A late season storm produces a rainbow in the Alexander Valley, Thursday Feb. 18, 2016. (Kent Porter/ Press Democrat)
Follow me on Twitter: @kentphotos Instagram: kpfotog
It’s been an interesting six months or so. Lake County’s Valley fire sent me for a loop, but the nightmares have passed; I’ve lost 30 pounds and summer is right around the corner. With that, El Nino made an appearance, filling reservoirs and greening up NorCal. The Laguna de Santa Rosa came precariously close to flooding Occidental Road, but the spigot tightened before any major inundating could plague Sonoma County. Wind was a major factor during winter storms, sending trees through houses and walls of mud over roadways. So what now? As we all contemplate that question, here are a few photos to chomp on and mull over. I promise to post more….
In Windsor, Thursday Feb. 11, 2016 a late winter sunrise paints the sky over a valley oak. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
Wise Acre Farm Great Pyrenees Buddy, watches over the flock off Arata Lane in Windsor, Friday March 3, 2016. The egg stand is open again after a dispute with a winery about a right-of-way was solved after owner Bryan Boyd put in his own entrance to the farm. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
I’m pretty sure Buddy the dog thinks he’s a chicken, or the chickens think they are dogs. For whatever it’s worth, Sonoma County continues to surprise me with interesting photographic opportunities each day, nearly 28 years worth.
Greendog Rescue volunteer Gary Archuleta carries his pot of gold during the Annual Drinks for the Dogs event, Thursday March 17, 2016 at the Healdsburg Bar and Grill. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
Sometimes you get assignments that you really have to work…I just waited for this to happen. Not an award winner of course, just fun to look at.
Lillie Smallcomb, 5. and her mother Jennie of Santa Rosa take advantage of the warm weather to relax in a mustard field near Kenwood, Monday Feb. 29, 2016 as they prepare to model dresses for a commercial photographer. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
Yup, sometimes moments slap a photographer upside the head. It’s been one of those great mustard field years.
Jeremy Sarayi of Santa Jose has his tattoo worked on by Tiny Jim Herman of Washington, during the Tattoos and Blues at the Flamingo Hotel in Santa Rosa, Friday Feb. 26, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
Looking for the unusual angle. I’ll cover forest fires, floods, riots etc.. But will never get a tattoo. No way, needles are not my friend.
With persuasion from Kelseyville High School Coach and Lake County Supervisor, Rob Brown, Upper Lake High School sophomore wrestler Christina Wilson shows her form after making weight Wednesday Feb. 24, 2016 after an all county workout at Kelseyville High School. Wilson is headed to state after winning the NCS title in the 121 pound class. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
Christina Wilson, above, is probably the most intense teenager I’ve ever photographed. Her work ethic for the state tournament was dizzying. That and it was about 110 degrees in the wrestling room at Kelseyville High School.
Stanislaw Swiech of Chicago takes in the Tomales Bay aboard the Pt. Reyes shipwreck, an iconic destination of photographers and tourists alike in Inverness, Thursday Feb. 25, 2016. Several nights ago, the boat caught fire hours after a photoshoot involving burning steel wool burned the entire stern of the vessel. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
The caption says it all. Don’t be a photographic bonehead.
Threatening skies doesn’t deter Brian Denner and his dog Kody, as they prepare to help Sonoma County Sherif’s deputies stamp ID numbers on farm equipment at the Denner Ranch in Santa Rosa, Wednesday Feb. 17, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
Gotta love dogs. And clouds. And ranchers.
The Broncos Danny Trevathan celebrates Denvers victory of the the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl 50, Sunday Feb. 7, 2016 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat ) 2016
Somewhere in the mix, there was a Superbowl. Some team from Colorado won, some team from Carolina lost. Poor Carolina.
Beer shoes were required for the release of Pliny the Younger at the Russian River Brewing Co. in Santa Rosa, Friday Feb. 5, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
Was it the Superbowl that kept crowds away from the Pliny the Younger release? Maybe, maybe not. This woman’s shoes were pretty cool though.
Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chairman Efren Carrillo pauses after stating this would be his final year on the board of Supervisors, Wednesday Jan. 27, 2016 during the State of the County Breakfast at the Double Tree Hotel in Rohnert Park. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
Protesters from the SEIU 1021 rush their way past security guards during the State of the County report at the Double Tree Hotel in Rohnert Park Wednesday, January 27, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
It was an emotional morning for protesters and Supervisor Efren Carrillo during the State of the County report. Two different stories.
Santa Rosa firefighters, Teddy Day, middle, and Mike Johnson call for more oxygen as they attempt to resuscitate a family pet that was rescued from a house fire on East Foothill Drive in Santa Rosa. At left, firefighter Mike Nealon attempts the same. Both animals died despite the firefighters efforts, January 19, 2016. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
At the end of my shift on January 19, fire broke out in a house in Santa Rosa, killing two dogs. The fire, started by a hoverboard being charged, was difficult to shoot because of the very nature of animals being harmed. No one likes to see anything die, but documentation is the primary focus of our job. This and other stories about hoverboards world wide are bringing about questions as to their safety. Airlines now will not take them in any shape or form.
63 year-old Eddie Scanlon of Petaluma heads out to the Doran Park surf, Tuesday Jan. 12, 2016 in Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
Deckhand Mike Duer on the Sandy B, captained by Stan Carpenter, was up at dawn to prepare crab pots that would be dropped to catch crab and tested for domoic acid. The run was called off because of incoming weather, Thursday Jan. 14, 2016 in Bodega Bay. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
On the Sonoma coast, two different ways of life, barely a mile from one another.
Nick Kent a forest manager with Cal Fire, looks for greenery on fir trees burned by the Valley Fire in Boggs State Forest in Cobb, Monday Jan. 11, 2016. These trees will all be felled because of the fire. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
Santa Rosa firefighters shut down water to a fire hydrant which was sheared off as the result of a traffic accident, Monday Jan. 4, 2016 at Piner and Marlow Roads. (Kent Porter / Press Democrat) 2016
-Kent Porter
