2011, Day 212 - Fading daisies

I was out visiting my friends Jeff and Ramona out in Beavercreek today to watch the whippets race, the silkens fly and the puppies play.  It was bliss, the sun was shining, there was a cool breeze, the company was exceptional and the dogs were loads of fun.  This is what summer Sundays are all about!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
27mm, f8, 1/640 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 211 - Floral gluttony

I took this photo a couple of weeks ago when the oak leaf hydrangeas began to bloom.  Their pollen is between all the flowers and the bees frantically climb through to collect it.  There is a kind of orgy of bees in the flowers and it is fun to watch, like an ant farm where all the ants are on crack.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4.5, 1/8000 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 210 - Sipping

Back to the butterflies!  I thought that this perspective was different and although my model is holding his wings asymmetrically it makes it look a little more natural.  Butterflies are kind of like fish in that they move so effortlessly from one place to another floating in front of you in a kind of dance.  Being around them is very relaxing, they instill a sense of peace that is so elusive.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/125 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 209 - Probing

On a walk in the neighborhood adjacent to my office I espied some echinacea.  Pollen abounds in echinacea and when they are in bloom you can almost always find bees and that is exactly what I discovered as I got closer.  The structure of the flower by itself is beautiful but when you put a bird bee on it you end up with art!

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/1250 sec @ 250 ISO

2011, Day 208 - Homestead

Today's photo is something a little out of the ordinary for me.  I passed this house quite a while back and at the time I thought that it had a great rustic look.  When I first saw it the weather was overcast but I made a mental note to return when there were some high clouds in the sky.  Today there were the desired clouds and even though I am still recovering my an accumulated lack of sleep I returned.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
35mm, f5.6, 1/400 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 207 - Breakfast on the run

Today I am catching up on yesterday's post and today's post.  I can't stomach the idea of missing a day, it has been making me crazy.

Anywho, we return to the open air market in Ubud today.  This is a portrait of one of the women, there is a trio, who sit side-by-side every day and serve breakfast to the early morning shoppers.  I've been thinking about Bali for the past few days, my cousin is honeymooning there now and tomorrow my sister leaves for her honeymoon in Yosemite.

I hope a good time is had by all but I understand that my cousin believes she ate something a little off as both she and her husband claim to have had food poisoning.  Somehow I suspect that if she ate breakfast at the market she would have no such complaint.

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
68mm, f2.8, 1/160 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 206 - Anemone

I took this picture of a flower in my mother's yard right before the rehearsal dinner.  With a little post-processing it looks a bit like a sea anemone to me...

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f11, 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 205 - Mawwiage

I admit it, I'm running behind.  Yesterday my sister Stacey got married and I was honored to be their photographer.  Weddings are a lot of work but the upshot is that you get to spend a lot of time with the bride and groom and we all know at weddings they are being pulled in so many directions what few people get more than a few words with them.

The wedding ceremony was held at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.  We were very fortunate to have the space not only as a venue for the marriage but as a location for photos of the bride and groom.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f1.6, 1/80 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 204 - Lucy

This little bundle of grumpy is Lucy, my friend Heather's daughter.  She is teething, sleeping little and making sure everyone is aware of her discomfort.  Lucy makes the best faces, some quite similar to those her mother makes, and this is one of them :)

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 50/f1.2L
50mm, f2.8, 1/320 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 203 - Brick and pigment

I was looking through some photos from last year and I discovered this one.  It is not just about the graffiti but the texture of the concrete, bricks, steel bars, iron anchors and the like.  Unfortunately the original was a little flat so I added a little tone mapping and some color adjustments giving this more pleasing, if slight exaggerated, result.

Canon 1D Mark III, Canon 17-40/f4L
17mm, f5.6, 1/80 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 202 - Eggy

To my perception the unusually cool summer has left much of the flora confused.  The dahlias are already blooming and it seems to me that they are more of a late summer flower.  It isn't as though we've have an early summer, the opposite in fact, but whatever it is I like our Pacific Northwest weather better that what I am enduring in California.  My sister is getting married this weekend and the heat that I'm experiencing here is a good reminder why I fled to Oregon!

