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My wife Mary, in a rare shot without a scowl or hand in front of her face.<div></div>

This is my newest little cousin, Carlee, she is about 2 weeks old.<div></div>

Been busy moving and haven't had a chance to submit any photos for a while. I decided to go with portraits this

week. It is always tough for me to choose portraits because it is easy to be influenced by the subject. In other

words, if I didn't know the subject and saw the photo, would I say that it isn't very good?

 

The first photo is Gordon and my aunt Donna. Gordon is 97, a super nice guy, and my aunt and uncle help him when

necessary (it isn't often). Gordon grew up here in Oregon and was out in the woods and mills all of his working

life. His house collapsed under a snow load last winter and he spent 5-6 hours pinned in his bed in really cold

weather until he was rescued. The national media tried to get the story going and he turned down several interviews.<div></div>

This is my first attempt at "commercial" work. It was for a buddy and I wasn't paid, so that is why the quotes are there. I think the house comes out looking very nice.<div></div>

I think the leaves on this tree curled up like this at the first real frost.<div></div>

I've got a couple more from an afternoon trip up to the mountains to get some Fall colors and then one that resulted from helping a friend trying to sell a house.

 

Andy<div></div>

The weather cooperated perfectly and there was no wind as the sun went down and the really good light came. It isn't often that you get conditions like that.<div></div>

Here is another wide shot that I think looks better in black and white.<div></div>

Not sure which is the "real" POW, so I'm going with the largest, never underestimate the herd mentality.

 

Took an afternoon last week and went up into the Cascade mountains by my home here in Oregon to try out my new DA 12-24. I'm really tormented by it's performance. Tons of CA and I hate having to spend the time to remove it, for the price it should be better.

 

It is fun though, and opens up a whole new world. For the first time ever on an outing like this I didn't get out the Vivitar 100mm and use the macro.

 

The first shot is in an area that burned about 5 years ago and is busy trying to mend itself. I am laying on my back and the fern on the right is maybe 2 feet above me. There is just an amazing amount of depth of field.<div></div>

Here is some sap that looks kind of funky with the macro and saturation turned up a bit.<div></div>

Adam's photo last week made me think of this one. I guess it works both ways, the father can tell the son to take

a hike with that camera, or the son can tell the father.<div></div>

Here is one more of my son playing on the beach. I think that was the most fun day he has ever had.<div></div>

Next was kind of a disappointment that was saved (partially) by going to B&W. I need to start carrying a soft brush with me to clean off dirt and spiderwebs. I always get busy and forget.

 

This is an Oregon grape that was on the coast.<div></div>

I was away from civilization today so will post a bit late in the day. I'm also cheating a bit with a couple more photos from last weeks coast trip. Got a lot of shots I liked and want to see what you folks think. I am often surprised which photos people like and which are duds (obvious from the lack of response on some shots). It is a learning process.

 

I was going out to move the sprinkler in the lawn when I came across a feather oddly sticking up. I thought it might be an interesting subject and took a lot of shots from far away which did nothing for me upon review in the computer. I think this closeup is kind of neat though. Macro just increases the possible subjects exponentially.<div></div>

There were all taken with my first new lens purchase, a 24-60 2.8 sigma. For $199 new through Amazon I can't think of a better bargain. Except for bad brokeh and CA when wide and at 2.8 it really does a nice job.<div></div>

Surfer sizing up the ocean.<div></div>

Took a trip to the Oregon coast last week and shot a bunch of photos. My two year old son had an absolute blast playing on the beach. Here are some of the keepers;<div></div>

Abe,

 

Picasa 2 can fetch your files for you. I just pop in the flash drive and a box pops up that asks me where I want to put the pictures and if it should delete the photos when done. Really easy.

 

Andy

Some interesting algae? Sounds like an oxymoron.<div></div>

This is a friend's daughter. When she saw us in the audience she gave us her 100 watt smile.<div></div>

So far, I really like Dave's playground, Robert's Web, and O Shiva's seagull. I think the seagull being slightly unnatural gives it a menacing edge.

 

Went to a parade last week and came home with a couple that I like. Seems like there is always the "killer" shot that has some problem that makes it unusable. I thought it might be fun to have an Almost the Picture of the Week. Might learn a lot by showing your most disappointing photo for the week.

 

Here is a tuba shot that I like:<div></div>

Here is a thistle head with nice colors and patterns.

 

I was packing light and only had one lens along, Pentax SMC 70-210. I like this lens more and more although the Vivitar 100mm macro would have been nicer for the closeups.

 

Thanks for all the positive comments last week. Makes this a lot of fun to participate.

 

 

Andy<div></div>

A simple shot of some aquatic weeds. Why would a plant under water have flowers? Is it just a leftover?<div></div>

Got to go for a three day fly fishing trip down the Deschutes river here in Oregon this week. Mostly fishing but got a few good shots in. My biggest disappointment is an osprey with a 20+ inch rainbow that it was at its absolute limit of what it could carry that was on the river with us. Got several shots that were OK but nothing good enough to post here.

 

The first shot is my friends Scott and Barbara scouting the White Horse rapids before going over in a drift boat. Scott was a little nervous.<div></div>

And here is the result of the cleanup.<div></div>