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!

Summer love [Wenatchee photography + design]

Love how this came out. A photo I took of a cool, old VW van in cheery, and cherry, red just looked like it belonged at the beach. Some oil paint, a bit of distressing to give it that worn look I love, a few words about how it makes me feel = instant summer art love. Going to order this as a Giclee print on cotton rag and it is going to sing! Sing a song of summer that is, for which I am eagerly waiting! If anyone is interested in prints, let me know. I think this one is so fun!

What makes you feel like summer?

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.

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.

Peshastin: Photography

I recently got a new tattoo (post and pics of that later) that says "Il vaut mieux faire que dire," which is french and basically translates as "actions speak louder than words," (literally it's better to do than to say.) I got it to remind myself to stop SAYING and start DOING. So this past weekend after a drive to Easton, I saw a place I've always wanted to visit and, seeing those words on my wrist, decided today was as good a day as any. Get OUTSIDE, tonya, (and family!) and DO SOMETHING. 

I've lived in Wenatchee 12 years and have driven by these amazing rock formations many, many times. Known as the Peshastin Pinnacles, they are accesible to anyone at Peshastin Pinnacles State Park. There are walking trails around the park for the non-rock-climber and they all sort of circle the rocks and the gorgeous orchards that border them. There was always something neat to see, be it some intrepid soul scaling a rock face or just a jaw-dropping view of the upper Wenatchee valley. Reminds me that I was 100% right in my spur-of-the-moment decision 12 years ago to up-and-quit my job in Seattle and move here with my 2 young daughters, despite the fact I had no employment lined up and only knew 1 person in the whole town. I loved this area the first time I saw it and knew it was the place for me to be.