Oysterfest 2014

This is the last Oysterfest is to be held at the fairgrounds, next year Oysterfest will be on an abandoned runway at the Port of Shelton.  I put a lot of hours into photographing Oysterfest and editing photos and writing photo descriptions.

PUD #3 Shuck and Share 5K

This weekend I photographed a 5k race sponsored by Public Utility District #3.  The race was in the morning and mostly in the shade.  My 18-200mm 3.5-5.6 is my longest lens, so I brought it, but it really was not suitable for this job, it's too slow to photograph runners in the deep morning shade.  I used my prime lens as much as possible, but it does not zoom in enough for the job.  I also tried to focus on before and after pictures of the race when the runners were not moving too fast for my lens.

Two days before the race I checked out the entire route by riding around it on my bicycle  It was at that time that I picked out my spot. After the race started I walked about one quarter of a mile up the race course in the wrong direction and waited in my spot.  I tried to pick a spot with good lighting and a nice background.

There was a volunteer photographer at the race and they had a 70-200 F2.8 lens. Color me envious.

  

Runners in colorful running shoes wait to learn the results after the race at huff and puff park on Sunday during the Shuck and Share 5K run sponsored by PUD#3  ~Shawna Whelan

Reid Larsen age 10, adjusts his number bib before the race at huff and puff park on Sunday 

during the Shuck and Share 5K run sponsored by PUD#3  ~Shawna Whelan

Third place winner, Douglas Larmont  nears the finish line at huff and puff park on 

Sunday during the Shuck and Share 5K run sponsored by PUD#3 his time was 19:57  ~Shawna Whelan    

 This picture was printed in a local newspaper.  Jainnine and Katelyn Sowers hold hands as they near
 the finish line at huff and puff park on  Sunday during the Shuck and Share 5K run sponsored by PUD#3  ~Shawna Whelan

Spot news, bomb threat at the Mason County Courthouse

I did not hear this one on the scanner, I learned about this when I was out riding my bike.  I had my small camera and lens (D40 with 18-55mm) with me at the time.  I took a few pictures with that set up before I went home and got my better camera and lenses.   I really enjoy using my prime 55mm lens so I can get those f/2.8 shots.  f/2.8 is the new f/8.
.

Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad at the Mason County
Courthouse Thursday Oct. 2cd

Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad  vehicle at the
 Mason County Courthouse Thursday Oct. 2cd

Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad members  at the Mason County Courthouse Thursday Oct. 2cd

Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad Member walks his Bomb
detecting dog near  the Mason County Courthouse Thursday October 2

Boots on the ground at the Mason County Courthouse

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