The Light of October

As mentioned before, it is that time of year, the tme for wonderful October light.  A product of the tilt of the planet upon it's axis.  This light can be truly magical, especially on a crisp morning or on a warm afternoon.  Tonight a look ahead to what we have in store for the next 31 days.

162

The baseball season came to an end today for our beloved M's.  I made it a point to watch tonight's game, it was the last meaningful baseball game until April.  This is great difference between baseball and football, in football you have the playoffs and champion game (I don't want to pay the NFL royalties for have the word super next to the word bowl), there are interesting even if your team isn't playing.  Baseball does have the World Series, but let's face it, who cares, unless your team is in, otherwise 162 games takes its toll.  I watched some other games tonight and reminisced about meaningful September baseball, its been awhile since that has happened for the M's.  Oh well, until next year, after all its only about 140 days until pitchers and catchers report. 

In the Darker Moments

Back on this date in 1858, Colonel George Wright's punitive military expedition through the Paulouse turned extra punitive.  We know of the famous reprisals that the U.S. Army undertook against the native populations in this land.  Most seem to have taken place on the plains or in Colorado or the southwest.  You don't think Washington State, when you consider times the Army ran amok with the natives.  But we had our had our share, on both sides of the state.   

George Wright had set out from Fort Walla Walla on September 1st, to avenge Lt. Colonel Steptoe's defeat.  He had fought a few small battles in the preceding 25 days, and not to be overlooked killed 800 Indian horses and destroyed food supplies.  So by 1858 standards a good month.  By the 25th Wright had made it to the Ned-Whauld River and made camp.  He then ordered all local tribes surrender or face extermination.  Chief Owhi of the Yakama was the first to surrender, but Wright also wanted Owhi's son Qualchan, as Wright considered both to be the cause of the discontent.  So in order to avoid having his father hung, Qualchan came foward and within 15 minutes was hanging from a tree.  Later in the day 10 Palouse warriors surrenders and were hung.  In all some 17 Indians where hung along the Ned-Whauld River, forever to be known as Hangman Creek, at least by the Federal Government.  Washington State is uneasy with the reference and calls it Latah Creek. 

As for Owhi he was not one of 17 that were hung, instead he was taken prisoner and was to be taken back to Fort Walla Walla, but he tried to escape and was shot by Lt. Michael Morgan and when he laid dying, Morgan ordered Sergeant Edward Ball to finish him, Ball had been routed with Steptoe's men back in May 1858.  Ball placed his pistol to Owhi head and pulled the trigger.  After that the story goes, the resistance collapsed and Eastern Washington was free to be settled by Tea Party Republicans and frequented by liberal wine tasters.

Tonight a photo of the Paulouse from the Steptoe Butte.

The Summer Has Ended

Now that the summer that nearly never was is behind us, I thought I would post four not so dusty moments from said season.  And then it is time to turn toward autumn and it's leaves and pumpkins and a couple more good weeks of weather.
Enjoy

Dan

Fish Eye

So about two and half years ago, I blogged about a cheap faux fish eye lens, made from a peephole.  Back in the end of August I rented the real deal from BorrowLenses.com, it was pretty cool.  The real thing is a bunch better than a peephole.  I had it for two weeks and took a ton of photos with it.  I just love the depth of field and 180 degree view.  Tonight a couple photos taken with the fish eye.

Enjoy

My Left Ankle

Well I have done it, severely sprained my left ankle doing something less than noble.  Oh well, I say.  What is disappointing is that I will be mostly mono-legged for the next 4 to 6 weeks.  As anyone from Western Washington will attest too, this is the time of year with the absolutely best light for shooting.  Winter's light is great because the sun barely reaches above the horizon, but it is a cool, harsh light that has big contrast.  The autumn light is different, it has some contrast but it is very warm and inviting.  Couple that light with the things we all love about fall, the colors, harvest fun, etc, it is a great time of year.
Tonight some photos from late September or early October.  Note, that when the warm tones are not present, there is something interesting in it's place, mostly ground fog.
Enjoy
Dan

Ouch

So originally in honor of the ankle I turned, that has resulted in the most painful experience in the last 25 years, I was going to spend tonight waxing on about injuries.  Instead I noticed that today was the 16th anniversary of the end of baseball in Seattle.

It was September 1995, and the Mariners were winning I was excited about the game and the team.  I guess I should back up a bit, to August 1994, New York City was the place and the Yankees were going to be playing a home series against, I don't know, but playing at home.  I was in New York City, it was a hot and muggy, I have rueful memories of August 12th.  I could have gone to a Yankees game, I could have seen the house that Ruth built, instead a strike.  I returned from Europe and the strike was still on.  I moved half way across the state and strike was still on and worse the World's Series was cancelled.  I was done with baseball, not even Ken Burns Baseball could keep my love light shining.  I had loved the game since the 2nd grade, but I was now done.
Anyway September 19, 1995, actually it was September 20th, whatever.  September 20th, 1995, I remember walking down stairs to Main Street, Ellensburg, WA and looking at the headlines in the paper, the special Mariners vote for a new stadium had been defeated.  They were leaving it appeared.  It seemed so cruel, they were finally a good team and they were leaving.  Finally, my love for the game had returned, but they were leaving.  I felt frustrated and sad, like after a girl suddenly breaks up with you.  I remember being pretty down for a while, but then deciding that I would enjoy it while I could .  I always, say that it was Griffey, Buhner, Edger, et al that gave me back my love of the game.  But really I need to include Mike Lowry, who railroaded a bill through a special legislative session to allow for the building of Safeco Field.  Tonight a glass of scotch for ol' Mike Lowry the man who saved baseball, for me at least.

