Here I am in front of the Sahara Hotel. I like that the door handles are my initial. I know this is a goofy picture, but I like it.

For more (and probably better) reflections, visit Weekend Reflections. And SOOC will have more straight-out-of-the-camera shots. Check out Window Views for more windows and doors.

PLEASE IGNORE IF READ BEFORE about the 2009 Photoblog Awards. If you like my photos, please vote for this photoblog before Dec. 15 and leave a comment in the link  below. You have to register (name and password only) and then click on the word Vote in the upper left. Thanks very much! Photoblog Awards 2009

These pink pretties, not from my garden unfortunately, bloomed in September. The great thing about them, besides their beauty, is that they can take dry shade, and survive some freezing weather also. They are short but do spread out, and do well even under the shade of a big cedar tree. I’ve bought a little plant to try them at my house in just that location.

For more pinkness, visit Pink Saturday.

PLEASE IGNORE IF READ BEFORE about the 2009 Photoblog Awards. If you like my photos, please vote for this photoblog before Dec. 15 and leave a comment in the link  below. You have to register (name and password only) and then click on the word Vote in the upper left. Thanks very much! Photoblog Awards 2009

I did crop this a tiny bit to remove some distracting cars from the lower edge, but otherwise it’s SOOC, or straight out of the camera. It’s from a couple of weeks ago when we went to Portland, Oregon, and I bet those red leaves are history already.

For more interesting skies around the world, visit Skywatch Friday. And visit Scenic Sunday as well, if you can. Well worth it.

PLEASE IGNORE IF READ BEFORE about the 2009 Photoblog Awards. If you like my photos, please vote for this photoblog before Dec. 15 and leave a comment in the link  below. You have to register (name and password only) and then click on the word Vote in the upper left. Thanks very much! Photoblog Awards 2009

Blessed sunshine! This is a rare sunny view of Seattle as you drive north on the Viaduct. Such a wonderful confabulation of building styles and eras. The tall one in the middle is called by some the Jukebox building, and the one below it the Deoderant building. Not very respectful, but descriptive.

Perhaps you’d like to visit Window Views for more interesting doors and window photos. This shot is also SOOC, or straight out of the camera. (But I sure deleted a lot from that group!)

PLEASE IGNORE IF READ BEFORE about the 2009 Photoblog Awards. If you like my photos, please vote for this photoblog before Dec. 15 and leave a comment in the link  below. You have to register (name and password only) and then click on the word Vote in the upper left. Thanks very much! Photoblog Awards 2009

I just can’t get over the brilliance of autumn leaves I sometimes see around here. This is a straight-out-of-the camera (SOOC) shot, no Photoshop at all, thank you very much. Sometimes I do tweak just a tiny bit, but rainy skies can be your friend in photography. The even lighting helps get a perfect exposure, even on the Auto setting. I also rarely crop. Compose on the fly, take lots, and hit delete if you don’t like it. Digital rocks!

Visit Ruby Tuesday for more red loveliness, and Color Carnival for more scintillating colors of all kinds.

PLEASE IGNORE IF READ BEFORE about the 2009 Photoblog Awards. If you like my photos, please vote for this photoblog before Dec. 15 and leave a comment in the link  below. You have to register (name and password only) and then click on the word Vote in the upper left. Thanks very much! Photoblog Awards 2009

Flowers with colored petal edges are called picotee, I understand, and they are some of my faves. This begonia has to be taken indoors to wait out the cold weather. I repotted it in the spring and it did take a good while to get going again, but then it did very well. They like a good amount of fertilizer, that’s for sure.

For more cheerful yellow, visit Mellow Yellow Monday, and for more close ups, visit Macro Monday.

In Seattle’s current gray weather, this photo of late-season hydrangeas in the morning sunlight just satisfies me so much. The vigorous green leaves, now so very gone, thrill me.

For other photos of flowers around the world, visit Today’s Flowers. And take a look at SOOC (straight out of the camera) for other essentially unprocessed photos.

PLEASE IGNORE IF READ BEFORE about the 2009 Photoblog Awards. If you like my photos, please vote for this photoblog before Dec. 15 and leave a comment in the link  below. You have to register (name and password only) and then click on the word Vote in the upper left. Thanks very much! Photoblog Awards 2009

Not much blooming outside right now, so here’s a dip into the archives for something pink and delightful to brighten any gray skies for you. Visit Pink Saturday for more blissful pinkness.

PLEASE IGNORE IF READ BEFORE about the 2009 Photoblog Awards. If you like my photos, please vote for this photoblog before Dec. 15 and leave a comment in the link  below. You have to register (name and password only) and then click on the word Vote in the upper left. Thanks very much! Photoblog Awards 2009

Taking photos out of an airplane window is very challenging, and my trusty little point-and-shoot Canon camera does its best. I really want the quality of a big camera, but I don’t want the shlep (means haul around), to use a New York expression. Sometimes even borderline image quality still has some appeal, at least to me. I love this moody effect, and I hope you enjoy it, flaws and all.

For more skies seen round the world, visit Skywatch Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Here’s a photo for the Thursday Challenge of the idea of energy. Las Vegas is sure a great place to see that in use, and lots of it. This Eiffel Tower may not be as big as the real thing, but I’d hate to pay that electric bill.

PLEASE IGNORE IF READ BEFORE about the 2009 Photoblog Awards. If you like my photos, please vote for this photoblog before Dec. 15 and leave a comment in the link  below. You have to register (name and password only) and then click on the word Vote in the upper left. Thanks very much! Photoblog Awards 2009