I got to have a photo adventure today with a fellow photographer. Usually I'm stuck exploring with Shawn and although he tolerates my photos he is not overly eager for me to take my time or slam on the brakes to take a photo of a bird.
I'm mentoring one of the seniors at OKHS for her project to create a book, essentially marketing Okanogan county and highlighting some of the areas and events. We headed up Hwy 20 to the south summit of the Loup. Since I have been riding horses up there this summer there has been a spectacular view of the Methow Valley and I've been wanting to return with my camera. It was a perfect day for it and the photos turned out pretty nice. I might want to try and go back once it snows in the valley too. While driving up there I even saw my first piliated woodpecker, but it did not have enough patience for me to get the camera out.
As we headed back to town we stopped at Leader Lake for a few photos and then back on the highway, in a field, there was a flock of turkeys. There must have been fifty of them. I pulled a u-turn and pulled off the road so we could snap away. These birds could have cared less about us as it seemed they were much more interested in finding grub.
It was a fun day to go out with someone who shares my interest. We hope to make it out again on another nice weekend. Next time we will head north towards Tonasket to see what we can find.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Landscaping Renewed
Well the house is finally put back together. I dropped the check of at Shady Creek yesterday and the melted siding has all been replaced. We even have almost all the trim painted. Just in time for winter. We had quite a bit more happen this summer then we had originally planned, but at least everything has turned out okay.
Here's a quick recap. On the 4th of July our neighbor shot a firework into the juniper bushes in front of the house and along the driveway. This resulted in 30' flames that destroyed the bushes, almost killed the beautiful flowering cherry tree and melted our brand new vinyl siding that we were still in the process of having put up. The positive note on the siding, if we had still had the cedar shake, we would have most likely lost the house.
After much hemming and hawing and waiting for paperwork we finally got the check at the beginning of August from the neighbor's homeowners insurance. Mid-august we had the bushes ripped out. It was dramatic, but done so quickly :) We went ahead and had all the potentially flammable bushes removed that were right next to the house. What are the chances this could happen again, probably zero, but what were the chances it was going to happen in the first place?
All clean and ready for landscaping. This step alone was a huge step. It put a lot behind us and it was finally nice to drive home at the end of the day.
Now the final step! As my friend, Kathy, has put it, the landscaping is very fireproof :) It has taken some getting used it, but in the end I think I really like it. The front section has a water system hooked up, so watering is pretty easy. Now we are just eagerly awaiting the plants to grow. Right now the rocks are a bit overpowering, but as the plants grow, Donna from Shady Creek, has assured us it will look great. In the second photo you can see where we replaced the tree at the top of the driveway. It will eventually grow to give some nice shade to the house.
All in all quite an adventure. I would have preferred not to have had to do the landscaping yet. I really did like the bushes there, but knowing now the hazard they posed, I think I will keep that in mind for future landscapes.
Here's a quick recap. On the 4th of July our neighbor shot a firework into the juniper bushes in front of the house and along the driveway. This resulted in 30' flames that destroyed the bushes, almost killed the beautiful flowering cherry tree and melted our brand new vinyl siding that we were still in the process of having put up. The positive note on the siding, if we had still had the cedar shake, we would have most likely lost the house.
After much hemming and hawing and waiting for paperwork we finally got the check at the beginning of August from the neighbor's homeowners insurance. Mid-august we had the bushes ripped out. It was dramatic, but done so quickly :) We went ahead and had all the potentially flammable bushes removed that were right next to the house. What are the chances this could happen again, probably zero, but what were the chances it was going to happen in the first place?
All clean and ready for landscaping. This step alone was a huge step. It put a lot behind us and it was finally nice to drive home at the end of the day.
Now the final step! As my friend, Kathy, has put it, the landscaping is very fireproof :) It has taken some getting used it, but in the end I think I really like it. The front section has a water system hooked up, so watering is pretty easy. Now we are just eagerly awaiting the plants to grow. Right now the rocks are a bit overpowering, but as the plants grow, Donna from Shady Creek, has assured us it will look great. In the second photo you can see where we replaced the tree at the top of the driveway. It will eventually grow to give some nice shade to the house.
All in all quite an adventure. I would have preferred not to have had to do the landscaping yet. I really did like the bushes there, but knowing now the hazard they posed, I think I will keep that in mind for future landscapes.
Friday, September 18, 2009
I've been Published!
Check out the latest issue of Arabian Horse World and you'll see a photo by Kendal Jean Photography. That's right, they picked one of the photos of Kathy's mare and filly I took photos of this last spring. I can't wait to find a copy myself and hope to when I head to 'civilization' next weekend.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
New Website!
