All images 2019 Creative Commons for non-commerical use only, please credit Casondra Sobieralski.
I joined Ruah and her friends for Christmas Eve dinner at Joe's, an Italian restaurant with a cozy fireplace and an accordion player on Fourth Street in San Rafael. (That's a town in Marin, just north of San Francisco.)
I went across the Golden Gate Bridge early with the intention of going to a beach to shoot some photos. I tend to shoot in high contrast light, whereas "seasoned" photographers extol the value of diffuse light. So I wanted to challenge myself to find the subtle light plays born of the combination of a dense coastal marine layer and the slanted rays of near-solstice.
But it was soooo cold!!!! The beach was only going to be colder and windy! So instead I parked early near my dinner destination, and decided to explore Fourth Street, which I normally dart down, at a leisurely pace with my camera. Then I could warm my fingers from time to time by ducking into structures/stores. :)
I started in the San Rafael Mission (1817), though that leg was not leisurely because the church was filling for a mass. I had to shoot quickly and scadaddle. Then I made my way up and down the street as the darkness deepened, providing a symbiotic backdrop for the holiday and other lights.
Most of these images will yield a lot more detail and delight if you click to enlarge after catching the captions. :)
San Rafael Mission facade with top of manger
I offer this photo to all the xenophobes and wall builders for reflection
San Rafael Mission, looking towards town
San Rafael Mission, interior towards altar
San Rafael Mission, nativity scene
San Rafael Mission, Roman torture techniques with pagan tree
San Rafael Mission, poinsettia with organ pipes
San Rafael Mission, poinsettia foreground, tree background
San Rafael Mission, poinsettia with zigzags through the x-plane
San Rafael Mission, altar towards back
San Rafael Mission, close up of wreath
(my favorite shot from the mission)
San Rafael Mission, lots of fun shapes and planes
San Rafael Mission, wreath with stained glass
San Rafael Mission, roses and baby's breath
San Rafael Mission, Virgin of Guadalupe
San Rafael Mission, wreath and garland with time
Then walking about Fourth Street...
Teddy bear in basket
Toy soldier sentry at ATM
Dual reflections from across the street
Toy soldier with art
Toy soldiers, a psychological portrait
Tough sports mama, a psychological portrait
Retro kids
Retro kids offset by tough sports mama: a tale of time travel and gender
(subtitle: "Glad I missed that shitty historical period of domestic enslavement," she says)
Ho ho ho NORAD spots Santa shopping for a magic carpet--far shot
Ho ho ho NORAD spots Santa shopping for a magic carpet--medium shot
Toy soldier warns you
Christmas tree in back corner of barber shop
Yes, please
Looking towards San Rafael Mission at dusk
(Please notice how sharp I got that tree park with that slow shutter speed because I am proud of that, no tripod, thanks.)
Wish upon a star
Lights, camera
Green strand with flowers
Edgar Allen Poe branches, lit from below
Edgar Allen Poe branches II
Shadow of an illuminated tree
Fourth street as the darkness feathers in
Don't punch the window Mom, it's retro irony
Don't punch the window, Mom, it's retro irony--wider angle shot
(Whatever happened to Charo anyway?)
Winter scene with car
Winter couple
Blended realities/non-realities
He's gonna find out who's naughty and nice
Santa Claus is comin' to town
Santa with geode
Fiat Lux!
~Peace on Earth~
