Sweet Corner of Portland

While attending the Ultimate Money-Making Photography Workshop in Portland, We had time to explore the city.  Downtown is brimming with photo opportunities, from a multitude of food trucks, interesting people, old architecture, great signs and pink boxes. Where were they coming from? VOODOO Doughnuts! If you have a sweet tooth you won't want to miss VOODOO Doughnuts.  

Even if you don't have a sweet tooth, visit for the visual experience and breathe in the aroma of fresh baked doughnuts.

Wonderful three days in Portland, learned a lot and made some new friends. 

More images to come!

Explore ~ Capture ~ Create

Thanks for visiting ~ Rebecca

Tip Toe Through the Tulips

Up at 4:00 am, coffee brewed, sandwiches made and the camera bags loaded in the truck. We headed north towards Woodburn, destination the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. Driving in and out of thick fog for 110 miles, wondering what we might find, when we reached the fields. As the sun rose, it quickly dissipated the fog, leaving a bright colorful field to photograph.

Wooden Shoe opens early for photographers, making some images difficult not to include your fellow photographers in your shot. Bending, stooping, snapping image after image, awing over the giant striped fields of color, we attempt to collect our best.

 Gates opened at 9:00, with the arrival of more visitors, families, pets and photographers taking senior photos. Time for a few close-ups and search out some details. Here are a few images captured as we explored the sea of color.

A wonderful way to spend the day!

Explore ~ Capture ~ Create

Thanks for visiting ~ Rebecca

Playing with Hearts

Spent some fun time on Valentine's Day photographing candy hearts and then playing with them in several new editing programs.  We're bata testing Affinity Photo and trying another program called Intensify an Apple App.  Here are a few of the Images.

Installed Lightroom today .......More to learn ... So excited!

Explore ~ Capture ~ Create

Rebecca

In Search of the Yachats Covered Bridge

Weather forecast, partly sunny, partly cloudy. No matter, we're headed out in search of the Yachats Covered Bridge. There are several ways to get to Yachats. Coming from the East on Hwy 34 and upon reaching Alsea, there's 2 choices. One way is out Deadwood Hwy, thru Lobster Valley and up back roads over the mountain..... hum goat trail. We opted for the conventional route Hwy 34 to 101, then South on 101. Yachats being a fairly small town, it was not hard to find Yachats River Road, travel about seven miles inland, till you reach North Fork Rd. Turn left and go all the way to the end to see the bridge.

The road to the bridge is narrow and muddy, but the small bridge looked dashing in a fresh coat of red paint.

A friendly visitor.

Rick finds a little detail.

Iron and Wood.

Different Perspective.

Old Cedar Tree.

We headed back to Yachats and up the coast to our favorite fish market.

Halibut and Chips

Perfect!

After our delicious dinner we headed south to Waldport in hopes of a sunset.

More to come ......

Explore ~ Capture ~ Create

Rebecca

Photo Trip to Silver Falls State Park

Up early, out the door for the two hour drive to Silver Falls State Park. We planned a 7:30 arrival only to learn the park didn't open until 8:00. This gave us some extra time to explore the camping area and the North entrance to the park. We chose to start our hike at the South Falls, grabbing up the camera gear, we headed out.

I've been to the park several times in different seasons, but never in winter when the trees are bare.  

We had a little fog and mist rising from the falls.... Magical!

The feel is definitely winter, stark and bare, with an abundance of water, creating some dynamic images of South Falls. 

Last shot of South Falls as we head down the trail to the Lower South Falls.

And down, down, down we went ...... You know what that means, we'll have to hike back up, up, up  and out!

Beautiful Lower South Falls where the trail leads you behind the falls and out the other side.  

Last look, before heading the mile back up to the main parking lot. We then headed out to capture the North Falls and Winter Falls.

North Falls captured from the view point.

We had to wait for a place to park, as there were so many visitors and a small parking lot. We headed  back down the trail to capture Winter Falls..... last image of the day. 

  

A beautiful sunny day to visit Silver Falls State Park and capture a few Images.

Until next time....

Explore ~ Capture ~ Create

Rebecca

In the Drivers Seat of My Own Life

Last week, I spent a memorable evening with Cheryl Strayed, the author of the book "Wild".  I guess you could say I'm a big fan, read the book (loved it). Saw the movie a gift for my birthday and now Cheryl live.  Enjoyed listening, as she told stories of her life, the writing of book and the making of the movie.

I think many of Cheryl's stories resinate with a lot of readers, I know it did for me.  One particular passage in the book especially hit home, when Bobbie is near death, she shares one of her life's regrets, and I quote "I have never been in the drivers seat of my own life".

Wow.... have I been in that seat?  How much? How little?  Sometimes life can put you on autopilot, going with the flow and then you wake up and wonder how did I get here.  Taking back the drivers seat, that is what the next 12 months is about.  A transition toward independence, gathering strength,  direction and commitment,  knowing what I want and taking steps every day toward that goal.
 

                                              Back in the drivers seat


Explore ~ Capture ~ Create

Until next week......

Rebecca

12 Month Countdown -

As we continue into the new year and plans begin to take shape and ideas implemented, It's exciting to be moving forward.

I created an online Gallery with Fine Art America a while back, but unfortunately I have been very neglectful and not very diligent at adding images to my gallery.  I'm setting  aside time each week to create and upload new art work.

On a more positive note, I'm proud to announce .......

Fine Art America is now offering beautiful art pillows in various sizes, along with prints, canvas's and greeting cards.

This week I'm Showing four of my images beautifully displayed as throw pillows.

Find my art work at Fine Art America

Explore - Create - Capture

Until next week......

Rebecca

Working on New Year's Resolutions

Having spent the week working on 2015's New Years resolutions, one being to revamp the Blog and the other to plan our count down year to independence, at which time we will have sold off, donated,  and given away all possessions we no longer need.  Casting aside any boat anchors that keep us tied and immobile, as well as gathering the tools to create our new lifestyle on the road.  The countdown begins as well as the preparation.......

The Blog has the beginings of a new look, a place to keep track of the changes and to keep myself on track, probably the most difficult task.

First assignment was to plan twelve mini photo trips one for each month and follow through.  January's outing is a trip to Silver Creek Falls State Park. We have hiked the park many times, but never in winter.   It will be a treat.

Slowly build a portfolio, adding images to Fine Art America and creating new images for stock.

We will keep ourselves busy this year with downsizing, creating images, road trips, hiking and biking.

Life is Grand.........

Rebecca