Hemet Mobile Home Parks

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Hemet Mobile Home Parks: Affordable Living in the Heart of the San Jacinto Valley

For decades, mobile home parks have helped define Hemet, giving residents an affordable, community-focused lifestyle in this inland Southern California city. Hemet stands out in the greater Los Angeles region thanks to its mobile home communities in the heart of Riverside County's San Jacinto Valley.

A History Built on Manufactured Housing

Hemet's landscape changed in the 60s with the building of Sierra Dawn, considered the country's first "mobile home subdivision" with individual lot sales. This spurred the development of other parks and retirement housing, establishing Hemet as a retirement destination and driving residential growth. This legacy lasts, making mobile home parks a key part of the city's culture.

What Makes Hemet Mobile Home Parks Unique

Hemet mobile home parks differ from those in larger California cities in their sense of community, affordability, and scenic setting between the San Jacinto Mountains and rolling western hills, which offer residents a quieter lifestyle.

Many Hemet mobile home parks cater to the 55-and-older community. Devonshire Downs, family-owned since its inception in 1968 by the Craven Family, consistently delivers amenities that promote healthy, active living for contemporary retirees. Communities like this have welcomed residents nationwide—and even internationally—for decades.

Royal Holiday, a 55-plus retirement community, offers affordable living with amenities such as a pool, whirlpool spa, clubhouse, fitness center, and RV storage. Full-service communities like these attract retirees on fixed incomes to Hemet.

All-Ages Communities and Family-Friendly Options

Not all Hemet mobile home parks cater to seniors. The Californian Mobile Home Park, established in the 1970s, is an all-ages community praised by residents for its staff and ongoing improvements. This variety allows people to find a park fitting their needs and budget.

Town and Country Mobile Home Park, close to downtown Hemet on North State Street, is an all-ages community located near major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Sprouts, and Stater Bros. Markets, as well as recreation spots including Seven Hills Golf Club and Diamond Valley Lake.

Why People Choose Hemet Mobile Home Parks

The appeal of Hemet mobile home parks lies in their lower cost relative to California's median home price, reasonable commutes to employment hubs, and amenities such as clubhouses, pools, activities, and strong community ties. Many residents describe their neighbors as the best they've had.

The city itself offers a rich backdrop. Residents enjoy Diamond Valley Lake, the Ramona Bowl Amphitheater, the Western Science Center, and a vibrant downtown with local shops and a farmers' market.

A Living Tradition

Hemet mobile home parks offer rare opportunities in California: homeownership, authentic community, and a high quality of life without a six-figure income. From Sierra Dawn to today's thriving parks, Hemet champions the idea that everyone deserves an affordable, comfortable home. For thousands, these parks deliver exactly that.

A Personal Note: The Home in the photo below is on Acacia Avenue

When I photograph Hemet mobile home parks, I am always struck by the peaceful dignity of what I see through my camera. This particular home on Acacia Avenue stopped me in my tracks. Shot on black-and-white film, it presents itself with a kind of midcentury pride — the wide, low roofline extending like open arms, twin carport overhangs framing the facade symmetrically, and a freshly raked gravel yard with two young trees planted with obvious care. There is nothing accidental about this scene. Someone has deliberately, lovingly tended this place. The shuttered windows and horizontal siding echo postwar California optimism, a time when a modest manufactured home in a warm valley town was the fulfillment of a genuine American dream. Standing at the curb on a still morning, camera on my tripod, I perceived the weight of that history. This isn't just a house — it's a statement of pride, of belonging, of permanence earned on modest means. That, to me, is what Hemet mobile home parks are truly about.

Acacia Avenue Mobile Home in Hemet

Tag Name Data
Title Acacia Avenue Mobile Home in Hemet
Image Description Typical mobile home in Hemet in a mobile home park
Keywords 35mm film, Ilford FP4 Plus, black and white, black and white film, hemet california, house, mobile home, mobile home park
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS-3
Lens Model EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
Focal Length 40.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/800 second
Aperture Value 8.00
ISO 125
Date/Time Original Thursday January 15, 2026 10:40am
City Hemet
State California
Country United States
Location Valle Vista
GPS Altitude 540 meters (1771.7 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.74435831335
GPS Longitude -116.900615710003
Map Google Map Link

Visual Obsessions

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Sixteen years is a long time. Cameras changed, phones became studios, and the world turned itself inside out more than once. And yet, standing in a Costco parking lot in Temecula recently, I found myself doing something I had done in Yorba Linda back in 2010 - crouching low beside a wall of red shopping carts, squinting through a viewfinder, chasing the same geometry I had chased before.

The two images sit side by side now and the resemblance is almost embarrassing. Both shoot along a long diagonal line of nested carts. Both lean into the repetition of red handles and silver wire. Both try to find something almost sculptural in an object that exists purely for hauling bulk olive oil and oversized cereal boxes. The recent Temecula image has that warm, slightly dusty quality of midday Southern California sun. The Yorba Linda shot is cleaner, the carts newer, the handles brilliant red. But the instinct behind both photographs is identical.

