Welcoming the New Year

As 2012 comes to an end, I've been thinking about how I can improve (photography wise) in 2013. I feel like I've grown the last year, and am excited for what the new year will bring. In 2013 I'm hoping to:
1. Continue to grow as a photographer (even as just a hobbyist)
2. Continue to learn technical aspects of photography, and incorporate that into my photos.
3. Find a style that fits me. I had/have a very vivid color style, but mostly because that's all I knew how to do. As I learn, I'm also experimenting and trying to figure out what works. So, please be patient with me. :)
4. Post more! I traveled quite a bit this year, and chose not to post most of those photos since they weren't in Oregon. From this point on, no reservations when posting. I'm sure others would like to see different areas of the world posted, every once in a while!
Hopefully everyone has a happy and safe new year!

 -Jaime

Dreaming of a Warmer Place

To many people's joy, it has been snowing a lot lately in Bend. I, however, feel that it's at a nasty in between stage. I don't ski or snowboard, so I'm stuck with the mediocre snowfall. Not enough to play in, but enough so every step I take outside the house has me trying not to slip and fall.
So, I found myself looking through my photos from Summer and Fall, and I found this gem. I love that it's an Oregon location, close enough for a day-trip...or more likely an overnight trip.
If snow is what makes you happy, I hope you're enjoying the weather. If not, warmer (less-snowy) places are only a drive away!

Foggy Bend Sunset

If you are in the Bend area right now, you know that the last few days have been foggy (REALLY foggy). As the sun began to set tonight, some of the fog seemed to clear up (at least where I live). What resulted was beautiful; cloudy pink and blue skies, and just a bit of fog in the distance. I'm not sure if this will still give the same feel as a "single" photo, but I thought this was beautiful enough for a panoramic photo.
Hopefully you got to see this for yourself, because it was truly a beautiful sight.

(Yes, some of the clouds were purple)

Moon Over Bend

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Thanksgiving! After a lot of driving, and a few obstacles, I'm now back in Bend. Although I'd love to be closer to my family, I have to say it feels good to be home. Tonight as I was looking out my window, I could see the beautiful colors of the sunset. The added bonus, though, was watching the moon come up through the colorful sky. I have mixed feelings about this time of year. I hate the cold, but there is no denying that some of the most beautiful sights can be seen in the winter months. Beautiful sunrises, sunsets, and snow covered everything! Overall, I think the good outweighs the bad.

Downtown Bend Decorations

In a place like Bend, the Winter holidays also mean an increase in tourism. More specifically, an increase in snow activity tourism (skiing, snowboarding, etc). So, while decorating for the holidays, why not celebrate both! As I turned on to Wall St, I saw some beautiful wreaths hanging, but what was above them surprised me. Skis (and in some places snowboards)!
It looks like other decorations are also on their way up, but I'll have to wait until I'm back from my trip "home" to check those out.
Happy Thanksgiving; hopefully everyone takes the time to really enjoy it and reflect.

Beautiful Sunset

I'm not sure if I've mentioned it, but I hate how early it gets dark now. It usually catches me completely off guard now, and I have to scramble to grab my camera (if I think it's worth it). Today I looked outside as it was getting dark, and thought there might be potential. I stood on our deck with a mug of peppermint hot cocoa, just waiting for some colors to appear. Just as I was giving up and going inside, I saw it. Where I was looking had gotten dark, but behind me there were beautiful colors above the neighborhood. I rushed inside, put on some shoes and scampered out to the street. I'm sure there's a lesson involved in that somewhere, but for now I'll just post the picture.

Swans at First Street Rapids

As I was walking near First Street Rapids, I looked into the river and saw 2 swans swimming my direction. I've always thought that swans were beautiful, so I was eager to try and photograph them. One cooperated, the other seemed to try its hardest to stay out of my pictures (must have been camera shy). The non-shy one swam closer and closer until it was about 2 feet from me (it was in the river, and I was on the shore). If swans can glare and send hateful looks, this one did. I'm not sure if it would actually get out of the river, but I wasn't going to take any chances. I packed up my stuff, and observed from a distance.

