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

Catching up!

I meant to post about my two trips to Boise, and everything in between, but since I am so far behind, I am just going to do a brief coverage of the last few months.

This old house is one of my favorites from the New Meadows area in February,

 as is the solitary tree.

  Shoshone Falls was running really low,

 

This image might soon be for sale in the Capitol gift shop...

We took an early season walk to Snow Creek Falls on the edge of the Selkirk Range.

and hiked Mineral Ridge.

I spent several evenings photographing Lake Coeur d'Alene sunsets,

And this one after getting pummeled by a hailstorm...

From the foothills of the Coeur d'Alene Mountains...

Myrtle Creek near Bonners Ferry

One of my recent favorites is Beauty Creek

(yes, that's it's real name)

So, thats a brief run down on my shoots.

I am now being represented by Angel Gallery, here in Coeur d'Alene, and will have art in the Groove Studio in Bonners Ferry around the middle of May.

This steam train image made the final cut for exhibitions in

California and Australia. (the only two times I have submitted images to such events)

They both open this summer.

My new premium cards are available on my website,

in the gallery, and will be coming soon to select retailers around the region.

I donated Tugboat in the Mist

to the Au$um Auction benefitting the Coeur d'Alene Chamber, and held at the Coeur d'Alene Resort on May 1st.

I won the cover contest for the local phone book, that comes with a $500.00 gift card to the Coeur d'Alene Resort, so I might become a regular at Dockside over the next year.

This is NOT the winning image...just a shot of the Resort.

Until next  time....