tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69461158971173049942024-02-06T18:09:40.573-08:00Water And SteelPhotos of and comments about (mostly) sights and sites along the Columbia River and the vessels plying it. There will, no doubt, be occasional hints of wood aluminum and fibreglass...NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.comBlogger121125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-91909776467021664122013-09-15T23:15:00.001-07:002013-09-15T23:18:11.636-07:00Comparison Shopping<p>“HDR” (High Dynamic Range) image processing has a somewhat deservedly bad reputation.  If you know what I’m talking about, welll… you know what I’m talking about.</p> <p>Multiple files of exactly the same subject combined with different exposure values and then tone-mapped to death can result in some really dramatic images that have very little in common with reality.</p> <p>On the other hand, neither sensors or film can even begin to duplicate the dynamic range available to the human eye, so it’s a perfectly natural, century-plus old challenge to duplicate on paper (or on screen) a scene that a sensor (or film) can’t manage as a “flat” (read: “uncorrected”, “unmanipulated”, or even (gasp!) “un-Photoshopped”) file.</p> <p>I shot one of those scenes today.  It was moderately bright, heavy overcast, with lots of detail in both deep shadows and bright highlights.</p> <p>In a single shot capture (made in RAW mode), the result was flat, and only accurate for the mid-tones.  Deep shadows and bright highlights both blocked up.</p> <p>Like this…</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-LxgKFtVrNeQ/UjaiBI6Qp5I/AAAAAAAAUfE/PsJgTZyaRMo/s1600-h/natgeoSeaBirdBaseline%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="natgeoSeaBirdBaseline" alt="natgeoSeaBirdBaseline" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-uXNyn2BhdIo/UjaiB7TsqAI/AAAAAAAAUfM/WjYDZaJs2ns/natgeoSeaBirdBaseline_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>… which, honestly is not awful, but that’s faint praise.</p> <p>So, I switched shooting modes in the camera, went to “ExtraFine” (or whatever it is that Sony calls the largest .jpg file available) in order to be able to take advantage of the camera’s build in HDR mode.  I have it set to a six-EV (six “stop” for geezers like myself) bracket, so I braced myself on the rocks along the riverwalk (the tripod having been left in the car on this bright-ish day), and blasted away.  Three files captured in the blink of an eye, and processed about ten seconds later.  </p> <p>The result was the basis for the image that follows, with a few seconds worth of manipulation in Lightroom… the same basic adjustments that I make to almost any file prior to any sort of use, even just email.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-BrEWAjUpkMU/UjaiCux85ZI/AAAAAAAAUfU/DRgCHUwwGBc/s1600-h/NatGeoSeaBird%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="NatGeoSeaBird" alt="NatGeoSeaBird" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSClWNHxkFP-7wDUp3S6ryrJzbhyphenhyphenbcXNh0pSmjP5xP_NVZRxKbdwZJVd5ol4IM5JaApgD9bTzCnK3QvrCOdPAvhjH76p-EtOZbvBvH8_mTkJmXZ_KU9ZL7SufLHgW454Rnq31g4vLmbLgL/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>Not a bad result, actually.  Though, if one looks carefully, some ghosting is visible where people were moving on the afterdeck and just about amidship, where a bos’n is going about his work.</p> <p>I was quite pleased with it, but I couldn’t help but wonder if I couldn’t come close on my own using a single RAW file.  So, I tried again.  The original result is similar to the first shot above.  </p> <p>Here’s the (somewhat) finished shot:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKXhaH0Souo5NU-Uxl0H0R_pelYU24MwoGONj7Em5Mf4-YPi4ht4wFTFDeyyEm2L-Vb17rTfZWcP2lvD5UXNh-iqrfcmjWunqTshPSrF_Jr_wd0dQNVO2qu9AWQF3GfWE1_W2lNfP5nC-/s1600-h/NatGeoSeaBirdSingleShotAfter%25255B8%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="NatGeoSeaBirdSingleShotAfter" alt="NatGeoSeaBirdSingleShotAfter" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iEPDFzTY92g/UjaiE2dc6bI/AAAAAAAAUfs/ioN4I0sp51I/NatGeoSeaBirdSingleShotAfter_thumb%25255B6%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>This last version required several adjustments and two gradient filters in post, but the final result was ready to be converted for web use in less than ten minutes.  I wasn’t holding a stopwatch, but it was quick.</p> <p>So, I think I’ll keep trusting a single shot for daylight “HDR” needs, though I have no doubt that nighttime shooting is another story altogether.</p> <p>However, if you don’t have Lightroom or another good RAW interpreter at your disposal and you DO have a Sony camera at hand with built-in HDR, steady your rig and fire away!  The results can be surprisingly good.</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-18046554248216077232013-06-20T23:49:00.001-07:002013-06-20T23:51:53.014-07:00The New Normal<p>After nearly a year, the 17th Street dock is open again.  It was basically torn down to the bottom and reassembled in place.  The footprint isn’t changed much, but the feel <em>definitely</em> is.  </p> <p>The previous iteration was decked with weathered timbers.  I never had any doubt about their soundness, but there was always a bit of an “at sea” feel when walking out there.  </p> <p>That’s most assuredly not the case now.  The deck is solid, unyielding concrete.  Nothing moves.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEUZU-w1chskPIwunpKGyWUWPjPIx1n93tH8LZFZgt1n3kTC3BTWccRs9MYN-p-mZrU1-lYafpUppqdcpw-LGWWkTmyez5Ixyr0UjERS17i9VcnGi8ewWkLU_TUjJPEwWv7h_rQMowBbp/s1600-h/SeventeethStDock1%25255B4%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display: inline" title="" alt="17thStDock1" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xLEq_QnFmCU/UcP3aJNHLtI/AAAAAAAAUbc/25Ic8z_Pd_c/SeventeethStDock1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>The lightship <em>Columbia</em> is back in place, though her original replacement, a light buoy, is not yet, hence the uncluttered shot!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJRalDTOGtyY7EZBidl6i_Gm0aKTvvIcnCBgC0JOEUVRafSPk_KiJfqEQlSUbgeF6jO5dfDU3HsYjHYodhA89P8TOaYuugWcAz4jqU1jLjS16-gRIp8b0bTgZHFzAljVFZIliEOUqXAo2/s1600-h/SeventeethStDock2%25255B4%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display: inline" title="" alt="The Dock Deck" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-lzO4ydnKCVU/UcP3bBhY6dI/AAAAAAAAUbs/Vr0szDXI8z0/SeventeethStDock2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>The cutter Alert, the lightship Columbia and the Queen of the West were all cooperative subjects.