Portrait of Cinderella

ISO 200, 75mm, f/6.3, 1/400 sec.

Today's student, tomorrow's model

My very favorite part of my job is photographing students. Normally, I work mostly with faculty and administration and I don't see many students. But the photography puts me right in their faces.

Today I photographed a few students from our CAMP program. All of these guys rocked the camera. Here are just two of the portraits, but honestly, I did not have a bad one in the bunch.

Day 542 - Does this come in a bottle

My daughter and her husband just returned from their honeymoon.

This is what a week in Mexico looks like. I want some.

Building a portfolio

This weeks assignment for Project 52 is an exercise in laying out a portfolio.

 

Day 541 - When the fur flies

ISO 200, 200mm, f/7.1, 1/1000 sec

I had never heard of Silken Windhounds before my friend Jeff told me about them.

Oh my, they are drop dead gorgeous, slightly smaller than a greyhound, fluffy, lovable and beautiful to watch on the lure course.

Thanks Jeff, I'm smitten.

Day 540 - Ashtyn's family

Meet Joe and Pepper. Pepper is part of the fabulous front-end team at our vet clinic and asked if I would do family pictures for them.

I asked them today how they met, and I love their story. They met in the Navy, on a ship. That was 15 years ago.

They waited 13 years for this little gem, Ashtyn. She is absolutely adorable.

We met at Deepwood Estate this morning for family pictures. I don't know about them, but I had a blast.

We walked our way through the garden and into the woods.

Pepper, Ashtyn and Joe, you rocked my day. Thank you.

And a special shout out to Karen, thanks for assisting.

Day 539 - A day for sailing

I didn't haul my butt at of bed at 3 am this morning for this.

I was after this,

and this,

and this,

My friend Jeff called and asked if I wanted to go up and shoot the balloon lauching at the Tigard Festival this morning.

It sounded like a great idea until the alarm went off.

Day 538 - Nevermore

ISO 200, 105mm, f/6.3, 1/1000 sec

Her name was Mrs. Washenfelder, she taught English Lit my senior year. She was famous for her reading of The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe. The underclass were always told that she foamed at the mouth when she recited the poem.

I personally don't remember that happening, but then again, my senior year in high school was back in..., nope, I'm not gonna date myself.

This crow spends a lot of time on the acre and every time I see him I think of Mrs. Washenfelder, English Lit and "Quoth the raven, 'nevermore'"

Day 537 - Airborne

ISO 400, 95mm, f/4.0, 1/800 sec

Just a little flight, I mean playtime.

Summer cruise anyone?

ISO 3200, 105mm, f/4.0, 1/20 sec

When I was down by the river a few weeks ago, I got lucky.


Normally the Willamette Queen is docked without her lights on. That night just as I was setting up, I heard her whistle. She was going down stream.

Since I was there to shoot the twilight, I was still there when she was coming back.

Woo hoo, jackpot!

Day 535 - Against all odds

ISO 200, 105mm, f/6.3, 1/60 sec

Calla lillies are probably my favorite flower. I love the simplicity of the blossom and the gentle curves.

Years ago, my father-in-law planted this in our garden. When I moved in with Karen, I dug it up and brought it with me.

This plant is a survivor and so forgiving. I'm a terrible gardener. I never water, never feed and never ever weed. It's a target for slugs and yet, when I looked out the window this evening, it had two perfect blossoms.

Day 534 - The face of victory

 

This is how my daughter celebrates running 26.2 miles on a Sunday morning. Just for the record, she didn't get those running genes from me, just the good looks.

 

As if running the Portland Marathon last year was not enough, Holly decided that she was going to run the Vancouver Marathon this year.

 

This is Holly and her friend Emma rounding the corner at mile 26. Emma hopped in at mile 21 to help her keep pace. What a friend.

 

Apparently just finishing 26.2 miles is not enough, you gotta beat your own personal record. She did.

 

No marathon runner should ever be without a cheer leading squad. BFF Lauren, Mile 21 pace pal Emma, Holly, and hubby Joe

Day 533 - Roses are red

ISO 200, 100mm macro, f/5.0, 1/100 sec

This is from one of our wild and wooly rose bushes this morning during a rain break.

Day 532 - Feeling fruity

ISO 200, 100mm macro, f/2.8, 1/400 sec and 1/500 sec

During the yard patrol last night I had to stop by two of the the fruit trees see how they were coming. Since we had a brutally cold and wet spring, I'm happy to announce we're still going to have some fruit.

