Karen and Blake, engaged

Karen and Blake are friends of a friend, and I'm so excited to photograph their wedding next week. They are the cutest couple and most obliging models. Thanks, too, to Reza, for letting me shoot at the Jambool office.

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Ferry ride to Bremerton

With Seattle hitting 80-plus today, the cool breeze on the water never felt so good.

At $6.70, a round-trip ferry ticket from Seattle to Bremerton is a recession-friendly treat. I caught the 12:45 p.m., which was empty enough for passengers to enjoy private window seats.

These ferry windows remind me of a strip of film.

No one looked twice at me walking around the ferry taking pictures. You can read an archive story from the P-I about two men who were reported as suspected terrorists for doing the same thing. Turns out they were European business consultants.

Zoom!

For my last week at The Bellingham Herald, I stayed with Gus' family. No matter what kind of day it had been, I knew it would have a good ending. Little feet raced to the front door as soon as the knob turned, and I'd be greeted with a great big smile from this little guy. Somehow, it always helped put things in perspective.

This weekend I got to visit with Gus, who's about to turn 5 and is as full of joy as ever. As a baby learning to walk, he'd zoom everywhere. (The momentum kept him from falling down.) Gus still zooms, except now he's all arms and legs. I can't believe how tall he is getting!

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Gus, of course, isn't the least bit camera shy. His dad (holding him below) is the photo editor at The Herald, and a mentor and friend.

Best staff meeting ever

In late 2006, when the Olympic Sculpture Park was still under construction, some of the P-I's curmudgeons kvetched about losing the parking spots by Myrtle Edwards Park.

Those parking spots -- and the neighboring industrial waste site! -- have now been replaced by a waterfront sculpture park. It houses world class art, and it's completely free and open to the public. Nothing to bellyache about there.

A museum docent led the admissions department on a private tour following our monthly staff meeting. I was seduced by the beautiful light and made a couple of pictures while walking along with the group.

Hannah walks through Richard Serra's "Wake."

The Neukom Vivarium houses an 80-foot long nurse log, a hemlock from the Green River Watershed. The decaying fallen tree is home to many smaller plants, including this fern. The Vivarium is staffed entirely by SAM's incredible volunteers.

On weekend morning runs, I loop through OSP and around Myrtle Edwards Park. There's nothing nicer than being surrounded by art, water and mountains. Here, Marie's looking out on Elliott Bay.

Some of the amazing ladies I work with. Behind them is Perre's Ventaglio III by Beverly Pepper.

This type is so tactile and functional. What a smart solution to attaching type to a surface that slants inward.

It was the best staff meeting I've ever been to. Thanks, Emily!

Imogen Cunningham at SAM

My part-time job at the Seattle Art Museum comes with one unbeatable perk: free admission. Chris and I went for the opening weekend of a show by Northwest photographer Imogen Cunningham (1883–1976).

Cunningham's work made me lust after my own macro lens (look at this beautiful image), and inspired me to carry my camera around. On our walk back, I made a couple of quick pictures.

Smith Tower. An 84-year-old SAM volunteer told me that when he moved to Seattle 50 years ago, Smith Tower was the tallest building in town. Now it's hard to find it between all the skyscrapers.

Beautiful architectural details downtown.

Two views of Pioneer Square.