Quilly Unshuttered

Life Through My Lens
  • .: Welcome :.

    I believe in approaching life with humor. I mean, there's no point in taking it too seriously, it's not like we're going to get out alive. So step inside and prepare to laugh...
  • Friday Harbor

  • #252 Storm Coaster

    Posted By on August 6, 2009

    Sky Watch

    When the skies come down to watch us!

    Storm Coaster

    Seagull and storm clouds, Port Renfrew, Vancouver Island, B.C.

    We spent three days camping with these clouds, but even in the rain this little part of God’s creation is stunningly beautiful.  The world was monochrome.  I shot this picture in full living color.  The trees are not green because the sun was soon to set and the clouds and rain had washed the landscape of all color.

    Photographer: Charlene L. Amsden
    Go and check out more Skywatch images at the Skywatch Site!

    #251 Salmonberry

    Posted By on August 5, 2009

    Berry Soon Now

    Unripened Salmon Berry. Friday Harbor Labs, San Juan Island, Washington State.

    Rubus spectabilis are native to the west coast of the United States from Alaska to California. They look much like a raspberry, but are less robust in flavor. They are good eaten raw and can be preserved, but taste best when mixed with another fruit for jams or jellies. Like Raspberries, Salmonberries are very seedy.

    photographer: Charlene L. Amsden

    #250 Wild Rose

    Posted By on August 5, 2009

    Wild Rose

    Wild Rose on Cantilever Point, Friday Harbor, WA. San Juan Islands.

    Wild roses grow in Asia, Europe and North America.   It is a deciduous shrub and grows up to 4 feet tall.  The fruit of the wild rose — rose hips — can be harvested for jams, jellies teas and even wine.  Rose hip soup, nyponsoppa, is very popular in Sweden.

    photographer: Charlene L. Amsden

    #249 — Textures

    Posted By on August 2, 2009

    Textures

    Sign Post & Wild Grasses. Lime Kiln Park, San Juan Island, Washington State.

    This weathered post secured to a chunk of rusting metal is surrounded by what I believe is wild rye grass.  The different textures, colors, and the patterns of sun and shadow called to me.

    photographer: Charlene L. Amsden

    #248 Hard-n-Soft

    Posted By on August 1, 2009

    Hard n Soft

    Hard n Soft, 2009

    Rocks & Feathers. Fourth of July Beach, San Juan Island, Washington State.

    If you’re looking for a sandy beach, don’t look around the shore line of San Juan Island.   The trees sweep down to the sea and the beaches are mostly rocks and driftwood, though patches of sand can be found.  Despite the lack of pristine sand, the beaches of San Juan Island have their own wild beauty.  If you have a discerning eye, you’ll spot it effortlessly.

    © Charlene L. Amsden, photographer
    Two 4 Tuesday participant

    #247 Surf’s Up

    Posted By on July 26, 2009

    Surf's Up

    Wind, surf and sea off Waikiki. Queen Kapiolani Park, Honolulu, HI.

    Waikiki — what vacationer doesn’t dream of surfing there?  On this particular day the waves were up, the wind was high and the sun was shining.  I sat on the seawall in Queen Kapiolani Park with my 200 mm lens and shot surfing scenes for about an hour.  The sea was the same amazing turquoise color seen in the tourism brochures.

    © Charlene L. Amsden, photographer

    #246 — Lamb's Tail

    Posted By on July 16, 2009

    Fuschia Tuft

    Lamb’s Tail, taken at the Anacortes Ferry Terminal, Anacortes, WA.

    The delicate, feather like fronds of this beauty caught my eye.  I snapped the photograph not knowing what it was, but luckily I live with a card carrying botanist and — though he didn’t know what it was, either — he knew where to go to discover it’s name.  This is Ptilotus Exaltatus Joey.  He is a native Australian, loves hot, dry Summers and stays fresh and perky for up to three months when picked and kept in a vase.  I know Joey is a bit flashy for a fella, but he’s definitely the fella for me!

    Charlene L. Amsden, photographer

    #245 — Cormorant Condo

    Posted By on July 15, 2009

    Cormorant Condo 2009.
    Photo taken at the Anacortes Ferry Terminal, Anacortes, WA. from the back of an outbound ferry.

    One of the best pieces of advice I have been given as an amateur photographer is, “be sure to turn around and look behind you”.   This sight doesn’t present itself to the forward facing passenger on the outbound journey.  Had I not decided to turn around and look over my shoulder as the ferry was leaving port, I would have missed it completely.

    #244 — San Juan Sunset

    Posted By on July 14, 2009

    San Juan Sunset 2009.
    Photo taken from the deck of a Washington State Ferry on Puget Sound.

    The natural beauty of Puget Sound is a balm to my soul. There is a peace and a quiet that settles inside me there.  I have vacationed there twice and I think it is a place I could happily live.

    #243 — Cowbird

    Posted By on July 13, 2009

    Cowbird 2009.  Photo taken somewhere in Central Washington.

    I’d parked the rental car in a rest area between Ellensburg and Moses Lake, Washington and got out to stretch my legs. I walked around for a bit, read the tourist info signs, and then returned to my car.   This cowbird swooped down, landed about 6 feet from me and started chewing me out.  I have no idea what my sin was, but I compounded it by hanging around long enough to take several photos of her in full tirade.