(Hateful look not pictured)

Electric Avenue

I've lived in Bend for almost 2 years now, but truth be told I don't explore as much as I should/like to. I usually drive the same roads, walk to the same places, and miss out on everything else. Yesterday was overcast, a bit rainy, yet for some reason I felt like getting out of the house and taking a few pictures. I had heard there was a wall that people create chalk art on in one of the Alleys, so I went searching for that. Well, chalk washes away so I was out of luck on a rainy day. As I was leaving the Alley I spotted the "Electric Avenue" painted sign and felt the need to take a picture (as I was singing Electric Avenue in my head). As I was taking pictures, a man stepped out of his car and asked if I liked his sign - turns out he is the owner of Let It Ride "Electric" Bike Tours of Bend, Oregon. He opened up his shop and told me all about electric bikes (I seriously had no idea such a thing existed) and the business. Maybe this will encourage me to get out and explore more, who knows what else I'm missing in this great town.

A Different Perspective

I wrote yesterday about my unexpected run-in with Herman the Tortoise. Honestly, I was more excited than I would have expected and took LOTS of photos. I got close to the ground and acted like the paparazzi, as I kept backing up to take more and more pictures. When I finally decided I had taken enough, I looked up and decided I was going to take just a couple more...not of the tortoise, but of a new perspective. I walk across this bridge several times a week, yet I've never really looked at it from the view that I was at, at that moment. Personally, I feel like it looked dreamy. The light was hitting it in a way that it seemed to glow! Just when I thought I was done with Fall, the park showed me exactly what I needed to see.

To view on Facebook, click HERE

Herman the Tortoise

Honesty time - I didn't plan on leaving the house at all yesterday. The plan was to have a nice lazy weekend enjoying football (both college and NFL), and just relax. That all changed when my college team (WSU) began playing...it was depressing to put it lightly.
I left the house out of frustration, and made my way to the park. As I got out of my car and made my way to the bridge, I was shocked (in the BEST possible way) at what I saw. Herman the Tortoise was slowly making his way towards me! According to his card, Herman is an African Spurred Tortoise born in the Spring of 2000 and weighs in at 41 lbs. He is a "resident" at Reptopia, but goes for Saturday walks around Bend. For someone who needed to be cheered up, Herman did the trick!

Here's another photo for a bit of a size comparison (and also if you don't believe he was just moseying across the bridge). Herman was fearless when dogs approached:

Also, get ready for a new post tomorrow! Of course as soon as I posted that there wouldn't be any more Fall/Autumn photos, I got a bit of inspiration! 

Fall Colors are Fading

I love going to Drake Park to clear my head. I know there are a lot of beautiful parks in Bend, but Drake is less than 2 miles from the house, and the views there are almost unbeatable. This is probably one of the last pictures I'll post of Fall colors this year...the trees have mostly changed colors and shed their leaves. It's sad (at least to me) that they change so quickly, but I'm sure the sights that Winter bring will be just as beautiful!

Happy Halloween Sunset

Today's weather is what I would consider typical for the end of October; cloudy, a little misty, and slightly surprising.  I wasn't really expecting much at sunset, but as I was preparing dinner I snuck a peek outside, and was pleasantly surprised!  The clouds had a slight glow to them that contrasted beautifully with the darkness.

The photo isn't super crisp since I was rushing to take a picture or two before the colors disappeared... but for being taken from the deck I'm pretty happy with how it turned out!
Happy Halloween!

Fall in Drake Park

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year. Yes, I prefer warmer weather, but you can't beat the beautiful natural colors that the cooler Fall weather brings. I feel like I missed out on a lot of those colors this year; when I left for Maui, the trees had green leaves, and by the time I returned a lot of the trees near me were already bare. However, Drake Park did not disappoint me this morning.

PS - I know I posted a photo similar to this one last year, but every time I walk in this area (especially this time of year), it makes me smile. So, I think it deserves another post.

