Northern River Otters at High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon
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Two Triceratops in black and white at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana.
Monochrome Monday (MM)
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As luck would have it, sometimes I see skies painted with bold strokes of orange
Or blue skies full of popcorn clouds
Sometimes, I’m in a distant place at the right time and see tiny perennials in bloom
Or winged beauties alighting on blossoms in my own garden
As luck would have it, sometimes I pause along a road and a small predator looks back at me
Or I discover a snowshoe-footed creature by the trail that other hikers did not notice
And if I’m very lucky, sometimes I unknowingly photograph something I hadn’t intended to
Can you find two purple pickerel bloom stalks, a pink waterlily, two spiders, and a frog?
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Lucky Shot
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These Origami Wall sculptures are on display at the International District/Chinatown light rail station in Seattle, Washington. The nine 14 x 14-foot painted aluminum sculptures show the steps of the origami folding process. You start at either end and in the center you’ll find two completed pieces; one of a man and one of a woman. These pieces were created by Sonya Ishii in 1990.
There are several wooden benches for you to sit on while waiting for the next train. Trains run every four to fifteen minutes, depending on the time of day.
Here’s a closer look at the Origami Wall sculptures.
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Last spring, I saw this ear-full of waxwings in my yard. A group of Cedar Waxwings, Bombycilla cedrorum, is referred to as an ‘ear-full’ or a ‘museum’. Yes, there are some very strange names for groups of animals.
Why are they called ear-fulls? It may be because of their constant high-pitched calls and trills. I often hear them way before I see them.
Here’s a recording of their calls.
These sociable birds frequently travel in groups. Sometimes these ear-fulls include hundreds of waxwings.
In my yard, they like to perch atop western juniper trees.
They also like to drink and bathe in our water feature.
It’s kinda like a spa for birds. 😉
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A well-designed garden considers hardscapes and softscapes
in the foreground, middle ground, and background
Hardscape waterfalls and pergolas anchor scenes in the background
In the fall, softscapes of colorful foliage add visual interest
In winter, the structure of leafless trees and shrubs is prominent
Sand gardens serve as a neutral middle ground
In the fall, color is a main character in large gardens
In winter, string sculptures add an element of artistry
Rock-lined pathways curve ahead in the foreground
In the fall, in a well-designed garden, the colors pull you forward
In winter, structures are revealed beneath twisted, leafless trees near bamboo-bordered trails
These photographs were taken in the fall and winter at the Portland Japanese Garden in Oregon.
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I framed this river poem I wrote with an artsy mat. The green paper contains small leaves, and the brown paper includes little bits of bark and sticks. I bought this paper at an art supply store.
I created the blue paper by dripping acrylic paint onto a pan full of liquid laundry starch and gently swirling it. You drop a piece of paper onto this mixture and peel it away to get a marbled effect “print.” It’s a fun process because you never know how it will turn out.
I altered the length and position of each line of this poem to imitate a meandering river. By showing the poem with an artsy mat and changing the layout, it became a unique piece of art. When I entered this piece in a state fair competition, it won a blue ribbon. 😀
Here’s the poem in another format.
River Retreat
Traveling from afar to alight
In an oasis of comfort and contentment
A restful sleep wakening to
A joyful dawn chorus from feathered friends
Breaking the fast with
Nourishment for body and soul
Flying away
Until the river beckons us again
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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Here’s the High Desert Voices April 2026 newsletter for your reading pleasure. Lots of nice photos as well! This newsletter is published by and for volunteers at the High Desert Museum in Bend, Oregon. I’ve been working there as a volunteer since 2013.
Articles this month include one about the Hollow and Still: Photographs Following Fire exhibition and a talk on the long-term effects of wildfire, one on the Prohibition Party event, and one on the Under Pressure: A Volcanic Exploration exhibition. A calendar of upcoming events and exhibitions is on the last page.
Please enjoy the High Desert Voices April 2026 issue!
To view previous issues, visit the HDV newsletter tag.
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In moments of darkness, I reach for the tool of enlightenment tucked inside my pocket.
Click! Click! Click! Click! I enlighten exhibitions.
4th Floor to Mildness by Pipilotti Rist, Portland Art Museum in 2026, Oregon
Fulfillment of Emptiness by Jang Jin-ik, Portland Art Museum in 2026, Oregon
Forest at Night by High Desert Museum staff in 2026, Oregon
Infinite Moment: Burning Man on the Horizon by High Desert Museum staff in 2020, Oregon
In moments of darkness, I reach for the tool of enlightenment tucked inside my pocket.
Click! Click! Click! Click! I enlighten landscapes.
