11/2/2008- Fall Color Kamikaze to Yosemite

Early November found us watching the weather
forecasts closely (tis that time of year again
for color or snow) and 4 members decided to
"GO for it".... Jim Pantel piloted the "Rumi vehicle"
with Nelcha as co-pilot, we met up with Alan Marr
in Manteca and headed off in the rain to the park.
Jim Sanderson was to come up from Fresno
and meet up with us at the Sunrise location.

First we had to move a Rockslide (in the middle
of the Hwy 140 Merced River existing Detour )
that "attempted" to delay the Merry Group, but
with Organization and Determination and help
from others stuck in their cars, the guys managed
to roll the Bigger rocks off to the side and then
the middle sized ones, and the gals swept all of
the small ones to the side of the road so our tires
wouldn't get harmed and we used the Call Box
to notify the authorities, then continued ON ;-)
However, there was to be NO bright sunrise....
So sunrise on El Cap never happened...

However, the low clouds were in abundance
to provide a MOODY atmosphere and the
Falls (YF & BV) that were Literally DRY
the day before were flowing fantastically,
also tiny seasonal ones, too! not to mention
the rivers that were even creating foam.
The Black Oaks, when wet the bark was
even darker, had leaves the color of
Amber Gold and were all over the place.
There were even Dogwoods that had
Pink leaves and some that were proudly
showing their red pre-holiday berries
for us. It was one of the most fun days
I have had there in years...even dripping
wet, and too short as usual.

We never did meet up with Jim S. ;-(
He made it to the Park but our paths
never crossed. Mother Nature always
provides in YNP, no matter what the
season, if you are Open to receiving.
Even met up with an online acquaintance
from CANP up at the new Tunnel View...
It was my 1st chance to see it since
it's remodeling....no comment.

Then we feasted on a wonderful dinner
& gallery show at The Mountain Room,
multo bene. Then headed home...
bellies and CF cards full ;-)
I created my first HDRs but have yet
to learn the PSCS3 skills to stitch/stack
them. So now I have some homework
to do as well ;-) Sorry for those who
wanted to go...but changed their minds
and didn't, they would have LOVED it.
Can't wait for the next SNOW
-Kamikaze ;-)

in gratitude,
Nelcha

10/2008- 1st Bodie "3day" FM_NorCal Workshop w/Jill Lachman

It's was a long time in the planning and we 
were VERY LUCKY that Jill graciously let 
our group have first dibs to fill this workshop. 
We did have the entire workshop filled, but 
then "Life" interrupted a few members plans, 
so a Canuck was lucky enough at the last 
minute to tag along and we can thank him
for the Group Photo ;-) Thanks, Bruce.
Hint:
We are already taking names for next 
years workshop. Get your name on the list 
if you are interested "at all."

FM_NorCal participants: Ed Nunez, Allen Hirsh,
Shelah aka "Digital-She", Jean Christopher,
Ed's friend Luis Morales.

Trip Report by FM_NorCal in the 
field reporter: Allen Hirsh

All six of us met with Jill & Kelly 
the night before our workshop for dinner 
and a little preview of our three days 
in Bodie, since we were staying in
different lodging locations.
Jill stressed that we couldn't move 
or touch ANYTHING, and that 
space is tight, so we HAD to be careful
with our tripods inside all the buildings.

For some buildings, not all six of us 
could be inside at the same time, 
but when that occurred, Jill would open 
one building and Kelly would man another, 
so we could all be "working", then switch 
shooting locations. This served to maximize 
our available image making time.

During regular park hours, we often 
had park visitors peering into the buildings 
while we were making images, and Jill 
would let them know this was 
a VERY "private workshop."

The workshop gave us access to something 
like 17 or 18 buildings you can 
"NOT go into" as a public visitor. 
The only building that has a regular
public tour is the Standard mill, but 
we got more time and could go beyond 
the roped off areas, - and at hours 
when the park isn't open, which gave us 
that great early and late light
for more interesting images.

