Day 406 - Walking path

ISO 100, 24mm, f/18, 30.0 sec

There is a walking path that runs along side the Willamette River at the riverfront park.

Since it is so well lit, it is a fairly safe place to walk in the evening. As spring gets closer, I suspect there will be a lot more people out and about.

Day 400

ISO 100, 32mm, f/14, 30.0 sec

Day 400 - Summer memories

Just when I think I have just about hit every angle around the riverfront, another one crops up.

This is the eastbound bridge across the river from the east bank.

This time of day always takes me back to my childhood. I don't know why, but this has got to be the best part of every day.

Day 398

ISO 100, 24mm, f/22, 0.5 sec

Day 398 - Clouded reflections

Sad to say, this is Salem's unusual weather. It is getting incredibly cold at night, but almost 50° and sunny by day.

Day 397

ISO 100, 45mm, f/14, 30.0 sec

Day 397 - The dock

This is from last week when I was down at the riverfront.

I've looked back at this dock many times and enjoyed the reflection in the water.

Day 390

ISO 100, 45mm, f/22, 1.6 sec

Day 390 - Silhouettes and sunsets

An unusual sunset down at the riverfront tonight. I really didn't think we were going to get anything. This was a pleasant surprise.

Day 385

ISO 100, 105mm, f/22, 10.0 sec

Day 385 - Winter skies

What a show we've had lately.

Day 383

ISO 100, 105mm, f/22, 30.0 sec

Day 383 - Shadows

This is from last night because today, wait for it, it's raining. I loved the shadow created by the platform on bridge pylon.

Day 378

ISO 100, 24mm, f/22, 1/15 sec

Day 378 - Sunrise in the city

Or at least Salem. I have spent many an evening shooting from this location. Being there when the sun came up was a whole new look.

Day 377

ISO 100, 24mm, f/8.0, 30.0 sec

Day 377 - Into the twilight

This is from Monday night. I took photos all along the way as I walked over to the other side and then on my way back. The sunset was amazing that evening.

What a way to unwind after a day at work.

I continue to long for the longer, warmer days of spring, summer and fall.

Day 375

ISO 200, 58mm, f/20, 30.0 sec

Day 375 - Framed

I got down to the Riverfront Park just as the sun was setting and I walked from one side of the river to the other over the pedestrian bridge and worked it both ways.

I had nearly run out of my twilight and was on my way back to car when I walked underneath the westbound bridge. How on earth have I missed these windows before? Note to self: I'll be back.

Day 374

ISO 100, 24mm, f/13, 25.0 sec

Day 374 - Blue on blue

What can I say? It's my favorite time of day. This is the Willamette River looking west about one hour after sunset. I'm so glad I hung around and worked the area just a little more.

Day 373

ISO 500, 28mm, f/20, 15.0 sec

Day 373 - Me and my Apple

So, I'm taking this portrait photography class, you know... take pictures of other people.

First assignment (and last assignment): Self portrait. WTF? How on earth do you make a 50 year old, slightly more than slightly over weight woman look good?

It is a well known, proven fact that wrinkled, over weight men do very well in front of the camera. If they sport a double chin, they just grow a beard. I can only think of five pictures that I have been a part of in the last 10 years.

I have read over and over ad nauseum that if you want to take great pictures of other people, you, yourself and I all have to be comfortable in front of the camera. Just one of those rules meant to be broken, I'm pretty sure. Besides, I hate rules.

This great guy from down under threw out a challenge. My Mad 52 is Allan's idea of a good time, 52 self portraits.

I love a good challenge. Allan, if you are listening, I accept. This weeks theme, yet another rule to be broken, is music.

Just pretend I'm humming Me and my Apple.

If you would like to know the story behind this one, I was sitting on this very bank before sunrise trying to freeze a little extra heinie off. Professor Photography teacher says "This image will become a testament to who you are as a person and a photographer at this moment."

Whoa, sunrise just ain't gonna cut it. If you've been following my 365 project, you know that I am rather fond of twinkly lights, reflections and running water.

As we are heading across the bridge, the always ready Oregon skies open up. I wanted to this picture tonight. So we waited and watched. Sure enough, the rain stopped. The ground was soaking wet as my butt will testify.

This photo is for a grade. I welcome any suggestions to improve it, I still have time to retake.

Day 367

ISO 100, 60mm, f/22, 1/30 sec

Day 367 - Iced coffee

It is no secret, I drink too much, way too much coffee. If it weren't for lattés, I probably could have retired five years ago.

When we are out and about, Dutch Bros. coffee is at least a daily stop.

