The Mission Submission Part 2

Today will be my last post of the year which ends this Saturday. But first, I would like to plug my best friend Charlie's site Terms of Enbeerment. It is a site dedicated to Quality beer, whether it be mass produced or not. He offers reviews of breweries, information on different styles of craft beers and he shares a behind the scenes look on the production on beer. Everything you ever wanted to know about one of the most bought products in the world today. Prepare to be amazed. Drink Quality, not Quantity.

Today, I'm continuing my picture post from Tuesday. The majority of these pictures today are from the two missions I spent a decent amount of time at, The incredibly haunted La Purisima Concepcion and Mission San Juan Capistrano.

La Purisima Concepcion is located in Lompac, CA. Its about a twenty minute drive off the 101 freeway at the exit for Buelton and Solvang. As one of the two missions owned by the State Parks division of the State of California, it was restored to its original look and feel and then made into a state historic site. This mission was more amazing then all of the other 15 I visited because it has a fully functional farm on the premesis as well as a natural well with a mini aqueduct going to the settlement.

I had a blast looking at the pigs in general. Both of them  were a trip because they had major character. Just make sure to stay away from the church and the living quarters, because they are supposedly haunted. I walked through them quickly so the ghosts wouldn't follow me home! Thanks to Susie for pointing the mission out to me before I went on my trip.

The other mission I visited was San Juan Capistrano. Its the closest to where I live in Anaheim. Just a short 30 minute ride down the 5 freeway. I was originally going to hit this one up on my trip to San Diego, but I have no clue when I'm going and I was bored on a Saturday. There is much to see here. The most interesting spot is the ruins of the old chapel. It was massive and impressive. When I develop my film, I have a good shot of whats left. You can see the outside of it in the picture below with the two bells. In the spring time, you can see the swallows as they return from their winter migration. A real great place to check out all around.

Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA

Mission San Rafael
San Rafael, CA

Mission San Rafael
San Rafael, CA

Mission La Purisima Concepcion
Lompac, CA

Mission San Francisco De Asis
San Francisco, CA

Mission San Francisco De Asis
San Francisco, CA

Mission La Purisima Concepcion
Lompac, CA

Mission La Purisima Concepcion
Lompac, CA

Mission La Purisima Concepcion
Lompac, CA

Mission La Purisima Concepcion
Lompac, CA

Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA

Mission La Purisima Concepcion
Lompac, CA

Mission La Purisima Concepcion
Lompac, CA

Mission La Purisima Concepcion
Lompac, CA

Mission La Purisima Concepcion
Lompac, CA

Mission La Purisima Concepcion
Lompac, CA

Mission La Purisima Concepcion
Lompac, CA

Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA

Mission Santa Ines
Solvang, CA

Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA

Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA

Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA

Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA

Mission San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano, CA

Does anybody have any recommendations on historic places for me to visit? Preferable in the states or the west coast area. I don't have a passport yet. :'-(

Take care and have a nice day!

El Camino Mission Submission

Before I start in with my subject for today, I would like to recommend a great blog for my fellow craft beer enthusiasts. Terms of Enbeerment. He gives reviews on new and different styles of beers as well as breweries and special events. Thanks!.

I'm still waiting on developing my three rolls of film from my most recent project And I thought I would let you all in a sneak peek at some of the places I visited on my little trip after Christmas.

One of the most important issues when setting up a project is to be specific. By specific I mean the lowest common denominator with your subject. I didn't really understand this point that my teacher tried to make when I was taking my portfolio class, and that ultimately led to my failing the class. It was a horrible failure, too. One that made me not want to return to the photo department of that school.

When I decided to take a mini vacation, I was thinking of all the different places I could afford to travel to. Las Vegas was my first choice, but then I thought about trying to find something to do there and realized how bad of an idea that was. Then, I thought back to my time in my portfolio class and remembered that I wanted to do something involving El Camino Real. Now that's an idea.