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-X9c-HisYRvY/UcP3bhNCV7I/AAAAAAAAUck/oTs2aWIwcAw/s1600-h/SeventeethStDock3%25255B4%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display: inline" title="" alt="Looking West" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWgnJc6NvZPIPLCNITMju7c4fDYQP4DJYxhKZnOTTfoOzDD7kR8rL-LYrVu7Ls2RDHSCXkU3REfkagKt4Wo5NJwR4iA8y7LJJEbun7KKFNVzBNBPYEYJqu2UmqG4jIYTGSTR_xLsrdyRh/?imgmax=800" width="320" height="480" /></a></p> <p>Maybe one day the shrouds draped over the sections of the Astoria-Megler Bridge will help identify the time span that they were taken in, but for me, they’re just an eyesore.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-z9FVhbtL_p4/UcP3clFsMnI/AAAAAAAAUcE/zXhKDA1OUoo/s1600-h/SeventeethStDock4%25255B3%25255D.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="display: inline" title="" alt="LogsOutbound" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89zpeP8PaVf09HFdQJ5bxnZinbgvv77W4WnSomcQqxgwi2Gh7pgRsDCfdOdz5VM3f-BayO1BeaIXBuVF5NDIDQQofSE8cE606xE-GPWHEZgwdBBz9iUMkbKWkmdo9U_zWDFQykgXkMVAc/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>My luck was holding.  The bulker <em>Global Saikai </em>was on her way toward the bar as I was checking out the new dock.  The <em>Connor Foss</em> was already alongside before I could get the long zoom out.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Pi1HiMoCxNbFspbyyonGqCD1NAH4RwTVM6fkrerttGmnvSTtT2cRt1JPP6AEJual_23qem3zBMmTmLbPRKeLcztmjxcIFKR-PITcPLMPcTW7Q_3q0pvt6H91-lTWNXgdNyWSO6Hatgfq/s1600-h/SeventeethStDock5%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="" alt="PilotTransfer" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pcjazXU21xE/UcP3eXqtiMI/AAAAAAAAUcc/rtNRN5R-RNU/SeventeethStDock5_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="357" /></a></p> <p>This isn’t it, but I’m still trying for the perfect pilot transfer shot or sequence.  Clicking on the image will allow you to see more detail, but it still looks like “just” climbing down a ladder.  I’m fairly certain that that’s not what it feels like!</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-61288958977583836852013-06-03T21:20:00.001-07:002013-08-01T20:12:08.823-07:00Not Dead Yet!<p>Life takes lots of turns.  Sometimes they’re good, sometimes they’re not.  </p> <p>Mine has had a lot of good turns of late, but they’ve kept me from keeping up on blogs.</p> <p>Even this shot is way out of date, but it does represent more of what I’m likely to shoot from here on out.  </p> <p>I just completed a move.  Well, I’m now in just one residence… actually completing a move is complicated and very time consuming.</p> <p>At any rate, I no longer have a stellar view from the porch.  </p> <p>But I do have a nice walk downtown to see the ships that I watch creep under the bridge from either the living room or bedroom windows!  </p> <p>This was shot a couple of weeks before the actual move, from a spot almost due north from where I’m currently seated.  </p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-VAmTni5in84/UfsjhSjcHII/AAAAAAAAUeM/qLeiVDcdjJA/s1600-h/FerrySlip2%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="FerrySlip2" alt="FerrySlip2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-fm3yr2pKeVU/Ua1rA0djoPI/AAAAAAAAUeU/mcJx7zBrs78/FerrySlip2_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="410" height="615" /></a></p> <p>More than forty five years ago, when I was knee high to a grasshopper, this little patch of water marked the only way north to Washington from Astoria, and I remember it.  </p> <p>We slid past these pilings after idling aboard the ferry on the way to my grandparents’ place in South Bend, WA.</p> <p>Now,it’s very quiet at the ferry slip unless the wind is up.  Certainly there’s no line of cars backed far up 14th Street.  I do remember sitting there for portions of hours on end (life transpires at different rates, depending of the decade that you’re experiencing…I remember days, but minutes are a lot more likely)</p> <p>I would never have imagined in that long-ago time that one day in the distant future that I would be living just a couple of blocks from where the brakes has been set.</p> <p>And yet, here I am!  Easily within reasonable distance of several generations of ferry passengers awaiting their ride  north. </p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-59387597711139660442013-03-12T20:51:00.001-07:002013-03-12T20:51:18.354-07:00Reopening Night<p>The old Northern Lights Lounge at Baked Alaska ended its run on New Year’s Eve.  We were the last paying customers out the door that night.</p> <p>The bar reopened last night, having been stripped to the bearing timbers and reimagined from the floor up.  </p> <p>With a view like that one, you’d have to work really hard at having a truly bad space, and this one is more than just “not bad.”  </p> <p>Being a trivia regular there, I still wonder how that’s going to work, but Friday nights aside, I think the space will work better for the typical customer.</p> <p>There’s one thing they need to work on, though…</p> <p>There was always an east-side entrance in the past.  It was a place where diners could come and go if on foot on the Riverwalk, and it also allowed patrons access to the catwalk to take photos of the river pilot boats and/or anything else that was visually exciting upriver.  At the moment, that door is an exit only.</p> <p>The wait staff is very tolerant of me, and they let me back in if the lock latches behind me.  I think that door is an unrecognized asset, though, and I hope they decide to allow re-entry in the near future.  </p> <p>Last night was pretty gloomy, but it was the first full day of DST, opening night, etc., so I just couldn’t resist stepping out into the mist to take a few shots of the Connor Foss in the Arrow 2’s old slip and coming back from a run at dusk.  It was drizzling aggressively all evening, so I was grateful for the 77’s weather-sealing!