While Biking Near Belknap

In my last post (Lazy), I mentioned that I had been camping with my son, the first time I’d slept in a tent in over a decade. Well, after some thinking, the last time I slept in a tent was 1996, a whopping 12 years ago. That was part of a hiking/biking/canoe excursion to southern Illinos (Cache River Reserve). Here’s a photo taken during the bike portion of the weekend, it was 26 miles IIRC.

This is another one of those silly photos that I really like. An old building near Belknap, IL. Originally taken with my film SLR, this was scanned from a 4x6 print. And yes, I'm still lazy, as this image has been posted here before....

Lazy

No, not the song by Deep Purple. I'm referencing my blogging status. Sorry, it's been a busy week. But I did get a car bought last week, so I'm not messing with a rental any more. And I spent the weekend at scout camp with my son, sleeping in a tent for the first time in over a decade (maybe I'll get some photos posted from that!). Anyway, here's an oldie, for a midsummer's day. Take back in the early 80's: early morning on the upper Potomac River, from a canoe. Real live Tri-X film, way before digital...

It's probably been posted here several times over the past few years, but it's a favorite of mine.

Please Help With Experiment!

Below is an image from my ShutterStock portfolio.

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-13691596-wilderness-scene-northern-idaho.html

Right now it is my least popular image on the SS site. I'm trying an experiment to see what role views have on the popularity algorithm, Not purchases, but views. SOOOOO, I'm asking if everybody who sees this would take a moment and click through and see if it helps. Of course, you have my permission to purchase, too!

Rural Ohio

Downright moldy, originally posted here on 6/21/2005!

What's round on the ends and high in the middle?? O-HI-O!!!

Green!

From 2 years ago today, 6/21/2006:

The theme was “Green”. I figured this fits. From my own front yard, after a late spring rain. .

Summer Is Here!!

Sorry for the light posting folks, been a bit busy... Here's an oldie: a post from 1 year ago today, welcoming summer:

Happy summer! Just a couple of wildflowers I noticed near the parking lot along one of our bike trails.... I thought they were cool. I used a little of the Beautifier filter from RedPawMedia, as discovered over at My Viewfinder…. Thanks John!

"You belong among the wildflowers
You belong somewhere close to me
Far away from your trouble and worry
You belong somewhere you feel free"

Tom Petty - Wildflowers

Home again, home again...

Regular readers may have noticed a LOT of posts over the past several months from the Inland-Northwest. SE Washington, Northern Idaho. Well, I had been living out there pretty much full time since the 1st of the year, getting indoctrinated for a new job (and deprogrammed from my previous jobs). The important part of the previous sentence is the word "had". As in past-tense. I'm finally back home "for good", and just in time for father's day.

It was a good experience, and I still have tons of photos to wade through, but there's no place like home.....

Apt. Fire, Pt. 2

Remeber the post last week about the apartment fire in Pullman Washington. Well, at a co-worker's urging, I sent a copy of that photo to a couple local media outlets, and one, The Spokane Spokesman-Review actually purchased it!! They paid $100 for non-exclusive rights to publish it on their web site, and in the next day's paper. This is my first "paid" journalism shot since a freelance job I did for the Fayetteville (North Carolina) Observer, back in 1981. I think that one paid $15....

Above is another shot of the event, taken from my aprtment window.... I had felt guilty about even taking photos of somebody's tragedy, but was able to offset that uneasiness by donating the $100 to the families that were displaced (through a collection at my work). And yes, that is snow (In June).

Girdered

I was struck by the lines on this old bridge. A retired RR bridge across the Clearwater River, in Lewiston, ID. I wonder if it was built in 1906, or if that means something else? Here’s the whole bridge:

Perspective

I woke up this morning, was laying in bed for a moment, and my work phone (blackberry) rang in the other room. I grumbled / stumbled out of bed, but just missed the call. Glancing out the window, I noticed it is SNOWING!!! June 10th in Pullman WA, and it is snowing. Meanwhile, the caller left a message, a work problem.... Grrrrr… So I’m making some breakfast and grumbling about the day, and a fire truck goes by. Hmmm, I looked out the back window of the apartment where I’m staying and:

OK, there’s a little shot of reality. A holf hour later, and it’s still snowing, and they’re still trying to put out the fire. So far, they’ve kept it from spreading to the adjacent unit. None of that other stuff seems so irritating now.

North Idaho, Again

Another shot from our recent visit.

Obligatory “We Were There” shot…

I occasionally think that I took up photography in order to keep myself out of photographs. And I usually do pretty well at it. But every once in a while you have to capture the moment. This is on top of Kamiak Butte, near Palouse, WA. Myself, my wife and my son. I set my D70 on a a bench (on a folded sweatshirt), set the timer and click. There you have it. Bad lighting, closed eyes, etc. But that’s us! Sadly my 2 older daughters couldn’t make the trip, so it’s not a full family portrait. But it still captures a great afternoon…

I decided to post this, after seeing John R's "I was there" shot at his blog. Anybody else want to take up the challenge??

Lake view

Two images taken during our visit to extreme northern Idaho. I can’t decide which I like best (or dislike least). Pretty similar, but a little different. Neither quite matches what I was hoping for, but that seems to be typical. Any thoughts??

Extreme Northern Idaho

I spent last weekend in extreme northern Idaho, visiting with friends. We had a great time, did some trail riding, shooting, hanging out by the fire, etc. Here’s a few shots from one of the spots we visited:

There was lots of water, guess it's still a lot off snow melt. The mist here was almost like stepping into a rainy day. The above shot is actually from a bit off the trail, my son and I had to do a little exploring, always trying to head UP!

Now, if I were a "good" chronicler, I would've noted the name of this waterfall, so that I could announce it here. But I was too wrapped up in the moment and completey forgot. The guys rode motorcycles / ATVs to get near here, the ladies met up with us in the Suburban.

Yep, I always have to try the "artsy" shot... I'd have to duck in, snap, then duck out and wipe of the water spray from the camera.... I did several, but prefer the ones with slower shutter speeds, giving an overall blur.

My son at the rail. This photo is taken from about the edge of the mist region...

Down At The Lodge