Macleay Park in Black and White

According to the Oregon Encyclopedia, "Portlanders have long valued Macleay Park, in Portland’s northwest hills, as a wild oasis close to the city’s core. The nearly 140-acre park has deep ravines shaded by large Douglas-fir and western red cedar trees. Macleay Park also contains the lower portion of Balch Creek, which has a small population of native cutthroat trout. Park trails connect to Forest Park and Audubon Society of Portland wildlife sanctuaries."

I usually photograph Macleay Park in color, to portray its forested beauty. But this time I decided to try monochrome, to emphasize the drama of the scenery and of the underside of the bridge that carries NW Thurman Street over the lower end of the park.

Weathered Wood

In my photographs of the Slabtown district of Portland, I was often drawn to the patterns and textures of weathered wood and plywood, on the walls and doors of old buildings. Here are some examples.

Shokunin Exhibit at the Japanese Garden

The current exhibit in the galleries at the Portland Japanese Garden is Shokunin, which the website tells us means "artisan". The exhibit features the work of five artisans from Kyoto, each of whom has been trained in a centuries-long tradition and is embedded in a large supporting community of craft workers. Here are a few images from this appealing show.

Visit to the Japanese Garden

My wife and I like to walk to the Japanese Garden in Portland. It's a good hike - nearly two miles - from where we live, with about half of it a stiff uphill climb. The vegetation changes with the seasons, the light and shadow change with the time of day, and if the sky is clear there's a good view of Mount Hood over downtown Portland.

More Downtown Portland

A variety of scenes in downtown Portland, a few blocks from the Willamette River and just north of the Yamhill Historical District. Appealingly scruffy, to my taste.

Used Bookstore

Portland's bookstore scene is dominated by Powell's, but there are plenty more small ones. Here's one I stumbled across recently, Cameron's (Portland's oldest - founded in 1938), a typical crammed-to-the-gills used bookstore with an atypical frontage and appealing quirks.

Downtown Portland

I've been walking and photographing in downtown Portland, in the area a few blocks from the Willamette River. It's a bit scruffy, but colorful. In the top photo, the guy is wrapping the largest chocolate chip cookies I've ever seen - and only $1 each!

Non-aggressive Panhandler

In front of Powell's Bookstore. The skyline of downtown Portland in the background gives this, I feel, an unusual feeling of solemnity.

Keeping Portland Weird

From a walk-about in downtown Portland.

Downtown Portland Details

Scenes near the northeast corner of southwest Portland.

Pretty Portland Parking Lot

As Jay Maisel says, "Light, Color, Gesture".

Butterfly Belly

Owner/staff of a recently opened, colorfully decorated Asian restaurant in Northwest Portland, taken this past April.

Plenitude of Produce

From last Saturday's Farmers Market in Portland.