Jeff's Photographic Blog

2012, Day 32 - Streaked

2012-02-01T23:01:00.000-08:00

It is hard to believe that it is already February! This year is off to a running start and so many thing are happening and so many things I want to do. I need to get out to shoot more, I have been delving into the archives for the last few days so as not to focus completely on shots from the photowalk. Fortunately the weather is supposed to be mild and sunny for the next almost week so I really need to lay off the excuses and get out there.

Maybe Silver Falls, I haven't been there in almost a year, it would be nice to go back...

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
70mm, f8, merged layers 1/250 and 1/60 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 31 - Building bridges

2012-01-31T19:52:00.000-08:00

Many cities look better at night when the lights highlight what you are supposed to see and the shadows conceal neglect and decay. Portland isn't one of those cities; it is clean, well maintained and very nice to look at by day. However at night it looks so much more like a city than what it really is, a large town.

I posted another panorama a couple days ago and this one was taken further down the river. On the left is the Morrison Bridge and on the right is the Burnside Bridge. I like that you can also see the Fremont Bridge under the center span of the Burnside. If you know what you're looking for you can also see parts of the Steel Bridge and the Hawthorne Bridge in the distance.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
35mm, f8, 3.2 sec @ 320 ISO

2012, Day 30 - Spires

2012-01-30T23:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I shared a colorful panorama from the Portland Photowalk so tonight's photo is a little more muted. My goal was to help you feel the weather as you look at this image, the wind off of the river, the light rain, the slight smell of oil and fumes, that faint smell of iron that lets you know you're in an industrial area.

What I like about a good photowalk is that you aren't constrained by a set plan. I wandered off early because most of the group was going to cross the Burnside bridge but I like the Steel Bridge better. Once I made it to the Burnside Bridge on the opposite side of the river I met up with Brian Matiash. Although I hoped to meet up with people I didn't expect it, just one of life's happy accidents. At that point I had the photos I really wanted so we both set a decent pace and used a smartphone to hail a cab so we could collect our vehicles before joining everyone else for a drink, a snack and a chat.

Good times!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
32mm, f11, masked layers of 1/2 and 1.3 sec @ 500 ISO

2012, Day 29 - Photowalkin'

2012-01-29T22:41:00.000-08:00

This afternoon was the first ever Portland Google+ Photowalk! Although the weather was not cooperating there were over fifty people who braved the rain. We made our way from Union Station to the Hawthorne Bridge and then on to Hair of the Dog for a few post-walk libations.

These kind of events are a lot of fun, you get to meet new people, catch up with old friends and take tons of pictures. To make things even better we have a bunch of great prizes for a post-walk contest. In the days to come we will be announcing the categories and I really look forward to seeing how many different perspectives fifty people can have when they look at the same things.

Well, I'm pooped, it is time for bed and dreams of adventures to come!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
35mm, f22, 15 sec @ 320 ISO

2012, Day 28 - Passage

2012-01-28T22:11:00.000-08:00

There are certain events that we use to demarcate time like the rising and setting of the sun, the changing of the season, and today, for me, the day of our birth. Yup, it is my birthday and I feel no different today than I did yesterday or the day before but we still celebrate and it is nice to get notes and calls from family and friends with their well-wishes. The funny thing is that when I am asked my age I have to think about it, age is such an arbitrary thing, it give very little insight into a person's qualities so I often disregard it as unimportant. It is a strange thing to measure but we like to quantify everything and everyone so I suppose it makes sense in a reductive sort of way.

Oh well, you can tell I am getting older because I am rambling. Thanks for indulging me in this post and all the others that have come before and the countless posts yet to come...

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f8, 1/25 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 27 - Flecked

2012-01-27T22:29:00.000-08:00

Evening walks are one of life's greatest pleasures even if it on a chilly winter evening. The sky is clear, my ears are cold, my cheeks a little wind burnt, but the air smells clean and crisp. As I pass by street lights the rays reflects with crystalline clarity off evening frost. Somehow the approaching steps of strangers resonate in the night air and the twisted naked trees look a little ominous. Yet peace remains and the walk is refreshing.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f1.4, 1/15 sec @ 1600 ISO

2012, Day 26 - Lethargy

2012-01-26T19:50:00.000-08:00

It was one of those days, running to keep up and a million things to do but the only thing I really wanted was to take a nap. That didn't happen but I did get to see some sunshine which was a wonderful treat...

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
140mm, f2.8, 1/400 sec @ 1600 ISO

2012, Day 25 - Tuck

2012-01-26T00:13:00.000-08:00

I love border collies, they are a wonderful breed, but I don't know I could handle that kind of energy. Fortunately for many owners there are great sports like agility. At the dog show last weekend more than half of the dogs entered in the competition were border collies and the amount of time and energy their owners have devoted is clearly apparent and what is even more evident is the focus and concentration that these dogs possess. There are some that get over-excited and don't follow directions but most are keenly aware of their owners and their surroundings. It looks like a lot of fun!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f2.8, 1/640 sec @ 1250 ISO

2012, Day 24 - Skull and crossbones

2012-01-24T23:14:00.000-08:00

This may be my last macro shot for a couple of weeks. If you'll recall my macro lens was acting up right before Christmas so I sent it to Canon to have them check it out. They returned it promptly but now it is, for lack of a better word, sticking. When it tries to focus the mechanism struggles and there is a faint buzz like a motor is operating but it isn't getting the response it requires. So after a call to Canon they are sending me a shipping label and will be repairing it at their expense thanks to a six month warranty on any piece of equipment serviced.

Anywho, my friend is selling his custom sterling silver wallet chain and wallet. The chain is almost two feet of heavy solid sterling skulls and crosses made by a silversmith in southern California. I volunteered to help him out by taking some pictures and this one shows the back of a skull with the words Silver King engraved on the back. I wouldn't say this is an everyday kind of object but it certainly makes a neat subject.

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

2012, Day 23 - Here lies...

2012-01-23T20:10:00.000-08:00

I like the solitude of cemeteries, they seem like the perfect setting for contemplation of the world, of life, of our little woes, anything really. It's hard to imagine that in Victorian England people used to picnic in cemeteries. Most parks were reserved for society's upper crust so the more working-class folks used the well maintained and park-like cemeteries for their urban outdoor entertainment venues. I suppose if I were dead and there is an afterlife it would be nice to have my home in a place of celebration, it would be depressing if it was only a place people came to mourn, I would have to do some serious haunting...

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f2.8, 1/160 sec @ 500 ISO

2012, Day 22 - Chaperon

2012-01-22T16:58:00.000-08:00

I met up with Brian Matiash this afternoon to have a little photo adventure. I say little because it is still raining quite heavily and while we have the equipment to deal with the inclement weather when you're shooting for fun there is no reason to get too wet.

Macro photography is one of my interest despite the ample room for improvement my macro lens is one of my favorites. When Brian stated his intention to get more use out of his macro I decided to use mine as well. Given the rain you have to choose your lens carefully because you really don't want to be changing lenses in the field.

I started out with closeups but quickly found the longer focal length great at isolating scenes that I liked so I ended up with more landscapes using a lens that is quite capable of the opposite. The light was great and there was some decent shadows despite the overcast skies. I used OnOne's Suite 6 to create a a dark and slightly soft vignette and upped the contrast a little. The results I quite like and I am eager to see what Brian has to post from out brief outing.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f2.8, 1/50 sec @ 500 ISO

2012, Day 21 - Siblings

2012-01-21T23:23:00.000-08:00

For my more ardent followers it should come as no surprise that I have a strong affection for all dogs in the sighthound family. They are, for the most part, gentle, sweet, lazy, and expressive. The more elegant they look the goofier they are when away from prying eyes so Afghan hounds rate pretty high up there of the silly scale. These two had already competed as puppies at the dog show and collapsed on top of each other while their person finished watching the adults.

The cardinal rule at dog shows is that you ask before making new friends. The adult Afghans take hours, literally, to groom into show readiness so you don't want to undo someone's hard work. But because these two were done competing and because they still have their puppy coat we got to visit. The boy, on the left, kept trying to scoot across his sister to get closer without actually having to go to the effort of standing. It's odd to think that such grace and athleticism is tempered with complete sloth but that's what I love about them.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f2, 1/160 sec @ 1000 ISO

2012, Day 20 - Into Narnia

2012-01-20T22:31:00.000-08:00

The last of my photos from our fleeting snowfall. As I walked into the park someone behind me called my name and I turned to see Jeff and Stephanie, friends who live near the park. I was a little surprised to run into someone I knew given that it was after 10 o'clock in the evening but, as I thought about it, I realized I should have expected it with snow being such a rarity in these parts.

They had their dogs with them and as they walked down the path I released the shutter to get a little context with the scene. The single lamp post puts me in mind of the scene where Lucy meets Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Despite the religious references it is a good read, especially in the winter.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f2.8, 2.5 sec @ 500 ISO

2012, Day 19 - At attention

2012-01-19T22:50:00.000-08:00

Portland is a city that abounds with dogs but this week there are more than usual because it is the annual dog show. Being the morning person that I am I got up early and finished a bunch of work so I decided to head to the show. It doesn't hurt that I know some people who were showing today and although I missed their events I did get to manhandle a bunch of aspiring champions. This guy was waiting patiently on a grooming bench for his final review before entering the ring. I liked his profile and the simple uncluttered background. He looks like he has the makings of a winner to me but I generally am more concerned that they don't hog the covers...

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f2.8, 1/80 sec @ 800 ISO

2012, Day 18 - Snow day

2012-01-18T22:06:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning with proof that my decision to take pictures of the snow last night was the right one. Overnight the temperature rose steadily and by this morning most of the city was covered in slush. Sadly our snow didn't last long but fortunately I went out and took this picture last night at Laurelhurst Park.

