Friday, December 27, 2019

Christmas Eve in San Rafael California, Arrived Early for Dinner on 4th Street

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~

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