FAVE 5 ON 5 - 2015 NOVEMBER

On the fifth day of each month a group of photographers shares their favorite photos from the previous month. It's a blog circle! At the end of this post will be a link to the next person. Read on and enjoy our favorites from November. 

For me November was all about the light, Fall and gratitude.

Every year people spend their Novembers sharing daily gratitudes. I decided to take on this challenge of taking a photo each day with a note about what I was thankful for. While I didn't post every day, it did make me stop and think. It made me look around to find the beauty in my every day life.
Below are a few of those gratitude photos.

There is so much to be thankful for.

Take a look at Alison's favorite photos for the month of November >

FAVE 5 ON 5 - 2015 OCTOBER

On the fifth day of each month a group of photographers shares their favorite photos from the previous month. It's a blog circle! At the end of this post will be a link to the next person. Read on and enjoy our favorites from October. 

Meetups. Photowalks. Community.

Many years ago, before Instagram, I belonged to a photo community on Flickr. People in my community were from all over the world. It wasn't anything formal and we each found each other because of our love of taking photos. We posted daily photos (hello 365 projects) and participated in fun projects (color week, bench mondays, jump shots and flare). We commented on each other's posts and through all of this got to know not only each other's photo styles/likes/dislikes but also got to know each other as people as well. It was a magical time of sharing and learning about photography, while also getting to know some pretty cool people.

Four years ago the opportunity came along when lots of these friends took the journey to Camp Shutter Sisters. It was there that I met many of these photo friends in real life. It was at Camp that I also met other photographers who were actually living very close to me!

Camp was four years ago and the photographers in my area still try to meet at least a few times a year. Last month 4 of us met up again to walk and talk and take a few photos along the way...

Exploring light and dark places.

Some of the gear.

Meet up at the De Young Museum in Golden Gate Park.

From where I, we, stand.

The "non-pose pose", this time with a side of apples. A traditional non pose pose requires no smiling, which isn't always easy when you're running from a camera on a timer.

Walking and talking...

People bokeh.

A family of Keith Harings. And a family of tourists.

I'm so thankful for these local photo friends, as well as other photo friends far away. These friends don't judge when you stop to photograph that thing. They support you when you say can we go back to that spot? They play along when you ask them to stand there and look that way.
They just get it and I'm so thankful for that.

I hope to one day meet up with the photographers in this blog circle.
I've met one of them already, so I know it is possible.

Alison is one person I hope to meet, her and her little munchkin.
Take a look at Alison's favorite photos for the month of October >

FAVE 5 ON 5 - 2015 SEPTEMBER

I couldn't narrow down my favorite five photos for the month. At the beginning of the month we decided to use the long weekend to go somewhere that we'd never been to before. Our mini road trip took us to the Point Reyes Lighthouse and nearby Drakes Beach. I took so many photos, below are just a few of the highlights.

(Don't forget to visit Alison's site to see what she was up to last month, the link is at the end of this post. It's a blog circle so she'll lead you to the next person and so on and so on.)

Our journey to the lighthouse led us down several windy roads with a surprising amount of cows. We stopped to take in the views and listened to the sea lions below. We were lucky to visit on a weekend when there was no fog and the views were clear.

We finally arrived at the lighthouse parking lot and it was no surprise that the small lot was full during this holiday weekend. No problem. We parked along the street and followed the path to the lighthouse which also had its own amazing vistas. Finally the lighthouse came into view and we took the 300+ narrow stairs down. It wasn't too bad going down, however going back up I really felt the burn!

After the lighthouse we drove to Drakes Beach. I loved how the beach was enclosed by a rock wall. Because of the good weather the beach was full of activity with families and all kinds of sand sculptures. We took the opportunity to sit and end our day here. It was a perfect little get away that I highly recommend to anyone in the area.

This is definitely a destination spot I plan on returning to!

Continue the photo circle for September and visit Alison's site.

FAVE 5 ON 5 - 2015 AUGUST

Oh August. I have such strange feelings about you. In August we say goodbye to summer. I'm sad to see it go but at the same time I am also looking forward to the colorful fall just up ahead.
For our last weekend of summer, before school started, we chose to travel to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Below are 5 photos from that day.

