2014, Day 181 - Tutus

Flowers are like little dancers who sway in time to the melodies played by the winds.  They bob and spin and in their final act they die.  In their prime they are glorious but it is fleeting and that is why we treasure them.  It seems odd that we should offer flowers to the people we love because while they're beautiful it is a fleeting beauty and our love is, or should be, constant.  Still, they are rare jewels and should be treasured.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/400 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 180 - Nuzzle

After bathing elephants throw dirt on their backs or wallow in mud to protect their skin from the sun.  This was taken a few years ago when I was in northern Thailand.  At the time the head of the sanctuary was called to India to help the authorities cope with an angry herd of elephants.  One had been struck by a train and the rest of the herd stayed in the area attacking the train every time it passed through.  Makes sense if you're upset but they wanted to encourage the herd to move one without further injury to people or animals.  This situation illustrated the emotional range that elephants possess; not old do they feel sorrow but they can seek retribution and it is well reasoned even if it is imperfect.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
55mm, f5.6, 1/400 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 179 - Sheltered

This week I was working near Old House Dahlias.  It isn't dahlia season, this picture is from last year, but I can't wait for them to bloom again.  The plants are growing but this cool weather has their growth rate a bit of the slow side.  I'm not complaining, I love a mild summer and that means that the flowers will bloom later which is even more of a treat.

Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/250 sec @ 250 ISO

2014, Day 178 - Unspoiled

I can almost see the two eyes and the smile in this flower.  Daisies are rather invasive but we favor them because they seem like such happy plants and they require little care to thrive.  The real benefit is that the insects love them and I strive to have a bug-friendly yard.

Fuji X-T1, Fuijnon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/680 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 177 - Barter

The flower under the fly almost looks like yellow shag carpet but is, instead, composed of hundreds of florets that are providing a snack in exchange for pollination.  Seems like a fair trade to me.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/1250 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 176 - Spring

I love my bouncy little friends.  They're starting bask in the sun, when there is sun, so I keep seeing more and more of them.  I love the way they track activity around them; jumping spiders are active predators and it shows with their big eyes and their constant swiveling to keep potential prey in view.  These guys are so much fun!

Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/250 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 175 - Beads

This is a salvage photo.  I took it after I got my camera back from Canon for servicing and they, as alway, return it to the default settings.  I changed them all back but I forgot to change the file format from JPEG to RAW.  The exposure was off the focus was on and I liked the image so I opened the JPEG as a Camera RAW file, made my development adjustments, and it was good to go.  Even with all my manipulation and the relatively high ISO it turned out nice and clean.  Someone was rolling in pollen like a pig in mud :)

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/250 sec @ 800 ISO

2014, Day 174 - Sentinel

Structures are not what one normally associates with the Columbia River Gorge but Vista House is the notable exception.  It stands against the winds and the rain overlooking the river and witnessing the most spectacular sunrises day after day.  I never get tired of visiting this beautiful but lonely building.

Canon 1D X, Canon 24-70/f2.8L Mark II
24mm, f2.8, merged layers of 1/2, 1, 2, 4, and 8 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 173 - Incoming

Out in the Yucatan we went in search of wildlife.  Along the way we crossed a river and this bridge ran parallel.  It had seen better days but still seemed to be a popular fishing spot with the locals.  Sadly those clouds on the horizon were heading for us and in another couple of hours we were getting wet but at least they made for interesting photographs.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f11, 4 sec @ 100 ISO

2014, Day 172 - Bleach

May God bless you, and may your bones bleach in the sands. Those were the words of the final toast raised to the Peter Iredale by its captain when salvage efforts were abandoned.  Over a hundred years have passed since the ship ran aground and it has since been the most popular wreck in the stretch from Tillamook Bay to Cape Scott known as the Graveyard of the Pacific.  Look at all those photographers with their tripods not even taking pictures of the wreck.  What is wrong with them?