I think this is one of the quiet truths about being a photographer over a long stretch of time. We return to the same visual obsessions the way writers return to the same themes. We are drawn to repetition, to pattern, to the way ordinary objects become abstract when you get close enough and choose your angle carefully. The subject is almost beside the point. It could be carts, or telephone poles, or chairs stacked outside a closed cafe. What we are really photographing is the way our brain organizes the world.

There is something both humbling and reassuring about discovering your own fingerprint sixteen years later. I did not plan to remake an old photograph. I just saw the carts, felt the pull, and pressed the shutter. Some habits go deeper than memory. They live somewhere closer to instinct.

Costco Yorba Linda in 2010

Tag Name Data
Title Costco Yorba Linda
Image Description Shopping carts at Costco in Yorba Linda
Keywords basket, cart, costco, parking lot, patterns, shopping, shopping cart
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens Model EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM
Focal Length 16.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/200 second
Aperture Value 8.00
ISO 100
Date/Time Original Thursday January 14, 2010 09:30am
City Yorba Linda
State California
Country United States
Location Anaheim Hills
GPS Altitude 75 meters (246.1 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.875315
GPS Longitude -117.743941666667
Map Google Map Link

Costco Temecula in 2026

Tag Name Data
Title Costco Temecula
Image Description Costco Temecula employee lines up carts outside the store in Temecula
Keywords basket, cart, costco, parking lot, patterns, shopping, shopping cart, temecula
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Apple
Camera Model Name iPhone 16 Pro
Lens Model iPhone 16 Pro back triple camera 2.22mm f/2.2
Focal Length 2.20mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 14.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/500 second
Aperture Value 2.20
ISO 20
Date/Time Original Thursday March 05, 2026 11:58am
City Temecula
State California
Country United States
GPS Speed 0.00 kmh (0.00 mph)
GPS Altitude 325.9 meters (1069.2 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.5208111116667
GPS Longitude -117.1547
Map Google Map Link

Homeland Post Office, Homeland, California

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Tucked along US Highway 74 within the quiet community of Homeland, California, sits one of Riverside County's least conspicuous yet beloved postal facilities. Located at 31610 US Highway 74, the Homeland Post Office serves its community Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Homeland itself is a small, close-knit census-designated place in western Riverside County, and the homeland post office reflects that intimate character. A branch of the United States Postal Service, the facility offers standard mail and package delivery services to the Homeland community. Despite its modest size, it punches well above its weight in customer service.

Perhaps the facility's most surprising distinction is its status as a passport-processing powerhouse. As one resident noted in a glowing review, the post office is smaller than a living room, but the staff member running it processes a remarkable number of passports and has the process down to a fine art — handling photos, reviewing documentation, and processing multiple applications with considerable efficiency.

Visitors who arrive fully prepared with their documentation and photos can expect to be in and out in about 30 minutes, making this a surprisingly efficient stop for passport services despite its remote, out-of-the-way location.

Beyond passports, the location offers the full range of USPS services, including money orders, P.O. boxes, gift cards, and passport photos.

For the residents of Homeland and surrounding areas, this little post office is more than a place to drop off a package — it's a community touchstone staffed by friendly faces who take the time to help. In a world of sprawling mail distribution centers and automated kiosks, the Homeland Post Office is a welcome reminder that small-town service still matters.

Homeland Post Office, Homeland, California shot on 6×17 film

Tag Name Data
Title Homeland Post Office
Image Description Homeland Post Office. I shot this on the weekend when it was closed.
Keywords 6x17 film, black and white, film, film scan, homeland california, kodak portra 160, panorama, post office
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Linhof
Camera Model Name Linhof Technorama 617S
Lens Model Schneider 90mm f/5.6 Super-Angulon
Focal Length 90.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 19.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/125 second
Aperture Value 16.00
ISO 160
Date/Time Original Saturday January 31, 2026 12:20pm
City Homeland
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 490 meters (1607.6 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.7435684516778
GPS Longitude -117.108986260053
Map Google Map Link

There was a problem

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I don't usually like to shoot famous spots. There's something about photographing an iconic location that feels almost too easy, like showing up to a party everyone already knows about. Every photographer who has ever driven Route 66 has a shot of Roy's Motel and Cafe, and for a long time that was exactly the reason I avoided it. But it had been sitting in the back of my mind for a while, and I finally decided to go see what all the fuss was about.

I live in Southern California. The 150 mile drive out through the Mojave is beautiful. Miles of open desert, abandoned buildings, and then that unmistakable red arrow comes into view. I understood immediately why photographers keep returning here. The vintage neon, the row of low white motel cabins stretching across the property, the quiet mountains holding down the horizon behind it all. Roy's has every ingredient of a classic American desert photograph. To capture the full sweep of the scene I shot a series of carefully overlapping frames from a fixed position, then stitched them together into a single wide panorama in post. About 20 shots are part of this photo. It was the only way to do the location justice without losing the sense of scale that makes this place so visually striking in person.