There were a lot of people in the park, many with their dogs, and because of their furry companions their ghosting movement through the frame looked jerky so I have thus far opted not to use those shots. I like this one because it conveys the tranquility while retaining some urban elements like lamp posts and picnic benches. Although I didn't get the week of snow I wanted I am glad we got what we did.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f2.8, 2 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 17 - Crystaline

2012-01-17T23:37:00.000-08:00

It is snowing in Portland! Even as I type this the snow is coming down and it is sticking to the ground. I love how bright the world is, even at night, when there is snow on the ground. The dogs love it, Hubert dances around me for blocks attacking the snow. It was so pretty that I grabbed my camera and went to Laurelhurst Park to take a few pictures. I am sure that it will still be there in the morning but it will probably melt quickly and I didn't want to miss my opportunity.

Probably my favorite photo from my brief outing is the one below. I was getting ready to leave and I noticed a Japanese maple lit by a nearby light so I got down low and took a picture of the branches covered in snow. I like how the reflection off the snow serves to highlight the structure of the tree.

I hope it snows for days and it lasts for weeks!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
35mm, f4, 5 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 16 - Pooped

2012-01-16T22:21:00.000-08:00

It is amazing what energy the young have. This time of year when the days are short and chilly I would really like to hibernate. But life seems too short to sleep through it and there is so much I want to do...

Pictured is Ellie taking a break from playing with her siblings. Of the eleven pups in her litter she is the most determined to have her way, she isn't pushy, just persistent but only with other dogs, she is a complete pushover with people. After a hard day of taunting the other dogs there is nothing she likes better than to cuddle with anyone who will have her. Soon she will be going to her new home in Germany so when next I visit she will be half a world away training her new people just like a good princess.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f4, 1/2500 sec @ 640 ISO

2012, Day 15 - Bridges

2012-01-15T22:20:00.000-08:00

What is now Portland was once three cities, Portland, East Portland, and Albina. Their divisions were based on the geography of the area with the major border being the Willamette River. As such a number of bridges have been constructed to keep the different parts of the city easily accessible and to minimize congestion. There are ten primary spans and in this picture you can see the Hawthorne Bridge on the right and the Marquam Bridge on the left.

I took this photo on my way home last night. It has been a long day and I was reluctant to make the stop to take pictures but these sunsets can't possibly last and I don't want to be kicking myself over a fifteen minute delay in getting home. As it turns out it was absolutely worth the brief detour!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
23mm, f5.6, 1/30 sec @ 100 ISO

2012, Day 14 - Winter glory

2012-01-14T23:29:00.000-08:00

Last night we were treated to a particularly beautiful sunset. As I was chatting with my friend Karen in her kitchen I happened to glance out the window and noticed the amazing colors in the sky. Excitedly I excused myself, grabbed my camera and tripod, and ran out the door. Having been to her property a number of times I knew there was a pond down in one of the pastures so I headed there first to try to get the reflection of the sky in the water. With our recent cold snap most of the pond's surface was frozen but I like the texture it gives to the water.

After firing off a few shots I decided the do a vertical panorama so this is five photos stitched together with three masked layers at different exposures. The reflection in the pond was darker than the sky and I wanted to be able to see the trees and the color reflected in the water. I still am in awe of the successive days of colorful sunrises and sunsets. Regardless of whatever else is happening 2012 has the makings of a great year for photographers!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
35mm, f8, 1/2, 1 and 2 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 13 - Princess Buttercup

2012-01-13T23:47:00.000-08:00

This bundle of fuzzy sweetness is Princess Buttercup. She's all wiggly love and today she return to the home where she was born so that she could get reacquainted with her remaining littermates and to work out some of her energy. After a month-and-a-half in a home without other puppies she was initally overwhelmed but soon rediscovered the joys of playing with dogs whose energy levels matched her own. Every time she thought the play was getting too rough she would run to someone and hide between their legs. Apparently she learned that with the bigger dogs she normally plays with they can't follow her through (I hope that they never try either).

After about an hour of almost constant play the pups were tired which meant that all they wanted to do was be held. Babies cradled in our arms we took them back into the house for some much needed rest.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 640 ISO

2012, Day 12 - Morning sun

2012-01-12T22:04:00.000-08:00

I awoke to high winds and a temperature near freezing so I donned by long underwear before heading out to walk the dogs. Despite the cold I was grateful for the clear skies and sunshine, an oddity in Portland that time of year. Still, I couldn't help but think back to a new short months ago when they days were longer and we still felt the occasional kiss of summer on our faces so when I was looking through unprocessed photos this one caught my eye not because of the inherent warmth but because I liked the starburst of light coming through the fern fronds and illuminating the leaves littering the ground.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f11, 1/13 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 11 - Brewing

2012-01-11T20:59:00.000-08:00

The meteorologists are saying that we may get snow this weekend! I know what you're thinking, they're wrong about 90% of the time, especially when it comes to snow, but I really would like to see some in town this year so I am going to hope that they're right.

This frosty photo was taken in northern California as I drove back to Oregon from spending the holidays with my family. I like that it looks moody and cold, that you can see a stormfront coming in and a scattering of low clouds against the mountain. Most of all I like the memory of the sound the frost-covered grass made when I stepped on it and it gave a satisfying crunch, sharper than when you walk on fallen leaves, more like how I imagine it would sound if you were walking on snail shells, but cleaner. That is the magic of photography, it takes you back to the moment and you recall sounds, feelings, textures, all of the things that triggered your senses, not just the visual.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
70mm, f5.6, merged layers of 1/6400, 1/800 and 1/200 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 10 - Arcs

2012-01-10T21:34:00.000-08:00

Another photo from Union Station. Given our often wet climate the building have plenty of covered areas for people to wait for friends or family to come retrieve them. Almost all of the building in original and the texture of the wood in the soffits shows its age. I like the lamp posts and the buildings in the background, it is illustrative of the greater context.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
24mm, f2.8, 1/125 sec @ 640 ISO

2012, Day 9 - Solitary

2012-01-09T22:50:00.000-08:00

There is a cemetery in Portland's west hills that is dotted with trees standing completely on their own. In the summer and fall the trees are often backlit by really amazing sunsets but today it was just mildly cloudy. Although there is some texture in the sky I decided to play with some of the effects in the new OnOne Suite 6. We all spend time trying to remove stray dust from our sensors but in this case I used their ground glass effect. It really does put me in mind of all the time I used to spend in the darkroom back in the days of film and the beauty of imperfection.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f8, 1/500 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 8 - Life renewed

2012-01-08T22:47:00.000-08:00

Life is different when you look at the details. The year is still young and the nights are chilly but the camelias are already blooming. It seems like only a few weeks ago that the trees finished shedding their leaves and we already have color returning. If things keep up this way we're going to have a rather disappointing winter for the skiers and snowboarders but I wouldn't be at all opposed to a nice mild winter given that the rain seemed endless last year.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/60 sec @ 320 ISO

2012, Day 7 - Forest of fungi

2012-01-07T22:55:00.000-08:00

I found this collection of gnome homes in a pile of old birch logs that were stacked in the corner of an old crumbling brick patio. The looked so vibrant and I liked all the contrasting textures so I grabbed my tripod got down low in order to achieve a partial profile. There are little pools of water in the cups of these funky fungi which seems the perfect place for a little gnome laundry.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f11, 1/10 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 6 - Chiaroscuro

2012-01-06T23:06:00.000-08:00

Last night I had the ever dubious pleasure of retrieving Brian Matiash from the train station. I lie, I don't mind running people to and from the airport or train station, they're both relatively close and I am staunchly opposed to the idea taking a cab in a city where there are so few that they cost a fortune. If you want to repay me you can always buy me a meal, I'm a cheap date.

Anyway, while the train was inevitably late I took some pictures around the train station. This is the first that I took and I like it because it is gritty and industrial and you can see a little light from the lamp post above bleeding over the edge so there is some definition to the night sky. There is something about iron and rivits that puts me in mind of the glory days of US heavy industry when we built everything out of steel and the thicker the steel the better because that meant it would last forever. I guess it is something that brings about nostalgia for a past I know only through my study of history.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
20mm, f2.8, 1/40 sec @ 640 ISO

2012, Day 5 - Flashpoint

2012-01-05T22:00:00.000-08:00

Another amazing sunrise. So far 2012 has bless us with amazing morning skies of orange, pink, and purple. That has to be an auspicious sign, right?

I think this year I need to work on making photography more social. There are a number of people I've gone shooting with last year but it is, primarily, a solitary pursuit. That isn't a complaint, I enjoy my time alone because it allows me to time to think not only about photography but about life and its infinite mysteries. However there is a kind of excitement in photography that is contagious and any number of people can look at the same subject in a much different way so I don't worry about ending the day with duplicates of the images created by other people. In making photography a social hobby it also greatly increases the chances of learning new things and there is always room to grow in any art form.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 0.3 sec @ 200 ISO

2012, Day 4 - Straining

2012-01-04T22:15:00.000-08:00

I admit it, I am like a kid I am so excited to have my macro lens back! This afternoon I had to go meet a contractor and while I was waiting I found a pile of old bricks covered in various kinds of moss. Unfortunately I didn't have my tripod with me but I have to go back on Friday and the travel tripod is already in the car. Next time I am going to try for a greater depth-of-field but for now I am happy with this glimpse into a world we rarely see.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/20 sec @ 400 ISO

2012, Day 3 - Droplets

2012-01-03T23:10:00.000-08:00

My 100mm macro lens is back from Canon and as good as new! I took it out for a test drive today found these lovely ferns growing from a crack in a retaining wall. It was quite early in the morning and the rain from the night before still clung to the delicate new growth. Given the mild weather this morning it seemed very much like spring but I fear that winter isn't done with us yet, she is luring us into a false sense of security and is going to take a running kick at our collective groin when we least expect it. Until then I am going to enjoy the unseasonably warm weather...

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/80 sec @ 400 ISO

2012, Day 2 - Schooled

2012-01-02T23:14:00.000-08:00

This photo features my sweet boy Frankie, the white dog with the blue eye on the left. When I say that he's my dog it's true but my friend Karen, who he lives with, just doesn't know it yet. Actually, Frankie's brother Sand should be coming to live with me soon, but that's another story.

