Uploads from scampion

Father's Day Scenery

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 08:36:57 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

Having breakfast with two significant objects just out the window: A vintage DC-3 reminding me of my Dad and Mt Rainier reminding me of outings with my kids.

Tools for Crabbing

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 20:28:21 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

More than 100 units sit stacked and idle on a pier in the crab-happy town of Westport. They're all well-used -- encrusted with barnacles and other organic marine debris.

Watchful

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 09:29:16 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

♫ Take me out to the Library

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:00:00 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

As peculiar as this scene may appear, it was not a staged photo. It was completely spontaneous – though you might argue it involved people prepared for spontaneity.

Mary, Pierce County Library's marketing director, and I were at Cheney Stadium last week to film the Tacoma Rainiers mascot Rhubarb and a couple of baseball players for an upcoming media campaign. There was fun banter back and forth as we shot our video on the third base line. Then, as pitchers and coaches started to emerge from the clubhouse for their pre-game on-field meeting, we called it a wrap and I started packing my cameras away. Mary, always promoting the library, extended the conversation by suggesting that “those library cards you’re holding [as props] can be yours. I can sign you up right now.” Both ballplayers agreed as their coach looked on and a stadium employee checked her phone. I chuckled at first, thinking about (1) Mary’s über-preparedness by bringing registration forms to the ballpark and (2) the uniqueness of issuing library cards to pro baseball players on the field. The scene was strange enough that I quickly unpacked my digital camera again to capture it.

In hindsight, maybe it’s not so strange. The ball park is a workplace for these guys and Mary promotes the library. It would be awesome to see libraries talked up and library cards issued everywhere. Unlike a baseball diamond, libraries have a lot of fair territory.

Log Bridge over the Nisqually

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 18:47:38 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

The swift frigid waters of the Nisqually are only about an hour out of the glacier when they torrent through here. And the river channel floods and changes course almost every year. I don't know how many times the log bridges at this crossing have washed out but I've hiked across several over the years. This is the latest. There will be more. The landscape never stops changing.

The Deer and the Bicycle

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 16:38:33 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

A deer reacts to a passing cyclist. I had carefully approached the deer to photograph (and at one point she approached me somewhat) until there was some trust at my being there. She was more concerned by the cyclist whizzing by 100 feet away than me 10 feet away. I wonder what she thought of that red blur contraption.

Old Stone Railing

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 19:37:32 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

Nearly a hundred years old, this second floor railing along the side of the Elks Lodge is dirty and moldy but in otherwise fine shape. I would almost be a shame to clean it.

Yellow

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 19:57:07 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

I was standing near the Redondo boat ramp when I saw this scene develop. I merely waited for the right moment to snap the shutter. There were many people up on the dock. Most were young men talking tough and showing off to a few young women (who were showing off in their own way). The group was sometimes larger, but there was always a gathering up there. The little girl in yellow marched to her own tune. With her mom up on the sidewalk, she was content to explore the beach alone. The crowd on the dock were all about themselves; the girl was curious about the world at her feet. We need more yellow in the world.

Mascot Shoes

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:09:43 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

Those have got to be size 40 at least. I asked, but Rhubarb wouldn't say. (This was after a ballplayer photo shoot at Cheney Stadium today.)

Happiness is a pug mug

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 18:23:07 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

Here's a photogenic pug I met this weekend. He was loving the sun. Can you tell? My camera was loving that face.

Grilled Corn

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 20:30:02 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

I grilled two corn cobs this evening. 'Twas the sweetest corn I've tasted in a long time! Yum. (And yes, I got close to the hot grill for this photo but was careful not to get too close! The camera was unharmed.)

Arlecia

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 18:41:45 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

My friend and coworker was flexing some muscle today.

Overhead

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Fri, 31 May 2013 16:39:07 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

My dad was always looking overhead -- looking at passing airplanes unless he happened to be IN the airplane. Today would have been his birthday, the second since we last said goodbye. Aviation was always a big part of his life and planes will always remind me of him. Happy flying, Dad.

Gurgling Ball

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Tue, 28 May 2013 17:29:32 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

The sphere was gurgling in the rain. ♫

Smooth Bark or Knot

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Sun, 26 May 2013 13:05:28 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

A narrow focus look at the former home of a Douglas Fir branch.

Murray Morgan Bridge

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Sat, 25 May 2013 09:29:16 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

Thinking about the bridge collapse up north, I glanced through my past bridge photos and found this one I had never posted. This drawbridge was built in 1913 (it's centennial was back in February) and was known as the 11th Street Bridge for most of its existence. It was renamed about a decade ago as an honor to a regional historian who served as a bridge tender here in the 1950s. It still stands, but is closed most of the time these days.

Baby Spiders

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Fri, 24 May 2013 16:36:55 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

Only the top layer of spiders on this baby ball (and a narrow zone of wood) were in focus when I tried using a very short focal length. The fluting of the tree and the effect of focal play remind me Devil's Tower. The milky cloud at the bottom of the photo is a complex mesh of webs.

Over Tea

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Fri, 24 May 2013 09:38:14 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

A portrait of my friend Kari as she sipped a mug of Earl Grey.

Geoff

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:09:21 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

A portrait of my nephew Geoff in 19th Century duds. I took this at his cousin's wedding two months ago.

Watering the Lawn

nobody@flickr.com (scampion) — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:16:42 -0700

scampion posted a photo:

A farm-sized sprinkler rolls along its axis in Lincoln County.