Finding Portland Beautiful

I recently ran across this incredible video of Portland - made with time lapse photography - by the very talented folks at Uncage the Soul Video Production.  Called Finding Portland, it really highlights some of the true Nature of Portland (natural as well as cultural/man-made).  The video is so beautiful - I couldn't resist indulging in a little civic narcissism by sharing it here.

Watch the video below, and find out about the creative methods used in the filming by reading this story over at KATU.com.

My 7 Super Shots

After being tagged by Michael Barton, over at Exploring Portland's Natural Areas, I am taking part in HostelBookers 7 Super Shots.  It's a little game to get photographers everywhere to dust off some of their favorite snapshots and share them with the world.  Although the pictures can be of anything, I'm going to stick as close to my blog's Portland nature theme as I can.


I'm supposed to choose 7 photos - one for each of 7 predefined categories, so here goes...

• A photo that…takes my breath away 

The Columbia River viewed from Larch Mountain.  You can see several snow-capped Cascade volcanoes from this viewpoint - truly breathtaking!

• A photo that…makes me laugh or smile

 Spotted in a tiny nature park in Bend, Oregon.

• A photo that…makes me dream

A frosty Cascara leaf in the sun - makes me dream of Fall (and long for Spring).

•  A photo that…makes me think

 Abandoned house - North end of Madras, Oregon (Mt. Hood in the background).  Can't help thinking and wondering about the lives that were led here.

• A photo that…makes my mouth water

 OK - this one is a little off-theme...  Standing in line at Pine State Biscuits, on SE Belmont in Portland.  Waiting to order the McIsley - Fried chicken on a biscuit, topped with pickles, mustard & honey.  Add a side of collard greens, and wash it down with a Cheerwine... pure southern deliciousness!

• A photo that…tells a story

 Taken at a very remote lake in the Cascade Mountains east of Sweet Home, Oregon.  (The story being told here is, "Watch out, Ladybug!!"  Alas, the ladybug had no idea that a monster was approaching from below.  This rough-skinned newt gulped down the ladybug, only to set her free a few seconds later.  Apparently not one of the newt's favorite meals.

• A photo that…I am most proud of (aka my worthy of National Geographic shot)

 Taken at the same lake as the photo above.  Dragonfly peeking over a log.


That's it for my 7 Super Shots, now all that's left is for me to choose five other bloggers, and pass along this photographic game of tag.

My nominations are:

• Nature Nut Notes - a nature and craft photo-blog
• Northwest Ramblings - places and nature in the Pacific Northwest
• Pieloch Oregon
• WOODANDFIELD - living with nature in the Blue Ridge
• thebendingmoment - a space for thoughts, words and moments that bend us

To these five bloggers, I say, "Tag, you're it!"