Torn

This bit of sunset two nights ago was situated between clouds and the ground, looking like it was being torn from the sky. This was taken at the corner of 3rd Ave. and Fern Ridge Rd.

Fireworks On The 4th Of July

(See more fireworks photos!)

As promised yesterday, today I'm posting the fireworks photos I took of the town fireworks display on the 4th of July. The display moved locations this year, from the high school to the middle school, which turned out to be a great place to view the fireworks. I was feet from where the fireworks were launched, and I'm pretty happy with how they came out.

The bumps at the bottom of the photo above are people's heads. There were a lot of said heads at the show, along with the rest of their bodies.

I also created a collage (click on the thumbnail at left to see it large) of several of the fireworks. It's part of the Flickr photoset I've created for the event.

Hugo over at My Left Nut has posted a great video of the fireworks, plus a video slideshow. He also posted a video slideshow of the town parade. Very cool stuff.

Santiam

I adore this neon sign on the Santiam Depot / Rumours Lounge Restaurant on 3rd Ave. It has that cool retro feel.

Norpac Cannery

I was out the other night with the ol' tripod, and decided to take a picture of the cannery from the far side of the parking lot across the street from the fairly large (or long, at least) buildings which make up the cannery.

If I'd been using my brain, I would have done a long exposure to capture more of the smoke coming out of the building. But, see, I try to avoid using my brain... don't want it to wear out before I'm through with it, you know. ;)

Power Defined

This is a power sub-station at the corner of Fern Ridge Rd. and 3rd Ave. I've taken a similar shot of it before, but I think I like this new one better.

For I Must Be Traveling On

I still haven't had much of an opportunity to go out and take photos, so here we are with another sunset. I'm hoping to get out today to take photos of something or other. I have no idea what that something or other is as of yet. But, then, I rarely do.

Come On In

This is part of the front of the Red Apple Restaurant on 2nd Ave. I've kind of gotten into shooting neon signs lately. There aren't many around town, but some may pop up on here now and then.

On a side note: Happy birthday, Mom. I love you.

The End Is Nigh

Today's photo is of a walkway which runs alongside the parking lot at the back of the public elementary school. I took this just before full darkness.

By the way, I'd like to thank Ralph Stevens for letting me know the trees in yesterday's post are flowering cherry trees of the Kwanzan variety. I very much appreciate the info, as I obviously was pretty clueless on the matter.

Neon Star

I went to the Star Cinema last night to see "Iron Man" (which I loved). While I was there, I took the opportunity to take another photo of the vintage neon sign outside the theater. Part of the lettering wasn't lit, so I focused on the star and overall colorful nature of the sign instead.

By the way, a big hello to the nice folks I met outside the theater, who asked if I run Stayton Daily Photo. It was good to meet you.

Down At The A&W

Today's photo is another from my nighttime wanderings around town. This is part of the A&W Restaurant on Washington St. It's a cool retro style diner, and the overhang you see on the left is part of the drive-in section, where one can pull up their car and place an order without going inside or through the drive-thru.

Laundromat

I was wondering around after dark a couple of nights ago, taking pictures of pretty much anything with lights, when I happened upon this laundromat on 1st Ave. Those are either washers or dryers in the photo.

Enter Night

I want to apologize for posting two sunset photos within a week of each other (see also: Golden). The weather has finally warmed up enough for me to go out during the evenings on my scooter sometimes, and I can't resist taking sunset photos. At least it's a different type of sunset, in terms of color, framing, etc.

I took this near the corner of 3rd Ave. and Fern Ridge Rd.

Fey Asian

Fey Asian is a Chinese/American restaurant on E. Washington St., where they have incredibly good sweet and sour chicken. It's also my understanding they have great egg foo yung. I'd only eaten there for the first time a few days ago, so I believe further research is required. ;)

And The Race Is On

This is a 20 second exposure of some cars going up and down a hill on the north end of 3rd Ave. I had stopped to take pictures of the sunset (which was in another direction, since this photo is facing north), and decided the headlights and taillights made for an interesting (to me, anyway) photo.

Pyramid Scheme

Today's photo is of a nighttime shot of one of the windows at the Ixtapa Mexican Restaurant on Locust Ave. The red and blue in the neon sign make an interesting purple glow in and around the window.

DP Theme Day: Water

It's time once again for the City Daily Photo theme day. This month's theme is water. My post of hail yesterday could have passed, and I considered using it, but in the end decided to go with a shot I took of my Yahama scooter after it had taken a rain bath.

As an added bonus, the photo at right was taken at the same location, but during the day, also after it rained, though it's harder to tell since light isn't glinting off the drops like the photo above.

Rain is a fairly common occurrence here in Oregon, and occasionally I have to ride my scooter in the rain. True Oregonians are web-footed, though, so it's okay. Kinda. :)

I took this in the parking lot of the Safeway grocery store on 1st Ave.

Take a look at the other folks participating in today's theme day, for their various interpretations of the "water" theme:

theme day id=13

Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix - Bostonscapes, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Gordio, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

Body Shop

This little auto body shop sits behind Carquest on W. Hollister St. I just liked the letters in the windows. The lit sign is a bit blurry... I shot this handheld, and wasn't as still as I should have been.

City Hall

You've had, I am quite certain, a burning desire to see a photo of City Hall in Stayton. At night. In black and white. With a slight green tint. Which would make it black and white and green. And also part of a car which was in the way.

That's why I'm here, friends -- to make your dreams come true. So here it is, the illustrious City Hall, in all its black and white and green splendor.

You're welcome.

Night Lights

"They say the lights are bright on 3rd Avenue..."