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUnNtoXoJZBdx8Yqv_1Zb5mqNxxJua-mEh3JtDPiG7C5M_P38cDc73MGnmwtsLZJ12W9CfSea1TXuAE7U0TfRiOmkUIJJ8dUi1YaGH8Oo7QMhsuE9kZdgzxdJlKh-BaVYyGn0Xw0yC_UX/s1600-h/ConnorFossInSlip%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="ConnorFossInSlip" alt="ConnorFossInSlip" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2E7AfeEZTJq9SrbK_yb1mOKQ-vIOu4AF3gWZ-F-h3AvnjH8T9zjW0pKJdAehJiaiVtwdByAfeSFJIjBIuojl3a_kMZ29zcdO7BEAlDZRZTqVsJr1odTVjNAWWTBw3qKpPbiaYcIDWcNqW/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>I’m sure this has been an available view for a few weeks now, but I haven’t seen it before, and it’s a little jarring.  Not bad, really, just very different.  I’ve always thought that the Connor Foss was a good-looking boat, but she’s just not the <em>Arrow 2</em>!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV88xTUGbwF82TfZ9b3wBzGm7EW6Mx5ha7HN_8olh16jNFLE0UQyP9C7L2Gm2YwCj-ddJsQwW1ImCqBkxk2Xpr0ipqs6lrqFDowAzsILttQKbz0wqWI3VBdO_GnwZXO2OpJdfN4cW6V6OB/s1600-h/ConnorFossAtDusk%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="ConnorFossAtDusk" alt="ConnorFossAtDusk" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-d8xHGbnm_c8/UT_3tQ9FAhI/AAAAAAAAUPk/6DovZHCuTZU/ConnorFossAtDusk_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>After a pilot-exchange run, well after dusk.  I had to push the ISO way up, as it was very dim.  With the lens opened to f/2.8, I was still pleased with the final result, though it took some Lightroom work to make it happen.</p> <p><em>ISO 1600, 40mm @ f/2.8, 1/200.  No crop, but considerable LR tweaking for noise and vignette.</em></p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-52247377639495627202013-03-04T22:33:00.001-08:002013-03-13T22:17:42.930-07:00A First Voyage?<p>I was drawn by good weather to Pier 1 this afternoon.  I’ve missed a lot of the visitors to the log pier, as the old dock opposite it has been in the process of being ripped up and (I hope) refurbished.</p> <p>I picked my way across the exposed bents to get to a decent vantage point for the first time in months.</p> <p>The ship that’s tied up, the <em>Swakop</em>, is especially shiny and new-looking, so I checked what I could find about her.  Marinetraffic.com’s info indicates her build date as 2013, and really, that looks plausible.  But there’s other info that indicates that she had a former name, and very few details are available.</p> <p>I have to guess that the “former name” was a builder’s placeholder, waiting for the buyer to take possession and properly name her.  </p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNGeCEyJNKzWFPcfTez4kSNYvHSQb6RCUAmaL0P8gKLGmhxIwOHRPoqzYPw3g7GlxSx2iP8t0BEQrTA0CrvPZP0Wgnb4wn5pFkPONu5LmCMwbZjTdPTeL-C251bHXomEpgXCcRUWH00j7/s1600-h/Swakop%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Swakop" alt="Swakop" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/--ehK6JSqrAo/UTWRrt1RT2I/AAAAAAAAUO8/6NVG1hKiO8I/Swakop_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>Not only is the paint new enough that the crew probably still smells it, there isn’t a single chain-mark on her bow, and her anchor appears to have never seen a harbor’s bottom.  On top of that, she’s got that newfangled (and none-too-pretty plumb bow that’s all the rage in naval architecture these days.</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-50266464580483744462013-01-30T20:35:00.001-08:002013-01-30T20:35:35.522-08:00Please Stand By…<p>My formerly reliable blog-authoring utility has decided that it no longer likes most of the photo file-types that I’ve been using for years.  It’s strange… I haven’t changed anything in the workflow in prepping them for web use, or file-type, or anything, really, but they still won’t display properly.  More to the point, the photos just don’t show up. Period.</p> <p>It’s true that I haven’t been especially active for the last few weeks, but I’m surely not dead!  </p> <p>The picture of the Arrow 2 on stilts took three different edit attempts to publish correctly, and that’s just goofy.</p> <p>This is supposed to be fun, not work.  I’m exploring alternatives now.  I tried one on my <a href="http://alderbrookstation.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">other blog</a> and all hell broke loose.  I ended up having to change the look of the entire publication, but it might have been worth the effort.  </p> <p>Something akin to that may be in the offing here.  Suggestions are welcome.</p> <p>Scott</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-20466436746504865302013-01-17T21:37:00.001-08:002013-01-17T21:39:41.251-08:00I Hope It’s Not a Bad Thing<p>I hadn’t noticed the <em>Arrow 2</em> sitting high and dry prior to Monday, and even that was pretty much an accident.</p> <p>Yes, if you know where to look for her, you can see her as you slip down off the lift span, heading east on the “new” Youngs Bay Bridge, but unless you’re a passenger, you should be paying more attention to the road.</p> <p>But, there she is.  After 50 years of service, and after becoming (very probably) one of the most-photographed working boats on the planet, she’s perched on spindly blue stilts, awaiting her fate.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-KXQHBEe8bUU/UPjfhsY1s5I/AAAAAAAAUIk/RMwH2Wm1qqo/s1600-h/Arrow2OnStilts2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Arrow2OnStilts2" alt="Arrow2OnStilts2" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-ICl_1_bJR8E/UPjfiXvjvWI/AAAAAAAAUIo/VtCp1PhlI8I/Arrow2OnStilts2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>After all of these years of watching her and photographing her, Monday was the first time that I ever touched her.  Not knowing what her future holds, I was glad I got the chance.</p> <p>She has a tremendous following.  I have very high hopes that she’ll end up on a more glorious perch somewhere nearby in years to come.  </p> <p>For the time being, though, it’s rather sad to see this rugged workhorse out of her element with no clear future ahead of her.</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-32022410612617184902012-12-21T18:10:00.001-08:002012-12-21T18:10:19.405-08:00Blue Hour Again<p>It’s been a very busy day on the river, and I haven’t been able to take much of it in.</p> <p>By definition, the “blue hour” had been over for at least 20 minutes when I made the shot.</p> <p>You could fool me!