Seeing reflections

I am always looking for interesting pictures. This is the Downey High School fence that runs along Brookshire Avenue. I liked how the the edges of the fence picked up so much reflection from all the street lights.


"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." 
~ Henry David Thoreau

Reflection of rain

We have had an enormous amount of rain in the past couple of months and it seems there are puddles of all shapes and sizes around Downey. This is one of the alleys in Orange Estates. It would have been a better picture had I been willing to step into the puddle so I could have had the reflection of the palm trees on one side and the line of electrical poles on the other. However, I was wearing a pair of my favorite Uggs and opted for a less impressive reflection photo.

According to the forecast, we will have about 5 days until more rain is expected. I wonder how long until it starts making an impact on our drought.

A different view

This morning started out sunny and beautiful, and reflections were everywhere. Reflections provide a new perspective on something familiar, and this view of the top portion of the Yosemite Falls is no exception.

But the promised rain did come, and the clouds hovered The misty clouds hovered around the tops and sides of the cliffs, and provided a new perspective of Half Dome.

It rained today

Sorry, but here in southern California, that's news. It started in the late morning and has continued for most of the day. I took this photograph during a lull in the storm this evening around 9:00 pm. That's probably why there are no children on the swings. You know, if you hold a camera's shutter open long enough, enough light gets in and it can look like daytime. But it's not.

But it's the reflections that intrigue a photographer. What is the difference between the light from the lamppost and the reflective light from the puddle in the street? To me, it's fascinating. What do you think? Claude Monet made a living out of painting reflections in a pond.

“What keeps my heart awake is colorful silence.”
~ Claude Monet

Puddle pros and cons

When my daughter was young, there was nothing she liked better than when I would drive through a puddle and cause huge plumes of water to rise on both sides of the car. Today's rain reminded me of that, and made me think about some of the pros and cons of puddles.

Puddles can be fun. Kids (and dogs) love to splash about through a puddle. And puddles make for beautiful reflections, such as in the picture on the left. On the other hand, if you're a pedestrian, those same plumes of water raised by passing cars can soak you in seconds. And puddles like the one on the right are very intimidating. How far will you have to walk out of your way before you can find a place to cross this street?

Riverbed reflections

Before our riverbeds were encased in concrete, our Downey rivers were meandering creeks most of the year. But in the winter rains, they turned into dangerous rivers that carried away everything in the flood plains that they overflowed. Downey is in one of those flood plains, so it's thanks to these ugly concrete walls that we weren't at risk during the recent rainstorms.

Now that it's been dry for a week, the Rio Hondo River is nearly, but not quite, back to normal. There's still enough water in the riverbed to completely cover the bottom, and to form reflections, whether it's the sky above or the power lines stretching off into the distance.

Reflections, in pine

I am always drawn to reflections. Here you see not only the pines reflected, but also lost leaves floating in the water. These pines are beautiful, majestic, but here, as reflections, they are somehow less imposing; even still, they hold a kind of mystery, a magic.

"Children see magic because they look for it."
~ Christopher Moore

Still waters

Although there is not a lot of water in the Rio Hondo riverbed right now, there was enough to get a reflection of the bridge that crosses over by Crawford Park. While this bridge is not particularly special, it made for an intriguing reflection. I find it interesting that often the reflection of a thing is more appealing than the item that is being reflected.

"Reflections are a second chance to see the wonder." 
~ Anonymous

Reflections

Pam posted yesterday about the Rio San Gabriel riverbed. Here is a view of the Rio Hondo riverbed with a double culvert that was reflected in the water. I find it peaceful to walk along the riverbed and to be able to enjoy a variety of sights. Overall, I think I just really appreciate the beauty that surrounds us on a daily basis.

"Beauty is truth - truth, beauty - that is all Ye know on earth, and all ye need to know."
~ John Keats

Alternate perspectives

One of the things I enjoy about the rain is the puddles that surround us afterwards. Everywhere you look, you get glimpses of a different perspective of the world around you.

I passed this puddle while I was looking at the old doors of the United Methodist Church yesterday.

"Nothing illuminates alternate perspectives like reflections in rain puddles on a dead end road."
~ Jason Andrea

Reflecting on the sunset

Looking back the opposite direction from Friday's post, one can see the colors of the sunset magnified in the large windows of the CareMore building.

Flipping, cutting, scooping

And now, one final view from Downey Gateway with this three-in-one picture. There's the Burger City Grill logo inside over the order counter, the colorful window display, and the reflection of the setting sun on the building behind us.

Big city reflections

It was a great time of reflection in the big city last week.  After we visited Vincent Court, we were in search of a fun place to eat breakfast.  We headed for an iconic LA eatery, the Original Pantry Cafe (which I have wanted to try for years ). Unfortunately the line was too long and we had to settle for a less historic place for a quick bite.

Back on the streets, heading for our car, we began to notice how the glass of these buildings did such a good job of reflecting the puffy clouds and the colors of the surrounding structures. I hadn't "seen" the reflections earlier. Perhaps the sky had been more gray or the sun hidden behind clouds. But, all of a sudden, the reflections were there—dramatic and vibrant.

It was a beautiful way to start our day.

"Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."
~ Confucius

Reflections

There are many things I like about this scene. The late afternoon sunlight that turns the buildings golden.  The contrast of the old downtown storefronts reflected in the modern glass building across the street. And the bare branches through which you can see all of this.

This picture was taken a few weeks ago. I imagine that these trees are showing signs of spring by now. I love spring, but I also love how the bare, wiggy lines of the branches let you see scenes like this.

Holiday reflection

Even though Christmas is over, you can still find Christmas decorations all around town. It's always fun to come across more. (I will really miss them when they are gone.) These bulbs were hanging from a Frangipani plant.

This "Christmas tree" is really a bush that has grown around a road sign that someone covered in lights. One more way people find to reflect the holiday spirit.

Reflection

Our final destination on the east coast was Washington DC. The city is big and bustling, but I found that from most places we visited, we could still view the Washington Monument, which allowed me to get my bearings.

Standing 555 feet high, the Washington Monument is the world's tallest stone structure. Completed in 1884, it commemorates our first president, George Washington. It is pretty impressive. Here, it is still "with us" as we paddle around the Potomac.

The advantages of looking down

It can pay off to look down while you walk.

It can keep your feet dry.

And now and then, it can reflect back your surroundings and make you see them from a whole new perspective.

Time to reflect

It rained all last night. It was a soothing sound outside my window, but I was happy when it stopped because it always makes for such a nice walk the morning after it has rained.

The streets were wet and  the remaining puddles reflected the trees and houses nearby.

I find myself looking for the raindrops left on the flowers. I am always hoping to find the ones that show miniature reflections in them as well. I don't think I caught any in today's photos, I will just have to keep trying.

The wheel thing

Classic cars have so much character and they are fun to photograph. So, I'm always on the lookout. I spotted this beautiful old Ford in a restaurant parking lot and had to pop out and snap a picture. If you enlarge it, you can see my reflection in the hubcap. 

Windows within windows

The entrance of the Krikorian Theater provides an interesting reflection of the office buildings opposite.