Project 52 - 29/52

I had a wonderful time visiting my dad in Astoria, Oregon earlier in the week. I feel blessed to get to spend the time with my family in such an amazing setting! On the first day we went to dinner at the Rogue Public House that sits on a pier on the Columbia, I highly reccommend it! Then I caught the sunset at one of my favorite places on Earth - the beach at Fort Stevens State Park. I was the only person on that portion of beach and I ran around as the sun set capturing different views. If anyone had been there I am sure they would have been amused at my crazy running around!

On the second day we had lunch at Mo's at Cannon Beach, another one of my favorite places to eat. Then my dad's step-granddaughter and I went for a walk on Cannon Beach near Ecola Creek. A storm was approaching, but I enjoyed the beach immensely even the wading across the creek that may or may  have resulted in a soaking shoe for my companion :o). 

Finally, on the morning of my departure I explored the beautiful flowers around my dad's house to get some macro shots. The prompt for the Nurture Photography Project (link below) is Green/Adventure. I think the whole trip qualifies as an adventure and the last photo has a bit of green! I am also being adventurous in my editing as I have been playing around with Luminosity Masks in Photoshop. They are amazing! I am going to play around some more and then do a tips and tricks post. 

I hope your week has been filled with adventure! I am off on a trip to Bend, Oregon for some more adventure.

Settings: ISO 100, 100mm, ss0.3sec, f/22 (on tripod)

Settings: ISO 100, 100mm, ss1/125, f/11

Settings: ISO 500m, 100mm, ss1/800, f/3.2

"We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventure. There is no end to the adventures that we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open." - Jawaharlal Nehru

         

Project 52 - Weeks 23-28/52

The act of catching up on the editing and posting of my Project 52 was daunting with 5 weeks to go through. I have been shooting some amazing events and locations each week, but I have been in an editing rut. When I decided to do a collage for each week not only did it seem doable, but it the act of creating collages add a jolt to my editing leaving me recharged. I hope you enjoy a journey through the past 5 weeks. I would love to know what you think! I have a long way to go in learning how to perfect collages.

Week 23 - Light in the Front Yard
Busy week at work = chasing the light around the yard. I love shooting with the intention only of capturing the light. It is such a challenging and creative exercise.

Week 24 - Brown's Point Lighthouse
I had tried to visit this lighthouse a year ago, but they were having a picnic and the tiny parking lot was full. This time, however, we pulled in just as one spot opened up. The sky was full of blue, clouds and sun that made for some amazing and challenging lighting situations.

Week 25 - Father's Day in Astoria
I spent Father's Day in Astoria, Oregon with my dad going to the Farmer's Market and riding the trolley - both of which were new experiences for me. It was a beautiful day filled with family and fun. There is nothing better!

Week 26 - Edmond's Sunset
I have said many times (maybe too many times :o) that sunsets fuel my soul. It has been a long time since I have photographed a spectacular sunset and I did not know how much I missed it until I was lucky enough to experience this one. I was looking for a new place to see the sunset and looked online. I found a list that comes out each year based on votes of residents of Western Washington. The Edmonds Waterfront, right next to the ferry dock, made the list each year. I can now see why! It was stunning and only got better and better!

Week 27 - Mount Rainier and Bumping Lake
I was hoping for another amazing sunset as we drove around Mount Rainier and ended up at Bumping Lake. Alas, it was not to be. However it was still a beautiful place and allowed me to play a bit with shutter speed for those smooth water surfaces. I need more practice :o).

Week 28 - Illwaco Firework Tradition
Finally, this past weekend I went to the annual Illwaco Fireworks show, which is always held on the first Saturday after the 4th. I was unfortunately sick on the Fourth of July. The fact that this is my favorite holiday made it even more sad. Luckily I had already planned to go to the fireworks in Illwaco with my mom like we have for the past 3 years. We stumbled upon it the first year and loved the atmosphere and the fireworks of course! This year I rented a 17-40mm f4 L lens for the trip. This is my seconded rented lens and I highly reccommend it. So much fun! It was very windy, which made getting the shots difficult, but fun nonetheless.

"I say that I can't make anything up. I think of myself as a collage artist. I'm cutting and pasting memories of my life. And I say, I have to live a life in order to tell a life." - Spalding Gray

         

Project 52: Week 22/52

When I sat down to write this post I thought I had a lot to say about my trip to the Oregon Coast over Memorial Day weekend. I planned to write about the halos made by ice crystals around the sun that came in and out of view as we drove to the beach.

Settings: ISO 1000, 50mm, ss1/8000, f/11

I planned to talk about the Baskett Wildlife Refuge where we stopped so I could photograph the amazing blue sky peppered with clouds...

Settings: ISO 1000, 50mm, ss1/2500, f/11

... and about stopping at Siletz Bay, getting some food to take to the hotel we found at the last minute and getting some shots!

