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Our Mission: To showcase California through photography

Cheshire Cat Photo is a small business aimed at bringing a grin to editors who need stock photos of California and to everyone who has visited or dreamed of visiting destinations in the "Golden State".

California, with its promises of new opportunities and new beginnings, has attracted people since before the Gold Rush days. The natural beauty of California, from the Sierra to the Pacific, has been a central part of that attraction. California's businesses, from agricultural to high-tech, and California's rich multicultural history, have added to the draw.

At Cheshire Cat Photo, we focus on California - its natural beauty, rich history, travel destinations, cities, businesses, and outdoor recreation. Stock and Fine Art digital photos - of California destinations, businesses, cities, and people - continue to tell stories of the unique California Wonderland.

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News

08/29/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting on nearby Vallecitos Road.

08/28/2010: The NEW Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on Zazzle, less than a week old, is ALREADY experiencing sales! (Thank you!) Look for NEW designs within the next 24 hours, one product set featuring a new photo of Ravenswood in Livermore, CA and products featuring 4 images (2 each) of 2 of your FAVORITE Northern and Central California beaches (by blog entry "hits") - Manresa State Beach near Watsonville and Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur!

08/25/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with McWay Falls at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park in Big Sur.

08/22/2010: The Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store has MOVED to Zazzle, after 3 years on CafePress®! Zazzle has "BAZILLIONS" of products :-) most of which ship in 24 hours! Come see our new designs and the new product choices. If you don't see what you want, there are MORE products that you can access by clicking more "deeply." Watch for more photo choices and product choices soon!

08/22/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with downtown Livermore during the springtime Livermore Wine Country Festival, with the Bankhead Theater (1) in the background.

08/20/2010: While you (local folks) are planning your September (OK, remember that you have September 5 & 6 booked for the 28th Annual Harvest Wine Celebration), :-) you may want to consider booking the 18th for Art in Carnegie Park in Livermore. Stealing "liberally" from the Livermore Art Association (LAA) Press Release, and incorporating "pared down" Web-safe versions of the three photos supplied by the LAA publicity chair, I present the invitation below, for your consideration (of COURSE Cheshire Cat Photo will be there - we would not miss THIS kind of fun!):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2010

"Art in Carnegie Park" offers fun for the whole family

Saturday September 18th, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Livermore, CA -"Art in Carnegie Park" on Saturday September 18th, is a fun summer event the whole family can enjoy. Local artists will fill Carnegie Park in downtown Livermore with arts and crafts for sale, and provide art demonstrations. Shoppers can purchase art directly from the artists. There will also be live music, local wines and delicious food. Le Tableau Magnifique Ballet company will also perform on stage in the park. Activities for kids include face painting. Visitors can also browse LAA's art gallery, located right in the park in the historic Carnegie building. The art gallery is a co-op run by the artists themselves. Carnegie Park is at 3rd & K street in downtown Livermore. Open 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. Free to the public. For more information call 925-449-9927.

08/19/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with the Monterey Bay Area Research Institute's (MBARI's) Research Vessel, the Point Lobos, moored in Moss Landing, California.

08/16/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting at Mission San José in Fremont, CA. The Wikipedia entry has the extensive history of the mission.

08/12/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting at New Brighton State Beach in March!

08/10/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting at Moonstone Beach in Cambria, California.

08/06/2010: I added photographs of the exhibition, "Images of the American West," by Walter Davies and William Hackett at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore, CA. The exhibition runs through August 31 and can be viewed during regularly scheduled events.

08/06/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with the California Aqueduct and Altamont windmills, at sunset.

08/04/2010: I updated the table on the "Featured Prints" page, adding a column with links to the current location of a particular print and adding prints that are currently on display at the Bankhead Theater and the Livermore Art Association Gallery. All prints are for sale.

08/03/2010: Cheshire Cat Photo will be at Garré Vineyard and Winery (1) on Tesla Road during the 2010 Harvest Wine Celebration, Sept. 5 & 6!

08/03/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting at Seacliff State Beach, with the Palo Alto (a ship made out of concrete, no foolin') deteriorating at the end of the pier. The beach is adjacent to (just north of) Rio Del Mar.

08/02/2010: I updated "What our customers and visitors are saying..." after some really nice comments from a couple for whom I did a photo restoration.

07/29/2010: Cheshire Cat Photo will be at the Livermore Art Crawl, this Friday July 30, in the foyer of Main Street Designs from 6-9 PM.

07/29/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite, at around 8,619 feet (2627 m) of elevation, in October (an "iffy" time to visit, because the gas station was closed and snow closes the Tioga Road [Highway 120].)

07/27/2010: Cheshire Cat Photo will be at the Livermore Art Crawl, this Friday July 30, in the foyer of Main Street Designs from 6-9 PM.

07/25/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with a view of Upper Yosemite Fall from Sentinel Beach in April.

07/23/2010: Visit the Cheshire Cat Photo booth (#22) at Art Under the Oaks at Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore, Tomorrow and Sunday, July 24 and 25!

07/22/2010: Cheshire Cat Photo will be at Art Under the Oaks at Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore, THIS Saturday and Sunday, July 24 and 25! See you local folks there!

Cheshire Cat Photo at Art Under the Oaks 2009 - Photo by L. Rigge

07/20/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting at Yosemite Valley Chapel in the evening, with Sentinel Rock in the background.

07/19/2010: I used some of the 91 photographs below to illustrate the blog entry"Yosemite Valley During National Parks Week" during which trip they were taken. I also added links to other blogs about features of Yosemite.

07/18/2010: I uploaded 91 photographs taken during a trip to Yosemite Valley this spring, to the Yosemite, Outdoor Recreation, Other Places, and Wildlife albums of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly®. Links to low-resolution images of ALL photographs are in the Stock Photo Table.

07/15/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with a "Wipe Out" (1) at Steamer Lane!

07/12/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting at the Point Bonita Lighthouse, on the north side of the Golden Gate.

07/08/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting on a bluff overlooking part of Manresa State Beach, in March!

07/07/2010: Walter Davies and I worked with staff at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore, CA, to put up our photographic exhibition, "Images of the American West," which runs through August 31. Special thanks go to Linda Ryan for facilitating the process and for her artistic "eye" in arranging the exhibit.

07/06/2010: The Press Release for my upcoming show with Walter Davies at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore is below (Thanks, Christine!):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 3, 2010

"Images of the American West" collection at Bankhead Theater, Livermore

Livermore, CA - On Thursday, July 8, The Bankhead Theater will host an exhibition of 29 photographic "Images of the American West" by local Livermore photographers Walter Davies and William Hackett. The prints are in color, black-and-white, silver, sepia and platinum/palladium. The complementary styles of the two photographers reflect upon their common love of the American West. Says Davies: "I am intrigued by the beauty and mystery of light and its effect on the world around us. The dance and play of light and shadow, the balance of light and dark, the music within color, the contrast of hard versus soft, and the tensions between all of these, make up the elements of an artistic journey that I undertake through the eye of a camera. That journey of exploration is incomplete however, until experienced through the eyes of a viewer. Please join us and share our vision, while viewing these images of the Western Landscape."

The exposition will continue until August 31. Most artworks are for sale. The event will be open during the Bankhead Theater's regularly scheduled events. The Bankhead Theater is located at 2400 1st Street, Livermore, CA 94550.

07/04/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting in San Francisco National Cemetery, at a monument with a plaque inscribed with Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, which ends: "It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." To Americans everywhere: Happy Independence Day!

06/27/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting on the edge of Devil's Cauldron at Point Lobos State Reserve, which was named after Punto de los Lobos Marinos (Point of the Sea Wolves), now called Sea Lions' Point, visible just beyond Devil's Cauldron.

06/27/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with the Point Piños Lighthouse in Pacific Grove, California.

06/23/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with Morro Rock, a volcanic plug located just offshore from the resort city of Morro Bay, California.

06/22/2010: Yesterday, along with other Livermore Art Association (LAA) members, I helped to build a "mini-gallery" in an unoccupied store near the Bankhead Theater and opposite Livermore's parking structure (Isn't it amazing that there can be a city of 83,800 with ONE parking structure? :-) ) to promote both the LAA and the upcoming "Art Under the Oaks" show at Alden Lane Nursery, on July 24 and 25. Thanks, Livermore Downtown, for the opportunity! My prize-winning photograph, "Dana Meadows, Yosemite," is part of the display.

