Pilings or No Pilings?

~A Photographers Perspective~
As controversy and litigation surround the removal of pilings on Cougar Bay, of Lake Coeur d'Alene; fighting over Osprey habitat and motorboats, of which I thought I had no opinion....my thoughts turn to all the photographs I have taken over the years in our piling filled bays.



Silver Solitude (Cougar Bay)



Wolf Lodge Sunset



Cougar Bay Shallows



How those same pilings have acted as interest elements in my compositions, artistic silhouettes,
leading lines and abstract patterns.



Dusk on Cougar Bay

These are just a few photos of the "soon to be gone" pilings.

Cougar Bay Abstract









Spokane River Twilight




On occasion I've found them annoying too, but not for the same reasons of current controversy.

  

Spokane River Sunset

Ice on Cougar Bay

Yesterday I returned to a favorite photo haunt to discover the absence of my favorite weathered pilings that jutted from the bay.

Remnants of a Bygone Era-Cougar Bay

I'm sure it seems odd that anyone would have favorite pieces of ragged,
protruding wood in a lake, but I did.
They were the ones in the photo below.



Tugboat in the mist hangs as 6 ft. Canvas
in the Kootenai Cancer Center (Post Falls)
and a 3 ft. print in the Federal Building, Cd'A



On a nearby dock stood the CDA press photographer waiting for a ride on a tugboat, to shoot for todays

CDA Press story on the issue.



Twin Silhouettes



As the boat transported him out to the working equipment,
I photographed the tug passing that very spot again and realized in an instant that the whole scene had lost something vital from a photographic standpoint.


 I watched from a distance with a bit of sadness,
the removal process, as equipment pushed over one piling at a time,
and then plucked it from the depths.

Without me even realizing it, these pilings have been a reminder of the history of our region and a
connection to the past.


Silver Dawn- Cougar Bay



They've added character, and intrigue.
Just my little tribute to something I think I am actually going to miss.

Spokane River Pilings

Whitefish and More....

Last time I posted, I was feeling cheated out of fall colors, but luckily, not all was lost of the autumn season. The tamaracks cooperated and I did find a few tucked away patches of color that had been spared the freezing temps.

 

In mid October I traveled to Whitefish, Montana to take my beautiful nieces' senior photos. Not my usual type of photography, it was a very sucessful shoot, and I enjoyed the scenery tremendously. Driving by Flathead Lake, the water was glassy calm and covered in a combination of smoke and clouds that gave a surreal appearance.

The snowcapped Mission Mountains were stunningly beautiful...

In the pre-dawn light we happened upon the historic Southern Pacific Daylight 4449 at the Whitefish station. On its return to Portland, Oregon after a cross country excursion, I had no idea of it's significance until looking it up when I got home.

We used this old truck as a prop in some of the senoir photos,

but it has also turned into a popular art print.

A new item I've been trying out are desktop wallpapers

 ...there are about 12 of them so far.

Some better than others.

You may check them out and download for free.

The gallery password is 449fans (I had 449 facebook fans when I first posted them)

You can follow me on facebook for the fasting postings of recent images.

Here are a few of my beautiful niece Kaitlyn, who made it way too easy to take good photos.

I do plan on taking clients in the Coeur d'Alene area for the class of 2011 - starting summer 2010.  Watch for info on my website coming in spring if you know anyone who would be interested. I plan on being very competitive and offering a unique senoir package.

Hoping to post again soon with some other news and photos...I know I have gotten way behind.. Have great Thanksgiving!