Photo Walks Today

Space Needle Photograph by James Chen

• Use a tripod - this is a must!
• Set your camera to manual and adjust it to bulb (the shutter stays open as long as you hold down the release).
• Use a shutter release cable (or IR shutter release) to prevent camera shake as you press and hold the shutter open
• Set your ISO speed to 100 or 200
• Use F/Stop F/11 or F/16
• Prefocus using the manual focus - auto-focus won’t work
• Experiment - take some with several bursts and some with just one
• For multi bursts cover the lens with something black between explosions to prevent over-exposure - try not to touch your camera to prevent shake
• Try for an upwind position (if the smoke surrounds you, your photos will turn out hazy).
• Use a UV filter, but remove the polarizing filter for this type of work
• Have an extra battery charged up and ready - long exposures with the shutter held open - runs down batteries quickly

If you take some photos that you’d like to share, be sure to join the Space Needle Flickr group

Photo above by James Chen. To see more great photos from James Chen visit his flickr page

Saturday December 13th in North Everett the Annual Christmas boat parade.

Starts at 5:00pm

Route starts at 10th Street Boat Launch and heads south towards the Everett Naval Station. Then, the boats will turn north for their return voyage.

Viewing is avialable along the route - come early, find a place to park and set up a tripod.

After the parade you’ll be able to photograph the boats from 7:00 to 8:30pm at Anthony’s Homeport visitors dock at:

1726 W. Marine View Drive

There’s a run through for the vessels tonight at 6:30 if you want to stake out your spot or take a few practice shots.

Photo courtesy of Gexydaf - shared under creative commons - see more of their work on Flickr

Looking For Christmas Lights to Photograph?

Check out the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma for their wonderful display of colorful holiday lights.

You know that saying: “a photographer should always carry their camera where ever they go?” Well, I wish I would have headed that advice before I headed out to brunch with friends on Sunday.

When done, I had a hype active dog who needed a walk - before she started chewing the interior of my truck. We were done eating, so I thought a short walk around the neighborhood would settle her down so we could visit a bit more.

As it turns out - we stumbled into a mini nature preserve in Shoreline. The park has just finished construction. They built a watershed to help prevent run off from going directly into the Puget Sound caused by the occasional winter and spring flooding.

What my dog Buster and I found as soon as we walked off the main path is mini eco system similar to a Washington rain forest. Yellow and gold fall leaves from the deciduous trees line the path as you walk amoung Douglas fir trees and moss covered stumps. There’s a trail down to a small creek, with stepping stones to cross and small ponds that look like inviting water holes during the summer months.

Just North of Shoreline Community College a photographer could spend several hours wandering Boeing Creek Trails - there are mushrooms, moss, ponds, leaves and firs all waiting for their photo to be taken. And, if you keep the lens focused on the immediate, your viewer will never know you were in the middle of the city.

Boeing Creek Nature Trail Google Map

View Larger Map

King Lane in front of Thomson Hall

• Low light means tac sharp photos will be much easier with a tripod
• Leaves don’t have to be on the trees to be interesting
• Don’t give up when it rains. Cover you camera with a rain cover and point it down. There’s lots of foliage color without the sky.
• Use buildings and lanes to draw a viewers eyes through the photo.
• Watch for small bright lights shinning through leaves
• Walk around your subject to see which angle brings out the most vibrant color
• UW campus parking is free on Saturdays after 12:00 noon

Coupeville Wharf

 

Spend the night and photograph early morning and at sunset

 Google Map

 

Coupeville was built by sea captains who took advantage of the abundance of oak and pine tress to make their fortunes in the timber trade. Now these well preserved Victorian mansions house luxurious bed and breakfasts.

A photo walk along the narrow Front street will turn up views of Mount Baker across the Penn Cove. Old buildings are photogenic at sunset.

There’s free parking along the street and a lot located just north of Front Street.

More information about Coupleville can be found at their website:

http://www.gonorthwest.com/Washington/Puget/Coupeville/Coupeville.htm

http://www.centralwhidbeychamber.com/

* Wheelchair accessible *

This weekend is the Mulkilteo Lighthouse Festival.

Tonight there will be fireworks over the bay to celebrate.

Anyone want to go?

 http://www.mukilteofestival.org/calendar.html

PS - your fireworks photographing tips are welcome - please post in the comments below.

Jetty Island Ferry At Sunset

The Jetty Island Ferry has stopped running for the summer of 2008 but in Everett this is still a great spot to capture a sunset.

During the months of July & August the ferry takes you across the sound to this little spit of an island. Once there a photographer can find sand castles, kites, wildflowers, possible sea lions, Osprey and and lots of shore birds as subjects.

There’s free parking in the marina parking at the 10th Street boat launch and the ferry ride is donation based.

Address:

10th St. & W. Marine View Dr.
Everett, WA 98201

Here is a link to the PDF map for driving directions: http://www.everettwa.org/Get_PDF.aspx?pdfID=797

Things to take:

• Sunscreen
• Bug repellent
• Tripod or monopod
• Polarizing filter
• Telephoto lens
• Extra batteries

Summer Sunset At Picnic Point Park

Picnic Point Park - Snohomish County

This park, just north of Lynnwood, inside the Mukilteo area provides a clear view of Puget Sound and the southern tip of Whidbey Island. In the distance the sun sets over the Olympic Mountain Range.

If you stand on the beach and look north you can see the regular ferry from Mukilteo to Clinton. Looking south you can watch the Edmunds ferry crossing the sound.

There are pinic tables and grills so get there early for a sunset BBQ.

Don’t expect to catch those late, after sunset pictures here though. The ranger closes the park promptly after the sun has officially set. Signs are posted requesting picnic and park users to return to their vehicles within 20 minutes of sunset.

How to Get there:

To find Picnic Point Park visit Google Maps by clicking here or the official address is:

12001 Picnic Point Road
Edmonds, WA 98026

* Wheel Chair Accessible *

Well, sort of. The path is step and you may need an extra push or motorized chair to get up to the train overpass. The concrete path takes you to the grassy picnic area, but there is no direct access to the beach along the pavement. There are still plenty of spots to use trees and elements to frame a nice sunset along the path.

Five great places to capture the Seattle Skyline:

1. Alki beach
2. 12th Ave Bridge - North Beacon Hill
3. Kerry Park on Queen Anne hill
4. From the Bainbridge Island ferry
5. Seattle Space Needle

Do you have a favorite spot or photo of the Seattle Skyline? If so, please submit it to my newly formed Flickr group: Seattle Skyline Photos. I look forward to seeing your great night, day, storm or sunny day Seattle Photos. Please be sure to let us know where you took them.