dailyeye

Letter I

2012-02-17T14:18:00.000-08:00

Using stone knives and bear skins, I created this Letter I photomontage today. Been hanging out in Palm Springs with my husband who's at a conference. All part of my plan to get away to warm places during our Oregon winter. But my old, creaky laptop has only Photoshop Elements 6.0 and too little memory to move may files around.

I think this is an interesting, textured letter. Would like to have made a layer mask to erase the texture on the I some. But don't have that capability today. Still, not bad. It has an interesting look for something made with primitive tools.

Aitches

2012-02-11T17:19:00.000-08:00

Found the Hs in a row on the restaurant sign for Cha! Cha! Cha! here in Westmoreland.

Manipulation

2012-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Today while doing errands and thinking what kind of G to use for my daily photomontage, I kept seeing newspaper boxes with the Oregonian's business section logo on them. I wondered how I could make a similar effect with this G in spite of my rudimentary photomontage skills. After trying most of yesterday afternoon, sleeping (well, not really) on it, then trying again this morning, Ta Da! Not the most amazing looking photomontage, but still an expansion in how to manipulate the images.

E Of The Day

2012-02-07T20:34:00.000-08:00

It's been a long day for me in photomontage world. So, this is a brief E rather than an extravagant E. These elements are from the sign on Cosmo Lounge in downtown Westmoreland. As you can see--they have a kind of retro Jetsons look to their marquee.

I made three photomontages today for my class assignment. I'll post some of those once I've turned them in and gotten a good grade!

Sock Dreams

2012-02-06T09:42:00.000-08:00

An enchanting local store–Sock Dreams. A tiny house crammed with socks you salivate over! Fortunately for them, it's way too easy to overspend on the most colorful, cozy, wild, wooly socks imaginable!

I love their sign and tried all kinds of ways to make the D into a photomontage. However, nothing I tried made it look more wow than this bit of sign in it's original glory.

What's At SCRAP Today?

2012-02-03T14:46:00.000-08:00

Went looking for fake flowers for my photomontage class assignment yesterday. That's how I ended up at SCRAP. Where I got this Letter C but no fake flowers--well not ones I wanted anyway. Instead, I found fabric. And textured paper to photograph. And this:

A clown lamp someone created from SCRAP's scrap!

If you're a Portlander and haven't been to SCRAP, you're missing out on a cool aspect of our local culture. I'm surprised Portlandia hasn't spoofed them yet! It's definitely cleaner and safer than dumpster diving for all your crafty urges! They take donations--yarn, fabric, clown masks, staplers, old calendars, bits of tile, half used bottles of glue, puzzles, milk bottles, construction paper, old postcards, half finished hooked rug projects--and resell them to keep these bits and bobs from going into a landfill. Check out their website for daily hours and what they accept. It will give you an idea what's at SCRAP today!

Noodles

2012-02-02T10:37:00.000-08:00

Went to Boke Bowl on Monday for lunch with friends. Loved the place! And I'm not alone! The line was out the door and customers were busy munching (or rather, slurping) savory noodles and chatting with each other at the long, community style tables.

Boke has been receiving raves from the time it was just a once-per-month flash eatery in whatever space they could find downtown. But now, Boke has its own permanent lunch spot over on Water Avenue and their delicious smells have tickled my nose each time I walk past their door on my way to yoga class.

Boke is definitely the place to eat if you want to be "in" on new eating trends in Portland! Lunch only, 10-3--'cept for their Thursday Korean Fried Chicken Night, 5-9:30 p.m. Noooooodles!

An A Day

2012-02-01T23:11:00.000-08:00

A spectacular day with sun! And fifty degrees! Both of which made for a lovely photo walk around my neighborhood.

For the first February, this day deserves an A!

Lucky Day!

2012-01-27T17:30:00.000-08:00

Last spring we spent some time poking around the southwestern Washington State peninsula. On a brilliantly sunny day at Fort Columbia, we watched six bald eagles soaring over the old military barracks and turrets. This week I made a photomontage "watercolor" from one of the shots of that day. If you click the photo you can see a second eagle in the distance!

Ragged Leaf

2012-01-26T13:41:00.000-08:00

My best photomontage from the leaf exercise in class. The leaf was a battered one I found a week ago on the side of the street. The background is from Lost and Taken, a site that offers free downloadable backgrounds. I also added a second background from a texture I painted years ago which added that grungy texture on the leaf. Regarding the tear in the leaf, I've gone back and forth over whether to clone it out. For now, I like it. What do you think?

