My Photographic Evolution

I think it’s funny to look back at the “Edits” folder of my computer. That’s where I keep any photo I shot that I took a few extra minutes to make sure it looked good enough to share. Since it’s organized by date, it’s very easy to notice the trends I’ve gone through in just the past year.

You can tell just by stepping back and looking at the bunch as a whole where I first learned about Vibrance/Saturation in Photoshop CS4, as well as when I took the saturations to extremes. Then there was the heavy editing thanks to automated actions you could download from all over the web, followed by the heavy vignettes. There’s lots of panoramics and night shots, as well. Eventually came the HDRs followed by the use of Topaz Adjust to bring out single images into HDR-like fashions; not to mention long exposures, fast exposures and time-lapses.

Now, I’m into letterbox-style black borders. Why? I have no idea, aside from the fact that I’ve seen a few photographers (see here, here and here). Maybe it’s how they turn into a square. Perhaps it’s the contrast. Like I said before, I have no idea – I just like it.

…at least for now. We’ll see what happens next month.

Anyway, I’ve been busy playing with some older photos and taking some new ones this week and last. Here’s what I’ve been up to:

This little dandy was hiding deep in one of my Coeur d’Alene folders. Shots like this make me miss my drive to work in Idaho, all along Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive.

This was at sunset tonight. Holy friggin’ moly it was insane! I didn’t think I’d get it to look nice at all, and especially since I didn’t have my tripod handy. But I guess I was wrong…

I have wanted to shoot this photo since first moving to Portland, especially after seeing some awesome images of this same vantage all over flickr. Tonight was my night! This is actually an HDR of three separate 15-second exposures (+1, 0, –1).

From the same spot as above, overlooking downtown Portland from the top of OHSU. I had never been up here before until tonight, and I can’t wait to go back again! (Looks WAY better large!)

New edit of an old shot: This was from back when John came to visit. A little too dark for my taste, but I think that’s probably why I kind of like it, it’s not my normal edit.

And lastly, one of my favorite shots ever with an updated edit. This is probably my best “journalistic” shot, as I was on a police ride-a-long for a page design I thought might look nice. I borrowed a Canon from school and rode with a cop (who I actually went to middle school with, oddly enough).

From the archives

I found a bunch of CDs full of old photos spanning all the way back to my days at Oregon State. More to come, I’m sure, as I’m sifting through thousands of photos in my spare time.

The picture of Ichiro is when The Sentinel scored a press pass for me and some photographers at Safeco Field (I used somebody else’s camera). The “No Alcohol” photo used to be my desktop background at school (ironic, eh?). And the bottom photo is my cousin’s children watching the eagles fly along Lake Coeur d’Alene.

Mineral Ridge

Before leaving Coeur d’Alene, I wanted nothing more than to hike Mineral Ridge in Beauty Bay. Somehow I just knew that had to be the best spot in North Idaho to see a sunset.
And I was right.
I called my buddy, the photo God nicknamed James Hannibal, to hike up with me. Neither of us had been there in nearly 10 years, so it was a bit of a shock when we saw the sign reading: “3.3 Miles.” Nevertheless, him in boots and I my flip-flops, we side0hilled the majority of it to get to a hidden spot in perfect position.
I can’t wait to see his photos, as he’s got the professional Nikon. But mine came out great, also:




Then we stopped in Wolf Lodge on the way back into town to snap a few more. I’m starting to dig shooting through the side mirror on the Jeep, so maybe I’ll try this more often.

Ripped Off!!

Lately I’ve been on a photo frenzy, trying to rally as many sweet shots of my hometown as possible before bouncing to Oregon. And while I’ve never considered myself more than a novice at the photographic art, I do take pride in knowing that I have successfully shot a few good slides in my attempts.

Knowing this, and the fact that I’m never shy of recognition (especially when I deserve it), I was aloof when I stumbled upon this little ditty at the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce:

Instantly, I knew that photo looked familiar – and it wasn’t a photo I had seen somewhere before. Well, actually, I had seen that photo before.

Through my camera lens!

A few years ago I wrote a story about North Idaho College offering a sailing program, and the fact that this sailboat’s owner was also considering erecting an athletic sailing team since Lake Coeur d’Alene offers an immense opportunity to build a successful program.

So, I took a rental boat from work out one day and shot some easy photos with my old digital point-and-shoot. Nothing spectacular, but enough to add a visual element on the page. And in all actuality, the photo above was not even the photo I used in the paper.

Well, I went through my computer, and low-and-behold, look what I found: The rough, unedited, original photo that the Cd’A Chamber has been using for who knows how long:

It figures, one of the lesser-quality shots I’ve taken over the past years is the one that actually gets recognized. Anyway, I’ve since e-mailed the Chamber to see, firstly, how did they even get the photo? I don’t remember sending it anywhere. And secondly, will they at least put my name on it? They do on the others, so I might as well get some sort of credit.

After all, now I can say I’m a published photographer in something outside The Sentinel.

First attempt at Fireworks

I always dreamed of taking a great photo of the fireworks during the 4th of July in Coeur d’Alene. So, it was with a heavy heart that I worked at the Boardwalk Marina up until the show started. No lie, we undoubtedly have one of the greatest views for the show, as we sit upon the Marina store’s roof and get to hear the boom three times: once from the actual explosion and twice from the echo off the Resort and then Tubbs Hill.

A fitting final day of work? I could not be happier, even if I wanted to be partying it up and trying to get an even better view.

But there I was on the roof (with friends from Oregon, no less, who just happened to call earlier!), camera in hand but sans a tripod. Needless to say, you surely need one to make these look good. And while I tried setting the camera on a steady surface (the roof was angled poorly and my knee kept shaking), of 40 tries this was by far the only one that turned out – somewhat, to say the least.

I guess I’ll have to wait until the day after Thanksgiving to get my dream shot (or close to it … ), as that’s when the BIG fireworks go off thanks to Mr. Hagadone during the Lighting Ceremony.

Coeur d'Alene Summer Photos

Sunset over Tubbs Hill from Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive

Post Falls Days Carnival



Deer in velvet behind my Grandparent's house

Sunset over Tubbs Hill from Coeur d'Alene Lake Drive

Clouds at Sunset on the Post Falls Prairie