Gliding Buffleheads

Astoria, Oregon ~ January 28, 2011

Winter is the season when bufflehead ducks come to live in our river, and I always enjoy seeing them. Their range is huge, covering most of North America, but I don't remember seeing them until I moved here. I also posted a photo of the buffleheads on January 29, 2010. All of the ducks in today's image are females, but in last year's post you can see the distinction between the genders, as the male has a lot more white on the head and lower body. I love the peaceful feeling of the water as the ducks slip and glide over the small swells when the river is calm along its banks.

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Evening on the Water

Astoria, Oregon ~ January 19, 2011

Lest anyone thought we were finished with the sunset pictures from January 19, we are not. Here's one more. The first picture was the color shot. The second was intriguing showing the drawbridge on a red background, and it began to show a subtle play of lights and reflections in the water. The colors in today's image are more muted, but look at what's going on it in the water. A person could get lost here: a piling field, a drawbridge, a fading sunset, lights, columns, a pampas-grass-type plant, some ducks, and the surface of the bay perfect for ruffled reflections. Which is your favorite of the images?

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Shimmering Water, Red Sky

Astoria, Oregon ~ January 19, 2011

For those who do not know Astoria, this is the drawbridge over the mouth of Young's Bay where it empties into the Columbia River. The bay is on the left, the river on the right. This image is another take on the sunset from January 19th.

Depending on where I looked and how I directed the camera in that amazing red glow, different elements showed up. Here you can see the blue-gray line that indicates ripples on the surface of the water. You can also see vertical lines of light paralelling the pilings and the bridge columns. These are actually the reflections of the headlights crossing the bridge. I'm not sure how the angle of the light from the cars could make this happen, but I watched as each vehicle produced the light on the water, and the light moved with the vehicle. I love the time of day when the intensity of the light in the sunset somewhat matches the intensity of the electric lights. There was so much going on here, it was one of those evenings that makes your breath come fast and want to share the moment. 

For more Weekend Reflections, visit James and participants from around the world at Newtown Area Photo.

I hope you enjoy the new, larger format. You can still click to enlarge the photo somewhat, but in most cases you won't need to any longer.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Winter Sky, Post Office

Astoria, Oregon ~ January 8, 2011

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Glowing Ships on the Water

Yesterday afternoon Laurel called to tell me to get out and see the rainbow that was standing on end across the river. I saw it, but couldn't get it to come out with any color in my photo. The next instant I noticed what a change of lighting had done to the ships at anchor just up the river. 

The lighting was just amazing. The ships were glowing, throwing golden fire on the water.

Visit James to see more Weekend Reflections.

I would also like to introduce those on Facebook to a beautiful collection of photos by Kim Taylor called "Visually Hugging Astoria." She was our October contest winner, and she makes magic with her camera! Check it out.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Can You Guess?

July 7, 2010

Today's reflection on the river is not as elegant as Saturday's reflection (the photos taken on the same day), but I do like what the water did to the light-colored object in question. Can you guess what it is? I won't make you wait. It's just a power pole, and it's completely transformed. For some reason there were spots of oily stuff on the water that day, which is unusual here.

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A Familiar Face

July 7, 2010

One of my favorite faces of the Columbia River is when it reflects warm light, shadows, and images from a surface that is glassy and yet fractured. The gray lines in the lower right corner are the distorted reflection of the radio tower out of the photo in the upper left.

Follow this link to see wonderful reflections from around the world. James's image at the top of the linked page is really special. It's one of my favorite reflections ever.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

T. Paul's Urban Cafe

July 3, 2010

"The Urban" is definitely one of my all-time favorite eateries. It's on Commercial Street with no view of the river, but the restaurant makes up for that in spades. It's been called "hip" and "trendy," and I suppose it is, but mainly I enjoy the excellent healthy food, friendly owners and staff, pleasant and sometimes-quirky decor, and the unusually upbeat atmosphere. Paul and Theona have gone out of their way to make sure the customes feel the love. The sign on the dappled wall to the right says, "Expect A Miracle." I have to paraphrase their slogan, because I may not get the words right: "Eat Well, Love Much, Laugh Often." That sentiment is expressed throughout. This is a place where people care, and the public has paid the owners back by keeping the place full when many other restaurants are nearly empty. It's unusual that I was able to get this shot. Several tables of diners had just left. Often there is no waiting - there simply seems to be a "flow." If this is due to good Feng Shui, they have done that right, too.

