Mt. Rainier

We spent our last day in Seattle driving down to see the magnificent Mt. Rainier. Here are just a few of the shots I took today.


The top of the mountain was in clouds as rain was rolling in.



My favorite shot of the day... Narada Falls.

Red-eye flight to Cleveland, here we come!

Seattle by Air

Well, not really by air, but this post has an air theme.

We started Tuesday by heading to the Boeing plant for a tour. On the tour you are not allowed to take cameras, purses, cell phones, etc. So take our word for it, the tour was cool.

After the tour we shot some pictures from areas where pictures were permitted. This is the newest plane that is in production by Boeing - the Dreamliner.


The Dreamliner body is made of composite materials - not chunks of aluminum riveted together. The plane will be lighter than an aluminum aircraft and much more fuel efficient.

Boeing has 4 planes that they use to fly in the major components for the Dreamliner for assembly. They call these planes the DreamLifter.


This is the assembly building that we got to go into to tour. By volume, it is the largest building in the world. According to our tour guide, Disneyland (in California) could fit inside this building.


The second part of our day we spent at the Space Needle.



Here is a view from the observation deck of the Space Needle.


Another view - this is where we took pictures from when we were on the water.


After returning back to Earth, we walked over to watch the kids (and adults) play in the Seattle International Fountain.


One last shot of the fountain and the Space Needle.

Seattle by Water

On Monday, we received an awesome tour of Seattle on a ski boat. I noticed there are a lot of areas of Seattle by the water that look a lot like San Francisco on a smaller scale.


Here is a shot of Husky Stadium.


And the Space Needle...


We had a few "ducks" crossing in front of us. These are the "duck tour" buses that give passengers a land and water tour.


A view of the city. Note it was about noon when I shot this picture and in the 90's and very hazy. Not the best conditions for landscape photography.


A sea plane taking off. You can do a 20 minute sea plane ride for $87.


Heading away from the city. You can see how far the space needle is from the rest of the skyscrapers.


Another duck. This one hung out on the swim platform while we drifted and relaxed for a while.


Our gracious hosts - Lisa and Bret. Thanks again! We had a great time with you.

Sunday in Seattle

Lot's of pictures, so let's get right to it! Sunday morning, Diane and I went down to Pike's Market.







After the market, we walked down to the ballpark again. Shot a few pictures along the way.



Stopped for lunch at the Pyramid Alehouse


Then back to Safeco.



Here is Grady Sizemore stepping on the plate after hitting his 20th leadoff homerun of his career (A Cleveland Indians Record)


We bought seats high up and in the shade. Here is a peek inside of Qwest Field where the Seahawks Play.


Here are a few of the dudes from the grounds crew bustin' a move.


Here is something Diane can't get at home. ShishkaBerry's.



The Indians running the bases after a Jhonny Peralta Grand Slam.


And the final score... Indians sweep the series!

Safeco Field: Mariners vs. Indians

Plane tickets from Cleveland to Seattle... $425.00 (buy one get one free).

Box seats near first base at Safeco Field... $175 (for two).



Cold draft beer... $8.00 each (times 3)


Seeing the hurting Indians beat up on another team on the road... Priceless!


Safeco is a really nice ballpark. Not much leg room in the seats. We almost had more room on the airplane. The game was all Indians. The Indians were leading 10-0 heading into the bottom of the 9th. Seattle scored 3 to avoid the shut out.

Here are a few more pictures:

Obligitory self-portrait:


Katie the ball girl:


Me with Katie the ball girl:


Me relaxing (for my photographer buddy Sara Alston):


Final Score:

Lil' Lily

Lil' Lily and her Mom dropped by last week to get some pictures done of Lily for her 1st birthday that is coming up this weekend. Doesn't she look adorable with her hat?




Mom tried putting her in the tub, and this is how Lily felt about that!



This was my favorite part - Mommy getting Lily to blow "raspberries!"



Mommy Carole with Lily...




Thanks Carole for coming by! It was great working with you and your little girl!

Pam is Cooking!

Back in June, I flew into Nashville to do a photo shoot for a very special lady. Pam Linton is becoming a dear friend to me and I have known her "on line" for a year or so updating her site for her and her husband, performers "Sherwin and Pam Linton". I am helping Pam out with their website: http://www.sherwinlinton.com/

I met Pam through her sister, Brittany Allyn, who is one of my closest friends and I have been her webmaster for her website for many years.

Pam just completed a cookbook which I was honored to shoot the pictures for. This is how the back and front cover of the cookbook turned out.


As well as shooting the pictures for the cookbook, I also shot a few promo shots for Pam.







I also got a shot in with Pam and her niece Lydia. Lydia is featured on the cover in the shot above. Lydia is a very nice young lady and a joy to be around.


Pam - Thanks for the opportunity to be a part of your project. I am honored that you included me. You're cooking!

Garage Update - Thank You Daddy!

My Pop stopped by for a couple of days in June to work on a project for me. I wanted some heavy duty shelves built in my garage. I wanted them high enough to go around my lawn mower and my toolbox, and I also wanted to utilize the wasted space above the garage door track. This is what my dad was able to come up with in a matter of hours.


And here is how the shelving looks in action. My Dad did a great job on this project as he always does. Thank you Daddy!

Note - I shot the pictures from the corner of the garage - that is why the perspective is way off on these shots.

Allison's Baby Bo!

Allison stopped by a few weeks ago for some maternity portraits.


Here is big brother Dash getting in on the action.



We went outside to get a few shots.


One shot with the fish-eye lens.


The whole fam-damily. Daddy Scott, Mommy Allison and big brother Dash.


Baby Bo Alexander was born on July 1st. Congratulations Allison and Scott and may God bless baby Bo!

Tracy Nicole Back Again!

It has been a while since I blogged, but I am back!

The beautiful and lovely Tracy Nicole returned this past Father's Day for another photo shoot.




Tracy was sporting some new ink since the last time we shot together.










And since it was Father's Day, Tracy's Dad and Mom came along. Notice the "Mom & Pops" tattoo on her shoulder.


Wonderful seeing you again Tracy!