Early Spring

Early spring here in Seattle. Lots of trees and flowers blooming early. I couldn't be happier as I'm tired of the gloomy winter weather.

Happy in the Sun

When I got home from work, there was just a glimpse of sunlight on the flowers. I had to hurry to take some pictures before the sun hid behind the tall pine trees.

ISO 400 | 55 mm | f/6.3 | 1/160 sec

A Hint of Spring

A few of the tulips that we bought the other day at Pike's Market.

Splash of Pink

Came across these flowers a few weeks ago. Not your typical Fall color, but stunning nevertheless. Please enlarge, as they look a bit faded in the thumbnail.

ISO 500 | 45 mm | f/5.3 | 1/100 sec

ISO 500 | 55 mm | f/6.3 | 1/160 sec

Sun Bathing

Just some flowers sitting on my porch on a sunny day.

Enjoying the sun...

City View

A partial view of Seattle from Victor Steinbrueck Park next to Pike's Market.

ISO 200 | 55 mm | f/4.0 | 1/800 sec

On The Other Side

I've posted too many flower pictures lately. But it's rather hard not too after my first long rainy Seattle winter. Anyway, here is a slightly different take on an all too popular subject.

ISO 250 | 38 mm | f/9.0 | 1/320 sec

Small and Pink

Some small flowers from a bush outside of work.

ISO 250 | 35 mm | f/4.8 | 1/80 sec

A Busy Day

Today turned out to be a pretty nice day. We first went to Ballard to see a band my brother Roberto likes play at a record store. They are currently on tour and they were going to go down to Mexico City, but they got canceled. When he saw that they were playing here in Seattle he go pretty psyched about getting to see them up close and personal.

After their small concert at the record store, we drove down to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks that separate the Puget Sound from Lake Washington. While we were there, we only saw the small lock in use. I've never seen a lock in person before, so it was neat to sit there and watch the boats rise and fall as they lifted or lowered them. See this location on Live Maps.

ISO 400 | 18 mm | f/11 | 1/500 sec

These neat wave looking statues are on the south side of the locks in Commodore Park.

ISO 400 | 18 mm | f/9.0 | 1/320 sec

ISO 100 |55 mm | f/8.0 | 1/100 sec

After dinner at an Indian restaurant, we drove the short distance to Discovery Park to watch the last minutes of the sunset behind the Olympic Mountains.

ISO 250 | 55 mm | f/5.6 | 1/100 sec

Penta Flowers

Five flowers with five petals each.

ISO 100 | 55 mm | f/8.0 | 1/100 sec

White-eyed Aliens

The anthers at the end of the filaments look like small alien heads with large white eyes. Sorry it's not as sharp as it should be, but I really need a macro lens for these pictures, but they are too expensive. Please enlarge to see the details.

ISO 100 | 38 mm | f/8.0 | 1/100 sec

White and Green

A few new flowers on my way to work. I've been out for the last few days and just posted several pictures. Please check out the last few posts as well.

ISO 100 | 55 mm | f/8.0 | 1/200 sec

Unfolding

A dogwood flower that hasn't fully opened yet.

ISO 200 | 55 mm | f/5.6 | 1/60 sec

Dogwood

Behind the green tree from yesterday's post, there is a small dogwood tree that is starting to bloom. None of the lower flowers are out yet, so all I could get was this one that I had to stand on my toes for.

ISO 200 | 55 mm | f/6.3 | 1/60 sec

Bellefields Nature Park

Went for a walk at Bellefields Nature Park. You must click on these to see the larger picture, you will love the details on the slug. :-) I like how it looks like the fern is flexing it's muscles. See this location on Live Maps.

ISO 125 | 200 mm | f/5.6 | 1/50 sec

ISO 200 | 200 mm | f/5.6 | 1/30 sec

ISO 400 | 200 mm | f/5.6 | 1/125 sec

Collecting Pollen

I've decided to make this archive week. I took this picture last September when I joined my brother Jose and his girlfriend in Portland. One of the places we visited was the Chinese garden. Not sure what kind of flower this is, but there were three busy bees collecting it's pollen. See this location on Live Maps.

ISO 64 | 72 mm | f/4.0 | 1/1000 sec

Just a Glimpse

A glimpse of flowers through the railing of my neighbor's deck. Although the rail blurred the top and bottom of the picture, I think it ads to the composition of the picture.

ISO 400 | 60 mm | f/4.2 | 1/60 sec

Hanging Around

So you thought that only fruit grew on trees? Well, this tree seems to grow shoes, some are very ripe... Now if I could only find one that grows money. But seriously, I came across this tree after church today. It's in front of a fraternity near the University of Washington.

See this location in Live Maps.

ISO 110 | 55 mm | f/5.6 | 1/125 sec

These additional pictures are from a few flower beds around the area.

ISO 100 | 55 mm | f/5.6 | 1/125 sec

ISO 100 | 55 mm | f/6.3 | 1/160 sec

ISO 200 | 55 mm | f/5.6 | 1/100 sec

Tulips and a Sculpture

I was in downtown Kirkland for a walk and some coffee. I've always wanted a picture of this sculpture of a cow with a dog howling on its back. Unfortunately, I didn't notice until now that the dog blends in with the background. I guess that happens when you are in hurry before the rain gets to you.

Wilted

Some wilted flowers I still had hanging around. As contrast, I looked up the picture I took of the same flowers when I bought them earlier this month.