Cold Beauty of Winter IV

When the leaves fall of the vines and shrubs you can see the chaotic beauty.

Cold Beauty of Winter III

A splash of color in the cold beauty of winter.

Cold Beauty of Winter II

Another winter in the woods picture, this one from Tualitin Nature Park.

Cold Beauty of Winter

Cook Park in Tigard, Oregon

After four years it blooms, Pt II

It looks like it was worth the 4 year wait.

See After four years it blooms

After four years it blooms

This orchid was purchased at an orchid show a little over four years ago. It was not blooming and I had forgotten why I bought it or what it looked like. I was just about to give up and throw it out but now it's blooming.

Sun and Moon Set

The cold clear weather we have had here in the Pacific NW has been good for something, nice pictures.


Moon set from my front yard.


Mt Hood at sunset from my back yard.

Duck

For the birds

Rural Bavaria

Bavarian farm circa 1970

Another Mushroom

It's still damp and cool here in the Pacific Northwest so here is another mushroom.

Red Mushrooms

It's been cool and wet here in the Pacific Northwest and that's good for one thing, fungus and mushrooms. Here are some pretty red ones.

Indian Hawthorn

Fall Leaves

Actually if you look closely you will see it is a montage of one leaf. The leaf was scanned and the montage was created using photoshop.

Pacific Tree Frog Photo

This photo of a Pacific Tree Frog appeared in the LA Times Outdoors section last Tuesday, Big voice.

The Last Canna

I had the last rose from my yard the other day. One of my cannas decided it had one more bloom remaining.

The Last Rose

This is the last rose of the season. It's survived the cool damp nights and the marauding deer.

Salad Break

I'm Back and needed a break from the politics of disaster.
Here is a salad on the hoof. Original was a 2 1/4 transparency.

I Love Tomatoes

I found this heart shaped tomato in my garden today and I love tomatoes.

Produce Cart In Munich

Produce Cart in Munich circa 1970

Innovation and Creativity

This is all about what you can do if you only try and don't listen to people who tell you something can't be done. This is about my nephew Gabe. Now Gabe is interested if spiders and insects. Gabe is also interested in photography so it is only logical who would like to photograph spiders and insects. Gabe is also on a limited budget which didn't allow for a digital SLR and expensive close up lenses.
Gabe does have a decent 6 megapixel fixed lens digital camera. Gabe also had the optics from some old video and still cameras. Even though he has no formal education beyond high school Gabe designed and constructed add on lenses for his fixed lens camera using those old optical component's, film cans, cardboard tubes, rubber bands and tape. The results speak for themselves and the pictures are technically as good as I have seen. His love of the subject matter shows as well as I would also consider many of them art.

To see more of Gabe's work head over to spiders, insects and other pics.
The United States and the world have a lot of problems. With a liitle innovation and creativity they all have a solution. Gabe should be an example to all of us. Don't listen to anyone who tells you there are no solutions but most of all don't listen to the polticians that tell you there are no problems.


Cross posted at Middle Earth Journal

Canna

My favorite canna

Lily

A new lily.

Grand Canyon

I still remember when I took this picture several years ago. It was taken within minutes of my arrival at the Grand Canyon for the first time. It was in December and right before sunset. Although I had traveled all over the west, spent time in the Alps in Europe and seen the sites in Asia I was not ready for the Grand Canyon.

Be sure and click on the picture for a larger image.

Pacific Tree Frog

Pacific Tree Frog on a dahlia.

Red Gladiola

A beautiful red gladiola in my yard.

Western Columbine

I took this picture of a Western Columbine(Aquilegia formosa) on the 4th of July. Almost looks like fireworks doesn't it?


Western Columbine

Another Tiger Lily

Tiger Lily

A little late this year but the Tiger Lilys are blooming.

Tiger Lily

Jumping Spider

Another picture from Gabe. He is doing some really nice work. This picture was taken with a macro lens he constructed himself out of old optics that he had. Once again, really good job Gabe.
Be sure to click on the picture for a larger image.


Jumping Spider

Night Life

Another picture by my nephew Gabe. I really like this one.

Cats

Indian Pipe

Indian Pipe

Indian Pipe is a saprophyte:

any plant that depends on dead plant or animal tissue for a source of nutrition and metabolic energy, e.g., most fungi (molds) and a few flowering plants, such as Indian pipe and some orchids. Most saprophytes do not produce chlorophyll and therefore do not photosynthesize; they are thus dependent on the food energy they absorb from the decaying tissues, which they help to break down.

Old Building

I have always loved the subtle colors of the old autochrome process.(see Autochromes from WWI) I have attempted to duplicate that here. Be sure and click on the picture for a larger image. The original was a 2 1/4 transparency taken in NW Portland. Technique available on request.

Old Building

Jumping Spider

Another picture by my nephew, Gabe

Jumping Spider ©2005 Gabe

Begonia

Lynx Spider

Another picture by my nephew Gabe.

Lynx Spider

Sack Spider

This is a picture by my nephew Gabe who is just getting started in photography. Good job Gabe, a great picture!!!!


Sack Spider

Pink Cala Lily

Lots of new flower pictures this time of year.


Pink Cala Lily

Perennial Glad-2

Perennial Glad-2

Rock Creek in Winter

Rock Creek in Winter

Pink Rose

Orchid-16

Frost

This picture was taken south of Munich after several days of freezing fog.

Frost

Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Cat Tails

Balch Creek -02

Balch Creek -02

Balch Creek-01

Balch Creek-01