I’ve been watching the weather (well I always do that) for almost a week now. By reading forecasts, studying weather models and in general watching the sky a little more closely. First the heat wave that was not really a barn burner -not in Santa Rosa anyway- which then left everyone freezing by Saturday night as a colossal push of marine air filtered through the coastal gap. Then the fire weather watches that were posted by the National Weather Service… Read More »
The National Weather Service has posted a fire weather watch for Sonoma County. You would think for the hot weather, right? Well partially. Yes it’s been hot and dry. The kicker is a threat for elevated convection, i.e., high based thunderstorms. With the lower levels of the atmosphere quite dry, the storms, if they fire up, could produce dry lightning strikes from the Golden Gate north Sunday through the evening hours. As is the case this year, nothing is normal… Read More »
Forest fires, floods. Hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes. Landslides, angry people, riots. Lightning, monsoons, dust storms. Hail storms, blizzards. I’ve encountered all of these at one time or another in my career. Nothing quite prepares you for what the Laguna de Santa Rosa can dish out west of town. I speak of the Tick. The tick is an insidious parasite that is in search of it’s one source of pleasure. Blood. Namely mine. Today it was a simple assignment to photograph… Read More »
Like that heat last weekend? If you did, clap your hands in joy because it’s going to get REALLY hot starting Friday. If you hate the the hot weather and wilt at the very mention of record-breaking temperatures, well then you may wan to go jump in a lake. Or a river. Or a pool. Seriously, the heat will peak on Saturday with temperatures from 100 to 110 degrees in the valleys around the North Bay. The record for Santa… Read More »
The rain clouds are long gone, the tail end of a front passed through last night leaving some interesting post frontal decorations behind. Forget the May gray, there just wasn’t much of that. Unrelenting winds, fires and a little rain highlighted May which is Drinking Water Month in the United States and Canada. Don’t put down the water bottle just yet. The meteorological start of summer, which is June 1, will feature some of the hottest temperatures of the… Read More »
Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Junior College herald in the graduation season here in the Redwood Empire. By the time it’s all said and done, Press Democrat photographers will have covered a little over 30 graduations. That’s a lot of photos and a lot of time for a small staff. Adding to the logistics of scheduling, the light can be a real challenge to reel in. Oh sure, sometimes you get some really beautiful light and that can add… Read More »
This is not your typical 9 to 5 job. I’ll prove it. I texted my wife and told her I was on call to photograph snakes. ”Ewwww!” she texted back. She doesn’t like snakes. Can you count the number of snakes in the photo? No, there isn’t a prize if you guess correctly. I asked Al Wolf of Sonoma County Reptile Rescue if the rattlesnake (below) could strike while in the tongs. He said no. Even so, I shot the photo… Read More »
Taking the backroads on a fine Sonoma County Mothers Day, our family spotted this on Slusser Road near the Airport. Why do people dump their unwanted items on the side of Sonoma County’s rural roads? In the miles I’ve driven in the past few months, a lot more garbage is showing up. Willowside Road in Santa Rosa is another favorite dumping ground. In the last week I’ve spotted a mini fridge, a TV set, clothes, garbage and a chest of… Read More »
I missed the whole grunge, punk slam dance thing growing up. Even as a professional in the middle of my career, I never really photographed a punk band or any kind of grunge band for that matter. The only thing I remember about the 1990′s is that some really awful music was spawned during the decade. BottleRock Napa, in all it’s frenetic, laid back, hip hopped, blue grassed and whatever else music created is the melting pot for music fans.… Read More »
A special shout-out to the great kids at Willowside Middle School and language arts teacher Julia Castro in Santa Rosa, who welcomed me with great questions and equal courtesy during their career day today. If you want to be a photojournalist, now’s the time to start! Thanks again. ….. If the last round of wind weren’t enough for you, another round of 50mph winds are forecast for the North Bay Hills from tonight (May 3) through Saturday afternoon. This… Read More »
