sharleenstuartBainbridge Island, Washington State: March 2016
Posted on April 8, 2016
Sunday was overcast and had the occasional drizzles. We opted to go down to the ferry and make a decision once we got there whether we would actually go to Bainbridge Island. When we arrived at the ferry it was raining. There is nothing less I want to do than go out in the rain with my camera. However, after hanging out for about 15 minutes waiting for the ferry to arrive, the rain stopped and we decided to take a chance. My brother would be in conference from Sunday evening and would not have the opportunity to do this trip when the conference ended.
This was the first time I have done this kind of ferry ride in the US, where cars are boarded onto the ferry. Once the passengers were on and the cars were loaded the boat began to pull away from the dock. My first thought was to get a Seattle Skyline as we moved away from land.
Bainbrigde Ferry, the one that we would soon be boarding.
The docking ferry, the Ferris Wheel and the Seattle harbor area.
Off to Bainsbridge Island – the Seatte City skyline
Off to Bainsbridge Island with Barry & Enid.
Off to Bainsbridge Island with Richard and me.
Bainbridge Island in front and the Seattle Skyline behind.
The storm had passed over the island and a rainbow spanned the sky.
This is so Richard – everyone is dressed for the middle of winter and he has shorts and flip flops.
Arriving in Bainbridge Harbor
We spent time walking around Bainbridge Island and taking in the sights. I loved watching this young lady spin the yarn.
Still seeing signs of winter colors, yet at the same time evidence of spring. We stopped that a little restaurant for breakfast. The rooster stood outside the entrance.
I am not sure what tree this pink blossom belongs to but it was beautiful to look at along the streets of Bainbridge Island.
This was one of the local churches on the island.
After breakfast we decided to take a walk around the island heading along a muddy pathway until we came across the yacht harbor.
This image was as gray as the day but I loved the colorful tug in the middle of it.
Apparently frogs such as this one are popular on Bainbridge Island – we came across this one and one in the ferry terminal as we were leaving.
Bainbridge Island – a view from a bench along our muddy trail.
3 hours were up and we headed back to the ferry terminal to wait for our connecting ferry back to the mainland. It was raining and I had made my way up to the outside of the upper deck and was hiding under a sheltered area. Once it stopped my brother made his way up there as well. The other two, they stayed in the warmth and a well sheltered area.
Heading back to Seattle.
As we got close to Seattle so we began to see more seagulls.
The weather had changed once again and as I looked back I could see the storm brewing over Bainbridge Island. Ironically it was sunny in Seattle.
I walked up and spotted my party in the warmth of the enclosed cabin area and slowly made my way inside.
The Space Needle through the Ferry windows
If you are visiting Seattle, plan a 3 hour trip to Bainbridge Island. It is a small and quaint town and is very walkable. You do not need to take your car across.
You can find the blogs to the Chihuly Gardens inside and out, and to Pike Street Market, the Seattle Waterfront and Ferris Wheel by clicking on the highlighted names.
Keep a look out for more of the upcoming blogs, Seattle the city, the Seattle Library, the Columbia Building; Chinatown and Capital Hill. From there we head off to the Orca Islands and to Leavensworth.
If you are interested in seeing more of my photography take a look at my Facebook page or my Flickr Page.
Share Six: April 6, 2016: Water
Posted on April 6, 2016
Water was the theme chosen by Katherine Cobert of Cobert Photography for the month of April.
As I mentioned when we started up this group, I was heading up to Seattle. Seattle is a beautiful city, but for me getting out into the countryside was where I found the true beauty. The trip was pretty gray and drizzly, but there was still incredible beauty all around.We traveled from Seattle to the Orca Islands. Let me just mention there was not a whale in sight. From there we headed on to Leavensworth, where we encountered beautiful mountains, gorgeous rivers, snow and, of course, more rain. The trip to Seattle was amazing and I am so glad we had the opportunity to go and visit with family.
Here are my 6 images for the topic Water.
Enroute Leavensworth.
Rapids
The river at Leavensworth. What you don’t see in this image is the Labrador who was playing in the icy water.
Water drops on a branch
Snoqualmie Falls in Washington State
Sunset from the ferry on the trip back from Friday Harbor to Anacortes
Thank you for joining me for this month’s Share Six. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my my new friend and fellow blogger Kim of Kim Sidwell Photography and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their page as well.
