Solana Beach

Here was the view from the bluffs the first night we stayed. When you think of the beach and the ocean you think of bright sunny days-- no one seems to visit the beach when it's not. I find that it's just as beautiful with the storm clouds blowing gently in.



















Sunset at dog beach. I got up on the bluffs as far as they allowed the dogs to. Amelie wasn't so enthused.























Amelie up on one of the bluffs. Eric was holding her butt so she wouldn't jump-- the angle of the photo obscures this fact.




















The colors and textures of the bluffs were amazing. I'm no landscape photographer but I can see the potential this place holds for some real nice shots.


















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Frenchie Puppies!

I had the good fortune to be able to photograph a friend's litter of french bulldog pups. This poor unfortunate lil pup was born with a deformed eye, hence the profile shot!

Joshua Tree © 2008 Jackie Bass

Standing by the lone road that snakes its way across the Joshua Tree National Park, I waited patiently for my husband to ride by on the latest test bike we were photographing. Taking action shots of motorcycles involves a lot of passes for the rider, and a lot of exercise for the picture taker. The sun was baking my skin to a likeness of red leather, while the 6 pound camera was killing my neck. I grumbled under my breath, shifted my weight and pierced my heal with a cacti. Yes, this is what I chose for a living but at this moment in time I was questioning my sanity, not to mention, some of those cactus spines really hurt.

The sun moves faster when it's about to punch the clock at the end of the day, not unlike many people at their workplace ready to go home. One more go, I told Eric, and we'll go back to camp. I carefully picked my way over closing wildflowers and super spiny succulents, and... what was that? A still-convulsing lizard tail? No, it was a caterpillar, flipping this way and that, squirming.... fighting for its life as large black ants all over dragged it down their hole.

Perhaps I should try to save it? Perhaps I should quickly squash it so it doesn't have to be eaten alive? But it was gone, down the hole, it's number had been called. Life is harsh for those who live in the desert, and it kind of puts things in perspective.

Eric on Benelli Tre-K © 2008 Jackie Bass

Chuckwalla

Finally found me a chuckwalla while hiking in Joshua Tree. Ain't he cute? 

El Mirage

IMG_1495-2, originally uploaded by jbasspix.

Well, I didn't get to take any TTV shots with my vintage camera today, just had too many items on my to-do list. So here's an oldie but goodie, a race car being towed back after making a run at El Mirage.

New stuff.

This is a 1947 Kodak Duaflex Camera. I had been admiring the techniques of what some call "alternative processes" or in other words, creating pictures in the various ways that people have been making photographs all throughout photographic history. The only caveat I had was that I am completely addicted to digital photography... the instant gratification, the need for only a computer and not a dark room (no space in our tiny place for one of those). So when I found out about "TTV" or "Through The Viewfinder" photography, I was intrigued.

Basically, you take your digital camera, focus on the scene as seen in the viewfinder of an antique camera and take a picture. The result is unusual. Since the lens is so old, it's scratched and dusty... plus only the center is in focus while the edges are beautifully blurred. The lens only captures a square image, framing the picture with a black square. You get a mysterious, ghostly picture.

I haven't gotten to experiment with it yet, but when I do, I'll post pictures.

Amelie at Dog Beach

And after a long day of fun... Amelie loves to snore in front of the fireplace