KOIN Tower and Marriott Hotel

2012-01-25T14:02:00.000-08:00

Here's something I made today after experimenting with different subjects and textures for my photomontage class. I'm not sure it's a long term keeper. Just trying to see what comes up when you look for specific characteristics--here, a stark subject against a plain background--to combine with a certain type of texture--a pinkish finger paint background I made years ago.

What I like is how the texture kind of focuses a highlight on the side of the pinkish KOIN Tower which is one of my favorite buildings to look at and shoot in different types of light. I think this could be made better by masking down the stark white of the hotel building. Perhaps I'll come back to this one when the masking lesson is front and center.

Water Avenue

2012-01-20T16:55:00.000-08:00

You may have heard. It's pouring rain here. Worst storm in 100 years, some are sayin'. And we're not out of it yet. We've water in our basement as do most of our neighbors. At least we're on the bluff overlooking the Willamette River rather than living right next to it should it get to flood stage anytime soon. It's a mighty big river!

We've no need to go commuting on flooding streets or to thread our way around any downed trees nearby. We still have heat, lights and internet access. So, we're indeed fortunate!

In the spirit of the storm, here's a photomontage I created this afternoon combining one of Portland's stamped curbside sidewalk signs, a photo from the Ross Island Bridge looking north over the Willamette, and a cloud photo. Took me a fair bunch of hours trying this and that to get to here. I had not intended to have the overall blue color; that was a synchronous surprise and seems to fit the Water Theme. So, it's dark even though in post I made adjustments in levels. But that adjustment just made it look pasty. So, dark it is!

Best advice, if you want to really see it, click to enlarge. I kinda like it!

Song Lyric and Music Photomontage

2012-01-19T17:28:00.000-08:00

Updated one of my photomontages based on feedback from my teacher, Carol Leigh. I used a combination of cloning and enlarging the texture/background image which is a glass of ice water with candle glow behind it. I shoot such things at restaurants all the time but had never considered such photos would be of any use to me until now. I just love the glowy look they have and making photos of ice water glasses gives me something to do while waiting for my food. The ice water photo gives a moody backdrop for the antique sheet music detail.

Three Images--Numbers Assignment

2012-01-17T08:57:00.000-08:00

Three images for my photomontage first assignment which is blending two photos and running them through the PS blending modes until an interesting, changed image (may or may not) appear. Sometimes I wonder why there are other blending modes than "Difference." Since, try as I might, none of the other blending modes made a speck of interest this time around. However, here they are and now, I'm on to the next assignment.

My weekly learning project is to read and breathe through an article I found in the latest Photoshop Users mag on how to move a photo from Lightroom to Photoshop for editing and back again--successfully. It's something I've wondered about how to do efficiently since I installed LR several months ago. Last week I made it through the first section of the Lightroom 3D Garage Crash Course. After I study the PU article, my learning assignment further includes studying part two of that online course.

Airport Canopy

2012-01-14T03:55:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm avoiding my assignment for the photomontage class I'm taking. I have components to try to combine. I've taken the class before. I know the process. Yet, I'm avoiding.

So, I shot this photo Thursday morning when I dropped Hugh off at the airport at o'dark thirty. Cropped it until I got the juice of it, I think. Added a filter. Still avoiding wading into actual art work. Hmmm.

Project Car

2012-01-11T14:27:00.000-08:00

Wanting to provide their boy with the absolute best dad/son bonding experience, my daughter and son-in-law, scrounged a non-working 1965 Dodge Dart for his Christmas gift this year. His inscrutable grin could be from either pride or overwhelm. He has two years to get it ready to use before his driver's license becomes reality.

Theater Marquee

2012-01-09T21:39:00.000-08:00

While browsing my photo files and keywording for numbers, letters, textures, and backgrounds, I came across this great theater marquee I shot while in Sonoma, CA, in November. This is the Sebastiani Theater in the Sonoma Town Square, a great old movie house in need of support for restoration. I added a posterizing filter to accent the faded and rain streaked wear of the old sign.

Mt Hood With Cloud

2012-01-04T13:41:00.000-08:00

Our main mountain as the next storm front begins moving in. Shot from the West Hills of Portland, OR.

