Washing Windows ~ High Rise Style

Today is the day of yet another funeral. I've taken a few photos in the last week including this one on Friday 25 May without posting any here or anywhere for that matter. Perhaps this will begin a renewed interest on my part in sharing what I see.

I don't do windows and I certainly wouldn't do these.

Rio Grande

The camera took a walk or some might consider it a run along the Rio Grande today. Consider this the post for yesterday and today and perhaps tomorrow. Far too many deaths in the family. Only time will tell.

The Rite of Spring ~ Oregon Symphony

Carlos Kalmar and Jun Iwasaki exchange remarks at the completion of the evening's performance of Liszt, Adams, Dvorak, and Stravinsky. Iwasaki had been the concert master of the Oregon Symphony last season and returned as guest concert master for this special evening that concluded with Stravinsky's Rite of Spring.

Sea of Green

The Timbers Army is described as many things. As the fan club of the Portland Timbers soccer team, they stand and cheer if they're not standing and singing for the ninety plus minutes of each home soccer game. Here they're pictured with their Timbers scarves while singing one of the songs in their repertoire. Ever loyal, they arrive at the entrance to Jeld Wen Field, once known as PGE Park, hours before the gates open ~ rain or shine. Why you ask? Well that section of the stadium is open seating. So hats off to the Timbers Army and their enthusiasm. They help make each home soccer game extra special. Today they had even more to cheer about. The Timbers won the match against the Chicago Fire 2-1. 

Mel Townsend ~ Expressionist Painter

Once again showing you Mel Townsend's paintings. This time they're in her shop on Morrison and SW 10 Ave. here in Portland. Mel paints bold and for the most part large. She does have some smaller portraits but her large street scenes really resonate. Many of them were painted during her time in Washington DC. Go visit Mel. Her paintings may still be hanging or she'll have another show with other artists. Or bring your art in and have it transformed with a new frame and glass. It's amazing what different framing will do!        www.melsframeshop.com

The Curtains at Ira C. Keller Fountain

Some say that the water cascading at the Ira C. Keller Fountain here in Portland looks as if it was a set of curtains. The water makes an interesting display whether it is during the day or in the twilight when the water is artificially lighted.

Days

Sometimes it's important to let other speak for you.Years ago I put together a photo book for family members. I wasn't at the gathering and I didn't take the photos. I only chose the photos to use in the book and captioned them. Tonight we looked at the book in memory of one of the participants. Remember to value your days.


  DAYS by Billy Collins
Each one is a gift, no doubt,
mysteriously placed in your waking hand
or set upon your forehead
moments before you open your eyes. ...

Fire Dancer ~ Fire Eater

Tonight the camera felt as if it were going to get singed if the Fire Dancer at the Portland Art Museum's Volunteer Appreciation Party made a misstep or swallowed incorrectly... I sat on the floor fairly close to the stage to capture these images.

Cities Past, Cities Future

The camera went to some unusual places today, none that allowed photos. That said the iPhone snapped this image of the maps of Venezia and Firenze ~ where we've been ~ and London and Amsterdam on the top ~ where we haven't been. Well, we've been to Amsterdam just not for long enough. So plan on seeing photos from these two cities in the fall.

Below the Waist

The Portland Art Museum has mounted a new exhibition in the Apex Gallery. A number of pieces by Claudia Fitch are being shown including Host (Sword to Mind). Here's the view as you walk in from the main part of the floor.

Portland Architecture

Today the camera took a walk about Portland's downtown. Checking out the diversity of architecture can be a great deal of fun especially if you look for the alternate reality. It's right there reflecting in the mirrored glass on the modern buildings.


One important item to remember ~ stay out of the way of cars and trucks on the streets. 


Here's a smattering of the buildings from the walk. The first image includes the steeple from the United Congregational Church as well as the The Eliot condominiums in the very far background on the left.

     

Channel Sanctuary

Gem-like stillness awaits you when you visit Sauvie Island just north of Portland. This building sits on the Willamette Channel and is accessible from the trail that leads around the Wapato Park area...

Another more stark one sat on the opposite side of the channel and seemed to be "channeling" Edward Hopper in its starkness.

