Rain

So first of all, if tonight's photo has been previously used, my apologies.  It is getting increasingly tough to keep track.  Anyway I was going to do a post on climate change, but I decided to do that some other day.  I then was going to do something on The Raven, since it was first published on this date in 1845, but I can't seem to find a suitable photo of a raven.  So it is rain, because it was a rainy day.  What is so special about that?  Nothing really, it is rather mundane in fact, I mean it is raining in January, it special when it doesn't rain.  But it is easy to get down about the gray and rain, so avoid that America's Finest Blog will celebrate it in photo.  Tonight a rainy scene from the U District.

Enjoy

Dan

Why This Man

Six years ago today, Western Union ceased sending telegrams, something it had done for the previous 155 years.  The telegram had long since become a largely useless form of communication, but Western Union was still sending 20,000 a year.  That of course begins the question, why?  With the telephone, the cell phone, email, text messaging, instant messaging, etc, what do you suppose was the demographic for a telegram sender?  All that said, I've never received or sent a telegram, which makes me a bit sad.  Anyway why this man?  This is my Great Grandfather, a station agent and telegraph operator for the Milwaukee Road.

Behind the Lens

Sometimes when tasked with photographing life's events, you find yourself removed from said events, as if the camera in your hand is as large as a wall.  There is a fine line between documenting an event and being an active participant.  For me, photography is a way to create visual history of my life and my wife and kids lives.  History is very important to me and so is quality photography.  It is a fine line and one that I often seem to err on the side of photography, which frankly I shouldn't.  That all said, man is it difficult not to bring my camera.  Then again I do have a smart phone.
Dan

A Paar Photograph

Tonight with power on and nothing much to blog about, I have turned to the source of this blog, the Paar Family Photos.  This photo is one of those it would be really nice if there was some explanation to it.  Was there some sort of inside joke here, or was this completely spontaneous.  All I know is what was printed on the slide, this is Pat and Ray S. at my Grandparent's house warming party circa 1950.

Brrrr

Well the great icing has left me without power and a headache.   It was rather scary standing outside listening to trees snap a part.  But was cool to see the layer of ice coating everything.  Now for a picture of candle power.

Weyerhaeuser and Snow

What does Weyerhaeuser and snow have in common?  Nothing that I know of, other than it snowed at my house today, and my house has been built on land once owned by Weyerhaeuser .  Also that it snowed today and today is Weyerhaeuser 's birthday, I would go deeper into all of this, however SOPA and PIPA will not allow me to mention any, in fact I have probably breached the proposed laws as it is.  All I can say is keep speech on the Internet free.  Anyway, a picture of my house, taken by me.  Note, in case my wife reads this, the my picture of my house was taken when it snowed a different time. 

Day of The Cornflakes

The snow is here and it has created the usual havoc and caused some to become real grumpy and others to become kids and everyone one the roads to drive a bit worse.  It is like this always, of course I am not even mentioning the overblown news coverage, complete with live breaking news of the first flake.  How different it was back on this date back in 1943, the media couldn't avoid the issues of the day by dedicating 75% of its coverage to light snow.  It wasn't because it didn't snow, it did, it was because of a wartime ban on reporting the weather.  So the local papers referred to the snow as something like cornflakes and waited for the military to lift the ban on reporting of the weather.  Which the military did so a day later, and by this time the cornflakes were confirmed to be snow.  Then it had turned cold and snow even more.  The snow paralyzed the city (sound familiar?) bringing wartime building at Todd Shipyard and Boeing to a halt.  The government ordered homes to only turn the heat to 60 degrees and not use the oven.  The dreaded cornflakes/snow lasted until around January 23rd, at which time snow could once again not actually be mentioned.  

Today the snow that has been around the region finally found its way to North Bend, at times the flakes were as small as dandruff, but other times it was like cornflakes falling from the sky.  Tonight's photo then was taken today at Rattlesnake Lake. 

Enjoy

Dan

It Is Coming

Snow is in the forecast, panic has gripped the region and chaos and despair are waiting in the wings.  I use to enjoy the snow, now I have to be on conference calls at 4 AM about snow.  I am not amused, in fact I dislike it a great deal, one because 4 AM is really early and two I use to like snow.  I would still like snow if I could.  Oh well, we move forward.  And the snow is coming and with it some good photos I hope.  Tonight, some photos of snow.

By Way Of The Lonely Highway

It struck me I have not done a lonely highway post lately, I have posted lonely highway photos, just not a post.  When the land spreads out to the sky in all directions and you are traveling through the open spaces on a thin black ribbon of asphalt how lovely it is to be apart of it all.  It is at once empowering and humbling.  It tricks you and begs to wander and to stay in the vast interior of open land and of towns too small for any other than a catalog store.  And occasionally an object will rise up, a sentinel watching over the land still and quiet.

Dan

New Lens

So for Christmas, I received a new lens from my wife.  It is a Lensbaby Composer, with a double glass optic and a pinhole optic.  It is quite an ingenious system, in which you buy the lens and then purchase the drop in optics to transform your lens into something different.  I have been out and about a couple times to try to put the lens through the paces, but mid-winter isn't always the most ideal time to shoot in the upper valley.  So far though, I do like the results.  Tonight a couple photos taken with the Lensbaby Composer and double glass optic.

My Son

At 9:30 PM or there abouts, January 6, 2007, my son entered the world.  An amazing moment that words cannot really describe.  Really that can be said for the whole 5 years.  I am struck by how quickly the time has gone and how quickly he has grown up.  Recently I have noticed that photos of him are now photos of a school-aged boy, not the precocious toddler that I had this last summer.  It pains me a bit to see him grow, he seems so old and I am not really ready for the transition into school kid.  That said, I am very proud of him.  His is knowledgeable and interested in the world.  I am a lucky man.  Tonight photos of my little man.
Enjoy
Dan

 

January Photos

Looking back at the first photos I seem to take each year, I am struck by fact that they seem to be all about going through the motions.  Whether or not that is or was really the case, that is hard to say.  2008 to 2011, the first photos sometimes were taken because I was driving the kid around so he would nap, the camera would come along for fun.  Kid is too old for that now, so I will need different excuses to take the camera out in the January gloom.
Tonight photos from the last few January's. 

   

New Beginnings

Well it is a new year and what a year it should be.  After all the world will come to an end on 12/21/12 and it is an election year, which will likely make us welcome 12/21/12.  Since we have 300 plus days to comment on the Mayan Calendar and the 2012 Election, I thought I would comment on the other great thing that happens this time of year.  The new year's resolution, which is normally something you think up because you know somebody will ask you what your resolution is going to be for the new year.  I know many people try to stay true to their resolution, but there are just as many that don't remember their resolution for current year by February 1st.  Like most Americans I say that this year is the year that I will stick to my resolution.  However I don't think I'll stay with it everyday, there will be setbacks and detours, but most days I hope I can live up to resolution.  This year I want to make a difference in my own life and by doing so I will make difference in the lives of those who depend on me, both professionally and personally.  Hopefully this will inspire others to make a difference in their lives, and it will be like concentric circles spreading out from where the pebble was dropped into the stream.  Tonight's photo is of my son and it represents the last photo from 2011.  It seems like a good starting point for 2012.
Happy New Year.