A Very Little Bird

2012-01-03T19:43:00.000-08:00

A very little bird showing me his (or her) crown. Saw him during the Audubon bird count at my feeder window. I would not have guessed this bird was anything more than a goldfinch until I caught a glimpse of that fleck of red. Turns out it's a Ruby Crowned Kinglet. Pretty fancy for plain old Portland.

Shot through the screen on a low light day. Post involved levels and unsharp mask. Not a very good pic and won't make my list of keepers. Still, it's what's up for my daily pic.

Letter Of The Day

2012-01-02T13:51:00.000-08:00

Today is brought to you by the Letter O. Go Ducks!!!

Audubon Bird Count Day

2011-12-31T22:28:00.000-08:00

Spent several hours today feeder watching to contribute to the Christmas Bird Count for the Portland Audubon Society. This slope is definitely getting slipperier! But I had a fun time and learned to recognize a lot more birds than I've known before from just casual watching at mealtimes.

This is a male Downey Woodpecker. No surprise there. It was one of the better photos I got from the ID snaps I took for reference on for birds I didn't know. From today's session I learned about various Vireos and the Ruby Crowned Kinglet. The Kinglet actually bent over and showed me his red crest! It's an odd looking photo but perhaps I'll post it tomorrow.

Another Architectural Abstract

2011-12-28T14:48:00.000-08:00

Can't get this Marin County Building out of my head. Here's another image made from the first floor of the Marin County Civic Center (Frank Lloyd Wright designed) looking up past three levels of balcony to the skylight.

I was incredibly lucky to be able to be there on the one day of the month the tour was scheduled and to have the time, in a small tour group, to take plenty of photos. I was also fortunate to have a brilliant, sunny day, which gave me such stark images when shooting up into the light.

In post, I adjusted Levels just a tiny bit toward blue. And cropped until I liked the flow of the shot. Otherwise, this is as I saw it that day. A tad dark, though, so perhaps it won't be a long-term favorite. But for now, yum!

Neskowin River

2011-12-27T16:28:00.000-08:00

Took this at the beach last week in Neskowin Beach State Park while we were looking for the "ghost trees" that were drowned in the Cascadia Earthquake in 1700. Here is your basic pregnant belly river bend shot at the beach. I loved the rim reflection on the water's edge! If I were 12 feet tall or equipped with hovercraft, I would've been able to get an angle that would've highlighted the entire right edge. Alas, I must be content with the highlight I got.

Shooting directly into the sun turned this into a natural silhouette. I emphasized my nearly colorless photo in post by asking Photoshop to tone down the reddish brown elements.

In The Deep Mid-Winter

2011-12-23T16:44:00.000-08:00

Took this at the beach yesterday, December 22, on the tidal flats just north of Depoe Bay. It was one of those lucky days at the Oregon Coast--bright, with strong sun, and 50º! The Cascadia earthquake in the 1700s drowned a bunch of ancient trees here. The relics of their bases sometimes poke out at very low tide.

I did a bit of prodding with individual RGB levels adjustments to bring back the color I remembered from yesterday. The big 'S' curve in the photo was the juice of the shot but it was hard for me to narrow it down while shooting since it was such a large tidal area and I liked so much of what I saw. With three non-photographers waiting for me in the car, I took as many shots as I dared then used the crop tool today to put the 'S' curve into the framing I liked most.

Spaceship

2011-12-20T14:25:00.000-08:00

An experiment with Photoshop on part of a photo I took at Marin County Civic Center back in November. This is part of the architectural detail from the eave. The building is actually painted pink and blue so I pushed that color to more of an extreme. I also cropped it looking to find just the juice of the shot. I think I have the juice from the cropping but perhaps it needs to be lighter. Not sure I like it much but I'm just experimenting with Lightroom and Photoshop just now.

Presenting Bluegrass

2011-12-18T20:23:00.000-08:00

Selecting and resizing photos for our yearly family calendar. Couldn't resist framing and posting this one of Dear Hugh thoroughly enjoying his concert presentation at the end of his year-long group violin class. The class, presented by Greg Stone and called Taborgrass, is for beginning and intermediate Bluegrass players in Portland who want to improve their skills or learn another instrument.

Leading Library

2011-12-14T14:57:00.000-08:00

Another architecture shot from Marin County Civic Center. The library room itself is a 360° dome with stacks like spokes on a bicycle. Ah....the wonders you can work with precast concrete.

Wright Design

2011-12-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

Abstract from Marin County Civic Center designed by Frank Lloyd Wright as the last commission of his life. Built 1960-62 by Aaron Green, Wright's protoge´.