Central Oregon Pumpkin Co

First, I know it has been a while since my last post - I had a VERY last minute opportunity to go to Maui for 2 weeks that I just couldn't pass up. Now though, I'm back and re-settled!
Yesterday we went to Central Oregon Pumpkin Co. (Smith Rock Ranch) to pick out pumpkins, walk the themed "maize" (This year's theme is Pacman), and enjoy a beautiful fall day in Central Oregon! We did just that, and could not have asked for better weather!

Cannon Beach and Seaside Oregon

If you've never been to Cannon Beach, this may seem like an ugly picture to you. The reality, however, is that these rocks are a lot of the draw to this wonderful beach. When the tide is high, these slippery green rocks are covered in water. As the tide goes down, they turn into wonderful pools that trap sea-life to explore! As a kid, I always got excited at the thought of discovering treasures in these tide pools. As an adult I still share that same excitement!

If tide pools, beach treasures, and sea creatures aren't your thing, just a few miles down the road is Seaside, Oregon. Seaside has lots of fun things to do in the very tourist-driven town, as well as relaxing family-friendly beaches. Perfect for flying a kite, making sandcastles, or just relaxing and enjoying the view - it's perfect for all ages!

*Taken on 2 separate days.

The Great Wheel in Seattle

Our first stop of the extended vacation was to the Seattle area. My brother and sister-in-law just had their first son, so spending a few days there didn't take a lot of thought. While in Seattle, we decided to spend a little time on the waterfront and saw The Great Wheel for the first time. The weather was perfect, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. From The Great Wheel, we had perfect views of the city, waterfront, and cascades. If you've never been on The Great Wheel, I recommend it; the cars can hold up to 8 people, but we were able to have our own (2 people). Also a nice surprise - the cars are air conditioned! The only downside is that there is a slight glare when trying to take pictures, but really that just means that you should put down the camera and enjoy the view for what it is!

Cannon Beach Haystack Rock

I've been on vacation for about a week and a half, and haven't really taken many pictures. We're on our last day of vacation, and ended up at Cannon Beach. When the tide went out, we went out to check the tide pools near Haystack Rock. If you've ever been there, you know that there is an abundance of starfish, sea anemones, and if you're lucky sand dollars (I only found one). It has been overcast and foggy along the beach today, but I won't let that ruin the last day of vacation!

Michael Franti and Spearhead at the Les Schwab Amphitheater

On Wednesday August 22nd, I had the pleasure of going to the LSA (Les Schwab Amphitheater) and hearing Michael Franti and Spearhead perform. I had never heard Franti Perform live, but my boyfriend assured me it would be an amazing time. He was right; the mood and vibes were amazing. I would almost say he sounds better live! If you ever have the opportunity to go see him and his band, I highly recommend going.
I only took a few photos, and then put my camera away to fully enjoy the show! Enjoy!

Balloons Over Bend

So, my intent was to go to Balloons Over Bend for the morning launches and night glow and take lots of pictures. Instead, I ended up volunteering with one of the balloon crews, and I have to say - I didn't end up with as many pictures as I wanted, but I had so much fun! If given the opportunity again, I would do it in a heartbeat!
Filling up the balloon (my perspective):

Watching the balloon with the mountains as a backdrop (as part of the chase crew):

Retrieving the balloon after landing:

Did I mention I got to go up on Sunday?!

Overall my weekend was filled with good people, and great memories. It was definitely a weekend to remember!

Around Dillon Falls at Sunrise

I've never been much of a morning person, but maybe that will change soon. I went out to Dillon Falls around sunrise, but couldn't get a good morning light shot over the moving waters and rapids. However, this lovely image is from the calm area before the river's current picks up! Now that I know waking up around 4AM (before the sun is up), won't kill me, I might have to try it out more often. Everything is so calm and peaceful around that time.

To see this photo on facebook, click HERE

Tumalo Falls

Before this trip, I had only been to Tumalo Falls in the Winter - Park 2-3 miles out and walk/hike to the falls. In the Summer it's much easier. You can drive and park right at the falls, and if you're feeling up to it, hike about 1/4 mile up for a view at the top of the falls. Both are beautiful views that I recommend seeing if you are in the area!