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f7.1, 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 201 - Shopping

My cousin Courtney was married about a month ago but she arrived in Bali for her honeymoon two days ago.  Reading her blog brought back the heat, humidity and hospitality of the Balinese people.  This photo is another from Ubud's market.  As I recall we were on the second or third floor of the market building where everything was dimly lit by the occasional incandescent bulb and what little sunlight could penetrate the fifty feet or so to the railing that overlooked the lower levels.

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
27mm, f2.8, 1/50 sec @ 5000 ISO

2011, Day 200 - Snacking

Back to wheat, it feeds the nation and apparently it feeds hidden little spiders.  This is probably the nightmare of many of those who follow my blog, the idea that a spider can hide in a little nook and lay in wait to attack and pump its' hapless victim full of poison that starts to digest before they even begin dining.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f11, 1/250 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 199 - Tattered

With a lifespan measured in days some of the butterflies we saw on Friday were looking a little beat up.  It is a little sad but when you remember that they are safe from predators it becomes apparent that most of these worn little fellows have outlived their wild brethren.  So as they flit from flower, to leaf to your shoulder if you listen carefully they will tell you a story of past glories and feasts of endless nectar.

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

2011, Day 198 - Amber waves

Fields of golden wheat out in Independence.  I think that the name is so appropriate given the subject matter, the amber waves of grain and all that...

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f5.6, 1/2500 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 197 - Tonguing the flower

More from my Wings of Wonder shoot yesterday.  It's funny, you would think that the beautiful peaceful butterflies would create calm casual shooting but when the little buggers cooperate it becomes frantic!

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 196 - Flour Popo

This morning I met up with my friend Terri to go to Wings of Wonder, a butterfly farm in Independence, Oregon.  On the way back to her house in Salem to pick up my car I asked Terri to stop at one of the wheat fields so I could take some pictures.  My intention was not to look for insects but there they were!  It is a Popo coming to visit me while playing on a sheaf of wheat.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f11, 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 195 - Canang sari

Every day the devout Hindu people on Bali make offerings to show their gratitude to the gods for their good fortune.  They are usually made on trays of young palm leaves and include rice, flower petals and incense.  These offerings, called canang sari, are a common sight on the island and I found these tokens of religious devotion inspiring not only in their presence but in their simple elegance.

The woman pictured below is at the market in Ubud.  She is there every day and always in the same spot.  The towel helps to cushion the materials she brings every day, balanced on her head, as she walks to the market.  In her hands she holds her breakfast while waiting for customers to come purchase flowers so make their daily offerings.

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
70mm, f2.8, 1/1250 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 194 - Crazy daisy

This morning I had the dubious pleasure of taking my car in for servicing.  Fortunately it is only a couple miles from my house so after dropping off my vehicle I walked home.  On my walk I took pictures of a number of things that I found interesting but seeing as one of my favorite things is macro photography this is the first image I will share with you, this daisy that looks like it was cross-bred with a spider mum.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/800 sec @ 250 ISO

2011, Day 193 - Yawn!

Returning to Bali for a little bit, there are a few days left of this trip and this day in particular was one of my favorites, the morning was spent at the local market.  That is probably my favorite part of travel, actually seeing how other people live.  So many seasoned travelers seem to try to avoid people in favor of the place but the people MAKE the place.

