Super Hero Fun Run: PDX

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A couple of weeks ago I went to the Super hero fun run to take photographs of the PDX Kids Calendar booth and got the chance to see all these really awesome families all dressed up and running in their favorite outfits! They are so much cooler than I am but maybe next year I will convince my husband to go with me and run with the kids! This was a lot of fun and you can find more photos at PDX Kids Calendar as well as listings for lots of great activities for the family if you happen to live in the Portland area.

Super Hero Fun Run: Preview

This last weekend I had the pleasure of doing photography for PDX Kids Calendar. They are a great resource for families looking for all of the kid friendly happenings in the Portland area. They had a very fun booth set up for kids to do crafts and take photos at during this Super Hero Fun run.

I took tons of photos of the booth and activities they had set up. During the down time I was able to capture a few shots of the larger activity, the run.

I love this photo of Batman talking on the megaphone! Funny. He was the main “director” for the run, whenever an announcement had to be made he was the one to make it. He was also there promoting the new Batman movie.

I plan to share photos from the run itself as well as a few of those I took for PDX Kids Calendar so stayed tuned for more.

Sorry for the long interval between now and the last post things have been incredibly hectic around my house! Whew! Hopefully I will get more photos up soon. If you want a preview you can head over to the PDX Calendar site I think there is a link to the the photos I took for them there. 🙂

Weekly Photo Challenge: Arranged

I find this photo challenge a bit interesting because really when it all comes down to it we arrange almost every shot in some way or another. I kept going back and forth about how I wanted to approach this challenge and decided that I would go the straight forward route.

These berries are so beautiful and are just one of the great things to be found at the farmers market during the warm summer months.

Another fun sight at the farmers market were these cigar box guitars.

I loved these handmade cigar box guitars. They were hanging from the tent all lined up. I have a special place in my heart for instruments and if I could have an entire room dedicated to them (even though I can’t play them, except clarinet) with some sort of decorating theme inspired by them I probably would.

The farmers market has just started up again for the season here and I am really looking forward to making our first appearance of the season and stocking up on fresh spring vegetables and not too long from now the amazing Oregon Strawberries that will arrive, followed by raspberries, blueberries, marionberries, and more.

Singing in the Rain: Salem Dancing in the Street

This last weekend we went down to visit my Mom and wish my Dad a happy birthday. My Mom was excited to go to an event in downtown Salem that was designed to get people to show their love for the capital city of Oregon.

Ahead of time people were to go online and learn a few simple dance moves and then descend upon downtown Salem and dance to the song Singing in the Rain on Saturday to show their love for Salem. There was also a small stage at the front of the dancing crowd that had a variety of dancers with different styles each for very short segments of the song.

My kids enjoy this kind of thing and so does my Mom (I enjoy the opportunity to take out my camera). My Mom, husband, and two small children set off to participate, watch, and photograph this fun little event.

It was a bit difficult to keep a good eye on my 2 year old and take photographs but I did my best. My mom helped out some and so did my husband although he was up on top of the parking garage watching with my 5 year old most of the time.

Look at all the umbrellas!

According the people holding the event this is the most famous man in Salem…Gerry Frank.

Check back tomorrow for part two (my favorite part of the day and photographically).

Part 2

In Honor of my Father

My Father is turning 65 years old this year (his birthday is February 16). He is man who has had many jobs but one love and that is for music. He still plays and is the organizer for a weekly jam session in Salem, Oregon where people can show up and play acoustically. His passion for music and ability to follow his dream, of performing, for so many years has helped me to push forward and put my photography out there.

Today’s photos will be of him doing what he loves, playing music. I wish he still had the band that he had from before I was born until I was in college but for now I have be content knowing that he was able to pass on a drive to do something I love.

He is pictured playing with my Uncle whom he has played with on and off for many years. They put on an amazing show in Corning, New York many years ago (at least that is the story I am told,  I was not alive yet) that sold out (called In Congress which became a record by the same title made at the performance). My Father and Uncle wrote songs together and when my Dad goes back to visit they still find time to play together.

After moving to Oregon my Father formed the band Wooden Music which for a time also included my Mother playing flute. Wooden Music was a great band that played many concerts and put out at least two recordings that I am aware of. They played on live radio and for benefit concerts. They played yearly at the Oregon State Fair during the life of the band. It would have been lovely if I had been able to photograph my Father in that band!

Here he is playing with his brother for their Mother’s 90th birthday bash. Happy Birthday Dad! I hope that you continue to play music!

For more photographs of people see my People page. See more at my other pages: Details and Flora and Fauna.