Leighton Smith Photography

Slideshow

Galleries

Featured Gallery : A random collection of photographs from my other galleries used for the slide show on my home page.

Featured Gallery

Black and White Photography : Getting back to my photographic roots, with a big exception since the computer has replaced the darkroom. At least the keyboard doesn't stain my nails like Amidol.

Black and White Photography

HDR Photography : A collection of my HDR processed photographs

HDR Photography

Comings and Goings : Photographs taken during my day to day comings and goings.

Comings and Goings

PCT - Blue Ridge to Guffy : This hike follows the Pacific Crest Trail from Blue Ridge Campground to Guffy Campground and is a continuation of our earlier hike on the PCT that began at Inspiration Point and ended at Blue Ridge Campground. This is a beautiful section of trail that skirts along Blue Ridge switching back and forth between the north and south side of the ridge yielding fantastic views of the San Gabriel Mountains to the south and the High Desert to the north. A GPS track log of this trip is posted here: http://bit.ly/jdSYEL

PCT - Blue Ridge to Guffy

The Arboretum : From http://www.arboretum.org/: Occupying the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita, The Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden is a unique 127 acre botanical garden and historical site jointly operated by the Los Angeles Arboretum Foundation and the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation and located in the city of Arcadia. Home to plant collections from all over the world, including many rare and endangered species, The Arboretum also houses outdoor historical landmarks representative of the major phases of California history. GPS track log of this trip is posted here http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=1199131

Descanso Gardens : Descanso Gardens is located at 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge 91011, near the intersection of the 210 and 2 freeways, 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles. From their website at http://www.descansogardens.org/index.php.... "Descanso Gardens is an urban retreat of year-round natural beauty, internationally renowned botanical collections and spectacular seasonal horticultural displays. In 1953, Descanso founder E. Manchester Boddy preserved these 160 acres of gardens, woodlands and chaparral for future generations to experience the natural heritage and beauty of Southern California. Accredited by the American Association of Museums, Descanso Gardens welcomes thousands of visitors annually, from local members to international travelers." You can easily spend a good half a day here wandering the gardens. And best of all, the place is tripod friendly. The GPS track log of this trip is posted here: http://bit.ly/jbCxaA

Descanso Gardens

Bear Flat : They call this the “Old” Mt. Baldy Trail, a steep 6 mile climb to the summit of Mt. Baldy. There are shorter routes to the summit, one includes a ride on a ski lift, but this is the beast if your goal is to summit the hard way. Ze and others have posted big hikes using this trail but I had recently read a post from the Hike Guy saying that the trail could be used for an easy hike to Bear Flat. The preparation and planning for our trip to Japan had consumed our weekends and we hadn't hiked since mid July. The hike to Bear Flat seemed like a good way to re-break-in the hiking boots.

To get to the trail head, park in the parking lot across from Mt. Baldy Lodge. I never noticed it before, but the parking lot is actually a street called Bear Canyon Road. Walk up Bear Canyon Road past the church and through a quaint residential area, continuing onward until the paved road turns into a dirt path. Don't forget to stop at Old Glory, whose sign makes the claim that it is the oldest and largest Bigcone Douglas Fir tree in existence. Once through Bear Canyon you begin the ascent to Bear Flat on a trail offering a nice variety. You walk through forests of Live Oak, Bigcone Douglas Fir, White Fir, Jeffrey Pine, and Incense Cedar on the west and east facing slopes with the south facing chaparral covered slopes offering up big views of the valleys and canyons below. There are a couple of places where the trail branches off, but keep to the right with the stream on your left for the most direct route. Soon you come to a big old live oak tree with a rocky area around it that is perfect for lunch. Unfortunately, some bonehead tagged one of the rocks. Here there is a small stream that once crossed reveals fern covered Bear Flat where the huge swarms of what we thought were bees were actually lady bugs!

