Rocky Oaks Park, Santa Monica Mountains, California [Prints and Products Available]

A striking black and white study of a majestic coastal live oak at Rocky Oaks Park in the Santa Monica Mountains, California. This high-contrast landscape captures the rugged beauty of the Malibu hills, where gnarled branches reach across a clear sky, overlooking a winding trail and the chaparral-covered ridges.

https://welchwrite.com/blog/2026/03/09/rocky-oaks-1/
Prints Available at http://DouglasEWelch.com/shop/873

#naturephotography #blackandwhite #monochrome #landscape #trees #fineartphotography #wilderness #californialandscape #outdoorart #botanical #santamonicamountains #southerncalifornia #malibu #hikingtrail #rusticdecor #oaktree #coastalliveoak #calabasas #rockyoaks #agourahills

Preserving and enhancing open space is one of the most important things I do. Two recent news items on the conservation front:

1. Friday I joined a standing-room-only crowd at the annual fundraiser for the Conejo Open Space Foundation (COSF), which uses education and advocacy to promote and protect natural spaces. Here, secretary/founding director Elayne Haggan photographs one of the volunteers from a group that offers free removal of snakes without killing them. I'll post a link and also share an informative FB post from the group in comments. COSF also recognized Brian Stark, administrator of the Conejo Open Space Conservation Agency, for his years of work protecting our natural environment.

2. Today, on the city's behalf, I signed a letter of support for the Rim of the Valley initiative that would add nearly 200,000 acres to the Santa Monica National Recreation Area, mostly to our north and east, creating a true ring of green around our entire area. The city has supported this initiative for several years running. I'll post a link with more information in comments.

#openspace #conservation #thousandoaks #conejovalley #santamonicamountains #cosca #cosf #samofund #tocc

The Twin Peaks by jprisk

https://tmblr.co/Z7VXvxiBX8FXOa00

#landscapephotography #naturephotography #outdooradventures #adventure #thehikerseye #hiker #traillove #santamonicamountains #nature #explore #sunsetphotography #goldenhour #vibrantskies #flickr #thingsdavidlikes

Fatality at a summer camp at King Gillette Ranch, killed by an oak tree branch.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-07-09/tree-branch-falls-child-dies-calabasas-camp-4-injured

#fatality #KingGilletteRanch #SantaMonicaMountains

COSCA’s annual Trails Education Days (April 28 – May 1) provides lessons on open space subjects for all Conejo Valley Unified School District 4th grade students including a trail courtesy skit. We still have some openings for hike leaders and alternates, and definitely need EQUESTRIAN VOLUNTEERS for the skit. Interested? More info and sign-ups at: https://tinyurl.com/Volunteer4TED

#openspace #cosca #thousandoaks #conejovalley #santamonicamountains #tocc