Unbelievable Sunrise this morning

Just before getting on the bus this morning I was noticing the clouds starting to get a tinge of color from the sunrise. After getting on the bus and heading over the Fremont bridge in Seattle, the bus drive told us to check out the sunrise. It was just getting warmed up at that time. But, I wish I would of hung out on the bridge for a while, because by the time I got of the bus by the Sculpture Park, the sunrise was gorgeous. Luckily I had my camera in the bag this time and I had to stop to take some snap shots.

For the rest of the day I am going to be kicking myself in the butt for not staying on the Fremont Bridge to get a few photos of this sunrise. As I keep taking more and more photos I am learning to take advantage of these events that come only once in a blue moon. And when I don't stop and take photos, there is a voice in the back of my mind berating myself for not doing that. Oh well, next time I will stop. At least I was able to get these photos.

Barack Obama Campaign Photos

Reading the Online Photographer this morning I read his post on the Boston.com's pick of the best 35 photos of President Elect Barack Obama's campaign. After going to the link and was overcome with emotion again as a scrolled through the photos. I felt this lifting of oppression that has been weighing me down for the past eight years. It is amazing what a little hope in a bright future can make your life feel that much better. Once January 20, 2009 comes around we can finally pull that weed called Bush from our politics roots and all.

I think this relief has permeated through Seattle. Some facts to help prove that statement, at my wife's hair salon, before the election they were booked solid for massages. Since the day after the election on November 4, they haven't had anyone walk in or book a massage. Ahhh the relief of tension melting away.

The photos are definetly worth a look. So go check them out.

Another good site to check out on photos of Obama's campaign is Scout Tufankjian. I really like the Secret Service series. Well worth checking out also. I hear Scout will be coming out with a photo book on the campaign. Here is the Amazon link to the book.

The Red One

No photos from me in this post, but a link to where I see the future of photography going. And that is the merging of both still photography and videography. This is already happening with the Red One , the new Nikon D90 and the Canon eos 5d MarkII, with the red one being a digital video camera first but still able to have stills taken from the video and the later two digital SLR cameras that have the ability to shoot video also.

But, Red digital cinema dropped a bomb yesterday with their announcement of the new modular system that will be coming out in the next few years. You can go here to see the announcement and then here for some more information on this modular system.

Basically what founder Jim Jannard, yep founder of Oakley glasses, has done is come up with a system that is upgradable, downgradable and with the ability to switch parts between all the other parts. Basically a highly customizable system that let's you invent what you need. Think legos but for photography and video. Damn Cool!

Now I have a year to save up my pennies and think of a good lie/excuse for the signifigant other to get one of these Reds. Any suggestions on the lies?

2008 Pottery Northwest Student Show

For this years Pottery Northwest student show I actually had some pieces to submit (last year I was taking my first ceramics class and did not have any pieces yet). There are some wonderful ceramics in this years show. I am amazed at what some people are creating. If you have time and are in the neighborhood today or tomorrow you might still be able to see some of the ceramics on display because the show will be coming down tomorrow to get ready for a residents, Matt Allison, exit show. Matt's show opens this friday November 14, 2008.

Anyways back to the student show. I was able to get a few pieces in, three different mugs, two from my Soda Fire class and one from the Get a Handle On It class. I also had a pitcher and a saki set in the show. These two pieces are done in a damascus style, or what some people might call a marbling effect. Basically I take two different clays mix them together and then throw them on the wheel. After throwing the clay I need to trim the surface a little to expose the pattern made with the two different clays. The pattern is more pronounced in the Saki set. Both the saki set and the pitcher are from the soda class.

Barack Obama President Elect

Barack Obama is our President Elect and the sun came out this morning in Seattle.

Nuff Said!

Honorable Mention in Idaho Statesman photo contest

Every year the Idaho Statesman has an Idaho Outdoors photo contest. This year I got honorable mention on two photographs of mine. You can go here to see the winners in the contest. The two photos I got in the contest are of a fox, number 8, and some mushrooms growing on a stump near the Big Wood River in Ketchum, ID, number 14. Both my dad, Jerry Britton, and my Uncle, Walter Kaiser, also had photos selected. One of my Uncle's photos won third place, with his picture of Chilean sheep herders.

I have entered in this contest for four or five years now and have had at least one photo picked for honorable mention. My dad has won grand prize twice before. Now I just need to get above the honorable mention level, maybe next year.

Summer Blueberry picking

I remember as a kid traveling to various farms around Antioch, CA and picking cherries, apricots, strawberries and other fruit. It was always great fun, picking some for later and picking some to eat right then. But as I grew up all those farms became housing developments and I wasn't able to do that anymore. That changed once we moved to Seattle, WA. There are many U-pick farms in the a one-hour driving radius of Seattle. You can go here and see many of them.

Unfortunately my wife and I were not able to go to any of the U-pick farms this year. But, last year we did, and it was a blast. We went to the Bybee-Nims farm and picked blueberries. The farm in itself is just gorgeous and the blueberries are delicious. I am bummed that I was not able to make it out this year.

If you have the chance I highly recommend going to one of the U-pick farms in the area. It is great fun, you get to eat what you pick and it is a lot cheaper then at the store.