Archive for February, 2008

The Glamour Of Show Business

Feb 29th

Today’s the next to last day of our little tour of nearby Salem. This photo is something of a precursor to tomorrow’s city daily photo theme day. It’s a back door of the building where I took the theme picture. If you could look directly above this door, you’d see my theme day photo.

I’m not going to say what it is yet, because to some, that might be a spoiler as to what my theme day photo will be. Of course, some may guess, anyway. I can’t imagine there are many doors like this in Salem.

elsinore theatre, passageways

State Capitol With Trees In Bloom

Feb 28th

Posted by Celine in architecture

3 comments

Guest photographer Moe sent me this beautiful photo he took a few years ago of the Oregon State Capitol Building with the trees in full bloom. I thought it a lovely image to include in our little Salem tour. It’s a nice reminder that spring blooms are just around the corner.

Thanks, Moe, for showing us something most of us probably don’t see every day.

moe, oregon state capitol, tree blossoms, trees

Salem First United Methodist Church

Feb 27th

Posted by Celine in churches

3 comments

It’s day four of our mini-tour of nearby Salem. Today’s photo is of the church where both my maternal grandparents and aunt and uncle both were married many years ago.

My grandparents married there in the 1920′s. My aunt and uncle married there in the 1950′s, on my grandparents’ 25th wedding anniversary. I wasn’t able to go inside the day I was there. Maybe someday.

For more information about the church vist their web site.

Other stops on the Salem tour:

salem first united methodist church

Riverfront Park

Feb 26th

Posted by Celine in out of town

4 comments

Continuing our mini-tour of nearby Salem (see also: outside and inside the state capitol building), today’s photos are of the 23 acre Riverfront Park along the Willamette River. The park is a work in progress, and has a variety of awesome features — a carousel, pavilion, playground, amphitheater, the Eco Earth Globe, and the Willamette Queen, and the AC Gilbert House…. and probably other stuff I’ve missed.

My friend Steve and I visited part of the park — the carousel, the Eco Globe, and the the pier where the Willamette Queen is docked. We weren’t able to go inside the Queen, since it was closed. The photo at right shows part of the pier.

Eco Earth Globe:

The Eco Earth Globe (click on the thumbnail above to see a bigger version) was created out of a large pressurized tank once used by a paper mill. It now is positive representation of our planet, depicting the various cultures all over the word.

Riverfront Carousel:

The carousel was built by volunteers who spent many months giving their time to this beautiful creation. The cow (pictured above) stands in the entryway. Her name is Lady Camoolot.

The Pier And Willamette Queen:

According to the Willamette Queen web site, the sternwheeler was designed as a scaled down likeness of the former Mississippi and Yukon Territory Riverboats with paddles that really do propel her.

Inside The State Capitol Building

Feb 25th

Posted by Celine in architecture

2 comments

Yesterday I posted some photos of the Oregon State Capitol Building and surrounding grounds. Today’s photos are from the inside the rotunda, which is the main entrance to the building.

The photo above is the Capitol dome. My friend Steve actually set up the shot for me and let me use his tripod. The only thing I did was press the shutter.

The photo at right shows the front windows looking out towards the beautiful cloud-filled sky. The photos below show various things — the bronze Oregon state seal, some text engraved above a doorway, part of the murals on the curved walls, and the steps leading up to the state senate chambers. Click on each photo to see bigger versions.

I also took photos from the gallery areas in the house and senate, but they all… well, they suck. The lighting inside the building really isn’t conducive to happy picture taking unless one has better lenses than I possess. Thank goodness for the big windows in the rotunda area for the photos you see here.

Tomorrow I’ll post some photos from Riverfront Park along the banks of the Willamette River in Salem.

oregon state capitol, rotunda

Oregon State Capitol Building

Feb 24th

Posted by Celine in architecture

1 comment

I took a photography trip to nearby Salem on Friday, and thought I’d spend the next few days sharing the sights.

First up is the Oregon State Capitol Building. I’d never been there despite living so close, so I was a happy camper to finally make a visit. I have my friend Steve to thank for that.

First up is the outside of the building and grounds. The photo above shows the front of the building, while the photo at right is a side view. Below you’ll find a few more photos. Click on them to see the bigger versions.

The photo on bottom right is of the Oregon Pioneer, a hollow bronze statue covered in gold leaf. I remember back in fourth grade (1984) being part of a state-wide school effort to help raise money for the periodic re-guilding of the statue. We brought in pennies. It was cool.

For more information about the capitol:

Tomorrow I’ll take you inside the building to see some beautiful architecture and people. Click below for more views of the capitol and the grounds (click on each thumbnail to see bigger versions):

buildings, oregon state capitol

Tractor Seat Collection

Feb 23rd

Posted by Celine in guest photographers

No comments

Guest photographer Moe sent along this interesting photo of a tractor seat collection. Yes, you read that right. Here’s Moe’s description:

Went to the Doerfler estate sale outside Sublimity on Thursday 02-21. Asked to see the collection of tractor seats. The old fellow at the house collected things, knives, bear traps, and tractor seats. It was interesting to see other people’s collections. Anyway here is a pic of some of the tractor seats.

Thanks, Moe, for showing us something most of us probably don’t see every day.

moe

Another View of the Eclipse

Feb 22nd

Posted by Celine in guest photographers

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Frequent guest photographer Ronda Faught took this awesome photo of the lunar eclipse two nights ago that puts mine to shame. There are all kinds of details in the moon my photo completely missed.

Be sure to visit Ronda’s web site for more of her awesome photography.

eclipses, moon, ronda faught

A Blurry Ode To An Eclipse

Feb 20th

Posted by Celine in nighttime

1 comment

This is my not-so-spectacular shot of the lunar eclipse last night. It’s over-exposed and blurry. Sorry about that. I wasn’t really prepared, and my longest lens isn’t really up to the job. And I screwed up the exposure.

So if you want to see some beautiful photos of the eclipse, check out sid6581′s photos (use the navigation bar above the photo to see more) and scherbi’s Rusty Moon. both at Zooomr.com.

eclipses, moon

Smile

Feb 20th

Posted by Celine in artwork

1 comment

This, friends, is the face of the Great Root Bear at the A&W Restaurant on Washington St. If you aren’t familiar with the big guy, he’s the mascot of the restaurant chain.

For whatever reason, I had thought his name was Root Beer Bear, since one of A&W’s main things is root beer floats, but the A&W web site says otherwise. I was wrong all these years. My whole world has been shattered (insert dramatic sigh here).

a&w, restaurants, root beer bear