You can also see what others were up to in the month of August by travelling our photo circle by clicking on Alison's link at the end of this post.

Let's begin!

On the way to the Monterey Bay Aquarium we saw rows and rows of green.

We saw signs that we were getting closer.

We walked the waves.

Then finally we were there at one of our most favorite spots. It's a magical world.

Inside and out we love the Monterey Bay Aquarium.

Thank you summer you were a good one. Fall, you're up next and I have high hopes for you so don't let me down!


I bet Alison has photographed lots of magic this summer. Continue the photo circle for August and go take a look and her amazing work!

FAVE 5 ON 5 - 2015 JULY

When I think of July I think of adventure and I want to wander and see and experience new things. Luckily July was very good to us. Here are just a few of the moments I've collected from this month. 

See what other memories were captured by visiting each of the ladies in the blog circle. A link to the next person is at the end of this post.

1. Pacific Pinball Museum. Pay one price and you can play as much pinball as you want ALL day! We might have touched every machine. One of my favorite machines was the pacman pinball machine which was half pinball and half video game. Not very old school but so fun to play. I highly recommend visiting this place, just give yourself enough time to visit all of the pinball rooms.

2. This floor might be at the top of my list of favorite tiles. I had no idea this was here until I wandered out a back door. I might have even gone back the next day and taken a few more photos.

3. On this day we took a trip to the local nursery. I loved this little cactus and wanted to take it home. What I took home instead was an electric pink cordyline. I'm hoping the hot pink plant grows big and strong. Crossing fingers.

4. This might have been the hottest day of the summer with temperatures in the 100s. I was actually cooling off outside (since it felt twice as hot inside) when I came across these berries. I was so happy to find these ready to be picked. It took my mind off the heat and was a nice way to end the day.

5. Took a trip to the water's edge. This was not one of the hottest days but instead was a bit windy and overcast. We made the best of it and he and his cousin built a lovely sandcastle complete with a bridge and flags.


That wraps up my favorite 5 photos of the month.

Continue with favorite photos from July by visiting Alison's favorite picks >

FAVE 5 ON 5 - 2015 JUNE

See my August 5 on 5 >
See my July 5 on 5 >


This month it's double the images! Instead of 5 I'm choosing my favorite 10 images of the month.
Be sure to visit the other photographers who are also sharing their favorites by clicking on the link at the end of this post.

Lands End

Why have I not been here before?!
We recently took a trip to Lands End which is at the northwestern corner of San Francisco. I had been to the Sutro Baths, which is a part of Lands End, but had never traveled farther than that. If you start at the Sutro Baths there is an amazing trail, the Coastal Trail, which has breathtaking views around every corner.  Karl the fog mostly cooperated, it was a pretty clear day, however he did decide to hide the tippity top of the Golden Gate bridge.

Below you'll see Mile Rock Beach, Seal Rock and my absolute favorite the Labyrinth.
Imaging hiking to the top of a cliff overlooking the ocean, wind in your hair, with the Golden Gate Bridge to your right, and looking down and seeing a labyrinth. What a wonderful surprise!

If you are visiting or even living in San Francisco I highly recommend spending an afternoon walking the Coastal Trail, you will not be disappointed.
Take a look at more favorite June photos by visiting Alison's favorite picks >

FAVE 5 ON 5 - 2015 MAY

Living in the Bay Area there are so many cities to take in. This month we walked around Oakland and went to a Himalayan Fair in Berkeley.

Here are my favorite five photos for the month of May. Be sure to continue the photo circle by clicking on the next favorite five at the end of this post.

a. There were no April showers but Mother's Day did bring May flowers.

b. Oakland wildlife

c. So much color here. Such good bargains here. Clothes, jewlery, rugs, and the best food. Such a good day.

d. More Oakland wildlife.

e. Looking into a BBQ restaurant while Michael Jackson played on the loudspeakers. I love the colors and the instruments and the Warriors poster. Go Warriors!

It was a great May however summer is just about here! I can't wait to see what June brings.
Take a look at more favorite May photos by visiting Alison's favorite picks >