I'm excited to announce that I've launched a new website. I'm still ironing out the kinks, but much thanks to my friend Anne for helping me get the bones up and hosting the site for me. I'm slowly adding to it and hope to keep it updated via the news section.
Go check out www.kendaljeanphotos.com and I promise updated photos soon!
Go check out www.kendaljeanphotos.com and I promise updated photos soon!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
Finally getting around to posting some more photos from Colorado. Lots of things have been going on and it finally cooled off enough to sit at the computer and get some photo editing done. Hoping to get some more exciting things rolling out soon. There is a new website in the works so if you find some downtime at www.kendaljeanphotos.com, please stop back by. I hope to make the transition smooth, but you never know what can happen with technology.
Back to Colorado. As part of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo admission is a drive up the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun. This stone shrine was built on top of the mountain and has amazing views across the foothills and plains of southern Colorado. The details throughout are what caught my eye as you can see in the photos. I wish there would have been a decent photo from before we drove up, but I will have to revert back to a stock photo. Have a look at the official site for some of the history and a photo that will really give you some perspective. It was a cool site to see.
Back to Colorado. As part of the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo admission is a drive up the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun. This stone shrine was built on top of the mountain and has amazing views across the foothills and plains of southern Colorado. The details throughout are what caught my eye as you can see in the photos. I wish there would have been a decent photo from before we drove up, but I will have to revert back to a stock photo. Have a look at the official site for some of the history and a photo that will really give you some perspective. It was a cool site to see.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Garden of the Gods
I forgot to post pictures from the Garden of the Gods. Before we went to the zoo we stopped at this free park in Colorado Springs. Such amazing rock formations and they are so red. The pops of green all over the place is stunning as well. I asked my brother how many times he had been there and he said something like five. I could never complain because it's free and gorgeous. The lighting probably changes every visit. I was lucky that the sun came out, but the big puffy white clouds stayed to give some great contrast in the photos.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Family Photos
The last couple of days in Colorado were spent relaxing for the most part. Mom did convince me to do some family photos before I left though. Payment was a yummy dinner at Red Lobster for all involved parties. I could do photos for seafood any day :0)
We did two sessions, one of me, mom, my brother Jason and my half brother Adam. The next evening (hours before we left) I did a second session of my mom, her husband Dave and Adam. I'm loving the look and feel of the first photo of those three. Adam has such a rock star, teenager look. Very fitting for his attitude about now.
We did two sessions, one of me, mom, my brother Jason and my half brother Adam. The next evening (hours before we left) I did a second session of my mom, her husband Dave and Adam. I'm loving the look and feel of the first photo of those three. Adam has such a rock star, teenager look. Very fitting for his attitude about now.
DSC_3934
DSC_3934
Originally uploaded by Kendal Jean Photos
The teenager rock star look apparently, though I do like the mood of this photo.
Monday, August 3, 2009
The Zoo!
I love zoos. They are so fun to be able to see animals you would never see regularly and it is even more fun when you have a camera with a big zoom. The last time I was at a zoo was almost 3 years ago when I went with my Dad and his wife to Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC. I didn't have my big 70-300 zoom yet (I think I got it the next week). Now I want to go to more. Hopefully I'll be able to go over to Seattle to go to Woodland Park sometime.
After we got done at Garden of the Gods we drove up to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. It is a very unique zoo that is built into the mountain side. You kind of meander your way up the hillside. I'm still loving the zoo in South Carolina though. The nice thing about that one is there are ditches between you and the animals instead of fences, makes for better pictures which is of course all I care about :0)
Here's a sample of some of the pictures I took. Have some fun and make a caption for that silly giraffe and leave it in the comments. Might be fun to see what some other people are thinking when they look a that photo.
After we got done at Garden of the Gods we drove up to Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. It is a very unique zoo that is built into the mountain side. You kind of meander your way up the hillside. I'm still loving the zoo in South Carolina though. The nice thing about that one is there are ditches between you and the animals instead of fences, makes for better pictures which is of course all I care about :0)
Here's a sample of some of the pictures I took. Have some fun and make a caption for that silly giraffe and leave it in the comments. Might be fun to see what some other people are thinking when they look a that photo.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Start the Touristy Day
After Estes we relaxed for a day. We went down and saw my SIL's art at a coffee shop in Longmont. It was very fun to see her great art on the walls of a business all displayed fancy like. It was on display along with a photography art show that closed main street in Longmont. We wandered up and down the street, listening to music and looking at inspiring photos in various businesses.
We were up early the next morning for an adventure for Jason and I. Up at 5am to drive down to his place (Shawn slept), load into his car (Shawn slept) and drive out east to catch the old steam train heading up to Cheyenne for Cheyenne Frontier Days (once again Shawn slept).
