2011, Day 120 - Go go!

Today was the Washington Whippet Racing Club's straight racing meet (NAWRA). Between programs the puppies were given an opportunity to practice and this is Gogo showing his stuff even though he's probably going to be too large to be allowed to compete.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2500 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 119 - Shifty

My sweet irresistible boy Johan. He was napping in a sunbeam until I pestered him and I adore the look on his face, those shifty eyes and long-suffering expression...


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f4, 1/60 sec @ 640 ISO

2011, Day 118 - Devotion

This young man is allowing the holy waters of Pura Tirta Empul to run over his head in order to grain health and good fortune. I was surprised that there were so many people making offerings and taking the blessings of the water.


Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS
200mm, f2.8, 1/400 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 117 - Pick and sweep

I'll be honest, I am not entirely sure what is being sorted but they look like bristles for a brush. What you can't see in this picture is the sweat dripping off my face, but that's probably for the best!


Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS
150mm, f2.8, 1/500 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 116 - Faddodil

It seems like most of the daffodils are fading but I found some that are still thriving. They remind me of eggs, sunny-side up :)


Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/500 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 115 - Strikes twice

Thunderstruck, the AC/DC cover band, returned to Tonic on Saturday night and despite the rather low attendance during the opening act the place was packed when they took the stage. They bring so much energy it is a real pleasure to watch if rather deafening. Next time I think some ear plugs might be in order to try to preserve my hearing, one cannot allow one's enemies to gain the upper hand.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
105mm, f2.8, 1/160 sec @ 3200 ISO

2011, Day 114 - Ed to Shred

Yesterday I was a social butterfly and anyone who knows me is well aware that such a statement is confirmation that I was rather out of my element. Who stays out past 9pm? It's madness I tell you!

Anywho, I went to an ethnic festival to celebrate the the date on which he was expelled from the womb, much to the relief of his long suffering progenitors. After I stopped by a friend's bar to take pictures of the bands that were performing. The opening act was Ed to Shred who displayed what appeared to be rather remarkable skill but that is an observation from someone who can best be described as "musically retarded." However I did have a good time despite the late hour...


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
70mm, f2.8, 1/640 sec @ 1600 ISO

2011, Day 113 - Primary color

Sunshine again today and the temperature broke seventy degrees! It was sweltering and the tulips were eager for the warmth and light.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f8, 1/640 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 112 - Burning

I like exploring new perspectives and I think I burned my retinas trying to take this picture...


Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
35mm, f5.6, 1/1250 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 111 - Inquisition

My sweet dopey boy! Johan is possibly the most friendly dog, he's not excitable, but he loves to meet new people and is a slut for belly rubs. To top it off he's a pretty boy and his eyes are just stunning :)


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f1.4, 1/250 sec @ 640 ISO

2011, Day 110 - Bloomers

It's funny how sometimes simple things that are taken for granted in other countries seem so exotic to us. When we were in Bali people lashed orchids to trees and ignored them while the bloomed repeatedly and bodies of water teamed with flowering lotus, both plants that we so carefully cultivate and treasure. The world is a wonderful place, sometimes it is nice to be reminded of that...


Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
70mm, f4, 1/320 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 109 - Heffer

Yesterday my dear friend Heather went to the vet to get her pearly whites polished. While there they found a bump on her butt (it that redundant?) which needed removing. Her trip for fortuitous as I needed a prescription filled which she brought back and I convinced her to sit for a portrait when we rendezvoused.

I affectionately call this sweet lady Heffer rather than Heather as she is of a stout and full-figured build for a greyhound.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
48mm, f2.8, 1/80 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 108 - Gobble

Yesterday I went out to visit my friends Deanna and Jared at their homestead in Estacada. They have animals everywhere but I was taken with their turkeys. Strutting around, calling to one another and and flashing with tail feathers. Unfortunately they are not the most beautiful creatures, I am reminded of something out of a Jim Henson movie like The Dark Crystal...


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/1250 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 107 - Buried treasure

When I woke up this morning I was greeted by something totally unexpected and rather novel, sunshine! So after I got the dogs walked and fed I grabbed my camera and headed out to Milo McIver State Park for a hike. During my hike I chanced to look down and espied a flash of color and low-and-behold there was a tiny wild orchid in the leaf litter, hidden like a lost gem!


