Distantly Yours - Galleries

Tranquil Bridge

2008-09-28T01:35:58Z

This is one of those photos I didn’t think too much of when I first saw it. Most of the time, when you shoot a new photo, you see it small the first few times: on a small camera screen, or as a small icon on your computer screen.

I didn’t notice this photo until I saw it big. Now, it’s one of my favorite desktop wallpapers. When this picture is that big, I can almost imagine a calm breeze blowing through the air, whispering between the trees in the background. It’s a very serene image, and I’m glad that I eventually noticed it.

Waterfall at the Japanese Garden

2003-04-13T16:19:42Z

One of the first things visitors see at Portland’s Japanese Garden is a gorgeous (if, perhaps, somewhat cliché) waterfall trickling into a serene, beautiful pond filled with giant koi fish. I did say, “somewhat cliché,” right?

Regardless, it’s wonderful. It’s the kind of thing that can’t be captured in a photograph – which means anyone who loves shooting a camera feels challenged to try.

Exotic Reflection

2003-04-13T15:47:27Z

When I went to Portland, I think my favorite part of the entire trip was the Japanese Garden there. It was a very serene place, but I had a difficult time capturing that serenity with the level of experience I had at the time. The few photos I took that did capture that serenity were, ironically, the ones I never would have thought would turn out well.

This photo is at the top of that list. It still could have turned out better (could do with a little less pavement in the frame), but it still managed to capture the sense of scale, and the way that the Japanese Garden invites people to pause and reflect, which is what makes it so magical.

No Place Like Home

2003-04-03T01:21:55Z

I did a lot of traveling in the first six months of 2003: San Diego, Seattle, Portland, Big Bear, and London. I spent a lot less time at home than normal, which is why I think it’s somewhat poignant that I shot this photo of my parents house in that timeframe. The way this photo glances at the house, but really gazes into the sky speaks volumes about the life I lived at the time.

Space Age Tower

2003-03-09T05:55:00Z

I didn’t think much of this photo when I shot it. I was trying to see if I could capture the rain as it fell past the bright lights at the base of the Space Needle. Looking at this photo again, years later, it’s become one of my favorite photos I’ve ever shot. It makes the Space Needle look like a prop or a model from a sci-fi movie.

This is one of those photos that really looks fantastic when it’s big, and in high resolution. I have a selection of photos that I use in a rotation for my desktop wallpaper, and this photo is one of them, for that very purpose. It’s also one of the few photos I’ve shot that I’d love to see a printed and framed.

A View From the Space Needle

2003-03-09T05:08:00Z

This was probably the most dangerous endeavor I ever put my trsuty camera through. I’ve held it off the edge of high buildings, and carried it in the open in big cities late at night, but probably nothing comes close to shooting pictures outdoors in Seattle — the city of perpetual rain.

On the high-resolution version of this photo, you can actually see rain drops on the camera’s lens. The good news is, the camera survived, and got a great shot of the skyline, to boot.

Frank Gehry Vs. The Space Needle

2003-03-09T03:53:30Z

You may not know it, but two exciting architectural marvels stand right beside each other in Seattle. Everyone is familiar with the Space Needle, but not everyone knows that it neighbors the Experience Music Project, an interactive rock ‘n’ roll museum designed by the famous Frank Gehry. Although admission is expensive, the EMP is truly worth it for anyone who really loves American music.

The EMP features a fascinating collection of historical artifacts. My favorite exhibit at the time of my visit showcased the evolution of the electrical guitar, featuring a number of truly odd-looking instruments designed to do one thing: Make the guitar louder.

But the EMP does more than just display music. It also encourages its visitors to play it. On the second floor, visitors can find a room filled with musical instruments connected to interactive, multimedia tutorials. Even beginning guitarists can learn to play Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” using power chords in a matter of minutes!

In short, the EMP is like Disneyland, but for people who dream of being rockstars. As for the Space Needle – well – what is there to say about it? Everyone know what the Space Needle is.

Pasadena City College at Night

2003-03-01T02:54:14Z

It’s something of a shame I don’t have more photos of Pasadena City College. I went there for a couple of speech and debate tournaments in college, and some of the buildings appear to have been there since the golden age of Art Deco.

This particular photo was one of my earliest night shots, when my Canon Powershot G3 was still pretty new to me. I upped both the exposure and f-stop in order to get larger corona effects from the lights. The effect seemed appropriate to combine with the reflection pool, making the overall photo an experiment in the ways light reflects and refracts at night.

Stairs at Pt. Loma

2003-02-03T00:11:00Z

Here is one of many shots I took while at Pt. Loma Nazarene University for a speech and debate tournament. I think it was the first time I had taken my camera out of my hometown. I had been to the school a year earlier with a 35mm SLR, so I was excited to see how my digital shots would compare.

Here I found for the first time that if you shoot at just the right time of day, the sky is a deep, glowing blue. To the naked eye, it looks dark out, but in the photo, it looks amazing.

Pt. Loma Sunset

2003-02-02T23:33:00Z

Much like the photo with the shafts of light shining through the clouds, this photo also demonstrates how one can dramatically change the way a photo looks by adjusting levels in post-production. Most often, my camera shoots it just right the first time, but every now and then, if I re-imagine how the image should look later, the results can be very breathtaking.