Dan

Last Three Years

Tonight a look back at photos I took around this time of year for the previous three years.

Enjoy.

Air Travel

I have mentioned before, my lack of love for air travel.  It stems mostly from two things the modern airport experience and modern service on the plane.  Deregulation was great for air fares but at a cost.  With each economic downturn the service gets a bit worse and the planes a bit more crowded.  Gone are the days of free meals and half empty flights.  Not to mention, the blankets and pillows.  Recently when flying, I realized that I miss the thrill of sudden acceleration and the moment the wheels level the ground.  Now a days, all of that just means I am that much closer to my hypo-allergenic micro-snack.  However what you still get is a good view, weather and daylight permitting.

Dan

Ever Forgot

Whether it is healthy or not, or whether we wanted to or not, America has spent the better part of September remembering September 11, 2001.  We are asked to remember the victims and the heroes of the day and to reflect upon what it is to be American.  Maybe its time we move on, yearly speeches reflecting on the events of the past, serve only to distract us from the present.  Maybe it is time we briefly reflect upon the loss and then demand an America that is worthy of the lives lost.  Not just lives lost on 9/11 or in the decade of war that has followed but everyone who has served and died or served and lived since Lexington and Concord.  Those brave souls that have fought and stood by this nation, to ensure that this flawed experiment continues demand we do nothing less.  

Four Generations

Tonight will simply be photos of four generations of fishing.  My grandfather, my dad, myself and my boy.  We were at some point better fishermen than the composition and quality of the photographs.  I have many fond memories of fishing with my dad and grandfather.  I can remember trips to Jameson Lake and steelhead fishing on the Columbia.  One of the things I recall, is that my Dad was always just has happy when I caught a fish, as when his caught one.  Expect for maybe when we went steelhead fishing. 

More Silverton

According to the book Discovering Washington's Historic Mines, this home had a moonshining operation back during the prohibition era.  When work got to Silverton that the law was coming to shut it down, the still was dismantled and taken to the preacher's house.  The revenuers searched every building in town expect the preacher's house for the still.

Silverton

After spending the weekend in Silverton, I was saddened to hear that the condensers had been removed.  Apparently somebody tipped the EPA that the condensers had been mercury retorts for cooking cinnabar.  The mercury was then sold to the miles at Monte Cristo.  I remember the first time I saw them, standing silently in the forest.  It was eery and beautiful at the same time.
Tonight pictures from the first contact.

Rodeo Weekend

Here at America's Finest Blog, we have always taken time to look at bad photos, or mis-labeled photos, photos that loosely relate to my ramblings and photos that really have nothing to do with my ramblings.  Tonight we'll focus on some mis-labeled photos.  These photos are said to be of the Ellensburg Rodeo, but actually are from the Kitsap County Fair.  Believe me I would have loved to see Rodeo pics from the 50's, but oh well.  What this does do for me, is give me a chance to ramble on about the rodeo.  Or specifically the Rodeo Weekend, since I haven't ever been to the rodeo. 

The Ellensburg Rodeo and County Fair occur over Labor Day weekend and locals referred to it as Rodeo Weekend.  I have some fond memories of Rodeo Weekend, like watching the cowboys in their trucks roll down Main Street at 4 AM, one warm morning.  A midget in lederhosen and pointy green hat, walking out of the Chinese restaurant.  Shooting pool with bikers, drinking a lot of beer (purchased at local prices, not 206er cowboy prices).  Walking the alleys with a friend, looking for people to hang out with and finding just about the craziest old man in the neighborhood.  The guy had in his yard four lawn chairs, three garbage cans, two of which had beer and ice in them and the third for empties and the best stereo you could purchase at the Bi-Mart.  I'll spare the details of the conversation, there were four topics; Hank Williams, women, drugs and guns.  I remember the general chaos throughout the town that started about 3 PM on Friday and didn't abate until late afternoon on Monday.  Then there were Ted's anti-Rodeo parties, which always featured Dave Nelson eventually sleeping on the couch on Ted's porch.  Finally, there was one sight you could always count on, four overweight guys wearing matching denim shirts, and pristine white 10 gallon cowboy hats, rolling through town squeezed into a sub-compact.  True story, well maybe not matching denim shirts.  You couldn't help but laugh.   

The Ship Canal

Today marks 100 years since the beginning of construction of the Lake Washington Ship Canal.  The canal itself has become a part of Seattle.  Nobody here probably remembers what Fremont looked like before the canal was built.  It seems almost foreign to have the U-District connected to Capital Hill or Queen Anne Hill to Fremont and Ballard.  The man made canal seems so nature, as if it were always there.  Of course it wasn't always there and the canal was, by modern terms an ecological disaster.  After all the Black River ceased to exist because of the canal.  This couldn't happen today, we simply would not have allowed the Army Corp of Engineers to come into town and dry up a river.  Lucky for Seattle back in 1911, progress was not to be stopped by the Black River.