There was a problem. I had no idea a major Route 66 enthusiast event was scheduled for that same weekend on the day before. People were just starting to leave as I arrived early that morning. The gravel lot was packed with classic cars, motorcycles, and crowds of people wandering in every direction. I had to wait until they started clearing out. Every time I got ready to shoot my sequence, someone would stroll right through the frame. Stitching a panorama is an unforgiving process. Moving subjects between overlapping frames creates ghosting effects and alignment problems that can be nearly impossible to fix in editing. I had to shoot several duplicates of many frames so the software could remove the people.

Eventually after trying about four sequences, the foot traffic thinned just enough to give me a workable run through the full sequence of frames. Standing there reviewing the shots on the back of my camera, I knew I finally got it. The final compiled image is huge - well over twenty thousand pixels wide.

In the end the shot works for me. Some of the white chalk lines that were used to line up and park cars are still visible in the foreground. I decided to leave them in because they will remind me of this story each time I look at the photo.

The iconic spots earn their reputation. I will just check to make sure there are no events scheduled next time.

Roys Motel & Cafe in Amboy, California

Tag Name Data
Title Roys Motel & Cafe
Image Description Roys Motel & Cafe. This is a stitched panorama of 19 images. Had to use so many because people kept walking through the shot.
Keywords 6x17, Cafe, Roys Motel & Cafe, amboy, dirt parking lot, gas station, motel, neon sign, panorama, sign
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R
Lens Model EF50mm f/1.2L USM
Focal Length 50.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 17.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/1000 second
Aperture Value 8.00
ISO 125
Date/Time Original Sunday March 08, 2026 10:40am
City Essex
State California
Country United States
Location Amboy
GPS Altitude 190 meters (623.4 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 34.5585991183722
GPS Longitude -115.743000683389
Map Google Map Link

Camera Tech of Anaheim

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Mike, the owner of Camera Tech of Anaheim, is the kind of specialist who has become nearly impossible to find. He still works on film cameras. Not as a novelty, not as a side hustle, but as his life's work. In an age where most repair shops turned away from film decades ago, Mike kept the light on. Worth noting is that Mike has since packed up his tools and relocated from Anaheim to Orange, California, bringing his rare expertise to a new community without missing a beat.

As long as places like Camera Tech of Anaheim exist, film photography is not going anywhere. Mike is proof that some crafts are worth preserving.

Camera Tech of Anaheim old location

Tag Name Data
Title Camera Tech of Anaheim Camera Repair Shop
Image Description It may not look like much but this place can sure fix cameras. Very nice guy.
Keywords camera repair, camera shop, camera tech of anaheim
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Apple
Camera Model Name iPhone 13
Lens Model iPhone 13 back camera 1.54mm f/2.4
Focal Length 1.50mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 14.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/17 second
Aperture Value 2.40
ISO 320
Date/Time Original Friday April 07, 2023 04:21pm
City Anaheim
State California
Country United States
Location South Anaheim
GPS Speed 0.00 kmh (0.00 mph)
GPS Altitude 47.4 meters (155.5 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.8150972166722
GPS Longitude -117.907233333333
Map Google Map Link
Camera Tech of Anaheim

Camera Tech of Anaheim

Tag Name Data
Title Camera Tech of Anaheim
Image Description Camera Tech of Anaheim. This is the new location. Mike moved from Anaheim to Orange.
Keywords camera repair, camera shop, camera tech of anaheim
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Apple
Camera Model Name iPhone 16 Pro
Lens Model iPhone 16 Pro back triple camera 2.22mm f/2.2
Focal Length 2.20mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 14.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/30 second
Aperture Value 2.20
ISO 80
Date/Time Original Saturday March 07, 2026 01:35pm
City Orange
State California
Country United States
GPS Speed 0.03 kmh (0.02 mph)
GPS Altitude 75.4 meters (247.4 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.820094445
GPS Longitude -117.837363888328
Map Google Map Link

Home Depot Hemet California

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I pulled into the Home Depot parking lot on a warm May afternoon in Hemet, California, and the first thing that caught my eye wasn't the store itself. It was the long and impressive lineup of barbecue grills stretching along the entire storefront entrance.

There they were, row after row of shiny black grills. From compact charcoal models to larger gas grills wrapped in protective plastic sheeting. The display ran nearly the full length of the building's covered entrance, a bold statement that summer grilling season had officially arrived in the Inland Empire.

I counted at least a dozen units in various styles and sizes. Some were still in their plastic wrap, fresh off the truck and ready for a backyard somewhere in the valley. A worker was crouched among them, assembling one of the floor models with quiet efficiency while shoppers wandered past.

The American flags flanking the store's orange and tan facade fluttered lightly overhead, and a white canopy tent nearby sheltered a local salesperson ready to pitch his product. The whole scene felt unmistakably like the kickoff to Memorial Day weekend shopping.

Standing there, I felt that familiar pull. The kind every homeowner knows when they see a good grill at a fair price on a sunny May day in Southern California. The only question I kept asking myself as I walked inside was do I need a new grill?

