gPa moments

Almost a month now, since the birth of grandson Talon. My daughter Erin and I work together running The Address Realty, so he spends a lot of time here at the home office. It’s been a great month.

Talon at 12 days
Talon at 12 days

Having kids teaches you about yourself. I’m looking forward to the lessons taught to me by my grandson. gPa (gee-paw) time.
Certainly trying to enjoy the moments.
To be in the moment.
Put down the iPhone and iPad, and be in the moment, gPa
Put down the iPhone and iPad, and pick up the gPa
The moments are indeed fleeting.

View salmon at Lake Redding’s fish ladder

Redding has a fish ladder at the dam for Lake Redding that serves to divert water to the Anderson Cottonwood Irrigation canal. It allows salmon and other species to get upstream when the dam is up. At the ladder are a few windows into their watery world. Structures such as these are vital in the effort to sustain the salmon population. Without structures such as these aiding salmon to swim upriver in order to lay their eggs, it could lead to the decline of the wild salmon population ultimately eliminating it as a food source. With the ever growing human population, food sources such as salmon need to grow as well in order to provide enough food for people, both wild and farmed. The demand for fresh fish has led to practices such as salmon farming in order to keep up with the demand, however, these practices are not always sustainable as farmers attempt to get a bigger yield each season. There have been strategies put in place as a way to cap these practices, sites like www.globalsalmoninitiative.org/en can show efforts that have been taken to preserve the salmon population throughout the world by many fishing farms.

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Of course viewing fish is like any kind of fishing expedition. Sometimes you get skunked.
No matter.
You know what they say about the worst day fishing being better than the best day working.
Visual fishing. It’s ReallyRedding.

Waterworks Park in Redding

Redding has a water based amusement park, Waterworks Park. Great place to be on a hot day like today.
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According to the Waterworks Park website, these are among their rides:

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Perhaps ironically, Redding is surrounded by lakes and rivers for water based fun. But Waterworks Park remains a popular destination, especially if you have kids. Many of the locals purchase Season Passes, so it is generally full of people having fun in the sun.

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Market Faire today, Redding California in 2013.

I like the interesting juxtaposition of elements in this photo from Market Faire a few weeks back. Click to expand the image. Examine the components.

Photo 2013 by Skip Murphy
Our Car Culture on Market Street, both background and foreground.
The Busker with the Blond Dreadlocks plays guitar to a Tattooed Man.
The Comely Woman in the Black Skull T-Shirt, looking right into the camera.
The guy with the Backwards Hat and a tattoo too, over by the motorcycles, also looking. Are you seeing me?
The Blond Woman in the Red Mustang with Gold Sunglasses completes the foreground. On her way somewhere, somewhat urgently.
This image has a lot going on, and so it speaks. A frozen reflection of our life and our time in our town. Thanks Market Faire.

Photo 2013 by Skip Murphy

2013 Really Redding, just like they imagined it back in 1929. Not!
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What will 2029 Redding look like? More tattoos, evidently.

Sleakphotography captures Redding

Scott at Sleakphotography is an amazing photographer. You can tell he puts a lot of effort and skill into his images, so visit his website for more. Here’s a video he posted from last night’s 4th of July celebration in Redding. Our city’s annual free fireworks display, courtesy of the McConnell Foundation.

Scott really has a good eye, but great photography is a complex skill set made of technical knowledge, planning and preparation, and an artistic drive. I met a great many photographers during my career with Kodak, and Scott’s work is clearly among the best at his vocation. He’s developed a style of his own, which is rather like finding your voice in writing. A defining talent. You can also follow Sleakphotography on Facebook, where I look forward to his frequent posts. This image below looks great because of planning, exposure, experience, time, and effort. Nice shot.
Sleakphotography1Of course it never hurts that we live in an area of such great beauty. It’s Really Redding.

Redding isn’t hot enough

It certainly isn’t hot enough for these adventurous Redding dancers.
So they dance with FLAME. Images from a recent Market Faire, by me.
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We burn. Like candles, or like fireworks, we all burn.
Thank you fire dancers, you’re Really Redding.
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