Paul D. Natkin: May 2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

A dog walking a person:

Walking a Dog, May 18, 2010

Sunday, May 30, 2010

If only the weather were like it was on the 9th. There was a constant stream of visitors to the Viewpoint that afternoon.

Watching, Resting, May 9, 2010

It's nevertheless May, and, as I pointed out earlier, almost June. There was no full moon to be seen here this month. It was completely clouded over. The next day I was feeling sad--knowing the full moon had come and gone--and went to the Viewpoint to contemplate the full moon's passing. It was dusk. I saw some small creature moving across the grass along the edge of the path on the side of the path closer to the view. At first I thought it was a squirrel, but as it approached me, it became clear that it was a duck--a female mallard. She waddled along, snatching up bugs or grass--whatever a duck eats--every few paces. She came within about a foot of me, apparently not even noticing me, and then passed me. I kept as still as I could, except that I turned my head backwards so that I could continue watching her even though should moved behind my back. Suddenly she shot like a torpedo, out across the edge of the hillside at a somewhat downwards angle, quickly disappearing into the distance.

It's been a while since I last walked past the tree with a hollow. This is another photo I took in March. It's strange, but my mind is in March today.

Tree with Hollow, Mar. 14, 2010

I haven't mentioned the burl yet. The burl is a landmark within the two-park area. It's terrible, but I always mix up Orson Welles, Raymond Burr and Burl Ives.

The Burl, Mar. 14, 2010

In March the colors have a completely different quality from what they have in May or June.

View of Greek Orthodox Church, Mar. 14, 2010

It's almost June 1st, and I'm freezing! It makes me think back to March. As I child I once went door to door gathering money for the March of Dimes.

Tree with Moss, Mar. 14, 2010

A multitude of plant and animal species inhabit the two-park area. It can be hard to keep up with all the activity.

Sweet Rocket, May 9, 2010

Many humans go to the Viewpoint in the company of dogs. It can be hard to determine which member of the two species is leading the other on these outings.

Picnickers, May 9, 2010

If a tree falls in the woods, and there's no one to hear the sound, is there one? I don't know.

Fallen Trees, May 15, 2010

Three musicians played while other people listened. You could hear the musicians from a block away if you listened. They played several numbers, none of which I had ever heard before, although I've listened to a lot of music. In the summer months, you'll often encounter musical performances at the Viewpoint.

Three Musicians, May 15, 2010

There's a woodpecker in the woods. I can hear him, but I can't see him. I only see the evidence of his presence.

Dark and Light, May 15, 2010

It's all I can do to keep up with time.

From behind the Hillock, May 18, 2010

A couple weeks ago the vanilla leaf was in bloom. Now the small white flowers are but a memory.

Vanilla Leaf, May 9, 2010

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Just down the hill a few paces and then across the street, on the corner, there's a bus stop. There's no shelter or anything; it's just a place where you can get on or off the #10 Capitol Hill.

Just at the Corner, May 18, 2010

Friday, May 28, 2010

"Ja parobok od Mihaľovec, vyjdzem sebe večar na tanec..."

Millipede, May 15, 2010

Thursday, May 27, 2010

One of the many ravines in the two-park area.

Ravine, May 15, 2010

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

In the ravines, the effects of light and shadow are strange and impressive.

Woodpecker Stump, May 15, 2010

Tree trunks are all different. The bark tells you not only what kind of tree you're looking at but also--if you manage to memorize the pattern--which specific tree you're looking at. When they say "his bark is worse than his bite," they usually aren't talking about a dog.

Tree Trunk and Guy, May 18, 2010

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

This image of a couple sitting on a bench at the Viewpoint shows the sort of arrangement of masses in space that makes the Viewpoint so interesting from the standpoint of perspective--both linear and atmospheric.

Couple with Hawthorns (III), May 18, 2010

Monday, May 24, 2010

It appears there's a ladybug on this clump of sweet rocket (Hesperis matronalis). I didn't notice the ladybug when I was taking the photo.

Clump of Flowers, May 9, 2010

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Before you know it, the moon will be full again.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

The Viewpoint is a wonderful place for contemplating the nature of space.

Mid- and Distant Space, May 18, 2010

Friday, May 21, 2010

You get a good workout biking in Seattle. It's the hills. There was once a bike trail that ran through Interlaken Park, then around Capitol Hill, all the way to downtown Seattle. This was before there were as many roads as there are now. There was once, believe it or not, a sandwich shop in the park. More on this later.

Biker at Rest, May 18, 2010

Thursday, May 20, 2010

I know there's a woodpecker there; I hear him hammering away. But I never see him.

Woodpecker Stump, May 9, 2010

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Two drummers started up an intense jam session under the laurel tree late yesterday afternoon.

