We are home again!!!

After a long stressful, weekend for my self and two weeks of hell for my wife, we are finally home! She was visiting her very best friend and adopted mother that is still very sick and in the hospital but now on the mend!

I know... Get to the photos!

We went to deception pass to watch the torrid water from the bridge. It is always an amazing sight. This time I was happily given the opportunity to photograph two Kayakers going through some rough water very close to shore.

Heading back towards Seattle, the traffic was amazingly heavy and we saw THOUSANDS of motorcycles through the weekend. It was a annual event called the Skagit Valley Oyster Run. Jesse James, custom motorcycle builder and Monster Garage (TV show) rebel was there. I was told that the OCC Paul Tuttle Sr and Jr all the way from New York were there too. The year 2007 brought over 15000 bikes to the Oyster Run, I have no doubt they broke that record with the great weather and celebrities making the run. My favorite thing about seeing so so many bikes is I did not see on bike pulled over. The police had an overwhelming presence but all I saw all weekend was people in cars getting stopped for being stupid. Sorry no bike photos, I had to drive most of the weekend, let me tell you there were some nice rides on the road!!!

So on with the show!!

Just like the sign says, a wild heard of Roosevelt Elk that comes down to the meadow on an almost daily basis. The evening I was there... NO ELK :-(

Ferry going between islands heading to BC I believe.

Kayaker having fun

This Western Red Cedar was estimated to be over 200 years old when it was still growing then killed by fire. The trees got over a hundred feet tall and big enough to drive a car through.

We were getting ready to head south for a long trip (12 hrs stop and go) back to Oregon when I saw this photo op! I think it turned out fairly nice.

Kevin, my son wanted to stop and see his ex-girlfriends kids. We all miss them and It was great to see them again

Paragliding classes in session while we were visiting the kids. It was fun watching them jump out of a perfectly good airplane.

Out of town

I am not going to be posting anything for the next few days. It will be Monday (at least) before there will be any new photos posted. The reason being, we are visiting family that has been hospitalized for over three weeks and is showing little improvement. With the move yesterday to the 3rd facility we are hoping for a speedy diagnosis and recovery. Thanks for stopping by and looking for another daily photo but it took second rank to the family while visiting.

Angry Skies

B&W Photo of the incoming storm from the West. It was more fun getting to a place to take the photo than the actual setup of the camera to capture the clouds.

Salem Public Library

On the way in to a meeting at the Salem Public Library for a brand new Salem Oregon publication on Salem and it's culture, this statue of the deer is sitting there begging for some attention. They have been stolen, damaged, splattered with graffiti and dealt with the decay of the elements, but still seem to have survived Outdoor Metro Life. Just think of the stories they could tell! Without a doubt the library could have some laughs if there was a way to see what these deer have experienced.

Enjoy
kc

Salem Oregon, Military Memorial,

I saw this memorial just North of downtown Salem on the way home from work. I had to go around the block to get to the memorial to get these shots.

Two-Fer today

After a rainstorm this morning all of my strawberry plant leaves looked like this. I couldn't help it and had to actuate the shutter and burn some pixels

A visitor in the back yard this morning

Just a Pheasant rooster walking the fenceline. This was shot with Pentax IST DS and 55-300 (@ 300) with tamron 1.4 teleconverter

Todays Travels bring 3 photos

I have seen way too many of these "Dust Devils" in the valley this summer. I hope it is not a sign of what is to come in the spring. It seems we have had more tornados reported in the last couple years than before.

I have been wanting to shoot some train grafitti, this one was moving pretty fast but I still got a shot.

The noise from the blackbirds in my back yard was deafening. The windows and doors were closed but I still heard the screaming of the birds. This is only one of two trees that were full of these birds, the noise was amazing.

My Dinner

Dinner tonight was BBQ Baconed Peppers not Peppered Bacon, with two ears of corn!
That was damn good!

Good Night!

Another day and another post. I do not like to do this but this shot was from last night not tonight! I shoot and post on the same day! Usually if I am not able to shoot I do not post but I wanted to share this sunset from last night (8-17-08) just South East of Dallas Oregon.