If you are interested in seeing more of my photography take a look at my Facebook page, my Instagram page or my Flickr page.
You can find the blogs to the Chihuly Gardens inside and out, Pike Street Market, Space Needle and to the Seattle Ferris Wheel by clicking on the highlighted names.
Now it is your turn. Don’t forget to like us on facebook at Share Six and come and share your images throughout the month of April on our facebook page. A new theme will come out on May 6.
Remember you can follow us on Instagram at @sharesix and tag your images #sharesix and #sharesix_water
You can also find the Share Six webpage at http://www.sharesix.wordpress.com
Seattle Waterfront and Ferris Wheel: March 2016
Posted on April 4, 2016
We are on a 10 day vacation to Seattle. The city of drizzle and gray clouds. However, today we experienced the Seattle waterfront on a beautiful blue blue day. Today was one of the days where it did not rain. Surprise, surprise. The day was cool outside but not to cold. Today Richard, Enid & I wandered down to the waterfront to get a closer look at the Ferris Wheel and the view out toward Bainbridge Island. We also wanted to check out the ferry information with the view to going on a boat ride.
Here is my view of the Seattle Waterfront and Ferris Wheel. If you have not been following my travel trip, check out the links below.
Seattle Waterfront Area – watching the ferry come in.
Seattle Ferris Wheel
The peaceful harbor with the mountains covered in snow in the background.
Seattle Ferris Wheel
Seattle – across the bay.
Seattle Ferris Wheel
Seattle Ferris Wheel area
Seattle Ferris Wheel
Seattle Ferris Wheel area
Beautiful snow colored mountains
Seattle City Skyline from the waterfront
Seattle Ferris Wheel
You can find the blogs to the Chihuly Gardens inside and out, Pike Street Market, and to the Space Needle by clicking on the highlighted names.
Keep a look out for more of our visit to Seattle. There were so many different areas to visit.
If you are interested in seeing more of my photography take a look at my Facebook page or my Flickr Page.
Seattle Space Needle and surrounding attractions: March 2016
Posted on April 2, 2016
If you have been following the Seattle posts you will know that we have done the Chihuly Gardens, and Pikes Place Market. In the same vicinity as Chihuly Gardens you will find the Space Needle, the Pacific Science Center, Emp Museum, a childrens museum, and a very interesting water feature.
We caught a monorail from the city center, not knowing how far it would be to walk. It did not cost much, however, a heads up, it is within walking distance if you are not wanting to spend money on a monorail. The trip took all of 3 minutes to get there. It did give us a brief overview of the city as we rode through it. Before we knew it we had arrived.
As I mentioned in the Chihuly Gardens blog, things cost money to get into and so I weighed up what I wanted to spend money on and what I did not. The Space Needle was not one of those things I really wanted to spend money on. Besides there was a long line of people waiting to go up. However. that does not stop one from taking photo’s and that is what I did. Walk with me around the grounds of the Space Needle and surrounding areas.
Off to the Space Needle
Traveling the monorail
Science Museum, Children’s Museum
Interesting characters – some robot, some alive and waiting for tips.
Using the lensbaby sweet 35 on the Seattle Space Needle
Space Needle
Space Needle
Pacific Science Center – Seattle
Pacific Science Center – Seattle
The water fountain at the Space Needle area.
Playing in the fountains
I always thought things were bigger in Texas but after visiting Seattle I am not so sure. Giant seagulls.
You can find the blogs to the Chihuly Gardens inside and out, and to Pike Street Market, by clicking on the highlighted names.
Keep a look out for our visit to Seattle Waterfront & Ferris Wheel area as well as all the different areas we visited.
If you are interested in seeing more of my photography take a look at my Facebook page or my Flickr Page.
Tell me a Story: March 2016: Pike Place Market
Posted on March 31, 2016
“Nothing happens when you sit at home. I always make it a point to carry a camera with me at all times. I just shoot at what interests me at that moment” – Elliot Erwitt.
