Relocation

I am not located in the Pittsburgh PA area for the remainder of the summer. I will be in the Tri-Cities area (Kennewick, Pasco and Richland Washington).

Chatham report

Well, it was slow....painfully slow.

We had 6 or 7 students show up to get re-takes of the yearbook pictures. Two issues were glaringly obvious.
1) We didn't have any signage set up. The posters were sent, but not displayed. One of the Chatham University yearbook staff members did get a couple up, but we were half way through the session. 3 or 4 students had to be BEGGED (seriously, we begged them) to get pictures taken.
2) We were competing against the Pittsburgh Steelers super bowl victory parade just a few miles away in downtown.

For me, the highlight was being to see a very small portion of the former home of Andrew Mellon. The Mellon name is prominent in Pittsburgh, so to see how the uber rich lived, was a treat. It's not an opulent mansion. At least not in my mind. But it's large and comfortable. The door way arches on the main floor looked to be made of carved Granite. There was a dining room that had incredible carved marble fireplace mantle. The details of the carved stone over each doorway was also very amazing. We didn't venture far. But it's a neat house and I would love to have a full tour some day.

Narrow thing in a shallow mind

With the Olympics coming up, I happened to read a blog that has photography as it's subject. Over at PopPhoto, Zach Honig has a blog that talks about the photography side of the Olympics.

While I would love to attend the Olympics for the spectacle and to participate in a world event. As a photographer, it would be pretty tough for me to be in the stands and not take pictures. On the bottom of the above post, it has links to an Olympic web page that specifically addresses prohibited items. These pages are here and here. Cameras are mentioned. Point and shoot style will be allowed, but professional looking will not. The quality of P&S cameras is pretty amazing now and many of them take pictures that do rival digital SLR cameras. They have zooms, controllable flash and some manual features that would allow an advanced or professional photographer take pictures that they would be content with.

Maybe it is my shallow thought process, but I don't know if I could attend an event like that and not bring my tools. It would be tough for sure.

Trip summary

Beginning May 1, 2008 I spent the majority of 9 weeks among the Tamarack and Red Fir trees. I woke to the flowing waters of the Naches River in the Wenatchee National Forest not far from Chinook Pass and Mount Rainer. I also ventured to the desert region of the Columbia Basin where sand and nuclear energy co-exist among the flowing waters of the mighty Columbia River. Where wind blown tumbleweeds and sage brush become yard decorations. I was back home in state of Washington.

Goal one was to help a family member with some projects after his retirement. A secondary goal for me was to bring my kids here for their summer vacation. That second goal sadly, failed to materialize.

Of course, I brought my camera equipment to shoot when I could. I tried to save a little money, but I ended up buying some more light stands, a bike from Craigslist and a few dinners. Never resting (photographically speaking), I talked to a lot of people to see if I could take their portraits. Suffice to say, the Yakima/Naches area of Washington is a veritable vacuum of talent. There isn't much here. I even tried to get a MUA (Makeup Artist) to work a shoot, but she didn't find it important to check her messages except once a month. Maybe she was busy, maybe not, either way, it could have been communicated. A few people I wanted to shoot, one was very interested, and kept saying so, but would never commit. Wish I could have that time back. Another was so rude you would have thought I almost ran over her child in the driveway. The project I mentioned MANY MANY weeks ago, will not get done. I had planned on getting environmental portraits of employees of the two restaurants up here in the valley. I planned several poses out for specific people too. But because of their schedules and mine, it will not happen. I will put the idea in my idea book, and hopefully excecute it at another time and or place.

On the other hand, things were/are going well back in New Brighton/Pittsburgh. First, I was selected by Fe Gallery as one of 250 artists to represent Pittsburgh in a 250 year anniversary celebration/project. Secondly, the building where I was planning on putting in a second photo studio is still open and the owner wants to make sure I will be up and running when I get back or soon there after. Still, that "project" is going on seven months overdue. Also worth mentioning, one of the models I shot with in the spring wants to set up another session. She is/has worked with another local photographer because of my images he saw on her MySpace page. Finally, my MUA (well, she's not MINE, but it's the only MUA I work with), wants to shoot with me too. So things are significantly more promising in "da 'Burgh" than here in "the valley".

