Huntington Beach hosts the US Open of Surfing every summer.  I walked
out on the pier August 1st and photographed some young women entrants
who happened to be scheduled that morning.  Surf wasn't very big that
day, but these girls made the most of what they had to work with.

Here are a few of my shots.

 su1  su2  su3  su4  su5  su6 

Last week I drove to Camp Pendleton to visit and photograph Marines & Sailors of my old battalion on the day of their 7th deployment since "Operation Iraqi Freedom."   Without exception, all those who commented on the album picked this photo as their favorite. 

 Marine Dad and Boy 

To view the entire album, go to:  http://ImageEvent.com/colbb/11marinesdeploy2012

Semper Fi, BB

Late summer of 1945, after landing on Okinawa April 1st, I was living with my team of six Marines in a house vacated by departed Japanese soldiers, awaiting orders to invade the mainland of Japan when the news came that the atom bombs had been dropped and the war was over.

After obtaining some raisin jack from the combat engineers that house hosted one rip roaring party that night, but we paid a dear price, the mother of all hangovers!  Would I do it again?  Yes, in a New York minute.

Located near Nago, yours truly standing far right as you view the photo, with my team, and a recollection of 1945 I will never forget. 

 Okinawa 1945 

Shot at a local mall last week, looks to my eye like a huge snail spitting or relieving itself after too many beers. 

This image has been cropped from the original, but in no way altered otherwise. 

Just in case I may be blowing smoke with the snail tale, what do you think it is?

 snl1 

Great challenge, MrQ.  Timely too with July 4th on the near horizon.

I love shooting flags, and have lots of opportunities as the photographer of the 1st Marine Division, shooting various events and ceremonies.  Nowhere, in my opinion, is the Flag displayed more proudly than when in the care of a Marine Color Guard.

Here are four from my extensive collection.  Semper Fidelis!

The Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard, and there is only one in the Corps, passes in review at the Change of Command of the 5th Marine Regiment:   SnS1 

The Color Guard marches onto the parade deck at the command, "Post The Colors!"   SnS2 

A Color Guard at attention during a ceremony:   SnS3 

During the playing of the National Anthem, Marines salute, and all colors except the Stars & Stripes dip:   SnS4 

The weather clears for the New Year's Rose Bowl parade.  Photo Dec 30, 2010, from Huntington Beach to Long Beach skyline, about 11 miles away.   HNY1 

Happy New Year from The General & me, at home in Huntington Beach.   HNY2 

I'm not sure I have the credentials to pick my best, or any "best" images, but at least this is one of my favorites so I selected it as my best for 2010.  Shot May 18, 2010 at The Wedge in Newport Beach during a day of high surf. 

Shot with 70/200mm lens at 6 frames per second, this was the one I chose from about 6 shots in the sequence. 

This boogie board surfer is sort of an "extreme sports" nut, noting that the water at the bottom of the wave is about 10/12 inches deep. 

The image was posted on Photographica in summer of 2010.

 Wdg8 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  BB

An interesting challenge, bridges.  Like barns, bridges are excellent photo subjects, and each one has a story or something of historical significance to tell.

First, this bridge crosses the Connecticut River at East Haddam, CT and leads to the old Goodspeed Opera House:   BRG1 

The Oakland Bay Bridge, crossing to San Francisco, a view through the windshield:   BRG2 

Pedestrian bridge in Venice, CA:   BRG3 

The USS Sampson, a guided missile carrier, the Captain's Bridge:   BRG4 

For several years I have planned to drive to Moab, UT to visit Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and during June 2010 we finally made it, now I have to wonder why I waited so long.  If you haven't seen the area, take my advice and go, enjoy!

Here is a small collection of images of the trip, and for viewing the entire album, go to: http://colonelbb.com and click on "Road Trip - Colorado and Utah"

One of the massive red rock formation at Arches:  UT1 

For a surprise, here is a close crop of the first image:   UT2 

Canyonlands, these girls are sitting on the edge of one long, long drop:   UT3 

Canyonlands, this formation reminded me of "Half Dome" in Yosemite:   UT4 

Canyonlands, as seen from Green River overlook:   UT5 

On the way home, driving on "Mexican Water Road" near the Utah/Arizona border:   UT6 

Here is my final post of images shot at The Wedge last Tuesday. 

This boogie boarder rides the waves into the beach, and must be careful to keep the right angle, or the wave will drive him into the sand with force great enough to cause severe injury, like a broken neck.   Wdg7 

Another boogie boarder, heading straight into the sand, but I am pleased to report that he took an angle at the last second and got out safely.   Wdg8 

I couldn't resist this shot of a pretty girl with some lucky stiff who came to watch the surfing.  She reminded me of David Lee Roth singing "California Girls."   Wdg9 

Hope you enjoyed my wedge series.  In a week or so I'm off to Camp Pendleton to shoot the Change of Command ceremony for the 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division.

Semper Fi, BB

The Wedge in Newport Beach is surrounded by upscale housing, with an "anything it takes" approach to have a view, as demonstrated in this image:   Wdg2 

To answer Dub's question about how the skimmer boarder's do it, here is a satellite view of The Wedge with text describing wave direction, and how the different surfer types ply their skills.  The channel to right of rock jetty enters Newport Harbor: Wdg3 

Surfer enters waves near jetty, and has just jumped on his skimmer:  Wdg4 

Surfer rides wave, ahead of the curl, in the direction shown in satellite, with no concern for the plumber's cleavage:  Wdg5 

At end of ride, exit's wave just before curl swallows him up:  Wdg6 

Final thought; I can hardly remember I used to have a waist like that when I was a 2nd Lt and platoon leader with Charlie Co., 1st Marines.  Oh well.

Yesterday I visited "The Wedge" for the first time in several years.  While not one of those death defying days that has made The Wedge famous, there was lots of action for skimmer boards and I got several good shots.  Here's one, more later perhaps.

 Wdg1 

Another "art piece" spotted on El Paseo in Palm Desert.  There are many unique and sometimes strange objects on display here, and I have to wonder who buys these pieces, especially the really large ones.

Anyway, this one brings to mind the old Arlo Guthrie song, also performed by Linda Ronstadt, with this chorus:

I ride an old paint, I lead an old dan
I'm goin' to Montana to throw the hoolihan
They feed in the coulees, they water in the draw
Their tails are all matted, their backs are all raw

 olpt