Gary Gionet

About this photo: Yachats, Oregon (September 2009) Heceta Head Lighthouse - Off Highway 101 in Central Oregon. On the west side of 1,000-foot-high Heceta Head, 205 feet above the ocean, the lighthouse is one of the most photographed on the coast. The light at top of 56-foot tower was illuminated in 1894; the automated beacon, seen 21 miles from land, is rated as the strongest light on the Oregon coast.

About this photo: California (October 2005) Sunrise on Highway 395 near Mono Lake, South of Lee Vining.

About this photo: Overton, Nevada (April 2006) Valley of Fire State Park - located 55 miles northeast of Las Vegas. Valley of Fire is Nevada's oldest and largest state park, dedicated 1935. The valley derives its name from the red sandstone formations and the stark beauty of the Mojave Desert. Ancient trees and early man are represented throughout the park by areas of petrified wood and 3,000 year-old Indian petroglyph.

About this photo: Fountain Valley, California (September 2009) An afternoon at the park with our granddaughter. Not to have a care in the world - the innocents of childhood.

About this photo: El Salvador (March 2008) Central America Pacific Coast beaches offer beautiful sunsets. The memories of this trip will be with me for a lifetime.

About this photo: Laguna Beach, California (December 2008) A day at the beach with some fellow photographers. We sometimes get tunnel vision when photographing the ocean or sunsets when there are so many other interesting scenes around us.

About this photo: Parks, Arizona (November 2009) A Steller Jay enjoying "take out" food at the Rudofsky homestead.

About this photo: Pacific City, Oregon (September 2009) Cape Kiwanda - My sisters and I climbed one of Oregon's largest sand dunes that rewards you with a sweeping view of the coast on either side of Cape Kiwanda and Haystack Rock. This is a popular spot for sandboarding. The food at Pelican Pub & Brewery was fantastic too!

Today we celebrate our Veterans ~ the heroes of our freedoms. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!!!

About this photo: Guatemala (March 2008) Esquipulas - The outdoor marketplace is a popular stop for many tourist. This local vendor was selling her wares outside on the street.

About this photo: Claremont, California (March 2006) Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Gardens - The largest botanic garden dedicated exclusively to California's native plants. Founded in 1927, the Garden is nestled into 86 acres in the city of Claremont, near the foothills of the San Gabriel mountains.

About this photo: Parks, Arizon (November 2008) Garland Prairie - My sister and I saw some abandoned homes in the prairie as we were returning from Scholz Lake. We returned to photograph these homes with the sundown light.

About this photo: Orange County, California (May 2005) San Juan Capistrano - A wonderful town to explore on foot. This group of local men were enjoying an afternoon chat near the train depot.

About this photo: Grand Canyon, Arizona (October 2006) The South Rim - Fall is a good time to photograph the Grand Canyon. Usually some great clouds in the sky from the monsoon season.

About this photo: Huntington Beach, California (August 2008) Huntington Beach Central Park - Civil War reenactment held each year in this park. A goldmine for a photographer.

About this photo: San Diego, California (December 2005) La Jolla Cliffs - Brown pelicans can be found at the cliffs in numbers during the Winter. The males manifest beautiful colors during this mating period.

About this photo: Huntington Beach, California (November 2006) Bolsa Chica Wetlands - My first trip to this preserve. Many species of birds call these wetlands their seasonal home. A very good place to spend a morning just walking and enjoying God's creatures.

About this photo: Newport Beach, California (April 2007) - "The Wedge" a favorite place for the daring. On this day the surf was high, and as always at The Wedge, the waves break wickedly into the beach. Definitely not for the novice boarder.

About this photo: Newport Beach, California (January 2005), "The Wedge" in Newport Beach is popular for body surfing. These young lads were enjoying the beach during one of the many school holidays in January.

About this photo: My overworked, underpaid best model, my niece Alisyn.