Flicker

2011-12-08T14:19:00.001-08:00

Never thought I'd start photographing birds. However, Hubby has been putting feeders of various types outside our dining room window. The cats started watching (and residing on the dining table) immediately. On Father's Day, our kids got us a couple of charts illustrating various local birds. Then, I put my old camera nearby to catch the quick flyers to give us something to look at to identify the birds. As you can see—a slippery slope has started.

These flickers have captured my imagination, though. They stay year 'round here in Portland and will nest in our yard if we provide a house for them. When they fly, their entire under wing is crimson! Shot through the window screening on a cloudy day with my old Canon Rebel XT. Post in Photoshop Elements 9.

Yoga Bhoga

2011-12-07T16:44:00.001-08:00

One of my current passions is yin yoga. And one of my best discoveries is yin yoga classes with Leigh at Yoga Bhoga over on Water Avenue in Portland. Leigh's yin class is stress reducing and pain relieving. She teaches using a light and gentle manner but offers lots of encouragement and support. I snapped this moment of calm between classes as I was leaving Monday evening. Yoga Bhoga has interesting and unusual classes, I think, such as flying yoga and sleeping yoga as well as ones you're used to hearing about—hatha and vinyasa.

Her Majesty

2011-12-06T16:15:00.001-08:00

Took this a couple of weeks ago on our driving trip back home from Glen Ellen, CA. Presenting Mt Shasta on a dry day with no shroud! The photo could have been better with blue skies but this was what was there then. Still, this mountain is impressive! At the tail end of the Cascade Range, Shasta sits out in the open, rising 14, 179 feet above us. If you click to enlarge the photo, you can see the cinder cone, the second peak, on the front right side mountain.

Season's Lights

2011-12-05T09:51:00.001-08:00

Spent the fifth day of SUN stringing holiday lights and running electrical cords. The Oaks Bottom Holiday Steam Train moaned its goosebumpley whistle in the distance and neighbors were out catching rays and happily walking their dogs. iPhone photo at dusk, post in Lightroom.

Magic on Water Avenue

2011-12-04T12:36:00.001-08:00

Coming out of yoga class on Water Avenue, the view of downtown from across the river at twilight on a clear day is a treat! Took this with iPhone and post adjustments in BeFunky.

Creekside Shops

2011-11-30T14:41:00.001-08:00

This is a trial photo post from my phone. Took this on our last day in Glen Ellen. I loved the worn look of the sign and am off in a minute to locate some photo editing app tools so I can change levels or crop easily. You'll see if I was successful of not in subsequent posts.

Time Machine

2011-06-01T21:49:00.000-07:00

Made this composition in my photomontage class for a created background assignment. We had to take an image of our choosing, duplicate it, flip it, then run it through the blending modes. I used a macro shot of the glass orb lamp bases I made last year at Hotel DeLuxe in Portland. (Great hotel, btw! They have yummy, yummy martinis at Gracie's bar.) You can see the original photo below. I loved the natural light reflecting and distorting through the orbs as well as the soft sand colors of the drapery on a cloudy day. And I spent an hour or so in my hotel room happily making other variations on this shot. The blended photomontage with difference mode is quite a thing to look at, isn't it! I love it!

Double Dare

2011-05-30T18:39:00.000-07:00

Trying my hand with some photos I've taken and photomontage skills from my recent online class. A bunch of weird elements in there!

A

2011-05-29T18:40:00.000-07:00

Final assignment for my photomontage class; a letter montaged with a background I created previously. Not wow, but a start.

Sun Blend

2011-05-28T18:51:00.000-07:00

Combination of a sun graphic from a restaurant on the Ohio River in Indiana and a created background I made in my photomontage class.

Starry Sky

2011-05-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

Another photomontage with my teacher's two crows. And a cement wall, tree, two bits of scratched metal with holes, and street art. I like this one!

2011-05-08T22:33:00.000-07:00

Another photomontage assignment. This time we were given the file with two crows on a wire in a white field. Our job was to make some kind of photomontage using it and the tools/techniques we've learned so far. My effort, quite garish, I know. It may not be a favorite for a long time but for now, it'll do.

Old Fashioned Photomontage Assignment

2011-05-02T21:29:00.000-07:00

A photomontage I created using the Portland sign at the Schnitzer Auditorium.

