Bainbridge Ferry – Seattle

28. July 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Image a Day · Tags: , , ,

Today my photography buddy Chris Pearson and I decided to take a ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island and see what we could shoot.  So at 8am this morning I picked Chris up and we hit the road.  We got to Seattle pretty quickly, the roads were relatively empty at that time and drove to the ferry port.  We got there at the exactly right time to drive straight onto a waiting ferry and cross Elliott Bay.

I guess 8:30 in the morning on a Saturday is too early for most as the ferry was empty and we got the chance to take some shots of Seattle as we left, and Bainbridge as we arrived.  On the way over the sky was very overcast and it looked like it was about to rain, fortunately as the morning drew on it got warmer and warmer and blue sky even came out.

I got some really good pictures on Bainbridge Island and will post those in the coming week, but tonight’s picture was of the ferry as it approached Bainbridge to take us home to Seattle.  Chris and I parked up near the front of the line to get on the ferry and had time to walk down to the ferry port ramp where you drive from the Island onto the ferry.  I took this picture as the ferry was coming in.

I liked this image as I caught the ferry as it was about to turn towards dock and had the Seattle skyline in the background.  I also liked the depth of field in this picture too with the dock just out of focus.  It doesn’t look it here but it was quite warm by this time with blue sky poking through the clouds.

We had a really good day and I got a good dozen postable images, and for 6 hours that’s really good.

Here’s Carter enjoying a run on the beach.  Clearly the sand is very wet as his feet are sinking!

Airport Delay – SeaTac Airport

14. July 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Image a Day · Tags: , ,

So here I am sitting at SeaTac airport waiting to fly out to Maui.  We got here a little early (Lisa never likes to have to rush when we’re here – which is probably a good thing) so I decided to capture a picture at the airport for today.  So while the kids are tucking into some lunch at the food court, I walked off looking for something to shoot.

While wandering down Terminal B I looked out the windows and watched these guys, working on a plane.  A number of passengers who were taking the plane looked on too, all of them I would guess feeling a combination of frustration because they were delayed, and fear as the last thing you want to see is someone working on your plane before you take off!

So I walk up to the window all cocky and take a few shots.  Smile at the delayed passengers and walk off to find Lisa.  All the time I’m thinking, bloody hell glad that’s not me, but it will make an interesting picture.  So I find Lisa and we walk to the gate.  I get 10 minutes to process the image and post it, write something really quick saying “I’m posting now as I’m about to get on my plane – I’ll write more tonight when I land and reach my hotel…” and go to the gate to get on the plane.

Guess what?  Now we are delayed for about an hour.  I mean talk about bad karma!  I shouldn’t have laughed at the other passengers.  At least there’s nobody with wrenches standing on our plane – yet!

So I walked back to my chair and typed this up.  Hopefully we will get away this evening and get to Maui.  If not expect a series of images of the airport, as I’m not leaving.  Just think of me as Tom Hanks in “The Terminal” – I’m moving in…

While waiting for our flight at SeaTac airport the guys couldn’t resist a Wendy’s Baconator!

Crescent Moon Sunset – Seattle

09. July 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Image a Day · Tags: , , ,

I was in Seattle the other day down by the water front, like you do, and the sun was setting, like it does, and it kind-a looked really cool.  So I thought I’d take a picture, and the pictures looked, well just OK.  I think what grabbed my attention for a picture was the sunset and the moon high above, but in all my pictures I didn’t really get the right shot, principally because I was shooting in landscape, not portrait.  So I turned the camera on its side and captured the shot below.

Now there are advantages and disadvantages of shooting in portrait orientation.  I think the image I wanted (and got) worked really well in this format.  I really like the layers in the image; you have the calm water at the bottom, then that beautiful sunset with fluffy clouds, then above that some darker mottled clouds and finally some clear sky with the waxing crescent moon (I had to look that up).  The layers for me really make this image.

Unfortunately I don’t think portrait images work that well on the blog site (hence I don’t post them very often), but on a positive side, I now have a new phone lock screen image.

Yesterday Master Chief got to meet Carters horse, not to be out done, he got his ride out today.

Paddle Boards – Lake Union

06. July 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Image a Day · Tags: , ,

Today was a beautiful day, 80+ degrees and blue sky.  So this afternoon I decided to drive over the Seattle and grab some pictures of people enjoying the sun.  In the end I found myself by Lake Union watching the boats on the lake.

Lake Union is also a landing strip for sea planes and I took a few shots of some planes taking off and landing.  But I wasn’t really in the best place and while some of the images were OK, I felt I could get a better shot on another day.  So the sea plane images went in the trash.

There were some beautiful sail boats on the lake too and they were moving at a heck of a pace across the water.  One I saw was almost on its side as it cut across the lake, it was really impressive.  But the boats were on the other side of the lake too far away even too far for my longest lens (Lisa I need a longer one) and the images I captured were also not great.

Then I saw these two ladies paddling past on their boards.  I grabbed a shot as they passed Gas Works Park in the background and I loved the image when I got home.  The water looked pretty smooth and they were traveling quite fast.  This sport amazes me, probably because I have terrible balance and would suck at it.  It looks so graceful (and I’m quite envious) so I decided to post this one tonight.

Lisa got the suitcases out today – we aren’t going to Maui until next Saturday!  But Carter and Master Chief got inspired and decided to do some Maui research.

Blackbird’s Bottom – Museum of Flight

05. July 2012 · Write a comment · Categories: Image a Day · Tags: ,

Back on February 17th I posted a picture of the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane that was taken at the Museum of Flight in Seattle.  Here is a link to the posting SR-71 Blackbird.  The image I shot was the typical kind of picture you’d expect.  Taken from the front, just above the plane so you saw it in all its glory.

However while there, I saw another opportunity for an interesting picture. This time from the other end and underneath.  I stood behind the plane, got the tripod and shot the image below, of the planes underbelly.  There was a lot of orange light highlighting the plane and I hoped it would create a nice image.

When I composed the image there were a lot of people walking about and I really didn’t want any of them in the image.  So I decided to take lots of pictures and then splice them together in Photoshop using parts of images with no people and in them and then produce a clean people free photograph.

The end result came out (I think) really well.  The plane looks super cool and there are no people in shot.  The lights under the plane came our really well too and lit up the plane to create a great image.

Today the guys got hold of some sprinkled cookies.

 

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