Winter Lace

Just before sunrise at Netarts Bay near Tillamook, Oregon.  This was my first time out with my camera since before New Year's, and it felt good to get out.  I'll post more about this trip to Netarts in coming days. Today, I want to write about my dog, Clover.  If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that Clover has been my trusty companion on photo shoots. Well, her health began to fail just after the new year, and sadly we lost her this week.  She passed away peacefully, after twelve really great years with our family, and I'm sure going to miss her! If you don't know Clover, you can see her photo in the right-hand side bar (scroll a bit), and also in my top 10 shots of 2017.

Good Girl

Clover on a hike, ready for her closeup.
She's been on enough photo shoot hikes to know to wait while I'm photographing.
So she gets a great sense of 'Mission Accomplished' standing guard for me.

Elsa Was Here

We went out of town for a few days this week, and came home to a completely frozen pond!  Thawing a bit with our last two days of rain, but I expect it will completely freeze over again tomorrow with more snow forecast.  I tried photographing it in the completely frozen state, but it wasn't as interesting as this morning's partial freeze.  I think because the pond has a little layer of water on top, so it gives a good reflection, but also looks frozen with the tiny air bubbles.  Clover was sitting on the rocks above the pond, so I got to include her in the image.  Bonus.

The Beaten Path

My preferred walking route with Clover, and our dusting of snow this past week, which brightened up the scene a bit. This field/young woods is fun to explore, and Clover gets some off-leash time, but in the winter the field gets really soggy because this soil tends toward clay. My snow boots worked great, but in warmer weather I need some waterproof shoes that can handle both water and hills. 

Camas Study 1

As the title name implies, I'm probably going to post a series of photos from my trip to the camas field in Lacamas Regional Park.  Camas is a perennial flower in the Pacific Northwest.  Related to the asparagus, it has a sweet inulin-rich bulb that was a staple food for Native American tribes. I've got a lot of photos from this dewy early morning visit.  Maybe they will all look the same to me tomorrow, but right now I'm imagining I will want to post several, as I decide what I like and don't like about each shot.  In this photo I like the addition of the pink clover, and also the diagonal line created by the clover-rich foreground. 

Clover in the Snow

Well, it started snowing yesterday morning and didn't stop until it was dark.  We got six inches which is quite a lot given that there are no plows or salt trucks around here and that it can be very hilly.  I didn't see any way to get out to the horse trail because there's an unclimbable hill (for us non-4WD drivers).  So Clover and I headed out on foot to our nearest path through the woods.  More snow coming tonight, then I think we'll warm up enough that our roads should melt.  For now we're all snowed in and loving it!

A Boy and His Dog

Eric and Clover explore the coastline at Oceanside Beach near Tillamook, Oregon yesterday afternoon.  It was sunny everywhere except right along the coast.  We're familiar with this weather pattern which is common in Northern California as well.  We didn't mind though; the weather was warm and calm, and I happen to think this mistiness is sort of pretty, and fun to photograph in for a change of pace!

January 12

A girl and her dog

on the path near West Davis Pond.

August 15

Poor Clover returned home from the kennel with the Cone of Shame :(  She snagged her ear on her cage and had to get stitches.  She's actually falling asleep here...she's not that upset about the cone, and manages to get around ok.  Stitches come out on Saturday.  f/4.5, 1/60, 34mm

Looking at attacking the daily post with renewed interest after having a conversation with two professional photographers in Ludington.  Todd and Brad Reed.  I'll include a link to their website with my other links.  They also did a photo a day for a year.  Called the 365 Project, they started January 1, 2010 and between them published 730 photos.  What was most interesting to me was that Jim Brandenberg was also their inspiration!  And while most of the photos were strikingly artistic outdoors photos, many were mundane, everyday things, or around town.  It made me feel like, not only could I do that, but that I should do that.  The trick for me will be not to take too much time on any given photo.  I get a tremendous amount of insight and growth practicing everyday.  And if I'm not too critical of my photos, then I think posting everyday ought to be doable for me...maybe.  Anyway here's hoping...