really about the adventures of Massey (check out Massey Mondays for those). Before she decided to go vertical, she discovered this little stream where we were able to blur the water in the shadows. It was a pretty peaceful place. Sometimes I think the little pup has eye (or nose) for finding us spots to shoot. So, even though the hike turned into a bit of a diaster, we were still able to get some decent shots. Here's to some even better shots in 2013 and injury free hikes (at least for the Mas).

Thirsty Thursday: The Morning After

Rambler: Beth

Drink at Hand: Trader Joe's Cinnamon Blossom Tea...served hot!

Thirsty Thursday here again...time to pour something yummy (or something warm) and make those weekend plans. And since the photos below have an icy feel to them, I highly recommend that TJ's tea to keep you warm.

These photos are from our trip to Iowa. The morning after our arrival, which was a day late due to the raging blizzard. The day after a cancelled flight, a delayed flight, an aborted landing, an actual landing, a bag stuck in airline bag jail, a crazy drive home past the truck grandpa put in the ditch, and a generator-powered evening catching up with my parents, I woke up early, bundled up, and wandered around the farm at sunrise. The 50 mph winds and driving ground blizzard were gone. All that was left was a brilliant sky and clean, white snow.

There is something magically beautiful on the first clear morning after a Midwestern blizzard. I'm just glad I don't have to deal with them too often anymore. Get out there and find your own beautiful morning this weekend!

UPDATE: If you'd like to purchase any of these photographs, they are available on our store under the Iowa Gallery.

Thirsty Thursday: Big Sur Coast

Rambler: Beth

Drink at Hand: Hot apple cider

Hey Welliver Photography fans! Thirsty Thursday here again, time to pour something yummy and make those weekend plans. I found some warm-looking photos in the summer archives from an afternoon spent exploring the Big Sur coast. Figured some warm weather photos wouldn't be bad on a chilly December evening. Enjoy!

Thirsty Thursday: Frozen

Rambler: Terry
Drink in Hand: Hot Tea with Cinnamon

I don't know where you are today or this weekend, but in Iowa it is freezing. Temperatures are in the single digits. In addition, the power is out here on the farm and we are on generator. Thus, this post is from an iPhone as there's no Internet on the MacBooks. So, here's to the cold weather and hoping that where you are is warmer than here! Still it's good to see family. Happy Holidays!!

Thirsty Thursday: Thanksgiving Picnic

Rambler: Beth
Drink at Hand: Don't ask...it came in a box and claimed to be wine.

Thirsty Thursday here again...time to pour something yummy and make those weekend plans. Over the long Thanksgiving weekend we went to Lone Pine, CA to do some "wandering about with camera in hand." But just because we weren't at home didn't mean we couldn't have the Thanksgiving dinner experience. I made some last minute Stove Top stuffing, whipped up a batch of my secret recipe cranberry sauce, tore apart one of those rotisserie chickens from the local market and out the door we went!

So after a long day of hiking and exploring and scrambling over cool rock formations in the shadow of the highest mountain in the lower 48, we pulled out the cooler and enjoyed our Thanksgiving feast...complete with some pretty horrible boxed wine. At least we drank the wine in our super cool Kleen Kanteen stainless steel pints! The Alabama Hills provided what was quite possibly the best Thanksgiving dinner view I've ever enjoyed. Next time I'll try to remember silverware so we don't have to use the random chopsticks we found in my car.

I even made pumpkin muffins for dessert before we left home. Terry felt the need to photograph his muffin. Don't worry, Massey also got to enjoy quite a healthy portion of chicken for Thanksgiving too.

Get out there and find your own spot for a feast this weekend!

Thirsty Thursday: Manzanar

Rambler: Terry Drink in Hand: 2009 Ventana Pinor Noir

Manzanar. If it weren't a historic site, you would drive right by the place. There's not much left. I won't pretend to know about the history of Manzanar. The most I really know about the place is what I read in the visitors center and online. I'm sure I read about it in a history class or two. Of course, at that time in my life, I'm sure I didn't really pay that much attention. But there's something about visiting a place with a history like this that leaves an impression on you. I suppose what I feel is something to the effect that "I hope we don't do that again. . .I hope we can see something like this coming." I'm not sure if it's sadness or regret or disappointment or maybe hope. . .that we will make better decisions. It's almost the same feeling I felt when we visited Hiroshima several years ago.

All the shots below are from the cemetery. . .the "Soul Consoling Tower". In the middle of the valley, below the towering mountains, I was reminded of Japan. The prayers hanging around the tower and the peacefulness of the place reminded me of the shrines from over there. The lighting was harsh, but I hope I was able to capture of those feelings.

Thirsty Thursday: Arch Hunting

Rambler: Terry Drink in Hand: 2009 Ventana Rubystone

During the long break last week, instead of fattening up on turkey or pie or both, we spent the week/weekend wandering around the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine, CA. We were actually hoping that the weather for the trip would be quite miserable. In our heads, we have somehow translated miserable weather into quasi-cloudy skies which become fantastic sunrises or sunsets. But, alas, we had fantastic weather (good for the Massey) with no clouds in sight. This seems to be our lot in life lately. The clouds seem know when we want to shoot and just disappear (darn those high pressure systems). Although we didn't have any clouds in the sky, we had a fantastic time hiking around the hills, watching the Mas tear it up (a future Massey Monday), and just trying to find those keeper shots. The first day was all about looking for sunrise/sunset spots to shoot and, of course, hunting for arches. We'll have a future post full of the sunrise shots, but for this post, here's a few hunting for arches...and maybe a few of the gorgeous mountains.