Featured Galleries

Places : Some of my favorite shots from my years of digital photography. Taken with a Canon (30 and 40D) or Nikon (D40, D300 and D7000) and a host of Canon, Sigma, Tokina and Nikon lenses. Most shots processed through DxO, Photoshop or CaptureOne. Some have additions or subtractions using Nik Tools or Topaz Labs filters. As always, CC is appreciated.

Places

Some of my favorite shots from my years of digital photography. Take ...

Updated: Sep 23, 2012 10:32pm PST

Flora : Some of my favorite shots of flowers, plants, bushes and trees.

Flora

Some of my favorite shots of flowers, plants, bushes and trees.

Updated: Apr 27, 2013 8:52am PST

Fauna : Some of my favorite shots of our furred, feathered or scaled friends.

Fauna

Some of my favorite shots of our furred, feathered or scaled friends.

Updated: Jun 24, 2012 3:34pm PST

Things : Shots that don't fit into my other favorites categories! Anything from cars to the moon - these are some of my favorite things!

Things

Shots that don't fit into my other favorites categories! Anything from ...

Updated: Sep 23, 2012 10:30pm PST

Galleries

Rons :

Rons

Updated: May 02, 2013 9:07am PST

Flora : Some of my favorite shots of flowers, plants, bushes and trees.

Flora

Some of my favorite shots of flowers, plants, bushes and trees.

Updated: Apr 27, 2013 8:52am PST

Herp Shots : Photos of my various reptiles: chuckwalla, California desert tortoise, bearded dragons and yellow ackies (spiny tailed monitors). One of my rooms has been turned into the animal room. I have a number of enclosures, as well: various tanks, pvc cages (Showcase and Vision) plus a large Critter Condoz. Check out the individual pictures for more information. Things change too much to edit it all here!

Herp Shots

Photos of my various reptiles: chuckwalla, California desert tortoise, ...

Updated: Jan 01, 2013 2:46pm PST

A Day in Genetic Park :

A Day in Genetic Park

Updated: Nov 27, 2012 8:06pm PST

Places : Some of my favorite shots from my years of digital photography. Taken with a Canon (30 and 40D) or Nikon (D40, D300 and D7000) and a host of Canon, Sigma, Tokina and Nikon lenses. Most shots processed through DxO, Photoshop or CaptureOne. Some have additions or subtractions using Nik Tools or Topaz Labs filters. As always, CC is appreciated.

Places

Some of my favorite shots from my years of digital photography. Take ...

Updated: Sep 23, 2012 10:32pm PST

Things : Shots that don't fit into my other favorites categories! Anything from cars to the moon - these are some of my favorite things!

Things

Shots that don't fit into my other favorites categories! Anything from ...

Updated: Sep 23, 2012 10:30pm PST

The Bell Wedding - Reception : A few hundred shots from the reception, held downtown at the Arroyo Room. Terrific setting and great music and lighting from ChicoWeddingDJ. PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS VIA THE COMMENTS BUTTON.

The Bell Wedding - Reception

A few hundred shots from the reception, held downtown at the Arroyo Ro ...

Updated: Sep 17, 2012 9:35am PST

The Bell Wedding - Ceremony : Danny and Deedee Bell's wedding. A few shots the ceremony at Bidwell's Five Mile Recreation Area. Good times were had by all! :0) Shots are a combination of those taken by myself, Ranae and Trista Doak. Divided things into FIVE galleries: Rehearsal, Preparations, Ceremony, Portraits, and Reception. Please check out all of them. PLEASE, IF YOU LIKE THE SHOTS, HATE THE SHOTS or JUST WANT TO SAY SOMETHING - USE THE COMMENTS BUTTON!

The Bell Wedding - Ceremony

Danny and Deedee Bell's wedding. A few shots the ceremony at Bidwell's ...

Updated: Sep 16, 2012 8:41am PST

The Bell Wedding - Family and Friends : Pictures following the ceremony but before the reception. PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS VIA THE COMMENTS BUTTON.