Yesterday I went out to Paul and Karen's house to get molested by their dogs and to help the practice some of the pups on the lure to see if they will run. I was hoping Frankie wouldn't because then he could come straight home with me and Sand, but run he did although not especially well. After they had their practice we let four of the dogs just play and in this photo Frankie is being chased by Apache in the foreground and Hillevi in the background. You wouldn't know it by looking at him but Apache is almost ten years old and Hillevi is six years old but poor Frankie is just ten months old and his more seasoned buddies decided he has to be the rabbit so they could chase him.

The truth is that Frankie likes being chased and he has a great time but even though he is much younger his legs are still something of a liability when he is running flat out. Karen did notice that whenever the action died down he came running to me; I've liked him ever since he was a puppy and I won't rest until the little monster is on my sofa. What a great way to start the new year!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 320 ISO

2012, Day 1 - Genesis

2012-01-01T23:33:00.000-08:00

The sun has already set on the first day of 2012 and it is time to write the inaugural post for the year. I am going to continue posting at least one picture every day and expect that I will follow last year's format. In 2010 I was posting a new photograph daily but the catch was that it had to be taken that day. Some days ended with me scrambling to find a worthy subject and often the compromise was one that I wasn't happy with whereas when I shifted gears last year to a new photo daily I allowed myself to save images from shoots to post at a later date. The only problem is that sometimes I would forget about photos I really liked and only rediscovered them much later. Oh well, it is the risk I take for quality content.

Happy new year!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
30mm, f4, 1.6 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 365 - Happy new year!

2011-12-31T20:21:00.000-08:00

The sun has risen and set on yet another year of daily photos. It is hard to believe that 2011 is already gone but what an amazing year! I have been close to home all year but had the opportunity to explore so many of the wonders of Oregon. Family has been a huge part of the year with my sister's wedding and my nephew entering his second year with us. Life changes so quickly (as does my waistline, damn you tasty Portland food) and my love of photography has helped me to capture some of the most most important events this year. Sadly, this has been the first full year without any of my grandparents but while they may be gone I think about them often and imagine how exciting they would find life's events.

I decided to take a leaf out of Jacob Lucas' book and share with you my photo statistics from the past year. If you aren't a photo nerd it probably won't hold much interest for you so you can just skip to the next paragraph. This year I took almost 30,000 photos; 22,231 with my 1D Mark IV and 7,605 with my 1Ds Mark II. My most used lenses from highest to lowest were 70-200/f2.8, 100/f2.8 Marco, 16-35/f2.8 and 24/f1.4. The vast majority of my photographs were taken between 200 and 800 ISO but heavily weighted at the lower end of the spectrum.

The photograph below was taken at Island Park in Springfield, Oregon last week as I made my way to California for the holidays. As I approached Eugene the sky started to lighten and as soon as there was color I took the next exit and pulled over to get some help from my GPS to find a good vantage point to catch the sunrise. There was a small burst of orange as the sun crested the horizon and the waters of the Willamette River below were kind enough to catch the light.

I hope that the new year has wonderful things in store for all of us!

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
23mm, f11, merged layers of 0.6, 5 and 10 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 364 - Winter herd

2011-12-30T23:34:00.000-08:00

Hornbrook is such a gem, the pastoral scenes are just remarkable. As I turned off the highway I decided to head towards the rolling hills rather than the valley in the opposite direction. Less than a quarter of a mile away I found these horses grazing in a frost-covered field. As I took their pictures a number of them came down from the hill to the fence to visit with me so the scene was constantly changing. After about fifteen minutes my hands were suitably numb and I decided it was time to be on my way.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
140mm, f8, 1/500 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 363 - Crossing

2011-12-29T21:52:00.000-08:00

More Christmas photos of my nephew! He was so fascinated by the train set that my sister and I gave him, be liked some parts of it better than others and the bridge was apparently the most interesting part of the whole set. I love the look of concentration on his face, he was totally content with one gift and, if you look in the background you can see all of his unopened presents.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
80mm, f2.8, 1/100 sec @ 1600 ISO

2011, Day 362 - Windbreak

2011-12-28T21:40:00.000-08:00

A panoramic reminder of home. These oaks were planted as a windbreak decades ago and run parallel to a main street adjacent to my parent's house. This want taken the morning of Christmas Eve as the sun was rising and slowly burning off a layer of fog and clouds. If you look closely you might be able to see the furrows plowed into the field in the foreground as it is prepared for planting.

For me one of the most iconic images of California are the oak trees. They have such amazing structure that is highlighted when they are seen in silhouette; it doesn't matter if they are bare or wearing a cloak of green/black leaves their shape is so distinctive. Oddly, this is a scene I drove past thousands of times and it wasn't until I moved to Oregon that I really appreciated the beauty of the scene.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f8, 1/1250 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 361 - Relief

2011-12-27T22:44:00.000-08:00

The last ten days have been very stressful. Yes, I know the holidays are stressful for everyone but I had an extra special source of distress, one of my dogs was hospitalized. Stubbs, my sweet, gentle, shy boy had the misfortune of some kind of bite on his thigh, probably a spider, and the leg became so swollen he was having a hard time walking. Greyhounds have huge thighs to begin with but the bitten one ballooned until it was over fifty percent larger than the other.

So I took my poor hobbling dog to see our veterinarian, a wonderful man who everyone calls Dr. Rick because his long last name is so difficult to pronounce. Over the last decade I have become very well-acquainted with my veterinarian and he has taken phenomenal care of my dogs so he saw me as soon as he walked in to work (we arrive before the clinic was technically open). At the time we weren't sure what the cause of the swelling was and because of the propensity to osteosarcoma in greyhounds I didn't want to mess around so after consulting with Rick I left him in his care and feared for the worst. Any acute swelling is a bad thing...

After x-rays and a blood panel nothing stood out as an obvious cause of the problem although Rick, upon visual inspection, noticed an especially red spot and our best guess is that the cause of the swelling was a spider bite. That by itself doesn't seem too bad but Stubbs has a bleeding disorder so with heavy antibiotics and sedation to calm his frayed nerves the swelling went down after about a day but as the blood flow returned to normal severe edema and substantial bruising set in. The following four days were a race against reduced circulation, if his body didn't heal quickly enough the tissue would die and no treatment would be able to save him. Things got worse before they got better and the edema and bruising spread to the adjacent leg. It was so bad and greyhound have such thin skin that he was literally weeps fluid and blood through his pores.

But by Friday Stubbs' healing seemed to accelerated and on Saturday Rick called to tell me that he finally thought that my gentle boy would recover. Christmas morning I had an update from Rick, he wanted to know when I would be back from California because he thought that Stubbs would be well enough to come home soon! I told him that I would be back on Monday but probably wouldn't be able to pick him up until Tuesday. "Perfect," he said and, true to his word, this afternoon Stubbs came home.

He is tired and a bit thin but happy to be back. Johan and Hubert pestered him relentlessly when we walked into the house but Stubbs took it with good grace and has been napping on and off a few feet from me all evening.

What a wonderful way to finish the year! I hope that 2011 has been as good to you as it has to me and that 2012 sees everyone's fortunes rise!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f1.4, 1/25 sec @ 1600 ISO

2011, Day 360 - Crystalline

2011-12-26T20:45:00.000-08:00

The trip to see my family was a short one and this morning I drove back to Portland. I had wanted to stop at some specific places along the way to take pictures but unfortunately there were some delays and I ended up running a bit behind schedule. Despite that I did make time for a few stops and one was in Hornbrook, a small community not far from the Oregon border. Although I didn't know it at the time I've stopped there before to take pictures because it is dotted with beautiful little ranches. Plus the altitude is high enough that every time I've stopped there has been heavy frost or snow.

This morning it was only frost but I love how it mimics the barbed wire that it is coating. Tiny little spikes of ice covered its length as horses tried to visit with me across the fence.

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

2011, Day 359 - Fascination

2011-12-25T22:56:00.000-08:00

It wasn't quite the Christmas I had expected but in many ways it was much better. My day was filled with family, food, and photography. This is the second Christmas for my nephew Onion and I think we had all hoped that he would show more excitement but, as ahead of the curve as he is, we forget that he's not even two years old yet. Oh well, he was entertaining and seeing as it has been about four months since I last saw him the change has been remarkable.

The best part of the day was when I got a call from my veterinarian to let me know that my dog who has been hospitalized for the last week should be healthy enough to return home this week. It was an incredibly close thing, he had what amounts to a rather minor injury but because he has a bleeding disorder it was life threatening. But with the careful ministrations of my fantastic vet he is recovering nicely and, it was at his urging, that I was able to join my family for the holidays.

I hope you all got what is most important for Christmas, time with your family be they the ones you were born with or the people you chose for yourself. Happy holidays!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
145mm, f2.8, 1/100 sec @ 1600 ISO

2011, Day 358 - Under the mistletoe

2011-12-24T21:56:00.000-08:00

My nephew Onion is going through a phase where he loves cows. They are possibly the most exciting animal in the world as far as he's concerned. It is a good thing they live in Davis because the university has an amazing agriculture and veterinary schools. They have their own herd of dairy cows and when I was out this morning I stopped to visit with them.

As an undergrad we used to visit the cows all the time, their barn is close to the dorms and the young cows are like big dogs, they want to smell you, lick you and, above all, they want you to play with them. Well, the university doesn't really want you molesting the livestock but I did manage to time it so that I arrived just as they were being fed. This big gal tried to give me a kiss while I was taking her picture despite the fact there was mistletoe nowhere near us!

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f8, 1/640 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 357 - Lone oak

2011-12-23T23:09:00.000-08:00

Today I drove down to California to see my family for the holidays. Despite a number of hurdles I made it intact if for a shorter amount of time that I had originally planned.

