Summer is for traveling [Wenatchee photography + design]

Just retuned from a quick little trip to Couer d'Alene, ID where we also visited Silverwood amusement park for the day. Had a great time, rode the After Shock rollercoaster, from which I barely survived. I am a roller coaster enthusiast. Never met one I didn't love and ride again. But this one...wow. You know when they have to delay your loading to clean 1) blood, then 2) bile, off the ride that it's a doozy. Suffice it to say that was my first, and last, ride on the After Shock. It was a quick trip, but we did get to drive a bit down Lake Coeur d'Alene right at sunset. So beautiful, I want to visit again and just sit by the water for a long time.

Seattle [Washington travel photography]

Spent the best week in Seattle for vacation with the whole fam-damily, as my Dad used to say. I've lived there before, and it's less than 3 hours from here, but to go there with the intention of vacationing, of being a tourist, changes everything. Part of vacation for us is no hurrying. We have two teens and a 'tween and sleeping in is high-priority. It was nice to have 11:00 am as the kick-off time each day, followed by a "full-day" of fun and then winding down around dark (which as you know isn't until after 9 in the summer in the great Pacific Northwest.) Temps were the perfect 70's of Seattle summer (I know it can get hotter but really, yuck! Gimme' 70-75 year round and I would think it paradise.) We have a couple short weekend trips still planned and then before we know it, we will back into the school year. <sigh>

I have several spots open for senior portraits still, and the photo deadline in our area is the beginning of October, so don't wait too long to schedule. These long summer nights make for the most gorgeous light = your most gorgeous photos!

Wenatchee area photography: Palisades

Watching "Dusk til Dawn" and editing a few photos from earlier today. One of my favorite cult-classic movies. Has George Clooney ever looked better? Seriously, I think not!

We took a drive this afternoon since the weather is so unseasonably warm ('ish). Drove through the Palisades, which are dark basalt cliffs that form a canyon in Eastern Washington. Very stark and steep and beautifully barren. From there you climb up and out onto the plateau (about 10 miles is dirt/gravel only), down into Waterville, further down to get back to the Columbia and back to Wenatchee. A loop which takes about 2 hours total. The late afternoon light was golden and gorgeous and added that little je ne sais quoi to such a windswept area. Totally relaxing way to spend the afternoon and it beats doing laundry hands down.

Wenatchee photography: January 1

Just thought this was such a nice contrast. The color and white yes, but also the seasons, the last of the autumn leaves clinging hopelessly as the snow threatens to weight it down. Love the texture of that frozen leaf, almost leathery. It is snowing so hard right now that I would need an underwater housing for my camera just to shoot in it. I took a few from the cover of my front door overhang, but nothng special. How many shots of looking out the front door does one need? Hopefully it will let up this afternoon (I doubt it) and I can go for a drive and see what frozen moments I can capture. Tomorrow is "back to real life" for me with no more long holiday weekends <sigh>. Stay warm (or cool, if you're in the southern hemi) and enjoy the rest of the season.

Washington photography: Beauty where you find it

Just a really beautiful image of the "nothingness" between Wenatchee and Spokane, WA, an area called the Palouse. Made me remember how you can always find beauty, not so much by opening your eyes, but mostly, by opening your heart.