Juniper Lake

Not wanting to give in to the end of camping season just yet, my wife and I decided to get away for Labor Day weekend and try someplace new. We had always wanted to check out Lassen National Park, and recently we read about a beautiful pristine lake there called Juniper Lake. What a magnificent place it was.

Artist Reception

My whole family and I made it down to the Urban Hive for the Vox Artist Reception night of the Second Saturday show that is going on tomorrow. A ton of great work up there. Didn't get a chance to talk to many people. Was too busy taking it all in and chasing my son around keeping him happy and out of trouble.

My First Art Show

VOX Sept flyer
Originally uploaded by jillallyn

So this weekend I'll be showing some of my photographs at the Vox Second Saturday Art Show. Every second Saturday in Sacramento there is a big art walk going on, so the people at Vox put together different showings with local artists. This month they are featuring local photographers that are part of the Sacramento Photographers group on Flickr. So it's not really like I was singled out for my talents or anything, but all the same I'm really excited to be a part of it.

Fun in the Tub

Had a little fun with bathtime the other day with Andrew, and pulled out my Westcott Apollo softbox. That thing really puts out a great light. It doesn't take much either. I think I had the Strobe set to 1/16th power (maybe it was 1/8th, I don't remember). That power is perfect for shooting portraits at F/2.8 or so. Nice shallow DOF, clean crisp focus, nice soft yet directional light, and recycle time is nonexistent.

More Paddling

Jennifer and I spent some more time paddling the backwaters and creeks of Lake Natoma. It was such a beautiful evening. Between the soft light of late day, and the rhythmic sounds of our paddles cutting through the water, our trip was so peaceful.

Learning to Swim

As you get older, you start to take for granted all the things you've learned in your lifetime. When you have kids you gain a whole new perspective on what it's like to learn these things when you're young. Watching my daughter Megan learn how to swim has been one of those experiences, and I can't explain how proud I am of her watching from the side lines (pool side in this case).

Paddling Lake Natoma

We've been spending a lot of time at nearby lake Natoma, paddling around in our new canoe. It's a great spot to paddle, and is only 25 minutes or so away from us(no freeway needed). Natoma is basically a flow control reservoir in-between Lake Folsom and the American river that flows into Sacramento. Since the water comes from the bottom of Folsom it is always cold (which the trout love), and since it is used to make the flow into the American fairly constant the water level stays pretty much the same year round. It's a particularly good lake for canoes and kayaks as motorboats are restricted to 5mph on the entire lake (and hence, you almost never see any of them).

Mount Shasta and Lake Siskiyou Wrap Up

There's something spiritual about spending time in the presence of a sleeping volcano. Shasta dominates the horizon at Lake Siskiyou; you simply can't help but stare at it in awe. Covered in snow even in the middle of summer, Shasta boasts the only known growing glacier system in the continental US. These seven glaciers help feed one of the purest water sources around (see my posts on some of the local waterfalls). The whole area just seems to resonate an energy that revives the soul.

Middle McCloud Falls

Sunday of our trip to Lake Siskiyou had us exploring the McCloud river and stopping in to see the Upper and Middle Falls. The Middle falls were particularly breathtaking and had some nice swimming areas around (which the kids took advantage of).

Kids Fishing Day at the Hatchery

On the Saturday morning of our trip to Lake Siskiyou, we took the kids to the Mount Shasta State Fish Hatchery. Three days each summer the hatchery allows kids to fish the holding ponds and catch two rainbow trout each. They supply the bait (worms) and have loaner fishing poles and tackle if needed (we brought our own). The best thing, the whole event is free!