PhotographersDirect.com

I recently signed up for PhotographersDirect.com and as I casually scanned the daily requests I saw a request for images from Snohomish County, WA for a phone book cover.

I had not yet uploaded any photos to the site so quickly reviewed their requirements and specs and uploaded 4 pictures I thought might be appropriate.

There were already other submittals, a total of 54 I think, but the next day I got a notification that my picture had been selected. It is the picture in this entry, taken the same day as the entry a few posts below this.

What a thrill! I'm sure it's not the norm to list and sell so quickly, on any site, but it was encouraging. The site rates all photos and this one got a "7" - Good, but one of the others got an "8" - Outstanding. Now I need to work on a "9"- WOW from PhotographersDirect.

I have uploaded a few more pictures and responded to one other inquiry. At this point I can highly recommend PhotographersDirect.com to photographers and for those seeking pictures. It is a great model - large database of photos as well as the ability to submit specific requests.

It is amazing to be linked up with a buyer in Snohomish - 15 miles away, via England - the world is very small.

2007 Kitsap Peninsula Visitor Guide

The 2007 Kitsap Peninsula Visitor Guide is now available. You can get the full PDF version from VisitKitsap.com or download it HERE. If you'd like a hard copy e-mail KC or give her a call at 360.297.8200 and she'll send you one.

Why am I posting this? You guessed it - the cover photos and most of the photos in the guide are mine. Of course it doesn't hurt that my "other" job involves putting together the annual Visitor Guide along with the help of Visitor Guide Publications. They actually do it - but I supply copy and pictures.

It's fun putting the guide together; selecting pictures and putting familiar faces here and there; relatives, friends and even the dogs have made the pages of the Visitor Guide. Lower right of the cover is the mother fox that visited our yard last summer!

OK, on behalf of my "other" job - You really should come and Visit Kitsap - a ferry ride from Seattle - just far enough to get away.

Genuine Kitsap Lavender Website

Genuine Kitsap Lavender - grown on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State is the new premium lavender.

Check out the new website: LavenderKitsap.com for all the reasons and information on the first Kitsap Lavender Market to be held this summer; July 21-22 in Port Gamble, Washington.

Why is this posted here? You guessed it - the lavender picture currently on the site is from KitsapImages.com, plus I love lavender.

The Key Peninsula

The Key Peninsula, a smaller peninsula off the Kitsap Peninsula is about 65 square miles at high tide but 75 square miles at low tide.

On this visit is was a full 75 square miles - or at least close. The tide was low and this boat was waiting for the return.

It was supposed to be a rainy day but I had work reasons to head for the Gig Harbor area and as we drove south the weather cleared, or did we just leave the rain? Either way it turned into a wonderful day with enough overcast to allow for good photo opportunities.

Once again I am reminded to never stay home or postpone a photo trip because of weather. The weather can change or the "weather" photos can be great.

Quinault Ferry

The Quinault ferry, one of the Washington State Ferry fleet, was built in 1927 and is one of the older boats still being used.

The name is from the Quinault language: "river with a lake in the middle." It refers to both the river and lake on the Olympic Peninsula.

This boat is usually not on my regular routes but has been substituting on the Kingston/Edmonds run recently and it is great to have it in the mid sound. Just riding on the Quinault takes you back to a slower, more relaxed time. Traveling by ferry is always relaxing for me but the Quinault has more wood, quaint seating areas and is a joy to ride on.

I have more pictures of the Quinault and the Evergreen State - both ferries not usually in the mid sound, as well as the bigger, regular ferries in the ferry gallery and some in the city galleries. Use the search feature on KitsapImages for more than 100 ferry photos.

Mukilteo Lighthouse

I stopped at the Mukilteo lighthouse on the way to a meeting recently. It was mid day so not the best time for photos but with the overcast skies I was happy with the pictures.

I loved the daffodils and stayed around to watch ferries come and go so I catch them in the pictures.

After the meeting I again took the waterfront route and took a few more pictures plus some of the ferries. You'll find several more photos in the Mukilteo gallery and the ferry gallery on KitsapImages.com.

Totem Poles at Little Boston, Port Gamble S'Klallam Reservation

Visiting the Port Gamble S'Klallam Reservation is well worth the trip to see the various totem poles, carvings and native paintings.

Little Boston is located at the north end of the Kitsap Peninsula, north on the Hansville Road from HWY 104.

At the entrance to the reservation you'll be greeted by the first totem pole. Turn left and contine on in to Little Boston on the Port Gamble S'Klallam Reservation.

The House of Knowledge, at the heart of the reservation, is a beautiful campus of buildings worth visiting for the unique architechture and design as well as several totem poles and other carvings and paintings.