The Bell Wedding - Family and Friends

Pictures following the ceremony but before the reception. PLEASE LEAV ...

Updated: Sep 12, 2012 7:50pm PST

Planes, Trains and Automobiles : The title says it all - photos of planes, trains and automobiles. While I'd love to claim I'm not your average guy - when it comes to fast cars, loud planes and long trains, indeed I am. I love everything from 60's muscle cars to 911's - and lots of numbers and letters in between. I also have been a fan of aircraft since I was a kid. In particular, anything with a prop, but I enjoy many of the modern fighters as well. And what guy doesn't like trains? I'm hoping I'll get a chance to shoot at Thunderhill raceway someday. Not a big race fan at all - but I've heard the SF Porsche club races there - and I AM a Porsche fan! Copyright Al Swanson 2000-2012 and All Rights are Reserved. I'll be happy and honored if you wish to use my photos, but please give me credit for the work. That way, I can drop the stupid copyright notice on the shots.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

The title says it all - photos of planes, trains and automobiles. Whil ...

Updated: Sep 12, 2012 3:17pm PST

The Bell Wedding - Getting Ready : Some shots from the girls and guys getting ready for the ceremony. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE COMMENTS! LET US KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE, DON'T LIKE or WANT TO SEE!

The Bell Wedding - Getting Ready

Some shots from the girls and guys getting ready for the ceremony. PL ...

Updated: Sep 11, 2012 12:47pm PST

The Bell Wedding - Rehearsal : A few shots from the day before the wedding. The rehearsal was held at Bidwell Park's Five Mile Recreation Area. PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS VIA THE COMMENTS BUTTON!

The Bell Wedding - Rehearsal

A few shots from the day before the wedding. The rehearsal was held at ...

Updated: Sep 09, 2012 8:23am PST

Tween Sac and Oregon : A gallery of shots harvested from (like the title says) above Sac to below the state divider. A hodgepodge of garbage I'd rather not take the time to find another home for.

Tween Sac and Oregon

A gallery of shots harvested from (like the title says) above Sac to b ...

Updated: Aug 20, 2012 4:30pm PST

Gloria's Journey : Gloria loved Ft Bragg and was returned there on Mother's Day, 2012. Please feel free to download these pictures or send me any pictures you have of her and her life so we can build this gallery. Also, please take a moment to comment on the pictures or the gallery. We miss you, Grandma!

Gloria's Journey

Gloria loved Ft Bragg and was returned there on Mother's Day, 2012. Pl ...

Updated: Aug 01, 2012 8:28am PST

Ackie Sexing :

Ackie Sexing

Updated: Jul 29, 2012 5:36pm PST

password protected gallery

Hammerhead

Updated: Jul 25, 2012 7:44am PST

2012 Paradise Pow Wow : We attended about 40-50 minutes of the two-day event, so I only saw three sets of dancers. I have no idea how many people were dressed up for the Pow Wow, but I was steaming in my shorts and camp shirt. I can only imagine how these folks did it. Quite the time! (All shot with a D7000, 24-120/4)

2012 Paradise Pow Wow

We attended about 40-50 minutes of the two-day event, so I only saw th ...

Updated: Jul 13, 2012 7:13pm PST

People : Some of my favorite shots of my favorite people (along with some folks I'd rather forget).

People

Some of my favorite shots of my favorite people (along with some folks ...

Updated: Jul 11, 2012 1:23pm PST

Retired Reptile Photos : Various shots of older and retired setups and animals. Most of these setups have been retired or sold.

Retired Reptile Photos

Various shots of older and retired setups and animals. Most of these s ...

Updated: Jun 24, 2012 4:18pm PST

Fauna : Some of my favorite shots of our furred, feathered or scaled friends.

Fauna

Some of my favorite shots of our furred, feathered or scaled friends.

Updated: Jun 24, 2012 3:34pm PST

Ft Bragg : Ft Bragg on the left coast, of course.

Ft Bragg

Ft Bragg on the left coast, of course.