Subway Cave, Lassen National Forest, California
Sunrise over Bend, Oregon
Steam over hot springs, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Playa at Summer Lake, Oregon
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Phone Photography
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There are a lot of places to buy a burger and fries in Bend, Oregon. Today, I’ll feature burgers from three different restaurants.
If you ask a local where to buy a good burger and fries, many will mention Americana first. They used to only serve their burgers from a food truck, but now they have a brick-and-mortar location downtown. They still have a truck at one of our food truck pods.
Americana serves smashburgers. This is a type of burger that’s smashed flat before or during cooking. Their menu is limited to eight burgers, two kinds of fries, soft drinks, beer, and milkshakes. The food truck only serves three kinds of burgers. It kinda reminds me of the ‘Cheeseburger Cheeseburger‘ sketch that was on Saturday Night Live.
Here’s a close up of The Popper burger I ordered. It includes pickled jalapeños, jalapeño cream cheese, white American cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, shredded lettuce, fresh tomato and secret sauce served on a brioche bun. I admit, I like thicker burgers, but I liked this nicely spicey, very flavorful burger.
The fries, shown below, were another story. The pieces were small and didn’t have much flavor at all.
Americana’s restaurant is at 1033 NW Bond St, Suite 100 in Bend. Their food truck is at at the Podski pod at 536 NW Arizona Ave in Bend. Both locations are open from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm on Tuesday through Saturday. They’re closed on Sunday and Monday. The prices at Americana are relatively low.
Next, I’m showing a burger from Killer Burger. Their menu includes nine beef burgers, including a Peanut Butter Pickle Bacon one. They also serve three chicken burgers, chicken tenders, and eight sauces. You can order three sizes of burgers, Pint, Original, and Double. Drinks include beer, cider, and soda.
I ordered a Classic burger in the Original size. It included bacon, American cheese, crisp lettuce, tomato, grilled onion, pickle, mayonnaise, and house sauce. I’ll have to go back and try something more unique next time. I thought the burger was better than average, but not outstanding.
The fries, however, were great! Nice and crispy and full of flavor.
Killer Burger is at 20789 NW Henry Ave, Suite 180 in Bend. They are open from 10:30 am to 9:00 pm daily. This restaurant is right next to Costco. They have other restaurants in western Oregon, eastern Washington, and in parts of Texas. Their prices are low to moderate.
Next, I’m sharing a picture of a burger from Bend Burger. I ordered the Pole Pedal Paddle burger. It included fresh cut charred jalapeños, mango ginger chutney, aged cheddar cheese, bacon, and mayonnaise. This burger was a wonderful combination of sweet and spicy. It does get messy, so be prepared. Do NOT attempt to eat this one while driving.
The fries were thick-cut and the serving size was large. However, they were a bit soggy, not crispy.
Bend Burger Company serves eight beef burgers, two chicken burgers, a tri-tip steak sandwich, BLTs, and a grilled cheese sandwich. They also have three salads. Bend Burger makes three kinds of fries, two kinds of tater tots, onion rings, and seven sauces. They serve the usual drinks plus milkshakes in six flavors.
Bend Burger is at 1939 NE 3rd Street in Bend. There’s also a Redmond location. They are open from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm daily. The prices are on the high end, but I’ve never had a bad burger there.
So which place had the best burger and fries? I can’t really say. One burger was a smashburger, one was a classic burger, and one was a gourmet burger. If I rated just the beef patty, not including the bun or condiments, I’d have to say Americana.
The fries were easier to pick a favorite. Killer Burger’s fries were crispy and flavorful, just the way I like them.
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Watching backyard TV in Bend, Oregon
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Color in photos highlights
a balance of form and function
medleys of wholesome tasty treats
and lanterns of luck and happiness
Color in photos highlights
rainbow rows of vegetables
bright graphic designs on balloons
and the personality of each ornate orchid
Yesterday’s Lens-Artists Photo Challenge was to show colorful images in monotone. My post Scenes without color shows six black and white photographs of various scenes. In today’s post, I shared how the same images looked before I edited them by restoring the color. Both versions are beautiful in their own sort of way.
Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – Restore
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Scenes without color highlight
design elements of feathered finery
Artistic arrangements of snacks
and fantastical architectural forms
Scenes without color highlight
perfection in imperfect patterns
bold and buoyant formations
and the delicacy of floral details
To see these same images in color see my Color in photos post.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Color in Black and White
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The Infinity Chair is a marble sculpture created by Pedro Reyes in 2018. It’s on display at the Portland Art Museum in Oregon. Reyes is a multidisciplinary Mexican artist who studied architecture at Ibero-American University in Mexico City. Later, he became interested in sculpture.
