Day 59

ISO 100, 73mm, f/8.0, HDR 1/125 sec, 1/500 sec, 1/30 sec

Day 59 - First Jump

Driving home from my daughter's house, we took another back road away from the freeway. We drove through equestrian country. I don't think I have ever seen so many stables so close together.

This life size statue graced the pasture behind one of the split rail fences.

To say the least, it stopped us dead in our tracks.

Day 58

ISO100, 95mm, f/16, 1/100 sec

Day 58 - Notta Dog Lover

We were walking around the town of Brownsville, Oregon with one of the greyhounds when we alerted by a hiss.

Apparently this kitty, kitty didn't appreciate us walking a dog on her sidewalk.

Day 57

ISO100, 28mm, f/8.0, 1/125 sec

Day 57 - Helping Paws

When I adopted my first greyhound, I did so because I thought they were really cool looking dogs.

I adopted my second greyhound because they are like potato chips, you can't have just one.

Greyhounds are special and unique in many ways, I have couple that are blood donors.

Often times, the blood they donate can help save the life of someone's loved pet. This is Minnie and she's a universal blood donor. We got a call this afternoon from my vet clinic, (they are the very best) asking for a blood donation.

What a trooper this little girlie was today and hopefully she and her surgeon made a difference for the pup that needed her blood.

Day 56

ISO100, 100mm macro, f/14, 1/60 sec

Day 56 - Life in a Bubble

When I came home at noon to run the dogs, there was a primrose in the laundry room, a kalanchoe on the kitchen counter and a begonia in the bathroom.

Attached to the kalanchoe was a note that said "macro, macro, macro... DOF"

And so tonight I practiced patience. Bifocals on, bifocals off. Finally, some resemblance to focus. Now, move the light, a little more... almost...

Not quite but it is late. I will return.

Day 55

ISO100, 35mm, f/4.0, HDR .8 sec, 1/15 sec, 1/5 sec

Day 55 - My To Do List

This guy is actually a life size statue just outside the library on campus known as "Finals Week". This week I am empathizing with him.

Day 54

ISO100, 100mm macro, f/32, 1/60 sec

Day 54 - Nature's Glitter

Nearly the first thought every morning is "What will my photo of the day be?"

Work is currently bordering somewhere between hideous and suicidal. During coffee this morning I half jokingly said I needed a bird of paradise to shoot.

When I went home at lunch time to run the dogs, sitting on the counter was this beautiful pink and yellow orchid with a sticky note from my partner in crime for life...

Day 53

ISO100, 105mm, f/8.0, 1/2 sec

Day 53 - The edge of darkness

Day 52

ISO 100, 184mm, f/4.0, 1/1250 sec

Day 52 - Mirror, mirror on the wall

Day 51

Day 51 - DeSoto

Today's adventure took us into Yamhill County through Dayton, Oregon. We where just driving through the town when I looked down an alley only to discover a DeSoto, probably about a 1950 vintage. Hello!

The car was rusted, just like I like and the hood ornament was completely intact. Even better. Although it is shattered, the detail in his face is amazing.

Day 50

ISO 100, 47mm, f/8.0, 1/50 sec.

Day 50 - Sunset on the Willamette

Day 49

ISO 100, 98mm, f/8.0, 50.0 sec

Day 49 - After Dark

I spent the day in Portland today with Kelby Training and Ben Willmore. It was amazing and inspiring. Sitting in Portland traffic for over an hour was worth it.

However, it was after dark before my Canon and I became one again.

The pussy willow tree, the flashlight and I spent some quality time together.

Day 48

ISO 100, 100mm macro, f/8.0, 1/125 sec.

Day 48 - Bee Season. Already?

This little beauty came out to play tonight.

A new macro challenge, and believe me, he didn't make it easy.

I don't think I have ever seen bees in February, not in Oregon anyway. Hmmmm, wonder what that means?

Day 47

ISO 100, 100 mm, f/8.0, 1/100 sec

Day 47 - Tomorrow & Yesterday

Soon the ancient plum tree will be full of blossoms and yet she still holds onto the fruit of yesterday.

Day 46

Day 46 - I'm Getting Sleepy

Or, Greyhounds Shouldn't Run in the Mud. Or Damn Squirrels.

Yesterday morning the squirrels were out and a couple of greyhounds ran to check them out. Danny Bleu hung back, started to go, hesitated, and took off full tilt. He rounded the corner under the cedar tree and his legs went one way, he went another and rolled.

He got up, but he was crying. He walked into the house on his own. This afternoon he was still hurting and it was off to the vet.

Good news, everything seems fine, probably just a soft tissue injury. A muscle relaxer and an anti-inflammatory and the boy is down for the count.

I on the other hand, have a few new gray hairs.

Day 45

ISO 200, 80mm, f/4.0, 1/320 sec.

Day 45 - Billy Goats Gruff

It is lambing season and with the beautiful green fields, I was really looking for a field of sheep.

During our drive, we drove past three goats. They were deep in the field laying on the ground. I grabbed to 200mm and headed for the fence, but they were really too far away and the day itself was dark and overcast.

Heading back to the car, I noticed a man watching me from his driveway. Once again, I waved and smiled and asked if they were his goats. They were and the conversation began.

I told him they were a little to far away for a successful shot and he asked if I wanted them closer. Hello! He walked back across the highway, retrieved some goat grain and called for the girls. This pretty lady, was ready for a snack.

