Girly Bike

Bright pink bike at Washington Park on the west side of Portland.

White Rhododendron

Soft-lit flowers of a rhododendron on the campus of Reed College here in Portland. Until we moved to Oregon, I had no idea there were so many varieties of rhodos. In fact, I don't think I had ever seen one in bloom.
If you really want to impress your friends, you can casually mention that "rhododendron" comes from the Greek for "rose tree". (I learned it on dictionary.com while figuring out how to spell "row-doh-den-druhn".)

O

An engraved "O" from a sign on the campus of Reed College here in Portland. Or is it a giant stone eyeball?

Gothic Door

Gothic architecture abounds at Reed College here in Portland. We headed there last Saturday for a free concert of Beethoven's Prometheus complete with narration and multimedia show. Okay, so it was actually just the dress rehearsal, open to the public. And we were 20 minutes late. And we left after 10 minutes. But it was Culture.

Bonsai (I Think)

Sculpted tree from the Chinese Classical Garden near downtown Portland. Or is "bonsai" only Japanese?

Dash of Orange

Just trying to get a shot of shadows on stone steps--but captured a dash of orange sprinting through my shot. Much improved composition thanks to Cam.

Tiny White

Little while flowers dot fields of grass at a local playground.

Pagoda Peak

Intracacy of Chinese architecture. Another view from within the Chinese Classical Garden in downtown Portland.

There's just something naturally peaceful about traditional Asian architecture that I find soothing. Modern American buildings tend to be so stark and utilitarian, separated from beauty and nature. And I think we're the worse for it.

This Phone Is Tapped

Bright red phone in Portland's China Town.
--SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION ALERT--
Happy birthday to Crossmark Photo Blog! Been at it pretty much daily for one whole year. Wanna send me a present? If ya like what ya see, tell a friend and invite them to subscribe.

Shaded Palm

A small palm plant sits in silhouette at the Chinese Classical Garden in downtown Portland.

Garden Solace

An elderly Asian man rests in thought looking over still water at the Chinese Classical Garden in downtown Portland.

Unfortunately, my workplace is across the river. Otherwise, I think I'd spend every summer lunch hour at the garden--food for my body AND my soul.

Tetris Window

A labyrinth-like window frame at the Chinese Classical Garden in Portland's China Town. The familiar shapes take me back to memories of playing Tetris on the ol' Nintendo. (I'm dating myself here. Dare I confess to the Atari?)

Feathered Blue

Any birders out there? I was lucky enough to catch this guy on film, but I haven't a clue what kind of bird he is. Taken at the Chinese Classical Garden in downtown Portland--such a peaceful, natural oasis in the midst of urban glass and steel.

Swingin' High

Zack swings free and easy in the sunlight at Mt. Tabor in Portland. Been jealously trying out a borrowed 55-200 mm zoom lens. Gotta get me one!

For those who care, all the photos (so far) on this site are taken with a Canon Digital Rebel XTi. What a great camera! I swear that Canon owes me a commission. In the last year, I've had six friends/family (you know who you are) buy the XTi based on my recommendation. C'mon Canon, where's the love?

Pale Ale

Four bottles of Mirror Pond Pale Ale left behind at Mt. Tabor park, as if an intentional art display.

At 90-something degrees, the weather was a tad on the warmish side, but a beautiful day for the park.

Domed White

A skylight dome on the third floor of the Central Library in downtown Portland. Perfect setting for the free public concerts we've enjoyed there on Sunday afternoons.

One Man's Trash

Cardboard boxes pile up outside a shoe store down the street. Trash to most people, but hours of enjoyment for two little boys I know. We've been known to swipe a few boxes and build play houses, trains, or whatever their imagination makes of it at the moment. Free entertainment!

Organic Iron

Plant and floral motif preserved in iron. Funny how we take stark materials like stone and metal, then shape them to resemble living things. This column head can be found in Ankeny Square in Portland.

Lavender

Seems appropriate to post a delicate flower picture for Mother's Day. (Anyone know what kind of flower this is? Beats me.)

Our house sure is lucky to have an incredible woman like my wife. Mother of three, teacher of two, cook for all five, kisser of cheeks, healer of wounds, cleaner of messes, washer of clothes, all-around-keeps-the-house-running-glue-that-holds-our-family-together woman.

Yep. Pretty lucky.

Guilded Ceiling

Painted ceiling from Renaissance Room in the Governor Hotel--a hundred year-old schmancy place in downtown Portland.

Not So Fast

The speedometer on our van. No, I wasn't driving at the time. Just waiting in the parking lot with a kid in the backseat while dear wife was in the library. A perfect time to get the camera out and shoot! (Told ya--I never leave home without it! Okay, almost never.)

Bike Rack, Part III

Adding to my collection of bike rack photos.

Kitty Kitty

Looks fierce, doesn't he? He's actually very lovable. Neighbor's cat from way down the street.

Library Stitch

A stitched panorama of the Portland Central Library facade. Click the image for a larger view.

Boy in Blue

That's my boy, lost in playful thought. The thing in his hand is just a piece of cardboard, but in his endless vivid imagination, it becomes a hundred other things. He was frantic when he got home and realized he had left it at the park. Being the nice dad that I am, I drove him back to the park to retrieve it. Now life is good again.

Just Dandy

A dandelion prepared to launch seeds and spread a sea of yellow into nearby yards.

Doesn't it take you back to childhood? What kid can resist picking these guys and blowing the seeds to the wind?

Chess on the Square

An amiable game of chess at Pioneer Square in downtown Portland this past weekend. It's scenes like this that make Portland seem like such a quaint, friendly little town.

Colorful Convertibles

Toy cars lined up on display as if pulled in to watch a tiny drive-in movie.