Our venues included: 
"Ranger's roost" - the rock outcrop
overlooking town from the parking lot side,
Boone "General Store", Morgue/funeral home,
Lottie Johl's house, Wheaton-Hollis and 
Bodie Hotel -
(twice, once in am, once in pm
- very different lighting each time),
Pat Reddy house, Lester Bell house,
Cameron house, Firehouse,
Main Street at Sunrise, 
Dechambeau Hotel/Saloon,
Sam Leon Bar/casino & barber shop,
IOOF building 
(which housed the Bodie Athletic Club),
Standard Mill, Schoolhouse, 
Methodist Church,
UP on the Mining Ridge Hill, 
Station House and reservoir with the 
Sierra mountain range backdrop,
and McDonald house.

We met at the Bodie SHP parking lot 
at 6:30am each morning (usually 25F then,
and it was often 65F just two hours later!),
and would play until around noon
or 1pm, then take a couple hour lunch break.
We'd meet back at the parking lot again 
at 3 or 4pm. The 2nd day when we did 
the SPECIAL Event
-the night photographic session, 
we met later, and went until 9pm. 
The first day, we left the park around 
6 or 7pm (after it closed to the public, 
which is 4pm).
The last day, the "official workshop" 
ended about 10:30am,
but then were free to stay and make 
exterior images the rest of the day 
while the park was open.

The first day was the only lunch we 
had together, when some of us shared 
photographer portfolios;
Jill showed us quite a few of her Bodie 
images, for inspiration.

The night session was something the 
whole group "really came together for", 
as we collaborated to make sure
everyone who wanted to create a 
night image COULD, no matter the 
limitations of our respective cameras
and gear. When we finished photographing 
the church, we went on to do a couple 
"night sculptures".
I firmly believe, if Jill hadn't been 
concerned we'd overstayed our permit 
for the evening session, we'd have kept 
going as a group for many hours longer,
as everyone was excited with the images 
we were getting and the considerable 
other night possibilities we saw
within Bodie.

After the 3 days were over, Edward, 
Jean and Shelah stayed and photographed 
around the area the next morning
and Ed also stayed a couple extra days 
after our workshop and was rewarded 
with a change of weather -
storm clouds and snow, so he got 
very different exterior images than we 
had during our workshop, when the 
weather was crystal clear.

The night session was a real highlight 
for me, not only because I got an image 
that will be published in the 2009 
Bodie Foundation Calendar, a 
juried contest,
but because it was a new form of 
photography for me.
The "new" Bodie Foundation was formed 
to raise funds to help SAVE and stabilize 
Bodie. My image that was Accepted is 
below...and was a 3-minute exposure of 
the Methodist Church
(taken "within" a 20-minute exposure 
for star trails that most of the others
in the group did during our night session)
Kelly "painted" the church with a 
flashlight several times during our exposure, 
and we had an incredibly clear sky
with very bright stars, as is often 
the case in the high desert.

I'm pretty sure we all left feeling 
like Bodie was our favorite ghost town, 
and someplace worth many more visits, 
given the richness of its history
and the scenes it still holds to this day.
~ Allen H.
**************************************************

Thanks Jill for helping me arrange 
this SPECIAL opportunity for the 
members of FM_NorCal, and show some 
of them why we are SO Bodie crazy ;-)
.and Kudos to Allen for his first publication
and we look forward to the First
2009 BF Calendar coming out...
BOTH Logos below will link you
to the BF and also to the BodieStore thru which
the calendar will be available.
To see everyone's images please be sure
to check their websites listed on the right-side
of this blog.

in gratitude,
Nelcha

SafariWest meets FM_NorCal

It was a sunny June morning when the brave group
headed out into the Northern part of the
wild Bay Area and were determined to come home
with some captures of some critters that they
had never been so close to before....
Brave attendees were Jia Liu, Jerry Kurata,
Shiva Shankar, Nelcha Cross,
Alexis Dang, Alan Dang,
Deepak Lakshmanan, and
Stephen Coyle brought
along his bodyguard & better-half Laura
for protection from the beasts.

















