Walked out of the house ready to go to work when I found the light on the pond looking just right. 

Deep in the Wood

View from Ecola State Park lookout

Ecola State Park

Deep in the woods at Ecola State Park, Oregon

Having left my coat at the Lumberyard Rotisserie and Grill at the Oregon Coast, I took the first opportunity I had to go back to retrieve it. I gave myself plenty of time so that I could scope things out for shooting opportunities. I like this area dividing Ecola State Park from Cannon Beach where I hope to get back in search of the perfect photo opportunity. By the way, I highly recommend the Lumberyard, and there chicken pot pie special.

While visiting Cannon Beach with family, I decided to take a look at Haystack Rock in a different way. This I feel accomplished that and will take me in a different direction in my ongoing quest to capture the rock in pleasant and artistic ways.

One of two shots I took yesterday on a very cold December day of the yet to be MAX bridge.

Progress of the new MAX bridge.

The new MAX extension necessitated this new bridge. It has been fun watching the progress of this structure. This is a fun progression shot, and I will look forward to getting one of the completed bridge with a MAX train crossing over the river.

Colorful leaves in frame.

It was fun taking this interesting shot and tweaking it for a little more interest.

Sunrise at St. John's Bridge, Oregon

While visiting Teri's son Rich in Monterey, I took some time to photograph a small portion of the beautiful coast. I like the wild feel of this shot. 

Private Meeting

Private Meeting

While on my way to the top of Devil's Head, there were many fantastic rock formations. This is a good representation.

Aspen around boulder on the trail to Devil's Head, Colorado.

These little shrooms tried to escape my attention, however I being of eagle eye, was able to find them.

The elusive 'Potato Rock Gosling'

This is the elusive Potato Rock Gosling…. They are on a migration path from the Yukon, headed to Brazil. They only migrate every five years and with dwindling numbers due to climate change, are very hard to find. Many ardent photographers have tried for years, but when these critters even smell a camera they are off. However, I being such a stealthy boy, using my sleep abilities to fly, was able to. No sooner had I clicked the shutter than it flew away quickly, so I was not able to get a second shot.

There is so much beauty in our world, regardless of the season. This shot, again, was taken right in my back yard.

These beautiful flowers remain actively blooming late into autumn. This is the first year I have planted them.

 

The back yard offers a great variety of photo opportunities. This mushroom, nearing the end of it's life has a beauty not found on the younger healthier fungus.

When I first took a picture of this tree, I had not checked the aperture setting, resulting in this overexposed shot. I liked it a lot so did a little Photoshop, making it my own.

Eastern Oregon is beautiful even in its desolation.

At a rest area in Eastern Oregon, on our way to Colorado Springs to see our daughter, Christine and her family, I found this magnificent tree.

As Teri and I were traveling through Colorado on our way to Colorado Springs, , we stayed at Hampton Inn in the little town of Rifle. This was the view from our room.

Found these mushrooms growing in my neighbors yard so felt a need to trespass.  The light was just right to bring out the color and mood I was after in the shot.

While driving from New Jersey to New York, a break in the obstructions preventing a look at this skyline appeared. I quickly lifted my camera and shot.

While at the Bronx Zoo, we saw many exotic animals but when we saw this little bunny out on some grass, I got one of my favorite shots.

Patterson Falls, New Jersey

 

Bracing my camera against a metal rail on a footbridge, I managed to get a slow exposure with little shake. 

Bronx Zoo

I like the thoughtful intelligence that seems apparent.



Sitting in the shadows, he seems to be contemplating the universe.

I am amazed at how beautiful and powerful the gorilla is, even when it is walking away.

After those people stop staring, I'm going to run, jump, swing from the branches and do flips.

New York City

One of the more exciting things to see in New York was the, still under construction, Freedom Tower, an amazing building, standing tall above the skyline, reminding us that we can rise from the dust, hold our heads high, and be a great nation.

What, in America, is more famous than the Statue of Liberty? While riding on a Stanton Island ferry I got this shot of the statue and a second ferry at sunset.

Being in New York was as exciting as being in some famous old European country. There is so much to look at. Over several decades I had seen many scenes of New York in movies and television shows, but never felt that I would actually go visit. Walking around and seeing the famous sights was such a thrill. That goes also for seeing the New York Stock Exchange.

As we were walking toward Stanton Ferry and crossing a street, I glanced up to see the new Freedom Tower. I stepped back a few steps to take a couple of shots. Satisfied that I had gotten the shot I wanted, I looked around to see that I was blocking traffic. The driver didn't even honk.

I found many buildings in New York to be fascinating and beautiful.

The sign in the foreground caught my eye so I decided to use it in this cityscape. While the message of the sign may be insulting to all the beautiful blonds, I did find it funny. You may want to click on the picture to enlarge it enough to read the sign.

Arch in Grand Central Station, New York.

Shooting from the hip allowed me to get a low angle of these girls reviewing the photos they had just taken. Of course they are using a Canon.

On almost every turn there was something fascinating to see in New York City. This view of the Chrysler Building was one of my favorite.

Walking through Central Park in New York, one of my grandsons spotted this dragon fly resting on this sculpted appearing twig. I managed to get this shot before it bugged out of there.

After a few failed attempts to get a decent shot of a dragon fly, I was able to capture this while in enjoying a visit to the Bronx Zoo with my daughter and grandsons.

While at the Bronx Zoo with my daughter and her family, and while walking across a footbridge, we came across these turtles sunning on a log.

Inspiration is often as close as the front yard. These July Berries caught my eye, then with a little Photoshop magic...

Garden of the Gods

During our visit to Colorado Springs, Colorado we visited Garden of the Gods. It is a spectacular sight. It was a beautifully sunny day with snow on the ground.

While on vacation in the Caribbean, at St. Lucia I was taking a photo of this wall. As this woman walked by with her man, I noticed that her towel, tan and clothing would enhance the image I was attempting to capture. She agreed to lean against the wall. The shots without her, were just plain.

Back Yard Humming Bird

With several failed attempts to attract humming birds with purchased nectars, I decided to make my own. The home made nectar did the job, bringing several birds to our yard.

Young, Loud & Cool

This boy, floating over the sand, was having fun with his parents on the beach. His expression of joy in his young life caught my attention with a resultant shot from the hip.

Majestic in flight

These three eagle pictures were taken when Teri and I were visiting Birch Bay and staying at the Sandcastle Inn.  That is a very relaxing bay and we always look forward to seeing the eagles.

Majestic