Every time I drive through Redding I am captivated by the black oaks that seem to stand solitary vigil in fields of tall golden grass. Today on the drive I had no canine companions so I was free to stop as often as I liked although being a holiday weekend I was careful not to delay too long lest I get caught in traffic. While I am sure there are better vantage points I found this great gnarled tree just off the highway.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f11, merged layers of 1/1250 and 1/320 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 356 - Crackled

2011-12-22T23:21:00.000-08:00

It's amazing that you can walk past something time and again and not really see what it is. This is the basement door to my neighbor's house, it is actually right at street level and I walk my dogs past, usually on the other side of the street, multiple times every day but I until a few days ago I never took note. The colors and texture are great although it probably isn't good for the wood not to have any kind of protection but I suppose if they were more fastidious home owners it wouldn't be an issue. Anyway, the moral of the story is to pay attention to your surroundings.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/160 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 355 - Copper

2011-12-21T23:13:00.000-08:00

I was out in the yard this morning when I spied this leaf on top of an accumulated under a shrub in a hard to reach location so of course I just had to have a picture. Sadly my 100mm macro is at Canon for repairs; this is the third time I've sent it in, not through any fault of the lens, but because I use it so often that when a lens gets abused it is a likely candidate. I almost gave up on the idea but then remembers my extension tubes, Canon makes two and I have both of them but of course I couldn't locate the 25mm tube which always sits on my desk. It was probably put some place clever where it wouldn't be in the way and where I could possibly miss it which is why I ended up using the 12mm tube after a half-hour of fruitless searching.

What drew my attention about this leaf was the color, the contrast between the areas riddled by decay and those yet untouched, and of course that perfectly formed beads of water. It may not have the best composition and the magnification isn't what I wanted but I like it despite the flaws.

This image was also the result of experimentation with luminosity masks. It took a bit of trial-and-error and I might have gone a little overboard but I like the effect. All these tools have a learning curve and for the first image to benefit (or suffer) from my experimentation it was a lot of fun and very rewarding.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 24-70/f2.8L with EF 12mm Extension Tube
66mm, f22, 1/2 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 354 - Holiday travel

2011-12-20T22:40:00.000-08:00

Brian Matiash and I were doing the hobo thing last night; walking along the train tracks looking to score some crack, to fight with other drifters, and to take a few pictures. Unfortunately the first two goal bore no fruit but the third was met with reasonable success. Seeing as the holidays are bearing down on us images evocative of travel seem particularly apt.

I think that all seasoned photographers whether they be hobbyists or professionals know that under the current state of affairs governments officials and their law enforcement personel are highly suspicious of anyone taking photos of infrastructure, especially when it is on private property. There are countless stories of people being harassed and accosted by law enforcement offices around trains especially. Did these cautionary tales deter us? Not even slightly. They did make us a little cautious but if you are too cautious it looks like you're up to no good. The simple solution is to adopt the practice taught to me by my grandfather, pretend you know what you're doing and that you have every right to do so and people will be a lot less hostile when they call you out on your actions.

We were able to shoot for about forty-five minutes unmolested. I was still shooting when security approached us and was in the middle of a thirteen second exposure so I let Brian talk to him to buy myself a little more time. He saw the guard coming well before I did and seemed anxious but this being Portland I felt relatively confident that he would rather give us a friendly warning than go to the effort of getting confrontational. It was a bit of a risk but most people out here don't see the point, especially if you are polite, apologetic, and do as you are asked. As it turned out the guy was a complete gentleman, he reminded us that the railroad is on private property and that we would have to seek permission next time. He even went as far as to tell us how we might go about obtaining the required permit. We thanked him for his time and for how courteously he handled the situation and adjourned for some amazing rustic cornmeal crust pizza.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
33mm, f5.6, merged layers of 1.6 and 3.2 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 353 - Tis the season

2011-12-19T23:38:00.000-08:00

Another photo from my wanderings on Saturday. Consumerism is especially evident this time of year as I walked downtown watching people clutching their purchases and striding down the street determined not to make eye contact with anyone else. The stress of the holidays really gets in the way of sharing the holiday spirit. When I saw this couple consulting their phone I liked the tender moment in a sea of tension and agitation.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f5.6, 1/200 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 352 - Eyes

2011-12-18T22:09:00.000-08:00

This photograph is about a month old, we had such a mild autumn of warm sunny days and dry weather but now it seems like a distant memory. The leaf you're looking at belongs to a smoke bush and this is, apparently, how the fall color transforms it from a rich bright red to a to a beautiful golden brown. It puts me in mind of the coloration on insects, fish, bird and other animals where they are meant to imitate eyes and frighten off would-be predators.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/1000 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 351 - Tunnel

2011-12-17T20:48:00.000-08:00

It had been six months since my last haircut so I made an appointment for this morning. Unfortunately that meant making a trip downtown and given the time of year and that fact that it is a Saturday I knew parking would be a nightmare. True to form I ended up parking about six blocks away so on my way I stopped to take some pictures.

Normally I probably would have had my 100mm macro on but I decided it was time that it saw a little spa treatment with Canon so instead I decided to take my trusty 70-200 zoom. It is a beast of a lens which is why I don't often carry it but it also allows for a much different point-of-view. Plus, given that the holidays are almost upon us I thought it would be a good choice for some street candids.

This particular shot isn't a candid, it is one of Portland's streetcars. I love these things not for their utility but for their aesthetic. Streetcars are very European and I feel like I am transported elsewhere when I see them, especially as they quietly glide down one of the tree-lined streets of Portland's downtown. The only thing I could have wished for would have been a little bit of fog but I am happy with the results.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f5.6, 1/400 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 350 - Abstract

2011-12-17T00:09:00.000-08:00

I went out to dinner with Brian Matiash and Nicole Young this evening and while waiting I took this picture by accident. Actually, it wasn't an accident, I was taking pictures of Christmas lights purposefully out-of-focus to capture the bokeh but in this case I wasn't ready, I pressed the shutter release by accident and this was the result but I like it, I like the colors and the trails they've left.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
34mm, f8, 5 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 349 - Romp

2011-12-16T04:14:00.000-08:00

This little monster is Stanley, my friend Karen's puppy. He is three months old and has just graduated to spending time outside so every moment in the wet grass is one of pure bliss for him. I watched him run around for almost half and hour and he only stopped when he got bored with the yard. Despite being soaking wet from racing under the trees and through the grass he apparently didn't feel the cold. I wonder if puppy excitement is like being on LSD...

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
24mm, f3.5, 1/250 sec @ 800 ISO

2011, Day 348 - Gremlin

2011-12-14T23:27:00.000-08:00

If you're an astute follower of mine you're recognize this cherubic face as that of my nephew Onion. The holidays are always a mixture of stress and excitement because you, hopefully, take some time off and visit with your friends and family. Now that I have a nephew the holidays are that much more exciting. Onion will be two years old this spring but I think this year he will be able to enjoy the food, the family and the gifts. Since he is the only get of any of my siblings I suspect he will be rather spoiled but as long as we get to see the excitement on his face it will be worth it. The countdown has begun...

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 50/f1.2L
50mm, f1.4, 1/125 sec @ 800 ISO

2011, Day 347 - Primary colors

2011-12-14T00:13:00.000-08:00

I am continuing back through the year to look for photographic warmth. This picture I took back in July just before the wheat was harvested and I vowed that next year I would take more early morning drives in the country. There are so many bucolic scenes to capture, the only problem is that sunrise comes so early and getting out the door quickly with a house full of dogs who want to be walked and fed first is near impossible. Ultimately, like so many artistic endeavors, it takes planning so my general photographic spontaneity is murdered by responsibility. Oh well, it is probably best to get into the habit of planning things anyway...

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
27mm, f5.6, 1/800 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 346 - Bursting

2011-12-12T23:43:00.000-08:00

I've been shackled to my computer for most of the day so finish up my sister's wedding photos and I can proudly say that I am done! Hooray! Now I have to get them all assembled into an album which is not the speediest process but it is a bit less work than editing. With a little luck I will get it done tomorrow...

The past few days have been odd for me because I haven't taken any pictures. Last year I posted a picture daily that was taken on the same day but this year I am working under no such constraint. Yes, I post a picture daily but often I can shoot once or twice a week and use that material for ten days or more. Unfortunately I have been really busy with a number of projects and while my camera is going with me everywhere I haven't been taking any pictures. That is unlike me, I usually take a few pictures every day at minimum and most aren't worth keeping but I try nonetheless but I have had a hard time trying with this mountain of work. Hopefully next week things will return to normal because even though the holidays are almost upon us if it doesn't get done this week it probably won't get done until the new year anyway.

Sometimes it is nice to know that even failure to complete all your goals will still be rewarded with a break :)

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/160 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 345 - Pinwheel

2011-12-12T00:10:00.001-08:00

It was another day that hovered around freezing here in Portland so I decided that we deserved a little visual warmth. This was taken at Old House Dahlias a few months ago and now that the flowers are gone, the leaves are covering the streets and the the skies are filled with clouds a little color seems like a wonderful thing. I sometimes forget how muted colors are when the sky is full of clouds even though I can vividly recall my excitement in the spring when the bulbs begin to emerge. Every season serves to remind us why change is good, without change we would appreciate the diversity of life.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/400 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 344 - Almost mine

2011-12-10T22:27:00.001-08:00

This is Preston, he was almost my dog...

Last year I lost my greyhound Boo. He was a wonderful dog and a complete pain-in-the-ass. After a couple months of living with me he developed severe anxiety when he was left at home with the other dogs. Boo hated to be apart from me and would get so worked up he would lose bladder control. It took months to get him calmed down so that I didn't always come home to a puddle. In that time we learned a lot together and because of all that hard work I loved him all the more. A little less than seven years later he passed and the house was out of balance.

Because I volunteer with one of the greyhound adoption groups I get to see all the adoptable dogs and I had my eye on this handsome guy but when my friends told me they wanted to add another dog to their family after losing one of theirs months prior I was excited to help them find a good fit. They told me they preferred a girl and one at about four or five years old to be a companion for their four year-old boy.