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
12.6mm, f11, merged layers of 2, 4, and 8 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 171 - Alight

Photographing birds in flight is extremely difficult.  Most birds are both small and fast moving so tracking them is difficult.  Using a telephoto lens is the best way to get close but the field of vision is so narrow it is easy to lose track of your subject.  Fortunately pelicans are big birds and they're not especially graceful so they're a good bird to practice with.  I love the shape of the wings as this bird prepares to land.

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 170 - Kaboom

I like and dislike fireworks.  Yes, they are pretty but the are noisy and smoky.  The dogs hate them and so many people lose pets on these occasions.  Not to mention that we have veterans who find the concussions of fireworks distressing as well.  So while they're pretty the cost is high.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
12.6mm, f5.6, 5 sec @ 320 ISO

2014, Day 169 - Gripping

When I was in Mexico last fall we found a profusion of grasshoppers in a most amorous state.  They climbed stalks of grass to call out to potential mates.  As I walked, careful where I put my feet, it was like walking in a shallow pool but instead of kicking water a small wave of green and brown insects leapt out of my path.

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

2014, Day 168 - Vista

This is the view over the Mexican city of Guanajuato and the sharp edges show where steep mountains mark the limits of the valley.  Since originally settled by the Spanish in the 1540s to exploit their rich mineral deposits the city has grown beyond the borders of the valley and is connected by tunnels to the new city.  In the center of the city is the Basilica Colegiata de Nuestra Senora de Guanajuato.  It is a beautiful and magical city and when we visited I wished we had planned a longer stay.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f5.6, merged layers of 1.3, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 sec @ 100 ISO

2014, Day 167 - Maracas

We found these butterflies in Mexico while following a cracking noise.  Crack, crack, crack in rapid succession.  It turned out that these were the culprits and I think they might have been calling their brethren to this tree.  Out of small wounds was leaking a red sap that butterflies and bees were eagerly ingesting.  I suspect there was a high sugar content but it was an interesting discovery.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/640 sec @ 100 ISO

2014, Day 166 - Shooting stars

I like finding little flowers in the leaf litter.  They're like little jewels bursting through the remains of the last year in celebrating of warmer weather.  These are shooting stars and name suits them because they're late winter blooming which makes them a special treat.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f2.4, 1/950 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 165 - Anticipation

There aren't a lot of water lilies in Portland but I know where to find a few.  They always remind me of my travels to Asia.  I have another trip in the planning stages and I'm very excited but it won't be real until the tickets are booked!

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f5, 1/125 sec @ 320 ISO

2014, Day 164 - Pollen

My allergies have been horrible recently but that's the price you pay for constant blooms and it is completely worth the congestion.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f5.6, 1/125 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 163 - Listing

Before the sun set and we got that amazing burst of color our little group of Brian, Brian, Nicole, Craig, and myself worked the wreck from every angle.  Years ago the sand accumulation on the beach was higher and almost none of the remains were visible but they are quite well exposed at the moment.  Cold water was swirling around our legs and even though the wind made the cold's bite that much worse we are every-so-willing to suffer if we get the results we seek.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
12.6mm, f8, merged layers of 1.4 and 2.6 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 162 - Wrecked

This is what remains of the Peter Iredale which ran aground on October 25th, 1906.  It has been over a century and the skeleton still remains on the beach.  Fortunately when the ship was wrecked not a single life was lost so despite the ominous appearance there was a silver lining.

I headed out this evening with Brian and Nicole to meet up with Brian and Craig at the beach.  While there were clouds in the sky they were heavy and the light was very flat.  For the first hour there was nothing remarkable about the beach, it was a normal dreary day at the Oregon Coast.  Then, as the sun set, we got a sliver of color on the horizon.  Minutes passed the the sky began to change and more color blossomed.  We didn't have very long to get our shots but we certainly did and I am so excited about what we witnessed that I've stayed up until the early hours of the morning to share a single image.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
15.1mm, f16, merged layers of 2, 4, and 8 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 161 - Allure

There is something about grass that is immediately evocative for most people.  Usually the sweet smell when freshly cut coupled with the faint scent of exhaust from the lawnmower that did the cutting.  We can feel it under our feet, soft and warm in the summer sun maybe with the slow rising humidity of evaporating water.  To me grass seems like a high maintenance ornament, I would rather have something more exciting in my yard but I understand its allure.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f2.8, 1/1500 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 160 - Tubes

I took this photo a few weeks ago when we had rain and before the hostas were eaten by snails.  They looked so bright and green and new, it was beautiful and the little drops of water reflected the light like precious gems.  Now they're flowering and looking a bit ratty so this is how I choose to remember them, in their prime...

