Jessica Morgan - Olympia sketches

Fence around the DOT equipment lot in Tumwater, facing West at about 6 pm

While waiting for the bus on Capitol, south of Maple Park

Bayview Thriftway - bound flowers

Jessica Morgan - Olympia sketches - Lakefair

Jessica Morgan - (More) Olympia sketches

Bus Station












Church Basement (no sleeping)












Local street

Government building

Off the Beaten Path - Nisqually Reach

Recently, after work I headed out to the Nisqually Reach boat launch on Meridian road. It was high tide and the overcast sky was washed out. I saw several flying heron heading home, a seal's head in the water that looked like a bowling ball and lots of immature seagulls hanging out on the rocks and the nearby tin shelter roof. All of these were too common to photograph. While there I was most fascinated by the water and with its changing shapes and reflections. I shot with my 70-200mm, F8, 1/180, and used a polarizer.

I processed these using Photomatix - high dynamic range (HDR). The originals are nicer on my screen as the colors became overly saturated in the conversion from tiff to jpeg.

Hot Rod Drama

Happened on this fabulous grille at the Clarus Eye Center's summertime hot rod and classic car show. Nothing like lying down in a parking lot to garner some funny looks...!

Dramatic -- Terri Perkins

I absolutely love watching the changing sky during the evening and witnessed this dramatic show on Spencer Spit, Lopez Island. This was the final night after a week of bicycling/camping in the Islands. It has been a summer full of challenges including the death of a loved one and I finally felt inspired to get caught up on these Friday long shots.

This image and the following shots were all taken with my Canon Powershot D10. It's what I carry in the pocket of my biking jersey and it can take a beating!

Unusual Roadway Signs -- Terri Perkins

Lopez Island. Off the Beaten Path.Canon Powershot D10, f/4.9, 1/160 sec.

Off the Beaten Path -- Terri Perkins

I loved this old tree with a big heart and such personality. English Camp, San Juan Island. A winding trail up the hill and through the woods led to this spot where, during the 1800's the British officers kept their camp. I loved the dappled sunlight through vertical lines of trees with vertical marker-stone in foreground.

Summertime -- Terri Perkins

For me... Summertime is wrapped up in the scent of lavender. These shots were taken on a warm sunny day on San Juan Island -- the first at the Pelindaba Lavender Farm and the second on the bluff at the San Juan Island County Park. Because I was traveling/camping by bike I carried my Canon Powershot D10 in the pocket of my biking jersey to capture these shots.

1.) f/4.9, 1/200 sec, no flash
2.) f/8, 1/125 sec, flash

Summertime Drama

Evening shadows on the fence



Without color

Both images were taken in the early evening with ISO 800, the first at 1/350s and the second at 1/500s, both at f 13.  Which do you like best and why?   

Drama

"Goodby again, we still remember!"

This image was taken on the Capitol Grounds and the small flag is one placed elsewhere at the memorial by someone over the 4th (At least that is what I suspect.)  1/750th s, f 9.5, ISO 800 and focal length was 220mm.  This image was taken in the early evening and at an angle to capture the figures created by the etched names.  The image was cropped to eliminate as much extraneous material as possible.

Summertime

Summertime for me is warm weather, sunshine and gardening. I am inspired and am thinking about creating abstract views of flowers and color. Tonight, I shot close-ups in my front garden with a 70 to 200 mm, F4.8 with a tripod. I like the lighting in these shots, though this is not exactly what I was after.

Drama: The Daylight in a night shoot

I was lucky enough to attend the National Rail Historical Society's night shoot in the Tacoma rail yards a few weeks ago. Unluckily, the camera mount to my tripod vaporized in our recent house-move, so I took all my shots handheld, hoping the strobes, my exposure, and the gods would cooperate. This image -- of the Southern Pacific Daylight number 4449 -- was one of several that seem to have seen a little cosmic cooperation...

Jessica Morgan - Olympia sketches

I like how abstract this image is... looking out the window of my car (I was not driving); colors are inverted. I think I took this with my cell phone.

Jessica Morgan - Olympia sketches

Sunday morning breakfast. Colors are inverted.

Jessica Morgan - Olympia sketches

Jessica Morgan - Olympia Sketches

I've taken a number of photos in and around Olympia recently, mostly with my cell phone, some with my Lumix "instant" camera. To me, these are "rough sketches." Maybe they are ideas for more "finished" photos later... or maybe they are just quick "sketches."