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Spiderman Lives Here

It seems that Spiderman lives at the corner of 14th Street and Commercial in Astoria, Oregon. It also happens to be the home of Amazing Stories. Go figure. Could there be a connection?

You've seen this building before - it's the Astor Hotel. I'll bet Superman would also enjoy leaping this tall building in a single bound.

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This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

The Goonies' 25th Anniversary Celebration: June 3-7, Astoria, Oregon

May 26, 2010

This is the place. I found out the other day that headquarters - or The Goondocks, as they're calling it - will be in the old Englund Marine building right next door to my shop at 15th Street and the River Walk. Does that mean there will be 30 people converging on the nextdoor parking lot? 300? 3,000? I have no idea, but I'll definitely keep you posted. Today's photo is the window of Englund Marine. (I've left the image large so you can read the poster if you click on the image.) With the "We've Moved" sign removed from the glass, the empty store will come alive for the long weekend, and will be the location for ticket sales, souvenirs, and treasure maps. June 3 to 7 will will be festive and interesting around here, I'm sure. I'll keep my camera at the ready. You can read more about events and plans on this web site.

By the way, the reflections in the window are Hunt's Furniture Store (in front; now under new ownership and renamed Roby's Furniture and Appliance), and Owens-Adair Apartments (the taller building in the back with a pointed roof), a care and housing facility for seniors. It was at one time St. Mary's Hospital, now in a much bigger building a few blocks away. If you look again, you might see the looming shape of the photographer.

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This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Dressed for the Fest

In the window of The Troll's Nook in Astoria (on 12th Street between Marine Drive and Commercial), you can find a crab-patterned bib that will keep your shirt clean while you pull your dinner apart at the Crab and Seafood Festival with gloved fingers and a wooden block. Allen, one of the owners, can be see inside the store on the left. The crab on top of the gold lamé head came from my store, and it was funny how it happened. The owners searched the Internet for plastic crabs, and where in the world do you think they found them? Two blocks away in Astoria! I hand-delivered the merchandise, and that's how we met.

The decor and featured items, of course, are in keeping with the weekend's crab and seafood festivities. I'll be watching this window for more fun displays as the seasons and events roll through Astoria.

On another topic, I want to thank Elleda Rhiannonn Wilson and The Daily Astorian for the flattering write-up of this blog in Elleda's "In One Ear" column on Friday, April 23. It was quite a thrill to read it!

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This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Wind and Waves

April 10, 2010

Alongside the Maritime Museum on the River Walk

46°11'22.81"N 123°49'23.81"W

On the south side of the Columbia River Maritime Museum is a tall glass window with a display inside of a real Coast Guard boat lodged at a rakish angle on resin waves. A recording produces the sounds of the pounding sea and the exchange of boat captains navitaging perilous waters. In today's Weekend Reflections photo you can also see Coxcomb Hill and the Astoria Column, the museum parking lot, and a wind-tossed photographer.

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Street Damage Made Beautiful

There is no image reflected here for Weekend Reflections, only the light of the sun reflecting off of the patches at the intersection of 16th Street and Duane. I thought the patterns were not only interesting, but rather pretty. If you wonder why there are so many cracks in the street at this intersection, scroll down.

As with a number of Astoria's streets, at this point 16th Street doesn't have the support of solid ground. The intersection in the first photo is just to the left out of the picture. It's hard to see the concrete wall a few feet behind the pillars, but it's there - and it's impossible to see beyond the concrete wall to know what the structure would look like under the intersection.

For those not familiar with Astoria, Oregon, Marine Drive is at the right of the photo, with the River Walk and the Columbia River just a few paces away. The mountains are in Washington, four miles across the river. The purple building in the middel is Custard King, and on the left is Shallon Winery, which I have not shown yet. To reach downtown Astoria, travel left on Marine Drive or enter the one-way grid in the top photo.

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Porch light reflections

I took this photo from the front door of my business one year ago today. Which are the reflections?

For those who want to see more Astoria, I'm slowly updating my personal blog chronologically (or sometimes randomly), backdating the posts. Some days I post a lot of Astoria pix, and today was one of them. The post date is August 7, 2001. I took quite a few photos along the waterfront, including some places that have been rebuilt or repainted and look very different now.

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