06/20/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with the reconstructed schoolhouse, in the old Gold Rush town of Graniteville, California.

06/18/2010: Livermore photographers Walter Davies and William Hackett will present their photographic exhibition, "Images of the American West," at the Bankhead Theater in Livermore, CA, July 8 through August.

06/16/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with walking on sand dunes at the little-known, little-visited, and FREE Zmudowski State Beach.

06/16/2010: To help beachgoers in May of 2009, I published a blog entry called "Back to the Beach," listing links to all of my blog entries that have "beach" in the title. It's that time of the year again, so California beachgoers, check it out! The only entry since May 2009 with "beach" in the title is this one about beach water quality nationwide in the U.S. from July 2009. Call ahead and do research to make sure that nothing has changed (e.g. oil spill disasters in the Gulf of Mexico) since then, and don't bypass the beautiful American South, since, as President Obama pointed out, many beaches and resort areas are currently unaffected by the spill, and the local economies need your visits.

06/13/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with "Ninja combat" at the Relay for Life (1) in Tracy, California.

06/09/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting at a stone bridge over Yosemite Creek BELOW Yosemite Falls, in April.

06/08/2010: My fine art print, "Waterlilies, White, Mission Santa Barbara"won the "Best of Show" award in the "Bank on It" Show at the US Bank in Downtown Livermore, California.

06/06/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with fishing, between Sea Cliff and a sundog, in the mists of Baker Beach, San Francisco.

06/05/2010: The Livermore Art Association Publicity Chair, C. McCall, provided me with a photo of visitors to the Cheshire Cat Photo booth at Art in the Vineyard on May 30. Thank you!

06/03/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting on a trail to the Lily Pond, in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, which passes by bamboo and through giant tree ferns!

05/31/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting in San Francisco National Cemetery, on the Presidio.

05/26/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with a view of Tenaya Lake from near Olmsted Point in Yosemite National Park.

05/25/2010: Local to the Livermore area? Cheshire Cat Photo will be at ABC Music Source & Academy during the Art Crawl this Friday evening, May 28!

05/22/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with a view from Fort Funston in San Francisco.

05/18/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with a view of the Marin Headlands (1) from the Point Bonita Light.

05/15/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting on South Flynn Road, in Livermore, at sunset.

05/13/2010: Local to the Livermore area? Cheshire Cat Photo will be at "Art in the Vineyard" at Wente Vineyard on May 30! "Stealing" liberally from the Livermore Art Association's press release (Thanks, Christine!):

"Art in the Vineyard" 2010, Sunday May 30, 11:00-5:00 at Wente Vineyards.
Presented by the Livermore Art Association and Wente Vineyards

For information contact: Edmee Acuna Keele, Art in the Vineyard Chairperson, ekeele@sbcglobal.net
For Immediate Release

On Sunday, May 30, Livermore Art Association and Wente Vineyards will hold the 38th annual 'Art in the Vineyard', which has become a tradition in the Livermore Valley. From 11:00-5:00, soak up the beautiful setting of Wente Vineyards Estate Winery while enjoying inspiring artwork from 36 of the area's most talented artists. Live music will be performed by 'Vested Interest', and art demonstrations will be held throughout the day. Please join us for a day of beautiful art, music and fine wines. Admission is free. Wente Vineyards Estate Winery is located at 5565 Tesla Road, Livermore, CA 94550. A $15.00 Wine tasting fee includes a commemorative wine glass ($10.00 for Club Wente members). Wine tasting begins at 11.00 am. Food and refreshment will be offered by Wente Vineyards and Strizzi’s Restaurant for a nominal fee.

Directions: East on I-580 to Livermore, Exit on Livermore Ave. South, to Tesla Road to Wente Vineyards.

05/13/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with the historic Plaza Hotel in San Juan Bautista.

05/09/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with Ribbon Fall in Yosemite Valley, which is the tallest (1612 feet; 491 m) single-drop waterfall on the entire North American Continent! Ribbon Fall receives its water from melting snow and is DRY much of the year - so catch it in the spring!

05/08/2010: To assist visitors who are using mobile devices that do not support Adobe's Flash® (e.g., Apple iPhone and iPad), I have placed a link on the Home Page that allows the LOW-RESOLUTION (for reasons of both display and copyright) slides in PDF format to be displayed with the PDF viewer of your choice. Such viewers may allow display of slideshows and/or individual slides. The option has not been optimized, so send any technical suggestions to: info@cheshirecatphoto.com Please remember that the images in slides ARE low-resolution and that the highest quality images are used for Cheshire Cat Photo™ prints.

05/05/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with Mission La Purísima Concepción de María Santísima near Lompoc, California.

05/01/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with El Capitan in January.

04/28/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting in the garden of Mission Santa Inés in Solvang, California.

04/25/2010: I just wanted to thank the large number of visitors from Ontario, Canada! Hopefully, the traffic reflects real users and not just some centralized "data sifting" in Toronto. :-) Come and visit California anytime!

04/25/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, starting with redwood tree rings at Muir Woods (1, 2).

04/24/2010: I took lots and lots of photos in Yosemite Valley (even some for other people!), which is already starting to bustle with visitors. I will post them as soon as they are processed. Here is a photoblog entry from last year's April trip to the Valley.

04/23/2010: SF Bay Area Business Professionals: Are you dissatisfied with business portraits, business card photos, and ID photos from the usual sources? Contact Cheshire Cat Photo at 925-606-0812 for custom photographs that project your image and style (see client sample). Sittings can be arranged at your home or office, to accommodate your schedule.

04/22/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page, with a view of Bridalveil Fall, in Yosemite Valley in April. Happy Earth Day, everyone! Admission to U.S. National Parks is FREE through Sunday, April 25.

04/18/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/15/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/11/2010: A Milestone - Although site ranking statistics go up and down all of the time, Cheshire Cat Photo, for the first time, "cracked" the 1 million mark worldwide and the 100,000 mark in the United States on Alexa today, with a worldwide traffic ranking of 982,207 and a U.S. ranking of 98,164. Thank you, all of you visitors! I also added Alexa widgets to this page and the blog page, if you would like to review the Cheshire Cat Photo site.

04/10/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/07/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/03/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/30/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/26/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page. with some images that are in the Spring Art Show or the Sales Room at The Barn in Livermore this weekend! The show is from 10 AM - 4 PM Satuday and Sunday and FREE to the public! There is also a Reception that is open to the public on Saturday evening from 7 to 9 PM. See our Blog for more information.

Cheshire Cat Photo will be at the Sanctuary Salon and Spa in Livermore on 2nd Street, during the Art and Wine Crawl tonight!

03/21/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/18/2010: Today, I learned about another group of schoolkids who are studying California Missions, so I decided to re-post an earlier item from below. I also gave the kids a link to my site. Teachers and schoolchildren are welcome to use my low-resolution images of the Missions for non-profit use in education! To facilitate the use of Mission photos, I have placed ALL of the low-resolution Mission images HERE, in the California Missions section of the Portfolio. Here is an index to all of my photoblog entries on the California Missions, as an aid to schoolkids and others.

03/17/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/13/2010: I uploaded 33 images from those taken over the winter months, into the albums: San Francisco, California Coast, Outdoor Recreation, Viticulture and Wine, and Wildlife in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly. Low-resolution images are linked from the Stock Photo Table. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page with a handful of the new images.

03/10/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/07/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/02/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/28/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/25/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/24/2010: I made changes to the Blog to facilitate loading and display with several mobile platforms. If you access the blog with a Android, iPhone, etc., please take a look and send me an email to let me know what you think!

02/22/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/18/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/17/2010: On March 2, 2010, three days before the "Alice in Wonderland" movie release, “Disney Alice in Wonderland: The Video Game” launches for Nintendo Wii and DS! Some nice folks at Disney Interactive Studios (headquartered in Glendale, CA), namely Maral Kaloustian (Manager, Public Relations) and Dianne I. Baker (Public Relations Coordinator), sent us links to screenshots and trailers for both versions (Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS) of the game. They also told us to “Feel free to post them and share with friends!" Please NOTE: Some of the images (and of course, the trailers) are VERY LARGE FILES and will take awhile to load, depending upon your connection speed.