Home Depot Hemet California

Tag Name Data
Title The Home Depot Hemet California
Image Description Grill Season Is On Full Display at the Hemet Home Depot
Keywords barbecue grill, hardware store, hemet california, home depot, home depot parking lot, store
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Apple
Camera Model Name iPhone 16 Pro
Lens Model iPhone 16 Pro back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78
Focal Length 6.80mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 24.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/5600 second
Aperture Value 1.80
ISO 100
Date/Time Original Thursday April 30, 2026 12:07pm
City Hemet
State California
Country United States
GPS Speed 0.95 kmh (0.59 mph)
GPS Altitude 466.5 meters (1530.5 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.7488277783333
GPS Longitude -117.0076
Map Google Map Link

Conversation with patience

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There's a particular kind of silence that settles over you when you're working with a 4x5. No motor drive, no rapid-fire burst shooting - just you, a loupe, and a ground glass image that appears upside down and backward, asking you to slow down and really see.

I made this image at Mission San Diego de Alcalá in April of 2001. What drew me here was the interplay of textures, the rough plaster wall, bleached white and almost luminous, set against the deep brown of that arched wooden door.

Velvia 50 in sheet film is unforgiving and magnificent in equal measure. It renders reds with a ferocity that almost feels exaggerated until you compare it to the actual geraniums spilling from those terracotta pots and realize the film isn't lying at all. The brick courtyard took on a warmth I hadn't fully appreciated with my eye alone. That's what Velvia does: it shows you what your brain edits out.

Large format photography is a conversation with patience. You haul the gear, compose deliberately, load the film holder in darkness, and then you wait for the light to be right.

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala in April of 2001

Tag Name Data
Title Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala
Image Description I shot this in April of 2001. I believe the view has changed much since then. The Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá was one of my favorite locations to take photos of.
Keywords 4x5 film, FUJICHROME Velvia 50, Junipero Serra, Mission, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, Mission San Diego, california mission, catholic church, church, drum scan, film scan, flowers, san diego, velvia
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Toyo-Field
Camera Model Name Toyo-Field 45AII
Lens Model Schneider 90mm f/5.6 Super-Angulon XL
Focal Length 90.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 27.00mm
Date/Time Original Sunday April 01, 2001 12:00pm
City San Diego
State California
Country United States
Location Grantville
GPS Altitude 30 meters (98.4 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 32.7846640816683
GPS Longitude -117.106651281678
Map Google Map Link

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá

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Founded on July 16, 1769, by Spanish Franciscan friar Junípero Serra in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay people, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá was the first mission in Alta California — the anchor of a chain that would eventually stretch 650 miles up the coast. Known as the "Mother of the Missions," it marks the origin of Christianity in the American West.

The story of this mission is one of repeated destruction and stubborn renewal. The original structure was a crude, thatch-roofed hut that stood on Presidio Hill above Old Town, six miles from the present site. Father Serra moved it to the banks of the San Diego River in 1774, seeking better water access and distance from the military presidio, which he felt was deterring the Kumeyaay people he hoped to reach.

The move proved fateful. During the night of November 4–5, 1775, several Kumeyaay tribes coordinated a resistance, surrounding the mission and setting fire to its wooden structures. Father Luis Jayme walked out to meet the attackers in an attempt to calm them and was killed, becoming California's first Christian martyr. He lies entombed beneath the chancel floor today.

Serra returned in 1776 and rebuilt. Successive churches rose on the same ground — adobe with thatched roofs, then larger structures — until Father José Bernardo Sánchez designed the church that stands today, completed in 1813. Unlike its predecessors, its roof was built from timber hauled over 60 miles from the interior mountains. A distinctive pair of buttresses was added in 1811 after the roof began to crack, flanking the espadaña facade alongside the five-bell tower.

The land had been home to the Kumeyaay for thousands of years before Serra arrived. They were sophisticated stewards of their landscape, practicing controlled burning for plant re-vegetation, farming in parts of their territory, and drawing on an extensive knowledge of native plants for food and medicine.

At its peak, the mission controlled over 50,000 acres, growing corn, wheat, barley, and grapes, and running approximately 20,000 sheep, 10,000 cattle, and 1,250 horses. That prosperity was built on a system of coerced labor that fundamentally disrupted Kumeyaay life — a history the mission itself now acknowledges as part of its story.

Mexico's secularization of the missions in the 1820s stripped them of land and authority. When President Lincoln signed a proclamation in 1862 restoring the mission to the Catholic Church, the buildings were in ruins. Restoration began in 1931, returning the complex to its 1813 appearance. It was rededicated as an active parish in 1941 and remains one today. Then, in 1976, came a rare distinction: Pope Paul VI designated the mission a minor basilica — one of only four California missions to receive that honor, alongside Mission Dolores, Mission Carmel, and Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The mission welcomes visitors of all faiths. Tours run Monday through Friday, Mass is held daily, and an archaeological excavation ongoing since 1966 continues to yield artifacts from the mission era.