First they were introduced to their buggy for the journey,
"Rosie"...and she has been around the block a few times.
Rosie had that "We CAN do it" attitude and shook all of the
fear out of the participants as we traveled over hill and dale
in search of animals large and small.

After Rosie had carried us for approx 2.5 hours
so we could be close to Cape Buffalo, Giraffe,
Ibex, Kudu, Watusi Cattle and many others..
then we unloaded and ventured into the area
that had the cheetahs and lemurs and
eventually into the aviary enclosure.
The only mammal in the aviary was the tiny
dik-dik, that stands 30–40 cm at the shoulder
and weighs 3–6 kg, so small they would be lost
out in the hinterlands of the Safari Preserve.

It was a very intense 3 hour adventure that I was
sad to see end so quickly. It is a trip I would
definitely like to repeat and try different lenses.
Hope everyone had a good a time as I did....
It was Great to meet some of the faces
I had only known by name until then.
The images I have seen so far have been keepers.
cheers, Nelcha


















Those interested in seeing the complete list of
critters they have there or signing up for the
2009 Group Trip please go to the wiki page:
http://fmnorcal.pbwiki.com/SafariWest-Photo-Tour

May 10, 2008 Elkhorn Slough Safari Outing

"in the field reporter" for FM_NorCal: Alan Marr

The Spring 2008 Elkhorn Slough Safari netted many
great photos, and a good time for all the FM_NorCal
photographers!

Members sharing the event that day were
Joe Ronkovich, Sue McConnell, Suprada Urval,
Anthony Whitmore, Shiva Shankar, Jeff Winters,
Fred and Marge Buhler, Larry Hendler, Nancy Asquith,
Allen Hirsch, Connie and Les Harrington,
Jean Christopher, Shelah Osbrink, Robin Bourbonnais,
Erasmo Acosta and Alan Marr.

The day began gray and foggy as the Capt. Yohn
guided the boat out of Moss Landing Harbor. 
By design, the boat was half full so that every
photographer had easy access to their side of
the boat and could shoot over the heads of the
other side of the boat as necessary.  We quickly
got trained by the Captain to swivel to 11 o'clock
or 3 o'clock positions as he sighted birds more
quickly than any of us.

There were blonde otters and wet otters and feasting
otters and mother and child otters and large rafts
of otters!  Not to be outdone, harbor seals and sea lions
put on a good show.  Many species of birds included
cormorants in breeding plumage with blue gullets,
red eyed Western Grebes, different kinds of ducks,
Great Blue Herons, Loons, Terns, Turkey Vultures,
Brown Pelicans, American White Pelicans, Whembrels,
Avocets, Curlews, Canada Geese, Egrets, and hawks. 
There were even large brown jellyfish and
small delicate white jellyfish.

After a delicious and companionable lunch,
most of us returned for the afternoon and
were joined by others to once again fill the boat.

Captain Yohn consistently positioned the boat
skillfully and fairly so that both sides had plenty
of good opportunities.  Capt. Yohn guided us
well with thoughtful suggestions based on a
keen understanding of the needs of the
photographers.  If you get a chance to go,
treat yourself!   It is well worth it.

Spring & 1st Moonbow of 2008

In the middle of April we had numerous members
of few of them: Ed N, Erasmo, Mike G, & Doug that
ventured to Yosemite in search of the yearly
Yosemite Falls Full Moonbow. Most of them
stayed for 2 nights and tried from different vantage points
to up their chances of coming home with a good one.
Some images we are still waiting to see, but Ed was
kind enough to share his images for us to use here.
The group also had a nice dinner together
at The Mountain Room with Edie another member
that lives and works in the park. It was after dinner
they ventured out for the 2nd night of Moonbow's.
Among the other beauties available during Spring
in the park besides the waterfalls is the
first spring growth on all the trees.
Here is an excellent example that Ed was able to
compose during 1st light in the AM of
the famous Elm. Thanks Ed and congrats to all that went
and experienced their first "cold wet night" at the base of
Lower Falls trying to get the Moonbow.
They have now been "officially baptized"
by the light of the moon.....
May the folks that go for the May Moonbow
also come home with some awe inspiring
images and fun experiences.

