2014, Day 212 - Flourish

It is nice to see someone enjoying the heat.  I am living in a wind tunnel until this abominable weather passes.  There are six fans in my room and I think there are occasional minor indoor tornados but it's a small price to pay for comfort.

Fuji X-E1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/1250 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 211 - Webbed

When most of the trees tear the temples apart this one is holding this wall together.  With time it will eventually constrict around the stone blocks and reduce them to rubble but work is underway to try to prevent that from happening.  I doubt that this will be the site of a restoration project because so much of this complex is so far gone but maybe in a few decades it will have its turn.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
22mm, f8, merged layers of 1/160, 1/80, 1/40, and 1/20 sec @ 100 ISO

2014, Day 210 - Sentinel

I have no idea where all these stones came from.  Perhaps there was once a wall that surrounded this tower that has since toppled but it seems to sit at the pinnacle of a hill of tumbled blocks.  I love the settling, it is like discovering a wonderful treasure when you come upon a site like this when there is no one around.  That usually means getting up well before dawn but it quickly becomes habit.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
22mm, f11, merged layers of 1/10, 1/5, 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 sec @ 100 ISO

2014, Day 209 - Gallery

I love that photography allows you to travel in time.  This picture will be two years old this fall and I just felt like Cambodia this evening and rediscovered it when looking through my folders of unprocessed photos.  Beng Mealea has been consumed by the jungle and it appears to be of a less robust construction than many of the other temples so it is in a more advanced state of digestion.  It is that ruined aspect that makes it interesting.  Trees have torn down walls and the delicately carves stonework has been carpeted in moss.  Frog, lizards, and insects about as do the occasional colonies of bats.  It really does feel like stepping back in time and the picture brings back that sense of wonder and adventure I felt when I was there.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
23mm, f8, merged layers of 1/15, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 1 sec @ 100 ISO

2014, Day 208 - Valley

Between South Sister and Broken Top is Green Lake.  The hike to the lake is a steady uphill until the final stretch where the trail goes up steeply and comes down into this alpine valley.  Here the air is crisp and smells of frost.  The mountain you see pictured is South Sister and she blocks the view of her sibling North Sister.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f11, merged layers of 0.4, 0.8, 1.6, 3.2, and 6 sec @ 100 ISO

2014, Day 207 - Waiting

Some spiders wander and expend a lot of energy but others are a bit smarter and build tricky webs.  This guy built his web in front of a window near a lamp that is always left on so at night he got the most food delivered and, as you can tell from his size, it is a substantial amount.  But when the landscapers came they broke his web and I borrow a few minutes of his time to be my model.

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

2014, Day 206 - Zip

It's amazing how much freight we move.  Sometimes I wonder if we wouldn't be better off making more things locally instead of shipping the same stuff all over the world.  With globalization we lose our uniqueness, everything becomes a blur of sameness.  Ingenuity is sacrificed to efficiency and that is disappointing so to you I say, embrace your uniqueness, take a chance on something different and enjoy the experience.

Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 24-105/f4L IS
73mm, f8, 8 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 205 - Clinging

Across a bridge, along a narrow path, down stairs slick with condensation, past the switchback, and into the cavern behind the waterfall is the path to one of the magical places in Oregon.  The roar of the falling water and the spray it kicks up keeps the area cool and tranquil.  Often low clouds cling to the trees in the early morning and stubbornly hang on until they are driven back by the warming day.  It is enchanting and engrossing; everyone should visit it because although I like my solitude in such places they are too beautiful not to share.

Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
20mm, f16, merged layers of 1 and 2 sec @ 100 ISO

2014, Day 204 - Little spoon

Johan is my little spoon.  He loves to cuddle and he has to be touching me at bedtime otherwise he fusses.  Yes, it may be rather odd to have dogs in bed but it is a battle I lost a long time ago and now there are three or four vying for their favorite spots every night.  Hubert likes to be close but not always within reach.  Stubbs snuggles up on and off but is always within reach.  Frankie is the most independent, he likes to cuddle on the sofa but he is usually on the other side of Hubert but it could also be that he was the last added to the household so he gets the worst spot and doesn't care enough to try for something closer.  With all these pointy dogs it can be like spooning a garbage bag full of coat hangers but I can live with it.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f1.2, 1/125 sec @ 800 ISO

2014, Day 203 - Change places!

