Day 304

ISO 200, 200mm, f/2.8, 1/80 sec.

Day 304 - Alone

We took a quick drive up to the Opal Creek Wilderness hoping to find a little color.

Most of it was gone.

Day 303

ISO 200, 100mm macro, f/25, 0.5 sec.

Day 303 - Fire and water

Question for the day. How many raindrops will I photograph in the next 62 days?

ISO 200, 100mm macro, f/6.3, 1/15 sec.

I was totally unclear in my mind whether or not I felt like fire or blood, so I give to you "Blood drops"

ISO 200, 100mm, f/4.0, 1/80 sec.

And then I thought, what the hell, might as well throw in a rainbow.

Have a very happy Halloween tomorrow!

Day 302

ISO 100, 100mm macro, f/10, 30.0 sec.

Day 302 - The first drop

And let the season begin.

Day 301

ISO 200, 50mm, f/7.1, 1/50 sec.

Day 301 - Contemplation

A visit to the campus Art Gallery is always a good thing on a rainy day.

Day 300

ISO 100, 100mm macro, f/4.0, 1/50 sec.

Day 300 - The Lone Red

When I moved to the Pacific Northwest I quickly became enamoured of the Japanese maple trees that were everywhere. Seven years ago we planted a pair of them side-by-side, one is red and the other is green.

While I was working this afternoon I was obviously worried more about my photo of the day than the work at hand. The only thing I could think about was trying to isolate one red leaf against the golden orange background of the second tree.

Oh how I adore that 100mm lens. We are one.

Day 299

ISO 800, 105mm, f/4.0, 1/60 sec.

Day 299 - A Poetry Reading

Once again, I confess, I'm really not a poetry kinda girl and this probably isn't something I would have normally attended. Oh the places my camera takes me. It was actually kind of fun.

This was a bigger challenge than I expected. The room was quite except for the reading and the extraordinarily loud clap of the shutter.

Day 298

ISO 100, 100mm, f/6.3, 1/60 sec.

Day 298 - That moment in time

You know the one, the edge of the storm when the sun peaks through.

I just happened to look out a window over the parking lot before I left the office this evening. I took this through a second story rain speckled window.

Day 297

ISO 400, 100mm macro, f/6.3, 1/50 sec.

Day 297 - Take that winter!

Last week my friend Jeff wanted me to go to the butterfly farm with him, but I had a few of life's other things to take care of and I didn't go with him. Today, I was suppose to go to the whippet races with him, but winter is rearing his ugly head today. Rain. Wind. Miserable. So once again I bailed on Jeff and headed to someplace a little more tropical, the butterfly farm.

So sorry Jeff, but while you where freezing your fingers off, I was basking.

ISO 400, 100mm macro, f/2.8, 1/30 sec.

It was warm and toasty. Absolutely delightful.

ISO 200, 100mm, f/8.0, 1/40 sec.

This is Bob the proprietor. He ever so patiently stood there while his 5.5 inch pet dug his hooks into his cheek and I kept adjusting my exposure until it was just right.

ISO 200, 100mm, f/8.0, 1/40 sec.

This was really the maiden voyage for my new 100mm macro.

The verdict is in, it totally rocks and I love it.

ISO 400, 100mm macro, f/8.0, 1/60 sec.

I like my color rich and saturated, and for whatever reason, everything loaded into Lightroom just like I like. Hardly any post-processing at all.

Day 296

ISO 400, 105mm, f/4.5, 1/60 sec.

Day 296 - Dance of the Dead

They figure about 75 zombies gathered in the streets of Salem today for Thrill of the World.

ISO 500, 105mm, f/4.5, 1/100 sec.

ISO 500, 105mm, f/4.5, 1/100 sec.

ISO 500, 105mm, f/4.5, 1/100 sec.

ISO 2000, 84mm, f/4.0, 1/400 sec.

Day 295

ISO 100, 200mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec.

Day 295 - Who is stalking who?

I followed this guy around the old quad on campus this afternoon as he snacked on fallen acorns.

He took great pleasure in nibbling long enough for me to get in close and scamper away.

I figured our Kodak moments were over once he ran up one of the trees. I walked around the tree, looked up and there he was, stalking me.

Day 294

ISO 100, 200mm, f/2.8, 0.8 sec.

