Copyright 2008 Shawn/Slightlynorth. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing. No copying or use allowed.
Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing. No copying or use allowed.
Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing. No copying or use allowed.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing. No copying or use allowed.
Ah, the Sunday after Christmas and the rain has melted away all but a trace of snow here in Seattle. I took some shots of the chilled curls of the Salmon Wave sculptures at the locks while they were still snow dressed. I will be spending this week catching up with myself and have asked another of my favorite Seattle photographers to share his particular gifts and vision with us for a week starting tomorrow. This will conclude the guest photographer series.
I have been a follower and admirer of Slightlynorth's camera work for a couple years now through his photostream on Flickr. He shoots all over town and must pack his camera at all times as he is very prolific. He is well acquainted with the huge posse of Seattle's digital photographers who regularly get together for fun and to encourage each other in photography skills. Shawn's images have an edge to them that I really enjoy, often employing a wide angle lens or trying new techniques, and always covering something really interesting and esentially Seattle in a refreshing way. He has documented a lot of Seattle's street art and I have learned a lot about these ephemeral works through his attentive lens. I know he likes a lot of the same things I do: sushi, cats, art, music, this beautiful city, camera gear, people, and a new slant on things. I know you will enjoy seeing his unique insider's take on Seattle and can't wait for you to meet him and experience the scenes he walks through, so take a peek here! Thanks for leaving him comments and welcoming him into the City Daily Photo community this week. Enjoy, and I'll pop in on theme day :-).
photo and text © ervin vice
There are many approaches to street photography.
I've seen Youtube instructional videos of photographers quite literally getting right in people's faces and snapping off shots, even with flash. Of course, that was New York City, where sidewalks are very crowded and people cannot avoid you easily. I even saw a photographer get into a loud verbal joust with a passerby who objected to his presence. Suffice it to say the photographer won that round. Again - that was New York City.
This is Seattle. Photographers stand out here. I do, anyway. And sane people do not engage in loud arguments on the street. But I think I found a way around the dilemma (sanity is always a dilemma, isn't it?).
Locate an interesting backdrop that also happens to be in a spot where people have to pass if they are going to get from A to B. It also helps if you are doing this during the work day, when people are too busy to be bothered by you and your snooping. Simply stand off to the side and wait.
This was one such place and one such time. It was taken in an alley behind Qwest Field during the lunch hour. The guy actually saw me right before I took this shot, but he was obviously on a schedule, and wasn't going to waste time asking me what I was up to. He simply continued on course, his head no doubt filled with work and meetings and money, as is the case with most sensible people at that time of day.
I do think, however, that he should have looked both ways before crossing those tracks.
Well, first of all, I hope everyone is having a great Christmas. And I know that I should be posting something Christmasy . Well, I don't mean to be a Scrooge, but I don't feel like doing that. Instead, I'm stuck in the past, specifically, the morning when the clouds at dawn were ablaze in colors that probably hadn't been invented yet. Ask Kim - she'll vouch for me. She was out taking shots on the same morning and she'll tell you it really looked like this - no Photoshop (which I don't even have)! This was the JPG right out of the camera. When Nature gives you a gift like this, you don't argue; you take it and say thank you. Oh darn - I wrote something Christmasy after all!
photo and text © ervin vice
I was all on fire early one morning last summer, testing out my new Nikon D300 and trying all sorts of fun stuff with it.
I saw this apparently empty cab parked on the side of the road in lower Queen Anne and immediately felt inspiration take hold of me. Rather than wonder where the driver went, instead I wondered what kind of shot I could get if I looked through the cab and across the street. Its windows were open to the balmy air, so I knew I could get a clear view. I assumed position right beside the cab on the drivers side and started firing off frames.
The shutter on the D300 is rather noisy, so I shouldn't have been surprised when the driver bolted upright and stared straight into the camera, eyes as big as plates. He'd been sprawled out across the passenger seat, sleeping between fares.
"Oh, it's OK," I said, nonchalantly, "I'm just taking pictures" - as if that explained everything.
"Oh," he said, and promptly fell back down to resume his sleep.
I wish security guards had his attitude.
Cats are as big a draw as the books at Twice Sold Tales on Capitol Hill. When my wife and I decided to visit the store's new location, it was partly to see how well the cats were adjusting. Our impression was that they had settled in very nicely. In fact, it seemed that every time I turned a corner and headed down a new aisle, another furry assistant approached me with a friendly smile before turning, tail in the air and back arched jauntily, and leading the way. I half expected one of them to offer a few suggestions. I presume they hid all the copies of T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats". They're not going to let just anyone get their hands on that title.
I measured eight inches of snow in my yard from three different readings in three different spots. My scientific conclusion is that we got a dumping.
