Photography | ReallyRedding

May 16, 2013May 16, 2013

Dunsmuir’s Botanical Gardens – a few images

Just over 50 miles north of Redding lies the fascinating town of Dunsmuir. A richly visual place, with its mix of rail town industriality and Cascade Valley natural grandeur. Here are a few recent images I took of the town’s Botanical Garden. A magical place. Click on the images to enlarge.

From their Dunsmuir Chamber of Commerce website:
“Dogwood Daze is almost here again!! Come to Dunsmuir (May 25th) and enjoy a city wide yard sale, garden tours, a soap box derby for the kids, food and lots of fun!! In addition we will have a doggies parade, flower show, art studios open and lot’s of music. And you can’t miss our ever popular Pie Social…best in the west!!! See you there.”

April 4, 2013April 4, 2013

Shasta Dam, front and back

2 views of the dam and lake. With a gentle Spring rain filling our lovely lake today, I thought I’d post this view from the overlook, and then from O’Brien. Both seen in each other’s backgrounds.
Precious water from an abundant Earth. Click to slightly enlarge.
Profound views all around us. We need only look. That’s Really Redding.

April 2, 2013April 2, 2013

Uncommon view of Redding from the West Hills

Out showing a home in the west hills looking over a Spring cloud Redding evening skyline lends an uncommon perspective to otherwise familiar landmarks. From here, the Diestlehorst, Rail Trestle, and Sundial bridges become neighbors. Click to enlarge a bit.
Below we see Highway 44 going east, with Shasta Regional Medical Center in the foreground, and leading off to big-boxville.
Below, a view of Greenstone Place from on a hill in west Redding. A lovely neighborhood of gracious homes framed in green hills and red cliffs on a warm Spring evening.

Even commonplace sights are all extraordinary in our town. It’s Really Redding.

March 19, 2013April 4, 2013

A Cottonwood antique

Here’s an image I took off Bowman. Looks showroom fresh on a sunny day. There are many worse places to come to rest than beneath an oak tree in Northern California.

Click to expand. Not Really Redding. Really Cottonwood.

March 15, 2013

From Shingletown to Redding at 725 mph

Because at 730 mph, you might miss some of the nice scenery. Click start and hang on.

Shingletown to Redding at 725 MPH from Skip Murphy on Vimeo.

Time lapse driving from Shingletown to Redding California in Highway 44. Set to music by Craig Padilla and Skip Murphy, recorded live in the Schreder Planetarium in Redding. Excerpt "Aluminum" from the disc Planetary Elements on the Space for Music label.

In truth, no speed limits were exceeded. But here’s the equivalent for travelling 30 miles in 2.5 minutes from computational engine Wolfram Alfa:
So technically, it was only 720 mph. Who would quibble about 5 mph when you driving at nearly Mach 1?

We local real estate agents like to say that Shingletown is only about 15 or so minutes east of Redding. But that darn precise Wolfram Alfa seems to think your commute would have to be at 120 mph for that 15 minute guesstimate to be true. Please take your time on Highway 44, and enjoy the views. Think about how those Bay Area and L.A. commuters would love to even travel AT the speed limit.

March 6, 2013March 6, 2013

Anselmo Sunday Brunch dishes

Just a couple images from last Sunday Brunch at Anselmo. Steak Danielle, and Eggs Benedict in Sirloin Medallions. Tasted as good as it looks.
Click to enlarge, if you can handle full-on food porn. Just another sunny Sunday on the patio at Inwood. It’s Really Redding.

February 22, 2013February 22, 2013

Another smashed Nikon

It seems I have developed a new and unwelcome talent for dropping expensive tech devices in the driveway. Last time, it was Erin’s iPad. Today, my hapless camera is the victim. Remarkably, it still takes decent images, even busted up. Kudos to Nikon. Still, it’s rather ugly to go aiming at anyone…
It seems only the filter is broken. But the impact bent the ring, so it won’t come off. I hope I can fix it.

February 19, 2013February 19, 2013

Thunderbirds

I just liked the composition on this slice of Redding sky. Click twice to enlarge the image.

February 12, 2013February 12, 2013

From Redding to Mt Shasta in 5 minutes

Last week, I photographed the drive from Redding to Mt Shasta in about 3000 individual images. Then, I strung them together into a video for 5 minutes, with music. The result is an interesting compression of this scenic northstate highway journey through the Sacramento River Canyon.

Redding to Mt Shasta from Skip Murphy on Vimeo.

I like how this technique plays with time. I’m hoping to do more of these. Already, one Vimeo film maker has asked if he could use segments of it in his own project.
Enjoy the journey.

February 7, 2013February 7, 2013

Shastina in Spring

It’s cloudy here today, but a few days ago I captured this image of Shastina from the northwest while hurtling southbound on Interstate 5, about an hour north of Redding.

Click to enlarge a bit. Shastina is in the foreground, with Mt Shasta beyond her. Shastina sprouts from the flanks of Mt Shasta, and may be the most recently active part of the volcano. The community of Weed lies at her feet.
February is Shasta County Spring, but in the higher elevations and for much of Siskiyou County, it remains Winter. But any time of year, all this beauty and more is just a short drive north from Redding.