I had a chance today to try something a bit different for me – skateboarding! No, not actually skateboarding, I’m not THAT crazy. I was photographing some boarders. (Is that the correct terminology? I’ve got a lot to learn.) At any rate, it was a quick target of opportunity, no planning. I just saw it and tried it. Good bunch of folks at the park in Battle Ground today. It’s fast action and I have a lot of learning to do to do it justice. Some of these kids are good.
That title sounds fine but what is ‘after dark’? Morning light? That’s why this is primarily a photography blog. This image was taken about an hour after sunset from one of my now favorite places – the Esplanade in Portland, Oregon. It was cold and windy during the shoot and we will have to go back when the weather is a bit nicer. But it has been a long dry spell with no serious shooting so it was good to get out. Thanks to Mark and grandson Timothy for joining me on this trip. We will do it again for sure.
Actually not so little. I like the effect rendered with this image. It was not a clear day and the sun was not cooperating. The wind was blowing hard. Typical January day in southwest Washington.
Technology is amazing, especially in the medical area. Most folks are fortunate enough (or healthy enough) to never see these advances. We have had some first hand experience. The folks at Northwest Cancer Specialists allowed me to set up my camera and tripod during a recent round of radiation treatment and Beth came in to see the equipment they used. I took one initial shot of the equipment then got on board. What I didn’t know was that Beth came in with the nurses every time they had to make an adjustment and hit the shutter button a couple of times. We ended up with some interesting shots. Interesting to us anyway since I saw things I never new were going on while I was being lit up.
I finally got out to Vancouver Lake (that’s in Vancouver, Washington, USA) to get some pictures of the beauty of nature in this fall season. I tried this last week and found I had to change my shooting style. My Canon 16-35/2.8 was just dragging in too much image and everything became very tough for the eye to pick out. This time I stuck with my favorite lens, the Canon 70-200/2.8 IS and tried to select my image a lot more carefully. Landscapes with a 200mm lens? Yes, I like it.
While finding good light this year can be a challenge this day the rain and cloud cover cooperated nicely. At least I was pleased.
And I found a short side road that led to this view. The roadway leading in from here is all private driveway so getting closer was not an option.
A quick trip to Smith & Bybee Lakes in Vancouver for some simple picture taking and a relaxing walk resulted in some interesting images I think. I have no idea what these are other than dragon flies. The colors are amazing. They provided a fantastic photo opportunity. The camera was a Canon 20D with my Tamron 28-75/2.8 lens.
And here:
Style and elegance is quite often found in the animal kingdom. As is a total disregard for what WE consider elegant.
And that sense of style is not conformed like so many of ours. Fitting in is not necessary.
You’ve got to love these gals. I think this one is feeling pretty and wants a kiss.
Experienced a bit of local history this past weekend by attending a re-enactment at Fort Vancouver of preparations for a relief effort for the shipwrecked sailors of the U.S. Schooner Shark which sank at the mouth of the Columbia River on September 10, 1846. Lighting was by candle only, no flash allowed. It was DARK, forcing most shots to be on the edge. Fortunately this young lady held still for me long enough to get a shot.
I was fortunate to photograph the wedding of this lovely couple last Saturday at Greater Portland Baptist Church. The weather was HOT but the church was cool and so were they. It was a great ceremony, a fun reception, and just a pleasure to photograph. When a couple looks this good it’s also easy. I have lots of photos to edit yet (3 photographers, nearly 900 photos) but here are a couple to whet the appetite.
It was my first Living Water Community Church LN2 Ice Cream BBQ. The weather cleared, the temperature went up and the BBQ grill was lit. Everyone had a terrific time and then the grand process began. Ice cream is fairly easy. You get some cream, some sugar, some flavoring and mix it all together in a tub surrounded by salted ice. Did I mention you MIX it all together? For quite a while you can be mixing it all together but the end result is an amazing flavor and texture of sweet creamy delight.
That was then. This is now. The entry may have been a bit over the top but the results appeared to be well received. The photos are the LN2 (Liquid Nitrogen) Ice Cream team arriving at the BBQ.
LN2 is somewhere around 300 degrees below zero and makes a fast, easy substitute for the old salted ice method. You just pour the LN2 into the bowl of ice cream ingredients, stir briskly and you have it, LN2 Ice Cream, every bit as tasty as the old fashioned homemade stuff.
And the mixing is accomplished by a select crew -
