240 Seconds on Lake Union

Lake Union & Seattle, originally uploaded by Atomic Taco.

What can you do in four minutes?

Many things can be accomplished int he 240 seconds that make up four minutes on your clock. In our house, we can eat breakfast with enough time to catch the school bus. I can walk into a 7-Eleven, get a Slurpee, pay for it, and be back on the road in that amount of time. What does Atomic Taco do?

Takes a stunning picture with a tripod.

This time-lapse photo has an "exposure setting" of 240 seconds. The resulting photo gives of an amazing glow, long reflective colors, and effect on the lake that I've never seen before. Click on the picture to see a larger version.

Heck, why not view it for about 240 seconds? It would be attention well deserved!

Lines, Angles, and Portals

King County Administration Building, originally uploaded by Boy27wonder.

If anything, the design can be considered bold.

Others consider it just plain ugly. Built in 1971, the King County Administration Building is a structure that embraces the ambitious designs of what some call "The Malaise Era." In 2006, County Executive Ron Sims wanted it replaced with a tower (it was shot down because of costs).

I've added it here because, despite the argument over ugliness, the lines are very interesting when the camera is trained on the side. This building has been on my radar now for as long as I can remember; it was only after looking at this picture that I noticed the hex patterns in the diamonds. That is the beauty of photography - bringing out something that you haven't seen before.

And for some, they'd rather not see this building ever again.

Japanese Garden at The Arboretum

, originally uploaded by m33gs.

Can anyone be uptight after looking at this scene? I think not. The colors and the quietness take my blood pressure down a few clicks.

Cheers to M33GS for capturing the serene view for everyone!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/m33gs/

Angle Lake - SeaTac WA

Angle Lake, courtesy of Micheal B

From this picture one might think these folks are fishing far from any civilization.

In fact, Angle Lake is in SeaTac and less than a mile from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The precursor to Sea-Tac's runways was actually called Angle Lake Airfield.

I know what it's like to shoot cloud pictures around here, and getting this shot is not an exact science. If the photographer wants drama in the cloud cover, then sacrifice must be made in the foreground. In short, if one is exposed correctly the other will be either dark or light. Here, Michael B struck the right balance between drama and detail. I love these clouds, puffy and happy. It's nice to see them over the slate-grey skies we are all accustomed to around here.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Old Farm Building at Sunset

Old Farm Building at Sunset, originally uploaded by vikisuzan.

There aren't enough photos on Flickr from Enumclaw WA in my opinion. Thanks to this one, I think it's time for me to head out there with a camera.

The thing I like about this one is its peaceful. The clouds get my attention; even though the barn is heavily shaded, I know it's there merely from the outline. I close my eyes, and it's like I'm there.

Welcome to King County Creative Commons

Bellevue Sunrise (CC), originally uploaded by KDavidClark.

Welcome! This blog is an extension of the Flickr group King County Creative Commons, which is a place where people can view and use photos taken in King County Washington - the largest county in Washington State!

All photos posted here are in the Creative Commons, which means they can be used for other works - so long as the creator is given credit. There are many times when "All Rights Reserved" for a work is the right thing to do, and I support that. Sometimes I love to share photos that I take and hope that people will share them with others. That's why Creative Commons exists!

Find out more: Creative Commons