I was lucky enough to catch this shot as I was going across the Burnside Bridge (westbound) yesterday. Can you see the 3 workers climbing around the wrungs of the sign to install more letters?
Tag Archives: portland
Made in Oregon sign
Portland pallete
On a rainy, gusty and trecherous drive home from work last night – I was able to capture this “Portland Pallete” from the infamous iPhone. Not so bad for a crazy night, eh?
meet Jamal
Meet Jamal. Jamal means “camel” in Arabic. I picked him up at a local toy store the other day. I’ve decided that start a new photo series of the plethora of bicycles and bike racks in Portland. What a better way to make the story of the photo a bit more interesting than to insert jamal into the photo. Plus, I think he’s really soft and cuddly. Since he’ll be really busy during this photo series – he’s got to stock up on his fluid intake.
doors of Opportunity are Open!
All I can say is “O.M.G. and THANK YOU, Universe!” I had my photo shoot session with Bibi McGill and wow what an incredible experience! The session went for about an hour or more. I can say I got quite the workout from squatting for perspective shots, running up and down the road to follow Bibi, and basically just packing in an intense 1 hr session!
I took about 1000+ photos (yes, in 1 hr!)!!!! Some of them I’ve deleted since they’re not in focus or just not useable at all. And, I’ve so far been able to edit about 100 photos. I am still on cloud 9! Bibi’s energy is amazing! She is vibrant, full of positive, glowing energy, and is well rehearsed with photo shoots!
I feel like the luckiest person on the planet right now! One of my first official photo sessions ever – was with one of the most amazing rock stars! Thank you, thank you, Bibi!
I will have more photos to post, but for now enjoy this photo I took with Bibi and my friend – Shilah who was my production assistant for the shoot. Thank you, Shilah!
the photography workshop
A whole new world has opened up for me since I took yesterday’s “how to use your d-SLR” workshop at Newspace Center for Photography with Susan Bein. There were four of us – which was a great way to have more hands on learning opportunities with Susan and the others. I’ll post a few more blog posts this week to talk more in detail about what I learned.
Let me introduce you to the other workshop-mates.
This is Bernadette. Bernadette will be travelling in Costa Rica for 1 week then off the Israel for 2 weeks. She loves taking photos with her point-n-shoot and just upgraded to a Canon Rebel in order to take better quality photos on her trips.
This is Paula. Paula is a home stager, interior designer and an artist who wishes to learn more about how to use her new Canon Rebel that her father recently gave her. She also has interest in low-carb, no sugar diets and wants to take “food photos” to post on her future blog in order to better educate people on nutrition.
And here is Star. Star is a mother of 3 teens. She enjoys taking photos of her teens. She recently bought a Canon EOS at CostCo in order to take better quality photos of the family.
And of course – there’s me. As you might know by now, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the creative outlet of digital photography on my Canon Powershot for more than 2 years. I’ve been keeping this blog for almost a year. Almost a year!?!?! Wow! I have been given the opportunity at work to take event photos with the office Canon EOS 40D. It’s a big, hunky, intimidating camera and lens. So, I decided to take this class to learn how to use it – as well as especially accelerating my skills in photography. I have a vision of one day being a Full Time photographer. I’d like to focus my interests in photographing the queer community – ceremonies, weddings, life celebrations, etc. I think after taking this one class and already deciding on taking a few more at the Newspace Center – that I’ll definitely be able to excel in my hobby / creative outlet / skills.
…more photos from this one-day workshop will be on their way this week. Stay tuned! 
hangin’ in the hood
When the weather is right in Portland, the locals (and tourists) know how to have fun! Every street corner was filled with tunes by musicians performing for passerbys.
The waterfront was full of commotion with four-wheely-dealies, pedi-cabs with wings, and skaters in skirts.
~ ~ ~
My favorite way to spend time on a gorgeous Portland summer day is along Gorge hiking trails. How sweet it is!
sandbox mania 2010
Yoshida’s ” Portland Sand in the City” event held at Pioneer Courthouse Square seemed to be quite the hit and draw for Portlanders and tourists alike.
In just six hours, sand teams and architects transform over 450 tons of sand and 4500 gallons of water into magnificent sand sculptures.
