Surfer near Fort Point

IMG_3575, originally uploaded by wooac.

I was out testing a Canon 100-400mm IS L Lens and spotted some surfers. This is just a crop from the full frame. It's been sharpened because at 400mm, this lens is a bit soft.

Like my previous attempts at shooting surfers, most of the time surfers paddle around on their boards and yak. About every fifth wave someone might ride one of these little ditties. But the other thing is how old some of these guys are. A lot of bald heads and hanging paunches.

The 100-400mm is definitely an outside only lens. It's just too slow and the push-pull zoom is very annoying. It's also big and heavy and white.

Easter Lily

Easter Lily, originally uploaded by wooac.

Easter Lily from Petals, A Flower Shop. Large, fairly simple flower.

Tulip

Tulip, originally uploaded by wooac.

Planted a bag of Costco tulips and only a half dozen came up. This is one of them. Seems strange for a tulip.

Mission Gift Shop

Mission Gift Shop, originally uploaded by wooac.

The Mission Gift Shop had some really strange wooden carvings for sale and they weren't cheap. These aren't your usual Made in China knock-offs. I wonder why the Chinese haven't made it into this market yet.

Staircase - Old Chapel

Staircase - Old Chapel, originally uploaded by wooac.

Looking up from one of the stairs to the circular staircase in the Old Chapel at Mission Dolores. The ceiling was painted this way by the original Indians in the 1700's. Of course it has been restored a few times.

According to the Docent, the priests would use this rough wood staircase to ascend to a small balcony and watch the congregation below. Early big brother, except by the Jesuit Brothers.

California Poppy

California Poppy, originally uploaded by wooac.

Unless you look very closely on a California Poppy, you might not notice the ridges on the petals. The ridges are the reason the water droplets are arranged in neat rows. The distribution of droplet sizes is a little more difficult to understand. One expects the less vertical surfaces to hold larger droplets but it also appears that the edges of the petals can hold larger droplets than the interior. Perhaps the ridges are more pronounced at the edges.

poppy blossom emerging from case

poppy, originally uploaded by wooac.

This is a traditional poppy, unlike the California poppies which are also blooming now. This flower case is incredibly hairy and hydrophilic. My guess is that sprinkler ran earlier in the morning because there wasn't that much fog last night. The water caught in the case magnifies the petals inside.