We worked hard on Saturday at making the most of the waning summer.

Credit and thanks to Lindsey for the shots of the billiard ball and the kayaking shot at the top.

In late December, my wife and I had the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes tour of the King Street Station Restoration project and a trip up the clock tower. My father-in-law, who works with Sellen Construction, the project contractor that generously allowed for the tour, invited us down for this exclusive opportunity. We had the time so we did just that, with camera in hand, excited to see what this whole project was about and to hopefully have a look from the clock tower balcony.

I'd been by and to King Street Station a number of times prior to this - usually from the outside though, when getting on or off a Sounder train or catching a bus on 4th Ave (see the crazy picture below, taken a couple years ago when I was bored waiting for a bus) - and aside from a general appreciation of the building as a whole, never really looked at it too closely. The time or two I went inside I didn't study it too much. I don't remember the marble. Or the intricate plaster. Going about your business sometimes leaves little room for appreciating where you're at. You're too focused on the fact that it's 4:03 PM and the train leaves at 4:07 PM and you've still gotta go down a block, across the street, down the stairs, and into an open car. 

That's why I like carrying a camera around - I look at the world differently when I have one in my hand. The camera can capture what you're seeing and preserve it. Simply knowing this is possible makes me feel a responsibility to do it. And that makes me look and see. Or to at least try. This time, the station was our destination, not just a waypoint, and touring it was the focus of our trip, not catching a train. 

We arrived a little early so we walked uptown to Pike Place Market and killed some time there. Smelled the flowers. Tasted some samples. Bought some fish and crab legs from these guys. And got a free mini doughnut with a coffee for the return trip. The clock tower greeted us amidst the hustle and bustle of construction activities when we got back. 

Hadn't been to the Woodland Park Zoo in awhile. Maybe since elementary school. It seems like many of the exhibits have been remodeled or renovated since then, but it could be I just don't remember those details. We got the discounted winter rates, and animal activity. Not much, that is to say. I think everyone and everything was just trying to stay warm. Lots of huddling in little corners and such. The Pacific Blue Chowder house served us some clam chowder that really hit the spot, along with a complimentary fry. That was a little bingo.

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In Deadwater Slough, off the Snohomish River near Everett, WA, there's an old abandoned boat. It's been there for years, isn't unknown, and apparently might be there for awhile. It's been on the back of my mind to take pictures of it since I first noticed it several years ago. I had some free time this past weekend to go out shooting with one of my nephews, so we settled on this and I started mapping out how we might get access to it. As it turns out, just north of where the slough joins the Snohomish, there's a little park called Spencer Island Park. Maybe standing on the south tip of the island would get us close enough for a telephoto lens? ... Wait, what's this park all about now? Maybe it'd be worth checking out. Plus, no mapping and brush-busting necessary. And it wouldn't be a problem for the family either so my little girl could get some fresh air. Talked myself right into it. We headed out just before dusk. The abandoned boat at Deadwater Slough would be tabled yet again.

As the tide came in, the sun set, and the temperature dropped, we walked along the main trail and watched for birds and signs of other wildlife. There were mostly ducks and herons, lots of them. For being so near the city, the setting also offered some neat wetland reflections and landscapes. And although it wasn't totally serene (there were some funny smells that we chalked up the saltwater and there were other folks about), it was something to explore. If we didn't get any startling imagery, we at least found a new place to take a stroll. That's something, isn't it?

It's fun dusting off the old albums, albeit digital ones, and uncovering long forgotten photos. In this scene some buddies of mine had rented mopeds in Seaside, OR and were causing a bit of a ruckus about the town. I heard them coming as I was strolling around so I got my little Canon point-and-shoot ready and when they stopped at the intersection I snapped a quick shot. The sun's rays were shining down on them as if they were in the spotlight when they stopped - which they, of course, thought they were in - and that with the black-and-white adds a nice touch to this street scene snapshot.  To add some additional vibrance and character, I post-processed to enhance the contrast, tones, and added a lomo effect with a vignette.

My wife, daughter, and I went on a day trip to Edmonds, WA to celebrate the Presidents Day holiday. I was able to capture a few neat pictures of a seagull, the beach, and street views of the architecture while we enjoyed the waterfront and strolled around downtown.