Country Life

Touchdown

Sunrise on the dawn of a new era

Sunrise over the cities and towns, the farmlands and forests, mountains and valleys, urban, suburban, and rural areas all over America, heralding the dawn of a new day and a new era of hope. America awakens after its long and turbulent nightmare to face the monumental task of cleaning up the storm damage and rebuilding.

Bellevue Washington

A stroll through the streets of Bellevue on a crystal clear winter Sunday afternoon. In the past decade or so, and particularly over the last couple of years, many new buildings have been and are being built. The skyline resembles the future as imagined and illustrated 50 years ago: clean lines, reflective surfaces, bright blue sky. The low-angle winter sun at this latitude brightly illuminates some buildings which reflect in the mirrored windows of others. Sharp angles scatter the view. Secondary and sometimes tertiary reflections make for an interesting scene.

The Japanese Garden

Behind the Sepulveda Dam in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles lies the Japanese Garden. On a recent weekend, I finally had a chance to visit and photograph this beautiful garden.


The central lake reflects the various garden features. At left can be seen the Tea House [click the image for a larger version]. To the right is the face of the adjacent sewage treatment and water reclamation plant. Fortunately the prevailing wind is usually blowing from the west or the north. A breeze from the east can be an ill wind indeed.


Rock garden stepping stones lead to a trellis-covered patio with benches.


Many birds call the gardens home; others sojourn there seasonally.


Rocks reflect off the surface of the water. In the distance a traditional Japanese stone lantern graces the path.


A different style stone lantern perched above a boulder.


Looking across the lake from inside the Tea House. [HDR]


Fish in the lake just outside the Tea House.


Aerial view of the Japanese Garden.


Stereogram of the Aerial view (click to enlarge; cross eyes to converge the two images).

Miami in LA?

This interestingly styled building is used for exterior location shots as the headquarters facility in the popular television show CSI Miami. It currently houses the FAA First Federal Credit Union.


It has also been used as the headquarters of "The Newport Group" in the television series "The O. C."