6-30-2010

Sometimes something wonderful happens when you least expect it. If I had gone looking for this I never would have found it. But a viewer called at work, asking what the black ring around the sun was. I ran outside and here it was! The ring is called a 'halo' - and is caused by sunlight passing through the ice crystals that make up the cirrus clouds which occasionally pass through the upper part of the atmosphere. The ice crystals act as prisms, bending light and separating it into it's component colors. Because the sun's rays spread out in a cone shaped pattern, we see the resulting effect as a 'ring.' Thanks for the explanation, Jeff Renner! And thanks for the phone call Patty!

6-21-2010

We came upon the most amazing array of windmills out in the middle of nowhere. It was almost surreal and the gravel road was wide open so we had no problem getting close to them. They went on as far as the eye could see, and the sounds they made were incredible. We both felt it was an almost spiritual experience. Sort of like a modern day Stonehenge maybe? This photo taken with Darrell's Nikon D40, with some guidance from him. This will probably be the best photo I take all year.

6-20-2010

First day of our camping trip along the Columbia River in the tiny town of Roosevelt, east of the Cascades. Took this shot in the early evening looking east. Everything is there for me - the sky, the clouds, the river, the land, the trees. It is beautiful country.

6-19-2010

This is one of the greatest view points in the city - top of Admiral Way in West Seattle. Even on a gloomy day the city is beautiful, put the fisheye effect on and it takes a different twist. I asked a few people if they knew where I was (tweeted the photo) some pretty close answers but Randy's was the best.. 'inside a crystal ball.'

1130 am

6-18-2010

This is what we call in the biz 'run and gun' - you're in, you take the shot, you're out. I only ran because I heard a lot of talk on Twitter that the sun was out. It's hard to tell from my desk just how bright it is. But all I have to do is run out to the rooftop parking and what a view! The Needle, Queen Anne Hill, a peak of Lake Union, and part of Downtown. Oh yes, Aurora Avenue at our feet. Sometimes I wish I lived in this building. Sometimes I do. 5:44 pm

6-17-2010

How many ways can you go gray? I need to get use to this with our gloomy skies around here. 267 days without the temperature hitting 75 or above. Thanks to my new 'camera bag' app - going gray can get a twist. 3:20ish pm.

6-16-2010

Photograph or painting? Why do so many artists paint the sky? The sky itself is a work of art, isn't it? I am no artist and maybe that is why I chose the sky.

Why do so many artists paint the sky? Georgia O'Keeffe, Sky Above Clouds III/Above the Clouds III, 1963

6-15-2010

I thought it would be fun to get a driving shot, but really, it's not possible (or safe or legal) so.. I was on my way to the Viaduct, the final stretch of my commute, when I saw this view and started chanting 'I can get this if the light turns red. I can get this if the light turns red.'  It worked. The light turned red. I got it. But I would have thrown it away if not for the part I could not see with my own eyes. The way the windshield tint turned the sky into a beautiful blue. A new way of looking at things.  10 am.

6-14-2010

The American flag - what does it mean to you? My father gave up his entire life to come to the U.S. and start over when he was in his mid-30's. He didn't know anyone and couldn't speak the language. Five years later he became an American citizen, and two months after that I was born. He spent the rest of his life living the American dream, and trying to help his own children - and other people's children - do the same.  My father was my first teacher. 

The Stars and Stripes 7:10 pm.

6-13-2010

Not the best photo, but you can hardly beat the view from our backyard. I can't imagine living in a place without a lot of trees (most of these are the neighbors). I took this while lying in the camping recliner looking up, 3:15 pm. Great thing about living in an older neighborhood - lots and lots of trees. They are truly amazing plants. The longer we live here the more I try to sneak them into our own garden. This tree love likely stems from growing up in a house that included a small private forest in the back four acres. My parents loved trees too.

6-12-2010

Lots and lots and lots of great views today but finally decided on this one about 8 pm from a long, long walk we took today from home, through the greenbelt, to Starbucks for frappuccinos. This on the way back - original, and then 'Camera Bag' Colorcross. Thanks for the app tip, Randy!

6-11-2010

Today was a no brainer because the sun came out in the afternoon and I had the time to take a walk up to the roof of our building. Views in every direction. The first shot was the lazy shot, the Needle looks great almost every day of the year. It still thrills me and is my favorite building in Seattle (and I've been looking at it for almost 50 years!). The second shot was a 180 degree turn just one minute later. I like it better, because I had to think about the composition. Just before 3 pm.

6-10-2010

A different way of thinking. The sky is on the other side of the skylight. I tried two angles and realized the one I thought was better really didn't show the sky. Taken at 1:03 pm and 1:04 pm looking up from the atrium at work. Which do you like better?

6-09-2010

This one was pure luck. I stepped outside the office at 12:32 pm 6-09-2010 and noticed the sun was out. I aimed the phone (camera) toward the bright spot and just clicked. The round object in the lower left is one of the satellite dishes on top of KING 5's roof. I have a cropped version of the photo too but I like this one better. Half an hour later a big storm moved through, and then on.

6-08-2010

Inspired by the Clouds 365 Project my attempt to take a photo of the sky every day for a year. By iPhone no matter where I am. Starting with 6-08-2010 approx. 8pm. Standing on the picnic table in our back garden.