Keyhole Arch at Sunset, Big Sur, California, December 4, 2023

 We heard about this phenomenon over a year ago and were looking forward to seeing and photographing and videographing this effect for ourselves. During the winter season, the setting sun lines up with the opening in Keyhole Arch, a sea arch at Pfeiffer Beach in the Big Sur area. We checked on the azimuth of the setting sun during the dates that were recommended in an online article from a couple of years ago and then checked with timeanddate.com to see when the sun would be setting at that same angle before the winter solstice.

We ventured to Pfeiffer Beach on December 3, 2023, but the skies were cloudy and only saw a white glow through the arch from the sun. The next day December 4th was clear and we were able to see the setting sun cast this fiery glow through the arch.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story.

Columbine flowering in the Snake River Canyon. Idaho

We found this columbine flowering along the Snake River Canyon near Twin Falls, Idaho. It was along the trail to the Perrine Coulee Waterfall. We stopped to get pictures of them on our way back. These flowers are pollinated mainly by hummingbirds. 

Image taken with a Samsung A52, 5.23 mm, f1.8, 1/120 sec. ISO 40

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!

Great Blue Heron stalking gophers on the Monterey Peninsula

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While driving around the Monterey Peninsula, we saw this great blue heron beside the road at a city park. After we watched and photographed him for a while, we realized he was hunting gophers, the animals that made the mounds he was walking over. We even saw it take a stab at the ground trying to snag one, unsuccessfully. The blood stains on his bill especially visible in the closeup photo may indicate that he has been successful in past attempts. 

We drove on later to look at more parts of the peninsula, and then, when it started raining, we turned around and headed back. This heron was still there, on the hunt.

The first image was taken with a Canon Powershot SX530 HS at f5.6, 1/100 sec, ISO 100, 51.9 mm.

The closeup was taken with a Canon EOS 90D with a 100-400 mm zoom lens at 400 mm with 1/125 sec., f5.6 at ISO 400 exposure.

Remember, it's not just a picture, it's a story!