Updated: May 16, 2012 1:50pm PST

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SmugShots

Updated: May 10, 2012 9:44pm PST

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Camera Awesome Photos

Updated: Feb 29, 2012 10:02am PST

Lake Paradise :

Lake Paradise

Updated: Feb 18, 2012 3:14pm PST

Up Hiway 70 : A quick drive up Hiway 70 always goes to show what a beautiful part of the state we live in.

Up Hiway 70

A quick drive up Hiway 70 always goes to show what a beautiful part of ...

Updated: Feb 15, 2012 6:51pm PST

Mt Shasta : Mt Shasta and surrounding communities - including the wonderful (?) town (?) of Bray.

Mt Shasta

Mt Shasta and surrounding communities - including the wonderful (?) to ...

Updated: Feb 15, 2012 6:46pm PST

Sacramento : Various pictures of Sacramento, the Capital and surrounding stuff.

Sacramento

Various pictures of Sacramento, the Capital and surrounding stuff.

Updated: Feb 15, 2012 6:45pm PST

Norcal-Oregon-Washington Trip : A group of shots from the California and Oregon coasts, as well as some from all over the south-western part of Washington state.

Norcal-Oregon-Washington Trip

A group of shots from the California and Oregon coasts, as well as som ...

Updated: Aug 03, 2010 1:37pm PST

Around My House :

Around My House

Updated: Jul 06, 2010 6:35pm PST

July 4th 2010 : A few unedited shots from the Chico/Silver Dollar Fairgrounds July 4th fireworks show. Very short show. In fact, the show was shorter than the time needed to exit the parking lot afterwords! Ah, well. Life in a small town.

July 4th 2010

A few unedited shots from the Chico/Silver Dollar Fairgrounds July 4th ...

Updated: Jul 05, 2010 2:39pm PST

Your Bio

I'm a hardnosed conservative that accepts that America is going to have to embrace some socialist methods in order to create a better society. I vote, own guns and live in the hills. Oh, you weren't looking for politics, but rather what I'm doing here as a photographer?

Heck, I don't know. Over the many years I've looked through a viewfinder, I've never really developed a look or a particular object of desire. I guess I'm drawn to landscapes and urban decay, but I like shooting cars, bikes and people, too.

I live in the North State or more commonly, Northern California, in the foothills of the western and northern mountain ranges dividing us from Nevada and Oregon. Good thing I like landscapes, eh?

Like many of you, I started in film many years ago shooting 35mm slr's. In the past, I shot Canon dslrs (last one was a 40D) and an assortment of Canon (owned every single L lens up to the 300mm range and all zooms) and Tokina lenses. Even had a Panny GF1 for a bit, but couldn't get past the lack of a viewfinder. I now shoot a Nikon D7000 with a Nikon 24-120/4VR, Nikon 70-300VR, Sigma 150-500/5-6.3OS and a Sigma 10-20/3.5-4.5 wide angle plus my SO's D40 with a 18-55II. Over the next year, I plan to add to my kit a few primes: the Nikon 28/1.8G, 50/1.8G, & 85/1.8G, a Sigma 30/1.4, and a Sigma 150/2.8OS Macro (or if I get rich, the 200/4 Micro). Along with a favorite from my Canon days, the only fisheye zoom, the Tokina 10-17. I'm going to change out my girlfriend's kit lens with the Nikon 18-105VR and I've already passed her the 70-300VR. All she needs is a UWA and she is set. Perhaps my 10-20 Siggy will find its way to her bag and I can convince myself to get a Tokina 11-16/2.8 or Nikon 12-24/4. Seldom use the 10mm anyway.

While I am shooting on the Dark Side now, unless Nikon does something to address the "lens gap", I may move back to Canon. Nikon has surpassed Canon in body technology, now it's time to step up and fix that lens lineup!

If you see something you like, please take a moment to post a comment or two - it's what us photographers live for! But! Please keep in mind all photographs are copyright protected and copying them or posting them as your own to your own web site could be considered copyright infringement!