This is a hike where the journey is more important than the destination. Bear Canyon and the variety along the trail to Bear Flat are the highlights here. And if you are so inclined, you can end the hike with refreshments at the Mt. Baldy Lodge. A GPS track log for this hike is available on Everytrail.com at http://bit.ly/eMXyst

Cooper Canyon : n August 2009 we did this hike in search of the falls in CooperCanyon only to discover that the falls were dried up. Nevertheless, this was one of our favorite hikes and is posted at http://bit.ly/eE2cFr. This is a down and up hike so be prepared for the return, but it is extremely rewarding when you appreciate the extreme diversity you encounter on every twist and turn of the trail. Just about every San GabrielMountain ecosystem can be seen in this short three and a half mile hike. From wild roses and ferns moist from underground streams to high country Limber Pine groves at relatively lower than expected elevations… it’s all here. After an El Nino year in Southern California we were rewarded with the falls in full glory. And, we got to enjoy them all to ourselves. A GPS track log for this hike is available on Everytrail.com at http://bit.ly/gCRxRx

Johnson's Pasture : Johnson's Pasture is a tract of land in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains at the north end of Claremont, California. Purchased by the city in 2007, it is part of the Claremont Wilderness Park and managed by the Claremont Wilderness Conservancy. The foothills are crisscrossed by fire roads and trails that wind through open fields sprinkled with oak and pine groves and occasional eucalyptus wind breaks. On a clear day one can enjoy breathtaking views of the mountains and valley. A GPS track log for this hike is available on Everytrail.com at http://bit.ly/faicdz

Johnson's Pasture

Devil's Punchbowl : Devil’s Punchbowl County Park is a 1,310 acre park run by the County of Los Angeles located on the north slopes of the Angeles National Forest near Pearblossom, CA. The geological features found here are what really makes this park rock J. The Punchbowl is a 300 foot deep canyon cut by years and years of water runoff from the San Gabriel Mountains. The wild uplifted and steep tilted rock formations were formed by the seismic convergence of the Punchbowl, Pinyon, and San Andreas Fault. The park has three trails; Pinyon Pathway, a small little nature trail, Loop Trail, a one mile loop trail, and the longer Devil’s Chair Trail. This trip includes the Loop Trail and the Pinyon Pathway as well as some off trail activity. That is one of the nice things about this trail. You can turn a 1 mile loop trail into a larger exploration by just saying, “Look, that looks cool, let’s go over there”. A GPS track log for this hike is available on Everytrail.com at http://bit.ly/fdwJMq

Devil's Punchbowl

Pattaya, Walking Street : For centuries, Pattaya was a sleepy little fishing village located off the Gulf of Thailand about 100 miles south of Bangkok. During the Vietnam War it became a popular R&R destination for American GI's. Open-air bars, clubs, and restaurants soon sprang up along a stretch of beach known today as Walking Street. Pattaya is now a popular beach resort reported to attract 4 million visitors a year and Walking Street is the center of the city's night life. In the evening, Walking Street is closed to vehicles so that the parade of tourists and thrill seekers can begin. A GPS track log for this trip is available on Everytrail.com at http://bit.ly/eLoegR

Pattaya, Walking Street

Sturtevant Falls : This is a leisurely hike through an enchanted portion of the San Gabriel Mountains leading to a fifty foot waterfall. Once at the trail head you descend a paved service road into Big Santa Anita Canyon. In the canyon the pavement yields to a well maintained trail that skirts alongside the main stream under a canopy of Live Oak and Alder. Along the way you pass private cabins built in the early 1900's and pass by a system of concrete check dams that create their own series of waterfalls before reaching Sturtevant Falls. A GPS track log for this hike is available on Everytrail.com at http://bit.ly/fEPtUS or download the GPS guide to your phone at http://www.everytrail.com/guide/sturtevant-falls

