2012, Day 344 - Butcher

I took this photo on our first day in Phnom Penh.  Brian, Nicole, Araceli, and I were running off of about four hours of sleep, all of us were unable to get too much rest and met over breakfast.  Little did we know at the time that we probably should have skipped the most important meal of the day.

With our scheduled arrival in Cambodia being later Saturday night it was decided that the best time to take a cooking class was the very first day.  Our hotel helped us direct our tuk tuk driver to the meeting point for the Linna Culinary School.  Before instruction began our hostess, the illustrious Linna herself, took us on a tour of one of the small local markets.  It was essentially a long crowded alley lined on either side with meat and produce.  This particular woman caught my eye as she relaxed behind her cutting board and hanging meats.  The wall behind had such great texture and her shirt provided such a nice contrast.

I love markets, I think it is one of the best ways to people watch.  Everyone goes to the market and only the wealthy manage to avoid it.  There is such a great bustle of life, people chatting, haggling, and laughing.  Little breakfast places interrupt the vendors and the crowds get thicker.  Some of the smells are tantalizing and others put you off the idea of eating.  Colors are bright and the sights and sounds are almost overwhelming but the excitement of the place is infectious.  I never tire of markets and would happily go every day.

Canon 1D X, Canon 24-70/f2.8L Mark II
70mm, f2.8, 1/400 sec @ 640 ISO

2011, Day 353 - Tis the season

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 285 - Loneliness

With a bit of traveling planned for the next few days I had to take my dogs to a kennel to be boarded.  It is just past midnight here and the house is so quiet, I have't had dogs pestering, letting me know they want to go for a walk, begging for attention while I work on photos.  I've been so productive and you know what?  I kind of hate it...  Every time I get ready for a trip I regret the decision to go because I will miss my dogs.  Sad because it is only for a couple of days but there you have it.  The only way it could be worse is if you took my camera too.

I hope to have some great shots to share with you over the next few days.  Supposedly I will have internet access so here's hoping!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
57mm, f5.6, 1/200 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 284 - Patched

Sometimes simplicity is best, you appreciate what there is to see and you look at the subject in a different light.  In this instead of a wall, window and sidewalk I see safety glass with inlaid wire, the mesh covering a broken pane, streaks of oxidation, cracks in the stucco, scraggy weeds and a host of other bits of texture and color, muted to be sure but there if you look.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II
100mm, f4, 1/400 sec @ 320 ISO

2011, Day 270 - Cheap thrills

In honor of "My Town Tuesday" I stopped off on Belmont Street as I was making my way home from an errand this evening.  Who doesn't love vintage neon signage and cheap movies?  The Avalon has it all!  Unfortunately I constantly forget that it exists until it is dark and the sun doesn't set until really late in the summers so I've never actually seen one of their bargain-priced second run movies.  Maybe this winter I will catch up on all the movies I never saw this summer, I may never see those films since I cancelled my subscription to the sinking ship that is Netflix...

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f22, 60 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 190 - Flare

I was walking through downtown Portland briefly this evening.  Supposedly I had a haircut appointment but unfortunately the person before me, who I couldn't see clearly, had an afro that was two feet from their scalp to the tip of the hair (so over four feet across) and they wanted their hair cut short.  When I arrived they weren't even half done and they had been working on it for over an hour so I wandered around a bit before deciding to go home.

On my way back to my car I saw these folks waiting for some art house movie theater to open their doors.  With my camera set for one stop overexposure I grabbed this photo.  I love the flare in the bottom left, the long shadows reaching for the bottom of the frame and the buildings disappearing in the brightness of the late afternoon sun.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L
27mm, f5.6, 1/160 @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 186 - Trolling

On the way back from watching the fireworks along the esplanade we wandered under the Morrison Bridge.  I love the old cobbles, they provide such great texture.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
26mm, f11, 10 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 183 - Counter-clockwise

There was a story on the news the other day about people in Portland getting permission to repaint the fire hydrants in their neighborhood.  I thought it was funny and when I came across this hydrant I thought it might be a bit of a shame because it has so much character, why would you want to cover it up?

