A Sad Day . . .

A sad day
"So let them be little 'cause they're only that way for a while
Give them hope, give them praise, give them love every day
Let them cry, let them giggle, let them sleep in the middle
Oh just let them be little" Tim McGraw

Image by James Shonka Photography, used by permission.

http://www.facebook.com/jamesshonkaphotography

Special Message From James Shonka

 I've not been posting to my photoblog as frequently as usual. Some exciting developements have happened.


I am now a contributing board member at 'In The Pacific Northwest'.

See:     https://www.facebook.com/inthepacificnorthwest

I have started a new facebook page also.

James Shonka Photography

 See:  https://www.facebook.com/jamesshonkaphotography

Visit both of these sites and 'Like' them if you do.

 

Twilight Crashes Back

La Push's southern beach appears to look like a scene from Twilight the movie.

US Coast Guard Surf Training

La Push image of a La Push Coast Guard boat doing surf rescue training.
Matt Hinton wrote me, "Very dramatic place in winter... And the scene of a tragedy a couple of years back. A sailboat made a distress call -- caught in high winds and

heavy seas a few miles north of La Push. The skipper of the Coast Guard lifeboat at La Push made a rash decision that he and his crew should go to the rescue. Their boat was wrecked almost immediately, overwhelmed by huge waves and destroyed on the rocks. Only one crewmember survived. The crew on the sailboat, meanwhile, were rescued by helicopter. Their boat ended up crammed deep in a narrow channel in the rocks, and created a huge fight over salvage rights."

Happy Holidays To All

The lights are hung, the halls are decked and soon the Cedar Creek Grist Mill will be covered with snow. Happy Holidays!

Giving B/W A Little Love

All of my images are post processed using onOne suite of tools. I just got their Perfect B/W software and I am liking the variety of effects that the software provides.

And We Chose The Gold Finch . . .

I spent so much time with this Bald eagle. I wanted to capture it flying away. He did eventually fly but he dropped behind the trees and I was on the wrong side at the right time. (yes, I know the Bald Eagle is our national bird). I was just saying.

Columbia Gorge - Essay in Black and White

Just having a little post processing fun.

Space Needle Photo-Art

Today is 'Black Friday'. Seattle stores were packed with early Christmas shoppers. I thought my blog's image should speak to this tradition.

One Of My Wife's Favorites

I almost need a way to show just how large this vase is. Since I don't have a ruler in the image I'll guess that it is about 24 inches across.

Whimsical Scene

The room is extremely dark. The boat really seems to be floating on water. Bravo

Look Up And What Do You See

A passageway, (hall way), into another chamber of beauty was alive with color. The ceiling was covered in glass art. Flowers or maybe some are glass jelly fish. Not just a section but the entire upward view.

I Was Thinking Of The Patience These Took

I walk into another room filled with awesome works of glass art. This collection of vases represents only one of dozens on display.

How Does He Do This ?

Another glass wonder. I thought for a moment that this glass works was once owned by a wizard. Pass it on.

Chihuly Garden and Glass House . . . Experience

Dale Chihuly's creations are simply amazing. I spent several hours lost in this color palette of reds, oranges, yellows and amber. This exhibit is a must see. The shapes will stir your imagination. Magnificent.

Missing

I'm Leaving Ridgefield, I'll Surely Return

As autumn shows signs of soon turning into winter, I too am changing my photographic focus to the things of winter. I trust you enjoyed the Ridgefield sequence.

I'm Not Sure How They Can Fly

The 'Heron' is truly an amazing creature. I've seen them fly through woodlands and somehow avoid the branches. They have a six foot wingspan. Just amazes me.

Yes, He Knows I'm There

Not much escapes these birds of prey. My time at Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge was short but the memories will be long kept.

The Watch Is Always Going On

Raptures have remarkable vision. The smallest of prey can be seen from on high.

The Wetlands Are Home To Many

Hopping, flying and trying to avoid the realities of the wild is a full time job. A moment on this cat tail is soon gone.

There Are Other Hunters

This 'Heron', I'm not sure of it's species, was so intent in it's quest for fish, frogs or whatever. Fun to watch.

And The Red Tailed Hawk Was Gone

This take off was beautiful to watch. Just amazing.

Red Tailed Hawk . . . continued

I love this sequence. It all happens in a moment. One moment the hawk is just sitting on a branch and the next moment he is gone. Not this time.

Red Tailed Hawk . . . in Action.

This was a moment I didn't miss.