I scoured the internet for information on this incredibly old, and mostly forgotten,  path and how interesting it would be to drive it. I had never driven past San Jose either, so it would end up being a wonderful experience. The only problem was that it was just to darn broad of a subject.

I went back to the drawing board to be more specific on what I would like to document. Whats interesting, what interests me, and what do I want to get out of this trip. My second thought on a subject was the 21 missions spread out along this beautiful road. Even that was too broad of a subject! Then it hit me. Not in the way where I was walking down the street and I wasn't paying attention and I walked straight into it, but there it was in my picture set from Downtown Anaheim. There is a bell that is a road marker for El Camino Real right in front of the city hall!

Surprisingly, there are very few websites documenting the bell, with information or pictures of the bells at any of the missions. Each mission actually still has its original bell. Well, i think there are a few that don't have the original but they have a different one that was made by Caltrans or Southern California Auto Club in the early to mid 1900s.

Well, enough of my babblings. Here are some of my side shots from my trip. I think I have only about 12 of the missions visible on this set. I was shooting with film so I was more focused on that over taking digital shots. Plus my schedule was VERY tight. I'm amazed I was able to visit as many missions as I did.

About a block away from Mission San Gabriel.
San Gabriel, CA

Mission San Gabriel
San Gabriel, CA

Mission Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA

Mission San Gabriel
San Gabriel, CA

Mission San Buenaventura
Ventura, CA

Mission Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA

Mission San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo, CA

That car is a BEAST!!!! On the road back from Mission Soledad
Soledad, CA

Mission San Miguel
San Miguel, CA

Mission San Miguel
San Miguel, CA

Under Mission San Luis Obispo. I guess this is where the bums go to sleep
San Luis Obispo, CA

I think  this one was taken at Mission San Miguel
San Miguel, CA

Mission San Miguel
San Miguel, CA

On the road to Mission Soledad

Mission San Juan Bautista
San Juan Bautista, CA

This cat saw both cameras around my neck and wanted its picture taken. And now its soul belongs to me!!! Bwahahaha
San Juan Bautista, CA

Mini Aquaduct built by the people who lived at the mission.
Mission La Purisima Concepcion
Lompac, CA

Mission San Juan Bautista
San Juan Bautista, CA

Mission Santa Clara de Asis
Santa Clara, CA

Mission Santa Clara de Asis
Santa Clara, CA

Mission Santa Clara de Asis
Santa Clara, CA

Mission San Jose
Fremont, CA

Mission San Jose
Fremont, CA

Mission Santa Ines
Solvang, CA

I started posting the pictures and realized I had Wayyyyy too many to digest on one post. Part two will come out this Thursday. Stay tuned!

12 on 12-12-12

On the same day as the Offical release of Stone's Vertical Epic 12-12-12, I undertook the challenge set on me from Susie from here. On the specified day of the month, you take the amount of pictures equal to the date. In this case 12, on the hour every hour for 12 hours. This was a difficult task for me because I actually had a decent amount of work to accomplish today. Here is a sane look to a quasi sane person moonlighting as insane.

My kitty Kyooki before I went to work. She is 16lbs btw and very heavy when she decides to sleep on your legs while your asleep.

First computer I had to work on today.

Here is our attick at my office. I've been having to mess with the network cables up here since we got some new switches.

Nice view of our parking lot. Unfortunately, my car does not make a cameo in this picture.

Ever wonder what an IT person's desk looks like? keep wondering, like we do. Its always messy.

Wonder what I was watching on my lunch break? Too bad it wasn't "The Best in the World". Just the Undertaker vs The Rock.

The clouds on my way home this afternoon.

A little after work recreation at my favorite brewery.

My bad ass guitar in between my favorite bands!

Spongers Unite!

The Nectar of the gods

I had one picture left, so why not take a shot of the dog. She hates cameras too.

God, I need a burger. I think Alcatraz is on my agenda later this week. If you're on the west coast, Drive safe in all of this rain. Slow down, the streets are slick for a day or two. I'll have my next set in a couple of days Thanks for stopping by.