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Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for June 16, 2013

Seaside Gardens, Carpinteria, California

This ever so slightly other-worldly garden is at the beautiful Seaside Gardens in Carpinteria. Seaside Gardens is both a Botanical Garden and a nursery. So you can not only be inspired, but they can send you home with the plants to make your own garden paradise. (and no I don't work for them, but I really love to wander their beautiful gardens with my camera).
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Sun, 16 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_16_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_15_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for June 15, 2013

Santa Barbara Harbor at Twilight

I love to look at the boats at the Santa Barbara Harbor, think about how much fun each one would be. I'm not the worlds expert on watercraft, but I know enough to spot the nice wood sailboats that are beautiful (but a lot of work), and the crusiers that look like they could almost be an appartment inside, and the beautiful racing boats. It seems like they must each have a story and they are just waiting for the next chance to go out and write another chapter. But in the evening like this they sway peacefully in their slips dreaming of the open water.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Sat, 15 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_15_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_14_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for June 14, 2013

The Dolphin Family Fountain, Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, California

This beautiful fountain is at the base of Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara. The Dolphins were sculpted by local artist Bud Bottoms, who is also the creator of the very cool whale tail benches you might see around Santa Barbara from the Harbor to La Arcada Plaza. This evening the sunset was a perfect backdrop for the beautiful Santa Barbara landmark.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Fri, 14 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_14_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_11_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for June 11, 2013



The gardens at the Carmel Mission. The mission just underwent a major restoration and only recently shrugged off the massive scaffolding around the main sanctuary. It's looking even more beautiful than ever thanks to the dedicated people who are preserving this beautiful landmark!
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Tue, 11 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_11_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_9_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for June 9, 2013

Harry's Plaza Cafe, a locals' favorite, Santa Barbara, California

Harry's Plaza Cafe, a local landmark. Many locals have spent a lot of time in Harry's. This was taken as a gift for someone who's father was a long time patron. Something to remind her of fun days and her fathers favorte place.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Sun, 09 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_9_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_8_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for June 8, 2013

Harry's Plaza Cafe on upper State Street in Santa Barbara

Harry's Plaza Cafe, just off of upper State Street is a local's spot not on the beaten path. But it has a warm spot in the hearts of many long time patrons!
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Sat, 08 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_8_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_6_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for June 6, 2013

Point Pinos Lighthouse, Pacific Grove, California

This beautiful little lighthouse is on the northern most tip of the Monterey Peninsula. At night it's quite bright, but there's always someone around with a bigger light, and this time of day there's no comparison. Still it's quite a beautiful spot! The Point Pinos Lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places, Reference #77000312
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Thu, 06 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_6_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_5_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for June 5, 2013

The Setting Sun over the Santa Barbara Hills

Sunset over Santa Barbara. This is the kind of sunset that perplexes people about Santa Barbara. On the west coast you'd probably expect the sun to set over the ocean. The thing is, we're along a stretch of the California coast that faces south. There are spots at the right time of year where you can see a beautiful ocean sunset. But in general the ocean is to the south, the mountains are to the north and the sun sets somehwere in between.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Wed, 05 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_5_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_3_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for June 3, 2013

Lenticular Clouds over Sandpiper Golf Course in Goleta, California

On any day Sandpiper Golf Course in Goleta is an amazing spot to chase a little white ball around or to just enjoy some of the most beautiful views the Santa Barbara area has to offer. Then there are the really spectacular days, the ones with clouds that have so much texture in the clear air that you're sure you could reach out and touch them. The days with sunsets that stretch color from horizon to horizon. This was absolutely one of those days.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Mon, 03 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/June_3_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_28_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for May 28, 2013

Surfers playing in the high tide at Butterfly Beach in Montecito, California

Last week as the high tides were coming in right at sunset the waves really picked up. The tide was so high there wasn't much beach left, but it was great to watch from the sidewalk. Of course there are always the adventurous ones.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Tue, 28 May 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_28_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_27_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for May 27, 2013

Pink Epiphyllum Hybrid Blossom

Ok, before you just dismiss this as just another flower, you should know this is a pretty cool plant. This is an Epiphyllum (or Hylocereus) Hybrid. It's a cactus similar to a christmas cactus, but bigger in every way. The pads are several feet long, and this blossom is about 9 inches across. His ancestors, were pure white and lived in one of the most unlikely places imaginable for a cactus, the canopy of Central American jungles, just like orchids (hence Epiphyllum, an epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant, like an orchid.) If that is not interesting enough, the large white blossoms of their ancestors bloomed in the evening for only one night. Why? Because their pollinators are nocturnal and some have fairly bad eyesight... bats and some large moths. I've always loved these plants. I have more than I really have room for, and each one is an amazing beauty.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Mon, 27 May 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_27_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_26_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for May 26, 2013

