When do the Almond Trees Bloom?

I was recently talking to a agricultural finance company about working with them on some images of their farm clients, and they wanted to know when the almond trees in the Sacramento Valley bloom. "Mid- to late-February," was my off-the-cuff response.

But I actually have better data than that. I've been photographing the almond bloom virtually every year since 2002 (see the chart below), and have an extensive library of images - complete with the exact date each image was taken.

Over that decade plus, I have nearly 140 almond bloom images in my library. The earliest I've ever taken a photo of the almond bloom was February 12th (in 2011 - a particularly early year). The latest was on March 8th. Of course, the orchards probably begin to bloom a bit earlier and last a bit later, because I try to shoot at the peak of the bloom.

You can see in the chart below that the peak of the almond bloom typically falls in the last week of February or occasionally in the first week of March.

Under the Endless Sky - 2nd Edition Coming Soon!

I'm currently working on the second edition of Under the Endless Sky - Landscapes of the Sacramento Valley, and I'm incredibly pleased with the book.

I've finished selecting the images and updating most of the text. The cover design is finished.

About all that remains is proof reading and taking an updated photo of myself for the fly leaf. The only photo I have of myself in the field is 12 years old, and, according to my wife, I look 'mean' in it:

What's new in the 2nd edition? The main differences are that the book has been reformatted to a larger format and expanded from 59 to 92 images. Many older images have been replaced by newer (and IMO better) images. Several new chapters have been added, including chapters on valley wildflowers, wildlife, as well as expanded chapters on farmland and orchards. I've also added a detailed map of the locations of all of the images in the book.

Comps are looking great, and I hope to go to press in the next month!

Stay tuned for more updates!

Wildlife at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge - Part 2

The second day of wildlife photography at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge was a bit different than the first. A strong north wind had kicked in, and I was concerned about what that would do to the birds.

What it did was cause the ducks and geese to form tight groups deep in the reeds, far from prying eyes and difficult to shoot. However, the wind also made them skittish, and entire flocks would suddenly burst into the air when one bird got disturbed.

A flock of snow geese take flight.

With some patience, I was able to get a number of good images of the geese both taking off and landing.

Snow geese come in for a landing.

Overall, the wind had the effect of keeping the birds on the ground. In the case of the geese and most of the ducks, it meant they were far away and hard to see, but for other species, it made them easier to shoot, because they were reluctant to take off. So, overall, the two days balanced out in the opportunities and images they provided.

Mallard couple

Great blue heron

Great egret

Great egret with feather ruffled by the wind.

Wildlife at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge - Part 1

It has become a tradition that in late December or early January I head out to the local wildlife refuges to do a bit of wildlife photography.

This year was no different. The weather has been unseasonably warm, dry and windy, so I didn't have to worry about rain or fog ruining the shoot.

On the first day, winds were calm and wildlife was abundant. Geese, ducks, hawks - all were easily seen and photographed. Missing on this day were the pheasants, herons, and egrets that usually lurk around the edges of the wetlands.

Redtail hawk on the hunt.

Snow goose

Snow goose

A Ross's goose comes in for a landing.

Two snow geese prepare to land.

Late afternoon at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Winter on the Feather River

This winter has been one of the driest in history, but last month we were blessed with a very cold winter storm that dropped snow down to about 1000 feet, including our street.

Snow on our street.

The next morning, I got up, scraped the ice and snow off my truck, packed up my gear and headed up Highway 70, up the Feather River toward Quincy.

Conditions were amazingly icy, and there was virtually no one on the road, so I traveled slowly.

Although, I got few wonderful winter shots, the biggest disappointment was that the snow was only a couple of inches deep even in Quincy.

Snow covered trees along the Feather River

The Feather River winds through a snow-covered canyon.

Oaks covered with a dusting of snow.

Snow-covered Feather River at the Storie Bridge.

Favorite Images of 2013

Well, it's that time of year again. As I do every year, I post my ten favorite images for the preceding year. You can also view my favorite photos of 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

2013 wasn't nearly as productive as 2012, but I nevertheless took some wonderful images. Here are my ten favorite images of 2013, in chronological order.

White-fronted Goose - Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Great Egret catching dinner - Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge

Lamb at Chaffin Family Orchards

Bulwinkle Ravine, Nevada City

Fall colors in Bidwell Park, Chico

Fall colors in Bidwell Park, Chico

William Land Park, Sacramento

Clouds reflected in rice fields

Sunset over the rice fields

Snow in Feather River Canyon

Reflections on a Rice Field

Photographically, I love the fall and winter in the Sacramento Valley for a number of reasons; the abundant wildlife, the tule fog that shrouds the valley in mystery, the beautiful clear skies (when the fog burns off). But there's one thing I love to photograph above all others: flooded rice fields.

There is nothing like standing on a levee surrounded on all sides by flooded rice fields. On a calm day the perfect reflections of the sky make you feel like you are floating in space, surrounded by light and color.

Sunset clouds are reflected in a rice field near Willows.

There is really nothing quite so breathtaking as an amazing sunset reflected all around you in every direction. And when you are out there you feel like the only person in the immense and open universe.

From late November to mid-February, hundreds of thousands of acres of rice fields are flooded in the Sacramento Valley. I plan to get out there every chance I get.

Reflections as the sun sets over the Coast Range mountains.

I love the symmetry of the cloud reflections in the rice fields.

The deep colors of sunset reflected in the rice fields.

God beams appear after the sun sets behind the Coast Range.