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá shot on 4×5 Velvia in 2001

Tag Name Data
Title Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala
Image Description I shot this in April of 2001. I believe the view has changed much since then. The Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá was one of my favorite locations to take photos of.
Keywords 4x5 film, FUJICHROME Velvia 50, Junipero Serra, Mission, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, Mission San Diego, bells, california mission, catholic church, church, church bells, cross, drum scan, film scan, flowers, mission bells, san diego, statue, velvia
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Toyo-Field
Camera Model Name Toyo-Field 45AII
Lens Model Schneider 90mm f/5.6 Super-Angulon XL
Focal Length 90.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 27.00mm
ISO 50
Date/Time Original Sunday April 01, 2001 12:00pm
City San Diego
State California
Country United States
Location Grantville
GPS Altitude 30 meters (98.4 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 32.7844955283367
GPS Longitude -117.106789919992
Map Google Map Link

About This Photograph

I made this image on 4×5 large format sheet film — Fujichrome Velvia. Working with a view camera means composing on a ground glass that shows the scene upside down and reversed, under a dark cloth.

Velvia is a transparency film with aggressive color saturation. The pinks and reds of the geraniums, the deep violet of the irises, the near-luminous white of the church walls — that's not post-processing, that's the film doing what it was made to do. The 4×5 format captures roughly 16 times the surface area of a 35mm frame, and the detail that comes with it is extraordinary.

I've photographed this mission more than once, but this frame — the garden in full bloom, midday light wrapping the façade, the agave asserting itself in the middle distance — is the one I keep coming back to. The file is archived in Adobe RGB 1998, a wide-gamut color space that holds Velvia's range faithfully in print. Some photographs are made quickly. This one was made slowly, the way the mission itself was built.

Sources:

Wikipedia
San Diego Tourism Authority
EBSCO Research Starters
California Missions Native History
Mission San Diego de Alcalá (official site)
Legends of America
The California Frontier Project
California.com

Izu Lion San Diego Zoo Safari Park

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I took this shot in 2007 when Izu, San Diego Zoo Safari Park's lion was 3 years old. He was my favorite subject at the park. Izu died a few years ago in 2022. I was recently going through some photos and came across this shot. Rest in peace Izu.

Izu Lion San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Tag Name Data
Title Lion at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Image Description I visited the San Diego Zoo Safari Park many times to get a great shot of Izu, one of their male lions, sitting on top of the fake land rover they have parked in the enclosure. On this visit, armed with my big 400, I was blessed with Izu looking majestic as he was positioned perfectly on top of the land rover. This type of shot really doesn't get much better than this. Izu died in May 2022. RIP Izu.
Keywords San Diego Zoo Safari Park, animal, escondido, lion
Copyright ©ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Lens Model EF400mm f/4 DO IS USM
Focal Length 400.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/250 second
Aperture Value 4.50
ISO 100
Date/Time Original Tuesday October 16, 2007 12:50pm
City Escondido
State California
Country United States
Location San Diego Zoo Safari Park
GPS Altitude 130 meters (426.5 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.0966004166667
GPS Longitude -116.997551200075
Map Google Map Link

Astro Orbiter

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This piece started as a photo taken in 2011. It is now a 6-foor wide watercolor. Heavily edited, it is purely digital.

This was one of my favorite rides as a kid. I loved going to Disneyland. I remember the early 70s where each ride required a ticket, and you could park right outside the entrance.

This final piece really looks like what you see when you ride the Rocket Jets, now called Astro Orbiter at night. Just a blur of lights.

Rocket Ride or Astro Orbiter at Disneyland

Tag Name Data
Title Rocket Ride or Astro Orbiter at Disneyland
Image Description 6-foot wide watercolor of an original photo I took in 2011 of the famous ride at Disneyland.
Keywords 6x12, anaheim, anaheim california, astro orbiter, digitalwatercolor, disneyland, panorama, rocket ride
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens Model EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM
Focal Length 19.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/4 second
Aperture Value 2.80
ISO 1600
Date/Time Original Sunday September 11, 2011 08:41pm
City Anaheim
State California
Country United States
Location Disneyland Resort
GPS Altitude 56.4 meters (185.0 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.8120883333333
GPS Longitude -117.918355
Map Google Map Link

I don't like it

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I have always been a technical shooter. One that wants the photo to look realistic and how it looks in real life. Straight lines, level, centered, and well composed. I check all the OCD boxes. I can’t stand HDR. I don’t like suppressed highlights and raised shadows.

I started playing around with digital watercolor a while back and oddly enough I like the way they look. Yes, it is the opposite of my shooting style. Somehow, I like the colors and saturation and the artsy way they look. I am afraid they are here to stay in my output.

They take quite a bit of work. They are not easy to create. I can’t duplicate the same output if I start over. This is part of the appeal. Something unique about each one. I structure the original file to output at 80 inches wide at 300 dpi. In other words, I can print them over 6 feet wide.

