Top Spur Trail - Photography #12

What a perfectly lovely day for a hike!  And a great time to practice landscape photography!

First I have to praise George!  His 7 months of running 3 times a week have definitely paid off.  For the first time ever he is in better shape than I am!  And I think he could have left me in the dust today!

Now we can say that we have hiked the Pacific Crest Trail....or more accurately  'part' of the Pacific Crest Trail! 

After a long climb through the forest suddenly there she is - Mt. Hood in all her glory!

Notice that there is not a cloud in the sky.  That's a bit unusual!

 

Peanut M&Ms only improve any view!

LIghts - Camera - Action Photography #11

I took a stroll by the river tonight camera in hand!  Luckily some teenage boys were enjoying the summer evening and didn't mind being photographed!  Interesting to learn more about action shots in the low light.  I need to work on the different focus modes but I think this one is pretty good!

Looks like he is standing in the air, huh?  Too bad I couldn't get the "NO JUMPING" sign in the same frame!

No action in this one, but I just think it is pretty!

Low Angle - Photography #10

Yes I put the camera on the ground to take this one and I do like it!

HIgh Angle - Photography #9

Fun today to try and shoot from a high angle.....

 Ducks from the bridge

 

Maybe I should have saved it for a few days from now when the challenge is silhouettes!

Texture - Photography #8

The fun challenge for today was to take pictures in bright light that show lots of texture!  Lucky for me the Portland weather cooperated and there was lots of sunshine.  The goal was to create a sense of touch even though you aren't touching anything but just looking at a photo.

In this one I tried the suggestion of filling the whole frame to make the texture seem to go on and on.  I like this one but I don't love it!  Although the beer can made me smile as I never noticed it was there until I looked at the photo after I go home!

I actually like this one better with the contrast of the rough bricks and the smooth metal on the light fixture and the fuzzy looking trees for a background..

 

But this one is my favorite from today. Rough bricks and bricks turned to be smooth! Bricks that stick out to create even more texture plus the smooth light fixture and the hint of blue sky and leaves.    I like all the contrasts and even the shadows. 

 

I'm learning a lot!

Black and White - Photography #7

George got back from a week in Singapore this morning!  He only slept for a couple of hours before we walked up to the farmer's market as we do most Saturdays.  I was surprised when he suggested that we go for a ride on the Lake Oswego Trolley. We have passed by the Trolley Station many times but never taken the time for a ride, until today!  The historic replica trolley goes for about 6 miles by the Willamette River.  The track was established in the mid-1880s  which began passenger service with steam trains on July 4, 1887. It provided Oswego (as Lake Oswego was known then) with a direct link to Portland. Prior to this, access to Oswego was limited to primitive roads and river boats. The peak of passenger travel on this route was in the 1920s before passenger travel stopped in 1929.  The years since then have seen many different attempt to open the line.  Finally it looks like it will find success as a tourist attraction!

Since my photography assignment today was 'black & white' it was a perfect opportunity to try for a vintage look! 

Rule of Thirds - Photography #6

The rule basically dictates that photos should be split into 9 equal parts; 2 equally-spaced horizontal lines and 2 equally-spaced vertical lines, and that important features within the frame should intersect with these lines at some point.

One thing I've figured out about photography is that the so called 'rules' are really just guidelines but it is good to understand them.

Here are three versions of the same photo.  The first is not cropped at all.  The 2nd is cropped so that her eye is at one of the intersections of the grid. And the 3rd crop makes her face really fill the screen with her eye again at an intersection point. Hmm....which do I like better?

The difference between #1 and #2 is subtle but I do think it makes a difference. And I prefer #2. The rule of thirds wins! While #3 fills the screen which is important, her hand position adds so much to the whole photo that cropping that out takes away from the power of the photo.

Self Portrait - Photography #5

Definitely out of my comfort zone to spend a hour taking photos of myself but since that was the photo challenge of the day, I tried! 

And I learned a lot about using my tripod!  Amazing what I can do when I don't have George to rely on.  Normally I just practice 'creative incompetence', use my best Southern accent and let him deal with all my mechanical and technical difficulties!

Evening by the Lake - Photography #4

I took a lovely walk by the lake tonight and practiced using the flash exposure compensation on my camera so that I could change shots like this with a dull faded out sky....

into shots like this by pushing a few buttons!

This will be a very useful skill to have!

Morning Walk - Photography #3

Since two of my former 'walking buddies' are on missions we are down to only 3 plus one dog!  This morning we added a talkative 10 year old grandson to the group.  That was fun!

 

Every morning we walk by Luscher Farm which was once a dairy operation owned by Rudie and Esther Luscher.  Then it was purchased in 1990 by the City of Lake Oswego. The property and buildings are maintained as an agricultural example with the intent to interpret and educate interested visitors in local food and organic plant production. 

