Its time to get your best friend into the 'limelight'!
Check out the dog stock pages in the gallery.
A great place to learn to fly. Located in the 'SODO' district, south of downtown Seattle. Gary Kirkland and his associates have a great business located on Second Ave., in an old warehouse with all state of the art equipment - to teach all of the various aerial arts to both the young and the old.
Our neice and new husband begin lifes journey....
Please visit the 'Gallery' to view the day, with us
A shot from the previous Saturday's outting, at the leash free area on Lake Washington, made the Seattle Times........a great day for a dog and the endless supply of tennis balls.....
Check out the new "Dog Stock" pages in the gallery section of the site.
Well, as I'm reading the Seattle Times on Christmas morning, I find out to my suprise, I have made the list of the top 10 images of the year !! The great shot of the couple walking the beach as the sun is going down on the Oregon Coast- made the grade! Things like this just added to the joy of Christmas morning!!! This image is also already out in a panoramic card, as the cropping that was done to fit the image into the 'Times', cut things a little short on both ends!!
3 different images of mine will be on the "Four Seasons" 2009 calendar that is published by a Los Angeles graphics house. This will be in the stores in time for the holiday shopping season - so feel free buy one..........or maybe 2 or 3. The other two images are from the Pacific Northwest - the Skagit Valey Tulip fields, and the panoramic view of the Oregon Coast from Ecola State Park, just north of Cannon Beach Oregon.
One of the major card lines that I work with is using another image of mine, and again, its a 4 'legged' friend - at a trials final. The "master" is in full control of his dog - and they're ready to go.
Le Vieux Carre
Copyright Tom Guffey - All rights reserved.
The French Quarter
Experience everything you've ever imagined and then some. Mardi Gras - New Orleans!
Start your day with beignets and café au lait at the Café Du Monde, down by the French Market. This all started way back in 1862, and the bad habits of deep fried pastry and coffee still prevail today. The people watching in this area, c'est extraordinaire! Mimes perform out front and just across the street in Jackson Square. The Handsom Cabs with the really big mules are just across the street, and a ride through the Quarter can be a memory that will last a lifetime.
You should have your camera out, loaded and ready to go. A wide-angle lens will handle the close-ups of the mimes and the architecture. If you spend a dollar or two, you can get some wonderful shots of the mimes as they go through their program. Money well spent!
You'll be in the neighborhood of the Saint Louis Cathedral, and the very photographic Jackson Square. A great spot is Pirates Alley, just behind the Cathedral - the colors of the old area are wonderful, and the area is never busy with tourists. Photo Op!
By now, it's time for a mid-day break, a breather for your feet, and a cool drink. Take in Pat O'Brien's for a world famous Hurricane. The establishment has three different rooms, and the outside Fire Fountain is the spot for a few cool ones and a photo or two. Don't have too many, as the day is still young, and the remaining "Kodak Moments" are in the hundreds.
As you progress though the city, one mandatory stop is the Central Grocery. It is one of a handful of true Italian delis still left in the city. They serve up a great sandwich called a Muffuletta. It's kind of a southern style Italian Sub sandwich that is to kill for! If you're still hungry after this sandwich, you're way overweight! While you're in this neighborhood, the photo opportunities are everywhere. Just take a seat on a bench and see what passes by. You'll truly be surprised by what you see in this city.
One of the stops while touring the city is the St. Louis Cemetery. All the graves are above ground, and the architecture ranges from very plain to somewhat extraordinary. This cemetery was opened in 1854 and still has a waiting list to get a resting place within the walls! Don't visit by yourself, go in a group. It isn't as safe as it looks, even in full daylight.
Another wonderful place for a memorable meal is The Court of Two Sisters on Royal Street. The Sunday morning brunch is the best I have ever had - no exceptions! Have your photo taken in the garden, after breakfast, as the flowers are in bloom. The courtyard dates back over 100 years. Take your time in that neighborhood, as there are many exceptional homes for you to photograph.
The trip wouldn't be complete without a walk down Bourbon Street and Royal Street in the Quarter. The evening can be somewhat wild, so a pricey camera may not be a good idea for the late night stroll. Take in the sights and go back during the daylight hours for shots of the locals and the activities.
If you have time for a day trip out of the city, follow the mighty Mississippi out of town and visit the restored plantations between New Orleans and Baton Rouge. The signage is somewhat lacking, so don't get lost - we did! The best of the lot are the Oak Alley Plantation and Laura's Plantation. The colors are wonderful! Be sure to have a wide-angle lens with you to take in the trees and foreground for these shots.
New Orleans wouldn't be complete without the sounds of Blues, Jazz, and Zydeco music. You should try to take in a number of the local establishments, including: Preservation Hall, The House of Blues, the Maple Leaf Bar and last but not least, Mulate's for the wonderful Zydeco music - the rhythm of many of the local Parrish's!
Finally, you want to take the St. Charles Streetcar for a ride out of the city and into the Garden District. Slow and simple. The homes and the photo opportunities are everywhere. The older, restored homes take you back into the 1800's, and most of the restorations have been truly wonderful. You feel like you've been taken back in time!
Mardi Gras is a 6 to 8 week festival that begins with the weekends before Ash Wednesday and ends with the main parade on the Tuesday before Lent - Fat Tuesday! There are 3 to 4 parades a day through the Quarter and the surrounding neighborhoods. It's party time for the whole city.
If I had to do it over again, the only thing I would change is my airline ticket, staying for at least two weeks! Take your time and take in ALL of New Orleans!
Equipment: Take your normal body and multiple wide-angle lenses: 16-35 and 28-70 will work very well if you have them. Also a 70-200 medium telephoto will come in handy. A monopod will help if you have one, but you'll never be able to use a tripod so don't take it. Make sure you have a polarizing filter, as well as an enhancing filter.
This is one trip that everyone should do during his or her lifetime!