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f5.6, 1/125 sec @ 640 ISO

2014, Day 159 - Ragged

I went antique shopping a few weeks ago with my friend Nicole and while wandering I took a few pictures.  My favorite is this one of an old paper umbrella.  It is tattered and the bamboo is splintering but it is interesting to see all the details, it is like the skeleton of an animal partially revealed by disintegrating tissue.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4.5, 1/125 sec @ 2000 ISO

2014, Day 158 - Keep falling

I love the delicate ferns that grow so readily in this climate.  There are some large ferns that will grow in the hot sun and some delicate little ones that need to be sheltered from the elements to thrive.  I have ferns that look like shrubs and others that grow like ground cover.  They are the foundation of my garden and I love their variety.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/210 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 157 - Dewey eyed

It has been warm and sunny and to be honest it is freaking me out.  I am not used to such nice weather this early in the year and I'm constantly waiting for it to change to something truly unpleasant but I hope it doesn't take the form of a heat wave.  Ideally, if I have to be outside during the summer, I scuttle from shady spot to shady spot and I hate when my vitamin D deficiency is thwarted.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f5.6, 1/340 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 156 - Lined up

Look at these darling girls!  As if my life wasn't dog-centered enough this week I had a puppy fix this afternoon.  At four weeks old these pups are just starting to explore their world with newly opened eyes.  They aren't afraid of people but they aren't yet excited by them either.  There are eight in this litter and after having a bit of milk the big boy walked over and rested his head on my foot.  Soon one of his siblings joined him and in minutes I had all eight cuddled up against me and I can tell you it was wonderful.  I can't wait to see how these little monsters turn out when their noses come in and their legs grow a bit as they're just beginning to grow their points.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f1.2, 1/160 sec @ 3200 ISO

2014, Day 155 - Flowing

Miss Pagani had a great weekend and showed that she is pretty much amazing at everything she attempts.  Unfortunately a bad match racing distracted her on what started off as a good run and she didn't place where she should have.  Oh well, Pagani had fun it's only the people that worry about whether or not they win and in her mind she won all weekend.  It's sometimes hard to believe that this goofy girl is almost canine perfect because it's her personality that really captures your attention.

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-300/f2.8L IS Mark II with Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
205mm, f8, 1/1000 sec @ 500 ISO

2014, Day 154 - Neeeeeruh

This is sweet Shelby showing us her moves on the course.  Today wrapped up the third day of racing and although the weather was near-perfect and the past few days were spent with friends they were long exhausting days.  The dogs were incredible, they were fast and focused on the track but morphed from racers into cuddly friends moments after they finished running.

I am back home swaddled in the comforts of modernity and enjoying it immensely.

Canon 1D X, Canon 300/f2.8L IS
300mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 500 ISO

2014, Day 153 - Good night

It was a long day of lure coursing.  The dogs zigged and zagged all over the field and although we started early we ended late.  I'm pooped but this is the view from beside my car where I'm camping out for the night.  Sorry for the sporadic posts, I tried using my phone as a mobile hot spot but it worked in fits and starts and was so slow it would have taken hours to complete my pre-written posts and upload my photos.  Oh well, at least it's beautiful!

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f2.8, 30 sec @ 3200 ISO

2014, Day 152 - Stand up

Today I drove to Washington out in the country via a long circuitous road so that I could photograph the racing at SilkenFest, the yearly national meet for silken windhounds.  I stopped by the side of the road near Spanaway while the sun was making its way to the western horizon when I found these daisies.  I know they are invasive and they crowd out native plants but it doesn't stop them from being beautiful.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/400 sec @ 200 ISO