I showed them three nice girls and while they liked them there was no real connection between the dogs but one of them would have been a decent fit. Before making any decision they asked if there was any other dog I thought they should see so even though I was getting ready to take Preston home I brought him out; a year-and-a-half old boy. The bond was almost instantaneous and I knew that I would have to start looking for another dog for myself.

Ultimately I am happy for Preston. He has a tremendous home with people that adore him where he is spoiled rotten. My missed opportunity worked out fine, about a month later I brought home my boy Johan. Nevertheless I love this boy...

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f1.4, 1/60 sec @ 1000 ISO

2011, Day 343 - Pot of gold

2011-12-09T19:45:00.001-08:00

A little flashback this evening to my trip to Bend a couple months ago. At the time I wasn't thrilled with this image, I had five brackets none of which looked like a decent basis for a final image. I admit, I am lazy, so I didn't want to put in the effort to save it.

Now, today, I was looking for a reason to procrastinate. I've been working on my sister's wedding photos this week in almost all of my spare time and I wanted a reason to look at something else so back into the archives I went and decided to take another crack at this scene. Ultimately, I am happy with the final product given the constraints of the images I had at hand and more than anything I wanted to share a photograph that felt warm on this cold frosty day.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f5.6, merged layers of 1.6, 3.2, 6, and 13 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 342 - Crystals

2011-12-08T21:43:00.001-08:00

Life through a macro lens looks so different. When I was at Mount Talbert earlier this week to try to get some picture of the nonexistent fog I was able to get some interesting pictures of the morning frost. This was my favorite, the large crystals of ice that enveloped the moss growing the the crevice of a large rock. I liked the way the light hit the ice and how it reflected the lights in a hundred little places that show up as flare.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/60 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 341 - Highlighting

2011-12-07T23:13:00.001-08:00

There is something very primitive and primeval about moss and ferns; when I am in a setting like the one below I am always on the lookout for leprechauns and velociraptors. I am pretty sure the two are related but one is good luck and the other is very bad luck.

I like how the rising sun illuminates the moss and the ferns so that it takes your eyes a minute to see the rest of the image. In art you only have so long to make an impression so the hope here is that the bright colors will draw you in and the longer you look the more you see. Dinosaurs may be hard to miss the leprechauns are pretty sly, can you see the one pictured below?

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
22mm, f8, merged layers of 1/40 and 1/10 sec @ 160 ISO

2011, Day 340 - Relax

2011-12-06T21:45:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was one of those days where nothing works out as planned and I had to spend the whole day chasing people with a pointy stick to make them do their job. Today was entirely different, I was able to get a lot of work done, I had breakfast with a friend and I had the pleasure of visiting with Dawson and his buddy Preston.

For those people who haven't been following my antic, I volunteer with a greyhound adoption group and one of my favorite couples had recovered from their recent loss enough to bring another dog home. So I made arrangements for this handsome guy to come to the Pacific NW from Oklahoma. The last leg of his trip I drove from Portland to Seattle and back in a very early morning. On the way he wiggled his goofy way into my heart.

When Dawson's father became a temporary single parent and stressed by a morning of hectic activity I was asked if I could come by to check up on him and his buddy Preston. Why wouldn't I? Dawson I adore and Preston I was about to take home when my friends decided they were ready for another dog so both these dogs are some of my favorite hounds. So I got to cuddle with the two goofy guys for about an hour between other obligations and then had the mandatory sniff-down when I got home and my hounds could smell that I had been snuggling with other dogs. Good thing my boys are the understanding types :)

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II

24mm, f1.4, 1/125 sec @ 1000 ISO

2011, Day 339 - Rays

2011-12-05T21:15:00.001-08:00

This morning Portland awoke to a heavy layer of frost, dense fog and sub-freezing temperatures. I am sure that most people were worried about their morning commute when they saw the weather but I called my friend Julie while I was walking the dogs to see if she wanted to go out shooting this morning. The way that trees look when blanketed in fog is just beautiful in that kind of surreal otherworldly kind of way. Julie was eager to go out to take pictures but, unfortunately, as we neared Mount Talbert (a convenient middle ground) the fog burned off almost completely.

All was not lost, because of the heavy fog we got a late sunrise which led to some great high contrast landscapes. This one appeals to me because I like the way the sun behind the trees silhouettes their shape and how it catchs the small branches with a bit of rim light.

What you can't feel in the photograph is the cold air in your lungs and the way your whole body constricts to try to minimize your contact with the icy morning breezes. The light burn of freezing air in your lungs with the sweet smell of the evergreens and the moist rot of the leaf litter all over the ground. You can't feel the sun as it warms your face when you emerge from under the canopy or from behind a thick growth of trees. It was an invigorating morning which made a nice start to a rather hectic day of people failing to do as they either promised or instructed. Oh well, tomorrow is a new day with new adventures.

Canon 1Ds Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
27mm, f8, merged layers of 1/30, 1/15 and 1/8 sec @ 160 ISO

2011, Day 338 - Lucky Penny

2011-12-04T20:19:00.001-08:00

For better or worse I know my veterinarian and all the people in his office very well. Life in a multi-pet household means regular visits for routine and not-so-routine issues. Last week I was in twice, just to pick up a refill and then again for something I forgot. It is like visiting family and one of the biggest personalities in the office is Penny, the chihuahua that belongs to one of the vet techs. She comes in wearing a darling sweater and has free run of the office to tell off the bigger dogs if they get a little too interested in her as a delicious morsel. One of her favorite things to do is to cuddle up to a bigger dog that is under anesthesia to keep warm and to watch over them during surgery.

When I went in there wasn't a patient on the surgical table but Penny was happy to perch there where no one could miss her as they walked by. A few weeks ago when I picked up Dawson from his neuter Penny felt neglected so she walked right in front of us. Dawson, you have to understand, is a greyhound less than two years old who weighs about seventy pounds, probably almost twenty times what Penny weighs. Nevertheless she wanted attention and when he went to sniff her she let out a low growl which he responded to with a big sloppy kiss. That took the wind out of her sails and she allowed us by after I gave her a quick pat on the head.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f2.8, 1/160 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 337 - Nemesis

2011-12-03T22:24:00.001-08:00

One of the Google+ themes for Saturday is #Caturday. I have no cats, I have dogs that do cat impression by napping in sunbeams on cool days like today, so instead I used Nicole Young's cat Fuji again. He was looking out the window see is his nemesis, Black Cat, was back to taunt him. Joining Fuji in his suspicion is none other than Brian Matiash who seems to be sharing Fuji's mistrust of Black Cat. I think that Brian might be more agitated than Fuji is by their occasional visitor.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f2.8, 1/125 sec @ 640 ISO

2011, Day 336 - Docked

2011-12-02T22:06:00.001-08:00

Another flashback to Alaska from four years ago. These are the docked fishing boats at Cordova Harbor on a cloudy morning. It had been raining for most of the trip so we fished in cold downpours in rivers choked with mud churned up by the storms. We had little luck those days but the day before I took this picture the weather broke and we had some nice days of scattered sunlight that proved very fruitful. The vignetting you see is the natural effect of the clouds, it is amplified only slightly in the upper right to create a sense of visual balance.

I am hoping that I will be able to go back next fall to fish and to explore Cordova a little more. In retrospect it looks like a tonemapping dream come true.

Canon 1D, Canon 17-40/f4L
17mm, f4, 1/1250 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 335 - Time travel

2011-12-01T17:46:00.001-08:00

I've actually thought about this and other photos from this trip recently. This was taken in Cordova over four years ago and in that short time my ability to process a RAW file has improved dramatically. If I recall correctly this is a fish processing facility but what caught my eye was the clouds, the signs of neglect, the rust and the fantastic backdrop; essentially there is a lot of texture in this image so it is a visual feast.

Sadly I have not had time to return to Cordova in the intervening years. My father goes annual to fish for salmon and 2007 was the first and last time I've been even though he has been generous enough to invited me every year since. It was a lot of fun and because the fish are so plentiful it doesn't take much skill which means that it is still quite a challenge for me.

It is always worth looking back into your archives at photos that you might have forgotten about. This one is a gem, one that I remembered fondly but like even more now that I have had a chance to rework it. What amazes me most is that this is a single image, one that was really well exposed by pure luck.

Canon 1D, Canon 17-40/f4L
26mm, f4, 1/800 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 334 - Nearsighted

2011-11-30T23:18:00.001-08:00

Sometimes it is fun to try something new. This is a photograph a took a couple week ago and I purposefully have the focus way off. You can see the bridge and the water and the lights of the city but you have to fill in the detail with your mind. In a way this is rather like a book, all the fundamentals are there but you fill in the details for yourself.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
35mm, f4, 3.2 sec @ 320

2011, Day 333 - Arrowhead of gold

2011-11-29T18:48:00.001-08:00

The native sword ferns are practically indestructible, freezing weather doesn't seem to affect them but there are other ferns native to the NW that are not so hardy. Some turn lovely shades of gold as their fronds die back and re-emerge only with the arrival of warmer weather. These fair-weather ferns are not nearly as common as the evergreen sword ferns but they are just as beautiful and really add to the fall landscape.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f8, merged layers of 1/6 and 0.3 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 332 - Needle in a haystack

2011-11-28T21:56:00.001-08:00

This morning there was a blanket of fog covering the city so I decided to try my luck at Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge. Unfortunately the fog wasn't heavy enough to create a dramatic effect but I did find some trees that hadn't yet suffered defoliation at the hands of the storms that have been tearing through Portland over the last week. That was really the highlight of the outing and this is perhaps the best photo. I like the winding path and the darkness around the trail, there is something very Little Red Riding Hood about it...

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f8, merged layers of 1/50 and 1/25 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 331 - Ewoks

2011-11-27T20:23:00.001-08:00

Mount Talbert is getting a lot of love from me recently. Yesterday was my second time out there in the last month and every time it is amazing. The sun sets pretty early this time of year in the Pacific NW so even though it was probably only about 3:30 the sun was already getting low in the western sky. I am usually a morning shooter so this gave me an entirely different view of the park and this area I really enjoyed.

