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Brian Lawler's Snapshots

  1. Abandoned oil well equipment

    Abandoned oil well equipment by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Whiterock Bluff, Cuyama Valley, California by Brian Lawler

    A lot of mineral extraction has taken place in the Cuyama Valley over the years. Here, the wreckage of an oil pump can be seen.

    The anticline geology of these mountains is evidence that there may be oil below the ground.

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  2. Used car lot

    Used car lot by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Whiterock Bluff, Cuyama Valley, California by Brian Lawler

    An abandoned car has been absorbed back into the land.

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  3. Water Tank

    Water Tank by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Whiterock Bluff, Cuyama Valley, California by Brian Lawler

    Located right at the peak of the bluff, this water tank seems incongruous. It's almost the only manmade thing in the photo (there is a state highway right behind me, but don't look!).

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  4. Oh look! There's a man making a GigaPan!

    Oh look! There's a man making a GigaPan! by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Portland by Brian Lawler

    Two fellows with cameras are standing opposite me on the west side of the Willamette River. I really don't think they could tell that I was shooting a GigaPan, but it's fun to think about it.

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  5. Hiker atop Bishop Peak

    Hiker atop Bishop Peak by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Terrace Hill, January, San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler

    Bishop Peak is San Luis Obispo's most popular hiking mountain. At 1559 feet altitude, it is challenging, but still accessible to most hikers.

    The person sitting on the rocks at the top of the peak is on the exact spot of one of my other GigaPan images: Bishop Peak.

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  6. Mission M and hikers

    Mission M and hikers by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Terrace Hill, January, San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler

    Mission College Prep school has its M on the side of Cerro San Luis Obispo. Someone painted it recently with yellow and black stripes (perhaps a rival team?).

    In the lower-left of this snapshot it Eagle Point, the site of one of my other GigaPan photos.

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  7. AMTRAK Station

    AMTRAK Station by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Terrace Hill, January, San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler

    San Luis Obispo's AMTRAK station is visited numerous time daily by passing passenger trains. The Coast Starlight and the Coast Daylight pass here every afternoon at about 3:30.

    The San Diegan leaves San Luis Obispo at about 6:30 a.m., and returns at about 8:45 p.m.

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  8. Madonna Inn

    Madonna Inn by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Terrace Hill, January, San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler

    The Madonna Inn is a famous San Luis Obispo landmark. It features many hotel rooms, each decorated differently by owner Phyllis Madonna.

    They also make scrumptious pastries in their bakery.

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  9. Hikers on Cerro San Luis Obispo

    Hikers on Cerro San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Terrace Hill, January, San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler

    Cerro San Luis Obispo is a popular mountain for hikers and mountain bikers. The property is owned by the Madonna family, and they allow public access to the mountain on numerous trails.

    This trail is accessed from Marsh Street at Highway 101.

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  10. Coast Guard cutter

    Coast Guard cutter by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco from Marin Headlands by Brian Lawler

    A Coast Guard cutter patrols the water off of San Francisco's embarcadero.

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  11. Alcatraz Island

    Alcatraz Island by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco from Marin Headlands by Brian Lawler

    This island was a federal prison from 1934 - 1963. It is now part of the National Park system, and can be visited by tourists.

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  12. An oil barge

    An oil barge by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco from Marin Headlands by Brian Lawler

    An oil barge being pushed by an ocean-going tug enters the Bay from the ocean. The barge and the tug are both labeled Crowley.

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  13. Airship

    Airship by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, California by Brian Lawler

    A large airship can be seen flying over the Oakland/Hayward skyline.

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  14. Another Robinson helicopter

    Another Robinson helicopter by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, California by Brian Lawler

    Perhaps it's the same Robinson heliopter. This part of the photo was taken about 30 minutes after the left end, so it could easily be the same aircraft.

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  15. Robinson helicopter

    Robinson helicopter by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco, California by Brian Lawler

    A Robinson helicopter flies close to the bridge on the north side.

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  16. Eagle Point

    Eagle Point by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Terrace Hill by Brian Lawler

    This is my favorite location for a panoramic view of San Luis Obispo. I call it Eagle Point, a nem that I hope will stick. From this point I made one of my other GigaPan images.

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  17. Sycamore Crest

    Sycamore Crest by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Pirate's Cove, San Luis Obispo County, California by Brian Lawler

    This oak tree is the location from which I took the Sycamore Crest photo you can elsewhere in my GigaPan portfolio.

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  18. Entrance to Diablo Canyon nuclear plant

    Entrance to Diablo Canyon nuclear plant by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan San Luis Obispo Bay and Avila Beach by Brian Lawler

    Pacific Gas and Electric company operates one of California's two working nuclear power generation plants. The Diablo Canyon inuclear plant s about six miles to the west of this gate, accessible only to employees and guests.

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  19. Pismo Pier

    Pismo Pier by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan San Luis Obispo Bay and Avila Beach by Brian Lawler

    The City of Pismo Beach operates a public pier whick lies at the northern end of the eight-mile long beach that runs from Pismo to the edge of the mountains at Point Sal.

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  20. Old Port Inn and Port Harford Pier

    Old Port Inn and Port Harford Pier by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan San Luis Obispo Bay and Avila Beach by Brian Lawler

    Originally a landing for steamships, the Port Harford Pier has a popular restaurant and several fish mongers. It is also a great place to watch sea lions and the occasional Humpback whale.

