Day 365 - The End.

There are a lot of different ways you can go when you decide that you're going to take a picture with a number theme.  The first one that comes to mind is a house address (which I already did on Day 306).  This idea popped into my head several days ago.

I was somewhat surprised at how these type of post office boxes have gone away.  The first place I stopped last week (I was preparing for today's shot) didn't even have the number 365.  Apparently it had to do with fitting certain amounts of certain sized boxes into the space they had to work with.  I found this one in Kent yesterday.  Even these are different from what did originally looked like--The original combination locks have been replaced by key locks.

Anyway, I stopped on my way home, knowing exactly where it was so all I had to do was casually stroll into the post office, past the line of customers, and hone in on my target.

Mission accomplished.  Blog completed.  Woohoo, I did it!

Day 364 - Comfort Kitty

It's funny how everyone associates their critter with camping out in front of a comfy wood fire.  Thing is, it's usually a dog.  We always associate hound dogs (pronounced "dawgs") with laying there sleeping in front of the wood stove.

Well, we have a kittycat that feels the same way.  Cookie loves to stretch out in front of our cozy fire.  She rotates herself around in such a way that she looks like shes twisted inside out.  Like I said in Day 16, she turns into Crescent Kitty when she's feeling comfortable.

There just ain't much more comfort in the world than a comfortable wood fire on a dreary day is there?  Just ask Cookie.

Tomorrow:  The LAST day!

Day 363 - Keepin' it Dry

This guy was really moving along when I saw him.  He was obviously in a hurry... Timing the crosswalks to his advantage by hitting one late and the next one early so he wouldn't have to stop.

What strikes me is how he's all wrapped up from the rain already, but he needed that cheesy little worn-out mini umbrella too.  I guess it's just to keep that cigarette dry.  After all, they're expensive nowadays.

Only 2 more days!

Day 362 - Just a Babbling Brook

This is someone's "back yard" brook for lack of a better explanation.  It's next to a road that is fairly well-traveled, but it's within a fence so all you can do is look or take pictures.

It's early spring and this particular spot was so green I actually had to tone down the green slightly so it didn't seem unnatural.

Only 3 more days left!

Day 361 - Colorful Schnapps

These two bottles of Icelandic schnapps came home with us.  I didn't plan on buying any schnapps while we were there, but while we were waiting to board our plane we fell victim to the classic airport conspiracy:  The placing of the duty-free shop right there in front of us at the boarding gate.

We had both heard of Brennivin before--It's the brand they affectionately call "The Black Death".  The other variety was something new to us.  The Brennivin nickname is pretty accurate--It's like pure poison.  It's basically fermented potato mash and flavored with caraway seeds.  It's interesting at best.  The other is much better.  While the Brennivin is cheap enough the be their local choice of alcoholics, the orange Icelandic Schnapps is much better.  It was twice the price of the Black Death, which actually put it at what you might call a standard price for a pint of liquor.  Believe it or not, it is flavored with lichen moss!

Only 4 more days!

Day 360 - Stalag 13?

We were out driving around in Tacoma today, looking for the infamous Kalakala ferry.  We didn't find it, but we did find this building in the heavily-industrialized port district.  The barbed-wire fence coupled with the nasty-looking boarded up windows gave this place a prison camp feel.

I just had to go black & white with it.

Only 5 more days before this project ends!

Day 359 - Heron Condo

I was driving in Kent today in the work van when I passed by this stand of trees.  I have known there were several nests in it for quite a while because in winter there is no foliage to hide them.  The empty nests in those barren trees were easy to see.

Today was a different story.  I couldn't believe how many Blue Herons I saw in these trees!  There still aren't any leaves on the trees, but it's apparently nest-building season.  I counted something like 9 of these huge birds in just a few trees all grouped together.  They were quite a ways away, but I snapped a few pics of them anyway.

Too bad I don't have a better lens!

Day 358 - Stones of the Past

This is the town cemetery in Black Diamond, Washington.  This is probably the 3rd or 4th time I've been here shooting pictures, and I know Sue has been here a couple times at least too.  Even Sarah has been here once.

I went for "feel" this time... Using a Photoshop filter called "grunge" which is part of a downloadable pack from Filter Forge.  It's really good with things like this.  If something isn't gritty or isn't gritty enough, it comes in handy.

Day 357 - The Gazing Ball

Out in the back yard in a little patch of garden there sits this gazing ball.  It's not in a very big patch of ground really, just a small meandering stepping-stone pathway and an antique door standing all by itself.

I liked the reflections of the sky and trees but it still lacked a little punch so I gave it a little bit of the Photoshop Topaz adjust treatment to spice it up a bit.  Nothing very dramatic other than adding some more color.

Day 356 - The Camel from India

Sarah brought this handmade camel back from India for me.  It's got a metal head, and the blanket that's formed over the hump is also metal.  It's pretty detailed.  Anyway, I figured I'd probably use it in a 365 post eventually, but obviously it took me a while to get to it.