 

You can 'adopt a plot', have a birthday party, or take a gardening class.  There are also chickens and a children's garden.

 

Red barns add a nice color pop for photographs!   That's important when the sky is so grey.

 

I still believe that Heaven will look like Oregon!

This dog sculpture is a part of Lake Oswego's 'sculpture without walls' exhibit.  He stands in front of a great 'dog park'.  Jackson loves to come here when he visits us!

My morning walk is a beautiful way to start the day.

Favorite Things - Photography #2

Today I practiced using manual mode and my flash, learning some interesting things about shadows and reflections and backgrounds as I did.

My photos are of some of my favorite things from our recent travels.

First is my 'Matryoshka Doll' or Russian stacking doll.  George bought this for me on our Black Sea Cruise.  The reason he bought it was that I was seasick in our cabin and it was the last night that the Russian things would be for sale.  I sent him to the shops, which are not his favorite area on a cruise ship, to buy one for me.  I think he did a great job.  She's a beauty!

Then there is my "Vodka Holder" which isn't a real necessity in the Lewis household!  I just thought she was beautiful with such intricate details!  The funny thing is that just after we got home, my visiting teacher brought me a gift of homemade vanilla extract.  Do you know how you make vanilla extract?  You soak vanilla beans in vodka!  I had the perfect place to keep the little bottle until it ripened into delicious vanilla extract!

 

And from a different part of the world - a carved fisherman, boat, and fish trap from Inle Lake in Burma.  A little boy followed our group around for an hour or more trying to sell this little memento.  We all kept trying to get him to go away with many polite "No thank yous." Finally, just as we were getting on the boat to leave, I took pity on his sad little face and bought it for a whole $1.  Now it is one of my favorite keepsakes from that trip!

 

While in Zanzibar I looked at this Masai mask for days in the hotel shop knowing I wanted it but not being sure whether I wanted it badly enough to spend the money.  Finally as we were leaving I decided that I did want it, only to discover that the store was closed.   Luckily I mentioned this to the receptionist as we were checking out and, guess what, they opened the store just for me.  Now I love the memories it brings back!

 

Last, again from Africa, my Zulu basket.  Supposedly these baskets are so sturdy that they can hold liquid. George and I do know that it is sturdy enough to survive the trip from South Africa to the USA in our checked baggage.   We stuffed it with our dirty clothes and put it in our largest bag.  A perfect fit!   Such fun memories of traveling the world!

 

Opposite Direction - Photography #1

While most of the world is using cell phones for all their photos and getting rid of big cameras, I'm taking the opposite approach!  I've decided to take a comprehensive photography course and master my camera.  Or at least try to!  In order to do this I know that I must stop relying on the auto modes and bite the bullet and learn how to take photos in MANUAL mode!

The only way to do this is to take lots of photos so I'm setting a goal to take at least 20 a day and share some of my favorites on my blog.

Today I explored the 'flora and fauna' of my own river side neighborhood.

Dinner Group

Six years!  We have lived in Lake Oswego, Oregon for 6 years! Never expected this move at all!  I worried about how it would be to move into a Ward with no children still living at home.  Would we find friends?  What kind of social life could we develop that wasn't centered around children's sports, schools and their friends?

Two invitations were the key to an easy adjustment to my new circumstances.  First two wonderful ladies invited me to walk each morning with them.  I can't begin to explain how those morning walks made me feel a part of Lakeridge Ward.  We often say that our 4 mile walk is as good for our souls as it is for our bodies.  So many problems discussed and solved!  So many laughs as we walk just like the postal service says, 'neither snow nor rain nor heat...can stop these ladies from their appointed rounds'!

Second we were invited to be a part of a dinner group.  Seven fun couples take turns picking a restaurant for a fun outing each month.  Instant friends in this 'Super Saturday Dinner Group'!

This month we went to the Stone Cliff Inn which is located right about the Clackamas River.  The setting is beautiful and the food delicious.  Threats of rain worried me all day but the evening was perfect.  Clear skies and a great mild temperature.!

 A good time was had by all!

 A very good time!

And on a different note....this is George's dinner!  A 36 ounce steak!  They called it a "Tomahawk Steak" for obvious reasons. He has enough meat for at least 3 more meals! 

I think he enjoyed it!

She IS a Fish!

Isabella is a little fish just like her Daddy was. Johnny always loved swimming and was a natural.

Our little granddaughter also loves the water even when Daddy puts her under the waterfall!

John goggled how to teach a baby to swim.  First he gets her attention and says, "Isabella, 1, 2, 3"

 and then he blows in her face so that she takes a big breath and under she goes.

She doesn't seem to mind at all!  I know it scares Monica more than it scares Isabella!  Of course Grandma Marilyn and Uncle Scott just liked playing with her in her new float!

We all enjoyed an afternoon in the pool on a hot July day in Boise!

 Swimming totally wore our little one out!