Model: Laura Svec
Location: Washington Park Arboretum
Date: Saturday, April 19, 2009
File #: 20090418_010563

Gabriel had a photo shoot with a model at the Arboretum and I tagged along to take photos at one of my favorite places. I also shot a few frames of the model, Laura Svec, since I am working on improving my portraiture skills with natural light. These are two of the four photographs that I thought were reasonably good.  The full set of four is here.

Unfortunately, some of my settings were off and many of the photographs didn’t turn out as well as I had hoped.

File #: 20090418_010556
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Now playing: Cake - Frank Sinatra
via FoxyTunes

This is the finished Celtic Hearts Shawl, a wedding gift for my friend Heather. Unfortunately, the photos were taken quickly on our way out the door, so they aren’t the best and don’t show the whole shawl.

Pattern: Celtic Hearts Shawl by Vicki Mikulak

Photos by: Gabriel Cain

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Luscious Single Silk in the colorway Valkyrie

Ravelry Information: pixysticks’ Celtic Heart Shawl

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I finished this a long time ago, but didn’t get photos until just before we headed out the door to the wedding.  This unfortunately means that the photos don’t do it justice, even though it was Gabriel shooting it.

The real color of the yarn is probably closest to the finished shots, but it is a bit darker.

The full photo set, including the beginning shots, can be found here.

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• Bloknovnaiza Ringtone
• Ykyplek Music
• Anouheiba Music
• Owooxivroi Ringtone
• Aflublurau Download
• Braivoxir Music
• Soklimof Ringtone
• Udreihloorux Mp3
• Vleimufnek Ringtone
• Yfnoibranoud Album

In 2008, I raised funds for my hiking trip on a section of the Pacific Crest by pre-selling calendars for 2009. Due to certain issues, they were late being finished, but are being shipped. These are the 12 photos that were used for the calendar.

While it is now mid-January, calendars are still available for those who did not purchase them earlier for the post-production price of $27.95, including shipping. Also, each photograph of this series is available for order individually as an 8×10 for $27.95 with shipping. If you are interested, please send a request via email and I will send you details.

Thanks for your support!

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For a better look, the full set of photos that were used is available here on Flickr.

1. January, 2. February, 3. March, 4. April, 5. May, 6. June, 7. July, 8. August, 9. September, 10. October, 11. November, 12. December

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys.

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Now playing: They Might Be Giants - We’re The Replacements
via FoxyTunes

Yes, I’m really feeling the urge to return ASAP. These aren’t great visual photos, but they make me smile with memories and yearn for the trail again. They were all taken on my first foray into Oregon in 2008.

I don’t think that you even want to know how much of the southern Oregon PCT crosses stock lands. Often, the gates couldn’t be opened easily using the poles or one-handed and frequently needed a hard pull on the whole gate to open or close, even ones like these that were designed for easy handling. There were a lot of cow patties and you never knew when you might stumble into a herd, even in the forest. However, my favorite campsite was also on stock land, so it’s not all bad, and at least the owners are willing to have hikers traipse through.

This is the PCT trailhead south of Ashland, Oregon. It’s the first easy access to the trail north of the California border and was my starting point. The piece of cardboard with a rock at the base is a sign pointing which way to head into Ashland for those coming off trail.

To get to Ashland from here, you have to road hike 3/4 of a mile to Interstate 5 and then hitch to town. It’s 12 miles on the freeway to the Ashland Post Office, frequently hikers’ first stop. I caught a ride out to the freeway off ramp and then walked up.

Ah, my first diamond marker. Someone wrote “PCT —-> North Welcome home” on it and that’s really how it feels. On trail, these markers are both your best friend and your worst enemy. Sometimes, they are very frequent and you wonder if someone was getting paid by the number of markers posted. Other times, you search and search for markers, concerned that you might have missed a turn off, and pray to find one soon. Or, at least, that’s what I did after my one time of taking a wrong turn and hiking 1.5 miles out of my way, down hill.

The newer official markers look like this, with the official trail logo, but the more frequent markers are these white diamonds and you even occasionally run into the old trail markers. Of course, that doesn’t even start to mention all the wooden posts, non-standard trail markers, non-obvious and non-marked trail changes, or various agency signs that you run across. It can get confusing. Also, any and all of the nailed markers can be subsumed and enclosed by a tree and end up being an edge that’s barely visible or a tiny flash buried in bark.
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Now playing: Voltaire - BRAINS!
via FoxyTunes

Larval Stage, originally uploaded by dreamingcrow.

Ladybug larva on grass seeds (likely Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle, Harmonia axyridis)

Magnuson Park, Seattle, WA

July 7, 2007
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Ladybug on grass seeds (likely Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle, Harmonia axyridis)

Magnuson Park, Seattle, WA
July 7, 2007

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For some reason, this shot pleases me, even though it’s just the effect of a cold night camping and a not-yet-warm camera.

Dorothy Lake, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WA

September 21, 2007

File #20070921_004576-1

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Rime frosted tree
Somewhere on US Highway 2 between Waterville and Coulee City, Eastern Washington State

Sunday, November 25, 2007

File #20071125_003735-1

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Why yes, I am sorting through a bunch of old photos, why do you ask?

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Now playing: XTC - Dear God
via FoxyTunes

File #20081203_010269-1

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I took a few pictures while walking in the rain at Meadowbrook Pond, here in Seattle.  Most of them didn’t turn out well enough for me, but I’ve posted a few.

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Now playing: Murray Head - One Night in Bangkok
via FoxyTunes

Digitally manipulated black and white photograph

Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Seattle, WA

Sunday, November 23, 2008

File #20081123_010104-1

©2008 Dreaming Crow Studios: All rights reserved.

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This is part of the set Funerary Monuments.  Unlike most of my photographs, man of these are heavily edited.

 
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Thursday, October 23, 2008

File #20081023_009684-1

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There are four more here, though I don’t think that they’re as good.  I’m working on seeing things from different perspectives, so expect some unusual pictures.

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Now playing: Falco - Rock Me Amadeus
via FoxyTunes

“I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.”
- Henry David Thoreau

Marten Creek, Snoqualmie Lake Trail (#1002), Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
Near North Bend, WA, USA
Sunday, October 19, 2008

File #20081019_009555-1
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Now playing: Faith No More - Falling To Pieces
via FoxyTunes    

Autumn is my favorite season and it’s somewhat rare for us to have a really dry time during it. Frequently, the leaves are rained and blown off the trees before they have a chance to turn much. The rains are supposed to return today, though.

Enjoy!

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1. Trio, 2. Pumpkin Pile, 3. Ghost Pumpkins, 4. Pumpkins

Remember, these are cropped. Click on the links to see the full shot.

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys.

There’s another mosaic behind the cut.

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