We didn't catch the man's name, but do know that he moved here from Texas a few years ago. His field was covered in blackberries, so he got a couple of goats.

Note to self, there wasn't a blackberry bush in sight, time to get a goat.

Day 44

Day 44 - There was a Crooked House

Some days the pixel gods just smile down on me. Our adventure today didn't take us anywhere. We headed out of town and when we came to an intersection, we decided at that very moment which way to go.

Who knew Yoder, Oregon even existed? I hadn't heard about it.

We were enchanted by the town as we drove through. I flipped a u-turn when this old homestead caught my eye. The gate was open, but a keep out sign was posted. I ever so gently stepped to the other side to snap my first picture.

The man in the truck driving down the second drive-way looked long and hard at me. I waved and smiled. When he returned maybe 15 minutes later I had taken two or three or maybe four more steps beyond the fence. This time he stopped and rolled down the window.

Camera in hand I walked towards his vehicle hoping beyond hope he was friendly.

"Don't go in there," he told me. And from there the conversation blossomed. John was incredible, and when I asked if I could walk around with my tripod, he obliged.

This was better than being a kid in a candy store.


The model A garage.


The garage behind the crooked house that was built in about 1879.

Day 43

Day 43 - Schizy Weather

This pretty much sums up our weather today. Rain, shine, clouds, wind and touch of blue sky.

Day 42

ISO 100, 100mm macro, f/11, 30.0 sec

Day 42 - Tweet

Mystery surrounds this little fellow. What happened? How on earth did Karen find you in the dark and in the tall grass? How did you survive the thundering hooves of the greyhound herd?

Karen came in one evening after running the dogs with little bird. He now has a safe roost on top of my computer tower.

Day 41

ISO 100, 47mm, f/4.0, 10.0 sec

Day 41 - Movin' On

When I got off of work tonight, the wind had picked up after raining most of the day. There was a break in the sky and it was fascinating to watch the clouds boogie across, almost like a sail boat on the ocean.

Gregory

$2 portrait project began with Thomas Hawk.

This is Gregory. He was great. Megan and I were on our way into VooDoo Donuts in Portland when we met Gregory.

He is originally from Houston, but much prefers the climate in Portland. He does, however, hope to go back to Houston in November/December for the holidays. Right now he is in between temp jobs.

When he approached me and asked for money, he was more than happy to have his portrait taken. I told him I needed to run into the donut shop and get some cash, he smiled and said take my portrait now. I trust you.

I retrieved the cash after buying Megan her donut and promptly went out and paid him. I hope that temp job is right around the corner waiting for him.

Calvin

In 2008, Thomas Hawke began his $2 portrait project. His idea was simple. When he walked around, if someone asked him for money, he would offer them $2 if he could take their portrait in exchange.

"My biggest motivation behind this project however is simply that I think human interaction is a good thing. I’m not doing this to exploit homeless people or show how hard and bad life can be. I’m doing this because I want to celebrate other human beings as human beings and I think that this commercial transaction gives us an opportunity to engage and interact on a more human level..."

I loved the idea and today in Portland, I was approached for the first time.

This is Calvin. He has lived in Portland all of his life. His parents died in the '90s and that is is when he found himself on "skid row" as he referred to it.

He was friendly and proud and very graciously accepted the $2. When we were returning to the car, he was still standing in front of the coffee house. He asked for another dollar and I obliged. He was my very first portrait.

Day 40

ISO 100, 105mm, f/11, 1/15 sec

Day 40 - VooDoo Donuts

I made a quick trip to Portland this morning to see the kid. After her appointment, we took an urban hike in old town Portland. First stop coffee, next stop, donuts. VooDoo Donuts, where the magic is in the hole.

I love this sign. I love the master padlocks that hold it to the hanging bracket, the weathered plywood from exposure to the consistant Portland rains, the nails for pins in the doll and the portrait of someone peering out from behind.

Day 39

ISO100, 60mm, f/4.0, HDR 1/50 sec, 1/200 sec, 1/13 sec

Day 39 - Lost in Fog

I had a press check in McMinnville, about 45 miles NW of Salem this morning. The fog was fairly thick the entire way.

I've always been enchanted by this train trestle and on a clear day, you can see its gentle curve to the left until it is out of view. Today, it was a mystery.

Day 38

ISO100, 105mm, f/9.0, 1/1000sec

Day 38 - Sunset Flight

Day 37

ISO100, 24mm, f/8.0, HDR-1/10 sec, 1/20 sec, 1/5 sec

Day 37 - Multnomah Falls

Multnomah Falls is 622 ft. My best bet was to try a vertical three-part panorama and since the day was overcast and the lighting flat, second best bet was to run it through HDR.

Day 36

ISO100, 200mm, f/14, 3 exposure HDR: 1.0 sec, 1/4 sec, 1/15 sec

Day 36 - Dew Cat

Day 35

ISO100, 82mm, f/4.0, 1/250 sec

Day 35 - Liquid Lunch

Had to run a few errands for work and stopped by the prison where the geese like to congregate.

Day 34

ISO100, 47mm, f/8.0, 25.0 sec

Day 34 - Into the Abyss

The moon came out to play with me this morning just before the fog and rain.

Day 33

ISO100, 32mm, f/4.0, 1/80sec

Day 33 - Get your Game On

Chemeketa's basketball team is on fire this year.

Day 32

ISO100, 131mm, f/5.6, 6.0sec

Day 32 - Dancing with the Moon
The full moon rocks.