I returned to the San Diego Botanic Garden for the second time. I can't believe I waited so long to return. I had initially gone last fall, and had been planning on going back regularly, but I missed going in the winter and spring. I skipped two seasons, and I am regretting it.
Today I went with the purpose of taking digital photos. I want to start a photo book that features this garden. I left at about 12:10 p.m. and drove down on the 15. Traffic was, as they say, "slowish" or "sluggish", and what was supposed to be one hour and twenty minutes ended up taking me almost two hours to complete just the first leg of the trip, which was to reach Mission San Luis Rey. What happened? I don't know, but note to self, traffic on the 76 is sluggish, and is made worse by the long traffic light stops. But I had to take this route, I told myself, because I wanted to grab a few photos of the mission before I proceeded with the next part. Otherwise, if I left the garden at 4 p.m., it would take me 30 to 45 minutes to get to the mission on the return trip (taking into account the afternoon rush hour), and the mission is notorious for closing at 4:30 p.m., so that would have meant, no photos of the mission.
Briefly I considered taking my 8x10 camera but, the more I thought about it, the heavier it seemed. Then I put two film loaders in the bag with the camera and lifted it, and immediately, I said no, not this time, I am not a beast of burden. So I just took my Minolta Autocord TLR, my Nikon D750 and my Sprocket Rocket. And even this was a burden.
Arriving at the mission at about 2 p.m., I went ahead and started on what was my mission, which was, to take photos. I took a few with the Sprocket Rocket, and even taped the red filter in front, but only a few. Then I thought, if I don't use the Autocord, I won't get any photos, so I used that and exposed one roll. I took photos of the interior rose garden (in the retreat), the steps, plants against the walls, the church, etc. It was one roll. I even started another roll with Velvia slide film.
Then, on to the garden. The bells were tolling for me, it was 2:30 p.m. I got lost, though. Blame it on the lack of signs on the highway, they should have a sign telling us where to get the exit ramp to go to the San Diego Garden. Note to self, it is Encinitas Boulevard. I drove further south than I needed to do so before turning around and digging my cellphone out of my backpack and getting directions. I made it at about 3:20 p.m., and since the garden closes at 5:00, was there to enjoy only one hour and 30 minutes. But I got free admittance because of reciprocity!
So, I used my Nikon D750 and wandered around the childrens' garden which I had not seen during my first visit because it was closed. Then I wandered back to some familiar parts. It was gloomy all the coast, and maybe that was a good thing, although it cut down my options for film photos. No infrared, for example, and no black and white. I did take slide photos of the flowers and the waterfall, and I walked around and took other photos, but I felt rushed because I had so little time. I made it, though. One thing to note, I hardly used my cellphone. I was using my digital camera and my Minolta Autocord. I was guessing exposures with the TLR, and I might be sorely disappointed when I get the film back. It was gloomy in their "rainforest" display, and I used f4.5 and 1/60 shutter speed, because Velvia is 100 ISO. I hope I got something.
Here are the only cellphone photos I took.