Before The Set - a digital watercolor

Tag Name Data
Title Before The Set
Image Description This piece started as a photo I shot in Huntington Beach. I then created a 6-foot wide watercolor. It is digital art and heavily edited.
Keywords 6x12, beach, digitalwatercolor, huntington beach, lifeguard tower, surfer, surfing
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model EF200mm f/2.8L II USM
Focal Length 200.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/800 second
Aperture Value 8.00
ISO 125
Date/Time Original Saturday March 14, 2026 10:06am
City Huntington Beach
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 0 meters (0.0 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.6582553366167
GPS Longitude -118.006767705031
Map Google Map Link

Winchester Farms

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While at Winchester Farms, I spotted this farm stand sign on a dark wall and thought it made a decent composition. Something about the typographic chaos pulled me in. Every product demanding attention in its own competing font, color, and scale. I kept the framing simple and let the sign do the work. Clean light, nothing clever. The cartoon chicken and grinning bee reminded me how much character exists in these hand-painted roadside signs. Medjool dates, local honey, avocados. This particular corner of Southern California agriculture, distilled onto a single white banner.

Roadside sign at Winchester Farms

Tag Name Data
Title Fresh Produce Sign at Winchester Farms
Image Description This is a sign that is posted near the front entrance at Winchester Farms in Winchester California
Keywords Winchester, avocados, brown eggs, country store, honey, oranges, restaurant, sign, store, winchester farms
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model RF15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Focal Length 30.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/100 second
Aperture Value 6.30
ISO 200
Date/Time Original Thursday November 27, 2025 12:59pm
City Winchester
State California
Country United States
Location Green Acres
GPS Altitude 460 meters (1509.2 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.7224620900028
GPS Longitude -117.075918553328
Map Google Map Link

Cris’s Juicy Burgers Harvard Street Hemet

in

When interesting light catches my eye, I stop and ask myself: Is there a shot here? Sometimes I say it out loud. "No shot." Or "I'll take it." It's a split-second negotiation between what I see and what I know.

Not every shot is worth taking, and light is non-negotiable. Without it as a foundation, I'll almost always walk away.

But this moment was different. The light cut across the scene at a sharp angle, carving out geometry that felt almost architectural. Too deliberate to walk away from.

Old Cris’s Juicy Burgers on Harvard Street in Hemet California

Tag Name Data
Title Hamburgers
Image Description Old Cris’s Juicy Burgers on Harvard Street in Hemet California
Keywords 35mm film, Ilford FP4 Plus, black and white film, hamburgers, hemet california, restaurant
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS-3
Lens Model EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
Focal Length 50.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/250 second
Aperture Value 9.00
ISO 125
Date/Time Original Friday December 05, 2025 10:20am
City Hemet
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 480 meters (1574.8 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.7485573966528
GPS Longitude -116.970732376694
Map Google Map Link

Wynwood Miami

in

I was in Miami recently. My normal thing is to venture into the residential neighborhoods when visiting a new area. It gives me a sense of the local culture and I am able to find photo opportunities far away from the tourist spots where everyone takes the same photo. While this shot is in a tourist area, it is also in a neighborhood. I could not resist the vibrant colors of the Wynwood area of Miami.

The first shot is a digital 10-shot stitch that is about 23k pixels wide. The second shot is a 6x17 Portra 160 negative that is also about 23k pixels wide. The digital shot is a bit wider because it is hard to stand in the exact position that will result in the same angle of view when shooting both film and digital panoramas of the same subject.

Wynwood Miami - Digital 6×17

Tag Name Data
Title Wynwood Miami
Image Description Art on walls in the Wynwood area of Miami. This one appears to be by the WH Crew
Keywords 6x17, WH Crew, graffiti, miami, panorama, stitched panorama, wynwood, wynwood walls
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model EF50mm f/1.2L USM
Focal Length 50.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 17.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/250 second
Aperture Value 8.00
ISO 100
Date/Time Original Wednesday February 11, 2026 03:23pm
City Miami
State Florida
Country United States
Location Wynwood
GPS Altitude 0 meters (0.0 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 25.7973379967556
GPS Longitude -80.1984797734639
Map Google Map Link

Wynwood Miami - 6×17 Film

Tag Name Data
Title Wynwood Miami
Image Description Art on walls in the Wynwood area of Miami. This one appears to be by the WH Crew.
Keywords 6x17, 6x17 film, Schneider 67mm Center Filter IIIC, WH Crew, art, film, film scan, graffiti, miami, panorama, portra 160, sidewalk, wall, wynwood, wynwood walls
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make CCB
Camera Model Name CCB 617C
Lens Model Schneider 90mm f/8 Super-Angulon
Focal Length 90.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 19.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/30 second
Aperture Value 13.00
ISO 160
Date/Time Original Wednesday February 11, 2026 02:55pm
City Miami
State Florida
Country United States
Location Wynwood
GPS Altitude 0 meters (0.0 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 25.7972301733861
GPS Longitude -80.1984688616639
Map Google Map Link

Engine Company 12 Temecula

in ,

I shot this in April of 2024. I am just getting around to posting the blog entry and the video. Watch the video as it reviews everything.

