Aperture

Aperture, originally uploaded by penseroso.

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.

December at the Lockspot Cafe

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! :-)

Twinkling on the Hill

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 :-).

Real Garage Band

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.

December Scene

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.

Blue Sparkly Bokeh

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.

Snow Outside, Cozy Inside

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.

Luminarias & Snowfall

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.

Water Table

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!

Maintaining the View

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Two high rise window washers descended into my view from an 18th floor south-facing window in the Federal Courthouse. Think you might want to rappel down a skyscraper for a living? They actually swing right and left to reach corners! More interesting shots on my More Seattle Stuff page, including a view of them from the ground outside (not for the faint of heart). That building beyond them to the right with the cobalt blue glass crown is the nearly completed Olive8 which will house a Hyatt Hotel in its bottom floors and high end condos in its upper floors. I'm liking the shock of blue its design elements are giving the street scape around it.

1700 7th Ave

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

So much new construction has occurred in Seattle in the last ten years. Some spectacular architecture and some ho-hum now graces the skyline. I thought this was an attractive high-rise. This is the north elevation and tallest portion of the 2001 complex built on three levels. It is occupied mostly by Nordstrom employees and Merrill Lynch holds the top four flours.

Retiring the Colors for the Day

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

I happened to pass by when this man was lowering the flag of the great state of Washington from the center flagpole of a downtown hotel (behind him). He carefully folded it and put it away. This was something I used to see frequently at school in my youth, but doesn't seem to be common practice anymore, at least at the local schools which leave flags up night and day. The other two flags aloft were the US flag and the 12th Man flag (fans of the Seattle Seahawks football team refer to themselves as the 12th man on the team).

Legal Ascent

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

These attorney's are heading back up the stair case to federal court after grabbing some coffee at a nearby cafe. They were framed in the grid of a parking garage window, reminding me of some sort of living graph.

Hotel Max

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Hotel Max is a boutique hotel housed in an older multistory building at Stuart Street and 7th Avenue. Billed as the most artistic hotel in downtown Seattle, it appeals to travelers who appreciate contemporary and modern art and design. They incorporate over 300 original works by Seattle area artists and photographers into every dimension of the establishment.

Escape Artist

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

It took three or four tries before the photographer, giant puppet held aloft, and an "elf" wrangler could coax this little guy to stay in the chiar long enough to snap a shot where he wasn't in motion and was looking toward the camera. In fact, click here to see how Santa had to sneak in behind him without being noticed in order to get somthing approaching the archetypal shot, cuz there was no way this child was going to sit on anyone's lap. He may only be two or so, but his thinking made perfect sense to me, too. I'm all for photos, and I'm all for fun and tradition, but sitting with a santa is a lot less frazzling for all concerned if it happens because it is the child's idea. The child was a happy camper when he left with his treat, though. He never knew he'd had his picture taken with Santa! Apparently I wasn't the only person who thought his antics cute!

No Charlie Brown Tree This Year

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

This year's downtown Christmas tree on display at Westlake Center is tall and lush, dispelling any fears of a repeat of last year's disappointing sparse, bare offering that needed many branches added in. Add ornaments, lights, and a few wires to hold things steady in a wind, and voila!

Paintbox Sky

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Just had to show you this skyshow silhouette. Seattle's sunrises and sunsets are reason enough to visit, even in the colder months.

Only a Few Left

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Shadow of a tree on blue striped wall, a few autumn leaves still remaining on a chill December sunny afternoon. It always fascinates me how shadow silhouettes can have such unfocused and sharp areas.

Northwest Puppet Center Keet

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

The Northwest Puppet Center in Seattle's Maple Leaf neighborhood is a regional treasure. The average American thinks of puppetry as being an art form for children, unaware for the most part of the rich and sophisticated puppet theater traditions of Europe and Asia. The puppeteers of the Carter Family Marionettes are world class performers and puppet makers. Their productions delight and the rich detail of their sets and puppets would be the envy of any designer from the live stage. I grew to love puppet theater through my husband's infectious admiration for the art. We were so fortunate to see a Japanese national touring Bunraku company perform in San Francisco (we were seated right behind Diane Finestein!), and a Sicilian national company perform "Orlando Furioso" in Marin, and an Indonesian company complete with gamelan orchestra perform the most amazing shadow puppet works, plus countless productions of famed puppeteers, Lewis Mahlman and Randal Metz in Oakland. So, to find Seattle is home to one of America's premiere puppet theaters is a thrill. The Carter family are among the most practiced and professional troupes in the nation. The puppet center they founded has been developed on the site of a former church and includes a museum, theater, outdoor picnic area, and a large children's playground which features this carved climbing Keet.

Theme Day: Circles and Spheres

Photo & Text Copyright 2008 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

Can you find at least 16 circles in this neonized photo of Seattle's Wedgewood neighborhood Top Pot Doughnut shop? More than 30? Oooo, you're good! This tres chic west coast midcentury modern looking shop, complete with flood lighted palm trees, looks to be a converted 1950s/1960s gas station.
To see what monthly theme interpretations City Daily Photo Bloggers around the globe found to show you in their cities, click here to view thumbnails for all participants and start your tour of 187 cities. Please be sure to leave a comment for folks you visit. . .let us know what your favorite shots were this month!