PATTERNS AND TONES

"Destination: Lemon Cove Orchards No. 1" 2018 Citrus groves in central California should replace the bear on our state flag. They have played a larger role in our economy and are a quintessential symbol of our abundance and a direct product of the sun our state is known for. After visiting the Sequoia's we drove through the lovely little town of Lemon Cove in the San Joaquin Valley. With a population of 308 people and over a billion oranges and lemons, the citrus definitely outnumber the humans. This picturesque stretch of California reminded me once again what our state must have looked like 100 years ago. Dirt roads lead to old Victorian ranches and barns surrounded by century old King Palm trees shading them from the hot central valley sun. The unending cycle of seasons, planting, growth and harvesting had carved a well worn path that dominated this farming culture. You could feel the balance of both knowing what to expect and hard work rewarded with the sounds...

"Destination: Grants Grove No. 1" 2018 WIKIPEDIA: General Grant Gove,  a section of the greater  Kings Canyon National Park , was established by the US Congress in 1890 and is located in Fresno County, California. The primary attraction of General Grant Grove is the giant sequoia trees that populate the grove. General Grant Grove's most well-known tree is the  General Grant Tree , which is 267 feet tall and  the third largest known tree in the world .  The General Grant Tree is over 1,500 years old and is known as the United States's national Christmas Tree.  General Grant Grove consists of 154 acres and is geographically isolated from the rest of Kings Canyon National Park. One cannot go into the trees without coming out humbled... Julie Green March 30, 2018 "Destination: Grants Grove No. 2" 2018 "Destination: Grants Grove No. 3" 2018 "Destination: Grants Grove No. 4" 2018 "Destination: Grants Grov...

“Destination: Badger No. 1” 2018 On a trip to Sequoia National Park last year, we drove through a small town called Badger where time felt as though it had stopped. Old barns, small wooden huts and hay shelters dotted the hillside and captured my imagination. Oak trees crowded out the sky and their twisted branches added to the timelessness of the place. In the middle of the day it felt like dusk. With a population of 140 people in this Tulare County community, I felt as though I had been whisked through a wormhole and dropped into the middle of the United States back in the 30's. The old wooden planks had a slight sheen of moss growing on the shaded side of each structure and their rooves were made from sheets of corrugated tin. I can only imagine what it would sound like during a storm. I grew up with old barns like this out in the undisturbed fields behind our track homes. I was always intrigued by their man made walls sagging from the weight of time and seasons. They s...

"Destination: Pine Mountain Club No. 1" 2018 Last November we took a trip up the Grapevine during a storm and ended up seeing the most dazzling display of nature in the San Emigdio Mountain community of Pine Mountain Club.  I have driven past the small towns dotting the sides of the road through the Tejon Pass a million times but have rarely stopped except for gas. It was time to take a closer look, so we chose a town deep in the woods to explore. On our way to our local destination, I imagined that the local population was like other mountain communities, close knit and hard working with the punctuation of vistiors occasionally being seen in town. I quickly felt as though we had driven to another state. Nature ruled and the effects of humanity were less apparent. The curling smoke from a chimney could be seen in the depths of the pine valley and the road was the only guide that lead us deeper into Bear country. This series of photographs were taken directly from my...

"Destination: Bridgeport No. 1" 2018 It was a few days after the 4th of July when we rolled into the town old mining town of Bridgeport. I sometimes forget that these dusty foothill towns exist and it was delightful to spend a few nights in this historic corner of California. Walking around after dinner, I couldn't help but capture the recent trappings of Independence Day. American flags waived from every building, pole and car. With the Victorian backdrop, time really did stand still. The prominent 1880 Mono County courthouse on Main Street is the 2nd oldest courthouse still operating in California. It would have looked right at home in San Francisco with its Italianate facade and large 23,000 square footprint sitting up on Nob Hill. I also visited the local community church and jail to round out my tour of this Eastern Sierra town. Julie Green March 9, 2019 "Destination: Bridgeport No. 2" 2018 "Destination: Bridgeport No. 3" 201...

“Destination: Bodie State Historic Park No. 1” 2018 Traveling down the Eastern Sierra's last summer, I was finally able to visit and photograph the legendary ghost town of Bodie. This deserted gold-mining town looks just like a Hollywood set but has actually been preserved and was designated a State Historic Park in 1961. Once a booming town of 10,000 people, Bodie nows sits quietly in the Bodie Hills east of the Sierra Nevada mountain rang in Mono County. I've been hesitant to capture this decaying landmark because it is so overly photographed. There are multiple  photography workshops  you can attend during the day and numerous excursions to photograph it at night. It has been shot from every angle and documented to death. I usually stay far away from locations like this. But since I was on vacation and it IS a very photogenic subject, I decided to capture it for posterity. This series of photographs only shows  the outside structures. I shot quite a few int...