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.

Casualties of Fall

The beauty of Fall is almost over. The fading colors lie scattered across the ground defeated by the inevitability of life.

ISO 500 | 38 mm | f/5.0 | 1/100 sec

ISO 500 | 35 mm | f/4.8 | 1/100 sec

ISO 500 | 31 mm | f/4.5 | 1/160 sec

Blushing Orange

The first orange leafs on a yellow tree.

ISO 500 | 55 mm | f/5.6 | 1/50 sec

A Proposal

Today was a very special day. On the pretext of simply a nice walk in a garden, I took my girlfriend Martha to the Japanese garden in Seattle. After walking around and taking some pictures, I proposed to her while we were enjoying the view in a small hut. After a few moments of total surprise, I was relieved and so happy when she said yes!

Neither of us are much for the big and fancy, so I thought the quiet and peaceful Japanese garden would be perfect for the occasion. While the spring flowers have long gone, the autumn colors were fantastic.

Monument Valley

Monument Valley.

Mexican Hat.

Storm clouds ahead.

Arizona sunset.

Glen Canyon

For now a small description will do. The first picture is not Glen Canyon, it's a view of north and east of the Grand Canyon. The last (poorly stitched) picture is of the Carl-Hayden dam in Glen Canyon. The lake is at record lows since the 1940's (I think, so don't quote me on that).

A small note about the tree. As I stooped and clicked away, a tourist (the big fat ones you see in movies) walks by and says "it's only a tree". With indignation I kept snapping away, but that made me wonder how many things I pass every day and think, "it's only a tree". However, browsing the pictures on this site (Photoblog), I'm glad to see that there are many of you that don't pass by everyday things and think it's only a tree.

Northern and eastern view of the Grand Canyon.

Neat looking tree.

Even in harsh environments, beauty abounds.

Carl-Hayden dam and Lake Powell.

Sedona

Today we took the scenic route to Sedona on highway 89. As we started out, we came across an overlook where we stopped for several minutes to walk around. The view was very nice, but what really caught my attention was this flowering agave.

ISO 500 | 200 mm | f/5.6 | 1/640 sec

We had originally planned to stop by Slide Rock State Park, but when we saw the long waiting line to get in and the multitudes of people, we decided against it and headed straight to Sedona. We had lunch at a nice small restaurant with this excellent view of the mountains. It was about 105° F (40° C), so we ate inside, but I stepped out on the balcony for a few minutes to take this picture. See this location in Live Maps.

ISO 500 | 18 mm | f/9.0 | 1/320 sec

After lunch and walking around the shops downtown, we were ready to cool off in the river. Just before entering town we had stopped at a small overlook that had a trail down to the river. This is one of the rock formations you could see as you walk down the trail. The river pictures weren't that great, so I didn't post any here, but you can see the full set of Sedona pictures at my Picasa Web Album. See this location in Live Maps.

ISO 500 | 18 mm | f/10 | 1/400 sec

White

Two weeks ago I took a few pictures of new leafs on a tree behind my apartment. From the thirty or so pictures I took, I really only liked the one with the dark background and the sun shinning on it. But after looking over the collection the last few days, this particular picture grew on me.
It's not as sharp as I would like it to be, but I like the difference between this one with the white background and the original post with the black background.

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

Two Seasons Later

My second picture for this blog was of some colorful fall leafs. I walk by the same place everyday when I pick up my mail.

ISO 200 | 200 mm | f/5.6 | 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

Japanese Garden

A few pictures from the Japanese Garden at the University of Washington Arboretum.

See the location on Live Maps.

ISO 100 | 18 mm | f/8.0 | 1/60 sec

ISO 400 | 55 mm | f/5.6 | 1/50 sec

ISO 400 | 200 mm | f/5.6 | 1/100 sec

Fresh

New leafs covered in rain from a bush on my way back home from work.

ISO 400 | 55 mm | f/5.6 | 1/20 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

Cat Tails

I liked Juanita Bay Park so much, that I went back today for more pictures. The only problem was that I went right at dusk and the lighting wasn't that great. However, this one managed to come out ok.

ISO 400 | 116 mm | f/4.8 | 1/8 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

Red and Green

Sun shining through some colorful leafs. These may only be bushes, but they still look neat. They almost look as if it were a poinsettia, but in the wrong season. I like how the sun highlights the edges of some of the leafs (click for better image).

On a dumb little side note, I thought it was funny that the difference between this title and the title of my post two days ago was the logical operator 'and'.

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.