For a year a did this very thing. Then in 2016, I decided not to do a 365. I stopped carrying my camera every day. I found I missed it at my side. In March we headed off to Seattle to meet up with my brother and his wife. I debated what lens to take. I knew that I was going to have to carry that backpack, plus lens everywhere I went. I eventually settled on the Canon EF 70 – 300mm, the Lensbaby sweet 35, and a very last minute purchase, the Canon EF 24 – 135mm. In hindsight my backpack would have been a lot lighter if I had left the Canon EF 70-300mm lens at home. I hardly used it.
And so we walked the city of Seattle, and I lugged that heavy backpack where ever I went. Today’s walk was through the Pike Place Market. I had heard stories about it, and was ready for the singing fishermen and the fish tossing. Somehow I never managed to capture it in a photo.
The Pike Place Market in Seattle, is vibrant, busy, colorful, fishy and a great place to meander through and look at the art work of various dealers. Walk with me as I share a few of my impressions of the market.
This fishmarket area was the first place we came across.
The signing and fish tossing fishermen
Lobsters, a size I have never seen before.
Yum – I could sure settle in for one of those for dinner.
Yikes
Pike Place Market
A creepy looking Monk Fish
Crabs all ready to be curried.
Foods in variety.
Various kinds of pasta
Different characters
An African Gray that pretended it was dead.
The rat man
Music at Pike Place Market
Vibrant flowers
Tulips at the Pike Street Market.
I loved the different flower arrangements
Places to eat
The Famous Gum Wall
Pike Place Market
The Gum Wall at Pike Place Market.
The Gum Wall at Pike Place Market.
The Gum Wall at Pike Place Market.
The microbrewery
Looking down into a pub at Pike Place Market
The Pike Place Brewing Company – microbrewery
The Cement Lady
Last but not least the view of the Ferris Wheel from Pike Place Market
Ferris Wheel from Pike Place Market.
Cities in Color: Green: Seattle Ferris Wheel at Dusk.
Thank you for joining me for this month’s Tell me a Story. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my friend LUPJI Photography / Northern Virginia Photographer and see what he has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Leave a little love on their page as well.
If you want to see more of our trip to Seattle click here for the Chihuly Gardens.
If you are interested in seeing more of my photography take a look at my Facebook page or my Flickr Page.
March 2016: Chihuly Gardens – the outside view
Posted on March 29, 2016
If you are just starting here, you may want to walk through the inside of Chihuly Gardens first. We spent 10 days at the beginning of March in the beautiful city of Seattle, a couple of days at the Orca Islands, and a road trip through Leavensworth and the beautiful snowy mountains.
Yesterday I posted my first blog of this travel series, starting off with the visit to the Chihuly Gardens and a walk through the inside of the buildings. Today I am going to share my view of the outside gardens.
Meander with me through the combination of live plants and glass.
Chihuly – “What form does your imagination come in”
Thanks for walking through Chihuly Gardens with me. If you did not see the inside photo’s then click here.
For more on our visit to Seattle watch out for Thursdays visit to the Pike Place Market.
Keep a look out for more of our visit to Seattle. There were so many different areas to visit.
If you are interested in seeing more of my photography take a look at my Facebook page or my Flickr Page.
30 Minutes in the Life: March 2016
Posted on March 28, 2016
As most of you know my brother and his family live in South Africa, so we do not get to see them too often. However, for the last few years my brother has come to the US for a conference. This year when he said he was going to be in Seattle I was a little unsure whether we would be able to meet up with him there. My desire this year is to go to Macedonia in the summer to see my girl. However, Richard decided that we would go to Seattle. Macedonia does not appear to be in his plans, although it is still in mine.
Once my brother starts his conference we see very little of him. However, for the 2 days before the conference and the 3 days afterwards, we were able to hang out with him and his wife. During the conference, Richard, Enid and I walked the city of Seattle.
Having done a bit of research I knew that there was one place that I really wanted to visit. Obviously if you start to add up all the costs you eventually have to pick and choose. It was not a hard choice for me. I really had no desire to put myself on an external lift and head up to the top of the Space Needle. However, the Chihuly Gardens really appealed to me.
After paying the entrance fee I wandered into the “shop area” and was exposed to my first of the glass works. Beautiful, colorful objects of art.
Walking into the actual exhibition, there were two area that were absolutely my favorite. This was the first. What I did not realize was that everything would be so dark and that I did not have a flash. However, the Canon D6 has a great low light capability and I decided to test it out.