Flowers In Vase Project

2011-04-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

Taking a Photomontage class from Carol Leigh. This is a decent first effort on the Flowers In Vase project using layer masks and a hue/saturation adjustment layer. Whew! And I'm supposed to be frosting a birthday cake instead!

Aloes On Jessica Drive

2011-02-03T22:18:00.000-08:00

On a day of dramatic stormy light in Los Angeles earlier this week, the aloes were glowing. During a break in the rain, I shot this with my iPhone 3Gs. Yum!

Oaks Bottom Slanting Light

2011-01-17T17:40:00.000-08:00

January--a time of year of jaw dropping gorgeous light. The mausoleum shines starkly over the wildlife refuge. Taken with my new iPhone 3Gs

Star Shine

2010-09-10T16:23:00.000-07:00

Spent most of today on this photo montage for my class assignment which was to combine three simple elements--a tree silhouette, a light colored, plain background, and birds. Since I don't shoot birds, I used some stars I had "made" from binder clips and lights in a balcony. Sounds simple. Took many hours of trial and error. Appreciations go out to my teacher, Carol Leigh, though, who has figured so much of this stuff out that she is now teaching others step-by-step how to do photo montage.

Frosted Red

2010-09-09T21:36:00.000-07:00

Another photo montage from my class assignment.

Catch-22

2010-09-08T20:48:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a Photo Montage from Carol Leigh one of my favorite online photo teachers. This is one of my assignments from the first week. Kind of of interesting looking.

Family Group

2010-05-30T20:18:00.000-07:00

Today we met at Sarah and Nina's house for our monthly family gathering. What fun that Carrie and Drew are visiting from Los Angeles so we celebrated with a family photo on Nina's steps. Only Yukie and Ewan were missing for the pic. Father's Day came early as well and the kids surprised Hugh with tickets to South Pacific!

L to R bottom: Andy (Spa Director, Riverplace Athletic club); Carolina (Sr. Technical Designer, GUESS? Los Angeles); Me (sewing biz owner & photographer); Joanna (CPA & owner Wildboar Tax & Accting); Jo's hubby, Erik (Sr. Engineer, Intel).

L to R middle: Drew, Carolina's squeeze, (Video Editor, Los Angeles); Hugh, my hubby (Business Marketing Consulting & owner of Hughcan.com); Abbi (grandchild #2 & swimmer extraordinaire); David (Systems Engineer, Arris); Sean (grandchild #3 and smiley shy person).

L to R top: Zack (grandchild #1, brainiac and football/lacrosse standout); Sarah (Geographic Info Specialist, City of St. Helens); Nina, Sarah's wife, (Schoolteacher, Trillium School).

Tunnel Color

2010-05-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

On our trip home from Indiana, we connected through Detroit International Airport. While not as jazzy as the Neon Light Tunnel in Chicago O'Hare Airport, the changing light scene demanded a few minutes to make a composition. Lucky I had my camera with me!

2010-05-23T20:34:00.000-07:00

Indiana Heinsohns on Rosemary's birthday. We visited Hugh's parents for Mother's Day and his mom's birthday last week. Got enough of a break from the rain to take a good pic of them in the lawn swing. Rosemary turned 80.

New Beast

2009-06-17T19:04:00.001-07:00

This is cross-posted from my new sewing blog, Sew Behave. Just found this beast at a Salvation Army store near where I live. It's a mangle, a commercial pressing machine which I've been thinking of and slightly wanting for my sewing biz. This is a model 95 Ironrite, a smaller version than the enormous mangle my grandmother had and used when she was running a boarding house in the 1940s. This is electric and has a light. It also allows the user to press and roll or just press without rolling which is good for me with certain projects I need ironed.

Walking Home--The View From Eileen's Garden

2009-04-29T07:42:00.001-07:00

Took this yesterday walking home in the rain from the bus stop. I was attracted to the green carpet laid down by the fallen maple blossoms on the sidewalk in front of our house. Further, I loved the tunnel like view from my neighbor's gorgeous, calming, inspiring garden.

Pink House With Cherry Blossoms

2009-04-24T21:20:00.000-07:00

Just at sunset Hugh and I went over Sellwood for dinner. Across the street from the restaurant I spotted an amazing Queen Anne built in 1893 with even more amazing cherry trees in bloom in the front yard. We chatted with the owners briefly when they saw us admiring their home. They had a cute but tired three-year-old son. The little boy lovingly shared with me a handful of cherry blossoms while I was photographing. A very lovely interaction. And the house and blossoms--breathaking!

