Autumn Rain

I went for a walk and then got caught in the rain with my camera,
so I ducked under an overhang and took these pictures while I waited
for the deluge to end.

Note to self: buy an umbrella.

Shelton Prison 50 years of protecting the public Oct 2014

An assignment.

This is the first time that I brought two cameras to take pictures with.  I used my D90 with my prime 50mm F/1.8 lens and my D40 with my 18-200mm F/ 3.5-5.6 lens.  I like the clarity and speed of my prime lens, but sometimes I need  a wide angle lens to get the shot.   My dream lens is a 24-70 F2.8.

No part of these photos to be stored, reproduced, manipulated or transmitted to third parties by any means without prior written permission.  These photos are for sale as full resolution 3000x2000 pixel digital images without watermarks.

About 90 people attended the presentation at the combined events   the “50^th Anniversary Celebration” and “Bring Your Family to Work Day” at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton Wa on September 27th ~Shawna Whelan

 L-R Color Honor Guard members Charles Richardson (Corrections Officer II) Sergeant Wirt (A member of Special Teams and a Corrections Sergeant) Derik Kennedy (Corrections Officer II), Sergeant Quenga (A member of Special Teams and a Corrections Sergeant) Prepare to Present the Colors at the combined events of the “50^th Anniversary Celebration” and “Bring Your Family to Work Day” at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton Wa on September 27th ~Shawna Whelan

A board displays historical photographs of the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton Wa,  at the combined events  of  the “50^th Anniversary Celebration” and “Bring Your Family to Work Day” at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton Wa on September 27th ~Shawna Whelan 

Corrections officer Juan Barcelona displays a gun for onlookers at the “Bring Your Family to Work Day” event at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton Wa on September 27th ~Shawna Whelan 

A hallway inside the prison near the visitors area seen during the tour at the combined events  of  the “50^th Anniversary Celebration” and “Bring Your Family to Work Day” at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton Wa on September 27th ~Shawna Whelan

L-R WCC superintendent Scott Russell and Assistant Secretary of Prisons Stephen Sinclair chat at the podium after a presentation covering the history of the WCC at the combined events   the “50^th Anniversary Celebration” and “Bring Your Family to Work Day” at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton Wa on September 27th ~Shawna Whelan

WCC superintendent Scott Russell leads a presentation of the history of the Shelton WCC at the combined events   the “50^th Anniversary Celebration” and “Bring Your Family to Work Day” at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton Wa on September 27th ~Shawna Whelan

Cake is included in the foods and desserts served to visitors at the combined events of  the “50^th Anniversary Celebration” and “Bring Your Family to Work Day” at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton Wa on September 27th ~Shawna Whelan

A sign inside of the  Washington Corrections Center reminds staff to turn in their keys, seen during the prison tour at the combined events  of  the “50^th Anniversary Celebration” and “Bring Your Family to Work Day” at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton Wa on September 27th ~Shawna Whelan

Staircase

A few pictures from Staircase.  Staircase is an Olympic National Park campground in Mason County northeast of Shelton.

Law enforcement rangers might outnumber back country rangers at Staircase

Another Car show

A local newspaper sent me to photograph another car show.  This show was much smaller and had a very personal feeling to it.  After the newspaper printed my pictures from the show one of my photo subjects either called or wrote or went into the newspaper and said a bunch of really nice stuff about me.  That message was passed on to the editor and then to me.

This time the sun was very bright and I got too hot.

I did not submit this picture since I am in it

Mason County Historical Society Car Show

My first car show.  I researched how to photograph car shows on the web.  The tips I gleaned are: Bring a polarizer, wear black, arrive early, stay late and hope for overcast weather.  The weather was perfect. 

Grape View Art and Water Show

An art and water show, that sounded like a fun assignment.  I brought my prime lens again and the shot with the most shallow depth of field was one of the ones that got published.  At first I was just not feeling it but later things perked up and the muse struck.

The first two pictures on this page were printed along with a couple of others that I did not post here.

       L-R JP Wittman, Anita Orne and Gordon Koenig of JP & the OK Rhythm Boys from Orcas Island, perform on Saturday at the Grapeview Water and Art Festival in Grapeview sponsored by the Fair Harbor Marina and the Grapeview Community Association.  ~ Shawna Whelan

Mariah Ballew of Grapeview, member of the North Mason High School LEOS Club paints Jayden Hall’s face age 4 from Shelton, with a Spiderman theme at the Grapeview Water and Art Festival sponsored by the Fair Harbor Marina and the Grapeview Community Association.  

