Links for July 2021
By Robert Ellison.
The New York Times: Opinion | America Needs to Break Up Its Biggest States
I'd rather get rid of the electoral college and have a national, ranked choice vote but this is interesting.
Summit Lake to Echo Lake in Lassen
By Robert Ellison.
A 4.5 mile out and back hike to Echo Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park. Start at the Summit Lake Ranger Station, take the short trail to Summit Lake and then follow signs to Echo Lake.
Hike starts at: 40.498228, -121.42711. View in Google Earth.
Related Posts
(Hike Map)
(Published to the Fediverse as: Summit Lake to Echo Lake in Lassen #hike #lake #lassen #map Hike from Summit Lake to Echo Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park. 4.5 miles out and back. )
Skull Cave
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
SONY ILCE-7C 20mm f1.8 1/30s ISO2500
Just inside the mouth of Skull Cave at Lava Beds National Monument in Northern California.
The photograph titled "Skull Cave" presents a captivating glimpse into the subterranean depths of a cavernous expanse. The rocky ceiling arches overhead like a natural cathedral, textured with jagged formations and subtle hues of earth tones. Lights peep in from the distant mouth of the cave, creating a glowing halo that beckons the viewer towards the light. The cave floor is strewn with a rugged mosaic of rocks, their irregular surfaces catching and playing with the limited light that dances through the space. Shadows haunt the periphery, adding depth and mystery, while patches of moss introduce a muted green, hinting at the life that ekes out an existence in the dim recess of this underground realm.
The composition employs a striking use of chiaroscuro, emphasizing the contrast between light and dark to evoke a sense of intrigue and adventure. The natural curvature of the cave leads the eye from the foreground into the bright opening, simplifying the journey through the image. The use of natural light as the sole illuminating source creates a dramatic effect, highlighting the texture and rendering a sense of scale within the cavern. I appreciate the photograph's ability to evoke emotion and curiosity, making the viewer yearn to explore the unknown. However, the shadowed areas lack detail, which might detract from fully appreciating the intricate formations within the cave. A bit more exposure in these regions could enhance the image further, revealing subtleties otherwise lost in darkness.
Related Posts
(Published to the Fediverse as: Skull Cave #photo #cave Photo of the entrance to Skull Cave at Lava Beds National Monument in California. )
Sundial Bridge
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, January 18, 2025.
SONY DSC-RX10M4 9mm f16.0 1/125s ISO100
SONY DSC-RX10M4 58mm f11.0 1/200s ISO100
SONY DSC-RX10M4 9mm f11.0 1/160s ISO100
The Sundial Bridge in Redding, California crosses the Sacramento River while also providing the correct time one day a year (the Summer Solstice) assuming it's a sunny day (a pretty safe assumption for Redding).
This photograph captures the strikingly modern silhouette of the Sundial Bridge, a magnificent structure rising against the backdrop of a vivid, cloudless sky. The dominating feature is the bridge's towering mast, which stretches diagonally across the frame. Sunlight faintly halos the top of the mast, casting an ethereal glow, while the slender cables fan out like lines in an abstract painting, harmonizing with the structure’s sleek, geometric design. The bold contrast between the stark white of the bridge and the deep azure sky emphasizes both the monument's grandeur and simplicity, drawing the eye through the play of lines and light.
The style of this photograph leans heavily into minimalism, allowing the form and functionality of the bridge to take center stage. The composition is notably dynamic, thanks to the diagonal orientation that creates a sense of movement and direction. The use of negative space enhances the focus on the bridge while offering a serene backdrop that amplifies the structure’s aesthetic lines. I appreciate the elegance and clarity the photograph conveys, as it expertly uses light to emphasize architectural details. However, the composition could benefit from additional elements or perspectives to provide more context and depth to the scene, potentially engaging the viewer’s imagination further.
Related Posts
(Published to the Fediverse as: Sundial Bridge #photo #sundial #bridge Photos of the Sundial Bridge across the Sacramento River in Redding, California. )
Teague Hill Preserve
By Robert Ellison.
