Men of Jambool

Photographing software developers isn't quite the same as photographing a couple in love. Nonetheless, the Jambool guys obliged me with their GQ best. Team San Francisco was in town, the perfect opportunity to make a group picture.

We walked three blocks from their office in Pioneer Square to Seattle's City Hall, all clean lines and open public space.


Who says Seattle is cloudy and gloomy? It was hard to keep our eyes open with all that sunshine.


I stopped on James Street to catch a bus home, while the guys headed to back to, um, develop more software.

Karen and Blake, married!

Karen and Blake ended their international courtship with an intimate wedding at Parsons Garden on Queen Anne.

A hug for her new mother-in-law.

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Karen's sister and mom.

"Much love, Mom and Dad." Karen's mom signs the guest "book," which will later hold a wedding picture.

Congrats, Karen and Blake! Thanks for letting me be a part of your big day!

Karen gets ready

Karen borrowed her sister's hotel room at the Westin to get her wedding hair and makeup done. The room was perfect, on the 18th floor with a big picture window that let in lots of natural light.

Flats, for easy walking across the grass.

Her veil had beautiful beading along the edge.

Karen's sister gives her a hug before it's time to head to the ceremony. "You look like Grace Kelly," she said.

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!