The Listener

Stores that sell audio equipment many times have displays with mannequin heads in their window. The heads are wearing headphones with the overall effect being that of an intent listener. Thinking about that of course can make you wonder if anyone is really listening, listening to what's playing at the other end of the headphones or even perhaps to the people talking with them when they're not wearing headphones.






Thinking back I remembered a photo from awhile ago of another head, slightly different in that's it's clear. Not that we can see the music or the thoughts. We'll have to wait for the mannequin to speak.

Poppies Pop in Portland

Yesterday, the camera walked by a clematis, today it was a bank of poppies. Bright orange poppies are popping out all over Portland and likely all up and down the west Coast. Known by some as the California Poppy, its Latin or as some people say its real name is Eschscholzia californica.

Clematis Competes for Attention

Spring brings new growth and beautiful flowers. Cherry blossoms and tulips are in the lime light. The tenacious clematis continues quietly in the background blossoming forth with walls of flowers. Here's one blossom from a vine growing on a fence in our neighborhood. Be on the lookout for these lovelies.

Monkey in the Window

What a fun sight to find such a happy monkey sitting in Dazzle's shop window. He seems quite well qualified for his postion there ... smiles a great deal and knowledgeable about clothing as well as accessories. That green purse looks rather unique too.

Have a great day looking in windows!

Still Reading the Paper

People read on the street. They have been photographers' subjects from the 19th century. That said Andre Kertesz enjoyed taking photographs of people reading. Many still do today, myself being one of them.


While having lunch outside today, I happened on this fellow who not only was reading but also reading the newspaper...

Who Are You, Who Am I

Eternal questions...
Who are you?
Here I am you. Are you me? Who are we?
Questions after a long day that started with a 6.2 mile run, included a hike in the afternoon, a docent presentation in the evening and now writing this before midnight. Of course the cat plays on in the other room while the little dog sleeps soundly in his bed. Life...

Supermoon in Portland, Oregon

Here on Planet Portland, you never quite know if you'll see celestial happenings. It could just be another cloudy day or night. Today started out quite cloudy and continued that way all day. About six there was some clearing. So as we headed off to the Timbers soccer match, I brought along the camera, just in case the clouds cleared and the moon would be visible for this the night of the biggest and brightest moon in 2012.

The sky did clear as the game progressed. The Timbers played better than they have for many matches. Perhaps the slightly different line up helped with that. In any case, on this Cinco de Mayo evening, the moon lifted out of the low lying clouds about 9:20, that would be the 85th minute of the soccer match. As the moon rose, the game ended in a 0-0 tied match. So this Supermoon was also a Cinco de Mayo moon as well as a Soccermoon  here in Portland, Oregon.

Running in the Morning

One way to see your hometown or anywhere for that matter is to go for a walk or a run. For years I rode my bicycle for many miles each day and that's another way to see what's happening around you. Today was not unlike most of those days. Here's a slightly altered view of two bridges on the Willamette River here in Portland. The Broadway Bridge is just south of the Fremont Bridge two main arteries for downtown Portland. Sometimes our vision are just a bit different than at other times.

Afternoon Adventure

Walk the streets in any town and you'll find abandoned shoes, sometimes just one. I've always wondered what happened to the people who had been wearing them. Perhaps the transporter failed and when they were beamed back to their planet, the shoes remained behind. Today there was quite a bit of fun with a single boot!

Inspiration

Inspiration can come from many sources. A friend mentioned that he has started using Instagram's prompts to take photos with his iPhone, saying that the process keeps his creative juices flowing. Whether it be a photo prompt or a poetic prompt or some other device that you check daily, find a source that will lead you to look carefully at the world around you. Today was spent doing a myriad of things, all humdrum and filled with movement that precluded the carrying of a camera. It wasn't until this evening in the midst of cooking that I remembered the photo prompt from the Flickr group Our Daily Challenge ~ sign of change of season. Looking around I thought of the local asparagus I had purchased today. Asparagus starts to ripen in late Spring and there it was ... and here it is, I was getting ready to add it to the grill with the potatoes that were already cooking as well as the salmon that was just about ready to pop on there too.

Intersection Between Outside and In

Sometimes it's difficult finding where the inside begins and the outside ends, which direction to take. Where the two meet is where you sometimes can find alternative solutions.



Georgia O'Keefe is looking at you from that wall.