The totem in the picture stands in the cemetery across the road from the House of Knowledge on the water. The totem was carved by David Boxley who lives nearby and is an internationally recognized Northwest Coast Native artist and culture bearer.

From the cemetery you can look across Gamble Bay at the historic logging town of Port Gamble - another interesting photo destination.

The best time to photograph the totem poles is in the late afternoon when the sun shines back across Gamble Bay on Little Boston. However, the best time to take pictures across the bay toward Port Gamble is in the morning when there is light on most of Port Gamble including the New England style church. From various points on the reservation you will get spectacular views of Port Gamble, the Hood Canal Bridge and the Olympic Mountains as well as wildlife and boating activity.

Our eagles are back!

It's Spring, well almost. We've had some warm weather, the crocus and daffodils are up and I mowed the lawn for the first time last weekend.

Officially Spring is a few weeks away but our eagles are back! We always have some eagles around but some definitely leave for the true Winter months.

This year I think we have a new pair. Perhaps some that were displaced by the December wind storm looking for a new nest location, or perhaps it's a young pair setting up house for the first time but I am seeing more activity and different activity than in the past.

The pair are doing a lot of chasing and calling which isn't unusual but they are centering on the property next door which is heavily wooded and hopefully has potential for a nest. I haven't seen the eagles spend so much time centered on this area before so I am watching with great interest.

When we first moved here 11+ years ago we saw an eagle now and then but the last few years we have had daily visits by multiple eagles of varying ages. Last year, as best we could tell, there were two local pairs, one immature eagle plus a baby that could be seen daily and others that passed by occasionally.

Hopefully all will be back and it will be another great season of eagle watching and photo taking. I have quite a few pictures of our local eagles on www.KitsapImages.com in the "birds" gallery.

Cormorant

I couldn't leave the blog this morning with a post of a screen capture of another website, even if it recognized Kitsap Images.

I thought this green eyed beauty was more appropriate. Cormorants dive for food and then seem to spend a disproportionate amount of time drying their wings.

This cormorant was in Poulsbo enjoying the morning light. I loved the beautiful green eye caught in the sunlight.
For today, I'll leave you with this happy view - lots more birds on the website!

Kitsap Economic Development Alliance

Kitsap Images is recognized as a successful new local business in Kitsap County.

The Kitsap Economic Development Council (now Alliance) website has several Kitsap Images photos throughout the site(the adult & child on the beach - far left is one).

Kitsap Images is recognized in their "the Kitsap connection" section with the following:

KitsapImages.com started out of necessity. The Kitsap Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau had a new website and needed photos; lots of photos but had no budget to buy them. Requests went out to local photographers to "donate" photos for the site with limited success.

Jean Boyle, Director of Tourism Development had always taken photos, but not professionally. She started taking photos for the website with a small digital camera and several hundred photos later the website was complete, although it continues to change and grow.

Local businesses and organizations started to ask for use of the photos. For a while all requests were freely honored but equipment upgrades and photography classes became more expensive and KitsapImages.com was created.

KitsapImages.com started as a local Kitsap stock photography website which is still the core of the collection but the site has grown to include other areas of Washington State and more generic stock photography. KitsapImages.com has now sold pictures to many local businesses, chambers of commerce and organizations as well as appearing in regional magazines, Puget Sound Clean Air Calendar, the Washington State tourism website and 2007 Visitor Guide and more.

The Kitsap Peninsula Visitor & Convention Bureau continues to use KitsapImages.com photos at no cost and the cost to others remains low by industry standards but from necessity a strong, new local business is finding success.

Jean Boyle is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association.

Port Gamble in Winter

It started snowing the last day of February and we all awoke March 1st to a winter wonderland; beautiful fluffy snow and bright blue skies.

This is a morning shot of the Walker-Ames House in the historic town of Port Gamble. The statuesque house faces east and glows in the morning light.

The typical angle would show the house high on the hill with nothing in the foreground, especially blocking the house. You can find several of the more typical composition in my Port Gamble gallery, including some taken this same day.

With the light covering of snow on the tree I enjoyed viewing the house through the leafless, snow coated branches. The anchor in the foreground just adds to the historic story of the town.

Pike Place Market

I love taking pictures at Pike Place Market. The lighting is warm and highlights the food, people are everywhere and you can't miss getting some fun photos.

Another element in the market is all the neon. There is one neon picture in this picture but the market is full of neon and it always looks great in pictures. In my Seattle gallery there are several pictures from the market of the neon signs. This picture was taken in February at closing; vendors were closing up their booths, the last shoppers were quickly making their last purchases and the evening crowd, for the variety of restaurants, wasn't yet noticeable.