When the weather turns wet and blustery, it's time to come indoors and play in the macro studio with what few flowers remain, and other fun objects. More macro studio shots coming soon...
The Pacific Chorus Frog is the official amphibian of Washington State! This critter was found when picking blueberries. The scale of the blueberry leaf should give you a sense of his diminutive stature. Usually they are heard more often than seen, but I managed to track this one down for a brief photo sessions. A few more photos of this frog can be seen here.
Taken from my front porch. Sometimes a great scene just comes and finds you where you're at.
You've undoubtedly seen the speeded-up TV ads in which people paint with light, creating all manner of objects and movements. The same thing can be done with still photography -- all it takes is a dark location (a closet, or a location away from city lights), a long exposure, and some creativity. This is a 15-second exposure done indoors, with creative canine stylings by L. Hardison. I'm looking forward to doing some outdoor light painting as well, 'cause it's just so much fun.
No, it's not the wreck of the SS Minnow. This is a 1970 photo of the SS Catala, an equally ill-fated ship that, after a long life as a steamship, served as a floating hotel in Seattle, a floating restaurant in California, and finally again a floating hotel ("boatel") near Ocean Shores, Washington. This was her last port of call, as a freak 1965 storm grounded her and the ship's carcass was largely swallowed up by the sands. Recently some of her metal has been emerging from the sand along with -- less romantically -- some reamining oil. Scan from a recently rediscovered slide, retouched in Photoshop.
Walking along the Portland, OR, waterfront recently I ran across a classic boat show. Beautifully restored speedboats and cruisers lined the docks, looking like they'd just been launched yesterday with their gleaming chrome and perfect woodwork. Pinstripes like those in this picture seemed to be a common design element of the period, and I had fun shooting this picture and others including this. Groovy, no?
It was a cloudy day on the Washington coast, the breeze blowing the sound of the waves up the wide expanse of beach. Past the part of the beach that you can drive cars on(!) it was relatively quiet between the surf and the red cliffs. Lost in conversation or my own thoughts, I never would have noticed this unusual scene if my companion hadn't pointed it out. A single ladybug (ladybird, if you wish), was slowly walking along the sand. If you look closely, you can even see the trail it's leaving behind it. What brought it there? Was it in love with a sea turtle? Did it need a break from the rat-race of chasing aphids in the garden? It didn't say.
A little experiment with Photoshop focus blurring. I went to the county fair over the weekend, a place awash with kids and critters and great for photographers. Some of my favorites are the photos I took (and which I'll post soon) of the bird show put on by a raptor rescue and rehabilitation center. The llamas were also great, awash in sunlight and, in this case, being coaxed onto a stand by a young handler. The background of the shot was busy and distracting, however, so I did some experimentation with layers and focus/blurring to come up with this dreamy image.
Ski lifts? Thick fog? Could this dark atmosphere really be what July looks like? It was, on a recent hike in the Cascade Mountains. The mystery of season seems enhanced by the lonely chairlift, creating an otherworldly season that's not winter, but not really summer either.
I'm not much for the cotton candy and garlic fries, but I love the people watching that carnivals, fairs, and festivals provide. Got down to Olympia's annual Lakefair last night, and had a great time. So did this guy, apparently.
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