Yeah, not quite how the song goes. Anyway, I thought the lights in the windows and on the awnings of these stores were pretty. I've tried to capture them before, but this is the first time I actually had my tripod along. The store on the near left is an art gallery, though I'm not sure of its name.

Illuminated Learning

I don't think I've taken a nighttime shot of the library since its expansion construction was completed last summer. Plus I bought a new tripod, so I had to try it out on something. This seemed like a good choice.

Another View of the Eclipse

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.

Photo is copyright © Ronda Faught. All rights reserved. Do not copy or reproduce in any way without permission of photographer.

A Blurry Ode To An Eclipse

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.

Merry Christmas!

I'm one tired gal after a busy Christmas Eve, so I'll just post this shot of more Christmas lights (hey, it's Christmas... gotta be Christmas-y!), and wish you all Happy Holidays, however you are spending the day.

Take care, everyone.

White And Blue

Today's photo was taken at an angle. Please note: this was entirely intentional and I was not over indulging in the eggnog, if you catch my drift.

I had a big elaborate story planned for the photo. But when I started to write it, everything sounded completely wrong (trust me), so it's been scrapped. Instead, I'll regale you with a poem I wrote for a friend. I think you'll find it encapsulates the true meaning of Christmas.
I'm not dreaming of a white Christmas
Nor sleigh rides in the snow
And it's never really been my thing
To go caroling to and fro

Holiday decorations are pretty
The music is quite nice
If there's Christmas pie to be had
I'd gladly take a slice

But there is something else
We need to keep in mind
The reason for this very season
Really isn't hard to find

The answer lies within us all
And it's really so sublime:
Skip the presents this year
I'll take cash this time!I'm kidding, of course (I also accept PayPal!). I'm not so crass as to think the holiday is all about what I can get out of it (gift cards!). Christmas is a special time (for money orders and cashier's checks!) which goes far beyond commercialism (personal checks will do nicely!). I'm sure you agree. I'm off in search of more eggnog. Ho, ho, ho.

Oh, Deer

If you've visited this here photoblog recently, you might be wondering if all I know how to post are photos of Christmas decorations, about which I make up stupid stories.

Well, I'm here to tell you that line of thinking is absolutely incorrect... mainly because I can't seem to think up a stupid story about today's photo. I feel like such a failure. But I do have a stupid pun for the title, so at least that's something. I'll try harder tomorrow.

Because All The Cool Kids Are Doing It

It's kind of a popular thing to take purposefully out of focus shots of Christmas lights, especially over on Zooomr, my favorite photo sharing site. So here's my (outdoor, since we have no room indoors) Christmas tree, all decked out in bokeh goodness.

Moon Dance

I took the above shot of the moon last night. We were between rain showers, and the clouds provided a pretty setting for the moon.

Meet Me In The Back

This is the back of a building on 3rd Ave. I have no idea what building it is... some business or other. I've been told this "looks like a good place to get mugged." I doubt it, since Stayton's not exactly a hotbed of person-on-person criminal activity, but one can never be too sure.

By The Light Of The Bridge

In my night wanderings around town, I went by one of my favorite subjects, the Jordan Bridge at Pioneer Park, and snapped the above. I thought about cropping it, but I like the off-center placement. I guess I can identify with being off-center. ;)

If This Isn't Scary, I Just Don't Know What Is

I'm a little concerned. When I was out a couple of nights ago I saw this inflatable Halloween decoration not once, but twice, in two yards in separate parts of town. This leads to the inevitable conclusion that they're either multiplying or one was following me. Either way, this can't be good.

If they are breeding or are sentient and capable of movement, then we should all be on high alert. Pay attention next time you're out driving around and you'll see them everywhere. What are these creatures thinking? What are they hiding? This is an issue I strongly feel should be looked into closely. Possibly with the aid of large federal grants.

We need act now, before it's too late. The evil inflatable Halloween monsters are everywhere, in every yard across the country. There's nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. They're coming for you!!

Ahem. Sorry. I may be rushing to judgment. Forgive me.

I leave you with a final warning: do not approach any of these... beings. We don't know what they're capable of, so it's best to not engage. Use extreme caution.

Little Train

I was scootering around downtown again last night, and spotted this little toy train in the window of Stayton's new community-based radio station. A place I keep meaning to visit.

Anyway, I'm surprised the shot came out as well as it did. There was very little light, and I couldn't use a flash, as it would have just caused a glare on the window. Thank goodness for a high ISO.... as long as you don't look too closely and see all the digital noise. :)

Corner Office

Here's another photo from my nighttime photo excursion. This is an eye doctor's office on 3rd Ave.

Down In The Alley

I was scootering around downtown a few nights ago with my camera when I came across this nifty alleyway next to the Food Bank. It's yet another thing I would have completely missed if I hadn't been looking for things to photograph.

Texaco

Here's a completely random photo of a gas station on 1st Ave. Oddly enough, this is actually the second time I've posted a photo of this gas station. I don't know why. This photo is completely different, in that it's the other side of the station. Yep. Totally, utterly different.

Down To The Wire

This was the sunset from a few nights ago, as taken from the cemetery on 3rd Ave. It's looking out over town... not that you can actually see the town, of course.

Don't forget: my new personal photoblog, Photos By Celine, which has photos you won't find here (and a few you will, but please don't let that deter you).

Blue Music

Today's photo is of a nifty neon sign in the front window of Kiki's Music on Washington St. There isn't a lot of neon in Stayton, so I try to photograph what I can.

The thumbnail at right shows the whole sign... click on it to see it larger.