Off the Beaten Path

Although I have visited "Recycled Spirits of Iron" for the last 12 years or so I had never met the sculptor, Dan Klennert, until recently.  I constantly find new and interesting things at his place on the way to Mt. Rainier and this time I asked for and was given permission to use these images in the exhibit should I choose to do so.  Enjoy these examples of "Ex-nihilo" which he says is latin for "something made out of nothing.  These images were taken with a Nikon D300 at 1/500 to 1/1000 and f4.5-f6 with an ISO of 800.  See if you can find the sewing machine inside a large horse, and imagine the 10-15 foot high front wheel of an old fashioned bicycle!

Summertime brings Happy Feet

1/250, f 16,  ISO 800

While walking downtown I noticed children playing in the fountain and became facinated by their feet. So keeping in mind the concerns about faces I focused on feet instead.

Zane ~ Drama

Metadata: 1/200s, F/11, ISO 200, FL 18mm, WB Cloudy, resolution 212.   I spent a mid morning photographing in the old Bigelow Neighborhood.  This is the balcony of the old Bigelow house.  I was interested in the many architectural curves of the rails jusxtaposed against the straight lines of the siding and rail stops, and the underlighting.  The underlighting is actually a reflection of the sun hitting the white porch deck and reflecting under the eaves.  The light hit the rounded areas softly as to bend around.    The blue door on top lends mystery; what could be up there inside the gable?

Summertime at the lake

I found myself attending a company picnic at Long Lake in Lacey, and the boss cajoled a couple of reluctant staffers into the neighbors' canoe. I was amusing myself with photographing the daylilies close up when I saw them set off across the lake, and grabbed this shot. Best part: the yellow paddle blades with the yellow flowers. Better part: the neighbors' house-sitters coming dashing over to ask if we knew those guys swiping their canoe...

Zane ~ Off the Beaten Path

Metadata: 1/400s, f/13, ISO 200, Focal 55 mm.

On the Reflection Lakes road, a good lookout presents layers of the Cascade Mountain Range looking south and to the coast.  This photo was an experiment in defining those fading mountain layers using composition of thirds, and PS enhancements.  Primarily used defined mountains by amping the color density and a bit of contrast.  the foreground was lightened to bring out green tree detail.  Am a bit unhappy with the sky, however it was very hazy.

Zane ~ Unusual Roadway Sign

Metadata: 1/800S, F/9, Max Ap 4.5, ISO 400, 35 mm, WB Daylight.

One of the stops on the way to Paradise is Whitaker's mountaineering center in Ashford.  The people there are full of positive energy in preparation for their summit climbs -- smiles, purposed hum of activity, and interesting gear.  It may be that the sign will help them from becoming lost on the 2 acre property. 

The image was taken sitting on the grass, lens pointed up, no tripod, in very bright sun.  The sign is wacky, and I wanted to capture the off-centeredness of the many angles.

Deana ~ Summertime

This photo is different then the summer time photo I published on the Friday Long Shot.  This one was taken yesterday at Ocean Shores...I love the different extensions of their legs, the movement of the sand,  the wind in their mane and the action of the ocean.  F~5.6 1/250 ISO 100

Zane ~ Summertime

File Metadata: 90 mm, ISO 200, F/13, Max Aperture.5.6, 1/320s, res 350, WB Auto, spot meter/focus,  live view,  SONY a-550. 
Well Yes...I know it's a flower.   My intention was to practice using settings on my new camera and seeing what I could get in terms of close-up detail.    The close-up world is exciting because I couldn't see it well with the old camera.   In Photoshop, I extracted one flower group from a much larger image, selected the large bloom, enhanced the bloom to make it pop, and selected the background area and applied a blur.
I promise not to contribute any more flower images!

CHRIS - OFF THE BEATEN PATH

REFLECTIONS IN THE SWAMP


A BUMP ON THE LOG WITH MOSS


CHAINS AND ANCHORS

Jessica Morgan -- Olympia State Buildings 6/11

Fireworks - July 1

Lakefair fireworks from northside of Capitol Lake.

Trees Ablaze - July 1

1/300, f9.5, 70-200 mm

Sunset as seen through the westside tree line from Budd Bay; the clouds and sky look like smoke and and flames.

Favorite Place - June 24

30 sec., f8, 24-120 mm

One of my all time favorite places is the Tumwater Falls Park. Growing up in the southend of Olympia, I have many fond childhood memories of playing, walking, and hanging out at the park with the tall trees.

My Favorite Place (Photographed in a unique way!) -- Terri Perkins

My favorite place in the area where I live is on the water. I took this image from the seat of my kayak while paddling through Gull Harbor... in the rain.

I always carry my underwater Canon PowerShot D10 while kayaking because it can take a lot of abuse and it likes the rain!

"Enjoying Relaxing" - Tracy Landers

One of my favorite things to do is to relax in my back yard with a cold beverage while listening to the water drop onto the rocks.