To get this shot I was seated in a little circle of rocks with the heavy carpet of leaves shielding my butt and bare legs (I thought it was shorts weather yesterday) from their abrasive edges. So I sat in my nest with my tripod almost in my lap as I framed the image in my head and then through my viewfinder. I liked the way the light hit the ferns making their fronds glow in the late fall sun and the rich tones of the fallen leaves. While I waited for my bracketed shots to fire it occurred to me that the scene was not dissimilar to that of Endor, the Ewok home world in George Lucas' epic Starwars trilogy.

I tried the image as a black and white, both have their merits so I figured I would share both and let you decide which you like better.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L MarkII
16mm, f8, merged layers of 1/60, 1/30 and 1/15 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 330 - Farewell to color

2011-11-27T00:12:00.001-08:00

This afternoon my friends Julie and Rinda both contacted me individually and asked if I wanted to go out shooting today. At the time I hadn't really considered it as I was content to have a lazy day but when the second request came and then Brian Matiash posted a reminder to make time for photography I felt that I had no choice but to give in to popular demand.

Both Julie and Rinda live in semi-rural suburbs southeast of Portland so I suggest Mount Talbert as a venue seeing as it is between where we all live. It was mid-afternoon when we arrived which is not my typical shooting time but with the scattered clouds and occasional sun there were a number of different opportunities. Unfortunately our heavy showers and high winds of the last week have denuded many of the trees but there is still some color left.

Even though we officially have a bit of fall left I am pretty sure that its unofficial end is marked by the last leaves falling.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
30mm, f8, merged layers of 1/15 and 1/8 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 329 - Drops

2011-11-25T23:24:00.001-08:00

The joy of macro photography is that it is always about the little things. Sometimes you are out exploring the world and it looks so familiar and boring but when you look a little closer there are amazing things to discover. Today I found this leaf while I was waiting for some friends. When you have a camera with you there is no reason to be bored!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f9, 1/80 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 328 - Tree fungi

2011-11-24T21:55:00.001-08:00

I never realized that there are so many mushrooms that pop up in the fall. They're everywhere and these I discovered on the side of a tree as I was walking the dogs this morning. Once all business was successfully conducted I went back to take this photograph. To get the effect I wanted I did some not-focus stacking. Two pictures were taken at different apertures, one at a small aperture to get a greater depth-of-field on the mushrooms and another at a large aperture to get the nice background that I wanted. I wonder if these could be used to make vegetarian gravy for my mashed potatoes.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, merged layers of f/4 and f/13, 1/40 and 1/4 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 327 - Rosemary's baby

2011-11-23T20:42:00.001-08:00

On Sunday I was waiting for an inspector to do his thing at a home my clients are buying so I grabbed my camera and explored the backyard. It had been raining heavily about an hour earlier but the rain abated and the sun managed to break through the clouds for a few minutes. During that window I found this rosemary in bloom. It is clear that the plants and trees are still confused, rosemary is usually done flowering in October so for it to still be flowering with such vigor in mid/late November is unusual. If it weren't for the gale force winds there would be a lot more leaves on the trees as well.

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

2011, Day 326 - The mountain

2011-11-22T23:36:00.001-08:00

This dignified looking gentleman is Fuji. I suspect the name is in tribute to the Japanese film giant and camera maker but he puts me in mind of Mount Fuji with his substantial size and enormous personality he is a very charming guy. And, like the mountain, if you are in the wrong place he will completely obstruct your view of what is going on around you. When Fuji wants attention you'll know it because he will stand in your lap and use you as a giant scratching post as he kneads you with his catcher's mitts. I suspect he is going to be a super happy guy soon because his mom is returning from her trip to Vietnam this weekend. Nicole, I am holding him hostage for a good bowl of pho, I hope you picked up some cooking experience on your trip!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f2.8, 1/50 sec @ 3200 ISO

2011, Day 325 - Leading lines

2011-11-21T21:17:00.001-08:00

Another photo from my waterfront wanders of yesterday. Too bad the clouds disappeared by this time but after the soggy weather today I am ready for them to leave again even if it makes my skies a little less interesting. As I said last night, I generally don't walk this far north and the city looks rather different from this angle, you can't see the hills and because I am on a bridge the other interesting bridges are too far distant but I still like it. The little detail that ties it all together is the sign with the graffiti, it is the cherry on top of the sundae!

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f6.3, merged layers of 3.2, 6 and 13 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 324 - Infrastructure

2011-11-20T23:17:00.001-08:00

This evening I went out to play along the chilly waterfront. Normally I get lazy and don't walk too far but this time I had to try to impress Brian Matiash with my athletic prowess so we walked a bit further. The waterfront takes you underneath a section of Interstate 5 and I liked this perspective especially because you can clearly see the Steel Bridge in the background. The age of industry clearly evident in the Steel Bridge and the modernity of reinforced concrete of modernity. I prefer the lacework of steel in the old bridge over the rather graceless aesthetic of efficiency.

Regardless it was a fun night of shooting and it didn't get too cold until the end when Brian had to break my fingers off the frozen leg of my tripod.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f8, merged layers of 13 and 25 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 323 - Hansel

2011-11-19T22:35:00.001-08:00

I am as yet undecided about the new TV series Grimm. The storyline is rather generic, the acting is okay, the effects are pretty good but what I like best about it is that the story takes place in Portland and they actually do some of the filming in town. A few times I have walked through the crew setting up for filming and, unlike in Los Angeles, the people are friendly and make an effort not to inconvenience you. When I was last in LA the people are downright hostile and I am sure it is born of their experience but it leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth.

Back to my point... I like that Portland actually looks like Portland. I recognize some of the neighborhoods, the parks, the city certainly, and even the actors. The last is really not important to my point but there you have it. To my eye I think that they show the city as the charming place that it is and there are times when I am reminded of fairytales as I am off on my adventures. This is another photo from Mount Talbert, probably the last that I will share from that outing, and it puts me in mind of the story of Hansel and Gretel. If I were going to lure children into my gingerbread house I would probably build it in these woods. I like the sense of stillness, the cool bite to an almost imperceptible breeze that stirs the fog and brings the rich scent of earth to your nose. Mmmmm, German forest children...

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
31mm, f11, 1/6 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 322 - Angel lost

2011-11-19T00:26:00.001-08:00

I was running around today and as I got out of my car on an errand I saw this dead gull and was struck with a sense of sadness. There were other birds around the lot, pigeons and gulls mostly, but they were keeping their distance so this single bird was left alone and abandoned on the asphalt. Despite my grief for their bird's loss of life there was something beautiful about it, the pale blue-gray against the blackness. I am not a religious person but I immediately thought of an angel that had been struck down which seemed a bit incongruous given that gulls are loud birds with an unpleasant cry that we associate with stagnant beaches and trash heaps. Still, it does not diminish the marvel of evolution that produced these amazing creatures.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f2.5, 1/5000 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 321 - Feathered forest

2011-11-17T20:57:00.001-08:00

Although I have lived in Oregon for ten years never do I get tired of the landscape. Everything is so lush and green, I always thought that ferns were delicate plants that liked warm shade but I am now completely disabused of that idea. There may be some that need a warm environment but the native ferns survive with little light in nutrient poor soil and winters that always include frost and often snow and ice. Somehow these plants manage to be as resilient as the people and they don't need beer to survive the winters either :)

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f1.8, 1/50 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 320 - Floor fungus

2011-11-16T20:08:00.001-08:00

This morning, in the Oregon drizzle, I stopped in the woods to take pictures of the trees in the rain and fog. It didn't work out as planned but as I was wandering I noticed, amongst the debris, mushrooms. There were all kinds sprouting in the rich floor under the evergreen canopy. Many were peeking out from moss and pine needles, partially hidden under skeletal maple leaves in the dense shady parts of the woods.

Recently I've been using small apertures to achieve a greater depth-of-field but for the mushrooms I decided to shoot closer to wide open for a number of reason that resulted not only in this shallow depth-of-field but also faster shutter speeds so I didn't have to set up a tripod. In fact, my camera was on the ground with the left side of my face pressed into the moss to get this shot. When I stood up my knees were sodden and I had to brush pine needles off my face. This was the second shot, it was so dark and I wanted the rich colors that I underexposed by over a stop. I want to take more pictures of mushrooms now but there is only so much time you can spend in the rain in wet trousers before you've exhausted your endurance.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f1.8, 1/50 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 319 - Misty morning

2011-11-15T22:06:00.001-08:00

I love happy accidents. In this case I was running out to the country this morning on an errand and the whole city was covered in fog. Once I got outside the city and started making my way down the country roads it became patchy. Right before reaching my destination I came upon a Christmas tree farm with only saplings. In front of the baby trees there was a buffer from the road that was grasses and the remnants of wildflowers and behind the holiday icons there was a wall of fog lit by the rising sun. If you look closely you can see some morning dew on the plants as little points of light. Sometimes images that seem simple capture more than can be seen at first glance.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 318 - Baby hippo

2011-11-14T22:23:00.001-08:00

Today I helped my friend say goodbye to her baby hippo, Ingrid. It is always hard to lose a companion and Rachel had Ingrid for less than a year. Given that it was such a short amount of time it would be easy to be bitter, we rarely bring home a pet and expect such a short time with them, but Ingrid was almost 10 years old when Rachel took her home from the animal shelter. For a rottweiler that is already old but Rachel didn't care, she knew that not many people would consider a dog of her age.

It was obvious that Ingrid had been cared for but that she had not been exposed to much. Initially many commonplace things startled her or made her unease but as the weeks passed she became more comfortable. Ingrid loved almost everybody and was good with children of all sized. Despite her substantial size that garnered the nickname "baby hippo" Ingrid was a surprisingly spry old gal.