02/13/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/10/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/07/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/03/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/30/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/27/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/26/2010: Featured Prints are now available directly from Cheshire Cat Photo! These signed, numbered, matted, and framed prints can be purchased by contacting Cheshire Cat Photo directly by email (info@cheshirecatphoto.com) or phone (925-606-0812) to arrange payment and shipping.

01/26/2010: Become a Facebook Fan of Cheshire Cat Photo! I added a Facebook Fan Box widget to the TOP and BOTTOM of the middle column of the Cheshire Cat Photo Blog page.

01/23/2010: I added some photos of "Tina" to the CAts (California Cats) section of the Portfolio. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/20/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/16/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/13/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/09/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/06/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/03/2010: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/30/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/27/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/22/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/19/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/16/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/14/2009: Here is an index to all of my photoblog entries on the California Missions, as an aid to schoolkids and others.

12/12/2009: I uploaded 29 photos of Tina, a beautiful black cat (no, she's not mine) into the CAts (California Cats) section of the Stock Photo Table. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/11/2009: It looks like people are looking at photos of the California Missions, lately. Teachers and schoolchildren are welcome to use my low-resolution images of the Missions for non-profit use in education! To facilitate the use of Mission photos, I have placed ALL of the low-resolution Mission images HERE, in the California Missions section of the Portfolio.

12/09/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/05/2009: I met a lot of very nice people at the Garré Winery Grand Pavilion today during Holidays in the Vineyards. I'm looking forward to tomorrow! I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/02/2009: Join Cheshire Cat Photo™ and other vendors at the Garré Winery Grand Pavilion (HUGE white tent) at 7986 Tesla Road, Livermore, CA for Holidays in the Vineyards, Saturday and Sunday, December 5 and 6, from noon to 5 PM both days. Bring your holiday cheer (wines are already here)! Bring your holiday cheer (wines are already here)! I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/28/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/27/2009: I participated in the "First Ever Art & Wine Crawl" in Downtown Livermore! I met a lot of folks at The Wild Vine who were looking at my prints. I also met the coordinator of the event and the owner of The Wild Vine. To round out a perfect evening, "The King" stopped by for a few minutes. :-) The "Crawl" will be a recurring event on the final Fridays of odd months! Yes, it only SEEMS like every month is an "odd" month in California! :-)

11/25/2009: I opened a Gallery (1) on redbubble® to offer a 4th place to shop! Right now, there are Prints (including Canvas) with framing options, Cards, and 2010 Calendars. It seems like a friendly place, so I see the opportunity for expansion there.

11/24/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/21/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/17/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/14/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/11/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/07/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/05/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/03/2009: I hung 23 Cheshire Cat Photo prints (some are in the front window) at The Wild Vine in downtown Livermore. The signed and numbered prints will be for sale through November 30. There will be a reception 7-8:30 PM on this Thursday, November 12.

11/01/2009: A total of 23 Cheshire Cat Photo signed, framed, and matted fine art prints will be on exhibit and (affordably priced) during November at The Wild Vine in downtown Livermore, starting November 4!

10/31/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/27/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/24/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/21/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/20/2009: I updated the Big Sur, California Missions, and Flowers sections of the Portfolio. I "stuffed" the California Missions section full of low-resolution images as a favor to California 4th Graders who study the Spanish Missions as part of California history. I have always encouraged the nonprofit use of my low-resolution images by teachers and schoolchildren in the educational system.

10/17/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/17/2009: I noticed that a group of schoolchildren was using one of my low-resolution images of the Marin Headlands to illustrate their project page for their upcoming Science School (wooooo hooooooo! I love science!). I have always allowed (and encouraged!) the nonprofit use of my low-resolution images (for example, in the Portfolio section and Stock Photo Table) in the educational system, in particular, the use of images of the California Missions by California 4th graders, who study California history. Many of these kids may not be able to visit the Missions in person.

In contrast, since even linking directly to images for their electronic use is a violation of copyright law (Why not link to my blog page instead, for example?), I have asked numerous bloggers (and real-estate folks and cities :-) ) to remove copyrighted images and linked copyrighted images of mine from their sites. If you (non-education folks) would like to use my images electronically, please contact us at info@cheshirecatphoto.com.

Kids, I hope that you enjoy your trip to the Marin Headlands . There is a lot to see! (It looks like the kids are also going to Muir Woods National Monument!) I am glad that you liked my image. Enjoy!

10/14/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/11/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/09/2009: Cheshire Cat Photo will be at ArtWalk 2009 tomorrow, October 10, near the flagpole in central downtown Livermore!

10/07/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/04/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/29/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/28/2009: I placed a few of our most popular images into a NEW Gallery on imagekind®! Imagekind allows customers to choose type of paper, canvas, matting, framing and glazing options for prints. Come visit the new Gallery and be a Fan!

09/27/2009: I placed three different O-V-E-R-S-I-Z-E-D Calendars (choose from California Coast, Yosemite, or California Missions), each with 13 (cover + 12 months) 11x17-inch prints, along with the California 2010 Calendar Prints, (choose from 39 of them!) which combine one 8.5x11-inch print of California with a whole-year-at-a-glance 2010 calendar, in the new section, "California Calendars," of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. California 2010 calendars are some of the most affordable ways to own a collection of Cheshire Cat Photo™ prints, and they make great gifts for the holidays! Order yours today!

09/26/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/22/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/21/2009: The Livermore Art Association (LAA) had an annual joint meeting, potluck, and social with the Pleasanton Art League (PAL). Thanks folks.

09/20/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/15/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/13/2009: I placed 39 California 2010 Calendar Prints, which combine an 8.5-inch tall by 11-inch wide print of California with a whole-year-at-a-glance 2010 calendar, into a brand new section, "California Calendars," of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®.

09/12/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/08/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/05/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/02/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/29/2009: Cheshire Cat Photo™ will be at the Garré Winery on Tesla Road in Livermore, during the Harvest Wine Celebration on Labor Day Weekend (Sunday and Monday) September 6 and 7! I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/25/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/19/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page and used photos from the Santa Barbara trip whenever possible.

08/16/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page and used photos from the Santa Barbara trip whenever possible.

08/15/2009: I uploaded 150 high-resolution photographs from the July trip to Santa Barbara, Solvang, and Big Sur to the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfy™. They are located in the Outdoor Recreation, California Coast, California Missions, Flowers, Big Sur, and Other Places albums. Enjoy.

08/14/2009: I uploaded 150 low-resolution images (out of MANY more taken :-) ) from our July trip to Santa Barbara to the Stock Photo Table. I will upload high-resolution photographs to the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™ soon and use links to the low-resolution images to illustrate some upcoming blog entries.

08/12/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/09/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/05/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/02/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/30/2009: This Saturday, August 1, is "Art in the Carnegie Park" at 3rd Street and K Street in Livermore, CA. Cheshire Cat Photo™ will be there! These signed, numbered, matted, and framed fine art prints will be for sale (run slideshow) as well as these two LARGE Prints on Wrapped Canvas. We will also have matted prints that are unsigned, note cards, new coasters decorated with California photos, and an album of some representative photos for future orders. Art in the Carnegie Park will feature works by local artists, food, wine, art demonstrations, and LIVE MUSIC by Jeff Reed and Friends.

07/28/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/25/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/21/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/18/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/17/2009: We took a trip to Santa Barbara on July 15 and 16. I shot Mission Santa Barbara and spent the evening on Stearns Wharf (photographing a sailing regatta and evening scenes) and around Cabrillo Boulevard (incuding a few shots at the Andrée Clark Bird Refuge from the parking lot at East Palos Way). I wrote a blog entry about the day, with a focus on dinner! :-) We returned to Livermore on the 16th, stopping in Solvang to shoot Mission Santa Inés, and departing from Highway 101 in San Luis Obispo, to pass through Morro Bay, Cayucos, Cambria, San Simeon, Big Sur, Carmel-by-the-Sea, and Monterey. Fog was "playing tag" with the coast, in a typical "summer pattern" of morning fog burning off to the coast, with high inland temperatures, blue skies inland, and cool temperatures, marine layer, and fog by the ocean. I wrote about the trip home in this blog entry. Look for future blog entries and photos from the trip!

07/12/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/09/2009: Local to Livermore? These fine art prints and these LARGE fine art prints on canvas will be in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ booth at the 23rd annual Art Under the Oaks art show at Alden Lane Nursery, 981 Alden Lane, at Holmes, in Livermore, CA THIS WEEKEND, July 11 and 12, from 11 AM to 4 PM. In addition, there will be note cards, coasters, and unframed, matted prints. We will be taking special orders as well. See you there!

