Paul D. Natkin: December 2009

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Well, I could have taken some photos this morning, but I didn't. And now it's raining. And it looks like it's going to keep raining for the next few days. I'm glad I got some shots of the moon last night, because I don't think we're going to get to see it tonight, when it's truly full. Tonight is the night of the blue moon--the second full moon within one calendar month. Of course the moon will be there behind the clouds, but I don't think we're going to get to experience this rare occurrence here in rainy Seattle.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

When I arrived at the Viewpoint this evening, there was an impressive almost-full moon. the sky was still fairly blue, and the moon, not officially full till tomorrow, was casting a strong reflection on the lake. Tomorrow I'll go back to see the blue moon.

Nearly Full Moon, Dec. 30, 2009

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Now that we've passed the winter solstice, I expect the days to gradually grow longer. I drove by the Viewpoint a little earlier today. I didn't have my camera with me. It was cold, and the sky was mostly gray or white, with some bands of pale blue showing through. I wasn't tempted to hurry back with my camera.

Monday, December 28, 2009

This morning the sky was overcast, very different from how it was even yesterday, but especially three days ago.

Looking at the View, Dec. 25, 2009

Sunday, December 27, 2009

A photo of the Sentinel and neighboring street from two days ago:

The Sentinel, Dec. 25, 2009

The play of light and shadow had an almost hypnotic effect.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

There were no clouds in the sky this morning, and it was fairly clear. There was just a little haze on the east side.

The Bay at Sunrise, Dec. 26, 2009

Friday, December 25, 2009

The mountains, the lake and the point:

The Cascades over the Point, Dec. 25, 2009

An image from yesterday:

Point and Bridge, Pink Mountains, Dec. 24, 2009

An image from today:

The Cemetery, Dec. 25, 2009

Thursday, December 24, 2009

The Photographer (III), Dec. 24, 2009

Cascade Mountains, Dec. 24, 2009

Baker in a Pink Light, Dec. 24, 2009

Sculpted by Light, Dec. 24, 2009

The Lovers with Lake Washington in the background. They were brought from another place.

The Red Things, Dec. 24, 2009

The red things are a puzzle, but one that I imagine can be easily solved. If I just drive to where they are, I should be able to find out what they are and how they got there. This is not the case with some things.

Snowcapped Mountain, Dec. 24, 2009

If mountains could talk, what would this one say?

Beginning to Unfold

Two Days Ago, Dec. 22, 2009

Where Do I Begin?

The Sentinel, May 22

Where do I begin? I mentioned previously a page from my journal from many years ago...

The Field in Early Evening

The Field, Early Evening, Dec. 24, 2009

Not far from the Viewpoint is the Field. This evening, as dusk was coming on, there was a strange light effect here. It wasn't very dark yet, but the street light had come on and was casting a light that on the street appeared pink but on the grass, yellow-green.

The Other Evening

Evening at the Viewpoint, Dec. 22, 2009

The other evening the lights were so beautiful as dusk fell upon the vast expanse one sees from the Viewpoint.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Unidentified Red Round Things

Looking at the View, Dec. 20, 2009

A group of four people speaking an Asian language I didn't recognize came to the Viewpoint while I was taking photos there this afternoon. One man in the group took a video of the others and of the view. A young couple had a long conversation in English while sittting on the bench at the north end of the park.

The Point, Dec. 20, 2009

The Point was beautiful beside the left trunk of the Lovers. There wasn't much sun while I was at the Viewpoint. The colors were all rather quiet.

The Bay, Dec. 20, 2009

I noticed some round red things--on a building, I think--down near the south shore of Union Bay, close to 520 and near Foster's Island. I can't figure out what they are. I've seen them there for several days now. You can just barely see them in the photo, right below the Bay on the right side.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

The Sentinel and Samaras

There was no one at the Viewpoint when I went there this evening. It was drizzling, and there was a fair amount of mist in the air, which gave the Christmas lights here and there an aura. I noticed that there were still a few dry leaves hanging lifelessly from the Sentinel, and some samaras, too. Then I thought of the artist Lucas Samaras and wondered how it came about that his name is the same as the name for the things that contain the seeds of the maple tree. When the wind blows, and they're ready to fall, the samaras get picked up by the wind and carried quite far from the tree where they grew. As I left the Viewpoint, I passed a person walking a dog--a woman, I believe.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Animated Feet

This evening, when I arrived at the Viewpoint, there was a lone figure under the laurel tree--someone wearing a gray hoody--probably male, I guessed. At the same time, I observed how wavering the curve of the Edge is, both vertically and horizontally. You think you know it, and then you realize you don't. I walked the length of the park and, passing the laurel, saw that there was a young woman on the other side of the person in the gray hoody. She was very animated. I can't remember exactly what she was wearing, but it but I do recall that it was an assortment of funky cold-weather clothes--sort of fleecy things with bold plaid patterns or something like that. What I remember best is how she gesticulated with her feet, as she sat there on the bench that encircles the tree, talking to the person in gray. At the south end of the park I saw a couple--a young man and woman just approaching the park from the opposite side of the street. I walked back. The entire time I was trying to remember the melody and words of Schubert's Der Atlas.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Frosty Morning

Union Bay with Glacier Peak, Dec. 12, 2009

The ground was still frozen this morning, and there was a fair amount of frost on the grass and other surfaces. Blue and lavender were the predominant tones, especially in the distance.

The Sentinel and Street with Dog Walker, Dec. 12, 2009

A few people came by, jogging, or with dogs. The only ones who stopped were three women who did stretching exercises on the north bench.

The Sentinel and Street, Dec. 12, 2009

Even above the street, there were purple and lavender clouds. Later the sun came out, but the frost lingered.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Like the Rainbow

Lake Washington and the Cascade Mountains from the Viewpoint,

Dec. 11, 2009

As I was leaving the Viewpoint this afternoon, the thought occurred to me that when you go somewhere that you see in a "view," you find a place, not a view. A view is sort of like the rainbow: you can observe it, but you can never reach it.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Cold Day in December

Scene from the Viewpoint, Dec. 10, 2009

It's been a cold day, following several other cold days. The earth at the Viewpoint was frozen, and people weren't lingering long when I was there a little earlier this afternoon.

Paul D. Natkin