</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oQx0xObN5xo/UNUWhmMFcJI/AAAAAAAAUHw/z7OHalEO3cA/s1600-h/SinarKutaiBlueHour%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="SinarKutaiBlueHour" alt="SinarKutaiBlueHour" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOTVzLrQPgol6QdXbfPRoPqyVyTRKwXo8h3er6Yx9QokifzFUSW0CQqgo9xX0pCjI2MijqD6f4goTbSMd-Ru1oQaJQGO9Z_E_k1A3iLRDG7FaJDA21MANFWh5odH_NKZd-54gM_SS2lWn/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>It’s the Sinar Kutai riding at anchor just west of the Mill Pond area.  I love that the water is brighter than the sky.  There was actually clear sky overhead.  The massive cloud bank topped out a few degrees above the upper edge of the frame.</p> <p><em>105mm @ f/8, 4 seconds, ISO 200.</em></p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-17491783722262604842012-11-07T18:29:00.000-08:002012-11-07T18:29:15.064-08:00Coming This Saturday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-27758232072933994762012-10-13T10:18:00.001-07:002012-10-13T10:18:07.867-07:00Prints on Display…<p>Two of the images that I’ve posted here (and seven other non-maritime photos) are currently on display at Astoria’s Baked Alaska restaurant.</p> <p>The image area on each of the prints us roughly 12 x 18 inches, and all are professionally matted and framed.</p> <p>Stop by and take a look, if you’re interested.</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-iXj-52apk3E/UHmiSEsE0_I/AAAAAAAAUBY/UHSG194hPVE/s1600-h/DecemberFogArrow2%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="DecemberFogArrow2" alt="DecemberFogArrow2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91_THuY-gkVX8_K5jlD67ZUSchpUNMDJ9HC52Iru8_2WBTwlbaVWypctiJymMTy9ELcBbXLCaT_Egj3halHjmUC1hwfhPcoxaJUAQlu_JBgRluAmosyY18OAWnO5w1bwiKBprO5PZecbW/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="282" /></a></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiByI_NUF2FDek68d0jl9OUUlNb0hNdOJeobGQf5nP3mvFQHEpX_NF9OqeX3Q4yJHrAa3m-y0dAADMnGov8cwXyuIAJno-N6qQtxYGB6SO3ovO6sbTvukhzBziNxblVu4iMUAJghgNRYbK/s1600-h/FuDaTwilight%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="FuDaTwilight" alt="FuDaTwilight" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-YRzzDn4yZ7Q/UHmiTtuT4iI/AAAAAAAAUBw/UdI1Fa8lXbY/FuDaTwilight_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>Scott</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-90553102216946621092012-10-03T20:30:00.001-07:002012-10-03T20:32:49.177-07:00Experiment Within An Experiment<p>This was shot several weeks ago.  Photographically speaking, it’s a tough set of conditions.  The ships’ lights are very bright unless you’re comparing them to, say, the sun in a clear sky.  The visible stars are faint by comparison, but when you’re standing there, you see it ALL.  </p> <p>The camera’s sensor can, too, but not all in the same frame.  The dynamic range is too great.  But I just had to try.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ACpqA1wZ-0A/UG0CvWYhsTI/AAAAAAAAUA4/Ylzn2paVIJ4/s1600-h/Starfield2%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Starfield2" alt="Starfield2" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-yF50A4UXzrA/UG0CweVYqHI/AAAAAAAAUBA/g7Y_UGnBTx8/Starfield2_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" height="480" /></a></p> <p>The most frustrating part of this process is that last step… getting it presented on the web.  Even when reduced and optimized for web viewing, hundreds of stars remain visible within Photoshop when I make the final review.  But, as I look at the preview, only a handful show up.  I won’t know what will be visible after a click on the image until it’s actually uploaded to the server and viewed in a browser.</p> <p>Wish me luck!</p> <p><em>ISO 200, 18mm with the A77.  25 seconds @ f/9.  Noise reduction in LR4, optimized for web in PS CS5.</em></p> <p>Post-publishing note:  Well, that’s disappointing!  It’s better than what Facebook does, but not by a lot.  Click on the image for full(er) effect.</p> <p>I’m trying!</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-43995061570579334292012-09-25T23:14:00.001-07:002012-09-25T23:17:49.495-07:00Just Love It When Luck Smiles on Me<p>I saw the <em>Pyxis</em> (and yes, the ship geek in me knew that it was the <em>Pyxis</em> long before I could confirm it any other way) when I first hit the causeway to the Youngs Bay Bridge.</p> <p>I didn’t want to get my hopes up, but I saw that the timing might work out just right for me to be able to catch the pilot transfer from the 6th Street platform.</p> <p>The sequence was much like the one I did after being away from the platform for so long, so I won’t duplicate it here, but I did especially like one frame, particularly for the light.  The <em>Connor Foss</em> is no <em>Arrow #2</em> in terms of panache, but she still looks good and up to the task.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZgzDBzaBeteXTknJvj2mqaYVMuTWEevym5hZHfB8bKWKfhKWX4jkPebRo9_mBYYjgmy_0AjL4wyW_aOVOdlNdIoJfxlq4aeJoVj2FWnGv4BRx83DNT2Ih-gtMd6LCV3iRI6FGQwhDZbg/s1600-h/ConnorFossAndPyxis1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="ConnorFossAndPyxis1" alt="Connor Foss cuts into the Pyxis" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-dpEMDrw7Nnw/UGKdXf7cFjI/AAAAAAAAUAg/fs7hTemR6b8/ConnorFossAndPyxis1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p><em>A77, ISO 400.  70-300 G zoom @ 200mm, f/8 @ 1/1250.</em></p> <p><em>No crop. Adjustments in LR4, optimized for screen in PS5.</em></p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-61008196825993768382012-09-16T21:13:00.001-07:002012-09-16T21:13:10.687-07:00Not Gone Yet<p>The Arrow 2 hasn’t seen a lot of work lately, what with the young whippersnapper Connor Foss getting set to replace her.</p> <p>But, she’s still here, still working, on occasion.</p> <p>This was from Sept. 10, taken from my front porch.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZ8iuBd93dNGLwsiA0MTM_oE0XyY98QSO-GtVuJmlU270s4aeZxEp4M95Zc6pIsjMXLRzdkIumvynZf2iT1LpFlCxVa9XFAJDCNpoHEMWD1IC20YbXyxCtYNtzukKXZ8dbTLEFvuw6P91/s1600-h/NotGoneYet%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="NotGoneYet" alt="NotGoneYet" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-biqZvx5e5eY/UFajVVHAqaI/AAAAAAAAT-E/HD8oMDC-yaM/NotGoneYet_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="307" /></a></p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-63197898710049830542012-07-25T21:38:00.001-07:002012-09-09T17:58:10.711-07:00Angles and Curves Caught My Eye<p>I wasn’t lacking for things to do this evening, but when I glanced out the window and saw only the proud prow of this ship, I figured it was time to change lenses and head for the porch.