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When I visited Ireland with my daughter, one of our favorite things was a falconry experience in Dingle, County Kerry. The guides at the Dingle Falconry Experience tell you a bit about each bird they fly. You also get a chance to have the birds perch on your gloved hand.
One of the most impressive birds we saw was an Eurasian Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo.
I mentioned it in one of my previous posts. It is so heavy, the guide helps support your arm when it perches on you.
Our guide flew it from one post to another. See it in action in this video.
The bird with the most beautiful plumage was a Western Barn Owl, Tyto alba.
I took this photo of its back to get the details of its feathers. Note, I wasn’t really paying attention to the alignment of the background. 😀
The birds fly from person to person as you stand in a large circle. Here’s the Barn Owl flying around our group.
The Harris’s Hawk, Parabuteo unicinctus, had a powerful presence. Here it is up close.
Here’s the bird perching before it flies to the next participant.
When we were there, the guide used a lure with a piece of prey attached to exercise a falcon. Here’s a video of the bird in flight.
The Peregrine Falcon, Falco pergrinus, was gorgeous in flight and on the ground.
Here’s the bird eating a snack with the guide.
If you’re looking for an up-close and personal encounter with birds of prey, check out the Dingle Falconry Experience. It was educational and fun!
Hope you all have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
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If you’re looking for a relaxing oasis in the middle of a desert, check out Crane Hot Springs near Burns, Oregon.
Hot springs in this area were first developed for commercial use in the 1920s. A dance hall and restaurant were built near Crane Hot Springs, but they burned down around 1930.
Over the years, this business has passed through several owners and is currently managed by Dan and Denise Kryger. They have been busy renovating and upgrading the property. They dug out the pond, built bathhouses, added RV facilities, and renovated the motel and cabins. Previously known as Crystal Crane Hot Springs (CCHS), the current owners shortened the name to Crane Hot Springs.
The restrooms and changing rooms are clean and comfortable. Here are a couple photos of them. I visited this hot spring decades ago and there have been huge improvements since then.
The large outdoor pond is the big attraction at this site. It measures 9,728 square feet in size and holds 323,143 gallons of water. Water in the pond reaches depths of almost seven feet. Water temperatures range from 99 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Private soaking tubs are also available.
One of the wonderful things about this place is that you can sit in the hot springs and view spectacular sunrises, sunsets, and dark skies bursting with stars.
This site has many overnight options available. There are several cabins to stay in, but you might also consider staying in a teepee, covered wagon, or their 5th wheel rental. The smallest cabins, pictured below, have no restrooms but they are nearby. If you want to camp, there are dry camping or RV camping sites with full hookups available. We’ve stayed in our campervan here, in one of the rooms with its own spring-fed hot tub, and at a for rent by owner house nearby.
If you don’t want to spend the night, you can pay for day use at the hot springs. Prices for the large pond range from $5 to $15 for up to four hours. If you want to rent the smaller, private soaking tubs, it costs $15 per hour per person or $50 for two people for two hours.
The ponds on the property are great places to see some of the local wildlife. There’s one right next to the hot pool and another one a short walk away.
In past years, while participating in the Harney County Migratory Bird Festival, my tour group stopped here to look for birds.
You’ll see plenty of waterfowl, shorebirds, and songbirds in and around the ponds. Raptors can be seen feeding on the ground or drifting by on thermals overhead.
There are some interesting things to do nearby. You can visit a unique round barn, drive around Steens Mountain, see the vast landscape of the Alvord Desert, and volcanic features at Diamond Craters. You may even glimpse wild horses, some of which are direct descendants of those brought here by the Spaniards in the seventeenth century. Gas stations in this rural area are few and far between, so plan your trips accordingly.
Crane Hot Springs is at 59315 OR-78, Burns, Oregon. The hot springs are open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm daily. If you plan to stay there, make your reservations here.
Pets are allowed in your RV and in 15 of the rooms. Dogs must be on leash on the grounds.
If you are here for day use, be aware that pets are not allowed near the outdoor pond. You are also not supposed to leave them in your vehicle. Since many travelers like to travel with their dogs, I hope they can add the doggie daycare a staff person mentioned SOON.
Our local TV station, Central Oregon Daily, did a great story on Crane Hot Springs on April 2, 2026. Watch it here. It includes some wonderful aerial views.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Time to Relax
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When I spoke with a couple acquaintances in Bend about restaurants to try in Portland, Oregon, both mentioned Andina immediately. This Peruvian restaurant opened in 2003. Their website notes how they “bring the warmth of the Peruvian spirit into every aspect of the dining experience.”