I remember rejoicing in snow when I was a kid. Living in places like Buffalo and New Hampshire, I had much rejoicing to do. With adulthood I have come to loathe it. Perhaps age has thinned my blood, weakened my flesh and dimmed my spirit. Suffice it to say, winter gets the better of me now, and I flee from it in terror.
I found these street performers down at Pike Place Market one afternoon last summer. This shot makes me think of warmer days. It's a welcome respite right about now.
When the Chinese Terracotta Army was unearthed in 1974, most of the attention was focused on the soldiers, which seems reasonable enough. What few people realize, though, is that these warriors were accompanied not only by horses, chariots, musicians and acrobats, but by cats. No self-respecting soldier in Qin's army ever went anywhere without his faithful feline - not even to do battle for his emperor. I'm surprised that even the wikipedia article doesn't mention this!
photo and text © ervin vice
Hi Folks!
Kim asked me to guest spot for her on the blog while she enjoys some holiday travel. Like Kim, I gad about town with my camera a lot and shoot whatever strikes my fancy.
This scene caught my eye a few weeks ago down on Pier 66.
When taking photographs of Seattle's skyline, it can be a challenge to avoid the Space Needle - a challenge not unlike the one a moth would face if trying to avoid a lamp. But it can be done.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
One of our family members works near this world famous cafe, so while paying him a visit yesterday I took the opportunity to do a bit of a photowalk in the snow along the ship canal, and then we had dinner here at the Lockspot. . .inside, of course :-).
We are going on holiday to the SF Bay Area this week, so I'd like to introduce you to SDP's first ever guest photographer, Ervin Vice in whose capable hands I'm leaving you tomorrow. I know him by his "nom de lens," Penseroso. I know you will come to admire his work as much as I do. I can't muster enough superlatives to describe his ability to create stunning images of Seattle and just about anything else he aims his lens at. I became acquainted with his passion for making gorgeous shots a couple years ago and have been a big fan ever since. Please make him feel at home during his week in the City Daily Photo community. And, DO ask him about his two handsome cats! :-)
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
Each December one of the broadcasting companies decorates its tall tower, one of three atop Queen Anne Hill. There are another three on Capitol Hill, all twinkle somewhat, but this one adorned with holiday lights goes into overdrive like a la Tour Eiffel wannabe :-).
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
I was walking past the Mar Queen Garage last night when I heard live music inside and peeked through the grimy garage door window. These guys were practicing despite the freezing cold temps outside. It has been awhile since I've seen an actual garage band, and they sounded great. I could only glimpse the guitarist and bass player tucked among the cars, but could hear a drummer back there as well.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
Snow drifts and holiday decorations adorned the scene of these Seattle residences at the Victoria Apartments, which I've shown you in summer before here. We have a tradition in our family sparked by years of living amidst multistory residences in San Francisco. We count the number of Christmas trees we see in lighted windows at night as we are going somewhere. Whoever has the most sightings wins, usually just the admiration of the rest of us :-). It is fun to see the artistry and traditions people display this time of year.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
I thought we might start the week with an abstract of some sparkling tree lights in cool shades of blue. This is what my eyes do when they are tired and and kind of zone out on me :-). Baby, it's COLD outside (for Seattle at least. . .yeah, I know we are wusses). It got down to about 18F last night and may reach 30F at its warmest today. There is just a thin crust of icy snow blanketing yards so no snow day for children. . .until perhaps Wednesday when more is due.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
If this image is confusing, it is because you are looking out at the snowfall from inside the cozy interior of Chocolati in Greenwood, but the store interior is reflected in the glass: two views melded into one image. Walking out into the snowy night after a babysitting gig last night, my daughter was too excited to call it a night, so we drove across town for some very special peppermint hot chocolate and a mocha extraordinaire. Fortified and warmed within, we ventured out into the cold white stuff once more.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
A fun and festive December Green Lake tradition, the nearly 3 mile path around the lake became a "Pathway of Lights" bordered with thousands of paper bag luminarias tonight. Paddlers around the periphery of the lake passed by in canoes and kayaks adorned with lights and inflatable holiday decor. All this for the benefit of thousands of Seattlites who came out to walk the lake and were greeted by the start of snowfall at about 7:00 PM. I heard people caroling as they walked, some ringing sleigh bells, many decked out in their own Christmas lights and glowing decorations like the person here with the blue squiggles. Some even used lights to decorate their dogs and baby strollers. The beginning of the snow only made things seem more magical. Come on, sing it with me now. . ."a beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walking in a winter wonderland." More shots here.
Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.
The smooth surface of water flowing over a huge stone table reflects the interior and exterior of the Federal Courthouse lobby. Of course, like any fountain, you can see coins have been tossed in. I hope they got their wishes!