~ I think my favorite was the airplane. I loved the steady attention to detail and simplicity of the plane. Awesome.
the sweetness of Portland
Ahhh…, the sweetness of Portland. I’ve already forgotten about those long winter and spring months filled with pissy rain and grey, cloud cover. Now onto the joys and wonders of this glorious city. It’s so true, when the weather warms up and the sun shows his face – Portland lights up like a Christmas tree. The weather this week has been perfect; mid-70′s and sunny. Ahhhh, .. just the way I like it. I took this photo last weekend while self-touring the local cemetery. I’ve noticed all the sweetpeas are blooming all over town. How sweet they are indeed!
p.s. If you live in or are traveling in the Portland, OR area during the next 2 months, I’d love to offer you a COMPLIMENTARY photo shoot with me. It can be with you, or you & your partner, or you and your family / pet. If interested, please EMAIL me at trinaAramirez@yahoo.com I can take up to 5 scheduled photo shoots. Sample work: http://tramirezphotography.com/people-are-people/
the circle of life
~ Yesterday, we took a stroll through one of Portland’s oldest cemeteries – Lone Fir. I’ve never been a fan of cemeteries. For obvious reasons. It seems like growing up through my young adult life there were a lot of deaths in the family or of dear friends. I know that death is just a part of the circle of life, however I don’t think I will ever truly understand it. ~
~ I felt like I was stepping into hundreds, no thousands (25,000 to be exact) of people’s private lives at Lone Fir. Like I had to tip-toe in and out of each plot. Each tombstone was different. Some were old slabs of cement with carvings of names and life dates. Others were new black, marble blocks with engrave photos of the deceased and a poem or a message written about their lives. I read on the Lone Fir Cemetery’s website that there once was a so called insane asylum – “Oregon Hospital” where Dr. Hawthorne cared for the inmates. 132 inmates were buried in this cemetery along with Dr Hawthorne, too. On Block 14, there had also been a community of Chinese immigrants buried in the cemetery. These immigrants were put to work by the City of Portland. They practically built the city. Later, the majority of the bodies were dug up and returned to their homes in China. Could you imagine? ~
~ Overall, it was an interesting experience touring the cemetery. It has left me with an overwhelming feeling of sadness. Sadness for the lives buried here. Sadness to begin to comprehend my own mortality and of my loved ones, too. It was also a very peaceful place to walk. I felt safe there. It occurred to me that this cemetery could be a good place to come to in order to clear my thoughts or to getaway from the hustle of life. ~
ain’t no oil spillin’ in stumptown
I know I get frustrated a lot during the long, grey winter months along with the rainy spring days – but looking out over the Willamette River on this glorious summer day totally makes up for all that pain and frustration.
Portland, I LOVE YOU!!!
Trina turns thirty six tomorrow-Thursday!
Today is called, “Trina turns thirty six tomorrow – Thursday!” For that I thought I’d post one of the most brilliant pieces of kitchen supplies – a wine chiller! Yep, good ole Freddie Meyer supplies one of these in their wine department. So, on days like today when all I really want is a buttery glass of Chard – I can pull it off the warm shelf and simply place it in the chiller for as long as I need. Then, 5 minutes later, VIOLA! Chilled wine ready to serve.
Mr Freddie Meyer, I think you’re on to something brilliant!
things not to do while in Chicago
Apparently, the neighbors like to stay up all night – pro’ly tweaking on who knows what and writing a Top Ten list of “Things not to do while in Chicago” with sidewalk chalk….juuuuust in case you were wonderin’.
And, they are:
1. Do not wear foil hats. It Makes the Aliens mad.
2. Do not allow zombie spiders to enter your ear.
3. Do not feed Emilio Esteves.
4. Do not put strange meat in your mouth.
5. Do not take candy from parasitic sand fleas.
6. You can, however take candy from Kevin Spacey.
7. Do not take pills from unicorns.
8. Do not talk to cats on unicycles.
9. Do not follow the yellow brick road.
10. Do not poke leprechauns unless drunk on whiskey & Stoned on Pills.
Thanks. Good to know!
simple beauty
“Kind hearts are the gardens;
kind thoughts are the roots;
kind words are the flowers;
kind deeds are the fruits.”
- English Proverb
weekly photo challenge #8: speed
Wow, this week’s photo challenge was a…challenge. I thought about it all week. “What in the hell am I going to shoot that will capture ‘speed’?” I thought about car wheels, bicycle wheels, a train; anything could symbolize speed. But, it had to be creative. Well lucky me. At the eleventh hour of last night – as I was driving home from a night out with friends at Bridgeport Brewery I drove by one of the many murals of Portland. And, wow did it have a sting! ha!
Enjoy! Oh, and Happy friggen Friday!!!!!