The Red Tailed Hawk

It's common knowledge amongst photographers that it takes a lot of missed shots to get a good action shot. A photographer waits, waits some more then is distracted for a moment and the moment is lost.

One Little Sandpiper

There we were at a lonely slough, one little sandpiper and I. The scattered driftwood bleached and dry was it's hunting ground that day. While I was there to photograph it scans me with a fearless eye, then returned to hunt for its food, as I continue on my way.

The Ridgefield Loop

Ridgefield is an amazing sanctuary for the wild things. The wildlife seem to ignore the human visitors as long as they stay in their vehicles. The Refuge is designed to meet the needs of both 'wild' and 'human'. Action was everywhere, my camera was smokin. You know the smokin part was just for effect, right.

Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge . . .

The shotguns were booming. Autumn hunting season is on. The geese find Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge just that, a refuge.

At Mornin Light . . .

This scene was the gift I received at morning light. The view from our bedroom window was quite the delight. The mountain was out, the sunrise was ablaze. I put on my old blue jeans and was ready for the day.

The Ghosts and Goblins Were Out Last Night

The ghosts and goblins have all fallin asleep. The pumpkins glow no more. The gords of autumn will most likely remain until Thanksgiving day. By then the candy will all be gone and Santa will be on his way.

The Art of Pumpkin Carving

 This Halloween scene was carved by my six year old. Her first scene.

My oldest son is carving his Jack-O-Lantern.

It's Pumpkin Time . . .

It's pumpkin time in Auburn, they're the biggest they've been in a year. It's pumpkin time in Auburn, I only wish you all could be there. The pumpkin patch is filled, we went there last Saturday to get our share. If you haven't been in a year or more then you must make a trip this year.

Autumn Leaves

Sometimes I think photography for me is a great excuse to get out into nature. The treasures I find can't be kept physically but can be kept forever. The wildlife, the sweeping scenes, the autumn leaves resting on the forest floor.

No Sweeping Scenes . . .

On a recent photo hike to Cedar River I found no sweeping scenes, no wildlife. The hike was relaxing and when I looked down at the autumn leaves resting on the forest floor I found my subject for the afternoon.

The Colors Of Autumn

A walk in the woods on an autumn day sets the mind at rest and the soul can play.

The River Is Home To Many Creatures

The Columbia River is home to these river otters. The parent / child combo were busy diving for food. The young otter was already skilled at the process.

Last Light of Summer

This image was taken at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. A hiker was observing the turtles and lamenting that this pond would be flooded the next week, in preparation for the migrating winter flocks. It struck me as humorous, how do you flood a pond. Although I understood their loss.

Prior To Diving For Fish

This bird would hover, select its prey then make a high speed dive into the salt water.

Diving Expert

This relatively small sea bird was quite the photographic challenge. So fast. It was so quick, and the dives were spectacular. This wasn't the only digital file I captured. I assure you of that.

The Great Blue Heron

These blue heron are fun to watch. Good fisherman also.

Simply Nature

The day I was exploring this creek, I imagined what Tom Sawyer must have experienced as a boy. If I had a book with me I might have sat down and just read the afternoon away.

Moron! . . . Putz!

Good Morning, Putz. Hello Moron. If you didn't see Grumpy Old Men then you are probably thinking, 'what'?

I'll Be Watching You . . .

You wouldn't believe how utterly small this little tree frog was. This image is larger than life size. The cave once was a small tree branch that probably had died and rotted away. The tree frog seemed rather fond of it's setting though.

When Isn't A Weed Just A Weed?

I visit the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge with expectations for the wildlife photography I would enjoy taking. Then I spend the first 30 minutes photographing weeds. Go figure.

Blue Heron Heaven

This shot was taken recently at Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. On October 1st of each year this meadow is flooded to provide a winter marsh for the migrating water birds.

Grey Heron At Niqually Reserve

I found this Heron just resting prior to the late afternoon hunt.

Downstream To The Grist Mill

The Cedar Creek Grist Mill remains an enchanted place. I'll be back when the leaves change and the smell of autumn is in the air.

Further Up Cedar Creek

Ansel Adams said that he sometimes returned to the same location, as many as thirty times. He had in his mind what the right conditions would reveal in the scene. I want to see this creek again. Different seasons and different water levels.

The Water Level Is Low, The Beauty Remains

The water needed for Cedar Creek Grist Mill is re-channeled from the creek. Once the water reaches the Mill and the water is used to turn the grinding plates then the water returns to the creek again.

The Gates To The Grist Mill

This image was taken of Cedar Creek just upstream from the Cedar Creek Grist Mill.