</p> <p>I’m not a naval architect, so what appeals visually to me may not make any economic sense, but the <em>Ocean Hawthorn</em>’s rakish bow made me think that “this ship means business”.  And she had a fair amount of style, to boot.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_d2O2iglfLzLKGQaI8g7Rb4uI-KnaR47iV1OsBCju4608WiK_DoFOa3sCIhqZFA-p6ChEPxFiTtXAVtGRMyL5cuAgGJhOW5tPGXQIMFNM-f2ZPTltcmie7IDsdo8R3QjXyiD2ImCsQWZ/s1600-h/OceanHawthorn%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="OceanHawthorn" alt="OceanHawthorn" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-jSKm5eJBNwo/UBDJuABejKI/AAAAAAAAT8A/4FvZnjqVqoM/OceanHawthorn_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>She’s a bit unusual in that she’s leaving the river “light”… without cargo.  Her AIS information shows that she’s heading from Longview to Vancouver, BC, though she’s still heading SW as I type this.</p> <p>Her rakish profile would be evident even if she was fully laden, though.  That’s a seriously aggressive angle on her bow’s profile, and it’s accentuated by the bullnose that’s usually hidden underwater.</p> <p>Before I could even head upstairs to upload the image shown above, another ship hove into view.  Up until a few weeks ago, I’d never seen this line, and now, it’s two in a row for ROROs in the evening for me.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZbprLg7UQ6GwtykjNnRyEt3N0pbOxpDtM7o3Hg2MHifTIJop1D-3o68UAHdy7nTBWdqQ0EdIwDR04YePg34KuB1_wqP_5XAihOucQBkOXbEGcGYNSO14zDs7xi9BAbtkseadj3niRvWF/s1600-h/TerrierAtAlderbrook%25255B1%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="TerrierAtAlderbrook" alt="TerrierAtAlderbrook" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-xTiB6TeVudk/UBDJuxiDDrI/AAAAAAAAT8I/fBC2CRGCdn0/TerrierAtAlderbrook_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>This is the <em>Terrier.  </em>Norwegian flagged and heading for Pyungtaek, South Korea.  Just guessing, but I think there are more Hyundais and Kias in her future.</p> <p>I would apologize for the omnipresent trestle in the foreground of so many shots, but I’m actually hoping to one day see an actual train on it.  In a perfect world, I’d be able to capture a steam locomotive making a transit.</p> <p>But, I’m not holding my breath.</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-88600277532944061652012-07-07T21:51:00.001-07:002012-07-07T21:55:43.006-07:00New Kid on The Block<p>The <em>Arrow 2’s</em> days as the primary river pilot transfer boat are numbered.</p> <p>After more than 50 years in service, she’s in the process of being replaced by the <em>Connor Foss</em>, a boat that more closely resembles its bar pilot cousins than the “Little Toot” outline of the <em>Arrow 2.</em></p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpNEbxbK-m6xTkQxC3GLMkB4yAd-INeMOhSoWkA5pzV1ZSc6mX7zBpPEHfgFWCDdP_etYlZzJ7Og8gWNtnYJ112-WB0E_yTAabFLc-KrVgIRWDwSqRwNFujVfEyEdPDgIFYgaNeFFQtCX/s1600-h/ConnorFoss1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Pilot Vessel Connor Foss" alt="Pilot Vessel Connor Foss" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8X1CnfXG5QBqedNPTYtgF0efqkNAa1F5k8tmbmwU1viTwRZ_lbwTnsspcXHKzmyhNyn3w6DjNFpkL1n_S7BFsJC-VYyQqsMslisFpMMbZabQpE3IkhDUBYZUTqieWq3RTDGZh94X0HJng/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>And for a little contrast, a shot from last evening, with the two boats together:</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-MPjBIXrEq4Q/T_kR5JjEyWI/AAAAAAAAT5M/XGT5LpWH4lE/s1600-h/PassingTheTorch%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="PassingTheTorch" alt="PassingTheTorch" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOd70FEeOx8TW9Zy_z1ITOUptXiJW9mf0K4oE9ecVQqA9yJ6zmG1Nb7zDSr_8bDkrPPzBSxh1SDSCA8_iAL3hdjUeOBVxv8JG6jpM1rnnhnsFjclZ6F3Xl54CN87_mWFCJCZcfSrvrBZE/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>Both shots were from the catwalk at Baked Alaska, a perfect place for eating, drinking, merry-making and ship watching.</p> <p>Incidentally, the “Connor” in the boat’s name is a real person.  He’s eight years old now, but his actual name is Connor Mitchell Hansen, a relative of the Foss founders.  If the boat that bears his name lasts as long as its predecessor, he’ll be well into middle-age when it’s finally retired.</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-70926599110270534182012-07-05T19:27:00.001-07:002012-07-05T19:27:17.114-07:00Cue the Bond Theme…<p>Sometimes I wonder why I ever look away from my front windows.</p> <p>I’d bopped downstairs for some random chore and glanced river-ward.</p> <p>“Holy crap, what’s that?”</p> <p>As always, the first instinct is to reach for the camera, but… “The card’s still upstairs in the computer!”  </p> <p>Very fast trip up and downstairs, fingers flying over the controls on the camera, out the front door and…</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSw7ofghjp13yAOfpoSALXLCwWy-yMIlNkV55GshKn5xPqtv7SOOph_ynL_nGQy15GyijZsNHLdWkrRfGj2iccOEwJ_VPSvAsIQdpAaE9pz3N_0UVtjkbS-yiH-rWGVhbeWvWX2os0d_qw/s1600-h/Meduse1A%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Meduse threads the needle" alt="Meduse threads the needle" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAEswsbyg1buh6J61jJ_ALKHgk3NbVq5brlsT7S2rlk4Ldih6-RkghIrw5r0e6iRNAhvvPzs77eN8DG9vQXj58QTfFo836_uve-LJA_LLo1Zx4-uXCUeKkXX8kfhLMufcSFTotFYr3Wj9/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="256" /></a></p> <p>Whew!  I got it!  </p> <p>Settling in as the yacht made its way seaward, I paid more attention to focus points than individual details.</p> <p>It wasn’t until the upload was complete that I really saw what I’d been tracking.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK1iPpLCajIGEsO3KANDWlhARl5AbhrM3dM3o88LIqoDWzSMbZ8e85XYo5IL0tsqADXL1nuaB6t2HgWJwlV-rKHVmaV7wS7EipoQALxTY931oPL9gBkg4hU_I7M68lbEK7Bj1hhAB75CO/s1600-h/Meduse1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Meduse Profile" alt="Meduse Profile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgONvttRDd2QRgO89QDc3509ilxqd_oGEHc0KerFcyuTd-8EWpUXedjYicEfDDOURk2vo98USSYBgY3iIB4RIVxMntc3e7Ra5CTPXL5lJvp0DV2obiAdhVizpxA71cxCguDTi4BxuU0SY0u/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="210" /></a></p> <p>In hindsight, the main rotor blades are nearly fully visible in the first shot, but I really didn’t see them.  