07/08/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/05/2009: I uploaded this example of recent work performed for a local artist. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/30/2009: This fine art print is in the "Our Best Shots" photography show (July 1 - July 31, 2009) at the Livermore Library, 1188 S. Livermore Ave. Livermore, CA 94550. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/27/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/23/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/20/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/16/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/13/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/09/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/06/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/03/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page. I added information about the June Art Show at US Bank in Livermore.

05/30/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/27/2009: Yesterday, I hung these 12 signed and numbered fine art photographic prints at Windermere Welcome Home, 1790 First Street, Livermore, CA, alongside the works of four other local photographers. The show will continue from May 27 through July. There will be a reception on June 4 from 5 - 7 PM. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/26/2009: I uploaded 49 photos from the April day trip to Yosemite Valley; all but two (lupine photos that went to the Flowers album) went to the Yosemite album at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. I also updated the photoblog entry about the trip with additional photos and links (I left the old ones, too, so that you could compare Aprils of different years). Enjoy!

05/23/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/20/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/16/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/14/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/09/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/06/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/02/2009: I'll be at the Livermore Wine Country Festival with other LAA artists this weekend, May 2 and 3 on South Livermore Ave. near 1st St., by Peet's Coffee in Booth #L12. It's a little less space than what we were expecting, but we'll adapt! I hope to see some of you there! I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/29/2009: Local to Livermore? I'll be at the Livermore Wine Country Festival with other LAA artists this weekend, May 2 and 3 on South Livermore Ave. near 1st St., by Peet's Coffee and the fountains downtown! I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/26/2009:I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/23/2009:I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/19/2009:I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/16/2009: I took a "day trip" to Yosemite Valley! Depending upon the elevation, it was either VERY early spring, early spring, or spring in full bloom! If you have the chance to visit Yosemite Valley within the next week, take Highway 140 along the Merced River to get there (if your vehicle is <45 feet long; more about that later). Redbuds and lupins and other flowers are in bloom along the Merced, and the hills are that light yellow-green of new vegetation in spring. As for the Valley, tourists are plentiful, but it is not that craziness that you will experience in summer. Of course, water is abundant and everywhere! Blog entries about the trip are here and here!

04/15/2009: I updated the California Coast, CAts, Flowers, Other Places, San Francisco, and Wildlife sections of the Portfolio. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/11/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/07/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/04-05/2009: I Co-Chaired the Livermore Art Association's Spring Art Show at "The Barn" in Livermore, CA.

03/29/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/26/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/22/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/19/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/15/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/12/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/08/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/05/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/01/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/27/2009: I displayed the "California: Mountains to the Sea" series of 17 signed and numbered photographic prints in Café Garré, with those nice folks at the Garré Winery in Livermore, CA. The work will be displayed through April. I also created dual slideshows of 17 low-resolution slides that correspond to the prints at Garré. In addition, I created another page for low-resolution images of prints currently on the Livermore Art Association (LAA) Circuit of Livermore businesses.

02/26/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/22/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/19/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/15/2009: I uploaded 15 photos of CAts (California cats) to the Stock Photo Table and uploaded most of these to the CAts album of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/12/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/08/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/05/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/01/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/29/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/28/2009: Local to Livermore? These 11"x14" (1, 2, 3) and 16"x20" (1, 2) prints (available for purchase) are in Livermore businesses! Now, they are at China Pavilion. Soon, many other prints will be in Café Garré, at the Winery, in March and April.

01/25/2009: I uploaded 23 photos (taken last weekend) in Rio del Mar and Pacific Grove to the Stock Photo Table and to the California Coast album of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. I linked photos to the blog entry about Rio del Mar. The Pacific Grove photos include a number of the Point Piños Lighthouse, which I will write about in a future blog entry. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/24/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/22/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/18/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/15/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/11/2009: I uploaded 29 photos of Muir Woods and Muir Beach to the Stock Photo Table. I also added these to the Other Places and California Coast albums, respectively, in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/08/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/04/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/01/2009: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/28/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/25/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/22/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/21/2008: I uploaded 21 photos of the Golden Gate and Lands End, the ruins of the Sutro Baths, sea lions at the Santa Cruz Wharf, and Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz to the Stock Photo Table. I also added these to the California Coast, Wildlife, and San Francisco albums in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™.

12/18/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/15/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/11/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/08/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/05/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/02/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/30/2008: I uploaded 30 photos of the California Coast, from earlier in the month, to the Stock Photo Table. Most of these I also added to the California Coast album in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. The photos include shots of the Point Montara Lighthouse, the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (low tide on a "high surf" day!), and a few of Princeton-by-the-Sea. I also updated the blog entry about the Point Montara Lighthouse with a photo of the lighthouse, which first served on the East Coast before coming to California.

11/29/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/26/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/23/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/20/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/16/2008: I uploaded 73 photos from Fort Funston to the San Francisco, Outdoor Recreation (hang gliding and radio-controlled gliders), and Flowers albums on the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. I added photos to the blog entry for the Fort Funston shoot. I also updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/13/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/10/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/08/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/04/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/01/2008: SAVE on "wildlife-wear" for kids and infants! Prices have been slashed on most items in the "KidsAndToddlers" section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®, and NEW California sea otter items have been added! Now featuring: The 2009 Calendars! Choose from 18 calendars in 4 different styles in the Gifts for Everyone section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Order now for holiday gifts!

10/31/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/28/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/25/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/22/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/19/2008: I uploaded 104 photos from Moss Landing to the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly. The photos are mainly in the Wildlife and California Coast albums, with a few in the Outdoor Recreation album. I will add photos to the blog entry on Moss Landing and add some photos to the Portfolio over the next few days (done). I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/15/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/12/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/09/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/06/2008: I updated the Other Places and Outdoor Recreation sections of the Portfolio with some of the 76 photos from Del Valle Regional Park. I also linked some of the photos to the blog entry on the Del Valle photo shoot.

10/06/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/05/2008: I uploaded 76 photos from Del Valle Regional Park to the Other Places and Outdoor Recreation albums of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly. They are also accessible as low-resolution images from the Stock Photo Table. I will be adding the photos to the Portfolio and to the blog entry on Del Valle in the next few days.

10/03/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/30/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/27/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/25/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/22/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/21/2008: I added 6 more Calendar Prints to the 2009 Calendars! Choose from 18 calendars in 4 different styles in the Gifts for Everyone section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Order now for holiday gifts!

09/20/2008: I released the 2009 Calendars! Choose from 12 calendars in four different styles in the Gifts for Everyone section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Order now for holiday gifts!

09/19/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page. Happy "International Talk Like a Pirate Day!"

09/16/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/14/2008: I added a Twitter badge to the News, Twitter, and Blog page.

09/13/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/09/2008: I uploaded some shots of Zmudowski State Beach to the "California Coast" album (and one to "Flowers") of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. I also updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/07/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

09/03/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/31/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/27/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/25/2008: I introduced a new section to the Portfolio and Pro Gallery called "CAts" (California cats). I introduced it because I enjoy photographing cats, and because some folks come to this site expecting photos of cats! :-) I started out with a small sample of two kittens, who are named "Yin" and "Yang." I plan to "grow" the file of cat portraits along with the other sections. I also updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/22/2008:I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/19/2008:I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/16/2008:I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/13/2008: I uploaded 10 nontraditional landscapes of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve to the Digital PhotoArt section of the Portfolio. I also updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/10/2008: I uploaded 10 nontraditional landscapes of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve to the Digital PhotoArt album of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/06/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

08/03/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/31/2008: I uploaded 116 photos from hikes on the Estero Trail and Limantour Beach and Spit at Point Reyes National Seashore. I also added photos and links to my two previous blog entrys: Point Reyes: the Estero Trail and Spittin’ in the wind (Limantour Spit).

The photos have been place in the California Coast, Outdoor Recreation, Wildlife, and Flowers sections of the Portfolio on Cheshire Cat Photo™ and the same sections of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™.

I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/27/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/24/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/20/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/16/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page with Point Bonita photos.

07/15/2008: Photos (61) of the Point Bonita Lighthouse trip to the north side of the Golden Gate were placed in the Flowers, Wildlife, California Coast and Outdoor Recreation albums of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™ and in the corresponding sections of the Portfolio on Cheshire Cat Photo™. The photoblog entry about the Point Bonita lighthouse now also links to photos. All photos are accessible from the Stock Photo Table. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page earlier today.