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  21. Cal Poly Pier

    Cal Poly Pier by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan San Luis Obispo Bay and Avila Beach by Brian Lawler

    California Polytechnic State University, in San Luis Obispo, owns and operates this pier as part of its Marine Biology program. Originally an oil pier operated by Unocal (and then Chevron), the pier is not open to the public.

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  22. Avila Pier

    Avila Pier by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan San Luis Obispo Bay and Avila Beach by Brian Lawler

    Avila Pier is a public pier.

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  23. The pinnacle of Bishop Peak is about 20 feet higher

    The pinnacle of Bishop Peak is about 20 feet higher by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Bishop Peak, San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler

    The very tip-top of Bishop Peak is about 100 feet from my camera position. It's nicer to have it in the photo than under the photo.

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  24. Sweethearts on the mountain

    Sweethearts on the mountain by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Bishop Peak, San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler

    This cute couple climbed to the top of Bishop Peak, and took in the view long enough to be recorded in 63 of my frames. Thank you!

    (I notice also that the young woman's feet were removed from her legs on the right of the same rock (it was painless, I assure you.)

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  25. Cerro San Luis Obispo from Bishop Peak

    Cerro San Luis Obispo from Bishop Peak by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Bishop Peak, San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler

    This view looks Southeast to another of San Luis Obispo's prominent mountains. See my Eagle Point pano for the view from the shoulder of that mountain.

    The city lies at the base of these mountains.

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  26. Baseball at Baggett Stadium

    Baseball at Baggett Stadium by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Poly Mountain by Brian Lawler

    Players prepare to play a game of baseball in Cal Poly's Baggett Stadium. This is outside of the season for normal leagure play (summer quarter), but there was some activity on the field on the day this photo was taken.

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  27. Cerro San Luis Obispo

    Cerro San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Poly Mountain by Brian Lawler

    Cerro San Luis Obispo is also known as San Luis Mountain. It is owned by the Madonna family, who are kind enough to allow public access to the trails and roads which go up the mountain.

    The City of San Luis Obispo also owns some of the land on the sides of the mountain, all of it designated as green space – in perpetuity.

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  28. Bishop Peak

    Bishop Peak by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Poly Mountain by Brian Lawler

    Bishop is one of the Nine Sisters of volcanic peaks that surround San Luis Obispo, California.

    Bishop Peak is also the most popular hiking destination of the nine mountains.

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  29. Hollister Peak in fog

    Hollister Peak in fog by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Poly Mountain by Brian Lawler

    The fog is encroaching on Hollister Peak in the Chorro Valley west of San Luis Obispo. Hollister is one of nine volcanic peaks that surround the San Luis Obispo area, the western-most of them is Morro Rock.

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  30. Performing Arts Center

    Performing Arts Center by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan San Luis Obispo from Eagle Point by Brian Lawler

    The Performing Arts Center is located on the Cal Poly campus, and was built with money raised locally.

    The approx. 1,400-seat Harman Hall is the primary auditorium. Traveling shows and local performers alike make the center a great location for entertainment.

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  31. The Madonna Inn

    The Madonna Inn by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan San Luis Obispo from Eagle Point by Brian Lawler

    San Luis Obispo's famous and kitschy Madonna Inn is a stopping place for tourists from around the world. The Inn features interior décor that ranges from odd to bizarre, and every guest room is different. It's all done in a "Swiss-Italian" theme with lots of hand-carved wooden beams, over-done design elements, and way too much pink paint!

    The Inn's restaurants are good, and the pastries are superb! They also have an extraordinary spa.

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  32. Fremont Theater

    Fremont Theater by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan San Luis Obispo from Eagle Point by Brian Lawler

    This Art Deco era movie theater features a lovely neon marquee. The lettering on the sign is easily legible in this image.

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  33. The circus is in town!

    The circus is in town! by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Terrace Hill by Brian Lawler

    Circus Vargas is in town this week! With a huge tent set up on the field adjacent to the Madonna Inn, Circus Vargas has performances set from now until July 4, 2012.

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  34. Mission San Luis Obispo

    Mission San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Terrace Hill by Brian Lawler

    Built in 1772, the Mission is in the center of the city. It is the site of many cultural activities.

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  35. Yellow Lamborghini

    Yellow Lamborghini by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Dubai 45 gigapixels by Gerald Donovan

    Way, way up on the tower is a yellow Lamborghini automobile!

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  36. The Photographer

    The Photographer by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Pirate's Cove, San Luis Obispo County, California by Brian Lawler

    Here, the photographer stands with his camera at Pirate's Cove, San Luis Obispo County, California.

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  37. A Portrait of the Photographer

    A Portrait of the Photographer by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, California by Brian Lawler

    This is the photographer, and a ghostly reflection of him, standing in Mission Plaza in San Luis Obispo.

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  38. Downtown San Luis Obispo

    Downtown San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan San Luis Obispo from Eagle Point by Brian Lawler

    From my favorite view point, it's San Luis Obispo as you almost never see it.

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  39. Cerro San Luis Obispo and Bishop Peak

    Cerro San Luis Obispo and Bishop Peak by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Terrace Hill, San Luis Obispo by Brian Lawler

    These two mountains are favorites of local hikers and adventurers. Both are open to the public, one is a designated City Green Space.

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  40. Morro Rock

    Morro Rock by Brian Lawler from the GigaPan Morro Bay, California, from Black Hill by Brian Lawler

    Morro Rock sits at the mouth of Morro Bay in San Luis Obispo County, California.

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