2014 World Beat Festival Photoshoot

I decided to go to the World Beat Festival today not to enjoy everything they had to offer, but to get pictures of the First Nations dancers. Unfortunately, there were less this year than in 2013...

 Gracefull with Age

In Full Regalia

Silver Falls State Park June 22nd Hike

Yet another trip to Silver Falls State Park, this time with some of my relatives from California, hence the humorous title "California Tourists" under the first picture as I couldn't think of anything better...

California Tourists

 Indian Hellibore

Within the Foxglove

Silver Falls State Park June 17th Hike

Once again, I headed out to Silver Falls State Park to get pictures that might be different than before. New types of flowers were in bloom, including some daisies...

 Salmonberry Dew

 The Monkey Flower

 The Rainflower

Yellow Daisies

Oregon Coast Photography Trip

After going to Silver Falls State Park once a week for the past two months, I needed a break this week to go somewhere else. It just so happened that a short, overnight photography trip fit into my schedule. The photos below were taken between Lincoln City and Florence...

I really liked the patterns in the sand when I was at this one beach, as they reminded me of fine art that would be hung in a gallery.

"Footprint of Humanity"

I  don't often take metaphorical pictures, but after stepping to close to a creek and causing the miniature sandy cliff to fail, it made me think of humanities' footprint on the environment.

First Prints and the Salem Shutterbug Photo Contest

Earlier today, I headed over to the Shutterbug store at the Lancaster Mall in Salem to print off what I considered to me the best 8 pictures I have so far. These photos include three waterfalls of Silver Falls State Park (South, Lower South, and Middle North), a landscape (South Fork of Silver Creek), two plants (Common Camas and Oregon Iris), and two animals (a Townsend's Chipmunk and a Red-winged Blackbird). As I was walking through the mall, I noticed that the Shutterbug was having a photo contest that ends June 30th.

After I printed off the pictures I wanted, I decided to enter since I didn't have anything to lose and I got the three pictures that I entered for free. I entered the Lower South Falls for the "action" category, South Falls for the "landscape" category, and the Townsend's Chipmunk for the "general" category. The other category was "portrait," and as I don't have much experience in that category, I will not be rushing to get a picture of someone. If you happen to live near Salem, check out the contest and see which pictures you like. There are quite a few talented photographers that entered the contest.