I did however get to spend some great times with my family here in WA. I attended a graduation, made it for mothers day, did a little golfing (pictures actually) and a family reunion coinciding with a school reunion. Most importantly, I had a great weekend with my wife when she visited for the graduation.

Regarding physical labor, I have shoveled about 7 tons of sand/gravel, screwed in 150+ pounds of 3 inch deck screws and bent more 20 penny nails than I care to admit. I have cut, chopped and loaded hundreds of feet of wood (did I say hundreds?). Painted walls, decks, railings and even myself. After I bought the CraigsList bike, I started riding it. Usually a couple of times a week. But near the end of my "tour" I was riding every day. My longest ride was 15 miles one way (up hill into the wind)(30 mile round trip). Many rides were 10-12 miles on average. Traffic wasn't a big deal, but the wind was. It always seemed to happen to blow towards me regardless of when I rode. Uphill, into the wind just really sucks.

This is not a "look what I have done" posting. It is to inform you all of my summer thus far. I haven't had an epiphany, nor have the clouds parted for the voice of God. However, I have learned a little about my family, my friends, and myself. Not since Air Force Basic Training and Tech School have I worked so hard (physically and mentally) for so long. (By the way, Basic Training is where I learned that the mind gives up sooner than the body). I hope these mini lessons can translate well to running my photography business and I eventually become very, very successful. I am coming to the conclusion that the world needs wood cutters, painters and construction workers. It also needs photographers, in which I plan to add myself to that list.

The real cost of flying

Tomorrow (Wed 7/9/08) I fly back to the Pittsburgh area. Today, I am agonizing over a box that needs to be shipped back. I shipped it here via US Postal Mail for $45. Via UPS it will cost $60. I am sure all rates have increased in the past 60 days, but damn, that's an OUCH.

My dilemma is to check it as my second checked bag on US Air, or to ship it via USPS or UPS. As a US Air preferred member, I get free checked bags. I don't have to pay the fee that US Air charges.

The big problem is that US Air charges for their "service" of carrying your baggage, but they WILL NOT ensure that it won't be stolen, delayed or damaged. Yet the US Postal Service, UPS, DHL and FedEx WILL guarantee your shipment will arrive as expected and in good shape. At least with everyone but the airlines it appears that you can get insurance on your shipments. US Air and other airlines, absolutely not especially if it's anything of value (like camera equipment).

So I can ship for free, and possibly have my items pilfered from the thieves that work at the airports. Or I can pay $60 to have peace of mind.

We should NOT have to deal with this in the "POST 9/11 era". There is so much damn security EVERYWHERE, yet the least secure areas are actually the airports.

Make time

As a photographer, I think everything and every one should have their pictures taken. Like most photographers, we have our areas of focus (pun intended). I like people (street/posed/candid), SOME landscapes, and my favorite - sports.

Granted, I am not a landscape photographer, nor do I like bugs (Macro photography). A lot of people usually don't like their pictures taken. Flowers and mountains, don't ever seem to complain when sitting for a portrait.

Yesterday I was helping put in a sidewalk, and as usual, I try to figure out what to take pictures of. Usually, it's a simple snap just to document the day. This time I took a little more time to look around, see the flowers, details of the event and get pictures.

A little detail


Finished exposed aggregate sidewalk.




Please note, I don't know anything about flora.

Coming to the end

My trip back to the great Northwest is quickly coming to a close. I return to the Pittsburgh area in just over a week. I want to summarize my trip, but I think I will wait to the last day. For now, here are a couple of self portraits.

The work (Notice the cross cut of the tree next to me. I am right next to it. No trick photography here. It was a wind blown tree and dead for over two years. Not sure of the length but we pulled 5 truck loads of wood from it and split every bit of it by hand). This is actually an action shot via self timer.


The reward (This is 5 truck loads of hand split wood. It is almost 6 feet tall, and maybe 15 feet in diameter. Two of us split every bit of this by hand).

