7-13, Scenic Highlights

It has taken me several weeks to sort through, edit, back-up, name and add the photos I've taken during our recent road trip to the gallery on my As Eye See It website.  I feel like I'm finally 'there', and they are now interspersed in the albums on my website.  Now, the fun part-- looking through them again and figuring out what ways to use, show and share them.  I love to make slideshows with my photos, so that's a definite must.  I originally started my business as a means to sell my photo cards, so making photo cards is also on my list.  What else?  I'll have to think about that.  I'm grateful for what the trip revealed to me-- a renewal for my love of landscape photography.  I've been pretty selectively focused on people and portraits over the past few years.  It feels nice to actually come full circle to what sparked this love in the first place.  And the great thing about a circle?  You can keep going around it!  Yes, as my slogan states, "people, pets and places"!   (Hmmm......gotta get on that pet part.....) You've seen these photos in my recent posts, but I wanted to share with you my personal favorites that highlight our adventures.

"St. Ignatius Mission"

"Mission Mountain close-up"

"Puget Sound Sunset"

"Puget Sound Sailboat"

"Glimpse of Deception Pass"

"Bridge Architecture"

"Deception Pass Filtered Sunlight"

"Chair in Lavender Field"

"Sequim Railroad Bridge"

 To see these photos in their albums or additional photos on my website, go to:

 As Eye See It website

7-12, Sequim, WA

If you think of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state, you might not necessarily envision fields of lavender.  The town of Sequim is located in what is known as Washington's 'banana belt'.  The temperatures are more mild and the region receives less rain than it's other wetter, Puget Sound counterparts.  It's a beautiful area made even more so with the expansive purple fields.  Our recent vacation took us to Sequim, but we missed the town's annual Lavender Festival by one week.  Really, that's ok.  We were able to enjoy the atmosphere minus the crowds of people.  I highly recommend this area to anyone who needs to take a break and breathe in the aromatherapy of fresh lavender.  There really is nothing like it!

He's not purple, but he's equally majestic.

Another side attraction in Sequim is the Railroad Bridge Park.  This place is a natural oasis.

I think this is what the songwriter of "America the Beautiful" had in mind when he wrote those verses....

7-9, Deception Pass

Of all of my vacation photos, this series was the one I was most anticipating the editing process.  These were taken at Deception Pass on our way to Whidbey Island, Washington.  It was the perfect combination of dark and light, sun and fog, and now.....black and white.  I know which two will be going into frames in our house....do you?

7-7, Puget Sound Sunset

I discovered something about myself while I was shooting 300+ images of sunsets over the waters of Puget Sound:  I don't particularly like shooting sunsets.  I was not inspired, I was not motivated, and I was keenly aware that if I looked at the sun through my viewfinder I would blind myself.  After the fact, I'm overwhelmed with the editing options.  I've always been naturally inclined to photograph scenes as they are and not edit them into something they were not.  However, with sunsets, I believe most images you see have been edited to the point of creating an entirely new image hardly recognizable from the scene that was photographed.  So, I've spent my share of time in PS editing these images trying to find the balance between the authentic scene I was capturing and the punch necessary for sunset shots.  The final truth comes down to this: the next time I want to see a beautiful sunset, I'll grab a glass of wine instead of my camera.  I'll leave sunsets (at least for now) to the next guy!

7-3, Oh, Happy Day

A few months ago, I purchased a new Tamron lens, the 70-200mm.  I loved what I saw and went back for more.  Last month, while on vacation, I ordered its complement the Tamron 24-70mm.  I love that we were on vacation with family when I opened up the box from B&H.  What a wonderful excuse to capture my family (who's already tired of having their pictures taken, LOL.....): "I have to test out my new lens."  So, meet my family (at least the ones who were within shooting distance, anyway):

My Dad

My Mom

My Dad and Brother

My Husband

Our Son

Our daughter (notice there are several of her-- she was the least likely to object.  HA!)

Tamron's not Nikon, but from my experience with these two lenses, I'm ok with that!