07/11/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/08/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/05/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

07/02/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/28/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/25/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/21/2008: Photos of the Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve in the East Bay last Saturday are in the Flowers, Other Places, and Outdoor Recreation albums of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™ and in the corresponding sections of the Portfolio on Cheshire Cat Photo™. Two photoblog entries (1, 2) about Huckleberry also link to photos. Enjoy! I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/18/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/15/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/11/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/07/2008:10% Off Photographic Prints! All print sizes (5x7- up to 20x30-inch) in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™ have already been marked down 10% from now until 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time on June 30, 2008. What our customers are saying...

I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/04/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

06/01/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/31/2008: Give PhotoGifts to Dads and Grads! - Give apparel and other gifts decorated with our most popular photos of California from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress® or prints and gifts with the photo of YOUR choice from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™!

05/29/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/26/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/23/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/19/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/18/2008: I uploaded almost 100 high-resolution photos of the Mount Diablo shoot and the Livermore Wine Country Festival 2008. The Mount Diablo photos went to the Flowers, Other Places, and Outdoor Recreation albums of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. The Livermore Wine Country Festival 2008 photos went to the Other Places album. No photos were added to the Portfolio, since I will be renovating the entire Portfolio section soon. (Note: 06/18/2008: Done.) I also added some links to low-resolution photos to the original blog entries for the Mount Diablo Shoot and the Livermore Wine Country Festival 2008, and I added today's blog entry as a pointer.

The Cheshire Cat Photo mailing list was notified. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please email info@cheshirecatphoto.com.

05/18/2008: June 15 is Father's Day! - Why not buy the Outdoor Chef of the family a Barbecue Apron (or a right-handed or left-handed mug for those thirsty moments) decorated with a photo of California, at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®? How about ballcaps or T-shirts decorated with our some of our most popular photos of California? Or...give him a desk organizer, mug, or deck of playing cards decorated with the image of YOUR choice from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™!

05/16/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/13/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/12/2008: June 15 is Father's Day! - Why not buy the Outdoor Chef of the family a Barbecue Apron (or a right-handed or left-handed mug for those thirsty moments) decorated with a photo of California, at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®? How about ballcaps or T-shirts decorated with our some of our most popular photos of California?

05/10/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/07/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/06/2008: Mothers Day is this Sunday, May 11. Shop for gifts for Mom decorated with the photo of YOUR choice at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, or T-shirts, mugs, clocks, and other gifts (e.g., an eco-friendly reusable 100% cotton canvas Tote Bag) decorated with some of our most popular photos at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®.

California Note Cards - Choose Note Cards with the California photos of YOUR choice at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. Choose a box of 12 3.5 x 5-inch Note Cards with envelopes, in either glossy or matte finish, and decorated with a photo of your choice of Big Sur, the California Coast, California Missions, Flowers, Wildlife, Outdoor Recreation shots, Vineyards, San Francisco, Windmills, Yosemite, Digital PhotoArt, and Other beautiful California Places for only $14.95 (+ shipping and handling) for a box of 12 cards and envelopes. Send a card that says "California!"

05/04/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

05/02/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/28/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/26/2008: Mothers Day is May 11. Shop for gifts for Mom decorated with the photo of YOUR choice at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, or T-shirts, mugs, clocks, and other gifts (e.g., an eco-friendly reusable 100% cotton canvas Tote Bag) decorated with some of our most popular photos at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®.

California Note Cards - Choose Note Cards with the California photos of YOUR choice at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. Choose a box of 12 3.5 x 5-inch Note Cards with envelopes, in either glossy or matte finish, and decorated with a photo of your choice of Big Sur, the California Coast, California Missions, Flowers, Wildlife, Outdoor Recreation shots, Vineyards, San Francisco, Windmills, Yosemite, Digital PhotoArt, and Other beautiful California Places for only $14.95 (+ shipping and handling) for a box of 12 cards and envelopes. Send a card that says "California!"

04/25/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/22/2008: I uploaded photos of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve and used them to illustrate the blog entry here. The earlier blog entry gives information about the history, flora, and fauna of the region. Brushy Peak Regional Preserve photos are in the Other Places and Flowers sections. Some are accessible from the Pro Gallery and Portfolio, and all are accessible from the Stock Photo Table. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/18/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/17/2008: Mothers Day is May 11. Shop for gifts for Mom decorated with the photo of YOUR choice at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, or decorated with some of our most popular photos at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Why not get Mom an eco-friendly reusable 100% cotton canvas Tote Bag from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®? There are 12 styles from which to choose!

Teachers and Parents, help your students learn about the Spanish Missions in California with a Mission JigSaw Puzzle! Just 1) order the California Mission photos of YOUR choice at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™ and 2) have them delivered as 252-piece, 10x14-inch jigsaw puzzles! All of the other photos in the Pro Gallery can be delivered as jigsaw puzzles, too!

04/16/2008: I replaced a plugin that was preventing some legitimate users from registering for the blog with a plugin that works satisfactorily. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/12/2008: Celebrate Earth Day (April 22) all year 'round with an eco-friendly reusable 100% cotton canvas Tote Bag from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Tote Bags also make great beach bags and grocery bags. Now there are 12 styles to choose from in the Gifts for Everyone section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store!

Mothers Day is May 11. Shop for gifts for Mom decorated with the photo of YOUR choice at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, or decorated with some of our most popular photos at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/08/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

04/05/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/30/2008: Celebrate Earth Day (April 22) all year 'round with an eco-friendly reusable 100% cotton canvas Tote Bag from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. When they ask you,"Paper or plastic?" tell them, "Cheshire Cat Photo™ Tote Bag!" (Tote Bags also make great "beach bags." If you don't have a beach, come to California; we have *several*!) :-) Now there are 12 styles to choose from in the Gifts for Everyone section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store! I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/27/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/23/2008: The photos of Santa Cruz Area State Beaches and surfing at Steamer Lane are up on cheshirecatphoto.com. Almost 200 photos, including over 100 surfing shots, were placed in the California Coast, Flowers, and Outdoor Recreation albums in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. Lower-resolution versions of all photos of the coast and flowers, but only a sample of the surfing shots, were also placed in the Portfolio, in the Calfornia Coast, Flowers, and Outdoor Recreation sections, respectively. Enjoy! I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/19/2008: Save 10% off the regular price on Note Cards, only at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. Regularly $14.95, the box of 12 Note Cards with any image of your choice from the Pro Gallery (in matte or glossy finish) has been marked down to $13.46 from now through 9 PM U.S. Pacific Time, Sunday, March 30, 2008. I also updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/16/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/12/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/08/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

03/04/2008: I added photos to the headers of a number of blog entries, for California Missions in particular.

03/03/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/28/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/25/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/22/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/18/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/16/2008: I uploaded 32 photos taken last week. They include 3 photos of Livermore vineyards (in the Viticulture and Wine section of the Portfolio), rural shots of a ranch north of Livermore on Manning Road (in the Other Places section), and photographs of Altamont windmills and of an oil well in Livermore (in the Wind and Power section). As always, higher resolution versions of these photos can be seen in the corresponding albums of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. You can order prints of any photo in the entire Pro Gallery, and Pro Gallery merchandise decorated with any photo in the Gallery!

02/13/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/10/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/06/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

02/02/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/30/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/26/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page. All 2008 Calendars have been marked down 10% from their regular price, from now until they are no longer available after 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time on January 31, 2007. There are 12 unique Calendars of 3 different styles and prices. See them in the "Gifts for Everyone" section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Buy now and save!

01/23/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/20/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/19/2008: I updated the customer comments on the Shop / License page.

01/16/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page. All 2008 Calendars have been marked down 10% from their regular price, from now until they are no longer available after 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time on January 31, 2007. There are 12 unique Calendars of 3 different styles and prices. See them in the "Gifts for Everyone" section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Buy now and save!

01/12/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/07/2008: I uploaded 40 "existing-light" (almost always the case with me) photographs of Mission "Dolores" (Misión San Francisco de Asís; Mission Saint Francis of Assisi) and Mission Dolores Basilica to the Portfolio. The 30 of Mission Dolores (filenames begin with "Dolores...") are in the California Missions section and the 10 of the interior of Mission Dolores Basilica (filenames begin with "SFBasilica...") are in the San Francisco section. I retired some other photos from the San Francisco section to make room, but, as always, the retired photos are still viewable from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery and from the Stock Photo Table (which also contains links to additional photos that have never appeared in the Portfolio or Pro Gallery).