I have no excuse for not seeing the helo until it was on my computer’s monitor except that I was focusing on, well, focusing.  At that range, with that light and that lens, there’s not a lot of room for error, and I didn’t want to miss it.  So I didn’t even notice the helo in real time.</p> <p>I just think of the maintenance cost of both vehicles visible here and cringe.  Never mind the purchase price… the ongoing costs are staggering.  There’s clearly another reality afloat here.</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-24266740261217470452012-07-02T00:25:00.001-07:002012-07-02T00:25:01.547-07:00I Really Hate Dongo.org<p>There, I said it.</p> <p>For years, that domain has been pointing people toward this blog for no reason at all. There’s no contextual connection between that domain and this one.</p> <p>In all likelihood, Dongo visitors who land here are disappointed, perhaps even pissed off, and I don’t blame them… I probably would be, too, but it’s not something that I have any control over.</p> <p>If you landed here in search of vacation properties in southern Europe or Africa and found something completely unexpected… GET ANGRY!  But not at me… go after the webmasters at Dongo.</p> <p>I don’t even know what their game is, but it’s not mine.  If you got pointed here and liked what you see, you’re welcome to be here, comment, browse, whatever… I’m happy for the accident.</p> <p>If you landed here from a Dongo link and didn’t like what you found, I encourage you to raise hell with them, because I think you’re in the majority.</p> <p>I want people to visit this blog because they want to, not because some freakin’ robot pointed them here against anyone’s will but theirs.</p> <p>With great respect for your choices,</p> <p>Scott</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-7286639619029340352012-06-12T18:46:00.001-07:002012-06-12T18:46:00.613-07:00Orange Seems To Be Very Popular These Days<p>Not every ship heading for the mouth of the Columbia is orange.  But nearly every time I get a chance to see another outbounder underway recently, it’s orange!</p> <p>The <em>Global Wisdom</em> isn’t particularly unusual.  A Handy-size bulker with her holds filled beyond overflowing with logs.  But ships and cargos like these always catch my eye.  There’s just no keeping those contents secret… it’s another zillion board-feet of timber heading for somewhere in Asia, Japan in this case.</p> <p>Maybe some of this wood will end up in the rebuilding effort after last years’ earthquake.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Eh-lZ1oDsH8/T9fwxRxiyHI/AAAAAAAASSs/Qp4PLW2axVA/s1600-h/GlobalWisdom%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Global Wisdom" alt="Global Wisdom" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-nnAv6bGEgsI/T9fw1sO9p6I/AAAAAAAASS0/F92pJY8alcQ/GlobalWisdom_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="181" /></a></p> <p>I don’t photograph every vessel that drifts past my front porch, but a big orange stick-ship loaded with massive sticks?  Yeah, I’ll take a few minutes to grab that.</p> <p><em>A77, 70-300G.  ISO 200, 180mm, 1/400 @ f/7.1</em></p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-27183973553641271472012-06-06T21:53:00.001-07:002012-06-06T21:53:01.949-07:00The Opposite of Stealth<p>The Rose Festival fleet is starting to drift inland and the <em>USS Dewey</em> is tied up in all of her haze-gray splendor where cruise ships normally dock.  That class of destroyer is all angles and shades of gray… the better to deflect radar and confuse visual cues.</p> <p>Contrast that concept to this:</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Nu-Bmvr3aSA/T9AzqmxeElI/AAAAAAAASSY/Vf9BNyGhsuM/s1600-h/TaiShanProfile%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="TaiShanProfile" alt="TaiShanProfile" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLrc0D_Ikrx2gZGrCUS9EGbe1lstMHgM-UiDntUuiMlZcoySZ2QeQ7tOF2EdngPKYtAml0DRaztDXtozYAhZCz6J54gE6yDzB18aQZ9E-CT7WuS51WNrO3u31lyTQ2Bo4J_wo8fo9vRubH/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>The <em>Tai Shan</em> was cruising outbound a couple of hours after I observed the squids in dress whites ambling up Commercial.  This ship is whatever the <em>Dewey</em> isn’t.  It’s slow (by comparison), big, bright… just flippin’ <em>obvious</em> to any type of sensor known to man, including the Mark 1, Mod 1 Eyeball.  Damn… I could see this without my glasses on!  This baby just jumps out and says “I’m here!”</p> <p>And, to the enlisted guys wandering around downtown (and probably looking for Annie’s), I feel for you… dress whites really suck.  They look the same and probably feel the same as they did 25 years ago when I was wearing ‘em, and I sympathize.  I would rather have worn dress blues in all of their woolen splendor in 90 degree sun than suffer the indignity of those crappy, impossible-to-keep-clean polyester clown-suits.</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-79147285411837701152012-06-05T18:09:00.001-07:002012-06-05T18:09:53.123-07:00A Surprise Visitor<p>…and an odd one at that.</p> <p>This wasn’t here when I got home last night!  But after I’d uploaded all of the photos on the memory card I went back downstairs to find the ungainly-looking assembly at anchor off the front porch.</p> <p>It was raining hard and the light was failing, but I had to make the attempt, once again bracing against the porch post to help minimize camera shake.</p> <p>The tug <em>Kokua </em>and barge <em>Haleakala</em>:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaXf2wN4Zq5i0FVTzglMWY7BKMb4O1dYmRZq7jzqAuuF7lTCC_xruvD4IP7ebSMoOM1dCNceTLiI00MOOircQBuE9DvcwetF3WHsy2tY_D0MTOMv2eOThzXw1oBOSt8ZsvpOCTNm4v_Wa4/s1600-h/Kokua1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Kokua At Anchor" alt="Kokua At Anchor" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9kH6E4mAxyI/T86t2zih6AI/AAAAAAAASR8/iBJxSNCitDQ/Kokua1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a>The Shipfinder app indicated that she’s bound for Honolulu (and the names of the tug and barge both sure hint at <em>somewhere</em> in Hawaii!).</p> <p>Given the worsening weather conditions, I thought that perhaps the crew had decided to wait for a more-calm bar, but when I came back downstairs to try for some better shots, I found her underway again, and rapidly heading out of sight.