You can order small plates, main dishes, sides, and a wide variety of drinks here. We ordered two drinks and shared four small plates on our visit last month. There was plenty of food, and I thought the price was reasonable.
The Anticucho de Pollo is like a complete meal on a small plate. It included a chicken skewer, crispy potatoes, huancaína verde, and salsa criolla. The chicken was nicely spiced and the potato chips were very crunchy.
The Peruvian Scalloped Potatoes was our favorite dish. It included purple majesty & Yukon gold potatoes, and ají panca bechamel, with salsa verde on the side. This dish wasn’t fancy, but it was delicious.
We ordered two ceviches. The Ceviche de Conchas included weathervane scallops, tomatillos, jimmy nardellos, sweet corn, and Walla Walla sweets onions topped with ham dust and cilantro. The scallops had a melt in your mouth texture and the spices gave it a bit of a bite.
We also ordered a Ceviche de Alcachofa. This vegetarian ceviche included artichoke, roasted peppers, avocado, pepitas, ají limo and coconut leche de tigre topped with cilantro and fennel. This dish had a blend of smooth and crunchy textures in a coconut broth spiced up with aji limo peppers.
The Limonada de Maracuya was my favorite drink on my short trip to Portland. This nonalcoholic passion fruit limeade had a refreshing taste. It was so good I wanted to order a second one, but I resisted the urge.
We arrived right when Andina opened and did not have a reservation. We sat at the copper-covered bar counter. This is a popular restaurant so if you want a table, be sure to make reservations in advance.
Andina is located at 1314 NW Glisan St in downtown Portland. It’s open daily from 4:00 to 9:00 pm. Andina serves brunch from 10:00 am to 1:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Happy hour is from 4:00 to 5:00 pm daily.
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Flag bridge through the seasons in the Old Mill district of Bend, Oregon
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On my backyard byway,
I paddle past active volcanoes
South Sister from Hosmer Lake
Reflected in alpine lakes
Mt. Bachelor from Little Lava Lake
I stomp along trails with my snowshoes
Swampy Lakes Sno-Park
and watch skiers carve their signatures across hillsides
Mt. Bachelor
I drive past ridges reaching for roads
Todd Ridge
and hike to places of reflection
Blow Lake, Oregon
I see water levels fluctuate in reservoirs
Wickiup Reservoir
and the rebirth of forests after fire
Cedar Creek Fire
On my backyard byway,
I watch foliage explode with color
Fall foliage
and wild ones along the byway watching me
Great blue heron
I took the photos on this post on the Cascade Lakes National Scenic Byway in Central Oregon. This 66-mile long road snakes its way past majestic volcanic peaks and numerous alpine lakes.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Your Journey
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A ghostly cottonwood at Summer Lake, Oregon
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This life-sized Native American fisherman sculpture is at the Columbia Gorge Museum in Stevenson, Washington. This sculpture shows how people of nearby tribes fished in the Columbia River with dip nets. One of their favorite fishing spots was at Celilo Falls. When The Dalles Dam was completed in 1957, the falls disappeared within hours.
Today, you might see a Native American fisherman fishing from platforms at Cascade Locks, Oregon, near the Bridge of the Gods.
To taste locally harvested seafood, be sure to visit the Brigham Fish Market in Cascade Locks. They serve great fish and chips and clam chowder!
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Today I’m sharing a colored pencil penjing drawing I quickly drew this morning. Penjing, or penzai, is the Chinese version of Japanese bonsai. While bonsai often focuses on a single tree, penjing represents a scene in nature in a “three-dimensional painting.”
In China, these plantings have been created since at least the Han dynasty (206 B.C. to 221 A.D.).
My drawing is based on a penjing planting at the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon. In my photo below, the wall of the gift shop made an interesting background.
I’ve always admired the artistry that goes into creating penjings. It requires a lot of patience and foresight.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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Oregon Trunk Railroad Bridge
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Giant Pacific octopus up close vignette
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Shadows play
Within deep glacially carved gorges filled with fall foliage
And shallow grooves in clay created by an artist’s hands
Shadows gather
Around the powerful presence of a goat the color of snow
And along straight and curved ridges in a garden of sand
Shadows play
Among towering sentinels standing guard over thundering waterfalls
And around a grand and forever grounded aircraft
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Shadowed
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Please Participate by Jeppe Hein 2015 at Portland Art Museum, Oregon
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I took this photo of Mt Hood from above a couple of weeks ago.