In another room I found various shaped art work of rich colors and artistic shapes.
I then walked into what had to be an underwater theme. Beautiful octopus statues made of glass, and the incredible tower of what appears to be reeds with tiny starfish, jellyfish, shrimp and various other sea life that surrounded the base of the tower.
After passing through the room I entered a passageway where the ceiling was an explosion of color and the color seeped down the walls. Stunning! So much so that I sat on the floor to get these images.
Leaving that passageway I entered this garden of color. I cannot begin to image how much time goes into creating something as beautiful as this. From what I understand each piece of glass is connected to a central frame of these big towers to enable them to take them apart to move them. I am not sure I would ever move the display.
I then moved into an area of boats and balls and leaves and hearts. I decided to play here with my lensbaby.
The next room showed glass in the form of stalactite hanging from the ceiling. Different colors, different shapes, all so amazing.
The last room I entered had lighted vase like bowls of multicolored patterns. Beautiful and detailed artwork.
And finally I walked out of the darkened rooms and into the light. This atrium of beautiful glass flowers was just so stunning. This was definitely my second favorite of the rooms, and I did pull out my lensbaby to play here.
Chihuly Gardens in Seattle
Chihuly Gardens in Seattle
If you are in Seattle, or if you see a Chihuly display in your neighborhood, I would certainly encourage you to visit it.
Thank you for joining me for this month’s 30 minutes. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my fellow blogger Hayley of Hayley Hay Photography / Lausanne, Switzerland and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
30 Minutes recently changed their name to Journey to an Artist. If you want to know more about Journey to an Artist head over to their facebook page, or to the blog page. There is new and exciting happenings going on with the group Journey to an Artist that you are sure to want to check it out.
For the outside photo’s taken at Chihuly Gardens click here on Tuesday March 29.
For more on our visit to Seattle watch out for Thursday March 31 visit to the Pike Place Market.
If you are interested in seeing more of my photography take a look at my Facebook page or my Flickr Page.
Share Six: March 6, 2016
Posted on March 6, 2016
Two years ago I joined Project 10 as a casual blogger on their page. In 2015, there was a shift in the blog group and Sharetographers evolved. Due to various reason, the entire Sharetographers blog group has had to withdraw from the group. No one wanted to see this the page disappear. This past week I was approached by Casey, one of the Sharetographer bloggers and asked if I would consider running the page. Wow…where to start. For all sorts of reasons I wanted to say yes. So I said to Casey let me see if I can get a blog group together. I approached 4 ladies who have posted frequently to the page and asked if they would like to join me in this new endeavor. And with that, Share Six has evolved.
This is not a light commitment. This is a commitment to blog once a month for the next year. In 48 hours so much happened. Once we had a firm commitment to blog, I had to be established as an Admin on the page, then I added the rest of the group. We established a group page where we could communicate with each other. What a whirl. We now have an Instagram page @sharesix. I am currently working on a webpage for Share Six.
So without further ado, the theme for Share Six for the month of March is Narrow Depth of Field. This is perhaps one of my favorite forms of photography. I love the sharpness and the blur of the image. Here is my 6 images for the month of March 2016.
Thank you for joining me for this month’s Share Six. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my my new friend and fellow blogger Kim of Kim Sidwell Photography and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their page as well.
If you are interested in seeing more of my photography take a look at my Facebook page, my Instagram page or my Flickr page.
Now it is your turn. Don’t forget to like us on facebook at Share Six and come and share your 6 images in the form of a blog throughout the month of March on our facebook page. Alternatively post a single image on the theme. April 6 the new theme will come out.
Remember to follow us on Instagram at @sharesix
Tell me a story: February 2016
Posted on February 29, 2016
This year I asked the group member is they would like to take things up a notch, and perhaps for the year, blog on a quote. The interpretation is open, blog on how the quote speaks to you personally. February’s quote is as follows:
Photography is an art of observation
It has little to do with the things you see,
and everything to do with the way you see them.
