It all began with a book. Not like the books in this image but an eBook. Close to Home. Before it was released and became a smash hit, I had the privilege of seeing and reading it. I’m not sure anyone–or even it’s author Stuart Sipahigil–imagined where it would lead. Definitely not to a photography workshop right in my backyard, in a mythical place some of us have come to love, Port Townsend.
PT, as it is known in my circle of friends, is not unlike many of the small towns you see along the Pacific Coast. You find people who have lived there all their lives and who make their living from the tourists who come and visit. I’m lucky enough to spend more time in PT than most because of my monthly meetings with my photography mentor Ray Ketcham but that won’t stop me from participating in the Close to Home Workshop at the end of September.
In case you are wondering what kinds of images you might come home with, I’m going to share some images from my last trip to PT. You might know my friend Charlene Winfred who lives across the seas in Perth, Australia. Her Nightwalking Series is one of my favourites and once in a while I venture out to do a bit of my own night photography and I’m never disappointed. So as a nod to Charlene both for her night photography and her insistence that I share more than one image in my blog posts, here are some more for you to enjoy.
I really hope I’ll see you in PT for the workshop. Sign up early as hotel rooms are limited because of the Kinetic Sculpture Race being held on that same weekend. Oh and this year Scott Kelby’s World Wide Photo Walk is being held on October 2 and Ray is leading the walk in PT. You might as well stay for that too!
Listen to Charlene!
These are wonderful… and I’m so glad I got to see them together as a set.
Oh dear Erin, I can imagine you and Charlene now in cahoots to make me do this again
Thanks for the tip about the Photo Walk. I’ve extended my hotel reservation.
That’s great Franz. I am hoping that attending the workshop before the WWPW will result in better images
What a wonderful way to build on what is an excellent e-book. It certainly kicked me into looking harder at my photography close to home. Wishing I could be with you in PT but I shall be high up with Air New Zealand winging my way from my homeland in the UK to home in NZ. I shall think of you all though having fun down on the ground.
I’ve been away for awhile, sorry, the photos are wonderful. Is it natural light in each one, especially the last on?
It’s good to have you back, Ken. These images were all made with natural (available) light–no extra flash. I went out around 9:30pm and because it was so dark, I used ISO1600 which the GF1 seemed to handle very well.
So many photos!
I love these, especially the one where you’re looking in from outside the window. Very intimate.