Sadly she started to limp a few days ago and when it became worse the vet took an x-ray and confirmed the worse, Ingrid had bone cancer. The cancer eats away at the bone compromising its integrity and creating the possibility of a catastrophic break. With this type of cancer it is always best to say goodbye a day too early than a day too late so a little before noon Rachel called to tell me that today was the day. I threw on my coat, grabbed some cookies and was out the door. Ingrid was the type of girl who made a lasting impression and if I could give her a little comfort (and maybe some to Rachel too) it was the least I could do.

So I ask you all to give you pets a big hug from me in celebration of Ingrid's life. No matter how it began I can guarantee you that it ended as one full of love and happiness.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f2.8, 1/320 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 317 - Gnome habitat

2011-11-13T22:19:00.001-08:00

I wonder if this what the world looks like to a gnome. We all know gnomes exist and that they live in the woods in homes made of mushrooms kind of like smurfs except not blue or, you know, animated. I expect that they don't have this kind of field of vision; if you had peripheral vision like this it would be good to avoid predators or assassins but most of us have more of the latter than the former which is why we all employ ninja bodyguards.

Well, that is probably enough of my insane ramblings. This is another one of the photographer I took while hiking at Mount Talbert. I enjoy the satisfying crunch of fall leaves underfoot and the mild musty smell they give off. In the spring they will have decomposed into a rich mulch that will give birth to new ferns, wild orchids, fungi, and especially trillium. For now we are bless with their rich colors and their gentle descent from the canopy to the forest floor. Like the bear these maples are shedding their leaves and slowing their metabolism in preparation for the long, damp, dark winter ahead and when the world beings to warm again their buds will mark the approach of spring.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f11, merged layers of 0.6 and 1.3 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 316 - Long walk...

2011-11-12T16:10:00.001-08:00

The title is deceptive, it wasn't a long walk at all but we were out on a dock and the first thing that came to mind is the saying about taking a long walk off a short pier.

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Kurt Rogers, co-founder of ThinkTank, while stopping in at Pro Photo Supply for my weekly browsing of their used items. It is getting towards the holidays and sometimes you can find a gem consigned by someone who needs a little extra holiday cash. Unfortunately for me but fortunately for my wallet there were no wonderful surprises but I did happen to talk to the distinguished gentleman from ThinkTank on my visit. We got to chatting and I told him I had been out shooting at Mount Talbert as soon as there was enough light. Kurt bemoaned the lack of opportunities to get out and shoot while traveling for work so I gave him my number and said we could take a couple night shots of Portland after he finished pimping his wares.

Before going out we grabbed a bite to eat with trouble-maker and great guy Brian Matiash and his buddy Brian who was visiting from Boston. Our timing was perfect because it was raining before dinner and while we burned time chatting and eating the rain stopped and the clouds thinned. When we had sufficiently gorged ourselves Kurt and I ran down to the Hawthorne Bridge for a few photos before the arrival of the next storm system. While he worked on a panorama I caught him at the end of the long wooden dock. Often I try to keep people out of my photography but sometimes it is nice to give it a sense of scale.

Thank you to Kurt, Brian and Brian for a great evening of food, photography and conversation!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f4, 4 sec @ 640 ISO

2011, Day 315 - Shrouded

2011-11-11T22:56:00.001-08:00

Last night I had given a little thought to shooting today, I expected to have the time this morning and my interest has be piqued by the great fall color that I've been seeing. There is a sense of urgency because we've had a few small rain storms and they are denuding the trees at an alarming rate. Despite my desire it has been a busy week and with the absurd torture of daylight savings time I've felt a little run down so I was reluctant to commit in spite of my desire.

All of my reservations disappeared when I awoke to find the city shrouded in a think layer of fog. Fog is not something we get a great deal of in Portland and it lends the world a different feel and they really help to exaggerate depth and distance. So I walked the dogs, fixed my hair (and realized for the tenth time I need a haircut), grabbed a bottle of water, fed the hounds, and ran out the door. My destination was Mount Talbert.

Mount Talbert is one of those places that is, to me, a bit magical. It is a wooded park that, around the perimeter, consists of pine trees in the upper canopy, vine maples in the middle and ferns along the woodland floor. By contrast the trees at the summit are primarily Oregon white oaks and instead of the lush undergrowth of ferns there are small hardy shrubs and tall grasses. As you walk into the park it smell strongly of the sweet fragrance of decomposing pine needles and in the cooler months that lovely aroma mixes with the scent of damp earth and you feel at one with nature.

As you can probably tell I like the way the backlighting of the sky makes the leaves glow but in this image I also captured the ferns and the fog. This is exactly the kind of image I wanted to create so I am glad that I overcame my reluctance and got myself out the door.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f11, merged layers of 1/6, 0.3 and 0.6 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 314 - Copse

2011-11-10T22:43:00.001-08:00

I had another hectic day today, a lot to get accomplished during days that I swear are getting shorter. Although I was born and raised in California I really feel that Oregon is my home. The people are a great mix of laid back and fanatic, the food is great, the cost of living in the city is comparatively affordable and we get real seasons. True, our winters are relatively mild and the rain I think is a bit overstated but we have been blessed with a spectacular autumn.

Fall is such an odd season. The trees turn gold and red but their warmth is betrayed by cool weather. They give such a wonderful celebratory goodbye to the long summer days and usher in winter with the temporary departure of foliage. On those chilly winter days it is nice that the trees have doffed their leaves so that the brief moments of sun we get can actually provide a little warmth as we defiantly insist that the damp weather will not keep us house bound. While it lasts I am going to try to capture as much color as time allows.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f11, 1/125 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 313 - Visitation

2011-11-09T22:01:00.000-08:00

It is funny, this year I have seen a tremendous number of ladybugs. Often I am walking the dogs or stopping to take a closer look at a flower and there, hidden in plain sight, is a ladybug. They are special to me and have been since I was thirteen when my grandmother wrote me a letter prior to a backpacking trip in New Mexico saying that she wished she was a ladybug so she could sit on my shoulder and share my adventures. That letter was shared with everyone in the family and since then we always associated my grandmother with these speckled red beetles. She was such a warm person, a woman of endless patience and love for everyone; my grandmother was the heart of the family so her passing a few years ago was quite a blow. Now every time I see a ladybug I think of her and although I am a devout heathen I feel as though she is there to share my adventures.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II with 12mm Extension Tube
70mm, f5.6, 1/500 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 312 - New baby

2011-11-08T22:02:00.000-08:00

Today was a day of adventure! I woke up early while most of the city was still asleep so that I could get my dogs walked and fed and then I was out the door headed north. My destination was just shy of Seattle; I volunteer with a greyhound adoption group and I had a special delivery to collect, a sweet nineteen-month-old boy named Bones. After about ten minutes of helping me navigate and a couple failed attempts to sit in the passenger seat my fuzzy bundle of joy was snoozing contentedly on the three hour drive to Portland.

His new family hadn't met him yet so we made a brief stop so they could get acquainted. Bones, whose name will be Dawson, is such a happy boy. His tail never stops wagging and he is insatiably curious. He is an ideal compliment to his soon-to-be brother Preston who is rather shy and cautious. Unfortunately he isn't ready to go home yet, Dawson needs to go to the vet for a small surgery (snip snip) and when he is healed (and his new family is done travelling for work) he will make the trip to his new swanky home where he will start life as a city boy.

Congratulation J, Garrison, Constance, Preston, and, most of all, Dawson! Below is Dawson and Dawson with his new daddy J.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
24mm, f4, 1/640 sec @ 320 ISO

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
34mm, f4, 1/320 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 311 - Eye of fire

2011-11-07T21:32:00.000-08:00

This morning I went to Powell Butte with my friend Julie. We both just needed to get out and take some photos, we hadn't had a chance to shoot together for months even though we have visited a number times since. Last night we were wracking our brains to think of a place to explore and settled on Powell Butte. I have been there a few time before but only during the middle of winter and it is a good meeting point being between our respective homes.

Powell Butte is a huge park, some six hundred acres, with open grassy meadows, dense evergreen woods lush with ferns and stands of various deciduous trees scattered throughout. We opted to take the orchard trail because it was a cloudy morning and we hoped that it would be warmer than under the canopy of the woods. As we passed the old orchard along an exposed ridge and mounted a raise we could see a small grove of trees in the middle of an open field ripe with autumn color. A short hike took us into the copse just as the sun broke through the clouds and the photograph below is what the boughs looked like as we craned our heads upward. I can still feel the brisk fall air, smell the musk of decomposing leaves and damp earth, hear the rustle of the leaves as the winds gathered a little strength only to die away moments later.

It was the kind of morning that speaks to all of autumn's best qualities. Thank you Oregon for your splendor and thank you Julie for the company and the steaming bowl of pho afterwards :)

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f11, 1/50 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 310 - Fall heat

2011-11-06T20:12:00.000-08:00

I am still waiting for the fall color to come into its own here in the Pacific Northwest. My friends in Salem say that may of their trees are already bare but in Portland and out eastward in the Gorge the leaves are tenaciously holding on to life and chlorophyll. They're probably just trying to frustrate me and will wait until I have no free time to change and then will disappear before I have a chance to catch their transformation. However up around Mount Hood the maples started to show their color a few weeks ago. They look like bonfires in the undergrowth in stark contrast with the deep emerald color of the evergreen canopy.

Oh well, I will continue to wait with what patience I can muster...

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f5.6, 1/50 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 309 - Devil in the mirror

2011-11-05T23:30:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the most breathtaking place on the Cascade Lake Scenic Byway is Devils Lake. It is a small shallow lake that is more a large pond than lake but it is dotted with campsites that allow unobstructed views of its crystal clear azure waters. With only faint ripples from a light breeze the clouds are reflected almost perfectly. Add to the wooded surroundings volcanic rocks and gnarled skeletons of trees whipped by chill winter gales and you have a natural wonder just a few steps off the highway.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f22, 1/10 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 308 - Where there's smoke

2011-11-04T23:06:00.000-07:00

When we were driving through Deschutes National Forest the smell of smoke permeated the car before we could see it. As we continued over a crest we saw a wall of smoke about a quarter of a mile away. The sunlight was filtering weakly though and I insisted that we find a spot to pull over so I could get a better look. Upon inspection it was clearly a controlled burn, there were fires set methodically throughout the trees but it was interesting nonetheless.