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
68mm, f4, 1/640 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 192 - Vista House

It was overcast all day today and I was hoping that the clouds would break up enough this evening for some dramatic pictures of the Columbia River Gorge.  As evening approached I decided to take a drive towards Multnomah Falls, there were a few breaks in the cloud cover so I was hopeful that the sunset would be colorful and dramatic.  As it turns out it wasn't but I did stop off at Vista House and captured this exceptional early 20th century monument.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
24mm, f11, HDR of 1/60, 1/25, 1/10, 1/4 and 0.6 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 191 - Burst of sun

I was over at my friends J and Garrison's house this afternoon and they garden is covered in blooms.  The one I liked most is below, the warmth of the flower just seeps into your bones.  "Where are the insects?" I hear you ask...  They were in attendance but totally uncooperative so it is just flowers unaccompanied.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/250 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 190 - Flare

I was walking through downtown Portland briefly this evening.  Supposedly I had a haircut appointment but unfortunately the person before me, who I couldn't see clearly, had an afro that was two feet from their scalp to the tip of the hair (so over four feet across) and they wanted their hair cut short.  When I arrived they weren't even half done and they had been working on it for over an hour so I wandered around a bit before deciding to go home.

On my way back to my car I saw these folks waiting for some art house movie theater to open their doors.  With my camera set for one stop overexposure I grabbed this photo.  I love the flare in the bottom left, the long shadows reaching for the bottom of the frame and the buildings disappearing in the brightness of the late afternoon sun.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
27mm, f5.6, 1/160 @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 189 - Bzzzzzz

I took this photo yesterday while my talented friend Joanne was tattooing my leg.  It's funny how you get used to something, the first few minutes were the most uncomfortable but the two hours I sat there seemed to fly by as we chatted.  If you ever want some work done do yourself a favor and call Joanne (well in advance).

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f2.8, 1/40 sec @ 1600 ISO

2011, Day 188 - Cowboy up

This morning I made the trek out to the Country Classic Horse Show in Wilsonville.  We were fortunate because after days of what seemed like crippling heat it was overcast and breezy today.  Harsh direct light makes for contrasty and often unappealing photography so today seemed like a blessing.  The Country Classic is a five day show and is the second largest in the Pacific Northwest but it is by far the most popular.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f5.6, 1/1250 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 187 - Meandering

Back to my hike in Forest Park last week...  It was hot today, 86 degrees and rather humid, so I was reliving the pleasant breeze and cool air under the canopy of maple trees and evergreens.  You could smell the soil as the moisture unlocked its fragrance so the walk along the gentle rolling path was quite pleasant.  Ahh, the nostalgia of cooler days only last week!

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
31mm, f2.8, 1/100 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 186 - Trolling

On the way back from watching the fireworks along the esplanade we wandered under the Morrison Bridge.  I love the old cobbles, they provide such great texture.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
26mm, f11, 10 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 185 - Light trails

I had asked my friend Julie if she wanted to take pictures of fireworks with me this 4th of July.  Unfortunately she thought that she had a really early work day on the 5th but I received an email from her this morning telling me that she was mistaken!  Hooray, a photo buddy!

This is the first year I have attended the Independence Day fireworks in Portland and I have to say that I was really disappointed with where they chose to base the barge on the river.  It was really close to the bank on the east side so the view wasn't really great.  In fact, the Rose Festival fireworks were much better.  However, after the fireworks Julie and I stayed to take some photos of the city at night and below is my favorite shot.  If you look carefully there are some fireworks in the picture but I like all the life in it, there is always something more to see.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f20, 30 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 184 - Unfurled

Another photo from my walk in Forest Park and my obsession with ferns continues.  I used a little flash to separate the target frond from the rest of the background.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f8, 1/160 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 183 - Counter-clockwise

There was a story on the news the other day about people in Portland getting permission to repaint the fire hydrants in their neighborhood.  I thought it was funny and when I came across this hydrant I thought it might be a bit of a shame because it has so much character, why would you want to cover it up?

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 182 - Hover lunch

It was a nice sunny day today so I took a walk after going to the office.  I came upon a house with a plethora of flowers in the yard and while I was taking pictures the owner came home.  Being a considerate person, I asked permission to take pictures of his flowers and their insect visitors.  He told me I was free to continue and said that his girlfriend planted the garden to attract butterflies, bees and other insect life.  Now that's my kind of garden!

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/320 sec @ 100 ISO