Dude And His T

2009-04-19T21:32:00.001-07:00

Took this about a week ago on a walk around the neighborhood just at dusk. This guy was stopped and was drawing quite a crowd of appreciative onlookers. This is his street Model T. He was in absolute heaven answering questions and showing everyone all his work that kept this thing sputtering and running. The driver said it would ride 70mph on the freeway from all his substitutions. He cranked it for us several times, explaining how he keeps from breaking his thumb; he showed off his dash and controls; he demonstrated proper Model T shifting; he let a little girl sit in the driver's seat and blow the horn. Hugh and I had great fun talking to him and sharing enthusiasm for his ride. When he drove away he left a fair sized puddle of oil near the curb. What fun!

Tree And Full Moon

2009-04-18T22:04:00.000-07:00

My first collage effort. This combines four different images. The cat's eyes are in there several times.

Front Of The Front

2009-04-11T18:35:00.000-07:00

This is a photo from last fall. I updated it with an equalize filter for an entry in the monthly photo group assignment so I thought I'd post it here as well. This is the leading edge of a storm front that moved across the Willamette Valley. I was lucky enough to be in a big parking lot with my camera and lots of space to capture the storm edge.

Staccato Gelato

2009-04-10T21:16:00.000-07:00

Went to the neighborhood gelato shop the last warm night before the rain. It was jammed, of course. Something about cold weather makes me not in the mood for walking in the rain to get gelato. But give me a hot spring day....well, you know.
This wan an impromptu shot taken from the doorway. I like the three layers of color, blue, orange, blue. Complementary colors! Also, I tried to show everyone in the foreground turned toward the woman scooping gelato at the left. And then their eyes following to the opposite hand where she will put the scoop of gelato. I'm not sure I like the way it turned out but you gotta go with the best you got on any given day.

East West

2009-04-09T20:12:00.000-07:00

First post back on eblogger for my dailyeye photo blog. This is also my f irst week in school at East West College. This training will prepare me for taking the Oregon state board exams to become a massage therapist again. Here is an early morning shot of the school facade. Kinda cool building.

Moving to new site

2008-07-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

Moving my daily blog to a new site: http://dailyeye.smugmug.com/

Peeps

2008-07-01T22:19:00.000-07:00

Sunday we went to the Open Barn held by SuDan Farms in Canby, Oregon. We often buy lamb from them at the Farmer's Market in Milwaukie. The lamb is fine, grass-fed quality and so are their chickens. They also sell wool, blankets, and yarn. This was a difficult photo to make given the poor light and the quickness of the chicks.

Cat And Quilt

2008-06-30T20:32:00.001-07:00

This amazing quilt, obviously cat approved, was a creation of and gift to us from my mother-in-law. It's finally warm enough here in Oregon (at least this week) to ditch the down comforter and place this gorgeous textile on our bed for the summer.

The Steam Train In Oaks Bottom

2008-06-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

The SP&S 700 steams through Oaks Bottom giving promotional rides for Oaks Park and the Oregon Public Railroad.

The PS&P 700 Steam Train

2008-06-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

Today we rode the steam train at Oaks Park. This is the Spokane, Portland and Seattle 700, the third largest operating steam engine in North America. The SP&S 700 is owned by the City of Portland. The Oregon Public Railroad runs it at Oaks Park a couple of times a year as a fundraiser.

Lighthouse Abstract

2008-06-23T22:45:00.000-07:00

An abstract of the Yaquina Head light that I took through the floorboards of the top floor.

Wedding Photographer

2008-06-22T22:53:00.000-07:00

Grandson, Sean, gets into the wedding photographing with his dad's video camera.

Newlyweds

2008-06-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Sarah, and her new spouse, Nina, got married at the Overlook House, Portland, OR, yesterday.

Nina On Her Wedding Day

2008-06-20T22:20:00.000-07:00

One good shot I caught of my new daughter-in-law at the wedding today.

Full Moon Rising 10:09 pm

2008-06-18T22:59:00.001-07:00

Got together with my husband and my neighbor tonight to drive across the river to the hills of John's Landing. From there we were able to get a good view of the full moon rising. This is actually the color of the moon, probably because there was so much haze in the air.

Cape Lookout

2008-06-15T20:48:00.000-07:00

Took this from Anderson's Viewpoint, a turnout on US HWY 101, just south of Tillamook, OR. This spectacular view looks north over Netarts Spit toward Oceanside.

