Many Reflections

When I took this photo of a Suzuki wheel, I was wearing my pink multi colored scarf. You can see how it gave a kind of purple coloring around the wheel. You can also see my reflection just above the center of the "S" and if you look closely, you can see my daughter, Sarah to the left. I wonder if this would make an interesting orb photo?

Westmoreland Hardware

Driving home from the auto show, I was able to capture the sign of the GREAT hardware store in our neighborhood. The best place to take this photo is in the middle of the street, so shooting from my car is really the best option. Thanks to "rush hour traffic" on Milwaukee Ave, I had plenty of time to turn on my camera and compose as best I could while driving slow. The photo still needed a little distortion correction in PS.

Guess The Car

Another Auto Show pic. Show goers could win a prize for correctly guessing the make and model of this crushed up car.

The Ship Has Landed

Ok, I love to photograph what's on the ceiling. Either buy turning my camera upside down and composing through the LED screen or by shooting a reflection. This is a reflection of the ceiling light fixtures in the tinted windows of one of the custom cars.

Auto Show

Sarah took me to the auto show today at the convention center. I think it's the first time I've ever gone to one. I loved the reflection of the amazing convention center skylight in the Smart Car. Pretty abstract, I know, but I like it.

Street Heart Puddle

A photo teacher of mine, Carol Leigh, turned me on to looking for hearts to photograph. I spotted this the other day on a walk. It was a little heart-shaped puddle in the roadway. Since it was a grey day, on a grey street, the original photo was boring so I took it into Photoshop and messed with the hue and contrast. I like it much better this way!

No Parking

I walk past this hand drawn sign in front of a house being rebuilt almost every day. Each time I see it I wonder if I can make art out of it. Finally, I snapped a couple of photos, applied ink outlines filter in Photoshop Elements, and now--art!

Hugh's Watch

Hugh leaves for Stockholm tomorrow. This is his two time-zone watch the kids and I gave him for his last birthday.

Water Meter With Portland Rose

Many of Portland's water meters have a rose on them. I think they're graceful and elegant. I took this with the lensbaby.

Red Planet

Another orb made from a lensbaby shot of red berries.

On A Sunny Day

Took this on the 15th on a brief trip downtown. As you can see, it's a sunny day in Portland in January! No, it doesn't always rain here.

A Plant's World

Okay, this is way too fun! Another orb photo using Carol Leigh's instructions. I'm wanting to do a bunch of these and put them in a gallery on SmugMug. When I get the gallery made, I'll post the link here.

Tile Sprout

An orbital image I created in Photoshop Elements today following instructions from Carol Leigh in her "60 Second Photo Lesson" newsletter. Any photo friends who don't get the newsletter can subscribe by clicking the link above. Below, I've posted the photo I started with to make my orbital image.

Knapp Ave

I loved the curve of the street curb and how the street imprint is also curved to fit. My guess is the builder back in the 1910s decided to curve the marker this way. I'm fascinated with the imprinted street markers in Portland's sidewalks. It feels like a tiny thrill when, on my walks, I discover the old street imprint still existing from the early 1900s that no longer matches up with the current street name. Where we live in Southeast Portland was founded as its own city, a rival of Portland. After merging, several renamings occurred where there were duplicate names or oddities. One example is here in Westmoreland all the numbered streets are now 14th Street, 15th Street. However, the old street markers from before merging with City of Portland all read, 14th Ave, 15th Ave, etc.

Abstract W

I found this on a walk today. It's part of copper signage on some condos near here. I was using my lensbaby and trying to get better using it. The glowing edges filter seemed to enhance what had been a rather boring close-up photo.

Test Pie

I signed up to be a recipe tester for America's Test Kitchen a few months ago. Today I made this blueberry pie as a recipe test for them. Now, I'm not an expert pie baker, though I have made quite a few in my 40 some years of cooking. This recipe yielded a pie like no other blueberry pie I've ever made! The crust was amazing! Not burnt or dry. The filling stood up inside the pie and didn't leak all over or bubble all over and burn in the oven. The recipe called for a few unusual ingredients: shredded granny smith apple with all liquid wrung out. Also, ground tapioca. Also, half the berries were pre-cooked into a more thickened compote to which the other half amount of berries was then added. The amount of sugar was drastically reduced to one cup! Finally, a berry pie that wasn't too sweet or too runny! I am really proud of the finished product, as you can imagine!

Eating Cheerios

Another candid from Family Photo Day in December 2007. My youngest son, David, holds his son, Sean, while waiting for their turn for family photos.

Vino With Green Ball

Someone in the neighborhood owns this new, Yamaha Vino. I smile whenever I see it parked on the street. I think it's gorgeous and today I stopped to make a photo. In PSE, I added poster edges filter the way my digital photography friends have taught me by making a new layer of the photo, applying the filter full strength, then using the opacity slider to adjust it to the preferred amount. That was so quick and painless compared to how I used to do it. Poster Edges accents the rain on the scooter and the street. I love the label that says, "Buy Organic."

Satin Vest

Another attempt at making art from a shot of clothing.

Rains In Oregon

This is the photo of the day that I made myself. I took this of a neighbor's car that appears to have not been driven for a very long time. I've been fascinated walking past it each day, wondering if I could make it into a photo. Maybe it would have been better in B&W. So, this is how it is in Oregon if you don't cover your car or drive it or wash it! After awhile, it grows moss!

All Of Us

I didn't take this photo, obviously! This is from our family gathering the first week in December, 2007. It was the first time everyone in the family got together in one place in three years. The photo is copyright Shawn St. Peter Photography. The guy is a monster in photo work for groups, IMO. For grins, look through his website; I especially admire his work with musicians.

(Family members, for those not yet having enough info overload: Back: My husband, Hugh; oldest son, Andy; SIL, Erik; youngest son, David; youngest grandson, Sean (2 1/2); DIL, Yukie. Middle: Me; youngest daughter, Carolina; Andy's partner, Ivan; oldest daughter, Joanna; middle daughter, Sarah; Sarah's partner, Nina. Front: granddaughter, Abbi (8); oldest grandson, Zack. (10))

Columbia

This may be too abstract for anyone to get. I have been thinking about a way to make a photo involving clothing that looks interesting. The idea is inspired by an assignment in an online photo group. The belt buckle from Hugh's new belt shows up in this photo, though it needed some editing and a filter in PSE to knock down the hot spots.

Focus

My daughter's girlfriend, Nina, is a dedicated school teacher. At our family photo shoot, she grades papers while we wait for the photographer to set up his camera.

Storm Over Downtown

I love this view of downtown Portland from near our house. I also love the three-level look to this photo--the red of Oaks Bottom, the gray, bare trees, then the dramatic buildings of Downtown. You can see the hip, exploding Pearl District on the left where the cranes are.

Playing Cards

Another candid from our family photo shoot in December. Zack, Nina, and Ivan play War!

Sidewalk Reflection

Saw this on the sidewalk during a break in the rain clouds. I love shooting interesting reflections. This one required quite a bit of cleanup in PSE6 maybe because it was in a high traffic area.

Moss on Stone

Found this walking back from the store. Very interesting tendrils of moss on the stone pillar post on the corner of the mausoleum property. I thought about Photoshopping it but I like it the way it is.

Totems

From a trip to REI. While Hugh shopped for a coat, I took photos of all the racks and racks of skis. Glowing Edges filter added in PSE6. Weird, huh?