Day 100 May 31, 2010

There was a bush full of these beauties bobbing around in a lovely stiff breeze on the waterfront. They could so easily be missed considering their location. What a pity that would be!

Day 99 May 30, 2010

These may be blooms on a Hawthorne tree. The sun and shade on them was just too much to resist. Rain again for the coming week. Ah, that just means more opportunity to capture raindrops on roses!

Day 98 May 29, 2010

Spring is the time for new growth and the conifers are no exception: they just generally go unnoticed other than the light green tips on the branches. But the baby cones are well camouflaged!

Day 97 May 28, 2010

Lots of rain again today. This isn't the best picture of rain on iris of the group but the perspec-

tive is the most unique. The wind was blowing the plants all around and this was taken with the little point and shoot so am impressed that all the photos came out so clearly.

Day 96 May 27, 2010

Lousy weather but the surprise in the yard was the appearance of yellow iris. Haven't seen these bloom before. There will be a small forest of them in a day or two.

Day 95 May 26, 2010

In Gig Harbor this lovely combination hangs in the sidewalk entrance from the carport. It had just finished storming about an hour earlier and this basket hangs just far enough under the cover that there was not a drop of water on them. Ah, well, this was also the part that was facing the inside of the carport, not the drive.

Day 94 May 25, 2010

These are just as they came out of the camera. The joke today to a friend after she confirmed my question was: If those are bleeding hearts, they must have bled out." Such delicate things, hanging like bells. There were raindrops on the leaves but they had evaporated from the blossoms by the time this photo was taken.

Day 93 May 24, 2010

The pictures taken tonight in Seattle at China Harbor were taken but are not on the card. This photograph was taken just before the beginning of this photographic journal. It isn't a great picture but the colors near the mountains are good. The old, historic pilings are great in the evening light. But best of all is the reflected sky in the surface of the Puget Sound.

Day 92 May 23, 2010

Another neighbor's house. It seems to be always in some state of DIY painting or repair. The idea was to take it down to the wood and then prime and paint. The work is slow and steady and has been going on for several years now. One day it will be finished: I'll bet there will be a celebration!

Day 91 May 22, 2010

From the water taxi run by a good friend of mine this old warehouse stood out among all the photos of the day. I've been thinking about going to that side of Thea Foss Waterway but never thought about getting the opportunity for this view!

Day 90 May 21, 2010

This picture is titled "Child's Play". It may not be so apparent but the upstairs and attic of this home has been completely demolished by fire today and because a child saw where his Uncle put the matches he had watched his Great Grandmother use to light the stove that used to heat the house. He lit one upstairs while the others were in the living room and set the place ablaze. Everyone got out safely. The little boy is about 3. Do you see how close together the houses are on either side of it? The miracle of the event is that neither was so much as scorched even though the flames were licking out the windows. The photo is taken through the rain on a window pane hoping to echo the sorrow this event has caused on so many levels. The future is uncertain. There was no insurance: cancelled because there was no debt on the home...

Day 89 May 20, 2010

The rain came down in buckets again today with sun breaks and a decided chill in the air. The colors of this iris were wonderful to see and the rain drops beaded up on its petals only made it more beautiful.

Day 88 May 19, 2010

This flower among others of its kind seemed to be a vine that was creeping along a brick wall. They were so large and startling!

This second photo is an art version of one of the photographs from today's shoot. Surprisingly it turned out very black and white but perhaps interesting enough to catch one's eye.

Day 87 May 18, 2010

It poured rain on and off this afternoon. At the beginning of errand running after what turned out to be the last downpour for the day, these lovely, happy little weeds resided where next to the parking lot. The shades of yellow on the lush green grass made for a dramatic contrast.

Day 86 May 17, 2010

Humerous signs should be collected. This one isn't unique and unenforceable but anyone could probably recognize the frustration that led to its posting. The curious thing is the fence: it isn't a railing for the steps and there isn't one. Just this stub of a fence. Makes a person wonder what that is all about.

Day 85 May 16, 2010

It seems like it took so long for the iris to make an appearance and now, suddenly they are everywhere and blooming virtually overnight. It seems to be difficult to capture their beauty. They have a different presentation from every angle. So from what angle to best capture them; especially if trying to capture only one in a single image. It seems this is a flower that can lose it's personality it photographed too closely. Will have to do some experimentation while they are in season.

Day 84 May 15, 2010

The first iris in the back yard for the year. They are so beautiful and elegant: and difficult to capture!