      Decorated Stemware by Terri Thompson of Shelton fits with the water theme at the Grapeview Water and Art Festival sponsored by the Fair Harbor Marina and the Grapeview Community Association.  ~ Shawna Whelan

Spot news - Car vs Conveyor Belt

I heard this call an on the scanner, so I hopped onto my bicycle and snapped a few pictures.  I sold two pictures to a newspaper.  The reporters at the paper researched the story and generated the cut-lines, all I had to do was take pictures.

The police mostly just ignored me, but one smiled and waved to me.  I guess that means they know who I am.

North Mason Relay for Life

I was sent to photograph Relay for Life.  The mood was upbeat and the color was purple.

Cancer survivor Colleen O’Brien (77) and her caregiver John Kannitzer participate in the survivors lap at north mason relay for life sponsored by the American Cancer Society on Friday (More info on Colleen, dx with breast cancer and double mastectomy in 1977, then dx with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 1992, she was given 10 years to live in 1992)

From Left, Cancer survivors Barbara Wynn and Kay Bishop greet each other at north mason relay for life sponsored by the American Cancer Society on Friday.  This one was printed but with the balloon cut off

At age 87 Barbara Wynn was the oldest cancer survivor in attendance; she was born in 1927 and had a double mastectomy seven years ago. At north mason relay for life sponsored by the American Cancer Society on Friday ~ Shawna Whelan

Tahuya Days

I was sent to Tahuya Days.  Tahuya is a tiny unincorporated town.  I drove 98 miles round trip and spent about three hours doing it.  Wow, Tahuya is a long ways from Shelton!

I brought my prime 50mm lens and was able to get some shots with nice blurry backgrounds. I changed lenses several times.   I don't like the idea of getting dirt on my image sensor while changing lenses.  Maybe it's time for me to get a second DSLR body.

      Tanner De Fries (9) Ksenia Mrsny (8) Peyton Mrsny (6) of Bothell wear festive hats while waiting for parade to begin  on Saturday at the Tahuya Day Festival in downtown Tahuya  ~Shawna Whelan

   Bob Buhler of The Burma Road Beach Club adjusts his had before the 

parade on Saturday at the Tahuya Day Festival in downtown Tahuya 

Car Crash

A well known local citizen blew a stop sign and crashed his mother's car into a Mason County Sheriff's truck. I heard this on the scanner and I rushed down on my bicycle to take some photos. I sold one image to a local newspaper. That image is not posted here.

His shirt says "why would you ever want to stop"  I think he got his answer.

Last minute assignment Ronald Reagan's son came to town

I was given an assignment to photograph the Reagan Legacy Dinner.  I was given this assignment just a few hours before the start of the dinner.  Since I'm freelancing for a weekly paper I normally get my assignments days in advance.  I was told that I should dress conservatively for this job.  I really wish I had gotten closer to my subject.  I was too nervous and the room was very dark.

     Keynote speaker Michael Reagan, author, talk show radio host and son of former  president Ronald Reagan,  speaks at  Reagan Legacy Dinner sponsored by Mason County Republicans at the Pavilion on Thursday June 12^th 

Democratic State Senator Tim Sheldon greets citizens Bill and El Wanda Bryant  at  Reagan Legacy Dinner sponsored by Mason County Republicans at the Pavilion on Thursday June 12^th

L-R Judy Lloyd (in black), citizen and owner of bread of presence book store, Dorothy Vanhof (in blue) Citizen and mother of ten and Beverly Craig (in pink) retired Bordeaux elementary school teacher greet each other before the  Reagan Legacy Dinner sponsored by Mason County Republicans at the Pavilion on Thursday June 12^th ~

Shellfish

Summer is kicking off and there are a lot of community events to be photographed.  I was sent to Belfair State park to take these pictures.  Sadly, they were printed in black and white, but still, they looked good in print.

    L-R Patricia Briggs, Herky Briggs age 6 and Megan Keller age 9 look at a worm during a beach walk led
 by Teri King at Belfair State Park Shellfest on Sat. Shawna Whelan

     L-R  Abraham Lund 7 and Solomon Lund 10 look through microscopes at the Pacific Shellfish Institute table
 at Belfair State Park Shellfest on Sat.  (they are from Minnesota and were visiting family in Port Orchard)

Olympic Middle School Many Cultures of Shelton event