Engine Company 12 Temecula

Tag Name Data
Title Engine Company 12 Temecula
Image Description Engine Company 12 Temecula. This is a drum scan of a 6x17 negative.
Keywords 6x17 film, drum scan, engine company 12, film scan, fire station, kodak ektar 100, old town temecula, panorama, temecula
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Chamonix
Camera Model Name Chamonix 57Fs-2
Lens Model Nikkor-SW 90mm f/4.5
Focal Length 90.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 19.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/60 second
Aperture Value 25.00
ISO 100
Date/Time Original Sunday April 07, 2024 02:17pm
City Temecula
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 310 meters (1017.1 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.4967576300639
GPS Longitude -117.150588239995
Map Google Map Link

Large Format Photography On Location - 6x17 Chamonix - Old Town Temecula, California E13

**Title**

Large Format Photography On Location - 6x17 Chamonix - Old Town Temecula, California E13

6x17 photography

6x17 Camera

Film photography

Large Format Photography

**Description**

Film photography and large format photography with a Chamonix 6x17 camera.

I head to Old Town Temecula, California where I shoot the Engine Company 12 Fire Station.

**Film Camera Gear**

Nikkor-SW 90mm f/4.5 Lens

Chamonix 57Fs-2 View Camera

Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film

DAYI 6x17 Roll Film Back for 5x7

eTone 6x Focusing Loupe with diopter adjustment

Vello TSR-40 Threaded Shutter Release Cable (15.75")

Sekonic L-758DR DigitalMaster Flash Meter

Manfrotto 3021N Tripod Legs

Manfrotto 3029 Pan Tilt Tripod Head

Let me know if I missed something you are interested in

**Video Gear**

EOS R with Canon Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens

Manfrotto 190CX3 Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs (Black)

Manfrotto MH804 3-Way, Pan-and-Tilt Head with 200LT-PL Quick Release Plate

DJI Mic 2-Person Compact Digital Wireless Microphone System

Shure MOTIV MVL Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone

**Bags and Cases**

Think Tank Photo Airport Accelerator Backpack for large format gear

Lowepro CompuTrekker Camera Backpack for video gear

**iPhone apps**
Mark II Artist's Viewfinder - https://www.artistsviewfinder.com/

**Computer software and scanner**

Adobe Creative Suite

Epson Scan with Epson Perfection V850 Pro Scanner

**DISCLAIMER**

Not affiliated with any brands. No paid products or sponsors. This video contains no paid endorsements of any kind.

If I wear/show/talk about a brand, I like/own/use that brand in real life and get nothing in return.

I paid two artists to create the logo animation at the beginning of this video.

This was done with my direction and design instructions. It is 100% original.

00:00 - Intro animation

00:07 - Intro

01:08 - Composing

02:50 - Door opens and comments

03:08 - Camera position and leveling

03:49 - Metering

06:18 - Mount roll film back

07:45 - Take the shot

08:13 - On location rap

08:32 - Equipment

09:22 - Processing

7-Eleven Winchester

in

This is a 6-foot wide digital watercolor. These are fun to make and print. They look really good up close in person. The 7-Eleven in Winchester is great to shoot. This is a single shot. Not stitched.

7-Eleven Winchester

Tag Name Data
Title 7-Eleven Winchester
Image Description This is a 6-foot wide digital watercolor. These are fun to make and print. They look really good up close in person. The 7-Eleven in Winchester is great to shoot. This is a single shot. Not stitched.
Keywords 6x17, 7-Eleven, Winchester, convenience store, digital watercolor, gas, gas pump, gas station, morning, panorama, store
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model EF16-35mm f/2.8L III USM
Focal Length 16.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/125 second
Aperture Value 5.60
ISO 6400
Date/Time Original Tuesday December 16, 2025 05:19am
City Winchester
State California
Country United States
Location French Valley
GPS Altitude 410 meters (1345.1 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.5975805832694
GPS Longitude -117.117094615002
Map Google Map Link

Coachella Valley Vista Point

in

I was driving from Camera West in Rancho Mirage back home and decided to take the scenic way back. When driving from the Palm Springs area back home, I can drive the main freeways back, or take the winding roads over the mountains. I took the winding roads. The shot is an 8-shot stitched panorama. I used my 85 prime, and it is very sharp. The file is gorgeous to look at up close. It always amazes me how much detail is resolved when I use a long lens and stitch several files to build a 6x17 shot.

Coachella Valley Vista Point

Tag Name Data
Title Coachella Valley Vista Point
Image Description From the Coachella Valley Vista Point you get a great view of Palm Desert and the surrounding area. This is an 8-shot stitched panorama. The resulting file is over 24k pixels wide after cropping and gorgeous to look at up close
Keywords 6x17, Coachella Valley Vista Point, desert, mountains, palm desert, stitched panorama, view, vista point
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model RF85mm F2 MACRO IS STM
Focal Length 85.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/500 second
Aperture Value 8.00
ISO 100
Date/Time Original Saturday January 10, 2026 12:45pm
City Palm Desert
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 720 meters (2362.2 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.6495150849944
GPS Longitude -116.400724858327
Map Google Map Link

iPhone shot

Books read in 2025

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In 2025 did not read as much as usual. I still finished 16 books. Most were good. Some were not. If you are interested in my reviews on each book, then click the “books” link in the main menu of this website to see my profile on Goodreads.