Yaquina Head Light

2008-06-14T21:58:00.001-07:00

One of 14 lighthouses in Oregon. It is the tallest, lit in 1873 as the Cape Foulweather Lighthouse. It has a first order Fresnel lens.

Lucky Friday The Thirteenth

2008-06-13T19:48:00.000-07:00

Hugh and I started a weekend trip to the Oregon Coast today. We were actually planning on the previous weekend but we're delighted we waited as the weather is fabulous!
Caught this twilight shot of the Yaquina Bay Bridge at Newport, Oregon at the end of a beautiful day. The bridge was opened September 6, 1936. It is one of about 20 Oregon bridges designed by US bridge engineer, Conde McCoullough, who worked for ODOT and was also a professor at Oregon State University.

Dude And His Indian

2008-06-12T20:53:00.000-07:00

Met this guy on a walk in our little Westmoreland downtown. I loved the chance to see an Indian Motorcycle up close for the first time. He was revved up and ready to ride yet he let me snap a photo of him with his shiny wheels.

Pearl Street House

2008-06-11T21:26:00.001-07:00

Took this photo on my recent stop in Eugene. This is the first house I owned. We moved here in late '73 or early '74 just after Andy started walking. I clearly remember asking Joanna, who was about 2, to help me keep an eye on Andy so he didn't fall down the outside steps or wander out of the yard since there was no fence.
It was a great little house for our tiny family. Three bedrooms, 2 baths, on this nice corner lot. We bought at $16,000 and sold in a couple of years for the same price. Looks like it's still in good shape today, 30 years later.

Patty Makes S'mores

2008-06-09T21:48:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to a bridal shower for my daughter, Sarah. Patty, and her daughter, Lisa, hosted. The party had a camping theme. Patty is the classiest when it comes to entertaining. Here she is making desert s'mores on her griddle.

Lucky Day

2008-06-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

I've heard that if you go to Tokyo and see Mt. Fuji when you're there, it's a lucky day. It's the same with Portland and Mt. Hood, I think. Hood is usually hidden from us by grey, cloudy skies. Today, however, was a gorgeous spring day and the view of Mt. Hood was spectacular! I drove into the hills above John's Landing to find a place to show as much of the mountain as possible and found a place that included sight of the Willamette River. Do click to make the photo larger; the mountain's majesty shows off well that way. Truly, a lucky day!

At The Mongolian Barbeque

2008-06-07T21:26:00.000-07:00

This is fun! Here, I'm photographing my grand-niece, Zoe, who is feeding herself. I was using natural light only which made this an interesting motion shot.

Pink Dogwood

2008-06-05T21:23:00.000-07:00

A cool thing about living in Oregon again is all the flowers and flowering trees in spring. My neighbor just installed a pink dogwood tree in his parking strip from which this photo was taken.

Inner Peony

2008-06-04T21:54:00.001-07:00

I shot this on a less windy day so I was able to get incredible depth of field. I think the innards of this peony look like someting that would grow on an alien planet.

Found Image

2008-06-03T22:33:00.000-07:00

I forgot to post this image when I made it around three weeks ago. I just found it again tonight. I've taken this shot before, however, on May 24th, Hugh and I went to see a movie there at the end of an unusually warm day for May. The light was incredible in the sky before we went into the theater. When the movie was over, we were greeted by sheets and sheets of rain from a severe thunderstorm!
I love the light in this photo; it brings out the detail in the movie theater facade. Click on the photo to see the detail.

Zantedeschia

2008-06-02T20:54:00.000-07:00

From a neighbor's yard, this Calla lily called to me. I compensated for all the white, both in camera and in Photoshop. Perhaps I should have made the mat black so as not to call so much attention to the lily color.

Orange Poppy

2008-05-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

These have bloomed in gardens all over my neighborhood! This particular flower was perfect for photographing. When I made the photo, I had barely any wind. This allowed me to shoot at about 8.0 so I could render the delicate, papery petals sharp and clear along with good detail in the center. I wish when I snapped the shot, I'd left a little more green in the right hand corner. Ah, well. I made several images and this one had the most green.
I should know what kind of poppies these are but I don't. If you do, post me the name and I'll change the title. Thanks!

Ancient Birch With Swing

2008-05-28T21:02:00.001-07:00

I love this tree! Today I tried to find a way to capture it.

Floral Bedposts

2008-05-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

From my walk today. I've kept myeye on this for several months. Last fall it was bare. Today though, the flowers are finally starting to grow here.