Two Drummers and Hawthorns, May 18, 2010

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

The hawthorns are in bloom. Nathaniel Hawthorne wrote his book The Scarlet Letter in 1850.

Hawthorn in Bloom, May 18, 2010

These three musicians were practicing before a gig, if I understood correctly.

Three Musicians, May 15, 2010

This space has intrigued me for years. It always makes me ask the question why one spatial arrangement interests me, when another doesn't.

A Fascinating Space, May 9, 2010

Monday, May 17, 2010

These two photographers took a long series of photographs. Since I couldn't see the images on their viewfinder and couldn't always tell which way their lens was pointed--let alone what focal length or depth of field they'd selected--I can't say what, exactly, they were photographing. I'm always curious about what photographers are doing. I wish I could see the pictures they took, and I wish I knew why they took them.

Two Photographers, May 9, 2010

Sunday, May 16, 2010

You can tell a lot about the weather by how many boats you see on the bay. If there are a lot, then it's probably a warm, sunny day. Of course, you could probably figure this out in other ways, but it's always good to gather your information from a variety of sources.

Boats on the Bay, May 15, 2010

Saturday, May 15, 2010

It's sometimes hard to get a clear shot, especially if an element of a scene is in motion. But then, a clear shot isn't always what you want.

Young Couple with Dogwood, May 1, 2010

This man watched the boat parade while lying on his side. It's been two weeks, and yet that day is still very much on my mind.

Sleeper, May 1, 2010

There's no single reason people come to the Viewpoint. Some come to eat, some to sleep; some come for the view, and others seem to have no interest in it at all. There are a million reasons. A million is a thousand times a thousand.

Woman and Dog on Bench, May 1, 2010

Friday, May 14, 2010

I think this fledgling must have fallen from the nest where it was hatched--or maybe it fell during one of its early attempts at flying. It's a sad sight, but I realize it's a common occurence.

Dead Fledgling, May 1, 2010

Thursday, May 13, 2010

There are two sides to every coin, as the old saying goes...

Ivy and Bluebells, May 1, 2010

The path defines the hillside, and the hillside defines the path. The one curves with the other.

Path and Hillside with Bluebells, May 1, 2010

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

A wider shot shows the context of the mid-range shot of the same subject in yesterday's post. The bluebells actually run from up top, over the edge, across the path, and down to the bottom, crossing the path again after it has switched back and has just begun another bend--if that makes any sense.

Path with Bluebells, May 1, 2010

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Just a few months ago, on February 15, I photographed this same hillside when it was covered with snowdrops. What's interesting is the pattern of strips of a species stretching from top to bottom.

Hillside with Bluebells, May 1, 2010

Woodpecker stump. The evidence is there.

Woodpecker Stump, May 1, 2010

Bleeding heart.

Bleeding Heart, May 1, 2010

Monday, May 10, 2010

Here you see a variety of species, some exotic, some native: dandelions, bluebells, blackberries, bigleaf maples, bleeding hearts...

Hillside with Flowers, May 1, 2010

Sunday, May 9, 2010

I'm was thinking this was some kind of buttercup but then discovered I was mistaken. It's Largeleaf Avens (Geum macrophyllum)--a native species in the rose family, unlike the buttercup, which is an exotic invasive.

Largeleaf Avens (Geum macrophyllum) May 1, 2010

Vanilla leaf (Achlys triphylla) grows in certain places in the parks below, but you won't find it just anywhere. You have to know where to look for it. The same can be said of many other things.

Vanilla Leaf, May 1, 2010

Saturday, May 8, 2010

The blooming of the dogwood marks the shift from spring weather to summer. Today is a summer day, but May 1st--Opening Day--was a spring day, and my mind is still processing the many memorable images it yielded.

Couple under Tree, May 1, 2010

Friday, May 7, 2010

When the dogwood blooms, it's hard to think of anything else.

Dogwood, May 1, 2010

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Those who come to the Viewpoint leave the Viewpoint--some sooner, some later.

Guy in Turquoise Hoodie, May 1, 2010

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

This sunset wasn't at the Viewpoint--none of them are--but I saw it not far from the Viewpoint, and it made my day.

Sunset with Cedar, May 5, 2010

Sunset, May 5, 2010

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

When the dogwood blooms, then everything is perfect.

When the Dogwood Blooms, May 1, 2010

Monday, May 3, 2010

There was quite a lot of wind today. It felt like we were back in March. It was in mid-March that I came upon this mushroom. Some mushrooms are edible; others are not.

Mushroom, Mar. 14, 2010

Sunday, May 2, 2010

While the boats tooted their horns, and the fire boat spewed water into the air, in the woods the False Solomon's Seal bloomed in splendid silence.

False Solomon's Seal, May 1, 2010

Paul D. Natkin