Enjoy

Dont forget to check out my Photrade.com page

West Salem Shao-Lin Kempo school

Scott and Barbara Butler of the West Salem Shao-Lin Kempo school where they were demonstrating and practicing their art of Self Defence

For more information on the school go to their web site at www.wsslk.com

To see more photos from the shoot go to www.photrade.com/gallery.php?id=5707

September to remember

On the way to work I was greeted with this photo opportunity

Just after sunrise this morningI got the moon going down to the West



This evening I shot the last two on the way home from work.

Tonights Sunset and moonrise

Tonights light show by mother nature was amazing.

The moon was even more amazing just off the horizon but I could not get the shot!
This photo taken with Pentax istDS and the
pentax 55-300 @300 mm with the
tamron 1.4 teleconverter on a monopod

Lens comparison

100 mm Macro lens with a 1:1 Matched Macro Adapter

100 mm Macro lens with a 1:1 Matched Macro Adapter and a
Tamron -F 1.4x AF Teleconverter

The depth of field gets much smaller with the 1.4 on the lens.

Happy Birthday Judy (2nd from Left)

Had a little fun with some b&w and blur, still did not turn out what I wanted.
Yeah I know, a little too much blur but ran out of time.

Flowers of Summer

Road grader from the past

I used to operate one of these tractor drawn graders. Fun, nerve racking and work all at the same time.

Shooting while shopping

On the way home from work I had to stop at the local fruit stand on Hwy 22 (Aspinwalls) and pick up corn for dinner. Well I do not go anywhere without my camera so I was able to get today's photos while shopping for dinner. The entrance to one of the fruitstand greenhouses. I love the old metal signs!
I wanted to play and this is what I got! Not the greatest but I got to spend some time with Photoshop this week

This morning I had a visitor

I understand the fear of Spiders, I too experience the chills when I first see something like this. Go out on a limb and take a close look at the hair and structure of this guy. Yes that is a penny so you can see the comparative size of this arachnid.

Service memorial plaques in Polk County

The plaques are located in front of the

Polk County Oregon Courthouse and JailThe background was shot at the
Willamette River in Jefferson on the 3rd
I just wanted to do something a little different today and
thank those serving our country every day

One more for good measure!

Just thought I would share another (5 shot) pano of a little cove on the Oregon Coast

Bonus photo from the Oregon Coast

This photo taken about two miles north of the Yaquina Head Lighthouse, lookout and looking South West into the afternoon sun

Sunday Sunrise

Got up early today to see the position of the sunrise over the road, we might get it Thursday or Friday this week if the weather holds.

JUST MARRIED

This is one of my favorite photos from today's wedding shoot
with Ron and Marlene.

They were great to work with and made it fun to shoot.

I guess I'd better schedule another one
if I want to keep busy:-)
Thank you Ron and Marlene!

Bad day, No Post yesterday

Feeling like I was in a tunnel last night and did not want to grab the camera. The walls were closing in on me and my head just plain hurt. I did not do anything but lay on the couch and take Airborne and a dose of NyQuil just before an abnormally early bed time.

As for today, I am shooting a wedding this afternoon and will be posting something from the group of photos.

The upcoming twice per year sunrise shot, I am going to be up early tomorrow to see where it will rise in correlation to my road, maybe it will be the shot I am looking for! We will have to wait and see!

Check back this evening to see a shot or two from the wedding.

kc

Today's Sunrise

The story....
Twice per year the sun rises directly East of the gravel road I live on so you see the sun rise out of the road and above the hills.

Perry at My World said I should mark the date and try to shoot the sunrise! Well I checked it out today and the sun is heading to the south every day and I am just a few days too early for the sought after shot.

Today's photos are just a sample of what is to come, It may be Sunday or Monday when I can get the shot but I am up for the challenge. I hope the weather holds and I am able to get a very colorful and stunning early morning sunrise over the Mid-Willamette Valley of Oregon. Let me know what you think, or just say hi!

Thanks for looking,
KC.

Bridge and sunset 9-3-08

Jefferson Oregon bridge where the light was perfect and the setting was great

A farmers field looking west at sun down