Day 294 - The last moon

I watched the moon set on the horizon this morning as I read the weather alert on weather.com.

Apparently, we should prepare ourselves for wet and windy conditions. I say, bite me. I'm not ready for winter yet.

Day 293

ISO 100, 150mm, f/5.0, 1/1250 sec.

Day 293 - Head's Up

I have a confession, I know nothing about sports. Nothing. I'm pretty sure I could tell the difference between a basketball and a baseball, but beyond that, I am a sport's idiot.

This afternoon I went to watch the college's soccer teams play. Really didn't have a clue what was happening but I had a blast tracking and anticipating where the ball was going to be.

Maybe that is what sport's photography is all about.

Day 292

ISO 100, 100mm macro, f/2.8, 1/250 sec.

Day 292 - Catch My Drip

Or not. This drippy stuff is pretty darn cool to look at, but a pain in the... tookus to try and catch on the camera.

I shall return.

Day 291

ISO 100, 65mm, f/9.0. 1/160 sec.

Day 291 - Parasites

In downtown Salem we have probably the coolest optical frame shop, ever. Lisa, the woman behind Glance is absolutely delightful to work with. Not only does she have this uncanny way with fitting frames to the face, but when you walk out of her store, you feel like a million bucks.

This year Karen got a pair of Parasites for every day wear, today she came home with the sunglasses and they totally rock.

Day 290

ISO 100, 165mm, f/5.0, 1/100 sec.

Day 290 - MOTB

An official duty of the mother of the bride. Harassing the son-in-law to be.

Yeppers, this poor boy was starving to death and I insisted on the official kiss image. If Joe only knew what was ahead of him, he might run the other way, fast. Oh ya, that's right. Holly is the marathon runner, he'll never get away.

Oh, I can hardly wait, I'm gonna have fun. :o))))

Day 289

ISO 100, 95mm, f/16, 0.4 sec.

Day 289 - A perfect day

Today was not supposed to be about photography. I promised.

But when the dogs got us up way before the sunrise, on a Saturday, I couldn't help myself. It was time to grab the coffee and head for the fields east of Salem.

I won't go into the gory details about how flipping cold it was.

The skies were wonderful and the low lying fog that the valley is so popular for was just barely present.

ISO 100, 120mm, f/14, 1/50 sec.

Since my hands had already turned numb, I figured I might as well hang out until the sun was above the clouds on the horizon, after all what is another 30 minutes on a day that was not supposed to be about photography.

How else was I going to get that delightful warm glow?

ISO 200, 100mm macro, f/8.0, 1/500 sec.

And then there was the minor detail of really needing to test drive my new lens. Yup, on a day that was not supposed to be about photography, we had to stop by one of the flower gardens. Only another 30 minutes, that's all.

Of course, when I found out that my little grand dog was at the vets, I ran over with the camera. That only took 45 minutes.

And then, when it was time to run the dogs it was beautiful out, we out there anyway, shouldn't I take the camera? Oops, that took about 2.5 hours.

OK, so only half of the day was not about photography.

Karen, if you are still listening to me, you have my humble appreciation for tolerating me and the camera. :o)))

Day 288

ISO 100, 95mm, f/22, 1/20 sec.

Day 288 - Layers

The skies these days are simply marvelous. 'Nuff said.

Day 287

ISO 100, 100mm macro, f/7.1, 1/60 sec.

Day 287 - A black and white kinda day

But my new lens did arrive. :o)))

Day 286

ISO 100, 105, mm, f/10, 1/60 sec.

Day 286 - Caught in a web

This guy has built his home from the side mirror of the green truck to the entry gate that leads to our front door. His web is about face height and yes, you have guessed how I discovered him earlier this afternoon.

I must have really pissed him off because he almost immediately started tearing his web down after I set up the flashes. How was I supposed to know that 2 flashes on a spider web was unreasonable?

I had hoped to use a macro to take these pictures, but here's the short version of that story:

UPS left me an automated message this morning saying that my 100mm macro would be delivered today and that it needed a signature.

I worked from home, which is one of my favorite things to do, but as of 7:30 tonight no macro has arrived.

