THE DAM WILDFLOWERS

The Sepulveda Dam surrounded by wildflowers. This view of the Dam reminds me of a battleship.

In the past few weeks driving past the Sepulveda Dam on the 405 and 101 freeways, I noticed that yellow wildflowers were in full bloom around the dam and surrounding basin. The head on view I wanted to photograph was too dangerous (it's only accessible by pulling onto the shoulder of the freeway and getting out and taking a photo), so instead I opted for walking up to the Dam from the 101 North freeway entrance that actually has a sidewalk. Along with the wildflowers, I encountered about a zillion foxtails - and I'm still pulling them out of my sneakers.

Once I got to the top of the Dam I saw an extraordinary view of the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve that is on the backside.



To me these photos represent Valley beauty at it's best.

© Lydia Marcus 2010 / www.lydiamarcus.com
Photographed April 10, 2010 at the Sepulveda Dam in Encino / Van Nuys, CA

Sepulveda Dam photographed with a Nikon 55-200mm VR

A CARPET OF WILDFLOWERS

Saturday I went on a free hike sponsored by the Tejon Ranch Conservancy. I viewed a carpet of wildflowers like I have never seen before. California poppies, Lupine, and Coreopsis blanketed the hillsides. It was an incredible amount of beauty to behold. Here are my favorite shots from the day.

Lupine, Poppies, Coreopsis


California Poppies and Lupine






Grazing Cows






Portraits of me by Laurie Thomson




© Lydia Marcus 2010 / www.lydiamarcus.com
Photographed April 10, 2010 at Tejon Ranch Conservancy

From tejonranchconservancy.org/about-us:
"The Tejon Ranch Conservancy was created to protect and implement science-based stewardship and provide public enjoyment of conserved areas of the historic Tejon Ranch and Tehachapi Range. Our vision is to protect, explore, understand, enhance and restore the incredible biodiversity found on the Ranch. At nearly 270,000 acres, Tejon Ranch is the largest continuous expanse of private land in California. Its 422 square miles make it almost almost as large as the City of Los Angeles and about 40% the size of Rhode Island. The Ranch is located along Interstate 5, approximately 60 miles north of Los Angeles and 30 miles south of Bakersfield. Elevation ranges from 600 to 7000 feet above sea level."

Wildflower close ups shot with a Nikon 105mm f/2.8

THE TOURIST

"The Tourist" © Lydia Marcus 2010 / www.lydiamarcus.com
Photographed April 3, 2010 at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Photographed with a Nikon 55-200mm VR

L DIA

With a little creative cropping I made this sign come pretty close to my name. I framed it to just take the "L" from the preceding word "Del" and included the "Dia" that followed. I few friends call me "Dia" - short for Lydia - so when I noticed the L lingering so close to the Dia I knew I had something!

Photo credit © Lydia Marcus 2010 / www.lydiamarcus.com
Photographed February 20, 2010 in Downtown Los Angeles at Olvera Street.

BLEND OUT

When I created this blog I wrote that fotonomous is the "Web identity of Lydia Marcus, an individualist, Piscean & native Los Angeleno (Encino/WEHO) raised in diametrically opposed communities shaped by culture, status, sexuality, and spirituality. This multifaceted upbringing informed her ability & desire to always seek to blend out instead of blend in."

This past Saturday when I saw this ad covering a downtown Los Angeles building (it's part of an advertisement for the new Hyundai Sonata) I was pretty excited. I've never seen the words "Blend Out" written anywhere before. Maybe Hyundai has been to my blog! ;-)

Photo credit © Lydia Marcus 2010 / www.lydiamarcus.com
Photographed February 20, 2010 in Downtown Los Angeles.

SERVICE

Photo credit © Lydia Marcus 2010 / www.lydiamarcus.com
Photographed February 20, 2010 in Downtown Los Angeles