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 100 ISO

2011, Day 137 - Shoes off

While walking the dogs (seems to be a common thread in my photography) I noticed shoes left on the front porch and thought it looked kind of sweet, especially in contrast to the battered door and its' peeling paint.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f4, 1/3200 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 054 - Pierced

More from my happy wanderings with Julie...

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f5.6, 1/500 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 053 - Flannel

I love Hawthorne not only because it is so close to home for me but because the people you see are individuals with their own sense of style and totally comfortable in their own skin. This was a complete candid, he didn't know I was shooting him while he was writing and email. Part of what I like is that this is Portland and flannel is always in style.

Canon 1Ds Mark II, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f5.6, 1/640 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 041 - Islands

This place looks pretty unappealing from the outside but I really want to check out what they have, it is intriguing. Plus I love food, you can tell by looking at me that I probably love food too much but the thought of new flavors hidden behind this shabby exterior is really exciting. Perhaps a special trip is in order.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

38mm, f4m 1/500 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 040 - Stop

Portland was just acclaimed to have the best public transportation system in the United States. While I take that as an indictment of public transportation in this country I do appreciate that you see people from all walks of life at the bus stop.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 70-200/f2.8L IS Mark II

200mm, f4, 1/640 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 039 - Safety

Just a photo of a work crew doing something or other on a utility pole...

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

70mm, f4, 1/640 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 035 - Swaddled

Being a relatively new uncle and being lost in a field of fecundity I find myself noticing babies more often. To me they seem like larval humans but I suppose you can't fight nature. What struck me first is that mother and baby have coordinated hats and the symbiosis is so clearly expressed. Despite the demands of motherhood Mom looks adoringly at her baby while maintaining her Portlandian sense of style and individuality.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

45mm, f4, 1/160 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 034 - Ban snow tires

I was taking a leisurely stroll down Hawthorne today when I was asked "Would you sign a petition to ban snow tires in Oregon?" Hell yes I will! The short version of what if often a long-winded diatribe is that there is no need for snow tires in, it doesn't often get cold enough to warrant them and the only people who own snow tires have 4-wheel drive or all wheel drive.

I made a deal, I would sign the petition if he would allow me to take his picture. Although I would have signed it anyway he agreed. My part of the bargain fulfilled he asked how I would like him to pose and I gave him a little direction. After a couple shots I told him to do whatever came naturally and this is the shot I got which I think is the most original.

I am adding this to my Portrait of Portland project. Activism and community awareness is an essential part of this city's character. The fact that my new friend was having fun at the same time just proves that politics aren't necessarily boring!

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

51mm, f4, 1/125 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 032 - Nun

My sister and I ran into this nun outside of Man Mo Temple near a lion dance performance. I gave her a donation and took her picture; I like her expression, there is just a hint of a smile without the mocking look of a smirk.

Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

70mm, f4, 1/250 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 028 - Readin'

I love orange, it's such a great warm vibrant color so when I saw this woman waiting for her bus on a gloomy overcast morning I took think picture. I think the pen to the mouth makes her look contemplative...

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f5.6, 1/320 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 025 - Tristan

With this post I am officially kicking off my "Portrait of Portland" series. This is such a tremendously diverse community made up of a people who share an independence of spirit, an appreciation of community and an offbeat sense of humor.

I start with Tristan whose lunch I interrupted to take his portrait. He's recently returned to Portland from New Mexico after a fifteen year hiatus. I'm sure that so much has changed but Portland's basic identity should be comfortably familiar. This is a town that people love and hate in equal measure but whose reputation keeping bringing people back and luring in new Portlandians.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 100/f2.8L IS

100mm, f4, 1/640 sec @ 400 ISO

2011, Day 023 - Stonemason

My neighbors are having their retaining wall rebuild, gone is the concrete and in its place dry-stacked stone. As I walked past this morning with the dogs I noticed that work was continuing through the weekend so I introduced myself and asked to take a photo.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 24-70/f2.8L

70mm, f4, 1/100 sec @ 200 ISO