Abandonedment of the past

I have seen this former gas station for years. Perhaps even as long as 10-15 years ago but never stopped. This time, I had to. The pumps had .33 cents for a gallon of regular leaded gas. Diesel was $1.52 and unleaded premium was .52 cents.....I think.


A former mode of transportation


Abandoned


Sighs of that time


Direction


Wagon wheel


Gas pump

Panoramic image of the Tri Cities

EDIT: The post is only showing about 1/3 of the image. Not sure why. Probably the way blogger publishes images....if I can figure out why, I will fix it. Otherwise, you get 1/3 a of the image.....sorry.
EDIT 2: TO see the full image (still small) RIGHT CLICK the image and choose VIEW IMAGE. You should see it in a new window or new tab. Depending on YOUR browser settings.

To get a good panoramic, you have to have the right tools. One is a panoramic head for a tripod. The other is the ability to know where the pivot point is in your camera lens. Since I don't have either, I did it the normal way. Stand in one spot and turn left to right. So this is a bit of a mucked up panoramic. The size is quite small too. So sorry if you can't really get the full effect of it.

Week in photo's

All of these images have been taken within the past week.

A little fly fishing on Milk Pond.


Water log


Moss (not Randy)


I shot a goat


Old man and a boy


Quick pic


Happy to be


A smile adds face value


It just warms the heart


Overlooking his domain

Misc pics

None of these pictures qualify for a blog post themselves.....so I am putting them all together as a miscellaneous post.

Being up here in the mountains, spring brings warm weather and big swollen rivers. This lady is watching the river as it rises. Which it won't hit crest for another two days.


A little view of the logs gathering from the rising waters.


This is usually a several times a week sight. BTW: This is the just 30 feet from where I am staying.


Phase two of one project I am doing. (The first phase was a roof on this home).

An 89th birthday

I was in town to see my paternal grandmother's 89th birthday.

Paternal grandmother's 89th birthday (on left with balloon).


My sister, her fiance and her son.


My brother David.


The birthday girl.


Ilene and Tim

View from the rooftop

Well, there aren't any angels singing, but the view is mighty nice.

I have several pictures to post, but have to wait for a better internet connection. It should happen this weekend. Just an FYI.

I was roofing Mon/Tue/Wed. It's an experience and I cannot say it's something I would want to do for any length of time.

Wednesday I was coming off the ladder carrying a bundle of roofing shingles. I stepped onto the ground and stepped on a support board and my ankle twisted and POPPED. I fell to the ground, and the shingles landed on my head.

Don't worry, the shingles were fine.

My ankle is bruised, swollen to about a baseball and hurts to walk. Life is good. I was also hit in the face by a shingle that caught the wind and smacked me in the lip. No blood, so it doesn't count.

Today I dug a dozen holes for a wheel chair ramp/deck. All I can say is GET A FOUR YEAR DEGREE.

I can't wait to get back shooting again.

I can smell the trees

I am back "home". Back in Washington state. For most of my summer trip I will be in the Cascade Mountains. My Internet connection is limited so my posts will be only text when I get online while up in the mountains. When I get into town, about once a week, I might be able to upload photos. So be prepared to see large posts every so often. Or several different posts (with pictures) once a week on the same day.

On the ground 3 days, I have already scouted a few sites, shoot a baseball game, chopped wood and did a birthday party. Well, let me re-phrase that"wood chopping" thing. Someone else used a chain saw to cut up the trees (3 or 4 of them) and I loaded the wood into the trucks (with help) and cleaned up the mess (with help). Still, it was pretty heavy duty physical work. NOT what I am used to doing. In all of that, I made a point to take pictures. Hopefully I can get some uploaded in the coming week.

Upcoming week

I won't be posting much this week because I am getting ready for a trip back to the Northwest. Once there, I may slow my postings down to one or two posts a week (or less) and very few if any images. The biggest reason will be from limited Internet access and the speeds will not be what I am used to (satellite Internet connections are limited to total usage and not by speed). Also, the photo opportunities may be significantly less.

Do not fear, I don't plan on being totally off the grid.