The rain in Salem stopped and we now have below freezing temperatures. I found the fountain in front of the Dutch Bros. coffee stand quite amusing this afternoon.

Day 366

ISO 100, 55mm, f/14, 1/40 sec.

Day 366 - It promises to be a very good year

If I have said once, I've said it a million times, I really love doing the 365 project.

What I didn't love was posting a picture that I wasn't proud of at the moment. (My attitude towards some of the pictures I really liked changed as I progressed through the year.) I also had a great many photos that I took that I should have posted, but I wanted the exercise of being picky, posting just the one that I thought was the best.

I know I will pick up my camera every day. I enjoy it too much not too. I also reserve the right to post a few out takes when the day just didn't come together.

Happy New Year. 1-1-11

This is taken from the old railroad bridge over the Willamette.

Day 365

ISO 100, 67mm, f/18, 30.0 sec

Day 365 - This way out?

Holy smokes, 365 days. Gone.

I loved this project. I had a few days that made me want to tear my hair out, a few days that disappointed me and many days that totally rocked.

I like stats, so as I look over last year:

• I stayed in my backyard 134 times,
• Relied on the greyhounds 27 times for inspiration.
• 17 raindrops had their moment of fame before drying up.
• I drove all over Salem 55 times, to Portland 12 times and went out of the state once to Las Vegas.
• I woke up 14 times to greet the sunrise and watched the sunset 30 times.
• 44 times I illustrated that I have no fear of the dark
  
• 35 people smiled for the birdie
• There is a parking garage in Salem that I made my way to the top (permit parking only) 10 times

On the way out of the garage is the great graphic that says "This way out", I've known for months what my final photo would be.

I have gone back and forth at least a million times—should I start a new year of 365 or modify it.


When I turned around, I had to laugh. "Do Not Exit" was staring me back in the face.


And when I looked down, it became painfully aware to me that I don't want to quit the 365 project, I just need to modify it.

I want to thank all of my 365 friends for the support and the comments and congratulate them for hanging in there. It has been an awesome year and I have enjoyed looking into your world. Whether or not we all continue, I hope to see more pictures blogged, Facebooked, Tweeted and Flickr'd, if it isn't every day.

Day 364

ISO 100, 105mm, f/13, 20.0 sec.

Day 364 - Lights, water, reflection. Oh my!

How I missed getting out these last few nights. I beat it down to the water front as the sun began to set. It was wonderful. Cold, but wonderful.

Salem doesn't have much of a skyline, but it looks great in the Willamette River.

I started out on the east side of the river and walked over one of the bridges to the west side for another view of town.

Day 361

ISO 100, 155mm, f/2.8, 1/6 sec.

Day 361 - Into a brick wall

Rain plus wind was the weather du jour. It was either a brick wall from a covered floor at my favorite parking garage or a greyhound.


Nobody held their paw up to be a model, the brick wall won.

Day 360

ISO 400, 35mm, f/14, 6.0 sec

Day 360 - Waiting

Cold, wet and miserable could potentially describe our day today. I so desperately wanted to go up to Portland for more bridge work, but the weather was completely uncooperative.

My second thought was to repeat and improve one of my train station images.

I waited and the train never came. They must have the holiday off too. Go figure.

Day 359

ISO 100, 16mm, f/18, 1/6 sec.

Day 359 - Name that dog

We had the promise of rain today. While we were out having our coffee, to the east I noticed a small window in the clouds and we made a mad dash downtown.

This mural is painted on the back of the the Elsinore Theater, four stories tall. It is another one of Salem's icons and I really wanted to catch it just as the sun was rising.

Eureka!

Painted in 1984, it was part of the renovation for the theater. Charlie Claplan, Theda Bara, Marlene Dietrich and W. C. Fields great travelers as they arrive from the east going into downtown Salem. The actors were quite easy to identify, but can you name that dog?

I had to look it up.

ISO 100, 35mm, f/18, 1/5 sec.

As quickly as the sun peaked through the clouds, it also disappeared into the clouds never to be seen again today, but I really wanted to show the scale of the mural, it is quite impressive.

Day 358

ISO 400, 28mm, f/18, 25.0 sec.

Day 358 - Rolling on the river

Salem's own river boat, the Willamette Queen.

I was watching A Day with Jay Maisel on Kelby Training this week and one of the tidbits of knowledge that Jay passed on was "Never go back to shoot something, shoot it now."

Last night I stood in this very spot to shoot the Willamette Queen. They brought the lights up on the boat just as the skies were turning quite dark and I fought like crazy with the exposure.

Tonight when I went back, there weren't any lights at all on the Queen. Go figure.