A 5 MILE RADIUS (CIRCLE) FROM MY NEW HOME

A Saturday drive within 5 miles of my new home opened the world. When a person takes time to look it's amazing what you see.

The day was semi cloudy and it opened my eyes and the eyes of the camera to a wonderful neighborhood. There are places I saw that I know I will re-visit.

Welcome to Mount Vernon, WA

CIRCLES

A culvert in the side of a mountain on a trip over the North Cross provided my first circle.

A Camera in the ceiling of the Harbor View Hospital in Seattle Washington was an amazing find. The fixture hangs from the ceiling like a large round light fixture but when I took the picture it seemed to almost invert and capture a very large room full of images!

angle of light changes an image

family circles ...

I found this an interesting and difficult topic.

then I realized family circles can be found in many places

I went to Lincoln Park

looking looking looking

for circles of all kinds

I found 2 excellent families doing different thangs together

one family was spending major energy bringing driftwood to make

an amazing driftwood fort.

they were very very happy

one family was dressed somewhat alike

having their foto taken

they were all smiles for this great moment

Ordinary Circles

Keep working your subject until you get what you want out of your photo

While in Issaquah this past weekend, I had the opportunity to photograph the restored Hailstone Feed Store on Front Street. On the back is a restored advertisement for Owl Cigars. I loved the graphic and historic design of the lettering.

Below are 3 shots I took in succession. The first is the straight on graphic shot. Then, I moved to an angle so I could include both the 5 and 25 cents in the same image without adding too much background. The final image is a study in lines, directionality and reflections.

What Light Through Yonder Window Breaks!

food memory ...

it all began with a simple chat about a Mexican restaurant

somewhere on the highway to somewhere

we both knew it from different times in our different lives

it was a stormy Saturday as we zoomed over the pass in our trusty bug

yum time was just a short drive away

we took the odd exit for Zillah

the restaurant had closed

it was "FOR SALE"

alas, food memory shall remain just that

we stopped in Toppenish

to walk

to view the great murals

snap snap snap

then,

we drove the back roads

to purchase great bounty

we chatted

we munched

we enjoyed

perhaps it's just as well the food memory is just that

one can dine out often on memories

Ode to Alexa

The Blooming Skagit Valley

Who am I?

what do I do?

can u guess?

Hope

I have watched these walls for some time.

I believe the greenery expresses Hope.

for in the midst of warehouses, trucks, abandoned buildings, hussle bussle of everyday commerce,

these plants thrive.

Hope can be found, just look.

Olympia Fellowship for Reconciliation at Capitol Lake

Candles for peace and rememberance - 8-8-9

Montlake Burn

A fire on July 29 burned tall grass meadows, several Hawthorns and a pine. The path provided a fire break. The fire department arrived quickly before it consumed the rest of the dry Union Bay Natural Area on Lake Washington, a wonderful birding spot. Ground-nesting birds had already fledged.

Don't know if I'll use these photos for my summer project but a strained back kept me from shooting much this month. The burn was interesting. I'll go back to see it under different lighting conditions.

In the Pink!

After a long dark winter, I decided to redo my office in colors inspired by my trip to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. My office is located in a little 1920's cottage attached to our house. Originally, I had glazed the walls and hung Indian fabric from the ceiling which made for a cozy and warm space. This summer, I was ready for a more vibrant look and feeling. I also decided to enlarge and frame some of my photos from the trip. My space feels light and bright and fun. Now, even on the coldest days of winter, I can take a little trip to a sunny climate just by stepping into my Chinese Orange and Poppy colored room! While this is not my summer photo project it should count as one since my little home improvement project took waaaayyyyy longer than I'd anticipated!

Milwaukee Art Museum

Just got back from Wisconsin again and got to go to an exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum. What an exquisite structure! Reminded me of all those other arches I seem to photograph. The floor is white marble. (Pavillion was completed in 2001 - Spanish architect: Santiago Calatrava)