Sturtevant Falls

Pattaya, Sanctuary of Truth : I could pen no better description than that found in the brochure I received while visiting this amazing wooden structure. A bit of the message gets lost in translation, but that just makes it more entertaining. So it begins: "The Magnificence of Heaven Recreated on Earth. Towering castle, intricately carved in teak, rising to the supreme heights of Far Eastern heritage. On the seashore of Rachvate Cape, Pattaya, lies a construction called "The Sanctuary of Truth" exposing its top up in the sky. It proudly shows Ancient Knowledge of Thai artists at present. From the ground breaking in 1981, the objective was to build a wooden structure, in order to preserve and revive the Ancient Knowledge. From various forms of art, no matter what nationality or religion they are, to reflect thoughts and spirits of eastern cultures and announce to the world the complete and long - standing profundity. The truth that was shown through the Sanctuary is the relationship between human beings and the universe. Which are the father, the mother, the earth, the sky, the sun, the moon, and the stars. They are not just fantasies, but the truth of being human that eastern philosophers had searched for and discovered from time immemorial." But the best part is on the back of the brochure: "Be amazed as friendly mystical creatures take you on a tour of the heavens so that you'll live life's real magical moments. Take the ride of a lifetime atop chariots of the angels to distant, mystical lands for a truly... unforgettable voyage." If you want to learn more, visit their website: http://www.sanctuaryoftruth.com/content.php?id=8 A GPS track log for this trip is available on Everytrail.com at http://bit.ly/gZB7G6

Pattaya, Sanctuary of Truth

Etiwanda Preserve Area : The North Etiwanda Preserve is a great place to hike during the cooler months in Southern California. This was our fourth visit to the area and we decided to hike a trail that leaves the "preserve" and hooks up with a trail that leads to the "waterfall". About halfway to the waterfall trail there is a small peak you can run up to check out the sweeping views of the Inland Empire. We will definitely have to return to this unnamed peak on a crystal clear day. A GPS track log for this hike is available on Everytrail.com at http://bit.ly/elHsPd

Etiwanda Preserve Area

Kyoto : Three days in Kyoto with my family. We took an early bullet train with Dr. Funakoshi and his wife from Tokyo Station to Kyoto. A van picked us up and took us to Sanjusangendo, Japan's longest wooden building filled with 1,001 statues made of Japanese Cypress. From there we went to a sushi restaurant in the Gion district. After lunch we went to Kinkakuji to see the famous Golden Pavilion, Ryōan-ji to see the famous Zen Rock Garden, stopped for a snack at the Togetsukyo Bridge that crosses the Oi River, and then took a drive through the Bamboo forest of Arashiyama. Then it was back to the hotel to freshen up for an amazing dinner at a place in Pontocho that Dr. Funakoshi has been going to for 45 years complete with Geisha and a Maiko. The next day we were on our own and spent the day on the Philosopher's Path where we took in Kyoto's many temples and shrines. The final day we wandered around central Kyoto and afterwards I headed to the WMIC meeting. GPS track logs are available on Everytrail.com at http://bit.ly/hD1V0k and http://bit.ly/gyRC3j

Tokyo : Family trip to Tokyo and Kyoto. These are images of our stay in Tokyo. Day 1 was a business meeting, Day 2 was a Subway tour of Tokyo. Day 3 was Kabuki, sightseeing, and dinner with Dr. & Mrs. Funakoshi. A GPS track log of Day2 is available on Everytrail.com at http://bit.ly/ibU6dy

Chatuchak Weekend Market - Bangkok : Since we had to attend our dealer's 25th anniversary party on a Friday night in March 2010 it was only prudent to take the 6:00 AM flight to LA on Sunday instead of Saturday. So we planned a day trip to the famous Chatuchak Weekend Market, aka Jatujak Market, aka JJ Market. Covering about 35 acres with over 15,000 stalls, this is one huge market. I don't have the words to adequately describe the immensity of this market and my photographs only capture a few fleeting moments of this living, breathing event that occurs every weekend in this wondrous country. It was a hot and humid day with a "feel like" temperature of 110 degrees F!!! A GPS track log for this trip is available on Everytrail.com at http://bit.ly/f1U0yv

Chatuchak Weekend Market - Bangkok

Icehouse Canyon :

Icehouse Canyon

Santa Barbara, CA :

Santa Barbara, CA

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