I'm back home after a truly awesome fortnight in California and Oregon. While it wasn't a photographic trip; and I did, quite rightly, get told off for lapsing into photo mode, there were some cool photo missions done. Here's the highlights;
Fallen Redwoods, click on the image to see it bigger
The Avenue of the Giants
As a kid I remember having a colouring in book about the ancient giant Redwoods of America. I don't really think I thought it was a must do kind of a thing, but we had the chance to drive through the Avenue of Giants. It's touristy, it's the well trodden route, but there's a reason for that. A day hanging out with 2000 year old trees was not enough. Or maybe barely just enough to leave me wanting more. I was super stoked the set up the 617 panoramic camera in the forest. The exposure above is 6 minutes long.
Oregon/Cali border, how more American can you get!
Sparks Lake Glass, click on the image to see it big
Sparks Lake
This was just such and beautiful evening, we arrived in plenty of time to scope out the best position. I finally settled on a spot where I had the two boulders in the foreground water balancing the mountains in the background, and then for a few moment the lake glassed off. Truth be told I actually like this image upside down. It was one of this mini adventures where you are walking back to the car knowing you just enjoyed something pretty special.
Oregon's Broken Top Mountain x2
Smith Rock Dawn, yep, just click on the image to see more detail...there's a lot of detail
Smith Rock State Park
I fully got my Ansel Adams fix at Smith Rock. We were up at 6 and waiting for dawn's light to hit the rock faces. It is exciting to watch the tips of these monoliths light up and progressively witness the sun illuminate the scene in front of you.
Come, Look, Stay....ummm no thanks
Millicans, click on the image to see it larger
Abandoned Millican Store, Oregon
This was one of those moments when you just see scene begging to be photographed. I set up in the shade of the Dr Pepper sign and exposed for that sign and the store front. I moved the camera just enough to get the sun flare through the sign.
Portland
I'm not sure if Portland was a highlight, but it certainly was an experience. I was shocked at how many homeless were living rough on the streets of downtown. I didn't feel at ease. Inversely I got all my film processed at half the price of NZ in two hours, no worries about airport X-ray machines - and yes, despite what they say X-ray machines do f@ck your film. Unfortunately I have the evidence.
And then there's VooDoo Donuts! Ok, Portland is all good.
Now the task of editing and scanning images from this, non photographic trip. There's more to come over the next few weeks.
In Print
The latest issue of Damaged Goods Mag is out and I'm pretty stoking on this image of mine in there. It's Elliot Paerata Reid on the Bar. But what do you reckon? Seriously, let me know, should they have used the next shot in the sequence? ohhh tough call huh!