I left the white balance of interior photos "as shot" rather than correcting for tungsten light, since correction for tungsten left photos too "cool" (green in the case of the Mission :-) ). The additional illumination provided by stained-glass windows (yellows in the Mission; reds in the Basilica) on that very sunny day made the colors of the interiors "warm" and vibrant yellows/reds to the eye. I will be following up to my initial blog entry about the shoot.

I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

01/03/2008: All 2008 Calendars have been marked down 10% from their regular price, from now until they are no longer available after 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time on January 31, 2007. There are 12 unique Calendars of 3 different styles and prices. See them in the "Gifts for Everyone" section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Buy now and save!

01/03/2008: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/31/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/30/2007: I uploaded 14 Digital PhotoArt shots of the Golden Gate Bridge to the Digital PhotoArt section of the Portfolio. As always, the next-best way (after large-format prints) to see higher-resolution images of these is in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, in the Digital PhotoArt album. Read my philosophy with regard to Digital PhotoArt in the News for 06/20/2007 below.

12/28/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

The 2008 Calendars are IN! There are 12 unique Calendars of 3 different styles and prices. See them in the "Gifts for Everyone" section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®.

Save 10% off the regular price on Mugs and Tiled Mugs decorated with the image of your choice from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. Prices on Mugs and Tiled Mugs have already been marked down 10% from their regular price, now through Sunday, December 30, 2007 at 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time. Get a mug that "says YOU" for the new year!

Prices on all items in the Unisex Apparel section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress® have been reduced from now until December 30, 2007 at 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time. Wear a "piece of California."

12/25/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/22/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/19/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/18/2007: The 2008 Calendars are IN! There are 12 unique Calendars of 3 different styles and prices. See them in the "Gifts for Everyone" section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®.

Save 10% off the regular price on Mugs and Tiled Mugs decorated with the image of your choice from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. Prices on Mugs and Tiled Mugs have already been marked down 10% from their regular price, now through Sunday, December 30, 2007 at 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time. Get a mug that "says YOU" for the new year!

Prices on all items in the Unisex Apparel section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress® have been reduced from now until December 30, 2007 at 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time. Wear a "piece of California."

12/17/2007: I uploaded 15 Digital PhotoArt shots to the Digital PhotoArt section of the Portfolio. Most were of Yosemite locations, with a couple of Big Sur. As always, the next-best (after large-format prints :-) ) way to see higher-resolution images of these is in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, in the Digital PhotoArt album. Read my philosophy with regard to Digital PhotoArt in the News for 06/20/2007 below.

12/15/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/12/2007: I uploaded a dozen Digital PhotoArt shots of the Bixby Bridge in Big Sur to the Digital PhotoArt section of the Portfolio. As always, the next-best (after large-format prints :-) ) way to see higher-resolution images of these is in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, in the Digital PhotoArt album. The photos include some that resemble sketches done in charcoal, perfect for minimalist decor. I also updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/09/2007: All items in the "Her Apparel" and the "KidsAndToddlers" sections of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress® are ON SALE from now until 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time on December 16, 2007. Prices have already been marked down.

Prices on Photo Prints have been reduced 10% from now until 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time on December 16, 2007 at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. This will be the last sale on Prints in 2007! Order now for the holidays.

The 2008 Calendars are IN! There are 12 unique Calendars of 3 different styles and prices. See them in the "Gifts for Everyone" section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®.

I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/05/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/03/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

12/01/2007: Clocks, Bags, and Teddy Bears! Prices on Wall Clocks, Messenger Bags, Tote Bags, and Teddy Bears decorated with some of our most popular photos have been marked down 10% from now until 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time on December 9, 2007 at the Gifts for Everyone section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®.

Prices on Photo Prints have been reduced 10% from now until 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time on December 16, 2007 at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. This will be the last sale on Prints in 2007! Order now for the holidays.

The 2008 Calendars are IN! There are 12 unique Calendars of 3 different styles and prices. See them in the "Gifts for Everyone" section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®.

12/01/2007: I updated the slideshow (more verticals!) on the Home Page.

11/30/2007: I added 56 more photos of Big Sur from Saturday's shoot to the Big Sur section of the Portfolio, for easy access. Among them are various shots of Point Sur, the Bixby Bridge, small natural bridges, McWay Falls and McWay Cove, the mouth of the Little Sur River, a photo of the mountain Pico Blanca, and a number of shots of the coastline, As I mentioned in the blog entry for last Saturday, the air was extraordinarily clear, with almost no fog, and the sky was overcast with really beautiful clouds. As always, the best way to view higher resolution images is in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. Enjoy!

11/28/2007: I updated the slideshow (more verticals!) on the Home Page.

11/26/2007: I updated the slideshow (with verticals this time!) on the Home Page. I spent much of the day preparing and choosing the "keepers" from the Big Sur shoot (see the Blog entry for Saturday).

11/22/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/21/2007: Tonight I uploaded the 31 shots of Saturday’s trip to Fisk Mill Cove for abalone diving. Fisk Mill Cove is the site of a lumber mill that operated in the late 1800’s and has been incorporated into Salt Point State Park. After a successful dive, one member of our party required assistance up onto a rocky point in the cove, as the result of a strong rip current. Another member successfully navigated parallel to the shore and floated to shore a little south of the rocky point. The photos were placed into the California Coast and Outdoor Recreation sections of the Portfolio, and other photos were retired to make room. The retired photos are still accessible from the Pro Gallery and the Stock Photo Table.

11/19/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/18/2007: Holiday Sale! Save 10% off the regular price on Mugs and Tiled Mugs, only at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. Prices on Mugs and Tiled Mugs, decorated with the image of your choice from the Pro Gallery, have already been marked down 10% from their regular price, now through Sunday, November 25, 2007 at 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time. Take me there now.

Every item in the Unisex Apparel section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress® has also been reduced from now until November 25, 2007 at 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time.

11/15/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/11/2007: I added about 200 new photos and updated the slideshow on the Home Page. All selected photos from the Muir Beach Overlook were added to the Other Places section of the Portfolio. I also added many of the selected photos of San Francisco to the San Francisco section of the Portfolio, and many of the shots of folks surfing the Golden Gate to the Outdoor Recreation section of the Portfolio; the rest of these selected photos can be accessed from the Stock Photo Table. I retired a number of photos from the Portfolio to make room; the retired photos are still available for prints and photo gifts in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™ and are still accessible from the Stock Photo Table.

11/09/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/06/2007: Do you know a JigSaw Puzzle Enthusiast? Prices have already been marked down 10% from the regular price of JigSaw Puzzles made from the photo of your choice from the Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, from now until Sunday, November 11 at 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time. Do you know children studying the California Missions in school? Get them a JigSaw Puzzle of a California Mission photo! These 10" by 14" Jigsaw Puzzles have 252 pieces and are recommended for age 5 and older.

All items in the Kids and Toddlers section of The Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress® have also been marked down from now until Sunday, November 11 at 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time. Find T-shirts, infant bodysuits, hoodies, sweatshirts, and bibs decorated with some of our most popular photos!

11/05/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

11/04/2007: I added 73 photos of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park and of folks sailing the Golden Gate. Sixty of these were added to the Portfolio, in the San Francisco (Angler's Lodge, Spreckels Lake, Golden Gate and Bridge), Outdoor Recreation (soccer, sailing, flycasting), and the Wildlife (turtles at Spreckels Lake) sections. The rest are accessible from links in the Stock Photo Table. I retired some photos from the San Francisco and Outdoor Recreation sections of the Portfolio to make room, but the retired photos are still available in the Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, for viewing, prints, and photo gifts.

10/31/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/28/2007: SAVE all WEEK on PRINTS! All PRINTS (5" by 7" up through 20" by 30") have been MARKED DOWN 10% from their regular price in the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, from NOW until Sunday, November 4, 2007 at 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time! Own an unframed PRINT of any photo of your choice from the Pro Gallery.

