That's not an ice rink. I think it's the top of my car. Tops of cars make for good makeshift tripods in a pinch. This is the last of my series of 36 Views of South Waterfront. Maybe I'll start another series of 36 Views of something else someday. I'll add it to my never-ending to do list. Turns out the new captain on 21 Jump Street as of episode 8 or so is Mr. X from The X-Files. Can't figure out how that's related? Read this post. It just so happens that the last time I was catching up on old episodes of 21 Jump Street was also the last time I posted images in this series. Go figure. I just started re-watching 21 Jump Street. You know how when you remember the 80s, it seems like the whole decade is a caricature of itself? Turns out, the 80s really were that ridiculous, and the early 90s weren't much better. "Graffiti art is all the rage now, sir." The thing that's been getting me most about the unfortunate fashion choices are the wildly mismatched earrings—one reasonably small earring one one ear, and one large dangling-past-the-shoulders earring on the other ear. It seems like it would be hard to keep your head upright. Luckily, a few episodes into the series, the show stopped taking itself nearly so seriously, and it's a little less painful to watch, plot-wise anyway. The clothes would still feel quite at home in the above photograph, number 32 in my 36 Views of South Waterfront series. Click on any photo for a slide show of the series so far. "Very smooth routine, Gilmore. Very smooth." Johnny Depp is currently hitting on a woman who just said, "Welcome to the 80s." Oh, snap. Now he has to pretend to be a student in her class. "Van Halen, dude! The man knows his music!" There's a 21 Jump Street movie coming out soon. I'm a little worried about it. The original series might be in that precarious state of being—perfect for its time, but not good enough to withstand a re-make, especially in movie format. "I didn't figure you for a Twisted Sister fan."
The Portland Aerial Tram recently celebrated its 5th year, just in time for a couple of tram shots in my 36 Views of South Waterfront series. This one, #30, is from the waiting area, and #28 was taken from inside the tram itself (as was #27 from the last post).
This series was also featured on the:
How 'bout that? Also, I just learned, the two tram cars are named Walt and Jean. How 'bout that?
Only six more photographs until the series is complete. Click on any photo above for a slide show.
Late in the day, when the sun sinks low over the west hills, the seemingly infinite windows of the glass-laden buildings of South Waterfront pick up reflections of clouds and sky. Walking home the other day, I saw some beautiful purples and pinks, and immediately grabbed my camera and made my way to the east side of the river to catch the sunset. I missed it, but was able to practice some of my night photography, and later my HDR skills. These are #25, #26, and #27 of my 36 Views of South Waterfront series. That last one was taken from inside the Portland Aerial Tram itself! Enjoy all these Wikipedia links, for now, anyway.
Sometimes, when I see large buildings like this, I think to myself that it's a pity there can only be two sides of any given apartment with windows. And some must have only one side.
These windows are of course made more magnificent by their floor-to-ceiling nature, but they still only allow for light from one side, or two if you happen to be in a corner unit. So, then I picture a single unit occupying an entire floor. Four sides of floor-to-ceiling windows! What luxury! Natural light from all sides! All the time! But—where would I put my books? Bookshelves need walls to rest against. You can't just go putting a bookshelf in front of a window. And—where would I hang my art? The creative minds of the world create so much wall-worthy art that I can barely frame it fast enough. Maybe I don't need so many windows.
Now that I have more megapixels at my disposal, and several new editing programs, and a faster computer, and faster internet, I wonder if all of these posts about my South Waterfront buildings so patiently waiting in my queue are going to disappoint me.
Probably. But there's nothing quite as satisfying as looking back at a photograph you thought was amazing, and realizing that it's nowhere near as good as you're eventually going to get. I present views #19, #20, and #21. At this point in my quest, I have left the traffic and actually parked in the neighborhood. These shots are from walking around. I originally wanted to get some good shots from the tram, but the tram shots weren't nearly as interesting as the ones I got from the ground. The rest will be posted soon, in groups of 3, until we get to see all 36 Views of South Waterfront, together at last. _If blood will flow When flesh and steel are one Drying in the color Of the evening sun Tomorrow's rain Will wash the stains away But something in our minds Will always stay Perhaps this final act was meant To clinch a lifetime's argument That nothing comes from violence And nothing ever could For all those born Beneath an angry star Lest we forget how fragile we are On and on the rain will fall Like tears from a star Like tears from a star On and on the rain will say How fragile we are How fragile we are On and on the rain will fall Like tears from a star Like tears from a star On and on the rain will say How fragile we are How fragile we are How fragile we are How fragile we are "Fragile" by Sting Installments 16-18 in my 36 Views of South Waterfront series.
Numbers 13, 14, and 15. I know there are no actual buildings present in number 15, but I was trying to get the buildings (without looking), and I did get the power lines and some lovely sky.
Plans to shoot from the tram have not yet come to fruition, but at some point this week I'm sure we'll have promising enough weather around sunset to be tram-worthy. I am quite pleased with how these are shaping up as a collection. Click on any photo below to get a slide-show-type view of the series thus far.
Lots of power lines coming up... Also lots of not-looking-while-shooting coming up. That method seems to be successful enough to continue trying.
I've been waiting for a good day to take the tram up the hill, so I can get some overhead shots of these buildings. Today may be the day. It's been sunny off and on, so I might get good sunset colors with interesting cloud formations in the background. If it all goes well, you'll see the results in the 36 Views category soon. Until then, I debut numbers Ten, Eleven, and Twelve. I only have about a week left of driving past this cluster of buildings every day (at least for a while) but I don't think I'll ever be done with them. As the above photo represents #9 of pretty good shots I've taken from my car during my commute, I thought I'd go for a full 36 in tribute to Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai. Hokusai's Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji are his most well-known collection, and the first print in the series is The Great Wave Off Kanagawa. I had been contemplating this 36 Views of South Waterfront thing for a while (as evidenced by this post), but in light of recent events in Japan, it seems all the more apropos. These two below (#6 and #9) were taken from nearly the same spot in traffic, just a few days apart, but the difference in color is apparent. One of the things I love about this collection of buildings is that they appear to be a different color every time I pass them. The weather and the time of day do so much to change their reflective facades. Number 7 and Number 8 above were taken not while stuck in traffic, but still while in my car. I was zooming across the Ross Island Bridge and I held my camera at arm's length toward the passenger side window and clicked randomly. Most of the shots I tried that with were not worth the effort, but these two were interesting enough. |
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