San Quentin State Penitentiary--"the big Q." I can't tell you how many times I've driven along Highway 101 in Marin County and told myself that one of these days I need to get a shot of this notorious place. So, on this day, I decided to veer off the freeway and go for it. I had to drive around a bit to find the best vantage spot, and finally I found it, down an industrial road that dead ended at the Bay. It was low tide, the grass was deep, and I was praying that I wouldn't trip over a stiff wearing cement overshoes.
So here you have it, the California State Penitentiary for less-than-savory men and the only prison in the state where they execute those who've been sentenced to death. Currently there are over 4000 inmates in the facility, with over 700 on death row. It costs the tax payers $45,000/year to house and care for each inmate. The tab includes housing, three squares a day, and a medical plan--we should all be so lucky eh? I should also mention that the prison sits on some of the most expensive property in Marin County with dynamic views of San Francisco Bay to the east, and Mt. Tamalpais to the west. It even has its own zip code.
Some notable people that have spent time here, past and present include Charles Manson (mass murderer), Merle Haggard (theft and grand theft auto prior to making it big as a country music icon), Stanley Tookie Williams (murderer and leader of the notorious Crips Street Gang), Scott Peterson (convicted murderer of his wife Laci and unborn child. Currently on death row), and interestingly, Henry Cowell, a famous American composer who served time on a morals charge in 1936.
I offer no opinion on any of this. The image is presented for reasons of interest only.
Check it out, but if you're smart you'll stay on the outside of those walls
San Quentin, CA
Tags: California California State Prison Canon 5D Mark iii Canon 70-200mm 2.8L Death Row Lightroom5 Marin County Northern California Prison San Francisco Bay San Francisco Bay Area San Quentin San Quentin State Prison State Prison Summer Topaz SW
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It's been blistering hot in Nevada City over the past week so I decided to make a quick trip to the San Francisco Bay Area. While there, I made a run over to Pigeon Point to see what the lighthouse was doing. The old lighthouse was looking quite well, but it was the wild flowers growing along a weathered fence line that caught my eye in this moment. It was wonderful to bask in the cool damp fog along the coastline.
Happy Fence Friday everyone.
Pigeon Point, CA
Tags: California California Coast Canon 5D Mark iii Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Fence Fence Friday Flowers Fog Foggy Day Left Coast Lightroom5 Northern California Pacific Coast Pigeon Point San Mateo County Summer Topaz SW West Coast Wild Flower
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Fog, a field of wildflowers, a lighthouse, and a fence. Perfect for fence Friday me thinks.
Happy Fence Friday everyone.
Pigeon Point, CA
Tags: California California Coast Canon 5D Mark iii Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Flowers Fog Foggy Day Left Coast Lighthouse Lightroom5 Morning Northern California Northern California Coast Pacific Coast Pigeon Point Pigeon Point Lighthouse San Mateo County Summer Topaz SW West Coast Wild Flower
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After my recent San Francisco walkabout, I decided to take the coastal route out of the city in order to check out the new tunnel at Devil's Slide. Devil's Slide near Pacifica has been a particularly troublesome portion of coastal Highway One with mud slides and debris flows quite common during the heavier winter storms. Sometimes the road would be closed for weeks. The solution was to replace the roadway with a tunnel.
The tunnel was all well and good--quite impressive actually, and when I exited it near Montara Beach, I saw this incredible field of flowers leading up the ocean. Smack dab in the middle of the field, were a group of painters. Keeping with my philosophy to stop and see what other photographers were up to, I decided to see what the hubbub was here. It seems these painters were looking at the same things we photographers do, it just takes longer for the gratification to appear. My gratification was instantaneous. I bet some of them are still working on theirs.
For those of you wondering about Alice. She is back. Check it out:
www.flickr.com/photos/126238308@N08/
Montara, CA
Tags: California California Coast Canon 5D Mark iii Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Field of Flowers Flowers Left Coast Lightroom5 Montara Montara Beach Northern California Northern California Coast Ocean Pacific Coast Pacific Ocean Painters Painting Flowers San Mateo County San Mateo County Coast Seashore Summer Topaz SW West Coast Agapanthus ;s
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A foggy morning at Pigeon Point along the Northern California Coast embellished with a few sliders.
Happy Slider's Sunday everyone.
San Mateo County, CA
Tags: Barn California California Coast Canon 5D Mark iii Canon 70-200mm 2.8L Coast Fog Foggy Day Landscape Left Coast Lightroom5 Morning Northern California Northern California Coast Pacific Coast Pigeon Point San Mateo County Summer Topaz SW West Coast Wild Flower
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