Bonesteele County Park Photowalk

 I found out about Bonesteele County Park last Autumn when I was looking around for natural areas to visit that were nearby. I had intended to go back to is sometime this winter, and the opportunity presented itself when to answer one of three questions with a picture for my photography class. Those questions were the following:
1--What do you love about the Willamette Valley
2--What do you love about your dog
3 (extra credit)--Some interpretation that combines the first two. My interpretation is "I love hiking with a friend in all the natural places within the Willamette Valley."

Anyways, the pictures below show me and my dog (actually my parents dog since I don't have one) at the county park that is closest to where I live. I honestly hate being in pictures because it make my skin look paler than it really is, and I need to train my brain not to look at the camera when I am not in a portrait. I found that all too often, I was looking at the camera while walking instead of looking at the landscape around me. I think that is why I love animals, they don't always look at the camera. When they do, it seems more like they are looking for what made the "click" noise.

 I really love how the ferns grow out of the tree, and so in the next three photos, I tried to capture the idea that wherever life can find a root, it will flourish.

 "Tree of Life?"

Every time I have taken a photo of ferns on trees, I have always captured the ferns from a distance, such as in the picture above. Since the trail took me right below that very same tree, I was able to get a picture of the ferns from below the branches, giving me the picture you see below.

Once again, life found a way to thrive; this time growing off a boulder. The forests of the Pacific Northwest always seem so magical to me when you come upon sights like this. Especially in the Springtime when the majority of plant species get their new leaves. I think the dog heard the click of the camera.

"Leaning Tree"

Countryside Photowalk along Jordan Street--east of Salem, Oregon

"Looking Out For Predators"

"I'm Watching You"

"Invasion"

Scotch Broom is the most prolific Invasive Species in the Willamette Valley. It would take a massive effort and a law that fines people for having it on their property if we are to get rid of it. Recently, I have seen it spreading through the Coast and Cascade Mountains, taking over fertile meadows where Roosevelt Elks once used as feeding grounds.

The Oregon Garden January Photowalk

"Parallel World"

 One of four reflection ponds at the Oregon Garden

I love how I can see the chains of individual water droplets.

"Waterfall by the Garden"

Riverfront Park Photowalk - Salem, Oregon

"The Fisherman"

For the next one, I took it as the first picture in an ongoing series of photos. I consider the space between trees, tree limbs, rocks, or anything else to be nature's window. With that thought in mind, I framed the statue above with the limbs of a tree:

"Memories of Fishing"

I was lucky enough to get the next picture without anyone on the carousel at Riverfront Park.

"The Carousel"