Gary Gionet

About this photo: San Juan Capistrano, California (January 2010) Mission San Juan Capistrano - The four-bell campanario was erected a year after the bell tower at "The Great Stone Church" was toppled in the 1812 earthquake. All four of Mission San Juan Capistrano's bells are named and all bear inscriptions in Latin.

About this photo: San Diego, California (January 2006) Zoo - late afternoon as this handsome guy was sunning himself.

About this photo: Newport Beach, California (September 2004) Balboa Pier - Father and son playing in the surf.

About this photo: San Diego, California (August 2004) Sea World - This young lad was so excited to get the opportunity to hold and pet a dolphin.

About this photo: Cerro Verde, El Salvador (March 2008) farmers in a field as we descend from volcano Cerro Verde. Cerro Verde used to be home to a 4 star hotel called "Hotel de Montaña - Cerro Verde". However, due to the strong earthquakes that occurred in 2001, it is not currently open to visitors and only serves as a reminder of the areas beauty and danger. It's a great place from which to photograph the Izalco volcano. At its conception, the hotel was built with one thing in mind - creating close scenery to the Izalco's majestic eruption, which lasted a total of 200 years until 1960 when it suddenly stopped. The Izalco's flaring eruption could easily be seen from the Pacific Ocean and because of this the Volcano got the nickname, "Lighthouse of the Pacific."

About this photo: El Salvador (March 2008) Volcanoes Izalco on the left and Cerro Verde on the right, as seen from the highway to Sonsonate. I know this is not my typical Inspirational Photo, however, I found this quote and it brought a smile to my face so I had to attach it to the only volcano I have photographed.

About this photo: Camp Verde, Arizona (November 2007) Out Of Africa - the wildlife park is not a zoo. It is a wildlife refuge where people are invited to enjoy the beauty of hundreds of creatures that aren't typically found in the Arizona desert.

About this photo: Garden Grove, California (February 2008) Gionet Studios - a newborn photo session

About this photo: Parks, Arizona (April 2007) One of my sister's wonderful companions - April

About this photo: Morro Bay, California (March 2007)

About this photo: Anaheim, California (February 2007) Canyon RV Park

About this photo: Grand Canyon, Arizona (October 2006) The Grandview Trail - the trail offers hikes to Coconino Saddle, 2.2 miles (round trip), and Horseshoe Mesa, 6.4 miles (round trip). Trail conditions are tougher than the Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trails. Unmaintained steep trail requires caution. Begins on canyon side of retaining wall at Grandview Point on Desert View Drive (12 miles east of village). For experienced desert hikers. Hiking boots recommended.

About this photo: Grand Canyon, Arizona (October 2006) - Burros used to transverse the Bright Angel Trail of the Grand Canyon South Rim.

About this photo: Parks, Arizona (January 2010) Old house along Route 66

About this photo: Joshua Tree, California (October 2006) Key's Ranch - Inside the barn at the ranch.

About this photo: Joshua Tree, California (October 2006) Joshua Tree National Park

About this photo: Albuquerque, New Mexico (October 2006) - Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

About this photo: Sedona, Arizona (April 2006) Midgley Bridge - This simple iron arch bridge offers a wonderful view of Oak Creek. Located 5.5 miles North of downtown Sedona, the Midgley Bridge parking area offers numerous walking trails.

About this photo: Sedona, Arizona (June 2006) The Chapel of the Holy Cross - The unique architecture and location of the Chapel of the Holy Cross are the inspirations of Marguerite Bruswig Staude, who went on a trip to New York City in 1932. She observed that a cross could be seen in the newly constructed Empire State Building when viewed from a certain angle, and was inspired to built a church based on that design. Staude kept an eye out all over Europe and the USA for the ideal location, and she was especially struck by the beauty of Sedona. She decided to build her chapel here, which would be "a monument to faith, but a spiritual fortress so charged with God, that it spurs man's spirit godward." The Chapel of the Holy Cross was completed in April 1956.

About this photo: Bishop, California (September 2005) Lake Sabrina - Located in California's Eastern Sierra Nevada mountain range, Lake Sabrina is high in the Inyo National Forest at an elevation of 9,138 feet outside Bishop.

About this photo: Bishop, California (September 2005) - Across the street from the famous old barn that is so often photographed.

About this photo: Independence, California (September 2005) Manzanar WWII Japanese Internment Camp - The Japanese Internment Camp-Manazanar is one of multiple camps throughout the western US where Japanese descent US residents were forcibly interned during WWII. The location is now a US Park Service-operated facility with a museum and gift shop. You can drive around the old camp grounds (of which little is left).

About this photo: Monterey, California (July 2005) Point Lobos State Reserve has the most spectacular scenery along the entire California coast. The Allan Memorial Grove trail is really something special. The coastline here is rugged and free.

About this photo: Ballard, California (July 2005) Three miles north of Solvang on Highway 246 is Ballard, a little town with a Bed & Breakfast Inn, a residential street and the historic, red school house. The town of Ballard was established in 1880 and this historical landmark, the red school house, was built a few years later. It is still used as a school, but guests are welcome to enjoy the grounds which are a great location for a picnic.

About this photo: Nipomo, California (July 2005) An early surfer at the Nipomo Dunes beach.  Funny thing is, signs are posted in the parking lot warning surfers of shark attacks, and that wearing dark colored wetsuits while swimming resemble sea lions (shark food).  Apparently this brave soul missed the warning sign.

About this photo: San Diego, California (March 2005) La Jolla - The sheltered cove commonly known by everyone as the “Seal Beach” is actually legally named “The Children’s Pool.” A feud continues to brew between local residents who want the seals gone and animal protection activists who want the beach to be solely the animals’ domain.

About this photo: Williams, Arizona (March 2005) Pete's Route 66 Gas Station Museum -specializing in a collection of gas station memorabilia, including old gas pumps, vintage oil cans, vintage signs and equipment. It's owned, operated by Pete's son. The current building was built in 1949 and It operated as a gas station till 1989. The late 1940’s classic Ford sedan out front is Pete's.

About this photo: Oregon Coast (September 2009) Central Oregon Coast

About this photo: Garden Grove, California (May 2005) Annual Strawberry Festival - Volunteers from the Boys & Girls Club serving their community.

About this photo: Ramona, California (June 2005) Ramona Airfield - homebase for one of CalFire's air squadrons tasked with fighting area wildfires.

About this photo: Fullerton, California (May 2008) A First Communion