25-NOV-2014
Water Tower
There was a bit of fall color in front of the International Paper water tower, so I thought it might make a nice photo. I needed some color to compensate for the dark, cloudy day.
23-NOV-2014
Delta Ponds Scene
I have always enjoyed this view of one of the Delta Ponds. In the background you see the Coburg Hills, and in the middle is a small red bridge along a path through the Ponds. If you look close you will see a Great Egret standing on the rail of the bridge, a spcial bonus I got. I enjoy the variety of wildlife one finds there. Delta Ponds and Alton Baker Park are my two favorites haunts.
23-NOV-2014
Leonard and Mary - Visitors to Delta Ponds
While at Delta Ponds, I met Leonard and Mary from the Bay Area in California. They were enjoying a walk in the park. We visited and talked a bit about cameras. He uses a Nikon D7000 that he didn't bring with him. He did have a cute little Sony RX100, small enough to carry in a pocket. Leonard grew up in the Brentwood area, when it still had orchards and farm land. They now live north of San Francisco, along the Bay, not far from Oakland. I don't remember the name of the town. Very nice folks.
For once, I thought about getting a photo of those I meet. Carol is always after me to do that. :)
22-NOV-2014
Cream Puff 1953 Caddy
I saw this wonderful Cadillac, probably from the 1950's, on my morning walk. It was sitting in front of a small coffee shop that is a favorite of retirees. I thought the car looked absolutely perfect, a cream puff. Halfway through my walk of over 40 blocks, the sky opened up and it poured. By the time I got home I was completely soaked, and every bit of clothing was saturated. Oh well, it's only water! Fortunately, it wasn't really cold out.
More information about the 1953 Cadillac from the Cadillac Fan Site (note gas mileage) -
"The 1953 Cadillac featured a larger grill, with two large "bullets" which created a lot of discussion through the years. This was the first car to get a 12 volt electrical system, one-piece rear window, and air conditioning using Freon 12 (Oldmobile 98 also offered these items). Other options included power steering, power brakes, hydro-electric power windows and seat, Signal-Seeking radio with optional foot switch, front and rear speakers (rear speaker n/a on convertibles), Autronic Eye automatic headlight dimmer, fog lamps, wire wheels, Ventshades, Outside Sun Visor, Instrument Panel Anti-Glare Cover, Windshield Washer, Monogrammed Blanket, and many other options.
The engine for 1953 was 20% bigger at 331 cu. in. and 210 horsepower. Most 53's have the 4-speed Hydra-Matic transmission, but after a fire at the transmission plant at Livonia, Michigan on August 12, 1953, the remaining 28,600 Cadillacs were equipped with the Buick Dynaflo transmission. The Hydra-Matic was reintroduced with the 1954 models. 1951- 1953 Cadillacs use the same tailight lens. 1952 and 1953 Cadillacs used the same gold-plated "V"s on their hoods and trunks celebrating 50 years of Cadillac. The dual exhaust was muffled with two mufflers on each side for extra quiet driving. These cars were not gas guzzlers. They got 16 to 18 mpg city and 20 to 22 mpg country. 95% of all 53s were equipped with power steering and about 10% of all models included air-conditioning.
The 1953 Cadillacs are now 57 years old. If you don't own one, please consider doing so. We want to preserve and maintain all of the remaining examples. Of the 109,651 Cadillacs manufactured in 1953, only about 2200 remain on the registration roles and maybe up to another 2000 additional in salvage yards and on private property."
21-NOV-2014
River Otter with Prey
I saw movement in the water at Delta Ponds this morning and stopped to keep an eye out for what was causing the waves. A pair of river otters were feeding along the bank. Then one of them swam out to a small log. I got several shots of it there. Lo and behold it had caught a bullfrog and was feeding.
20-NOV-2014
Kingsford Plant in the Dark
I thought I would check out the camera's ability to shoot in low light situations. We have a lot of that in Oregon. So I went out for a drive in the wee hours of the morning to see what I could find for subjects. I thought the kingsford Briquets plant would be a good subject. The photo was shot at ISO 6400.
19-NOV-2014
Panorama - Alton Baker Pond
This is a three shot panorama of a pond at Alton Baker Park. This pond is one of those planted with trout by ODFW (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife). this spring and early summer, osprey would hang out in some of the trees located where I shot this picture. I post one photo of an osprey with a fish, on July 5th -
http://www.pbase.com/fotabug/image/156442714 I also posted images of fishermen with their catches -
http://www.pbase.com/fotabug/image/157758472. Too bad I didn't have a sunny day for this panorama.
18-NOV-2014
Bald Eagle at Delta Ponds
Whoopee! I saw a pair of bald eagles at Delta Ponds this morning. I caught this one in a tree before they flew away. It's always a thrill to see them. They are not a common sight, but we have seen them more often in recent years. There is a eagle nesting tree on the north side of Skinner Butte. Perhaps this is the pair that nests there. The image was shot in DX mode and also cropped. It was a difficult shot because of the dark day and shooting against the sky.
17-NOV-2014
It Got Cold This Morning!
I went for a walk in Alton Baker Park this morning. It was in the low twenties, so a bit chilly, as one can tell from this photo. I know that those in other places are having much worse weather. I hope all are ok.
16-NOV-2014
Molly Has Made Herself At Home!
It's been over a year now since we got Molly, a rescued Miniature Poodle. She has certainly made herself right at home. She is a buddy for Miko (our Pekingese/Chihuahua mix), and also a real people lover.
15-NOV-2014
Bird Ballet
This Great Egret at Delta Ponds looks like it is acting in a ballet performance. It is poetry in motion, such beauty! I felt privileged to be present. Hope you enjoy it too.
14-NOV-2014
Foggy Fall Day in the Coburg Hills
I took a drive up into the Coburg Hills to see what the fog was like up there. I enjoyed the fall colors.