Horsetail Firefall Seekers.......

During the 2nd Half of February and beginning
of March each year, " Seekers of the Light ",
venture to Yosemite to see if Mother Nature
will provide them with the "perfect conditions" to grant them
the beauty of the Naturally lit Horsetail Firefalls......
a tiny falls that forms falling over a specific corner of
El Captitan only during and after sunset.

This year they were lucky and had numerous opportunities
and locations from which to view this phenomena.
There has to be NO clouds blocking the sunset, and there
has to be enough snowpak just before to and current sun
to allow the snow to melt each day about 3pm and start
the tiny waterfall.....Many have gone in past years and
been totally skunked by the conditions....

FM_NorCal had numerous members that went this year,
but since we had a number of opportunities the trips were
spread out over the 4 weekends. I know that Doug Otto,
Alan Marr, Randy Walton, Jim Fox, Ed Nunez,
Erasmo Acosta, Thien Anh Pham, and Anh Pham went......
If anyone else went that I missed, just drop me a line
and I can easily add your name to this blog....
For those that have never been... Here is a sample
of the show Mother nature puts on......
Thanks to Ed for sharing his Keeper !

So next year when I say HFF aka Horsetail Firefall
you will know what we are talking about.....OK?
Kudos to everyone that went and brought home
some wonderful images.... not "just" of the falls...
Next is the Yosemite Falls Full Moonbow Show
later this month...
So check the wiki and See you there!

2/16/08 Ano Nuevo Outing!

(Sumitted by: in the field reporter - Xavier Cohen)

6:00AM: alarm clock ring....no one woke up! It starts well. Quick shower, quick breakfast, and I am out. The sun is still sleepy and the cold temperature reminds me that we are still in winter. I jump on my bike ready to fight the cold and the 6 flat-miles to meet with other FM fellows. Since we love nature, we have decided to respect her: let's carpool! After one hour drive, the FM_NorCal south bay group (Larry H, Smada H, Alan M, Deepak L and I) arrived at the parking lot. @#$% we forgot our FM sign. Fortunately enough, the parking lot is almost empty...and other FM fellows (Margie R, Ed R and Allen H) are pretty easy to spot with their white Canon bazooka :-). Susan "our" docent is there as well already smiling...

8:45AM: The first group allowed in the park is us! We are rushing to the first spot in order to use the remaining clouds as the weather is forecasted to be gorgeous (which means "so so" for elephant seal photo op). After an overall view of our new "game area" from the top of the first dune, we stopped to see two young males sleeping calmly in the watershed. Suddenly one of them decided that sharing time was over: a fight starts just in front of us...No time to change lens, 400mm is too close...Even 200mm! Wahoo, the day promises to be more than just interesting! What a start! After finding our ways around their lying body (they are literally everywhere!), we ended up our first tour from the "Harem overlook". Not only Susan was consistently watching these guys around us, but she also pointed out good opportunities: mating, potential and real fights, strange behavior/tactics of losers trying to use any lack of vigilance from the alpha male. Without her comments, we would have lost half of what was going on in front of our eyes...I mean lenses. Too soon our allowed time was over. After a quick walk we were back on the parking lot to enjoy a quick lunch (our next tour was scheduled for

12:45).Great the happy FM Nor Cal group was complete again and we were able to run our second tour. Due to the heat behavior seems to have slowed down. While we were climbing the final butte to enjoy the "Harem overlook", we were treated to a fight and then a pursuit between an alpha bull and a loser! Both were heading in our direction! Susan did not have to ask us to get out of their way! Hopefully they stopped way before they reached us...good reminder. After a final session on top of the overlook, all of us were heading back happy from this shooting day. While we stopped on our way back to shoot some birds, pelicans decided to wait, since Ed had packed his gear, as they began to show up! At this moment, our outing turns into a pelican shot contest :-): they were going back and forth in front of us, perfectly side lighted. The day started well, it ended up as high as he began! Thanks Susan. Thanks Nelcha. You made our day!