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photography by Leonora

This photos are of Leonora's cat, Kenjisan (Japanese for 'second son'). While listening to Mike's presentation on making edits to Smartphone photos, Leonora decided to check out how pixels, image size, and resolution are related to each other. Pixels are the tiny building blocks ("picture elements") that make up all digital images.

Leonora determined that she got the bests results with the picture on the right because it has more pixels in it. Leonora explained that the one on the right is brighter. "It's the perfect one." (It is hard to tell the difference in these pictures!) Good lesson. Thanks, Leonora!

photography by Nadine & Janet

Nadine and Janet have been good friends for over 40 years!

Nadine (born May 18) and Bob (born May 8) celebrate their 90th birthdays with family. It began with wearing masks. It's time to eat so the smiles are getting even bigger! Social distancing got a little scrunched for the picture but their celebration remained focused on staying safe & healthy as a family. Congratulations Nadine and Bob!

Janet (RSD-Tu) celebrates her grandson's (Greyson) 7th birthday party with his cake and 2 cousins close by. "Greyson is very tall for his age. The tallest in his class. His dad is 6’4” and his mom is 5’6”, so he will always be a very tall boy." The masks came off for the smiles and the cake. "We try to keep our get togethers to close family in the these times of Covid19."

Janet shared how much she enjoys 4 generations living in her house. "The interaction between the generations is so important to all ages."

photography by donna

Enjoying San Diego's Summer Beauty:

Changes at Torrey Pines State Beach by the City of Del Mar

San Diego has so many beautiful places to enjoy the sunset. When I lived by the beach, I particularly enjoyed my sunset walks and watching the sun setting into the ocean.

The City of Del Mar has been clearing out the brush and widening the trails just north of Torrey Pines State Beach. You can now see "Sunset Seat" (the carved Red-Tailed Hawk is the official bird of Torrey Pines Reserve) as you drive by on Hwy 101.

Sunset Walks Around Cowles Mountain Amidst the Heat & COVID

On this day in July, I enjoyed watching the sun setting through the trees by the Tifereth Israel Synagogue at Cowles Mountain Blvd near Navajo Road. (See photos below.) The colors of light reflected through the stained glass at the entrance of the synagogue were particularly beautiful.

A short walk up the hill added to the contrasts at sunset with the rising view of the side of Cowles Mountain (the highest point in the city of San Diego) and glimpses of the changing shades of colors in the sky behind the series of rugged, rolling hills that run into Mission Trails Regional Park ( a 7,220-acre open space preserve within the city of San Diego that is the sixth-largest municipally owned park in the United States, and the largest in California).

A turn to the left at the top of the street adds a new dimension of color as the sunlight is reflected on the water of Lake Murray in the distance. The relief of walking downhill followed by the surprise of seeing rabbits jumping around in the yards of the homes below added to my enjoyment of these hidden sources of San Diego's beauty.

I've loved living by the ocean and beautiful city parks such as Balboa Park. I've developed a new love, however, for the quiet beauty behind Cowles Mountain and the 'San Carlos breeze' that surrounds it. When I need to leave this quiet place of beauty in nature, I ignore my GPS and choose to take the route that allows me to ride past the surrounding hills, mountains, and lakes in this area. San Diego County has so many places of beauty to enjoy...even when quarantined. Each has its own special beauty!

Although this summer has included many challenges (for so many!) with COVID-19. sunset walks like this reminds me of my need to also see the beauty. As I write this, I quietly ask myself, why am I not enjoying this every day?!

Time for another sunset walk!

The Cooper's Hawk

The Cooper's Hawk (click on the links to see photos!) has added to my enjoyment and exploration of the beauty in this San Carlos neighborhood this summer. Two Cooper's Hawks were born last spring in the tallest tree behind the synagogue. When they were able to fly away from the nest, they could be seen sitting on the edge of the synagogue's roof. (Seen at dusk in the photo on the right).

photography by JUDY

The 2020 Audubon Photography Awards: Top 100

Click on the link below to see the Top 100 photos from the 2020 Audubon Photography Awards that Judy thought you would enjoy.

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/summer-2020/the-2020-audubon-photography-awards-top-100

Here's to your creativity and success with edits to your Smartphone Photos. Enjoy!

photography by MARJ

The photo (left) was taken of Marj (RSD-Tu) at Niagara Falls. Great photo of Marj and the Falls!

The photo (right) are the baby geese at the King Wolf Animal Sanctuary. Those of you in the Thursday class on July 23 may remember that they where picked up at the post office by Lori and her wife before our class on Thursday morning. The bathtub has been their new home. Looks like they are ready to explore further!

The virtual tour of the King Wolf Animal Sanctuary on July 21, 2020 (click on images), made such an impression on Marj that she arranged with Lori (the co-owner) for another Zoom tour for her grandchildren just two weeks later. Click on RSD-Voices to read more from Marj.

Photography by Sumiko

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