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aVyqUU3gWKg/T86t3aUluNI/AAAAAAAASSE/6daFkq6hdfo/s1600-h/Kokua2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Kokua Underway" alt="Kokua Underway" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-2oIbFU1AniQ/T86t4EVBx8I/AAAAAAAASSM/zp_fV7bF85Y/Kokua2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="185" /></a>I can only guess at what had taken place, but given that the tug had tied up alongside the barge for such a short period, I suspect that the crew was making one more check of the barge before beginning the long haul to the middle of the Pacific.  </p> <p>Many tugs don’t show up on the bar-pilots’ schedules, so there wasn’t any real warning that this one would make an appearance.</p> <p><em>Both shots at ISO 1600 with the 70-300 G, shutter speeds focal lengths and apertures vary.  Post-processing (mostly for noise) in LR4</em></p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-24890967046771830062012-06-05T00:00:00.001-07:002012-06-05T00:00:07.364-07:00An Explosive Afternoon<p>Now and again, the <em>Lady Washington</em> and the <em>Hawaiian Chieftain</em> ply through these waters and play at being ships of the line.  </p> <p>Since I had some warning this time, I made it a point to be on hand when Sunday’s Battle Sail took place.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUf6WDhyphenhyphen-4WJvL6O-mJAguKu7zygOO008h1rwfyPWMExNeRUYQ3a6fadyLKeYdf0cF3XsaA7z6v6Ab1PuZe61ippAnK1YfXysvwJ7Pswi1uEm6-CtASa51TtgQJDHM1QwU1pTnmJOb773O/s1600-h/HawaiianCheiftan1%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="HawaiianCheiftan1" alt="HawaiianCheiftan1" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-Eu5jLlCRrjc/T82uVSITssI/AAAAAAAASP0/KEl3kvLdjH8/HawaiianCheiftan1_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="273" /></a></p> <p>The <em>Chieftain </em>leaves the East Mooring Basin.</p> <p><a href="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6zZTU7lIR0o/T82uV4iT8uI/AAAAAAAASP8/uIjsLB1zrsg/s1600-h/LadyWashingtonBeautyShot%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="LadyWashingtonBeautyShot" alt="LadyWashingtonBeautyShot" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBX8NJsXSHTPstAQJk8BjLy8zykUWyWY_siIKB2wfvjyf_evVYLi1Gu1glfl3k5inTt4uMbRfxNwJEXFQ-kRq50MSkvUOWh8SvnRwIfu4URIU5uWEFqSX85m9DSsP4FLjr-ldiolhmk-M/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>The <em>Lady Washington</em> sails downstream.</p> <p><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-djIFPPAyhdc/T82uW9mQnlI/AAAAAAAASQM/kzFPRUltE4k/s1600-h/ChieftanAndSmoke%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="ChieftanAndSmoke" alt="ChieftanAndSmoke" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpUHRFKl7swO2G7qfu-DYzTR_lcbuQoHq9G9W65cJJ0JU5CsmQvTBC02NkAVJvbX8gN0EUf62ecXfNH68pg37Im0P1S_h2YQA-GbZGYAXlKxBAcAe7UljLxkiFcJrqeTe8rnr5zYZtQxL/?imgmax=800" width="320" height="480" /></a></p> <p>The Chieftain, shrouded in smoke from her own gun.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-SdOIejT-cKU/T82uYMS9WxI/AAAAAAAASQc/CzfX_Wm6Dec/s1600-h/MissedOpportunity%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="MissedOpportunity" alt="MissedOpportunity" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfA5tL4Pf5PBcP8WWLOvtPglgwcT_CkACW7E7nsfsGcB4fIekecKC8vqng0cyImCDXWu4SPTaqML8Tck6fKM80h8lF8ScKfRGzHf4vLY8ejk7Nl6-xZ4TFJr7jhn4IkKF8Vm_EUagVtc1/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>No shots were fired on this pass.  I’m no naval tactician, but I think somebody (or multiple somebodies) dropped the (cannon)ball here.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig73vV6WSPJzvAthsIFi6GOuVTs3tARUWMZ0216kAIAv61iWOX1_Pj3MAK484tQQAE9DQazGdRi7Ym74XdBidelSPYX7IfMm_7usH9a5ssJ1cOXpz2svKWCCwDXDbv6Uu74fL37E0sYzG9/s1600-h/CrossingSwords%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="CrossingSwords" alt="CrossingSwords" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LDQU640AQy0/T82uZ3dPwzI/AAAAAAAASQ0/5DVLDfZljo8/CrossingSwords_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>Another (tactical) missed opportunity.  I didn’t hesitate, to shoot multiple frames, though!</p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-GFsKpLt5KaY/T82uakFe7uI/AAAAAAAASQ8/KUxLYThE0mM/s1600-h/LadyWashingtonBlast1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="LadyWashingtonBlast1" alt="LadyWashingtonBlast1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEL4qgE83Kl9HtyVMVJNJg3kvF95E6RPuJ4byc4l60fbvVidfQj1z1tcYeQ6_iazPQMoFaerKbKDDeXo4DS3yDKg4MYlE9Hw6NViGZnOlT_EvokpIfYJBEmhOwkXcGZQumURDN8xj_Xm0/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>The <em>Lady Washington</em>, after loosing a salvo.</p> <p>After tying up:</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSmpQRh_ow7gOGVwcy9KL8_tBNCXe-xyHx6VqKm56PKJjrxvqhjHL4KQ8PIfKNQTRxngWUN1AXjh1iZt0smr2zWkmAQliUGeeFHWmo6IaRs54ueUnstKcItpyv2OTuJgirqrGru7-h7Ixx/s1600-h/InTheRigging1%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="InTheRigging1" alt="InTheRigging1" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_TQNHUHcMLU/T82ucliF4zI/AAAAAAAASRU/k-kK1uozOok/InTheRigging1_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="480" /></a></p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eFN94FDuJs4/T82udE3FulI/AAAAAAAASRc/xYIYlM1RCO8/s1600-h/InTheRigging2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="InTheRigging2" alt="InTheRigging2" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ChbTJ5DZanc/T82udmSQ-9I/AAAAAAAASRk/BjD6vaTFVcw/InTheRigging2_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="320" height="480" /></a></p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-31535881037271998352012-05-31T21:51:00.001-07:002012-05-31T21:51:29.477-07:00Big Splash o’ Color<p>From Monday evening.  The <em>King Felipe</em> was just about to pass under the Astoria-Megler Bridge (note the shadows on the house).</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkIRYtzJ0YslF-GUzYNvxAbw8VAKVFQISqHj-25uiy3yvadQ2ndNY2HMxcD4Kh0kVfSFFRqxjS9Sj1_J2jKWkKAJX-rRG1EaClM73FxndqfRqc6LVhNtDPofniw-3ksRpwCWbjMhvsLHm/s1600-h/KingFilipe%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="KingFelipe" alt="KingFelipe" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-9VPE7827zVA/T8hKT0PbwXI/AAAAAAAASPU/qGSxjXiZPOo/KingFilipe_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p><em>A77, 70-300 G zoom @210mm. ISO 400, 1/5000 @ f/6.3.  “De-noised” in LR4, optimized for web in PS5.</em></p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-70433499396507288982012-05-21T20:57:00.001-07:002012-05-21T20:57:08.386-07:00First Re-Visit<p>The observation platform at the end of 6th Avenue was reopened a few weeks ago, but I didn’t actually get out there until nearly a week ago.  </p> <p>A year and half ago, the platform and the pier that led out to it were the only things left (nearly) undamaged after a pair of fires that destroyed two landmark buildings.  </p> <p>The damage is still evident everywhere, and reminders of the disappeared businesses abound, but the pier and platform themselves remain in good condition and are now accessible to the public again.</p> <p>Last Tuesday was a sparkling if very windy day, so I made it a point to stop on my way home to take in the anchorage, which was rather full.  But, almost as if on cue, another ship was transiting to Longview, and the proceedings upstaged the ships swinging on their anchor chains.  They’re still out there… but just as background.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQz_l2mIe-dBjg8BlSwdKSssRtT3tQvUQMf3-rXG3sU4KglbQr-xQhrqeXFVgUIoC7-Na2vE0TmgdDEctYhJTphyzVp9M4MhpZNjPQa2UljAvMN_Z3Owwyo66xMOMv_asyeCMbv1UmNQhR/s1600-h/Arrow2Flyby%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Arrow2Flyby" alt="Arrow 2 Fly-by" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-x77IfCQGsAQ/T7sOg_H4yRI/AAAAAAAASNc/CYJhOZjfhF8/Arrow2Flyby_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>The <em>Arrow 2 </em>blazed by the deck at very close range, setting up her intercept course for the pilot exchange.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-eL-AGH2CX4U/T7sOh5-YmLI/AAAAAAAASNk/WIxuq2NmlaM/s1600-h/Arrow2Intercept%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="Arrow2Intercept" alt="Arrow2Intercept" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_2rsPPQUKWg1GfJFEBxOT-VnhYXrgmQOW-DJfMI-mhJx4JvosEO4Sgz79FyFYLTCS3MhWeyj54kHp_FdFgblZZw6TOdgYNZPMjJiD-oXjJv4MLCt_OSJnPdYqbDP41Kc7lt53E6LSAoN/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="273" /></a></p> <p>Nimble, and surprisingly quick, the little vessel and her captain dart into the navigation channel and merge with the inbound <em>Pietro Benedetti</em> amazingly quickly.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHTBMJ4zznklbDNBgfJtWQLT-pQPm3Z60Vfx_48LZStwjnhTnv97XVTN5Wkqnvxq_Oz9By0C2URYZOpoHnz3ch_2Aj1XH7p5xhqkWZ1iU7hhFI8lAJyUqCrl0KRjwLv1y1_haif6ULuy6/s1600-h/PietroBenedettiProfile2%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="PietroBenedettiProfile2" alt="Pietro Benedetti and Arrow 2" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdm9ZVf2pfh48TB0RiJIlIHTiIrto8TOp1Tn01IXVOK-j4omhSD65SFXfmvbTuueL1Rv3lvybsnE70WNM9xcKunTonTyO2G6PabbyEynMujYGNmfHWvd2GBq4umUApWUqhga6sdQLznp2e/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>Click on the image above for a full-screen view.  It’s very much worth noting that the time-stamps on the files in this sequence show less than three minutes from the first shot to the one that follows…</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB874DjTYdclYYk19yr3DsD4odz2kOFlDmUsUgfhPjuR8s1IXpkRSWPfXEDJmSB_TU4TeRAYGB9Cuh-XnKShJVCgZOpQFg_bY-8VrEd7edEbyKxzcenhgXJ46VWwqa6TWEb_GclyopLFrz/s1600-h/PilotTransfer%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="PilotTransfer" alt="The pilot transfer begins" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-ACAQgrYllEI/T7sOk8cZbxI/AAAAAAAASOM/wOwRa2Rxsr4/PilotTransfer_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>Again, click on the image for a full-screen view. The river pilot is already ascending the ladder.  </p> <p>The process isn’t complete.  The bar pilot still has to board the <em>Arrow 2 </em>(very likely after giving a passdown of critical information to the river pilot)… so the pilot boat continues to run alongside for several minutes before disengaging from the inbound ship.</p> <p>I’ve lived here for years, and I never tire of watching this ballet</p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-87669515024532739942012-05-07T20:20:00.001-07:002012-05-07T20:20:10.323-07:00Big Sunset Before the Big Moonrise<p>Quite a change from last week!</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPClTy31YFJDStBMLpsrtJlNMLFZurzqECbfoKLEROYIFVJTGWwhO1azYanOvohfFl3_7xJ9zLXwacp27mEoH_3HgPveYOSKNSxEr_e8yQfbvHqbjJB2QDQDXZpuQw4W6Y66HzQiPeg7L/s1600-h/DistortedSunsetCrop%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="DistortedSunsetCrop" alt="DistortedSunsetCrop" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-aaUVpM2_EME/T6iQ6fNvW9I/AAAAAAAASNI/AvkiDBkB7mg/DistortedSunsetCrop_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="420" height="338" /></a></p> <p><em>A77, 70-300mm G zoom @ 300mm, cropped for composition. ISO 200, f/8 @ 1/1250.</em></p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6946115897117304994.post-63171586884766007312012-05-03T18:19:00.001-07:002012-05-03T18:19:37.103-07:00Somewhere Out There…<p>…there’s a cruise ship.</p> <p>The <em>Seven Seas Navigator</em> spent some time in Astoria’s anchorage today, since the <em>Norwegian Pearl</em> was already moored at Pier 2.</p> <p>Both ships’ passengers got a taste of Astoria at its fabled worst (in weather terms, anyway) today.  No, we didn’t have gales, but really consistent rain and fog brought the curtain down in a big way.</p> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSfuEQZjnpsN7cMHLCnr15rD06J3Qe0KvQa-WD2Oi-TzpDb0mo_exYOaax8fpPA8O7UazzUtkRylZjomHmR0Xk1FBYGwt2Qc0dQz-G5sXZ4X5lP9X1cujpvjilwyqzMagfxnfOI7l4blb/s1600-h/SevenSeasNavigator%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img style="display: inline" title="SevenSeasNavigator" alt="SevenSeasNavigator" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_HJ1GWH_mF-qWL3G-k4M5Mcsh2iRb8fJaTLWxSC2d5MF7xXefVxPItgvhEavhoEXELsZxe22Mr93poONKUVQdxjVuBeR4nyTLakLlNUf5-_T2KzW3s81aBVYJZr0PQSkREfHML-isicC/?imgmax=800" width="420" height="280" /></a></p> <p>The presence of the retired pilot boat Columbia was a lucky accident.  Mariners-in-training from the Tongue Point center obviously had some work to do today.</p> <p><em>A77, 70-300mm G @ 200mm.  ISO 200, 1/1600 @ f/5.6</em></p> NWWandererhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17568754877804052607noreply@blogger.com0