~ Elliot Erwitt
I walk in the wetlands a lot. There are a number of reasons for doing this. I get to meander through nature, I get to de-stress, unwind and blow the cobwebs out my mind. I get to see the beauty of nature around me. So often though, just as I have settled in to take a photo, a speed walker comes bustling by and the next thing my bird is flying away. I have to feel a little bit of sorrow. First my bird is gone, but secondly in the haste of walking “we see things” rather than it being about “the way we see it”.
Locally we have a park. The park is great, the nature walk not so much. The birds do not seem to be attracted to it. In fact to be honest the only thing it attracts in summer is mosquito. Friday morning I new I needed to go to the bank. I also knew I had not taken one photograph this week and I was itching to get out. So I grabbed my camera and only one lens – my macro – and I went to walk through the boring nature walk. The day was overcast, windy and bitterly cold but I had a purpose. I chose one stretch of the walkway. My objective was not to see the walkway but rather to look at the way I could see what was around me on the walkway. For the general public below is the view that they will see when they are walking.
In this same stretch of walkway this is what I saw.
Next time you walk in the park, along the street, or just in your garden, instead of looking at the big picture, look for the little things. Look at the little things. See nature in a new way.
Thank you for joining me for this month’s Tell me a Story. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit my friend Emily of Emily Kohl Photography and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have shared this month. Leave a little love on their page as well.
If you are interested in seeing more of my photography take a look at my Facebook page or my Flickr Page.
30 Minutes in the Life: February 2016
Posted on February 29, 2016
It’s that time of year again, when the weather is cool and I am ready for something different. I am sure by now some of you have learned a few of my likes, but for all the new ladies, here I go. Time travel! If I could time travel, I would go back to the days of knight wielding swords, vikings in battle and yes, even to the lands of the Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, The 100, The Outlander or the Sharnnara Chronicles. Oh yeah, I kind of like the bloody sword wielding movies.
So when I discovered that Vikings and Valkyries was the theme for this Renaissance fair weekend, I was pretty much ready to roll. And if you are traveling to South Florida in March, you should make sure that you find time to head there as well.
Elves were a popular theme this weekend even though the actual theme was Vikings
I am not quite sure what character she was supposed to be but she had pointy ears and she was very colorful
These two characters had seriously pointy ears.
Beautiful melodies were played on this gorgeous harp.
Our lunch table was invaded by Vikings.
The guy reminded me of Floki in the show The Vikings
The guys was amazing and downright scary when he struck this pose for me. I could see him in the cast of The 100 very easily
I loved this lady and again I could see her in the cast of The 100.
Pet dragons were for sale, and they were cute and cuddly. Thanks goodness they will not grow into the size of the three in Game of Thrones.
When I think of the Grim Reaper I am not sure it is with a violin in his hands.
However, he had a captive audience…
And his buddies were hanging out…
I am not sure – maybe Viking times, but potentially Roman times. However, the guys certainly appreciated them.
Vikings were at peace with the local gentry.
A quick snap shot as this falconer walked by with his falcons to get ready for their show.
Again I am guessing Viking period. I definitely love the feather effect.
It was time to relax and enjoy a cold beer and listen to Celtic Mayhem. I have heard this group for 3 years now and it is worth every mouthful of the $10 beer to be able to sit and listen to them.
I loved his pointy shoes…
The stories they told through there songs were captivating and so so enjoyable.
And yes there were Knights ….
And Robin Hood characters
And beautiful ladies…
And amazingly different horses.
In fact horses that I could not take my eyes off…Just incredible in their routine.
There were those who took a quick nap..
And those who were so raucous that there was definitely no napping happening there. A game of bingo perhaps..
There were those who told stories, drawing you in, feeding your mind of tales gone by.
And those that could not hang out in the days gone by. At least there apparently was a way of communicating in those days.
Ladies of character walked the streets reminding the young ladies to act with deportment.
And then there were just some very interesting characters, just not sure what era he belonged to.
And last of all was my favorite character, the Court Jester.
Thank you for joining me for this month’s 30 minutes. This is a circle blog. Please take time to visit Amanda’s page at Amanda Voelker / DC Fine Art and Lifestyle Photographer and see what she has for you this month. Keep following the circle to see what the other photographers have share this month. Don’t forget to leave a little love on their pages.
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30 Minutes in the Life Blog Contributor
Tell Me a Story Blog Contributor
Artist Inspired Blog Contributor
101 Ways to Shoot…
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