Uploads from Zeb Andrews, tagged pacificnorthwest

Peculiar instances of juice over matter

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Sat, 18 May 2013 19:49:09 -0700

Cameras are powerful tools. They don't just create images, they create perceptions... or even perhaps realities. Reality for us is how we see it, right? If our eyes and brains had evolved in such a way that down looked like up and vice versa (not such a far-fetched theory, really) then we would invariably think of the reality of down and up in such reversed roles.

Generally speaking, we use cameras to reflect our reality...or more specifically or perception of reality (not that they are really all that different in a fashion). But cameras can be used to introduce new perceptions, can't they? Look at the popularity of extreme wide angle lenses? Why do photographers like them so much? Because they show us a perception of a familiar world in a way we cannot normally see it in. It's exciting. I sometimes like taking it a step further. After all, there is a difference between stretching your perceptions of reality through wide angle lenses and completely re-arranging them. When you start to the see the world as re-arrangible building blocks, you start to think of the reality you so take for granted a bit differently too. See, that is what I mean by powerful tools. Cameras not only have the ability to show us the world in a different fashion, they have the ability to make us think about a different world, or even on occasion, believe in it. Crazy stuff.

Or maybe I have just had too much juice to drink.

Juice for my morning commute

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Sat, 18 May 2013 08:16:57 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

I am reminded pretty much every day how lucky I am to be able to commute to work by walking. I have a 30 minute walk to get to work and then the same distance home of course. It is the perfect way to start the day or to unwind afterward. Over the years I have made so many photos, read so many books or just enjoyed so many mornings on that 30 minute commute. As I said, it is pretty much perfect, even on drizzly mornings such as this one.

Oswald West

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Fri, 17 May 2013 08:40:31 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

I'm in landscape mode today, so a short break from London and a virtual trip to the coast are in order.

Seconds

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:37:48 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

The Innova and me and dawn at the beach.

A pleasant crowded space

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Wed, 08 May 2013 00:12:00 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

But this is a good crowd with which to mingle. They don't push or shove. Their collected voice never rises above a whisper. They all dress well. And each one is a happy and willing model.

Loopin

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:29:59 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

More flowers on the Pentacon, but this time not in my backyard. These guys were found on our trip to Rowena Crest on Worldwide Pinhole Day. (I know, but I haven't scanned the pinhole yet.) We told Owen on the drive out that he had to watch out for "wild flowers", they were sneakier and a bit more aggressive than the in-town domestic flowers. We had him going for only about half a second. Nonetheless, we found a few out there.

Lilac, by Pentacon

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Mon, 06 May 2013 10:30:45 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

I don't always know quite what to make of my Pentacon six. I am not sure if it is the red-headed step child of my camera family or more of the weird German foreign exchange student. I think more the latter. You know, the kind you find sometimes muttering phrases to itself in a foreign language and you're like, 'What'd you just say?" And the camera is like, "Bringen sie die Flowers." And you're like, "Uhhhh ok, whatever you say weird East German kamera. So you get it a bunch of lilacs from the backyard and it is "Achtung." And then ka-klump it makes this photo with this unbelievable bokeh and you exclaim, "WTF! How did you just do that!" But the camera doesn't hear you it is already off in the patch of bluebells around the corner.

Yeah, it is sort of like that.

Ira Keller

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Sun, 05 May 2013 23:19:25 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

An image to complement this morning's post, also from my trip downtown last night. The fountains are back on. :-) The Ira Keller has long been at the top of my list in terms of favorite fountains, not that there aren't several good ones to choose from, mind you. Which other fountain allows you to sit beside, above or underneath it? And on a warm summer evening it really comes into its own.

Revenge of the fifth

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Sun, 05 May 2013 11:32:50 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

For today's posts I'll be topical, starting with an image from last night's wanderings. I got out with a former student and friend, Tony and we walked a large loop around the Cinco de Mayo festivities. Something about large objects that light up and spin in circles always seem to draw photographers, the two of us no exception. I am also making a point of concentrating on using my 5DII a bit more. Generally speaking I take it out only to provide a supporting role to my film cameras, and in truth when I generally make the same image on both the dslr and the Hasselblad (or Pentax or Pentacon or Fuji 617...) I usually like the film image better. But in keeping with my philosophy that all cameras have their strengths and play to them, plus in the expectation of needing this camera much more heavily later this year, I am slowly making a point of moving it up a bit higher in my rotation than the current spot it occupies at like 5 or 6.