Evening Fog rolling in over Goleta, California

This angle is from the foothills just outside Santa Barbara. Overlooking the city of Goleta (our next-door neighbors, AKA "The Good Land"). The fog was rolling in quickly the night I took this. About ten minutes after this shot there were no discernible points of light. Well not on the ground anyway. The stars were still amazing! In fact you can just make aout some of the Milky Way in the left side of the photo.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Sun, 26 May 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_26_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_25_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for May 25, 2013

Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens, Santa Barbara, California

This is Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens, one of the most amazing spots right in the middle of downtown Santa Barbara. At one point they wanted to turn this piece of land into a very large condo development. Fortunately thanks to some dedicated people, we have a place only a couple blocks from our main city street, State Street where you can enjoy a retreat from the concrete and steel (or in our case the stucco and red tile roofs).
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Sat, 25 May 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_25_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_24_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for May 24, 2013

Lights After Sunset at the Santa Barbara Harbor

Hanging around the Santa Barbara Harbor in the evenings this time of year is not only wonderful for photography, but it's a nice cool place... literally! We've had quite a few hot days lately, and the harbor and wharf are my favorite places on a hot day.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Fri, 24 May 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_24_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_23_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for May 23, 2013

Santa Barbara Mission Rose Garden Sunset

An amazing sunset at the Santa Barbara Mission rose garden. The Roses are in full bloom this time of year, it's a wonderful time to visit the Mission and wander around the grounds. If you have really good timing you can experience a spectacular spiring evening with amazing beauty in every direction.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Thu, 23 May 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_23_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_22_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for May 22, 2013

Blue Moon rising over the bluff at Butterfly Beach in Montecito California

Once in a blue moon... The full moonrise is quite a sight to see in itself, the moon on the horizon looks so large and beautiful. But on an evening like this there is actually enough light reflected by the amazing moon to photograph our beautiful landscapes and beaches. The cool lighting gives the beach a completely different feel from only an hour before when the sunset glow bathed it in warmth.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_22_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_21_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for May 21, 2013

Cypress Tree over Butterfly Beach in Montecito

This is one of my favorite trees in the Santa Barbara area. A beautiful Cypress that hangs out over Butterfly Beach in Montecito. It always makes a beautiful frame for the lights of Santa Barbara in the distance.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_21_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_20_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for May 20, 2013

Santa Barbara Mission Cross After Dark

One evening when we were at the Santa Barbara Mission we noticed someone playing ball with their dog in the field by the mission rose garden. The really interesting thing for my camera is they were playing with a ball that had a light in it. It was a lot of fun watching the ball move back and forth, it was too dark to really see the dog, but it was obvious where he was. In the end, there were too many cars to get an interesting shot of the ball, although it is in there bouncing under the big tree at the left. The fun thing is the shot came out beautifully anyway.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Mon, 20 May 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_20_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_19_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for May 19, 2013

Blueberres ready for picking at Santa Barbara Blueberries

Yesterday we went to Buelton to pick Blueberries at a great little spot, Santa Barbara Blueberries. They have a wide variety of bushes so you can find your favorite ones. It's just the beginning of their season and they are only open limited hours, so be sure to check out their Facebook page for updates.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Sun, 19 May 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_19_2013/ http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_18_2013/
Bill Heller's Photo of the Day for May 18, 2013

The Moon - Waxing Crescent

I've always loved taking pictures at night. The golden hour is just the start of the show for me. There was a time when I would sit still counting the seconds for multiple minute exposures on my film camera, trying to get every available photon. These days some of those same photos can nearly be taken hand-held at 10,000 ISO. But this is one shot that still requires a good tripod. Not as much becuase of the darkness, the moon is actually quite bright. But the fact that with the teleconverter this image was taken at 1200mm, and it was taken on a tripod that was a little wobbley for the job too. Nonetheless it held up and did a wonderful job.
]]> RSS@BillHeller.com (Bill Heller) Sat, 18 May 2013 07:00:00 -0800 http://www.BillsPhotoOfTheDay.com/May_18_2013/