Life and all in Redding California
Here’s a soothing flight overlooking the Sacramento River as it passes through Redding California on its way to the sea. The devastating Park Fire rages into the fragile and crucial Mill Creek drainage of the norther Sierra. One of the few remaining un-dammed Salmon runs for protected spring run fish. Truly awful events taking place to the east provide a a golden and smoky light to Redding. Pretty, but deadly.
Video capture and editing by Skip Murphy. Soundtrack by me and Craig Padilla.
I met this gentle spirit on Redding’s Sundial Bridge this evening. Behind him here on the right are the ancestral burial grounds for the Wintu people. Drawing on the water spirit of this place, on this bridge between worlds, with music that flows like the river beneath us. #thisisredding
In this image, we see the Sundial Bridge located in Redding, California, captured during the early evening in late Winter. The bridge and Sacramento River is beautiful in the sunset reflection, and provides the main focus of the image. In the background, we can see the cityscape also lit up with twinkling lights, creating a mesmerizing and calming effect. Beyond the cityscape, we see snow-capped mountains towering majestically in the distance. The mountains are framed by dramatic clouds, creating a moody atmosphere in the image. Overall, the image presents a beautiful scene that captures the essence of Redding’s natural beauty and man-made marvels.
Have a good evening, Redding.
Took the cousins to the McConnell Arboretum north of the Sundial Bridge in Redding. The lovely Karry captured this cute image on her iPhone.
Whimsical and colorful. It looks like the turtle sculpture is turning it’s head to look into the camera. The smartphone cameras take terrific photos these days. And we are truly lucky to have this gorgeous arboretum available to the public here in Really Redding.
Well technically called a UAV for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. Drone imagery of Redding’s Sundial Bridge is presented here as captured by imaging. The use of drones like the DJI are so important when trying to get amazing footage like this. Amateur and professional photographers/ videographers have been in awe of their capabilities for some time and this video vindicates their endorsement.
Beautiful Redding.
Side note: It’s regrettable that use of drones to shoot real estate videos (or any commercial video) remains illegal in the U.S. except in rare cases. Meanwhile, you can use “hobbiest” UAVs for unpaid imagery like this. The photographic quality has come so far. I would love to use this tool for my home seller clients.
Well actually, suspended from the Sundial Bridge. Here is a brief video taken from my perspective among the large crowd gathered last night to enjoy these amazing performers. Be sure to watch in HD.
On the Summer Solstice in 2014, the flying dance troupe Bandaloop performed in the air to live music from The North State Symphony. They dance suspended from Redding’s famous Sundial Bridge in celebration of its 10th Anniversary. A grand time was had by all the many spectators, ourselves included. Thanks to the McConnell Foundation, Turtle Bay Museum, and the City of Redding.
Erin said, “It looks like something you’d see in the city.”
I say, “It is. The City of Redding.”
Thanks Bandaloop. You’re Really Redding.
Guest post by local friend and thoughtful writer, Nadine Bailey. It first appeared in Facebook as something of a reaction to an article about our Sundial Bridge that appeared in the Sacramento Bee. I asked if I could repeat it here, and she kindly agreed:
I came back to Northern California in the middle of the debate over the Sundial Bridge. Working for a conservative state senator I became the minority voice, on our staff and conservatives in general, for the support of the bridge. During construction I would take my lunch and park and watch as the bridge propelled itself across the river. Even then the language my lunch companions told the story of what this might mean for our community, as the diversity of the languages spoken by the visitors each passing week increased.
While most people would like to think of themselves as California Natives, most people who live here are from somewhere else. They came searching for gold, timber, rich farm and grazing land, weather and anything else that felt like a dream that could be realized. They stayed and carved out the communities that exist today and for every success there are the memories of those who fell along the way. We know the famous ones, of Donner and the parties who never made it to the California dream. Most families have tales of their own, a baby that died on the trail, or a husband lost to sickness on the journey west, great uncle killed in a mining accident and loggers who failed to conquer the tall trees.
The Sundial Bridge stands like the dream of all who came to California with the vision to seek a new life; of those who succeeded and those who, even in their failure built the communities that stand today. These communities who send their sons and daughters to war, who raise up men and women to fight the weather and the land to grow our food and forgo the charms and benefits of the urban life to build communities that never give up, even when it seems that the whole world is trying to pound them down. When I see the white spire of the Sundial Bridge rising against the backdrop of the shimmering river and green of the forested mountains, like the bones of oxen left along the trail, I see the strength and determination of the people of the West, who take so little and give back so much. I see the future and the past calling us to new visions and dreams.