While Jason and I waited outside in the nice crisp, morning air (Shawn was sleeping still) I snapped a couple of photos around the spot Jason had scoped out. I got a couple of birds with one being fed. I haven't researched any of the species yet, so feel free to add some input on that.
The weeds growing along the track. You see the bright red all over the place. I really like the perspective.
Then came the main show. Here's an excerpt from the Union Pacific website about this engine:
We were up early the next morning for an adventure for Jason and I. Up at 5am to drive down to his place (Shawn slept), load into his car (Shawn slept) and drive out east to catch the old steam train heading up to Cheyenne for Cheyenne Frontier Days (once again Shawn slept).
While Jason and I waited outside in the nice crisp, morning air (Shawn was sleeping still) I snapped a couple of photos around the spot Jason had scoped out. I got a couple of birds with one being fed. I haven't researched any of the species yet, so feel free to add some input on that.
The weeds growing along the track. You see the bright red all over the place. I really like the perspective.
Then came the main show. Here's an excerpt from the Union Pacific website about this engine:"Steam Locomotive No. 844 is the last steam locomotive built for Union Pacific Railroad. It was delivered in 1944. A high-speed passenger engine, it pulled such widely known trains as the Overland Limited, Los Angeles Limited, Portland Rose and Challenger.
Many people know the engine as the No. 8444, since an extra '4' was added to its number in 1962 to distinguish it from a diesel numbered in the 800 series. The steam engine regained its rightful number in June 1989, after the diesel was retired.
When diesels took over all of the passenger train duties, No. 844 was placed in freight service in Nebraska between 1957 and 1959. It was saved from being scrapped in 1960 and held for special service.
The engine has run hundreds of thousands of miles as Union Pacific's ambassador of goodwill. It has made appearances at Expo '74 in Spokane, the 1981 opening of the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento, the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans and the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Los Angeles Union Station in 1989.
Hailed as Union Pacific's "Living Legend," the engine is widely known among railroad enthusiasts for its excursion runs, especially over Union Pacific's fabled crossing of Sherman Hill between Cheyenne and Laramie, Wyoming."
After checking out the train, which blew by very quickly. We headed back to the highway and down to Colorado Springs to the Garden of the Gods and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo. By the way, Shawn slept the whole way.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Estes Park
After Devil's Backbone we cruised up to Estes Park in my mom's Miata. No pictures, Shawn was a bit embarrassed of the little car. I guess I can't blame him, it is an odd little car. We geocached our whole way up and around the town for a total of 16 caches in the day.
Estes Park is the gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park. I actually bought my truck up there when I was living in Colorado. You just have to watch out for the elk. When you drive through the large herds you just go really slow and don't honk your horn or they may attack your vehicle. I was all excited for Shawn to see the elk, but alas they had all moved up to higher pastures. We did see plenty of prarie dogs, a mama duck teaching her babies how to dive and lots of swallows (see bird sanctuary pic below). Also had a huge buzzard flying over us that I was too intrigued by to take a picture.
At Estes Lake, similar to Lake Chelan, but much warmer.
Estes Park is the gateway to the Rocky Mountain National Park. I actually bought my truck up there when I was living in Colorado. You just have to watch out for the elk. When you drive through the large herds you just go really slow and don't honk your horn or they may attack your vehicle. I was all excited for Shawn to see the elk, but alas they had all moved up to higher pastures. We did see plenty of prarie dogs, a mama duck teaching her babies how to dive and lots of swallows (see bird sanctuary pic below). Also had a huge buzzard flying over us that I was too intrigued by to take a picture.
At Estes Lake, similar to Lake Chelan, but much warmer.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Hiking the Backbone
We started off our Thursday by heading up Devil's Backbone outside of Loveland. We grabbed our first cache in Colorado, a virtual up at the keyhole.
L_E_DSC_3239
L_E_DSC_3239
Originally uploaded by Kendal Jean Photos
Let me know if you know they type of bird. I'm wavering on a couple of species, but it was sure noisy.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Fun in the Sculpture Park
Not even in Colorado for 24 hours and we had to go play. Loveland is well known for all its art in the form of sculptures. We headed down to the park with the intention of geocaching, but I had a lot of fun with my camera. I ran around taking all sorts of pictures and made my mom take some of me and Shawn. I even got one of her. By the way, we didn't find the cache that night. We'll be heading out before we leave to grab it though.
Now on to a few more sculptures, just a bit more serious about these ones.
Now on to a few more sculptures, just a bit more serious about these ones.
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