Castroville Nights

Castroville street sign, 1/100 sec., f2.8, ISO 400

In late March I finally traded in my reliable-but-aging Nikon D70 body (six years' age is like dog years when it comes to digital!) and replaced it with a shiny new D7000. The difference was rather extreme. I'm still getting familiar with the D7K's dizzying array of features, but it's sure fun to handle. Best of all are the incredible low-light capabilities that allow handheld night shooting. Here are a few pictures from sleepy Castroville, California on a chilly March 25 evening, the first images shot by the new camera. ISO speeds range from 400 to 1250. It was amazing to wander Merritt Street, the town's main drag, and shoot at will with a 70-200mm lens and no tripod. (click thumbnails to enlarge)

Mariscos El Nayarita restaurant -- Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, Castroville style. 

1/80 sec, f3.2, ISO 1250

Street scene, 1/25 sec., f4.5, ISO 1250

Trolley Car Rotisserie, 1/20 sec, f2.8, ISO 640

Palenque Club, 1/50 sec., f2.8, ISO 400

Can't wait to give the D7K a serious shakedown cruise! A Salton Sea road trip is coming soon . . .

EL Print Show in Salinas April 1

If you live near Monterey County, you're invited to a local artists' reception in Salinas on Friday, April 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. I'll have a selection of 12 prints on display and available for purchase. Subjects include Route 66, railroads, roadside America, and regional landscapes. Above and below are two of the featured images: "Moss Landing Sunset, 2011" and "Close Encounters, Alray Tunnel, 2008" (click images to view full-size)

I will also have my two last copies of Route 66 Railway available for signing and sale. Food and drinks will be served.

The reception will take place at Russ Wilcox's cool new State Farm Insurance office at Creekbridge Village (in the Safeway Center) at 1532 Constitution Blvd. in Salinas; many thanks to Russ and Alice for hosting the event. For more information, call 831-443-1001 or e-mail me. Hope to see you there!

Moss Landing: Monterey County's Best-Kept Secret (Updated)

Moss Landing Harbor at sunset in January 2011. The distant "star of lights" marks Phil's Fish Market; behind that, the Pacific Ocean. (click to enlarge photos)

[UPDATED JANUARY 18, 2011] Halfway between Monterey and Santa Cruz is a little piece of California that time forgot: the quiet harbor of Moss Landing. Monterey Bay's best-kept secret is still largely undiscovered by tourists and longtime Californians -- people are typically outnumbered by sea lions and fishing boats -- but the word is getting out. A big contributor to that buzz is Phil's Fish Market, which had a starring role on the Food Network a few years ago and quickly landed on the "must-dine" list for Central Coast vacationers.

Colorful boats rest in the quaint harbor, set against the towering stacks of the Moss Landing power plant.

Phil's restaurant is only part of Moss Landing's charm. An amazing variety of birds and marine life call the harbor home; Elkhorn Slough also meets the Pacific Ocean here, so kayakers and pontoon boats are a common sight along the pristine old river and surrounding wetlands. Highway 1, antique stores, and a landmark power plant add to the photographic possibilities.

One of Moss Landing's resident pelicans relaxes in the shadow of the Highway 1 bridge.

 Seen from Highway 1, birds perch near the harbor entrance at sunset in January 2011.

Moss Landing has always been a favorite place to take the cameras, and with our move to Oak Hills we're only 15 minutes from the harbor! Gloomy Central Coast summers put a damper on picture-making, but the spring and fall months offer plenty of sun. Gotta run -- Phil's is calling. Mmm, calamari . . .

An otter munches on a crab snack (Spongebob fans would call it a real crabby patty)

Harbor glint, October 2009.

Near sunset, a research vessel departs Moss Landing for the waters of the Pacific.

For more information on Moss Landing,visit the Chamber of Commerce: http://www.mosslandingchamber.com/index.html

Back in Action

After the scary events of last December, and the "winter of our discontent" (see here) . . . it was an immensely happy moment to watch Laura cross the finish line in the Big Sur International Marathon on April 27. OK, she was actually part of a relay team, joining her fellow Monterey County planning managers, but it was still a great achievement. Her approximate time was just over an hour for the 4.2 mile segment.

Where's Laura? Crossing the finish line on Highway 1, of course! Another barrier broken.

Above, the relay team poses for a portrait in Carmel. From left: Jacqueline Onciano, Carl Holm, Mike Novo, and Laura. Below, mementos mark the occasion . . . if the timing works out, she'll be back next year.