10/25/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/22/2007: I added 32 photos of vines and vineyards in Livermore to the Viticulture and Wine section of the Portfolio. These photos were taken last week and capture some of the beautiful colors of the vineyards in autumn. I also updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/22/2007: Save 10% off the regular price on Note Cards, only at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. Regularly $14.95, the box of 12 Note Cards with any image of your choice from the Pro Gallery (in matte or glossy finish) has been marked down to $13.46 from now through 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time, Wednesday, October 24, 2007.

Save on Caps in the "Caps" section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Every Cap has ALSO been marked down until 10 PM October 24, 2007 U.S. Pacific Time.

10/19/2007: Weekend Sale! Everything in the Unisex Apparel section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress® has been marked down from now until 10 PM U.S. Pacific Time on this Sunday, October 21. 2007. Buy this weekend and SAVE!

10/19/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/16/2007: 48-Hour Sale! Save 10% off the regular price on Keepsake Boxes and Desk Organizers, only at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™. Regularly $29.95, Keepsake Boxes and Desk Organizers have been marked down to $26.96 from 10 AM October 16, 2007 through 10 AM October 18, 2007 (all times are U.S. Pacific Time). Hardwood Keepsake Boxes and Desk Organizers each have a photo tile decorated with the image of your choice from any of the albums in the Pro Gallery. Take me there now. Every item in the Her Apparel section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress® has ALSO been marked down during the 48-Hour Sale from 10 AM October 16, 2007 through 10 AM October 18, 2007 (all times are U.S. Pacific Time). Now is the time to buy!

10/15/2007: I retired some photos from the San Francisco section of the Portfolio. The retired photos are still accessible in the Pro Gallery and from the Stock Photo Table. I also updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/12/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/10/2007: Over 30 new photos from Sunday were added to the Wind and Power section of the Portfolio and one of these was added to the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/07/2007: Mugs and Tiled Mugs are on Sale only in the Pro Gallery, until October 14, 2007 at 7 PM Pacific Time. See the Shop / License page for details.

10/07/2007: I updated the slideshow on the Home Page.

10/02-06/2007: The 2008 Calendars are IN! There are 12 unique calendars of 3 different styles and prices. See them in the "Gifts for Everyone" section of the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®.

10/01/2007: The photos (more than 80) from the Tioga Road trip described in my blog entry of September 28 were added to the Portfolio. The Yosemite shots were added to the Yosemite section of the Portfolio, and the Mono Lake shots, as well as Tioga Road shots from outside of Yosemite, were added to the Other Places section. Some of the photos that were in these sections of the Portfolio were "retired" to make room, but they are still available on the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, and from the Stock Photo Table. I also updated the slideshow on the Home Page to feature three photos from the Tioga Road trip to Mono Lake.

09/26/2007: Today I updated the slide show on the Home Page and ripped out frames and "behaviors" that Firefox had trouble handling on the GuestBook and Blog pages. Now these applications launch in their own windows and do not have the same "look and feel" as the rest of the site, but the applications work with Firefox on both Windows and Mac.

09/22/2007: I launched a WordPress Blog with the categories: California, Photography, and Uncategorized comments. The link to the Blog is from this page, the News / Blog page. Please comment, and let me know how you like it.

09/20/2007: Last Saturday, I made a "scouting expedition" to the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, which is 90 miles north of Sacramento. Since then, I have had a couple of phone conversations with the helpful folks at the Refuge. I will be making another trip there, but more about that later....

Tuesday was a beautiful blue-sky day in San Francisco, with temperatures in the 60's (deg F). I avoided the three-tractor-trailer-truck pileup that shut down the San Mateo Bridge for 5 hours (visitors beware), and made my way over the Bay Bridge, winding my way through unknown (to me) parts of San Francisco, to Golden Gate Park (map).

I visited the Conservatory of Flowers and gardens (which had some wonderful poppies), spent time at the National AIDS Memorial Grove thinking of someone close to me who is afflicted with the disease, then took a lesser-used path through bamboo and tree ferns, to the Lily Pond. There, I was able to help a European visitor find his way to the Japanese Tea Garden and watch a number of turtles sunning themselves on a log in the pond. The tree ferns near the Lily Pond are spectacular, and I always feel transported to some prehistoric time when I look at them. Somehow, lilies manage to find their way to sunlight underneath the tree ferns at the northern end of the path. From the Lily Pond and tree ferns, I traveled to the M.H. de Young Museum. In photographing the DeYoung, I felt like the "10 blind men describing an elephant" - in that each man could describe only the portion that he could touch. The DeYoung Museum is so huge that a wide-angle lens is wide enough only from far away. Close by, the photographer is able to capture isolated views of the DeYoung, each of which gives an separate impression of the structure. I also photographed the California Academy of Sciences building and museum, which is under construction. I photographed the Music Concourse between the construction and the DeYoung, before moving on to the Japanese Tea Garden exterior.

Most of the 40+ photographs were placed in the San Francisco section of the Portfolio, with a few of turtles and poppies and lilies placed in the Wildlife and Flowers sections. Please note that I wll be retiring some photos from the San Francisco section and Outdoor Recreation section soon, but they will continue to be accessible (but not as conveniently) from the Stock Photo Table.

I also updated the slide show on the Home Page.

Enjoy the photos of Golden Gate Park, and please sign the new GuestBook. Thanks! If you like, stop by the Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™ or the newly expanded Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress® and browse our photo merchandise. Thank you for supporting Cheshire Cat Photo!

09/18/2007: I added a GuestBook, with additional links on the Home Page and the Portfolio index page.

09/14/2007: I updated the slide show on the Home Page and added some Digital PhotoArt.

09/06/2007: Firstly, I would like to thank the friendly folks of Graniteville, CA (map) (in and near the Tahoe National Forest) for their hospitality on Sunday to all of the visiting participants in the horseshoe tournament held in support of the restoration of the Graniteville schoolhouse. Those of you unfamiliar with "pitching horseshoes" can read about the history of the sport here.

Graniteville is a Gold Rush town that was established in 1850 as Eureka South and renamed to Graniteville in 1877. There are a few ways to Graniteville - the way we traveled, in a Jeep with 4-wheel drive, started at Highway 49 and rose 3000 feet in 25 miles, the last 11 of which were unpaved "washboard" dirt road, with some spectacular views. According to local residents, the condition of the road was better than usual, since less snowfall last winter resulted in less runoff and fewer deep ruts.

I have included photos of the horseshoe contest (along with photos of the winning team and the runners-up) in the Outdoor Recreation section of the Portfolio, along with some shots of folks on Quads (4-wheel-drive all-terrain vehicles [ATVs], which seem like a good mode of transportation for the forest roads). I included photos of the schoolhouse, homes in town, and views of Poorman Creek, in the Other Places section of the Portfolio. I also updated the slide show on the home page and included slides of Graniteville.

In the late afternoon, a sumptuous banquet was held on picnic tables and we feasted on roast beef, baked potatoes, beans, salads, and a number of types of dessert. I met the Webmaster for the Graniteville Web site, and you can read more about Graniteville online on her site.

09/01/2007: I added more products to the newly expanded Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Take me there now.

08/28/2007: The slide show on the Home page was updated.

08/26/2007: In response to popular demand, the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress® has E-X-P-A-N-D-E-D (and has also been Remodeled)! If you have not visited in awhile, come see our new choices in apparel for juniors, women, men, babies, toddlers, children, and even dogs! There is also a wide variety of gifts, including left-handed mugs for those "Lefties" in your life! In addition, there is NEW merchandise and merchandise decorated with NEW photos, as well as with some of the most-viewed photos on the site. Visit the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress® now!

08/21/2007: Saturday's exploration of Tilden Park in Berkeley yielded photos of a hike to the top of Wildcat Peak, shots of a magnificent Great Blue Heron at the edge of Jewel Lake, and photos of a portion of Wildcat Gorge. Most of these photos were placed in the Portfolio for easy viewing, replacing some shots in the Outdoor Recreation section. Other photos went into the Other Places, Wind and Power, and Wildlife sections.

The hike to Wildcat Peak started with a visit to the Tilden Environmental Education Center. From there, the trail passes beside Jewel Lake, through eucalyptus and then through California bay laurel. Laurel Creek runs nearby during the rainy season. From the stone overlook at the summit of Wildcat Peak, elevation 1250 feet, there is a 360-degree panoramic view, with views of all of San Pablo Reservoir, the edge of Briones Reservoir, and Mount Diablo to the east. To the north is San Pablo Bay. To the west are Mount Tamalpais, Angel Island, Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, the Bay Bridge, and downtown San Francisco.

