Flickr: Michael Layefsky's Photostream

Grapefruit orchards, Hemet, California

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Many square miles of this extremely arid valley are planted with grapefruits and oranges.

I can't speak about the oranges, but the grapefruits were sweet, tart, juicy and absolutely delicious.

Taken by a camera lofted by a helium balloon.

Uploaded on Jan 31, 2012

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Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park

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This dramatic structure opened to the public back in 1879.

www.conservatoryofflowers.org

Taken by a camera lofted by a helium balloon.

Uploaded on Jan 25, 2012

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Kite aerial photo on the cover of an Australian technical monograph

One of my aerial photographs of rice terraces in Bali was used on the cover of this technical report.

Inoculant biofertilisers are preparations that contain beneficial micro-organisms and are applied to crops with the aim of reducing or replacing more costly and environmentally damaging chemical fertilisers.

I was especially happy to see this use, as I worked in a lab studying biological control and integrated pest management during my undergraduate years at the University of California, Berkeley.

Uploaded on Jan 22, 2012

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Sandhill Cranes

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Just a few of the many hundreds of Greater Sandhill Cranes which return at sunset to the Woodbridge Ecological Reserve outside Lodi, California.

These are huge birds, with a wingspan of 5 to 7 feet. Their loud trumpeting is amazing, especially in the large numbers we observed.

Uploaded on Jan 13, 2012

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Harvested rice fields, Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area

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The patterns seen in this photo were created by large mechanical rice harvesting machines. This area, situated between Sacramento and Davis, is part of the Pacific Flyway, and the farmers flood their fields at this time of year for use by the migratory waterfowl. It's been a very dry fall and winter, which explains why the fields are not totally flooded.

The winds were quite strong during this kite photography session. Thanks very much to Jamie Lent, for his assistance in managing the gear during the outing.

Thanks also to Bruce Barnett, a biologist who lives near this area and a talented aerial photographer (powered paraglider), for explaining what's going on in this image.

Taken by a camera lofted by a kite.

Uploaded on Jan 10, 2012

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