My new blog

Once again, I am creating a new blog, but this time, instead of creating one for Oregon travel (Travels of Oregon) or explorations of the Willamette Valley (Mid-Willamette Explorer), the new one will be the photographs I take as I explore the realm of Outdoor Photography. As I couldn't think of anything creative that fits, I defaulted to my name: Jon Patzer Photography/

My 2014 Oregon "bucket" list

1: Go Crabbing at Newport
2: Go Clamming at Newport
3: Catch a fish at the Silverton Reservoir (Silverton)

 4: Try fishing off the beach (Taft?)
5: Visit 2 Benton County Parks
6: Visit Panorama Point County Park in Hood River County
7: Visit 6 Marion County Parks

 

 McKay Falls at Scotts Mills County Park

8: Visit 2 Linn County Parks

 Unidentified flower at Roaring River County Park

9: Visit 2 Polk County Parks
10: Visit 10 state parks along the Oregon Coast
11: Visit 10 state parks in the Willamette Valley

 Thompson's Mills State Park

12: Visit 5 state parks elsewhere in Oregon
13: Visit 5 National Refuges, Monuments, Parks, etc in Oregon

 Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge

14: Drive or walk across 12 different covered bridges in the Mid-Willamette Valley

Stayton-Jordan Covered Bridge

15: Visit 12 museums across the mid-Willamette Valley

Forest History Museum

16: Visit 2 fish hatcheries
17: Visit the Oregon Garden once a month from March to November

18: Kayak once a month from May to October
19: Visit 12 different waterfalls

 Silver Falls State Park

20: Capture photos of Oregon good enough to be sold at the Bush Barn Art Center in Salem

My new camera

I bought my new DSLR camera yesterday and wen with the Canon EOS Rebel T3. On top of that, I decided to get the Canon Zoom Lens EF 75-300 mm 1:4-5.6 III so I can hopefully get better pictures of animals from further away--if I had the money, I would have bought the best zoom lens in the store. 

The camera, basic 18-55 mm lens, and the 75-300 mm lens (both extended)

The camera and basic lens

The camera and zoom lens

The camera and it's flash

After getting home and charging the battery for a while, I decided to start learning how to use it. Unfortunately, it would not read my 4Gig memory card no matter what I tried. So today, I decided to take the back the camera and the basic lens, along with the memory card. That way I could find out which thing was faulty. After trying the memory card on several other cameras, and getting the same results, the worker and I came to the conclusion that the memory card was a dud. The good news: I got a new 4 Gig memory card for half off. As I started to pack up, I reminded myself that I should look for a good camera bag as the one I that was given to me years before could only hold the camera and a regular-sized lens. I saw one that I liked, and after I was shown that it can be worn like a fanny pack, I decided to get it as well. After I got home, I began to learn how to use my new camera from trial & error as well as reading the manual. My first subject: using a pet to see the color difference between my new DSLR camera and my little Point-N-Shoot, and the results are somewhat dramatic. It kind of makes me think "why have I not bought a DSLR sooner," which the answer of course is because I had not taken a camera class before that uses the first three class periods to talk about the differences in cameras and how to pick one. Anyway, here is that little experiment:


The point-n-shoot:

 (yes, I know the picture isn't that great)

The DSLR:

(the dog really is that color)

The verdict: better & more realistic color, less eye glare, and much more vivid. It kind of makes me want to know what she is looking at (the camera or me)

So on I went to look for something to use for the next test: seeing how clear something small is with the new camera. What I found to use was a clear blue glass heart hanging inside the void on a stained glass piece:

After these pictures, I not only knew that my camera worked, but I will be able to capture flowers in stunning detail come Spring. Good thing, because there are a few places I would like to revisit due to the plants found at those sites.

Next, I switched out the basic lens for the zoom lens to see how far I can get for certain amounts of detail. The first test: get a picture of these little cat figurines that sit on a shelf; the distance--about 50 feet. The result:

The second test: get a picture of a tree from roughly 450 feet away. The result: better than the eye can see...

Here is something to note: do you see that cyclone fence at the edge of the field in the background, right in front of the trees? Good. If I had never bought this camera, I would not have known about the fence as it is a half mile away.

Photography course at Chemeketa Community College

During last term, my focus was on learning more about Oregon, and so I took a Geography of Oregon class. This term, however, my focus is turned toward learning how to take better pictures, and so I am in a photography class. Unfortunately, while my point-and-shoot camera takes good photos, I have learned it does not give me the full creative control of a DSLR camera. So tomorrow I plan on going to the local Shutterbug and getting the cheapest DSLR I can get ($450). The good news for me is that as I continue to upgrade my camera, I should be able to use the same lenses on every DSLR I buy as long as I stick to one brand. After consideration, the brand I choose is going to be a Canon. On top of that, I plan on buying a $125 changeable lens that will continue to allow me to get great photos of flowers like the ones below that I took last year (my favorite is the yellow one with orange spots).

Now of course, when you add those values together, it means I will be paying $575 for the first camera I ever bought myself as all the other cameras that I have had were either hand-me-downs or bought for me without my input for what I wanted. Now, for me that is quite expensive as lately I have been making less than $140 a week after health insurance and taxes are taken out; and that is working three days a week. To put it plainly, if I work only one day a week, which happened this week by the way, I basically will make nothing. So, once again I am looking for a second job to help cover basic expenses (student loans, car insurance, etc.). Thank God I am able to live with family until I can support myself, as the economy has shown that a bachelor degree doesn't mean squat! Luckily I still have some money saved up from when I worked at the cannery over a year ago.

