2014, Day 151 - Journey

This was a moment of pure joy, watching hatchlings make their way to the sea.  I've always loved reptiles and have been captivated by sea turtles so witnessing this was something I had waited decades to experience.  It was only after, when I thought about it, that I started to worry for the babies.  Their struggle to reach the ocean was the first of many.  Most would not make it to adulthood but it was a privilege to be there to witness the triumph of these little turtles and wish them well on their upcoming journey.

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

2014, Day 150 - Planning

As I contemplate my next trip and enter the early stages of planning I think back on my last trip.  This photograph was taken at the fish market on the pier in La Libertad, El Salvador.  There were so many people proudly hawking their wares and when they saw our cameras they kept bringing out more and more impressive specimens.  It was like a competition for our attention, the people were so friendly and they all knew we weren't in a position to buy a twenty pound fish but they were excited to show it to us all the same.

That's what I love about travel, meeting people, even if only briefly, who are as proud of themselves and their cultures as I am interested.  It make travel exciting and very fulfilling.  The year has been a busy one and I can say, without a doubt, that I'm earning my vacation this year!

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f2.8, 1/160 sec @ 1250 ISO

2014, Day 149 - Treasure

Spring has come so quickly and many of my favorite flowers have come and gone.  The ones I miss most are the star magnolias.  They have a delicate beauty that is unparalleled and the short life of their blooms is lamentable but it makes them all the more glorious.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f2.8, 1/1700 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 148 - Diamonds

The camas have come and mostly gone but they gave us a few glorious weeks.  Their richly color petals caught the lights and the light rain made the dewy droplets sparkle like diamonds whenever the clouds broke long enough for the sun to momentarily dazzle our winter eyes.  The landscape is getting more lush by the day and the beauty of the Pacific Northwest is being slowly revealed.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
21.9mm, f5.6, 1/240 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 147 - Teensy

I always look where I'm walking.  Some people look proud and keep their eyes up when they walk but I am always checking the ground which may be why I love the little details, because I see them.  When those other people stumble hopefully it isn't because they're tripping over me as I lay on the ground to get close to an itty bitty flower.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f8, 1/125 sec @ 500 ISO

2014, Day 146 - Prince

All hail the Pointy Prince.  Eddie is such a goofy guy, he's recently taken to running between your legs to get your attention.  Fortunately this trick is only performed when you are standing still otherwise it might be rather dangerous.  It is these kinds of odd but endearing quirks that stick out in your mind.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f4, 1/1400 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 145 - Pedestrian

Walking gives you a different perspective.  In a car, on the bus, riding a bike the world goes by so quickly but you can appreciate the nuances when you're on foot.  It is the best way to see a city and it allows you the freedom to change directions when it suits you.  This particular photo was taken on last night's Drink n' Click photo walk and features Portland's iconic Burnside Bridge.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f2.8, 1/4000 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 144 - Visitor

I made a new friend today.  Actually she might be mad at me because I removed her from her perch on a lamp and made her sit in my little studio for a portrait session.  I was captivated by her stylish if avant garde hairdo and wanted to try to do justice to her individuality.  When we were done I saw her on her way out of the house.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f11, 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 143 - Burst

Tonight marks the opening weekend of the Rose Festival and the inaugural fireworks are always fun.  With the Hawthorne Bridge and downtown Portland in the background it is one of my favorite fireworks events.  The sky is always so boring at the 4th of July and it is significantly more crowded whereas for the Rose Festival it is a more modest group and less prone to inebriation.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
12.6mm, f5.6, 4.3 sec @ 320 ISO

2014, Day 142 - Reach

It was another warm day and with the warm weather the plants seem to be showing all kinds of new growth.  I, on the other hand, wilt a bit when the temperature passes 75 degrees but I am glad most of the world is enjoying it.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/240 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 141 - Tattered

Sometimes you just have to rise above it all even if you get a little beat up on the way.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f2.4, 1/3800 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 140 - Grand Dame

This little old lady is Suzie and despite being almost sixteen years old she is still a pistol.  Although she's not as spry as she used to be she still plays with the youngsters and if she thinks she deserves special attention there is no way anyone is going to ignore her.  Suzie might be hard of hearing and she might be a little batty but she is still the queen of the pack.

Fuji X-T1, Fujifilm 56/f1.2R
56mm, f4, 1/500 sec @ 250 ISO

2014, Day 139 - Monochrome

Life is in the details and that's why I love macro photography.  This bud is tiny, not much bigger than the head of a pin, and soon it will have a little yellow flower almost indistinguishable from the rest of the plant.  But I love the texture and vibrant color of the foliage so the flowers are just a bonus.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/180 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 138 - Curled

The ferns are still growing and this one had the most beautiful form so I had to capture it.  That's one of the joys of plants and flowers, they change daily so you will never see the same thing twice.  Fortunately their form alters slowly so they make a near-static subject.

This was processed with Silver Efex Pro and then put through Nik's new Analog Efex Pro 2.  I admit to forgetting about the original Analog Efex and given the recent announcement I decided to give version two a try and I am very pleased with the results.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f5.6, 1/125 sec @ 1250 ISO

2014, Day 137 - Chewing

I spent the morning with friends and dogs so it was obviously a good day.  Instead of playing Halle decided  to bring out a chew and watch the other dogs run, wrestle, and bask in the sun when the clouds retreated so her day and mine we pretty similar really...

Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
190mm, f4, 1/4000 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 136 - Happy face

These little flowers are meadowfoam, a lovely native plant that self-seeds and will slowly fill in the gaps in your garden.  They make my happy because I can imagine two eyes and a smile in the middle and you have the iconic happy face.  Most of the flowers are still opening, I can't wait until there are big swaths of yellow to contrast against the mellow purple of the beach daisies that are just starting to bloom now too.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/170 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 135 - Swing

This is a concept shot for my gym, a series of eight shots of kettlebell swing with my trainer working as my model between sets.  Being my guinea pig is his punishment for the abuse I suffer at his hands.  There are a few ideas for permutations of this concept bouncing around in my head that I would like to play with as I consider how to make a series of gym photos interesting, exciting, and dynamic to match the updated website that's using the images from their old site.  There is nothing wrong with the photographs they have other than they've already been seen so it makes the new site look a little familiar.  Anyway, the brainstorming continues.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
24mm, f4, 1/500 sec @ 2500 ISO

2014, Day 134 - Tails

The columbines are starting to flower and they looks nice although the native varieties are not quite there yet.  I have an appreciation for and an aversion to non-native plants.  Last year I completely re-landscaped my entire front yard.  It was a disjointed grouping of plants that was poorly planned by a number of different hands before I moved in.  It was shady and provided decent privacy but it was a mess.  So the old stairs were removed and new ones were poured.  During that time I had the entire front yard removed and when the stairs were completed we added twenty thousand pounds of boulders and smaller rocks as our foundation.  Then, with the help of a native only nursery, the whole thing was planned out and planted.  Now it is a vibrant area visited by all kinds of wildlife that are attracted to the flora and to the water the boulders hold.  So while I love non-native plants for their beauty I love native plants for the same reason and because they make my home attractive to all kinds of wildlife as well.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 133 - Squint

This is Frankie's half-sister Sophie enjoying the warm weather as a cloud momentarily obstructed the sun's rays.  She is almost eight years old and is a completely nutty playful girl; it makes me hopeful that Frankie's dopiness will be a lifelong attribute.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
13.2mm, f4, 1/1800 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 132 - The clam

I only find fuchsia to be an acceptable color in flowers or on the faces of drag queens, otherwise it is too loud and garish.  This clematis is a beautiful example of when fuchsia is permissible.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/550 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 131 - George Burns

I love this boy.  Oso is such a goofy pup, he lives in his own world and while he likes the other dogs you'll often find him on his own napping or having a snack.  It seems like he never goes anywhere without a cookie in his mouth and it's fun to wait and see how long it will take him to actually eat it because I swear I see him carrying the same cookie for the better part of a morning.  When it comes to cuddles though Oso is a champ.  He might not be as involved in playing with the other dogs but he loves people, especially children who he will follow around constantly and give kisses.  It's amazing how much personality one dog can contain.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f2, 1/2700 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 130 - Dancing in dandelions

Little Luna is a precocious puppy as most are but she manages to take it a bit further than in the norm.  When we took her out with her brother to play in the pasture she did her part and he couldn't keep up with her.  As they started to tire she decided it was time to go back up to the house and, instead of waiting on us, she slipped through the small gap under the gate and when she the told to return she walked through the field fencing like it didn't exist.  Mind you it was a tight fit but she wriggled through without any apparent difficulty or hesitation.  I think this one is going to be something remarkable :)

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 100 ISO

2014, Day 129 - Spring snow

The snow may be gone but the fields of these flowers remind me of our beautiful white winter.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/125 sec @ 320 ISO

2014, Day 128 - Beads

At this time of year the one upshot of the rain, because we're all getting a little tired of it, are all the raindrops of petals and leaves.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f5.6, 1/125 sec @ 500 ISO

2014, Day 127 - Golden glow

I love the thin tissue-like petals of poppies, they catch the sun and allow light to pass through making them sparkle.  They're like little gemstones the way they catch the light and the fact that they grow rather densely only serves to heighten the effect.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/850 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 126 - Tongues

This is the flower of some chives my neighbors planted in their raised beds.  The flowers are so pretty right now and they're attracting bees although not many yet because it is a bit chilly and cloudy.  When the sun warms the air the insects are much more active, hopefully there will still be some flowers when that happens.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/125 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 125 - Illuminated

The camas have peaked and now are starting to fade.  Their beautiful purple flowers wilt and the rains only hasten the process.  Still, they were beautiful while they lasted and soon we will move on to the next marvel of nature.

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

2014, Day 124 - Dinner plate

The clematis are in bloom and I am impressed at the variety.  It is such a common ornamental vine here that you have to work a little harder to stand out from the crowd.  This flower is big, maybe five inches in diameter, and there are so many blossoms that the vine is almost completely concealed under the thick floral growth.  Ahh, springtime in Portland...

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/320 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 123 - Hop

Another little friend to greet the world.  I love the almost metallic color of his skin, it is luminous in the early morning light.  It's so nice to hear our little amphibian friends even if they are hard to see, it makes the night seem so much more inviting.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f2.4, 1/125 sec @ 640 ISO

2014, Day 122 - Surprise!

Those who know me know I like all things with an exoskeleton.  As a child they fascinated me and I always brought them home despite my mother's misgivings.  I still enjoy finding my little friends in surprising places.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS Mark II
100mm, f11, 1/160 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 121 - Meadow

It was scorching today, almost ninety degrees and with only minor air movement.  Still it was nice to get out and see the blue sky and enjoy the shade of the large maples.  Plus the bright light can be an opportunity to fun photography as well.  Here in the Pacific NW we have a giant diffuser most of the time in the form of clouds but direct sun can be a fun challenge.  I like the bright warm spots it creates and the shadows look all the more inviting for their coolness.  Plus the flowers are blooming everywhere as a reminder why we tolerate the long wet winters.  But this won't last, it never does and rain will return again soon giving us a little taste of the summer to come.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
28mm, f5.6, merged layers of 1/320, 1/160, 1/80, 1/40, and 1/20 sec @ 100 ISO