A Refuge

I have always considered the mountains to be a refuge; a place of renewal and of course, over the years, a place of employment. This morning the top of the Coburg Hills near the town of Marcola was filled with snow and formed even more of a refuge from all of the stress that seems to be running rampant.  So quiet and renewing with fresh and falling snow. 

I think snow helps to set off the bare branches of deciduous trees in winter forming almost line drawings. The first image below brought to mind a line dawning.

Going higher my friend Chris and I stopped at a meadow where we had both individually shot in the past under very different circumstances i.e., no snow.  There is this wonderful little tree growing in the middle of the meadow and it always draws my attention.  Dressed in winter togs it got my attention even more so.

At the top the road is cut into the side of the hill offering nice views but the fog was so thick it blocked those views.  I did find a stand of leaf empty trees silhouetted against the fog that I liked.  Standing strong waiting out winter. 

Still learning all the features of my new camera but am really happy using it and with the results.  Click for a larger view and I welcome your comments.

Central Oregon outing

Took the new camera on another outing on Saturday morning. I went thru the Cascades to the small town of Crescent along Hwy 97 in Central Oregon. Along the way I stopped at an overview and was fortunate enough to see the sun lighting up Diamond Peak and Mt. Yoran. Did not last long as that cloud in left hand side of the image moved in quickly.

On the way back I stopped at the east end of Odell Lake and got there in time to see the sun breaking thru the trees and lighting up Odell Creek. 

I have so much to learn about using this camera and may stop back at the dealer for a quick face to face tutorial. 

I welcome your comments and as always just click on the image you are interested in to get a larger view. 

 

First shots

On Tuesday afternoon a new Canon EOS R5 decided to come home with me. I spent most of yesterday watching tutorial videos on camera set-up and use and then whacking my forehead when it did not work but being delighted when whatever routine I was trying to set up did. This is a camera full of features that I am only learning – it will be a long time coming to discover all the ways it can help my photography. I have say after years of shooting my Canon 5D Mark IV it came to feel like an old friend. I knew all of its’ quirks and what to expect and I do miss it a bit but am enthusiastically looking forward to growing with my new friend.

I went to Wildwood Falls on the Row River east of Cottage Grove this morning just to test out the camera in the field. It is an amazing tool. Here are a couple of images from this outing.  It was a fun morning and I hope to get better with this camera.   Click for a larger view and as always comments are more than welcome.

 

Quiet evening

“Softly the evening came with the sunset.”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Had another glorious evening at the West Eugene wetlands. I went out there with my friend Chris and I think we were both taken away with the sunset – it started out in almost pastel colors and then as the sun kissed the earth the colors came of stronger. The first image below is right after walking down the access road and the last one was just before the color started to drop off, just after official sunset. T’was a wonderful evening.

I have been reading an e-book by Alister Benn called The Color of Meaning (https://expressive.photography/) and I think the color, contrast, atmosphere, geometry and light in these shots played out on the still water convey the quiet gentle evening that came out last night. Sure hope so as that is how I felt.

As always click on the image for a larger view and I welcome you comments.

Morning light

I think there is a poem and a prayer somewhere in this image – grateful to start another day filled with light and shadow. T’was a great morning yesterday at an overlook of Lookout Point Reservoir near Lowell, OR.  A tip from a photographer friend got me up there and I plan on returning.  As always your comments are welcome.  Click on the image for a larger view on your screen.

Silence

“Silence is not the absence of sound, but the absence of self” Anthony Demelo

I totally lost myself in the sunset at the West Eugene wetlands last evening. Had the place to myself save for the skeins of geese. This is one of the shots from last night. I have another of the sunset but this one seemed to want to stand alone.  I welcome your comments. 

 

First Light, First Day

Started shooting early this morning at an overview of Lookout Point Reservoir on the road to Oakridge. I had stopped earlier at the Lowell Covered Bridge but there was nothing but dull gray sky so headed east along Highway 58, came over a rise and was greeted by a magnificent sunrise. Lit up the mountains and highlighted the lake water. What a treat to start a new year and I am hoping an omen for a great year to come.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL. 

 

Remembering 2020…

…. the good parts that I was able to capture with my camera.  This is basically a slide show of those images and you can click on one and work your way through them.  Now on to another year of photography.  (I know these were posted before – a duplicate – so this is just a trip thru my favorite images from this past year.  Thanks for looking) 

Old Mckenzie Pass – recovering

Coastal Dunes

Finding hearts

Alvord Playa

Jackman Park, Steens Mountain

Hult Lake

Burned but standing

3 Sisters

Autumn walk

The Point autumn

Crump Lake – smoke

Warner Summit

Deep Falls near Adel, OR

Row River

Perspective

Snowy wood

 

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

 

My little horse must think it queer   

To stop without a farmhouse near   

Between the woods and frozen lake   

The darkest evening of the year.   

 

He gives his harness bells a shake   

To ask if there is some mistake.   

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake.   

 

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

by Robert Frost

 

That poem came to mind as I was developing the image below.  The woods filling up with snow, easy wind and downy flake.  

Seems like an image for Winter and Christmas.  Stay well all and Peace and Joy to you.

 

 

Coburg fog

Fog filled the Valley this morning and I headed out to the farming area around the small town of Coburg just north of Eugene.  After watching a YouTube video of Michael Kenna at work in Korea last night I got and always seem to get motivated to produce Black and White images and IMHO the fog really helps those compositions. 

The image below is of a hazel nut orchard just out of town.  A study in perspective that I shot in the snow a few years ago and while this image still displays perspective it is so different.  Texture dominates the composition.

I roamed around the farming back roads for a bit and came upon a very simple composition that I think works well in Black and White. 

Again a larger view comes from just clicking on the images.  Your comments are always welcome.