I tried a little something odd on this shot (duh).  I used Photoshop to replicate some ghosts of it.  I don't know if I like it much, but it was something different.

Day 355 - Fishin' on the Green

All up and down the Green River in our area you'll find these little fishing huts that dedicated fisherman have constructed to make their fishing more pleasurable.  I like the added touch the owner put on this one when he added the fish cutout to it.  It even has plexiglass windows and cedar shingles.

A couple months ago the river was right at the top of its banks.  I remember seeing this shanty before the river rose and it was no different than it is now.  I guess the construction of this thing was better than most.

Day 354 - The First Day of Spring

Well, what else are you supposed to take pictures of on the first day of spring?  It's got to be flowers doesn't it?  I think it's a requirement.

These poor ol' Crocuses are always first on the scene.  Sometimes they're so early they pop up right through the middle of snow.  They don't look before they leap.  When I went out to see what flowers I had to pick from, they were the only ones blooming.

Day 353 - Reflections

Today was supposed to be a better-than-average full moon.  A rare occurrence in a full moon is all the reason we need to consider scouting out a good vantage point for when the evening moonrise came along.

In the course of our exploration we came across this small pond.  The smooth water created a nice reflection of the barn and trees.

The moon?  Sure, we managed to get some shots.  Truth is, if any of them were any good I'd probably have one of them posted here.

Day 352 - Tidbits from Iceland

When you come back from an air trip to somewhere you always end up with stuff.  It's here and there, some of it is just regular stuff, and some of it is, "Cool, I want to keep that!" stuff.  Either way, it ends up being a collective of sorts.  By the time you get home you realize you have a lot of stuff.

This is just part of the array of tidbits that we gleaned from our 4 days and 3 nights in Iceland.

Day 351 - Boy on a Footbridge

This footbridge is spanning the Green River at Isaac Evans Park in Auburn.  I took quite a few shots of it but didn't really care for one until I saw this one with the guy in it pushing his bike.

It's funny how putting a human in a picture can add so much to it.  I still wasn't quite happy with it so I gave it a little bit of a blur effect.

Day 350 - Colors of Spring

When plants are the first to pop this time of year it's very apparent.  They catch your eye because they are so bright and so few.  This was a good example.

I was driving down the road and saw these kale plants and daffodils in a beauty bark island.  They were much brighter than what you usually see blooming in an industrial park.  It's hard to believe how bright kale can be.  Their leaves are as bright (or brighter) than some plants' flowers are.

Maybe this means that spring is here!

Day 349 - Wet and Cold

I can't help but feel sorry for horses that are stuck outside in the driving rain.  I see these particular horses outside all the time because they're not all that far from our home.  I'm not positive, but I don't think they actually have any real shelter to speak of.

Today when I drove by them I doubled back and took a few shots.  The poor things were just standing there in pouring rain, looking miserable.  In the back (slightly visible in the pic) three other horses stood under the dripping limbs of a tree.  I know it was a cold rain because it was making my windshield fog up slightly where the wipers weren't clearing.  Poor horses...

I used a little bit of a "grunge" filter that I have to add a little more feel to this picture.

Day 348 - Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran Church

This has apparently become the most popular photo destination in Reykjavik since it was it was completed.  I don't think it's so much what it is, but what it offers.  What it does offer is a place from which you can look down on the city of Reykjavik, Iceland.  There are no other places you can get a birds-eye view of this city from.

The Hallgrimskirkja church is an odd thing to me because it's exterior is all concrete.  While not the most aesthetic choice of building materials, it's apparently very popular in Iceland.  If I have the story right, the outer design was chosen to resemble basalt columns.  While we did take lots of pictures from up in the church tower, I chose to show this one of its interior.

This was shot from the front of the church, and besides capturing the immensity of it, it also shows how big the pipe organ is that inhabits the back wall over the entrance doors.

While it was somewhat stark, it was also very beautiful.

Day 347 - Dyrholaey Lighthouse

This lighthouse is up on the edge of a sheer bluff overlooking the North Atlantic ocean near Vik, Iceland.  The view from up on this ridge was totally amazing.  What was equally amazing was the amount of wind we had to endure to get close enough to it to shoot it.  We literally had to lean into it and wait for a spot of less wind so we could step forward--No exaggeration!

It was a beautiful two-tone blueish green and the camera actually captured it pretty well.  Click for full screen!

Day 346 - Tourists at Lake Thingvellir

This is the second picture I'm presenting from the amazing country of Iceland.  This one was taken while on a bus tour of what they call "The Golden Circle".  While neither Suzie or I care much for the structure of organized tours (actually, I think this may be the first one I've ever been on), they do make for a relaxing, fun day.

This is a particularly important part of Iceland, both historically and geologically.  It is right near here that the early Vikings held their first regular meetings of government.  Also, the large rift at the right side of this picture is the jagged edge of the North American tectonic plate.  Way over at the other side of the lake is a similar "wall" which marks the edge of the Eurasian plate.  The middle, which includes the lake, is kind of a geological "no mans land" which is constantly in a state of flux.  From what the guide said (and I just checked it on the web), the two plates are moving apart at the rate of 2 centimeters per year.

