2013, Day 180 - Precious

This was Cartier's first time on the oval and she had a bit of a rough start.  Her excitement got the better of her and she got turned around in the starting box.  When it opened all that could be seen was her posterior.  Not to be deterred, she turned around and got a really late start.  But, being the good girl that she is, Cartier took off after the other dogs.  She ran the whole course flawlessly but, given her late start, came in dead last.  By her third race she was doing really well and enjoyed every minute of it!

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II with Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 179 - Bobbing

I admit that I am smitten.  This little Fuji continues to impress me and I find that I like it very much.  It isn't a replacement for my DSLR but, within its limitations, it is exceptional.  The lenses are sharp and they create such please bokeh that I can't wait to examine my results.  While it could be of higher resolution, the electronic viewfinder is effective and easy to use.  I am not over-tempted to rely on the screen which only increases instability.

These immature flowers are in my neighbor's garden.  They are getting ready to dazzle the world but I see them now as a series of towers on a field of green.  Caught in the breeze they sway and bob in a most mesmerizing way.  It was quite relaxing until sweat started to trickle down my back and then I scuttled into the shade.

Fuji X-E1, Fuji 60/f2.4
60mm, f2.8, 1/2000 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 178 - Radiant

My neighbors planted a mixture of wildflowers last year but it was late and they didn't bloom.  This year they are looking great, it is a wild variety of colors and textures.  My favorites are all the poppies in various colors.  This one has a lovely pink blush around the edges and is extremely delicate.  With highs in the 90s for the next few days I suspect it will quickly perish so immortalizing on film seemed appropriate.

Fuji X-E1, Fuji 60/f2.4
60mm, f5.6, 1/500 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 177 - Tasting

Look at that fly, mouth parts extended, tasting the flower petal that is serving as his perch.  They're kind of like children, always putting things in their mouths (or putting their mouths on things).  Another pretty good marco courtesy of this nifty Fuji X-E1, it is a joy to use and much easier to carry :)

Fuji X-E1, Fuji 60/f2.4
60mm, f4, 1/420 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 176 - Demented

I was told over the weekend by a friend that Frankie might actually be a decent racer if he didn't politely slow down to let the other dogs pass him when they get close.  As far as I can tell, he would be faster if he didn't worry so much about looking pretty when he runs.

This morning I was trimming the hair between his toes.  Yes, it is weird but he gets little mops on his feet and tracks in dirt if I don't get out the clippers from time to time.  As I removed all the excess hair I set it aside in a small pile to pick up when I finished when, out of the corner of my eye, I see movement.  It's Hubert coming to check out what is going on.  He is a curious little monkey and I thought nothing of it; he sniffed the pile of hair and then, to my surprise, he took a mouthful and ate it.  Who eats hair?!?  I always knew he was an oddball but that was a new one...

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II with Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 175 - Dance from the Depths

This is an old photo, five years old almost to the day.  Back then I volunteered with greyhound adoption and we had a great kennel.  Well, great might be an overstatement, it was a kennel and it was clean and the dogs were well-cared-for.  The best part though, was the pasture.  About half a fenced acre that was flat and grassy.  When the weather was nice we used to let the dogs out to play in small groups.  These three girls had a ball and I've always loved this picture.  Two of the three are completely airborne and it just epitomizes greyhounds at play.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS
200mm, f4, 1/640 sec @ 400 ISO

2013, Day 174 - Fried egg

This is a matilija poppy, they are literally the "fried egg" flower.  Although they generally prefer a warmer climate our wet weather doesn't seem to have slowed them down at all.  They are blooming prolifically right now and you can see them at least a block away as the flowers can be as large as eight inches in diameter.

Fuji X-E1, Fuji 60/f2.4
60mm, f4, 1/600 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 173 - Prodigy

Despite the rain it was another great day of racing today.  Halle, at not-quite two years old, showed us what a phenomenal competitor she is.  Her stride is long and low so she covers ground quickly and is well on her way to being one of the country's top racers even though she has only three months of experience.

Frankie, on the other hand, showed his consistency again.  That's right, he won the turtle prize for being consistently last.  Well, that's not entirely true, but he did end up with the lowest score of the day despite having over a year of experience.  As per usual, Frankie just wants to look good and he is way too polite.  As another dog gets close he slows down to let the pass!  I don't think he understands racing but he is winning a lot of turtle themed toys and having a great time and when you're that spectacularly bad it is funny.  I love that little monkey!

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II with Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f8, 1/1000 sec @ 320 ISO

2013, Day 172 - Bounding

Today was the second-to-last day of Team NW's Early Summer Classic.  It is a hunter jumper competition in Wilsonville and my friend Julie is the official photographer.  I've been a few times in years past and it is always fun trying my hand at something a bit different.  This time I continued my test of Fuji's X-E1 and found that I could pre-focus and then track the action and get good results.  By no means is this camera suited to fast action but it will do in a pinch and the results are very pleasing.  Next to a professional sized DSLR it looks tiny and weighs next to nothing but the quality of the images is very impressive.