So instead of looking to see which class I will be taking next term, I am now looking for another job...again. I am hoping for a job with the USPS or a live-in community type of thing for the elderly or disabled, but we'll see. At any rate, my exploration blog (Mid-Willamette Explorer) may see few articles during the next few months due to lack of hours at work. If this does become a reality, I will definitely make an effort in Spring when the flowers come out and the scenery of the valley becomes more pleasant.

Favorites of 2013

As the year winds down, I thought I should post what my favorite things from this year were. Starting with pictures that I have taken at different events and places, and ending with my favorite places I visited this year. Some of you may have seen or read about these places and events in my other blogs, Mid-Willamette Explorer and Travels of Oregon.

When it comes to my favorite pictures, it is hard to narrow them down, so I will show my favorite 12.

 South Falls at Silver Falls State Park

 South Falls Lodge at Silver Falls State Park

 Thompson's Mills State Park

 Country meadow east of Oregon City

 Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge

 Mt. Thielson and Diamond Lake

Waiting at the end during Independence's Western Days parade.

 Native Oregonian dancing at the World Beat Festival.

Geese on the lake at Aumsville Ponds County Park

 

 Stayton-Jordan Bridge

 McKay Falls at Scotts Mills County Park (Scotts Mills, OR)

Sun breaking through the trees at Silver Falls State Park

When it comes to my favorite place to visit for this past year, it would be easier to say which places fell short of my standards. But, here goes with the top five:

5 Erratic State Park

Located west of Salem, this state park is one of the smallest, if not the smallest, in Oregon. A small trail leads up a hill from a roadside parking area to a cluster of rocks. While the park was built to preserve the rocks that came from Montana in the last Ice Age, the view from the rocks is well worth it to stop by for a picnic. My suggestion, bring some friends along on a Fall wine tour and stop by the park for a picnic on the rock, there is even a vineyard right next door.

4 Aumsville Ponds County Park

Located east of Salem, this small park boasts a trail, a small lake, and a fishing platform. The locals frequent the lake in summer as they jump off the small island into the water. My suggestion, avoid the summer crowds and come during October when the migrating Geese visit, the Autumn colors also add to the experience.

3 Ankeny National Wildlife Refuge

Located south of Salem, this refuge is mainly for the birds, and therefore great for those who love watching birds. While there are many open places to view the wildlife, you usually need a good set of binoculars and a great camera to see them and take photos. My suggestion, walk down one of the boardwalks that wind through the refuge,  as they usually take you to a viewing blind closer to the birds.

2 Silver Falls State Park

Located east of Salem, this park is always a great place to go. Unfortunately, if you always walk the same trails in the same time of year, it can become a little boring. My suggestion, go in the middle of winter to see the waterfalls with 6-foot long icicles.

1 Scotts Mills County Park

Located east of Salem, this county park was once the location of a mill. Today, you can still see the old pond that diverted water from McKay Falls along with the remnants of a dam at the top of the falls. A short trail near the entrance of the park takes you closer to the base of the waterfall. My suggestion, come during Autumn as the Foliage goes well with McKay Falls.

Another day, another drive

After my class finished a little after noon today, I decided to go check out another section of the WIllamette Valley that I haven't fully explored yet. So after driving through the town of Stayton, I headed north to check out a small lake on the north side of town. One of my co-workers said that it was one of his "secret" fishing spots. As there is no parking lot - you have to park on the side of a slightly busy road, and homes and other buildings surround it, I would say that it is not worth stopping at unless you live a block or two away. The next site I was interested in was the Gallon House Covered Bridge on Gallon house Road, which was south of Mount Angel. It was quite nice as far a covered bridges go...

 The southern entrance.

The northern entrance.

After that, I went out to Scotts Mills to check out the namesake county park which used to be the location of a flour mill. You can still see remnants of the site as a what appears to be a side channel for the mill diverts some of the water through a switchback channel. The low-lying dam had been destroyed in the middle and now allows water to flow over McKay Falls - a scenic waterfall that flows over basalt columns that formed about 15 million years ago.

The backwater pond where the mill once stood.

 The broken dam.

 McKay Falls and dam.

The side channel.

 Mckay Falls with dam above.

McKay Falls.

Finally, after driving through the small towns of Marquam and Monitor, I headed home through Mount Angel. Along the way, I saw a well-built Lutheran Church...

All quiet on the Yamhill.

Yesterday I decided to go to Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area since I had never been there before. I had done a little research on this park about a year ago to find when the best time to visit the park would be and figured that October to March would be good as it is not known for flowers of birds. It just so happens that mid to late October seems to be the best time to visit this place. Not only will you avoid summer travelers, but you also get to see brilliant displays of color from the fall foliage. If you are like me, the Fall color helps to bring out the history, especially on the ancient trail used by the local tribes and settlers alike. The view of the Grand Ronde Valley and Spirit Mountian - the real one, not the casino - also adds to the experience. Below are some of the pictures from yesterday:

A relocated Officer's Quarters offers a glimpse of how small single-person houses once were.

 Spirit Mountain can be seen from several areas of the park. The smoke is from a slash-and-burn after part of the forest was logged. It supposedly helps put nutrients into the ground before the replanting of the forest.

 The ancient Killimuck Trail that the natives used - doesn't it remind you of Colonial New England? I can even imagine a horse-drawn carriage being pulled through here.

A nearby Ceremonial Longhouse sits watching over a field used for Pow Wows.

Overall it was a real peaceful setting; as a soldier once wrote - "All quiet on the Yamhill."