x over it: ned

Showing posts with label ned. Show all posts

31 May 2015

Out-of-Doors

Commemorating spending an afternoon outside with polaroids and a typecast? Shows how much things have changed since I was growing up.

Sent from my Underwood Standard Portable

12 Mar 2015

Urban Inspection 3: Waterfront

Today, Ned and I took a walk down to downtown Tacoma's waterfront.

Heading down Schuster Parkway towards Thea's Park.

On the 4th Street bridge, looking north you can see the railroad sidings and Temco, the grain exporter.

Looking south, you can see the Murray Morgan Bridge which connects downtown to the port over 11th Street. This was closed in 2007 after the collapse of the I-35 bridge in Minnesota and opened again in 2013 after comprehensive rehabilitation.

A closer look at the ship Dansas.

Looking down at Thea's Park, where the 2014 Tacoma type-out was held.

Walking south along Dock Street, you can see the old city hall with its broken clock behind the I-705 exit ramps.

Now, Dock Street doesn't connect to downtown Tacoma for quite a while due to the railyard and a steep hill. But what's this I see?

Yes, it's a glass elevator! This saves walking 8 blocks out of your way to get into downtown. At first I was a little suspicious about whether it could be open to the public or not. It seemed too perfect.

There is even a nice mural and art installation under the bridge.

I had to take a video riding up the glass elevator, of course. This is facing north towards Thea's Park and eventually the Olympic Mountains.

Now on bridge level, looking down.

Looking towards the bridge from downtown.

I took a short detour down Cliff Ave (which is hardly an avenue, more like a back alley) for another look at the bridge.

After the bridge was bypassed by SR-509, WSDOT wanted to tear it down. The City of Tacoma bought it and after several years of neglect, finally closed and restored it.

Walking north again on A Street to the 9th Street intersection looking into the heart of the Theater District. You can see the Tacoma Link crossing the street.

Getting closer to home now, walking up the steps towards the old Elk's Lodge.

Ned was worn out after all this fast walking uphill. A tired puppy is a happy puppy. I, too, think it's brilliant that we have all of these cool places within walking distance.

24 Jul 2013

Urban Inspection 1

Welcome to Urban Inspection. The part of the show where I go out with a camera and take way too many pictures of my current hometown of Tacoma, and show a few of the less unacceptable ones to you here.

Our new Fuji X10 is the most satisfying camera I have ever used, it takes such incredibly better photos than an inexpensive point and shoot on auto mode, and as I am starting to get used to shutter speeds and apertures, getting pictures that look even better. (though at this point I get plenty of washed-out shots too)

I decided to leave the photos completely unedited for this first Urban Inspection just to show how I am experimenting with camera settings. I am continually amazed at what this camera can do. For $305, it is exponentially better than a camera half as expensive.

First we start with my object of desire, the old Elks lodge. It's intact, but that's about as far as it goes.

It says "Do Not Occupy" but I'd bet somebody was sleeping inside as I photographed.

From across the street you can get a better overall view.

I am always very curious about what the letters that aren't words stand for--initials? Love the frieze too.

Lots of old ornamental bits on buildings were stamped metal. Quite rusted by this point. And here are some words we can read!

Ned came along too, and looks quite strangely ghostly here.

Here he is again, quite alive and safe.

Another object of my desire, the Port at night is splendidly beautiful.

This used to be a sort of army green. Well, Army Green to be specific. The military had a surplus of green paint at the end of some war, hence lots of these post boxes were painted with it.

And ending it with my one of my myriad favourite bits of graffiti. It's spread all around and I love uncovering a new location.

All of these photos were taken around 3.30a, just immediately before dawn. I then proceeded to get wonderful sunrise pictures. Next edition of Urban Inspection? Probably another nighttime jaunt, this time getting more detail on the Elks lodge from other sides and the grand Spanish steps, as well as some shots of the Stadium Way construction and the Port as well.