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/80 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 106 - Land sharks

Look at all those needle-sharp teeth! Greyhound puppies are affectionately known as "land sharks" because they move so fast nothing is safe from their insatiable curiosity.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
27mm, f3.5, 1/800 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 105 - Poultry observation

What I love about looking at photos from years past is the little detailed you never noticed at the time. In this case my discovery was the chicken in the doorway. It looks like it is just checking up on the two gentlemen talking on the front steps, maybe even disapproving just a little.


Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS
200mm, f5.6, 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 104 - School commute

When I was in elementary school I rode my bike most days and on the way I stopped to ride with my friend John whose house was on the way. It always seemed like a relatively long bike ride, especially when we were coming home from school in the heat of the California afternoon.

I took this picture on a walking tour of the ride paddys in Ubud. It was early in the morning but the temperatures were already in the 80s and the humidity coming off of the standing water was increasing. We just passed the furtherest point in our loop when we espied these two boys wearing the school uniforms and walking to class. I guess we had it pretty easy but I like their scenery better.


Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS
200mm, f2.8, 1/640 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 103 - Blazing spring

It's true, we have had a lot of rain this year so every moment of sunshine counts and the little glimpse today was enough motivation to grab my camera and run out the door for fifteen minutes of play before the clouds returned and the rain started again.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/800 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 102 - At rest

It's my baby Bort! He was taking a break from running around and giving me kisses so I grabbed the lights and managed to get this photo.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
34mm, f8, 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 101 - Baby blues

While picking up dog food I made a new friend, this tiny little Australian shepherd who could bare sit still but I managed to get one shot capturing her pretty blue eyes and emphasizing her puppy innocence.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
48mm, f2.8, 1/80 sec @ 1600 ISO

2011, Day 100 - Beats

I went by to see some friends at their bar/diner and took this after lending a hand. I liked the light and the deep shadows.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f1.4, 1/160 sec @ 1000 ISO

2011, Day 099 - Barong

This is the last of my dance performance photos from the Ubud Water Palace. Featured is the Barong who in his lion form is the king of the spirits of good and protector of the forests.


Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS
125mm, f2.8, 1/125 sec @ 1600 ISO

2011, Day 098 - Yolky

When I was looking at this photo all I could see is the yellow pollen. The color is so rich that it reminds me of the yolk of a really healthy egg.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/160 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 097 - Surprise

Look at the eyes, they're crazy and intense and I love it!


Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS
95mm, f2.8, 1/125 sec @ 1600 ISO

2011, Day 096 - Fierce

A week ago I reintroduced you to the Ubud Water Palace and today I bring you the first photo from the dance performance that we saw there. I can't help but enjoy the intensity and ferocity of the dancer's face and body language.


Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS
153mm, f2.8, 1/125 sec @ 1600 ISO

2011, Day 095 - Soggy spring

Winter is reluctant to release us from its' stubborn grasp. The earth is saturated and the rains continue, to make things worse we're predicted to have overnight lows a couple degrees shy of freezing. Come on sun, we miss you!


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
20mm, f4, masked layers of 0.3, 0.6 and 1.3 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 094 - Two lips

I had the opportunity to watch the sun rise over the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm out in Woodburn yesterday. Unfortunately the cloud cover obstructed most of it but still made for dramatic skies. Most of the plants aren't flowering yet so I may have to make a return visit but it was still a lot of fun!


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
34mm, f4, masked layers of 1/4, 1/2 and 1.0 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 093 - Sisterhood

I had the good fortune to be invited out to the home of Allagante Silkens to visit with all their goofy dogs. They have two litters of adorable puppies that are just five weeks old and starting to show their personalities so after I had my puppy fix they took a few of the adults out to practice on the lure. These two are Temora and Xena, sisters, and they're playing after their run on the way back to the starting line.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/4000 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 092 - Mister Kitty

In one of the numerous breaks between rain and hail I found this cross-eyed kitty sitting on the steps of his house watching the world go by with casual disinterest. He looked so at ease and with the beat up concrete stairs behind him it was impossible not ask him to sit for a portrait.


Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
62mm, f2.8, 1/640 sec @ 800 ISO

2011, Day 091 - Reaching

It's so sad, the hellebore is past its prime and what is disturbing is that their stamen seem to fall off as their life fades. How messed up is that? You junk falling off? Frightening!


Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4.5, 1/60 sec @ 400 ISO