The most exciting part about lure coursing is see how the dogs handle it when the lure speeds off in another direction.  Shelby here did quite well and you can see she's putting on the brakes because the lure literally turned 180 degrees and is now speeding back towards her.  Some dogs are so agile they almost meed to pirouette.

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II w/ Canon EF Extender 1.4x Mark III
280mm, f5.6, 1/1250 sec @ 500 ISO

2014, Day 202 - I won!

Frankie didn't win, not even close but he thought that he did and had a great time competing.  That's what's really important and if you're going to fail, fail in style!

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/1000 sec @ 250 ISO

2014, Day 201 - Battle stations

It's a Lego sneak attack!  Today Frankie got to go lure coursing and although he followed the course well and was very enthusiastic he was, as is usual, rather slow so his scores weren't great.  But who cares when you're having fun and looking so good doing it?!?  So after running the field twice and playing all afternoon the little guy is pooped and we're both headed for bed.

Canon 1D X, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f5.6, 1/1250 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 200 - Radiate

Layers and layers of petals and I always wonder what pollenating insects see when they look at flower.  Many can see in spectrums we cannot and some flowers have patterns that point insects right to the good stuff.  Seems like a direct and effective approach to me.

Fuji X-E1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/320 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 199 - Bits and pieces

I love markets, they are my favorite places to visit when I travel.  There is so much happening and so much to see.  Plus, food tells you a lot about people and there is no place better to see how and what people eat.

Canon 1D X, Canon 24-70/f2.8L Mark II
53mm, f3.5, 1/125 sec @ 8000 ISO

2014, Day 198 - Moonlight

Tonight I give you another view of the same cooling tower.  This one is more centered and show less distortion.  It's crazy how much the towers bow inward at the middle, so much so that the all blocks part of the circular opening at the top.  It is also strange to see the level ground in front of you and the wall that is, ostensibly, behind you.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f11, merged layers of 1/50, 1/25, 1/13, and 1/6 sec @ 320 ISO

2014, Day 197 - Eye

Back into the belly of the beast!  It is nearing two years since I visited Satsop, a nuclear power plant abandoned before it could be completed due to cost overruns.  The scale of the structures is hard to imagine if you have never been yourself, the towers are massive and being completely open they are cavernous.  The distortion of my wide angle lens lends an unusual perspective that I didn't like when I first looked at these images but that I appreciate more with the benefit of time.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f11, merged layers of 1/60, 1/30, 1/15, 1/8, and 1/4 sec @ 320 ISO

2014, Day 196 - Alert

My sweet old man Stubbs has a wonky ear.  Both will stand straight up when he is watchful or excited but one usually rests upwards too.  He's getting older and these hot days are tough on him, it is harder to keep cool and comfortable but I do what I can to make it more bearable.  I forget sometimes that I've had him for about eight years now and when I brought him home he was a youngster.  Much more nervous than he is now although he still shies away from strangers he's become so comfortable that he plays more than the other three dogs combined and sometimes pounces on the vacuum cleaner just to teach it a lesson.  He's a wonderful sweet dopey old man.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 35/f1.4R
35mm, f2, 1/125 sec @ 500 ISO

2014, Day 195 - Sunny side up

This is the matilija poppy, known for their fried egg appearance.  They are a beautiful shrub that dies back completely in the winter and the established plants grow vigorously when the weather gets warmer.  Pollinators love these flowers even though they are natively to California and norther Mexico.  I planted one in my yard last year and it survived our harsh winter but has yet to show significant growth.  Maybe next year :)

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/750 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 194 - Inject

Bees are so methodical, they work a flower carefully to make sure nothing is missed.  Granted, this guy is covered in pollen like he's been rolling in it but that's how you earn your keep when you are a pollinator.  Usually big eyes are the sign of a predator but not in this case and it makes these bees look like teddybears.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/450 sec @ 1000 ISO