The weather was so gorgeous it was almost hard to take a bad picture that day!

Day 345 - The Blue Lagoon

Today we went to a very unique and and interesting place:  Iceland's famous Blue Lagoon.  It's a place you have to see to believe but this picture will give you an idea.  While the water has some spots that are hotter and cooler than others, it's basically the biggest natural hot tub you can imagine.  The milky blue color of the water was enhanced by the fact that there was snow on the ground everywhere.

I chose this picture today for it's photographic quality.  It was one of the few I took that captured a feel rather than show what the place actually looked like.  For that you'll have to stay tuned for other pictures.

It's really a magical place!

Day 344 - Iceland Bound

It's funny how some things look when you're stuck in the last row of an airplane.  Especially when it's the only plane you've ever been on that had touch-screens in the back of every seat.  It was a sea of glowing lights as far as the eye could see.

We were on our way to our visit to the country of Iceland.  When you get going on a day full of non-stop activity, this is the kind of shot you get!

Day 343 - Survivor in the Hot Tub

Every week Sue and Rachyl do the mother/daughter thing and enjoy watching Survivor in the comfort of the hot tub.  I have been meaning to attempt a hot tub picture for quite a while, and this was the perfect opportunity.

Originally, I thought the bluish light and the swirling, cloudy water would be the picture I wanted, but I didn't really work with the glaring light of the television.

Day 342 - American Stars & Bars

Okay, I admit--I stole that line from Neil Young.  I made quite a transition from yesterday's picture to today:  From no color to lots of color.

I was on my way home from work (how many times have I said that in this blog anyway?) and passed this flag flying at the golf course.  The sunlight was hitting it just right so I had to go back and take a few shots of it.

Day 341 - Earthworks Park Footbridge

The city of Kent has had this park for quite a few years.  I don't remember the last time I was there--probably close to 20 years ago--but it looks pretty run-down now.  Sure, the lawn has been mowed, but almost everything else was in a state of disrepair.  Most things have been marginally maintained like this bridge, but other things they just blocked off instead of fixing them.

I like this shot a lot better in black & white than in color.  It shows the shadows and grain a lot more.

Day 340 - Skate Park

The City of Kent parks department put in a pretty nice skate park when they built this one (which I first featured it back on Day 44).  It's a good quality layout with lots of cool features, and pretty much any time you stop by there will be good photo subject matter.

Even though I took quite a few shots of the activity going on, these little guys got my vote for today's picture.  They show how tough it is to be a little guy in a big skate park.  Climbing in and out of one of these bowls can be quite an undertaking!

Day 339 - Cops

We were out shopping today and happened across what looked to be a sizable emergency.  Well, it did have lots of activity, but it was far from an emergency.  There were 2 city cop cars, one State Patrol car, two tow trucks, and a fire truck--all for a minor 2-car wreck at an intersection.  It must have been a slow day.

I wanted pictures of the people milling around, but it just didn't work.  Everyone was smiling and jovial-looking like they just met at that intersection to tell jokes.  Even the lady that owned one of the vehicles looked like she was having fun.  I decided to just go with a couple of the cop cars to keep the feel.

Day 338 - Bright Color in an Ordinary Setting

What else could you call it?  I took the picture because of the red wall, but now that I see it here on the computer the trash bins are just as colorful as the wall they are parked in front of.  Originally I was turned off somewhat by the bright, shiny door hinges that punctuate the solid red wall but I decided I'd shoot it anyway.

I'm glad I did.

Day 337 - Old Truck

Gotta love those old trucks!  This one is almost directly across the street from Old Truck #1 that I posted way back on Day 29 (which is still there by the way).  It's a farming area so there are always going to be trucks around. I've seen this one out there along the road for a couple weeks now and I've just been waiting for a good time to stop.

I gave it a little more character with a color preset filter in Adobe Lightroom.  I know it's not everyone's cup of tea, but I like to play with making old stuff look even older and more forlorn.

Day 336 - The Lucky Tree

Shouldn't there be a pot of gold somewhere among the branches?

Today was one of those days when we had weather like Oklahoma: Rain, sleet, hail, sun--you name it.  It was changing all the time too.  I knew it was rainbow weather and I was on the lookout for it.  I almost used a picture of a full end-to-end rainbow but this one won out because it ended in the tree.

Click it for full size--they're always better that way.

Day 335 - Doors from the Past

This is the front of a very old building in Auburn, Washington.  Originally the Auburn Public Library, it currently houses the Auburn Dance Center and has for several years.  It's featured in the National Register of Historic Places too, but apparently they haven't made it to the W's for Washington yet as far as digitizing their records goes or I'd include a link to it.

I like peeling paint, so I guess I'm lucky that they have neglected to do much with this building while they have been in it.  It makes for very good photographic subject material.