Poetic Shutterbug

Stow lake is located in Golden Gate Park and is the largest and most popular lake in the area.  It was created in 1893 and houses a boat rental facility and surrounds Strawberry Hill which was named for the wild strawberries that once flourished there.  It truly is a nature lover's paradise.   The foliage and lake are not only scenic but provide a haven for wildlife. This Chinese pagoda was presented to San Francisco by its sister city Taipei in 1976 and resides on the shores of Stow Lake. I am participating in Scenic Weekends

Lloyd Lake in Golden Gate Park Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park Alvord Lake in Golden Gate Park Visit Weekend Reflections  

Claude the albino alligator swimming underwater at the California Academy of Sciences. @ Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park @ Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park @ Ocean Beach in San Francisco Visit Weekend Reflections for more great reflective photography Click the above widget for more Camera Critters fun.

Photos taken at Stow Lake and the San Francisco Botanical Garden.  Click the above widget for more camera critters fun.

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Adjacent to Stow Lake and the Chinese Pavilion in Golden Gate Park is a waterfall which attracts many visitors. It resides amongst the trees and foliage on the side of a hill surrounded by rocks and stones which you can see in these photos. I've seen it many times but what struck me the other day was the white foam which in person looks like white lava. It had a very surreal look so I had to get some shots of the water. I wanted to take some video but my batteries were dying. I had already taken over three hundred photos that day. I know, I'm a snap happy shutterbug :) Click here for more Watery Wednesday Photos.

Spreckles Lake is located in the outer Richmond district of San Francisco within Golden Gate Park. Unlike Stow Lake which is surrounded by lush foliage, trees and plant life, Spreckles lake is very stark and almost has a huge swimming pool feel to it. The only thing that attracts me to this lake is the bird wildlife. There are ducks, geese, fish, turtles, seagulls and of course your everyday blackbirds and pigeons of which you can get up close and personal. They waddle right up to you and just hang out. It is so much fun watching them, studying their behavior and of course getting them on camera. Hope you enjoy the photos.

Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park is one of the most popular tourist attractions in San Francisco. This beautiful lake is man made and was completed in it's entirety in 1893. It is a circular lake which surrounds the island Strawberry Hill. It is located in between Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy Drive. Here is a shortcut in getting there. If you walk west on Martin Luther King Drive, there is a path right behind the Japanese Tea Garden. Take that path a few steps and keep looking towards your left. When you see the stairway, climb up the stairs and Stow Lake is right there. If you are driving, there is parking available around the perimeter of Stow Lake. This lake is not only a tourist attraction but a favorite among locals who live in the area. It's a great way to enjoy nature and get some walking exercise. I personally know many people who walk there each morning. The lake is home to bird life which include mallard ducks, seagulls, Canadian Geese, the occasi...

All photos and video taken by me at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park Well, I am pretty pleased with myself. I've gone from not having any bird photos to taking dozens of closeups of these feathered critters. It all began with the Red Shouldered Hawk at the Botanical Gardens and continued through Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park. I still have a montage of Stow Lake to bring you and will soon. I've just been very lazy since my book was released. While in the area at Stow Lake, the bird wildlife plays and commingles with us humans. They are everywhere. They are in the lake, waddling around the grounds, swimming along the paddle boats and basically just hanging out and entertaining us humans. They are friendly, playful and very loving if you feed them. The video at the end of this post depicts a feeding frenzy. I tried very hard not to get the humans in the shot. I went there twice within a week and really enjoyed it. It is a hop, skip and a jump from the Botanical Gardens so i...

All Photos taken by me @ The Chinese Pavilion in Golden Gate Park While trekking through the gardens the other day I decided to venture outside and take a stroll along Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park. I hadn't been out there in a while so I thought it would be fun to bring you some photos from that area. I first wanted to show you the Chinese Pavilion on Strawberry Hill which is located right along Stow Lake. This pavilion was given as a gift to San Francisco by it's Sister city Taipei on April 15 th 1981. I have to say that the architecture and intricate artwork is just spectacular. For a moment I thought I was back in Hong Kong. It's a wonderful little spot to enjoy a picnic lunch or just immerse yourself in the beauty of it all. This is a closeup shot of the pavilion entrance near the rooftop. I don't know what it says but I can tell you that it is absolutely gorgeous in person. This is a view of the pavilion from the Stow Lake grounds. Due to the lighting and...