2014, Day 193 - Standing

I can continuing yesterday's theme and focusing on the pistil and anther of flowers.  This is a day lily that I found tucked into a shady area under a tree where it was sheltered from the hot afternoon sun.  I was struck by the richness of the color and the simplicity of the what I saw so I had to pause and bake just a little longer.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f5.6, 1/120 sec @ 640 ISO

2014, Day 192 - Canes

Hostas are sometimes known as August lilies because they bloom in the late summer.  We're at the beginning of another heat wave and it is going to be intense.  Odd that plants that I think of as preferring cool shady places should flower during the heat of the summer.  While toxic to dogs, cats, and horses they are often eaten by deer who seem to show no ill effects from consumption.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f5.6, 1/420 sec @ 640 ISO

2014, Day 191 - Buried

You've got to love the evolution of flowers.  This one can deposit reproductive material on the head and back of the bee as he collects his next meal.  Both plant and insect benefit in a beautiful example of symbiosis.

Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/250 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 190 - Curved

I haven't been to the zoo in a while, it used to be a regular stop for me but when I moved my office and they started charging for parking on top of admission it just seemed like more trouble than it was worth.  Still, I love to watch the animals and, for the most part, our local zoo does quite well in keeping the animals stimulated and happy.  The flamingos are always fun because they're so odd and at the same time elegant that I find them fascinating.

Fuji X-E1, Fujinon 55-200/f3.5-4.8R OIS
200mm, f4.8, 1/850 sec @ 500 ISO

2014, Day 189 - Buzz

The bees are enjoying the heat even if I'm not.  As I am wilting they're busy pollenating the world and making sure that our flowering plants survive.  I'm glad that someone is making the most of it because my productivity has dropped.

Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/320 sec @ 640 ISO

2014, Day 188 - Flourish

Little bits of pollen cling to the flower, spread on the petals by insects.  The stigma on this pistil is composed of fine threads and make it look silky and a big chaotic kind of like a party in the middle of the flower.

Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/320 sec @ 640 ISO

2014, Day 187 - Crown

The relentless warmth of summer is upon us and I dislike it already.  It takes months for me to weary of the rain but only a day to remind me why I find the heat so abominable.  While nothing compared to other climates we get humid, the world is sticky in short order, and one sweats constantly in a vain effort to keep cool.  Constantly we're told that air conditioning is a decadent luxury that won't see much use but that comes as little comfort when you're sweating into your pillow.  I often think that a hammock would be the best way to cope with the heat but it seems an extreme and unnecessary step but one that comes back to me every summer.

Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/1250 sec @ 640 ISO

2014, Day 186 - Moonstruck

Sometimes the best pictures I get of the city come while waiting for fireworks.  You have to get there early and then, while you wait, you set up your equipment.  Time goes by and you check your exposure every so often.  This year I came up with a plan for a better vantage point for next year.  While I was waiting I took this photograph of Portland with the east bank of the Willamette on the left and the west bank on the right with the Hawthorne Bridge uniting the two and the moon hazy behind a some high clouds.  It was a beautiful night and the breeze was quite refreshing.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
17.4mm, f8, 7.5 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 185 - Independence

Happy Independence Day!

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f8, 1 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 184 - Cellophane

Hoverflies are thought to be the second most important pollinators, surpassed only by bees.  As larva some eat aphids and other parasitic insects making them an even more important part of the ecosystem. They mimic the appearance of bees, and in some cases wasps, to fool potential predators into looking for an easier meal.  Such ingenious little animals.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/320 sec @ 800 ISO

2014, Day 183 - Reversed

Sometimes you have to look a little harder to find your gem.  As much as pollenating insects like the front of flowers you'll find just as many on the back.  My favorite finds are ambush spiders waiting for an insect to land and, by the vibrations that alert him, the sneak around and capture their meal.  Delicious!

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/320 sec @ 640 ISO

2014, Day 182 - Porcelain

Water lilies have an ethereal quality to them; perfect blossoms riding on a tranquil pool, isolated and beautiful.  When they die they return to the water and there is no evidence they ever existed.

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