Settings: ISO 1000, 50mm, ss1/500, f/16

I planned to talk about walking down to the beach at Otter Crest below our hotel as the sun was setting to get photos of the waterfall there...

Settings: ISO 1000, 50mm, ss1.0sec, f/20 (on tripod)

...and driving up Highway 101 the next day as a storm followed our progress home with rain clouds over the ocean.

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/200, f/11

I planned to write about the vista overlooking the hotel we stayed at where this plant that is all over the coast made an appearance...

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/200, f/9.0

...and about the other amazing vistas that we found along the way. 

Settings: ISO 100, 100mm, ss1/400, f/9.0

Finally I planned to write about the sunset that started in Oregon...

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/640, f/7.1

...and continued subtle, soft and serene in Washington. 

Settings: ISO 800, 50mm, ss1/500, f/8.0

But I am hoping that after the stressful and challenging week I had that the pictures will speak for themselves. I know they bring me back to the recharging feeling of the trip. I hope you enjoy them too!

“It’s hard for me to put into words why I like the beach so much. Everything about it is renewing for me, almost like therapy...Beach Therapy”  -Amy Dykens

         

Project 52: Week 21/52

Sometimes we take for granted the things that are right outside our doorstep. Sometimes things that disappointed you may be leading you to appreciate the beauty that surrounds you on a daily basis. After a weekend filled with events that conspired to keep me either working or at home, and not out shooting, I came home on Monday night a little early from work and it was like the flowers were lit up especially for me. I spent a good portion of my evening just appreciating the poppies, weeds, winning flowers from a bridal shower movie quote game, window box flowers, rhodies about to bloom and above all...light. Sometimes it takes a change of plans to remind us that we are blessed! After the events around the country this week, I feel lucky to be reminded!

Settings: ISO 320, 100mm, ss1/320, f/5.6

Settings: ISO 320, 100mm, ss1/800, f/4.0

Settings: ISO 640, 100mm, ss1/1250, f/3.5

Settings: ISO 640, 100mm, ss1/800, f/4.5

Settings: ISO 1000, 100mm, ss1/200, f/3.2

Settings: ISO 1000, 100mm, ss1/500, f/3.2

"Flowers have spoken to me more than I can tell in written words. They are the hieroglyphics of angels, loved by all men for the beauty of the character, though few can decypher even fragments of their meaning." - Lydia Maria Child

         

Project 52: Week 18/52

I mentioned on Tuesday that I had an amazing photography experience on Saturday. Let me set the stage, on Friday at 8:00pm I saw on Facebook that the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival would be having balloons launching the next morning starting at 5:45am. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is located in Woodburn, Oregon and that is a 3 1/2 hour drive from my house. I had seen the same post last weekend, but I had other plans. With weather conditions being ever changing in the Pacific Northwest, the balloon pilots only give notice the night before. I said at the time I would go the next time around, not expecting it to be the very next weekend. 

Upon seeing the post, I went to bed immediately. I woke up at 1am and my wonderful mother and I left at 2am. I am so glad she came along as she drove down while I slept and I drove back while she did. We arrived after 3 1/2 hours right as the balloon pilots were pulling in and the sun was just coming up behind Mount Hood. It was quiet in the field, with only the sounds of the balloonists firing up the hot air and other photographers talking about how to get the shot. It was one of those experiences where you marvel at the fact that you get to be there as you take it all in. 

Below is a collection of images from the morning, including all 4 of the balloons that took off that day. I was cursing the fact that I did not have a wider angle lens because my best photo came from my iPhone. I used PicTapGo for editing. If you have an iPhone I highly recommend it! It is amazing!

Even so, I feel like I was able to capture some of the magic with my 50mm and 100mm. After shooting at the tulip field we tried to go see Mount Hood near some lakes, but the roads were closed for the winter. So, I climbed a trail up near some power lines where the road was closed and was able to get the last two shots of the mountain. There is something so elegant about Mount Hood and I just loved those clouds. It was such an amazing day even with the lens issues and struggles with light. The challenges just added to the experience!

I would love to know your thoughts and favorites! 

Settings: ISO 100, 100mm, ss0.4sec, f/16

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/5sec, f/22

Settings: ISO 100, 100mm, ss1/10sec, f/14

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/160, f/14

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/250, f/9.0

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/400, f/9.0

Settings: ISO 100, 100mm, ss1/400, f/9.0

Settings: ISO 100, 100mm, ss1/800, f/4.5

Settings: ISO 100, 50mm, ss1/1000, f/4.0

Settings: ISO 400, 100mm, ss1/400, f/16

Settings: ISO 400, 50mm, ss1/400, f/16

"A great photograph is a full expression of what one feels about what is being photographed in the deepest sense, and is, thereby, a true expression of what one feels about life in its entirety." - Ansel Adams