Oregon Coast

Photographing on the Oregon coast was the most challenging I've yet experienced. The environment was completely new to me and beach photography is filled with equipment perils I hadn't imagined. I was not used to salt spray on my equipment or fine sand in the tripod legs, or dirt, grit, salt and sand in my ballhead. I didn't know about salt spray accumlating on the lens and filters. And, I didn't know about seven straight days of shooting every sunrise and sunset. Days usually began at 4 am and shooting sometimes didn't end until 10 pm - and, I have the pictures to prove it. Also, I didn't know about the different skills necessary to make those early mornings and late nights worth it. But, that's why I went there - to learn how to capture the light, to see patterns and formations, to meet new friends and re-connect with old ones. It was a grand experience and I plan to return - this is probably my favorite photo experience yet. And, there was more than just the beaches. Lighthouses drew us in, wild flowers abounded, forests towered and the best fresh sea food was there, too. Mark Rasmussen of LightChase Photography was masterful in teaching us about the light, filters and being the herder of a group of photo cats.

Pacific Northwest - Seattle and Victoria, BC

The images found here don't fit into my usual national parks type locations but there are some photos I hope you'll find of interest - maybe even in a whimsical way.

Both cities are beautiful gems and deserve a "chamber of commerce" treatment. They didn't get that here but only because I haven't had the opportunity to do so. I will in the future, though.

Panoramics

Panoramic photos are, to me, the real fun part of photography. A good "pano" combines creativity, solid composition, spot-on exposure, near perfect focus, patience, and the abiltiy to do all that very quickly. And, there's even the requirement to have some basic mechanical skills as well. Once you have all the desired exposures, you sit back and let the software automatically put it all together - most of the time. You'll find the photos in this collection scattered throughout other albums, as well.

Texas Hill Country

Texas Hill Country is a region of hills, some rugged and desolute, others gentle and welcoming. But, in the early spring, the only thing that matters is the wild flower bloom and acres and acres of bluebonnet, paintbrush, cactus, and dozens of other varieties. I've made two trips to Hill Country and am looking forward to the next one. The hospitality is warm, friendly and open; I've had ranchers direct us to unknown fields of wildflowers just because they saw us with our cameras.

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone, the first national park, has it all - geysers, waterfalls, canyons, terraced springs, thermal pools, mudpots, wild rivers, lush valleys, and wildlife - so much wildlife that Yellowstone is often referred to as "The American Serengeti". Bison, elk, deer, moose, wolves, coyotes, black bear, and of course "griz" live here. I've been to Yellowstone many times and see it differently every time. And, I'll go back many more times because you simply can never see it all.

The Puppies

This is strictly a personal indulgence featuring puppies that have shared our home and made it a more comfortable and comforting place. No show dogs here although we have been very proud of "The Puppies" and always thought they were real champions and wonderful, loving and lovable companions. And, they were - and are.

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