Dad... I need pictures

It's been a long day and a certain young man needs to have his English project - embedded with photo's - finished before Wednesday. The first thing he asks for is a photo of a water fall. I immediately harken back to a rainy day on the Columbia River Gorge and a set of Falls I took pictures of...

Multnomah Falls - Oregon

Circa May 20th 2007, I awaken to Jim saying we have to stop. I have fallen asleep in the rain as we ride along the Oregon highways into Portland - returning from a Rail Fan trip. They are beautiful and splendiferous. I pull out my P-200 Pocket Camera adjust and shoot. This will be the last trip I am on without a digital SLR...(Of course these are infamous falls, Ansel Adams photographed them - you may have seen his iconic black and white capture?)

Brian Kleeman - Road America 

Then he says I need a picture of a fast car, can you look at those shots from Road America and give me one of Brian racing? Ahh Nephew Brian tearing up the track... fond memories... what else do you need? He runs the gambit - we lift a couple pictures from Brian's Fathers Facebook page. He's the guy that was driving me past those falls on top of the page.


How about that sunrise photo? Humm the one with the mountains? Circa late February 2010. Brother Jim, my enabler, and I off taking pictures of trains in the Mojave Desert. I have a digital SLR by now - and have begun to understand how to make it "Bark" (as I sometime say).

Pre dawn - Parker Arizona

I have to say little as we climb the rise and are greeted by this view, Jim and I have left before dawn to move into Parker to catch a little run train. "We" unanimously agree we are stopping NOW! You should have been there, this picture is great and it captures the essence of those moments... but pales in comparison to being there.


For all the grousing John is known to do when I have the camera pointed at him, it's nice to hear he would rather use "my" photo's or his uncle Jim's to do the project - it's so much more interesting. I will love hearing what his teacher has to say..."Now where did you get all these photos? Who took them? J.Kleeman?" (Jim and I have the same initial and last name...)


My parting shot... As I sifted thru the inventory in search of John's preferred shots I came across this. Taken last year on a walk downtown with my nephew Drew and his college friend "Henry." He wanted the tour and photo's of him as he enjoyed the sights...We were in search of the "Bright lights" and "Big City." 

"Henry" on the far right, a concerned pedestrian on the far left...(big camera concerns)

I think we got the shot for Henry...Michigan Avenue...
John got his too... I was glad I could use my portfolio as a resource for his project.