The plums are about the size of walnuts. There are very few bing cherries (my favorites), but they are about half way to picking. It's gonna be me against the birds here in a few weeks.

Day 531 - The roses are blooming

ISO 200, 100mm macro, f/2.8, 1/100 sec

And from the looks of the bud, so are the stupid aphids.

Day 530 - Watchin' Joey blossom

ISO 100, 85mm, f/4.0, 1/500 sec

When we adopted Joey seven years ago, he was afraid of his own shadow. Humans were even worse. It took him four years to work up the courage to allow us to scratch his ears.

Now, he noses right in and pushes other dogs out of the way just to get his ears scratched. To say the least, his progress has been amazing to watch over the years.

Day 529 - Purple and gold

ISO 200, 55mm, f/8.0, 1/80 sec

Our yard has a lot of blooming going on out there, but it is miserably windy and cold. I'll just look back to the iris from Sunday. Thank you.

Day 528 - Last light

ISO 200, 35mm, f/8.0, 30.0 sec

It's been a couple of months since I've visited the water front. I was surprised by how low the river was. The reflections were so different this time.

How I love the bridges.

Day 527 - Color explosion

 ISO 200, 80mm, f/8.0, 1/100 sec

We made a fast trip to Portland today and just as we approached Salem, on the west side of the interstate I noticed field after field of iris in bloom. The color was amazing.

I had a pretty good idea about how to get back there and immediately followed the signs to Schreiner's Iris Gardens. I was not expecting what we walked in to. The color from the fields were amazing, the color in the display gardens were ... I have no words.

Sadly, today was the last day they were open, but they are definitely on my calendar for next year.

ISO 200, 35mm, f/8.0, 1/80 sec

There must have been acres of display gardens. Each row different. I could not believe how beautiful it was.

I've only lived here for 20 years, how did I miss this?

Day 526 - Matt and Alesha

 

 We had a bride...

 

 and a groom...

and a couple that totally rocked. Congratulations Matt and Alesha.

Day 525 - My best side

ISO 250, 55mm, f/4.0, 1/125 sec

Clearly Clancy feels this is the best side 'cause there was no way he was going to look the other direction. He was hunka, hunka hound dog.

Day 524 - Wilted

ISO 1000, 100mm, f/3.2, 1/50 sec

When work becomes chaotic, the first thought that exits my brain is housework. I've learned that no matter what, it will always be there so it just makes sense to take care of everything else first.

Sitting in the middle of the kitchen table are my beautiful daisies, wilted. They really look kinda cool past their prime.

Guess that means I can put off housework for another week or two.

Day 523 - On a mission

ISO 200, 92mm, f/4.0, 1/1250 sec

And I'm pretty sure there is a light at end of the tunnel, finally.

I don't think I have ever let three days go by without taking the time for a least one photo.

Day 522 - No comment

ISO 640, 85mm, f/1.8, 1/80 sec

Day 521 - The hair cut

ISO 800, 105mm, f/4.0, 1/80 sec

This weeks Project 52 was, well, to put it mildly... way out of my element.

"You have been asked to do a set of images for a Hair Salon. They will supply the subject, and you will shoot the hair styles / styling. The images will be printed quite large for the salon walls and you will be given photo credit for the images."

Day 520 - Big and small

ISO 800, 55mm, f/4.0, 1/80 sec

We were invited over to some friends house for dinner tonight, (OMG, the food totally rocked). We were enjoying the after dinner conversation when Jeremiah landed in his grand dad's lap.

I looked across the table and saw the massive yet gentle hands wrapped around the tiny baby. In a rude sort of fashion I demanded he hold that pose and ran to get my camera.

So worth it, even if they never invite us again.

Day 519 - Weekend forecast

ISO 200, 47mm, f/4.0, 1/160 sec

Bright and sunny.

Party on.

Day 518 - Blue sky, nothin' but blue sky

ISO 200, 70mm, f/9.0, 1/640 sec

I'm hoping.

Day 517 - Mardi Gras

ISO 640, 67mm, f/4.5, 1/125 sec

Eyewear with flair. Salem has this great boutique frame shop, Glance. We wandered into the store this evening and these sunglasses were sitting on the shelf.

They are not for me, but I am oh so jealous of the person who can pull them off. I loved them.