Patrick Morris Photography's photostream  

Meet Simone. I've had her about a week. Had to go to Arizona to find her (hard to find a used 5-speed.. nobody wants to sell them!).

James Brown has been a lot of fun, and an absolutely wonderful car, but it's time to move on. I'm hoping to find a loving home for James, as I can't stand the thought of him being picked apart in a junkyard somewhere. For the record, this month marks 9 years that I've had James. He had 74,000 miles when I got him and now has 246,000. I hope I have Simone for the same!

About the names: James Brown got his name because he was a Honda Accord, shortened to HA, or "Ha!" which was often used by James Brown.

Simone is a Subaru Impreza Outback Sport... so her name is similarly derived.

I finally did my first backpacking trip. My girlfriend's dad was hosting a "beginner's" trip, so my girlfriend and I went along. She's been doing it for years, as have her brothers. In fact, this goes back to her grandfather, as he was apparently one of the guys who helped explore what would become the Florida Trail, as I understand it.

We only hiked a couple of miles. It wasn't far at all. But we camped on the edge of a prairie, which actually is a dried up lakebed. During the winter, the lakes dry out (there's still a bit of water in spots), but they fill back up during the summer. So there are islands of pine and oak and then the prairies.

This was the second morning we were out. It was wonderfully foggy. So I grabbed my camera and nabbed a few shots. The background of this, if there was no fog, is not very picturesque at all. In fact, it's a burned out oak island in the far distance, and more prairie between. The fog allowed me to isolate a single subject.

I realize this is "just a pine". They're everywhere here, and it's nothing special. But this one is by itself. Not just apart from other trees, but it's completely isolated in the frame. Nothing to interfere with it. It has survived wildfire and drought. It's tough and hardy. And I find beauty in the simplicity of the composition and the environment in which it exists.

I know it's a little late, but I'm so glad 2011 is finally over.

I haven't really touched my camera but once since October. I did a paid gig in November, but that doesn't count. For myself, I've only been out shooting once since I went to the great Northwest (where this image was shot).

2011 was a very dark year for me. Those who know me personally know the story. It all started in March, and culminated into one giant kick in the groin at the end of the year.

I'm thankful to be surrounded by such wonderful friends, family, and an awesome girlfriend (and her family rocks, too).

Well, I'm determined not to let 2012 be as bad as 2011. What's the worst that could happen? Wait, what? Is the world going to end? Crap.

It's painful how I've let my photography get away from me. I opened up Photoshop to edit this file and had forgotten so many of the regular techniques I use. I had to open up other files to see what I'd done.

I'm working on getting more free time. I think it's essential for my well-being.

Anyway, about this photo... somehow, the Hoh Rainforest ends up as a side-trip when I visit the Olympic Peninsula. It's not on purpose. In fact, I really want to spend more time there. But somehow, I always end up there right at sunset or just before. Well.. I've never seen the sun there. It's always cloudy.

My girlfriend and I hiked a short trail, and I found this slug hanging out on a tree. The EXIF data will tell you exactly, but I think my shutter speed was about 10 seconds on this guy. I thought it was pretty neat the way it turned out.

I've always heard about how powerful the Pacific can be, and when I thought about Olympic beaches, this is what I always envisioned.

But I never had a chance to see it like that until this day. It was crazy.

I was honestly scared to get anywhere close to that water. These aren't the biggest waves I saw that day, and the tide was actually on its way out.. but that spire at the point of the wall on the right looked to be about 40-50 feet tall if I had to guess. I could be wrong. Either way, waves were splashing higher than it.

There were times when the hole in the wall was shooting out solid water, not just trickling like it does in this video.

I felt so small.

Another one from my EMP series.

I think this one is actually my favorite.

Be sure to view it in lightbox mode :)