Fuji X-E1, Fuji 60/f2.4
60mm, f4, 1/4000 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 171 - Speculating

Continuing my evaluation of Fuji's X-mount system yesterday I went up towards Mt Hood with my friend Francene to look at a piece of property that she co-owns.  She is thinking about building a home on it and we were trying to figure out how to do so without damaging the flora too much.  Ideas are flitting through my head now and as I look at the pictures I took I am reminded how vibrant it is there, how sweet the air smells.  I hope we can make a great plan because I already want to spend more time in the woods exploring.

Fuji X-E1, Fuji 14/2.8
14mm, f3.2, 1/75 sec @ 640 ISO

2013, Day 170 - Avuncular affection

Stubbs is the sweet old man of the house, the kindly uncle that makes all the other dogs feel welcome.  Around strangers he wishes to be invisible and will run for cover but when it is family he is a clown.  At nearly ten years old he is the biggest puppy; I watch him race through the house and play with toys more than any of the others.  But, true to form, he doesn't have the confidence to play with the other dogs, he prefers to play by himself and with me.  It has taken him years to find what little bravery he has but my patience has been rewarded and my frustration fleeting.

Fuji X-E1, Fuji 35/f1.4
35mm, f2.2, 1/170 sec @ 1000 ISO

2013, Day 169 - Embrace

Look at this little guy hugging the stamen, the anther leaving pollen all over his face.  He's like kid excitedly gorging on his favorite food.

I have to admit that I am pretty impressed with this picture.  Not that I don't have plenty of insect macros in my archives but this was taken with a mirrorless camera.  I've tried Sony's NEX-7 and Olympus' OM-D and both were lacking.  The Sony didn't handle well and the lens offerings were decidedly low-grade.  The Olympus handled well and had blazing fast autofocus but the points were big and sloppy.  Neither of those cameras were decent for hand-held macro.  But I have been eying Fuji's offerings and finally decided to give one a try.  They have a small but excellent lineup of lenses and the X-E1 handles really well.  Insects are not really this camera's forte, the AF is too slow as is the image processing speed, but it will work if you're patient.  Flower photos came out great but the next test in landscapes.  I want something small and easy to carry for outdoor adventures.  I've got a wide angle lens to try out and if it can handle that then I will be a happy camper, finally...

Fuji X-E1/Fuji 60/f2.4
60mm, f4, 1/500 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 168 - Curled

The rain is keeping our woodland areas green.  Ferns are still grown with abandon and everything is so vibrant.  It is one of the many joys of living in such a lush environment.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/125 sec @ 3200 ISO

2013, Day 167 - Droplets

Just like last year, it's raining in June.  If I recall correctly it rained until July last year and it looks as though we are going to have a repeat of that weather pattern.  That's not really a complaint from me, I hate the hot days of summer.  I like it cool and overcast, but sunshine is nice occasionally and that is what we're getting, occasional sun.  Nothing quite like flowers with fresh raindrops and kissed by warm light.

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

2013, Day 166 - Hitchhiker

Flowers are, by themselves, little works of art.  Still, it can be hard to make them an engaging subject because we look at them all the time.  You explore from every angle and maybe you find one that works.  From this I liked the two buds behind that flank and frame the subject flower.  I even like the little aphid-like insect on the side of the blossom.  It might have been nice if he were facing the camera but I think it doesn't hurt the composition at all.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/100 sec @ 400 ISO

2013, Day 165 - Floral bokeh

I was doing a bit of work out in the yard this evening and, as the sun got low, the light had a really nice quality to it.  Fortunately there is almost always a camera close to hand and I took this picture as the golden glow of the setting sun was filtering through the big maples that line my street.  The bokeh of this lens, not the best generally, has such a nice dreamy quality I felt it needed to be shared.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/160 sec @ 400 ISO

2013, Day 164 - Panning practice

Fast action shots are so rewarding but my favorites require good panning skills.  In this photo the dog is sharp but the feet and grass is blurred, even at 1/1000th of a second.  Ideally I would have shot at half that speed but with dogs it is hard, they move so quickly and change speed frequently so it is hard to get good panning shots of them and the keeper rate is already low.  I would love to get out to shoot the racing at Portland International Raceway again some time this year.  Cars move much more predictably and you can really work on your panning skills with them.  In fact it is really fun to use a short lens on the inside of a corner because you can get some amazing motion blur.  I guess that is another thing to add to the list...

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f5, 1/1000 sec @ 400 ISO

2013, Day 163 - Waxen

As I was leaving my appointment to have color added to my new tattoo I noticed that the water lilies in the pond were just starting to open.  It has been raining and the light was reflecting nicely off the droplets on the pads in the background.  The flower is so new and unblemished, so lustrous  it almost looks like it was artfully created from wax.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/1600 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 162 - Angelic

This little girl was just nine weeks old when I took her picture.  Summer puppies get to have all the fun because they get to run around outside and dig massive forts.  Winter puppies lead a more comfortable life because it is so wet and cold here in Portland.  You can see the evidence of her precocious nature by the ring of dirt that encircles her nose so don't let those big brown eyes fool you, she is ready to turn someone's life upside down with her adventures!