Day 285

ISO 100, 24mm, f/22, 5.0 sec

Day 285 - Sunset over Salem

It was sushi night, again. Some days the craving is just too hard to beat. Fortunately for me, Salem's highest parking garage is just around the corner from our favorite sushi bar.

The sunset tonight was simply amazing. I see it so often from our backyard that it never occurred to me how different it would look a little higher up.

ISO 100, 105mm, f/22, 1/25 sec.

Day 284

ISO 800, 280mm, f/4.0, 1/125 sec.

Day 284 - The Dog Harasser

Our yard has had an abundance of fruits and nuts this year causing these critters to take risky leaps from tree to tree.

They are driving the dogs crazy.
After spending hours trying to out run the greyhounds, these little buggers are quite speedy and not so apt to stop and pose.

The trees will be dropping their leaves soon. I'll show those squirrels whose boss then.

Day 283

ISO 100, 28mm, F/9.0, 5 image HDR-1/100, 1/640, 1/250, 1/40, 1/15 sec.

Day 283 - Arches

Today was the Portland Marathon and I probably wouldn't wander out in the pouring rain, but the kid was running and of course, we had to go out.

We were waiting for her to exit the finish line when Karen looked up and suggested that perhaps she was looking at my photo of the day.


I still have to maintain my bragging rights, this is the older child Megan, carrying the 4:45 sign for Holly's pace group. I didn't even know she was running.


And this is Holly, my rockstar for the day. 26.2 miles. Oi vey.

Day 282

ISO 200, 115mm, f/32, 30.0 sec.

Day 282 - The Stars of Hollywood

Hollywood Drive in Salem that is.

We enjoyed a rainy day today. Sadly there were no raindrop pictures because I sold my macro lens yesterday.

Never fear, I have the new 100mm IS macro lens coming my way. I'll be anxiously awaiting the UPS truck on Thursday.

Day 281

ISO 320, 70mm, f/13, 1/80 sec.

Day 281 - TGIF

Just working with some of our students on campus today.

Some days my work is a playground. :o)))

Day 280

ISO 100, 82mm, f/5.6, 1/160 sec.

Day 280 - The Harsh Reality

Winter is coming.

Nope, not ready, not ready at all.

Day 279

ISO 200, 24mm, f/4.0, 1/50 sec.

Day 279 - Brush Strokes

We checked out Claggett Creek Wetlands that is just around the corner from our house tonight. We didn't see much activity from the geese, ducks or nutria. I do think, however, that the painted sky reflecting in the pond made up for it.

Day 278 - I've seen the light

Fall has always been my favorite season. Up until today, I really couldn't put my finger on why I liked it so much. The days get shorter and the mornings get colder.

And then, today the light went on.

ISO 100, 67mm, f/9.0, 1/125 sec.

On the spider webs amongst the trees at noon when I went home to run the dogs.

ISO 100, 145mm, f/8.0, 1/160 sec.

On the apples high in the trees just after work.

ISO 100, 80mm, f/6.3, 1/200 sec.

And on the horizon just after sunset.

Day 277

ISO 200, 24mm, f/9.0, 1/50 sec.

Day 277 - Another Hairy Eyeball

I am out to perfect this lighting thing come hell or high water. Might be both!

When I come home from work and even remotely think we might have a sunset, I grab a dog and my lighting gear.

The dogs seem a little more annoyed with me than usual. Guess they would rather have dinner than stand before a series of flashes.

Day 276

ISO 1000, 200mm, f/4.0, 1/1250 sec.

Day 276 - It's a bird, it's a plane

It's a whippet?

My friend Jeff invited us to a whippet racing practice today. I've always loved watching greyhounds run, but their smaller cousins are pretty amazing as well.

Day 275

ISO 100, 58mm, f/9.0, HDR 2.0 sec, .5 sec, 8.0 sec.

Day 275 - Coffee is King

The Pacific Northwest is famous for Pinot Noir and it's microbrews.

But in my corner of the world, coffee is king. Hot in the winter, blended in the summer.

Day 274

ISO 100, 65mm, f/11, 6.0 sec.

Day 274 - Night Travel

We ran up to the foothills just outside of Salem tonight to watch the sunset.

I was surprised to see it so hazy up there. As we were coming back into town, I pulled off to the side of the road, not many cars except these two.

Yup, timing is everything.