Smith Rock Around Sunset

I finally made my way out to Smith Rock. I look at it from a distance daily from my house, but I had never made the effort to get out there, until now. Once I got there, the sight was breathtaking - I will definitely be making a return visit!

Sparks Lake at Sunrise

I woke up around 3:30AM so I could head up to Sparks Lake and watch the sunrise. Unfortunately, it was far too cloudy to see any spectacular colors. However, there was no wind and the lake was so calm; the reflections on the water were flawless.

It's Beginning to Feel like Summer

It was a wonderful 81˚ today in Bend. With a light breeze, I really couldn't ask for better weather. As the sun began to set, the clouds started drifting in a bit. Here is an image made by merging 3 photos (3 different exposures) so the foreground doesn't appear as dark. I haven't experimented with merging images much, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.
Feel free to let me know what you think!

Supermoon Over Pilot Butte

I've heard over and over that the moon tonight is supposed to be as close to Earth as it will get this year. So, I went outside after sunset to observe and admire its beauty (and take pictures, of course).

Moon-rise over Pilot Butte:

Honesty, I was expecting the moon to look a little bigger than usual, which it didn't seem to be (in my opinion). But, there is no denying that it was still a beautiful sight!

Spring has Sprung!

Spring has definitely sprung in Bend!
Blossoms on the tree right outside our front door:

Hopefully warmer weather appears in the not so distant future!

Spring in Bend

I know it has been a while since I've posted, but I'm back!
Today I had a beautiful view of a rainbow over North Bend. Enjoy!

Rockin' Robin

Lately it seems like robins have been everywhere! Yet, even with that being the case, I had a heck of a time getting a good close-up of the beautiful bird. Hopefully soon I can get a more exciting "action picture" of the birds, but for now this will do!

Rainbow Over Bend

Yesterday I woke up to nearly a foot of fresh snow outside. As the day went on, the rain and wind picked up, and the snow melted. Although I'm not a huge fan of the wind & rain combination that I've been dealing with the last 24 hours, the rainbow after the storm is nothing to complain about!

Stuck in the Snow

When I woke up this morning and peeked out the window, I was so excited to see that it was snowing! It's now nearing sunset, and the snow still hasn't stopped. Now, Bend is not a place that gets intimidated when it snows, everyone goes along with business as usual. However, with that being said, I rather wait a day for people to get the feel of driving in the snow before I start driving around for 'fun'. There's only about 3" of snow right now, but I'll take it! Hopefully there will be more to come!

Another Amazing Sunset

Tonight, there was another amazing sunset on the high desert. The colors were so bright and vivid, I only wish I would have taken the short drive down to Drake Park and enjoyed it from there!

An earlier shot over the houses:

A Shot in The Dark

Tonight I got a chance to go out to the airfield for a little while. Hoping for some clear skies, I took my camera along with me. The skies weren't clear, but I still attempted to take a few pictures, hoping for some good results.  The city was producing a glow in the background, in an otherwise pitch-dark area. Securing my camera on the tripod, and setting a 25 second exposure produced this:
This kind of picture is new to me. Usually I take photos of what I see, but tonight I took a picture of what I considered potential - I knew how the image would be framed, and what was in the picture, but as far as the colors, I could only imagine.  What do you think?

Moon-rise Over Bend

I love evenings like this. When we have a full moon (or nearly full moon), the sight is stunning as it rises over the hills as the sun sets; tonight was no exception. The moon revealed a beautiful golden color as it came into view:

Tonight's Gorgeous Sunset

To be honest, I was a little unsure if the sunset tonight was going to be worth taking a picture of. Initially, it looked fairly yellow, and a little dirty. However, as the sun continued to set I couldn't resist snapping some pictures. The clouds lit up to a gorgeous pink and red, which contrasted beautifully with the blue sky.

Spring-Like sunset

Tonight's sunset was beautiful; the colors reminded me of the spring sunsets in Bend. I didn't make it to a place with a mountain view, but I was just as happy observing it, and of course taking pictures, from our deck.
As a side note - I noticed a few of my previous photos were only showing up as an X, but those should be fixed now!