Just Jennifer

One of our Videomaker forum readers spent the early morning hours of the first day of summer recording the sun rising for the Summer Solstice last weekend. He made some really pretty video.

It made me want to go out and shoot video again. I’ve been rather uninspired lately, I haven’t felt the urge to pick up the camera and shoot for anything in particular.

For several years, now, I’ve only been shooting stills or videos for family, friends and “acquaintances”(read that “my friend said you’d do this for free or maybe for a small price..”) I know, it’s my fault, but I’m getting burned out on it all. Seeing this video put together by Ken Carlson, and reading his post, made me wonder why I quit… did life just get in the way?

Read Ken’s post here:

http://videomaker.com/community/forums/topic/solstice-sunrise

I remember watching the moon set every night for a week one time, waiting for that one shot I knew would come when it planted itself right between these two palm trees on the horizon as the sun barely began to pink the sky behind me. I sat up all night waiting… and the shot was worth it, it was the right time of year and the right time of morning for this incredible photo opportunity. Hum. I wonder what ever happened to that footage?

It made me realize I need to get my video groove back on and take a vacation.

I’ve been riding my bike again because the weather has been so fine. We’ve had the most unseasonably spring-like weather, and for us, Summer starts long before the Summer Soltice.

In the old days, that is, those before Global Warming, the heatwave in Northern California usually began about mid-April, and stayed with us up to just before Halloween. Our “spring” and “fall” weather was usually 2 to 3 weeks long, at the most. Then the temps would be in the high 80s to the 100s… for weeks on end. For 2 or 3 years in a row, now, we’ve had very mild weather until around the 4th of July. I did a great “Music Photo Essay” on the heatwave for a news station one time, I’ll have to dig it up and link it here someday.

Last year, we had those horrible record-breaking fires that nearly demolished nearby towns and put a lot of people out on the streets. The smoke kept the heat down and our sky was overcast form April until October.

I’m hoping the summer will be more sunny this year, as a California Girl, it’s just too strange NOT to have it hot! Besides, I need an excuse to go to the beach. We always had our summer vacation trek in Pismo Beach. In the summertime in Pismo, the weather is balmy, sometimes even cold. The sky is foggy, and it’s always a welcome relief from the Central California Dessert heat!

In a few weeks, you can find me here: basking by the seashore.

Heaven on Earth.