manyfires' photostream  

There's something unique about winter sunshine... or maybe, we just appreciate it more because it's so rare here in the Pacific Northwest.

Not much else to say this afternoon... need to keep plugging away on Ireland images! The light is at the end of the tunnel. Hope you're all having wonderful weekends.

A simple image from sunrise, at one of the most beautiful stretches of beach Oregon has to offer. Not wearing any kind of waterproof boots, it was a challenge to catch the waves coasting in and not get my feet wet. I imagine I looked like a crab, scuttling quickly back and forth, crouched with camera held low, as each wave approached and then receded.

Image made with a Hasselblad 500 C/M.

After posting that last image of Dakota, I'm sure that my reasons for being drawn to Daisy Dog are even more evident. Same glossy black coat, same soulful eyes, same kindness.

Image made with a Nikon F100.

I have known dogs - the weight
of their heads in my lap.
Their hearts that beat and slow
and beat and slow and stop.
Their final sighs. The way we stroke
their heads to say goodbye.

Another from the archives, but for a very good reason. Today would have been Dakota's birthday - he was my family's farm dog for 14 years. It's been over two years since he left this world, but I never forget his birthday. I miss him often.

This was taken with possibly the first roll of slide film I ever used. I had heard about slide film, read about it, but when the lab asked me about processing I insisted on prints, not slides. I didn't realize they would turn out with a very, very strong blue cast... how embarrassing. Granted, I was just a teenager at the time, and had no instruction in photography other than the books I devoured on the topic.

And also? This was taken the morning after an ice storm. Those chunks of white on the ground are pieces of ice that had been wrapped around tree branches and limbs. Eventually (with much crackling and sudden crashing) all the ice came to the ground, creating an unreal landscape. Dakota was kind enough to pose for me (he was always kind).

A very minimalistic Ireland coast.

Not much else to say tonight... hope you're all enjoying your evenings.