After a warm hike to the summit of Wildcat Peak and back down, the cool evening breezes over Jewel Lake were very welcome. A Great Blue Heron, well camouflaged on a horizontal branch, cleaned its feathers unconcernedly, until two hikers, who were unaware of the bird's presence, moved within 20 feet. The heron made its large body compact and moved into the shadows. Then quite unexpectedly, the great bird soared low from its perch, escaping over the water to the south end of the lake, its large wings making a spectacular and graceful display.

Wildcat Gorge below the dam of Lake Anza was relatively dry in August - not so during the wet season. The cooler air and the magnificent ferns along rock walls made for a lush deep green end to the day.

Please remember that you can always see higher resolution images at our Pro Gallery on Shutterfly (http://www.cheshirecatphoto.com/pages/MainProGallery.html) by running a slideshow or looking at individual images in the album of your choice.

Also, enjoy the new slideshow on the home page.

08/16/2007: About 40 new shots from this week were added to the site. Most of these are in the Portfolio, Wind and Power section, although a couple were added to the Viticulture and Wine section. The slideshow was also updated. The seemingly ever-increasing numbers of windmills in the Altamont and the associated electrical substations and power lines are pretty spectacular, especially at sunset on a back road. The California Aqueduct also flows through this area. California is still very much about water - many areas would be deserts if not for the water transported from Sierra snow melt. The aqueduct system keeps population centers alive and provides water to grow food for much of the U.S. and for export.

08/11/2007: The slideshow and homepage photo were updated. The individual slide images are hyperlinks to the related sections of the Porfolio. Flash® Player 7 or later is required for viewing the slideshow.

08/09/2007: A slideshow option was added to the homepage. The individual slide images are hyperlinks to the related sections of the Porfolio. Flash® Player 7 or later is required for viewing the slideshow.

08/07/2007: Sunday's shoot in San Francisco yielded 53 photos from those taken of the famous Victorian houses on Steiner Street and Alamo Square, and of Battery Chamberlin on Baker Beach. Of these, 45 have been placed in the San Francisco section of the Portfolio, for convenient viewing (all 53 are accessible from the Stock Photo Table). The day was one of those foggy and misty summer days in San Francisco that finds tourists shivering in shorts and that the author Mark Twain referenced in his famous quip that the coldest winter of his life was a summer in San Francisco. The weather was insufficient to prevent picnicking in Alamo Square, however. The views from Alamo Square convinced me to visit again on a blue-sky day for comparison, and the variety of languages spoken by other visitors there reminded me that San Francisco is a truly international city.

Battery Lowell Chamberlin (named after a Civil War veteran) on Baker Beach is the home of one of the few remaining "disappearing guns" used in World War I and thereafter. Battery Chamberlin is open on the first full weekend of every month, between 11 AM and 3 PM. The 50-ton M1905 6-inch-diameter-bore rifle on display is virtually indistinguishable from the M1903 rifle originally emplaced at the battery to defend the Golden Gate. The weapon sits on an M1903 "disappearing" carriage. The M1905 on display came from Battery Livingston, Fort Hamilton, Harbor Defenses of New York, and spent time at West Point before given to the Smithsonian Institution and finding its way to San Francisco. The name "disappearing gun" refers to the operation. When a lever was pulled, a lead counterweight dropped, and the aimed rifle was pulled upward to the firing position. After firing, the recoil dropped the weapon below the parapet for reloading (effectively hiding it from the view of enemy ships), and raised the lead counterweight to prepare for the next shot. The battery has no overhead protection from a later weapon of war, the airplane. A detailed discussion, by Chuck Wofford, of the history and technology of Battery Chamberlin, can be found here. I was fortunate to visit at a time when Battery Chamberlin was open, and I could participate in a tour.

08/03/2007: I added a shot of Columbus Street to the San Francisco section and a variant to the Digital PhotoArt section, along with a few other Digital PhotoArt shots. I adjusted cropping in the Digital PhotoArt folder in the Pro Gallery on Shutterfly. Enjoy the winter shot of Yosemite Falls featured this week on the Home link. The park is magical in the winter, and there are far fewer visitors. A week or two ago, I noticed that Google™ had a direct link to one of my Digital PhotoArt shots of the Merced River in Yosemite and another link to the Digital PhotoArt index page. The Merced is a torrent of snow melt in spring, and in fall, I have taken photos from sandbars in the Merced riverbed, since there is so little flow.

07/25/2007: Over 350 photos from last Thursday were added to the Outdoor Recreation and California Coast sections. Most of these photos are accessible only from the Stock Photo Table, but I have placed representative samples in the Portfolio areas for convenient viewing, for now. The main Outdoor Recreational activities were "beachcombing" and wading at the beautiful Hole-in-the-Wall Beach and Panther Beach near Santa Cruz, although a couple of shots of surf fishing were also included. Photos of the deserted beaches themselves were added to the California Coast section. It was a sunny, clear, and windy day with a lot of surf and squadrons of pelicans. The geology of the two beaches is quite amazing.

I should add one word of caution about Hole-in-the-Wall Beach, especially at high tide and in winter. In winter, the beach sand is about 6 feet lower than in my photos, and at high tide, waves can come rushing through the "hole". Since Hole-in-the-Wall Beach is a cul-de-sac, high tide can close the easy entrance/exit (through the "hole"), leaving visitors trapped against the cliff or scrambling up one of the few very steep paths to the top. When exploring a beach, be sure to check a tide table beforehand.

07/17/2007: A two-day trip to Central California last week yielded about 200 photos from those taken of four California Missions, Cambria, Morro Bay, and the elephant seals at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery just north of San Simeon. Most of the photos have been placed in the Portfolio for convenient viewing, for now. All photos are accessible from the Stock Photo Table, as always.

The Missions included: Mission Nuestra Señora de la Soledad, Mission San Antonio de Padua, Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, and the earthquake-ravaged Mission San Miguel Arcángel. According to docents, the repairs to the damaged Mission San Miguel Arcángel (damaged by a 2003 earthquake with an epicenter near the Hearst Castle at San Simeon) are currently expected to cost approximately $14M, and additional funding is needed. The church is closed to visitors, but the grounds and some of the buildings are open to tourism. Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa is undergoing earthquake retrofitting that is expected to be completed in September, but the Mission was open during my visit, except for the gift shop, which was closed Monday - Wednesday.

In addition, photos from Morro Bay, Piedras Blancas, and Cambria have been added to the California Coast section, a few shots have been added to the Wind and Power section, and a number of photos of elephant seals have been added to the Wildlife section.

07/07/2007: I added photos taken this week to the Viticulture and Wine, Wind and Power, Other Places, and Outdoor Recreation sections.

07/02/2007: The Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store is now open on CafePress®! Browse Apparel and an array of Other Merchandise decorated with a selection of some of our most popular photos. Afterward, just click on the Cat to return to this site.

Take me to the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress® Now!

06/23/2007: I added some very recent photos of local vineyards to the Viticulture and Wine area.

06/20/2007: I added a separate folder for Digital PhotoArt. My philosophy for photographs of the natural world is to work with the colors present in a captured image, with the understanding that cameras cannot capture (and prints and browsers cannot express) the range of light levels and colors seen by the human eye. Digital PhotoArt is, to me, a different treatment of a subject, to convey an impression or to evoke a mood. Digital PhotoArt is not bounded by the restrictions above, and can contain color substitutions and other modifications. I have placed such images in a separate Category, and given them file names containing an "e" (with series designations "e1, e2, e3", etc.) so that such modified images can be readily distinguished from those with the rich colorations of the natural world.

06/18/2007: I added navigational bars to improve navigation to and from the Shutterfly Pro Gallery pages, while creating a more consistent look.

06/12/2007: I added photos from the Relay For Life anti-cancer walkathon in Tracy in May, photos from Monterey and Pacific Grove at the end of May, and shots of Yosemite Valley from 06/04/2007. As always, all photos (low resolution) are linked from the Stock Photo List, and some of the photos were placed in the Portfolio folders and on the Shutterfly Pro Gallery. There was more water than I expected in Yosemite Valley on the 4th, with good flows in Cascade Creek, Ribbon Fall, and Yosemite Falls. Tour busses were present, but the Valley was not too crowded. Lupine and dogwood were in bloom at 6100 feet.