This is a landscape crop of a photo taken as a portrait. I like the details better and the contrast between the trees in the fore and backgrounds.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f4, 1/1000 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 307 - Precarious

2011-11-03T23:41:00.000-07:00

Another photo from my trip to Bend, this was taken at Smith Rock State Park. I had been before but last time I visited there were no rock climbers at all but this time there was almost always a climber in view. Unfortunately I my shoulders are not especially stable, it doesn't affect my daily life but I suspect that it would be a really bad idea to try to take up rock climbing. I've already dislocated my right shoulder once and both of them are susceptible making the risk an ill-advised one.

At some point I am going to have to finish sharing photos from this trip but it was so exciting. Here in Portland we're used to our temperate rainforest environment and the high desert is so vastly different. It makes me long to repeat a road trip I took a decade ago through the southwest stopping at all kinds of state and national parks. Perhaps it is time to plan another such adventure...

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
200mm, f5.6, 1/250 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 306 - Birthday Bubbs

2011-11-02T19:36:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday Stubbs! Today my big chicken turned eight years old although it seems like such a short time ago that I brought him home. Stubbs, he came with his name, is a terribly shy dog, pathologically afraid of new people and easily upset by any change in our daily routine and yet he has made so much progress. When Stubbs came into the adoption program he was two-and-a-half years old and has never raced at all. At the same time we also received his brother Gary who is, if anything, even more nervous than Stubbs.

The two brothers took a long time to warm to anyone new but because I volunteered at the kennel where adoptable dogs were housed I saw them every week. After a few months they both began to get a bit more comfortable with all of us regular visitors and we walked all the dogs so they got some one-on-one attention. Sadly after a year both of the brothers were still in the kennel, no one seemed to want to try to love a dog that they suspected might never love them back and at the time I had three other greyhounds, two of my own and one foster, so I felt that as a single person it would be too much to take on one of these nervous boys.

After a disastrous attempt to place Stubbs in a home after which he came back with bruises from a panicked fall on the kitchen floor and thinned coat from stress (after only ten days in the home) the folks who tried to give him a chance regretfully returned him to the kennel. It was then that I decided that Stubbs was going to come home with me. I had become very fond of him and we would cautiously wag his tail when I came to see him so I took that as a good sign. At the time I had already concluded that if he was just a pretty ornament that lived in a quiet corner of the house I would be fine with that situation.

A month passed and, because I have a tiny yard, Stubbs was used to our walks around the block. My eldest greyhound Falcon has some orthopedic issues and could only comfortable walk around the block once before his feet would start to bother him so that has been the route that Stubbs insists on ever since. With all his nervous energy he doesn't need much more exercise than that and it was traumatic enough as he acclimated to life with me.

In those first few weeks Stubbs pretty much lived in his crate, it was the only place he felt safe. We would go for a walk and when his leash was removed he would run to his safe place. More than once I would leave the house and the door to his crate would be left open by accident. While I didn't think that he would do anything in my absence I worried that he might try to escape. Before the end of the second month I would routinely come home to find my bed turned into a greyhound nest but Stubbs would always be in his crate.

The one day, as I sat at my computer in my large bedroom suite, Stubbs walked out of his crate and hopped into my bed. When I stood up to get a better look he looked back at me, slowly stood and returned to his crate. That was the beginning of his transformation. Shortly afterwards he would get excited and play in the backyard before our walks. Then he would lay in my bed and would let me sit by him. That was a happy day, it meant I no longer had to climb into the crate with him to give him attention!

Eventually he would let me go to bed and then would climb up with me. He rarely stayed more than a few minutes but it was progress. Stubbs was beginning to act like a normal dog. The only problem as I saw it was that he would revert to his timid ways if anyone else was around. It was kind of like having a Ferrari that you could never drive anywhere but the track. With time though I got over that shortcoming.

Today Stubbs is a wonderful dog. He is still afraid of new people but he cuddles and plays and enjoys his walks. With other dogs he is generally indifferent unless they are also a greyhound in which case he is overjoyed. Eventually he warms to new people but it takes repeated exposure and I can leave him with some friends when I travel and he enjoys staying with them and visiting with their dogs. Normality is something he will never achieve but that's okay, the bond we've developed as I have worked him through his many fears is something rare and wonderful. Stubbs is the biggest baby in the house, the least demanding and the most rewarding, I've had him for over four years now and in that time I have learned so much for this fantastic neurotic dog. Happy birthday Stubbs!

*Addition* With recent news coverage I wanted to assure everyone that Stubbs shyness is not the product of any kind of abuse or neglect. While we no longer have greyhound racing in Oregon he was born the year before it ended to a couple who loved him and his entire litter. Stubbs' mother was their pride and joy, she was first and foremost a pet and companion. If my friends cannot look after him when I go out of town the people who bred and raised him happily take him for me. There are few people in the world I would trust with any of my dogs and fewer yet that I would allow to look after Stubbs. His shyness is innate, it is part of his personality not the result of any trauma; he is forever my sweet shy sensitive boy.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24/f1.4L Mark II
24mm, f1.4, 1/100 sec @ 2000 ISO

2011, Day 305 - Following the path in front of you

2011-11-02T00:43:00.000-07:00

This photo was taken on the Six Lakes trail in the Deschutes National Forest. Many of the trees were stripped of their foliage, the evidence of a fire that ravaged the area is the recent past. It was so different from the forested areas that we stopped at that day, here we could see the sky all along the trail, it was quite beautiful.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
19mm, f4, 1/320 sec @320 ISO

2011, Day 304 - Bright blades

2011-10-31T22:49:00.000-07:00

I took this photograph along the trail by Dutchman Flat, part of the Cascade Lakes Scenic Highway. It was still early in the morning, our first stop of the day, and I liked the way the morning light hit the grasses and colors, the blue sky, the green trees, the vibrant orange of the tips of the grass transitioning into a yellowed green as the nights get colder. We knew at the time that we were fortunate, the weather was perfect during our long weekend in Bend. The nights were chilly but the days were ideal in their coolness because it made hiking that much more invigorating!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
17mm, f4, 1/640 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 303 - Twilight portrait

2011-10-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

Every few weeks from friends and I make a meal at one of the local homeless shelters. The one we volunteer at requires all residents to be sober and they get job training and employment assistance. On an average night there are about eighty men (it is an all-male shelter) and tonight was our night to cook. Not only do we make the meal but we plan it as well and with fall here it was homemade split-pea soup with ham, grilled cheese sandwiches, apples and homemade cookies. I am a fiend on the griddle :)

Afterwards I went down to the waterfront. I've been meaning to go back for weeks because the spiders have made their webs right along the lights that are under the guardrail. It attracts all kinds of insects so these guys eat exceptionally well. And with Halloween being tomorrow I thought they would make ideal subjects!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f8, 1/40 sec @ 640 ISO

2011, Day 302 - Towering

2011-10-29T20:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes we are so busy looking where we're going that we fail to see what is around us. Even photographers, that strange breed of person, whose success depends of observation and perspective can be guilty of this failing. This is one of my favorite perspectives, we walk through woods and around trees, we're used to seeing them from a distance but the most spectacular vantage point may be laying in the sweet smelling litter of pine needles with the cool refreshing air of the shade and our heads cradled in the roots of a giant that watches over us benevolently.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f4, 1/125 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 301 - Oly

2011-10-28T22:34:00.000-07:00

Today I had the pleasure of visiting my friend Karen and playing with her gorgeous five week old puppies. I feel like I've been assaulted by cute and my favorite in the litter is Oly. He reminds me of my greyhound Johann who is a terrible slut. When new people come over he falls to the ground and rolls on his back for a belly run and Oly is much the same. I was holding him in my lap and he rolled onto his back and lay for quite a while happy to have his belly rubbed. I actually had to deposit him on the ground to get rid of him!

I told Karen that I would bring my gear and we would take puppy photos for her to share and this is one of them, by far my favorite, but I think I'm biased :)

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
34mm, f11, 1/160 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 300 - Dwindling

2011-10-27T20:55:00.000-07:00

Some days come and go with little fanfare, especially here in Oregon. The think blanket of clouds hides the arrival of the sun except for the gradual lightening of the day and it departs with the same anonymity but some days the clouds and the sun work together to give you a little treat, to remind you to slow down and take note. This was taken at the end of our hike and is rather underexposed, we were in the home stretch and I was racing back to the car to get a better view of the sunset from a field just across the highway. In the end we made it and it concluded and exciting and exhausting day.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f6.3, 0.4 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 299 - Morning fog

2011-10-26T22:49:00.000-07:00

I love the color of the light that you can see peaking out from behind the trees. The truth is that this photo was taken in the evening on our hike back from Green Lake outside of Bend and the fog was a little addition in post but I like how it looks especially given that the past few days I've awaken to find Portland blanketed in misty fog.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
23mm, f16, merged layers of 2.5, 10, and 20 sec @ 125 ISO

2011, Day 298 - Scorched

2011-10-25T22:36:00.000-07:00

On our way to Bend one of the numerous stops I requested was alongside the highway where there were obvious signs of a fire. We passed sections of burnt shrubs and grasses, even some stands of long-dead trees that were burn to twisted wrecks reaching for the sky. Unfortunately most of the land surrounding the highway is either private property or part of a reservation and being a law-abiding person I decided not to tempt fate. This poor little bush lost its life to the flames but is now immortalized on digital film.

I played with the saturation of the sky, I wanted to show the contrast between the heavy orange clay earth and the richness of the skies.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
29mm, f5.6, 1/2000 sec @ 200 ISO