Shops in the Pearl

I'm continuing my project of photographing scenes from every block in Portland's Pearl District. Here are three photos from yesterday's walk around a block, taken through windows into interiors of a beauty shop, a Mexican restaurant, and a drugstore.

Photographic Reality

Photographs may not lie, but they certainly tell only partial truths. Two views, on the same spring day last year, of bridges across the Willamette River in Portland.

Union Station

This morning the Portland Photographers' Forum had an outing to Union Station, where the Amtrak trains come and go. The building interior is marble but not as large or grandiose as many of the big city train stations around the country. Notwithstanding its relative lack of picturesqueness, there were plenty of photogenic details.

Is Kale Cannibalistic?

My wife and I have an ongoing light-hearted disagreement about the virtues of kale: She thinks it has some; I disagree. This billboard seems to satisfy us both.

Light on the River

Late afternoon light on the Willamette River, looking north, south, and down.

Variations on an Orange Ship

Yesterday afternoon we walked across the Willamette River on the Steel Bridge. A ship with a bright orange-red hull was moored next to the grain elevators. The late afternoon light, the spot of color, the geometry of the Steel Bridge, and the reflections in the water made for striking compositions. Here are some of the variations.

James Luna at Blackfish

James Luna is a Native American and Mexican-American performance and installation artist. He is this month's featured artist at the Blackfish Gallery in Portland, Oregon. I was asked to take some photos at his First Thursday opening and his Friday lecture. Here are some of the scenes from those events.

Luna's work deals with—among other things—the appropriation of American Indian symbols and images by contemporary culture. The last two photos represent the construction of a peace pipe.

Portland in Black and White

I've been taking black and white photos recently, trying to emulate some of the feel of the classic documentary photographers like Walker Evans and Garry Winogrand. Not that these (from the Portland Farmers' Market and downtown Portland) reach that level, but it's fun to try.

Neighbors

Just around the corner from each other in Portland's Pearl District.

Spring Comes Early To Portland

Not every day is bright and sunny, but this February and last year, the signs of approaching spring were abundant.

February 21, 2015

February 5, 2016

Portland Retail Scenes

Vivid Abstractions

A few selections from paint-spattered walls in downtown Portland.

Variations on Santa Claus

A couple more selections from the particle board wall in downtown Portland.

Particle Board Postings

Near SW 11th and Stark in downtown Portland, a particle board wall has become a locus for various ads, causes, and artistic expressions - sort of a combination of graffiti and collage. Some selections:

Back to Portland

From now until our next trip, I'll be reverting to my usual practice of showing off the beauties and idiosyncrasies of Portland, Oregon. A few colorful ones to start off.

Hawthorne Bridge across the Willamette River

Corner of SW 12th and Stark, downtown Portland

Good color combo: orange and blue

Last Evening in Tarangire

December 25, 2015: Of course the tour leader and staff had planned something special for Christmas Day evening, our last day in Tarangire National Park.

Cocktails al fresco before dinner. Tour leaders/drivers M'zee (2nd from right) and Arnold (at left), park ranger Noele (2nd from left) with others of our safari staff.

A supermoon rises over the horizon

Our faithful Land Cruisers in the beautiful evening light

Table runner in our dining tent, showing the hot peppers that enlivened our meals.

This ends my series of photographs from our great East African safari to Tanzania and Rwanda. Now back to Portland and closer-to-home scenes, at least for a while.