16 books read in 2025

In-N-Out Burger Hemet

in

I have been creating digital watercolor paintings that are 6 feet wide. This particular shot was shot in raw with my iPhone. Shows to go ya that Chase Jarvis was right. The best camera is the one you have with you. The paintings are fun to do. They look really cool up close. I will have to print one large to enjoy.

In-N-Out Burger Hemet - Digital watercolor

Tag Name Data
Title In-N-Out Burger Hemet
Image Description I was eating lunch at In-N-Out Burger and decided to take an iPhone raw shot of the sign. I then created a digital watercolor. Fun to do.
Keywords In-N-Out, In-N-Out Burger, california, digital watercolor, fast food, hemet, hemet california, restaurant, sign, watercolor
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Apple
Camera Model Name iPhone 16 Pro
Lens Model iPhone 16 Pro back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78
Focal Length 6.80mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 48.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/4000 second
Aperture Value 1.80
ISO 80
Date/Time Original Wednesday December 10, 2025 10:57am
City Hemet
State California
Country United States
GPS Speed 0.03 kmh (0.02 mph)
GPS Altitude 468.1 meters (1535.8 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.7472083333333
GPS Longitude -117.001983333333
Map Google Map Link

Clayton A Record Jr Viewpoint

in

Perched above the shimmering waters of Southern California's largest reservoir, the Clayton A. Record Jr. Viewpoint at Diamond Valley Lake is one of Riverside County's most rewarding — and underrated — outdoor attractions. Whether you're a local resident, a weekend explorer, or a first-time visitor to the Hemet area, this scenic overlook delivers a perspective on the landscape that simply can't be matched from ground level. Best of all, it's completely free.

Getting There

The Clayton A. Record Jr. Viewpoint is located at the west dam of Diamond Valley Lake, just southwest of Hemet in Riverside County, California. Visitors enter off Winchester Road via Newport Road, pass through a security checkpoint, and follow a winding road up to a spacious parking area. The viewpoint is open Thursdays through Sundays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed on select holidays, including Easter, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. No admission fee is required, making it one of the best free outdoor experiences in the Inland Empire.

The Hike Up

From the parking area, a well-maintained concrete path leads visitors to the summit. The trail is short but moderately steep, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Those with mobility concerns will find the paved surface more manageable than a typical dirt trail, though the incline may be challenging for some. About halfway up, a shaded covered overlook with seating provides a natural rest stop and your first stunning glimpse of the lake below. Take a moment here — the view only gets better as you continue upward.

What You'll See at the Top

At the summit, a large decorative compass marks the high point of the viewpoint. From this spot, visitors are treated to a full 360-degree panorama that spans the broad blue expanse of Diamond Valley Lake, the adjacent hydroelectric power plant, rolling hillsides, and the broad sweep of the Domenigoni and Diamond valleys. On a clear day, the scenery stretches for miles in every direction, giving a dramatic sense of just how significant this reservoir is to the region. It's a photographer's dream and a calm refuge for anyone who simply wants to take in the natural beauty of inland Southern California.

A Name Worth Honoring

The viewpoint was named in honor of Clayton A. Record Jr., who served as the Eastern Municipal Water District's representative to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's Board of Directors from June 1999 to January 2001. His devotion to regional water policy and infrastructure helped shape the development of Diamond Valley Lake in a crucial phase in its construction. Naming this prominent landmark after him is a fitting tribute to a public servant whose legacy is literally embedded in the landscape.

Plan Your Visit

The Clayton A. Record Jr. Viewpoint complements perfectly with everything else Diamond Valley Lake has to offer — world-class fishing for largemouth bass and rainbow trout, hiking and equestrian trails, kayaking, sailing, and the nearby Western Science Center featuring exhibits on prehistoric animals discovered during the lake's construction.

Whether you're visiting for the views, the history, or a full day of outdoor recreation, the Clayton A. Record Jr. Viewpoint is an essential stop. It's a free, family-friendly destination that combines stunning natural scenery with a meaningful tribute to the water leaders who made Diamond Valley Lake possible. Add it to your itinerary — you won't regret it.

Clayton A Record Jr Viewpoint

Tag Name Data
Title Clayton A Record Jr Viewpoint
Image Description It was a nice day up at the Clayton A Record Jr Viewpoint. This is 8 vertical shots.
Keywords 6x17, Clayton A Record Jr Viewpoint, dam, diamond valley lake, lake, mountains, panorama, pump, reflection, stitched panorama
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model RF85mm F2 MACRO IS STM
Focal Length 85.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/125 second
Aperture Value 8.00
ISO 100
Date/Time Original Sunday December 21, 2025 03:39pm
City Hemet
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 560 meters (1837.3 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.6829315516167
GPS Longitude -117.066964636667
Map Google Map Link