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

2013, Day 161 - Clustered

I love this simple color palette and the vibrancy of the florets.  They look so elegant and clean, it is refreshing.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/250 sec @ 320 ISO

2013, Day 160 - Gentle roar

I think it is coming to an end.  The season of beautiful soft light.  Clouds are quickly becoming a distant memory.  While it isn't hot yet the sign are there, summer approaches, and that means dappled light under the canopy.  It can be both a blessing and a curse; I know, silver linings and all that, but it does make photography more difficult.  Not impossible and the effects can be amazing but the light has to be just right...

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
19mm, f8, 0.6, 1.3, 2.5, and 5 sec @ 100 ISO

2013, Day 159 - Til the end

It has been a little while since I've had the opportunity to take Frankie racing.  While I don't know that his is missing it I can say that he's been an active little monkey in the past could of weeks.  If I am not home when the mail arrives it is often partially shredded.  It may be time to take him to visit his siblings and burn off some energy.

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 400 ISO

2013, Day 158 - Bridging gaps

I took this photograph a little over a year ago in the company of the incomparable Brian Matiash.  It was one of many photo adventures around Portland and beyond that we embarked upon but he has, alas, fled to greener pastures south in California.  In less than a week his last physical tie to Portland, the house he bought last fall, will be gone, sold to another.  I guess I will have to rely on all my blackmail material to get him back up this way from time to time.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 17-40/f4L
17mm, f9, 30 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 157 - Hitchhiker

Next week I get more work done on my tattoo and star magnolias are a featured element.  This photo is particularly apropos because insects are a major element and there is a small ant hiding in the petals of one of the flowers.  Can't wait to see color introduced!

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f8, 1/320 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 156 - Peanut butter

It has been another busy day in what has proven to be a busy week.  I love the activity but sometimes I just want to drift lazily like a jellyfish in a world where I shine bright like in a dream.  Maybe I just need more sleep, that sounds like such a good idea right now...

Canon 7D, Canon 24-70/f2.8L Mark II
35mm, f4, 1/5 sec @ 500 ISO

2013, Day 155 - Wishful

Oregon grape doesn't produce an interesting flower, I don't know why it is the state flower of Oregon.  The trillium would be a better choice.  These delicate flowers flourish in the rich soil so common on the shady forest floor.  Substantial damage is caused to the plant when the flowers are picked and for many the recovery takes years.  Their seeds are dispersed by ants who carry the aromatic rotting fruit back to their colony where it is eaten and the seed discarded  in their highly nutritious garbage piles.

Canon 7D, Canon 300/f4L IS
300mm, f5.6, 1/250 sec @ 400 ISO

2013, Day 154 - Cascading

I love macro photography, the world looks so different when you view it from inches away.  Hidden complexity is revealed and the ordinary becomes exceptional.  When a child draws a flower it is a simple thing but when you look more closely there are intricate systems that help to make it successful in its native environment.  I've been giving this a lot of though recently as I continue to work at landscaping my yard.  It has been a lot of work but is extremely rewarding and I think it looks just as good close up as it does from a distance.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5, 1/160 sec @ 320 ISO

2013, Day 153 - In the weeds

Oh Buttercup, what are we going to do with you?  Her non-biological sister Rosie is starting to race and is looking good but more her biological sister Halle has become a superstar overnight.  She is one of the fastest and cleanest running silkens on the field.  Halle is a sensation and is comes so naturally to her.  Buttercup, on the other hand, tripped over the lure once and is sure it wants to bite her again.  So she watches her sisters run and, at times, looks like she wants to join them, but she can't muster the courage.  I think, this summer, they're going to try to get her back on the field and I am sure if she starts she will give her sisters some mean competition.

Canon 1D X, Canon 300/f4L IS
300mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 152 - Convergence

While wandering down the path at Silver Falls State Park a few days ago with Nicole Young I saw this dead tree as I was looking wide-eyed above me.  It was fairly early and the sun just came into sight and I loved the way the moss covering the tree glowed.  I was hoping to capture that ethereal quality in the photo and, shooting almost straight up, I love how the trees towers above converge.

I've always said that Silver Falls is a magical place and even though I've been over a dozen times I always find something new and exciting.

Canon 1D X, Canon 24-70/f2.8L Mark II
24mm, f5.6, merged layers of 1/80, 1/40, 1/20, 1/10, and 1/5 sec @ 100 ISO

2013, Day 151 - Lush

The Columbia River Gorge is peaking right now.  The flora is showing signs of rampant new growth and everything is a riot of luscious greens.  We certainly aren't done with our wet spring weather but the clouds break every so often and kisses our wilderness.  Now is the perfect time to get outside, I think it smells amazing; it is that rich scent of decaying leaves, the subtle sharpness of evergreen, and the hint of sweetness brought by the blooming flowers.  It is so clean and refreshing, there is nothing quite like it.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
20mm, f11, merged layers of 2, 4, and 8 sec @ 100 ISO