Day 83 May 14, 2010

This workbench was in a slightly odd place for being so casually picturesque. Although it was noticed on arrival, the light and shadows were much more captivating two hours later on departure. It makes one wonder with the combination of tools, flowers and containers whether this was arranged for artistic effect or if it was done deliberately dictated by usage. In any case, it was a charming scene.

Here are two croppings. Which is more appealing and why?

Day 82 May 13, 2010

A stellar evening like this requires taking pictures to record the memory. This pair of photographs were taken in the same vicinity within minutes of each other. Now the beauty of the evening and the stillness of the air can be revisited when ever one wants a few moments of refreshment.

Day 81 May 12, 2010

Looking at the Narrow's Bridge west toward Gig Harbor on this mid-spring evening revealed this mauve sunset skyline. The Olympics are clearly outlined in the background and the twins of the Narrow's Bridge punctuate the empty sky with their silhouettes. All in all a stunning sight!

Day 80 May 11, 2010

Double fushias are so beautiful they really look like an artist's concept of a flower. The combination of the bright, intense colors both buds and blossoms in various stages of development contribute to the interest. The one thing to consider is there may be too much to draw the viewer's attention.

The Little Church on the Prairie in Lakewood Washington is a pretty little sanctuary inside and out. Unfortunately while the church is still here the prairie is not. The area is full of homes and businesses. Once it seemed far away from the town of Tacoma and populated by summer homes on quiet lakes. Now it is a bustling town of its own.

Day 79 May 10, 2010

On a too busy day grabbing a shot is about all you can do. But the planter with these grasses was at least interesting. It reminded me of the specially planted rice paddies that are turning up in Japan. Of course these don't draw a picture but the combination of colors is pleasant and relaxing.

Day 78 May 8, 2010

A few short hours at the wooden boat show with a couple of girlfriends on a beautiful spring day! No great shots but the sign with the structure beneath across the bow of a wooden hand made boat. The owners made it to accommodate 17 friends but I thought it seemed small for that many people. Wouldn't they feel like sardines?

Day 77 May 7, 2010

Here are three versions of the same picture. First uncropped followed by two cropped. The fellow on the left ads some interest: who is he what is he doing there. He was actually sitting in a cross legged position but here he appears to be sitting on his toes or feet like Japanese in Japan sat 50 years ago. The colors give an effect of fall but it is May and warm. The reflection of the tora in the pond is a nice lead for the eye.

The first crop removes the fellow from the picture. The reflections seem more apparent probably because of the change of focal point for the photo.

The second crop removes the tora all together. Initially the crop left only the pole which wasn't aesthetic. A little more crop seems to produce the best picture yet.

Day 76 May 6, 2010

What question is she asking? Is she instead giving some information? The placement of her right hand suggests it could be either.

A spring day isn't complete without a flower in this collection!

Day 75 May 5, 2010

The sun was right behind these rhodies making their yellow-orange colors even brighter. The background of green leaves really off set the colors even though the blossoms were quite closely packed together. There were red ones but as usual they are a color that for me, at least, is very difficult to capture. All too soon this abundance of colors and shapes and aromas will be only a memory for another year. Meanwhile, they will remain on the target list for my camera.

Day 74 May 4, 2010

The sea is such an incredible place and the shell homes of some of its residents are artistic works of nature to fire the imagination.

These are bathed in evening light through a south window with a lace curtain covering. The colors are so soft and lovely.

Day 73 May 3, 2010

On Fort Lewis along American Lake the woods have been somewhat preserved to create one of the nicest places to go without going far. I've never been there when it was populated with people and noisy: perhaps then I wouldn't like it as well. But today with the high winds, the chill in the air, and rain laden sky, the place was all mine!

Day 72 May 2, 2010

These experiments will continue to appear from time to time. Other types of experiments will, too, no doubt. The vibrancy of these colors were a real attraction of this cold, cloudy, windy spring morning. Rain is due soon and will continue hopefully sparking some unique photo captures!

Can a person ever get too much of the tulips before the season is over? Probably not. The season is short so the enjoyment is not to be taken for granted. Soon these bright, lovely colors balanced on the ends of their long stalks will be only a memory for another year.

Day 71 May 1, 2010

Here is a first attempt at something new! The original photo seems quite obvious and that is okay. It may just be the beginning of a whole new photography adventure. Abstracts are so much fun to create!