So, the sum of all that is a cityscape from the Morrison Bridge last night with a bright, round object spinning in circles.

Like Alice, but down a firelane

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Sat, 04 May 2013 19:07:43 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

Another bend in the trail, but a different forest this time.

At one time, at one place

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Sat, 04 May 2013 09:07:45 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

The Elk Flats portion of the OCT. The light that evening was beautiful. So was the trail, with or without the lovely light. As far as hikes in a coastal forest go, this one was up there.

BNSF 5.1, study 1 aka Pirate's Cove

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Fri, 03 May 2013 00:34:38 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

I admit, I was really down here to see the BNSF Railway Bridge aka the 5.1 Bridge aka The St. Johns Railroad Bridge aka The Willamette River Railroad Bridge. I came for bridges, other come for a place to moor their boats. Hence the name of the cove. Who knows, this could even be Pirate Dan himself.

I didn't swim out to ask.

Pirate Dan

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:19:06 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

If you have been down to Cathedral Park lately, then likely you have seen this boat moored to the dock under the bridge. It belongs to a Pirate Dan (with a name like that I have to assume he is one of many). Pirate Dan is a displaced river-squatter who has been living in Pirate's Cove (I'm detecting a pattern here) just upriver. He has been living on the river like this for a couple of decades, the last ten of them in this boat. He's not anti-social, he just prefers the quiet and solitude the cove gave him and the handful of other boatpeople that lived there. Well, it seems some bad apples moved into the neighborhood and started to cause trouble, catching the eyes of law enforcement. So the sheriff has moved some of the non-troublemakers out to temporary berths while they sort out the area. Dan has been stationed here, next to the dock under the St. Johns Bridge. He doesn't really like it much. It is much noisier and busier. The nearby dog park drives his dog a bit crazy. But he's making do and hoping Pirate Cove gets cleaned up sooner rather than later.

I asked if I could make a portrait of him, but he declined, or rather he said he would sit with a portrait if I gave him a chance to "tell his stories". At the time I was leading a class and he had already tied me up for 20 minutes telling me what I have related so far. I figured if those weren't his stories, I had better come back when I had a whole morning available. That morning has not yet materialized, but maybe tomorrow.

We look forward to looking back

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Wed, 01 May 2013 10:25:22 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

The things I keep in the back of my car.

It is like leading lambs to the forest

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 18:58:40 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

Pentacon bokeh in a mossy Oregon forest. Days like this are hard to beat.

The way it is written

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:26:07 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

When I was much younger, my mom used to love doing calligraphy as a hobby. This image reminds me of that.

The explicit joy in catching the cold

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 21:41:25 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

'twas the night before pinhole day
And all through the house
All the pinholes dreamt
Even the mouse...

Wait, that makes no sense except to rhyme for rhyme's sake. I have never been much good at verbal poetry, I'm a bit more adept at the visual kind. So here is an excerpt from the life of my Zero Image 2000, the second in this four pinhole series. Which of the pinholes will I use tomorrow? Who knows. We'll see which way the sun is shining and go from there. After all, I just had a conversation tonight about using a graham cracker or even your mouth as pinhole cameras (not a pinhole camera in your mouth, but your mouth being the actual camera). Oh, boy. Hold on to your brass shims folks, it may be an interesting day before all is finished.

Away

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 08:22:14 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

It's pinhole weekend! Tomorrow is World Wide Pinhole Day and you don't have to be psychic to know what I'll be up to. So I figured in preparation for that I would post a weekend's worth of pinhole images, all made with different pinhole cameras - just because I can. :-)

All of the places to be

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 21:15:57 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

Amidst all the hullabaloo of the sunshine and warm temperatures lately, it is hard to believe that only about a week ago I was up to my knees waltzing through a snowy forest. How refreshing that was. I may just have to go back. But only after a couple more sunny days. ;-)

When all else fails, go with pretty colors

nobody@flickr.com (Zeb Andrews) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:36:01 -0700

Zeb Andrews posted a photo:

Time has run out for me this morning and I need to get heading out into that bright, sunny morning on my way to work. So, a photo that doesn't require much discussion or explanation. I've always liked cherry blossoms for their sheer simplicity.