North To Alaska

2008-05-19T20:43:00.000-07:00

I"ve been making this photo in my head for about a year and a half now, ever since my friend, Sue from Los Angeles, first shared her dream with me that she wanted to take a driving photo trip to Alaska. Well, today she stopped to meet me for lunch in Portland on her way North! It felt so good to see her and catch up on the news in her life. She's packed for three month's worth of driving and photographing in her beloved truck. I feel tickled that I had my camera in my purse so I could make this actual photo after such a long time of dreaming it in my mind! Good luck and happy travels, Sue!

Golden Poppy

2008-05-14T22:41:00.001-07:00

Another California poppy from my secret vacant lot in Central Point, Oregon

My Grade School

2008-05-13T21:59:00.000-07:00

Another photo I took while in Southern Oregon. This is the original part of West Side School, my grade school from 2nd-6th grades. The school was closed in 1980 or 81 and was used by the US Naval Reserve until last fall when the school was reopened. Another photo of the school can be seen in the Medford Mail Tribune article here, http://tinyurl.com/4wplly.

California Poppy In Oregon

2008-05-12T22:54:00.001-07:00

A vacant lot near my mom's house was sporting California poppy blooms. This still tightly furled flower caught my eye.

New Mown Hay

2008-05-11T22:35:00.000-07:00

Another photo from my walk around my childhood neighborhood. The field next to my old school was smelling sweet of fresh cut hay. I liked the wavy rows that lead to the red roofs. (Red and green=complementary colors!) I also think it's cool that the sky is interesting with all the surly looking clouds.

View of Roxy Ann

2008-05-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

Visiting Mom this weekend. Took this photo, the perennial view from the front of my growing up house, near sunset. Across the way is Roxy Ann Peak and in the farther distance with its cloud cap cover, Mt McLaughlin in the Cascade range. You may have to click the photo to make it larger so you can see the mountain on the left-hand-side.

Schondecken Coffee Roasters

2008-05-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

Really good roast. Friendly service. Our local small-town coffee roaster at 6720 SE 16th Ave, Portland, OR 97202, across from the Westmoreland Post Office.

Did Not Did Too

2008-05-03T23:02:00.001-07:00

A shot of my grandkids having sleeve fights with each other. They asked to wear our jackets since they didn't want to bring theirs but suddenly they felt cold.

Sunset Over Willamette

2008-05-02T18:16:00.000-07:00

This sunset reminded me of the lenticular cloud sunsets Galen Rowell loved to photograh over the Eastern Sierra. He was a particular mentor to me. Of course my sunset has limited color on this night. Ah, well.

Brooklyn Drugs Neon

2008-05-01T22:31:00.000-07:00

Portland has a lot more neon signs than where I lived in Los Angeles. Last Friday night we were in the Brooklyn neighborhood with friends and walked past Hugh's favorite pharmacy so I got the chance to photograph the sign. Here's another shot of the same sign from a fellow nighthawk photographer: http://tinyurl.com/6n23th

Red Tulip In The Rain

2008-04-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

One of my neighbor's juicy tulips beaten down a little bit by our recent rains.

Heineken Portland Neon

2008-04-29T22:18:00.001-07:00

Neon in the window of The Lamp, next door to The Aladin Theater.

On A Clear Day....

2008-04-28T21:30:00.001-07:00

.... you can see Mt. St. Helens! I took this on the bluff near Sellwood Park about 1/2 mile from our house. Watercolor filter added in Photoshop Elements.

Tulip Star

2008-04-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

I made this on one of our recent rainy days.

Marriage Station, Bridal Veil, Oregon

2008-04-25T22:44:00.000-07:00

My daughter, Sarah, is getting married!! We got her invitation in the mail this week. They drove up to a little Oregon town, Bridal Veil, Oregon, to get this unique postmark.

Coy Kitty

2008-04-24T20:12:00.001-07:00

This cat was very excited to participate in my photographing the tiny flowers in her yard.

Green and White Beauty

2008-04-23T16:45:00.001-07:00

Spotted this tulip in a neighbor's yard yesterday, a drizzly, overcast day.

Hello, Gorgeous!

The grey house made a perfect background for this tulip. I increased the size of the canvas in Photoshop and smoothed out the mottled basement stucco to blend in the new canvas parts. All that work made the shot look like a studio setup when it's actually not. It was just fiddled with in Photoshop Elements to highlight it's natural beauty.