A four mile, 1,400 foot hike into the Santa Cruz Mountains from just above Woodside. The trail is almost entirely under canopy but with a lot of variety and the occasional snatch of a view of the bay as you climb. The Bear Gulch section is very steep in places, if I did this route again I'd try Marker 3 to Marker 11 to see if the descent is more forgiving. Oh, and make sure you have a map or a downloaded route, there are a lot of trails with multiple entrances so it would be pretty easy to get lost here.
Hike starts at: 37.424658, -122.281739. View in Google Earth.
Related Posts
- Richards Fire Road
- Hill 88
- Lands End
- Point Reyes - Divide Meadow Loop
- Bull Valley Trail to Port Costa
(Hike Map)
(Published to the Fediverse as: Teague Hill Preserve #hike #map 4 mile hike with 1,400 foot elevation gain in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Woodside, California. Bring a map. )
ITHCWY Newsletter for June 2021
By Robert Ellison.
Catfood Earth has been missing a detailed guide since I shut down the Catfood Software web site. That has been fixed with this somewhat epic post which covers every feature of the Windows and Android versions.
Two new timelapses: stars over Columbia State Historic Park and another sunset. I also started working on a longer term project, it will be a few weeks until I get to see if it's going to work.
Hike posts have been upgraded with route maps and a chart showing elevation profile.
Previously:
- 2020: Visualizing Coronavirus Cases and Deaths by Country and US County
- 2019: Bay View and Shoreline Trails at China Camp State Park
- 2018: Animation of a year of Global Cloud Cover
Related Posts
Book reviews for June 2021
By Robert Ellison.
Nobody Walks by Mick Herron
5/5
Why We Die (The Oxford Investigations, #3) by Mick Herron
3/5
Smoke and Whispers (The Oxford Investigations, #4) by Mick Herron
4/5
Reconstruction (The Oxford Series) by Mick Herron
5/5
The Last Voice You Hear (The Oxford Investigations, #2) by Mick Herron
4/5
Down Cemetery Road (The Oxford Investigations, #1) by Mick Herron
4/5
Related Posts
Sunset #7
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, February 19, 2022.
Sunset over the Pacific.
Shot from Pacifica and San Francisco. A low pressure system was flinging some dramatic clouds around but unfortunately no rain.
(Previously: Sunset #6)
Related Posts
(Published to the Fediverse as: Sunset #7 #timelapse #sunset #4k #video 4K timelapse of sunset over the Pacific shot from Pacifica and San Francisco, California. )
Stars over Columbia State Historic Park
By Robert Ellison. Updated on Saturday, February 19, 2022.
Timelapse of stars over Columbia State Historic Park in California.
The video has four sequences shot over two nights. It was a challenging weekend right before the Summer Solstice with a pretty bright moon, but there are some hints of milky way in there. The first and third clips are from a Sony A7C with 20mm f1.8 G lens. The second and fourth are from a GoPro Hero 8 Black which suffered from a few stuck pixels but nice enough overall. Post processed in Lightroom, LRTimelapse, Resolve and Filmstro Pro.
Related Posts
- Milky Way and stars over Redding
- Stars from Pine Mountain Lake
- Stars over Casini Ranch, a Timelapse
- San Francisco Stars
- Stars over Pinnacles
(Published to the Fediverse as: Stars over Columbia State Historic Park #timelapse #stars #video 4K timelapse video of stars over Columbia State Historic Park in California, shot with Sony A7C and GoPro Hero 8 Black. )
Summer Solstice 2021
By Robert Ellison.
Summer starts right this minute in the northern hemisphere, winter for those south of the equator. Rendered in Catfood Earth.
(Previously: Summer Solstice 2020)
Related Posts
- Summer Solstice 2019
- Summer Solstice 2022
- Summer Solstice 2017
- Summer Solstice 2014
- Summer Solstice 2018
(Published to the Fediverse as: Summer Solstice 2021 #code #solstice #summer #winter #earth #northern #estival Catfood Earth render of Summer Solstice 2021 (June 21, 2021, 03:32 UTC). Marks the start of summer in the northern hemisphere, winter in the southern. )