If you look closely, you can see a couple other volcanoes in the background. Mt Adams, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Rainier are all close by.
The skies were beautiful that day, but at this time of the year they should be more cloudy and gray than blue. Snow accumulation on the mountain has been much lower than usual this season. This has affected winter recreation and all the other businesses associated with it. Fortunately, a recent storm system dumped a lot of snow on Mt Hood.
Weekend Sky (WS) & One Word Sunday (OWS) – Blue
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JIA Asian Street Kitchen is tucked away in the corner of a mall in southwestern Bend, Oregon. They serve a wide selection of meals, drinks, and appetizers.
The best thing we had on a recent visit was the JIA Popcorn Shrimp appetizer. You can dip tempura shrimp into spicy Gochujang aioli and Wasabi aioli sauces. Both were good. This dish comes with Vietnamese rice crackers, pictured below in the glass. I describe these crackers as “crunchy air.” 😀
The JIA’s BBQ Set, shown below, is one of their Chef’s Specials. It includes BBQ chicken marinated in lemongrass for 24 hours. It also features a green papaya salad, sticky rice in an upright basket, and tamarind and sweet chili dipping sauces. My dining companion didn’t particularly like the chicken’s flavor, but others may feel differently. He described the rice as “tough”, but did like the papaya salad.
For my main dish, I ordered the Khao Soil. This is a coconut curry soup from Northern Thailand. Tender egg noodles and grilled chicken fill the rich coconut broth. It’s topped with crisp-fried wontons, fried shallots, pickled mustard greens, and raw shallots. A drizzle of hot chili oil adds a touch of heat. I liked the spiciness of the broth and the crunchiness of the fried wontons.
JIA Asian Street Kitchen serves several cocktails with interesting names. The Unblinkable, shown below, is “A tamed dragon’s eye drifts atop Brazil’s dragon tears, enveloped in the ethereal mist of Oregon spirit absinthe a bold blend of Leblon cachaca, Midori, lemon, pineapple, and a touch of absinthe.”
The interior design includes a lively mural, paper lanterns, and lit-up clouds and a moon.
Rattan hanging lights and a life-size artificial cherry tree decorate the rest of the space.
The food we ordered on this and previous visits was generally good. The unique interior design is memorable.
On this visit, there was a new element in the dining area. A remote-controlled food cart delivered our food. Yeah, really. While it gets your attention, I’m not sure it’s necessary. Will photos of the cart be shared on social media? Yup, that’s what I just did!
JIA Asian Street Kitchen is at 19570 Amber Meadow Dr. #100, Bend, OR 97702. They are open from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM on Mondays through Thursdays, 11:00 AM – 8:30 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12:00 AM – 8:00 PM on Sundays.
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When I visited the Lan Su Chinese Garden in Portland, Oregon last week, I saw several Lunar New Year decorations. They were prepping the garden for celebrations on February 17, the day the 2026 lunar new year begins.
This impressive dragon was inside one of the buildings hovering over a table and desk.
I zoomed in to get a better view. The colors and textures were gorgeous.
Outside, a jumping fish floated over the pond.
Here is a closer view of it surfacing near an arch, lotus blossom, and smaller fish.
In another part of the pond, a dragon curls around mountains in the clouds. All of these Lunar New Year decorations showed a lot of expression.
Speaking of expression, I’m also sharing a sculpture of a horse at the nearby Portland Art Museum. I thought it was appropriate since it’s the year of the horse. Recent “Horse” years include 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, and 2026.
The chinesenewyear.net website describes those born in the year of the horse as follows:
Horses are lively, charming, and adventurous. In the zodiac, they thrive in lively settings and are often seen as natural leaders and motivators.
This Prancing Horse sculpture, by an unidentified artist, is made of gray earthenware with traces of calcified green lead glaze. The sculpture is from China, Sichuan province. It is likely from Chengdu, Tianhuishan and created in the 2nd century CE.
I really liked the face on this sculpture. Is it grimacing or grinning? Hmm…
For more info and photos about Lan Su Chinese Garden, see my previous post.
Ragtag Daily Prompt (RDP) – Celebrations!
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When you trim a photo
you may notice exhalations in the skies
and the embrace of trees
Dark islands may emerge
from shallow seas of dense fog
in the ring of fire
When you crop photos
you may notice red, yellow, and green layers about to fall
or a rainbow of colors about to rise
When you trim a photo
you may notice soft curving lines
on a feline’s fur
Rigid radiating lines may emerge
Brushed with pale whispers
of an owl’s wisdom
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge (LAPC) – Unusual crop
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graceful fragile flocks
cirrus clouds over cities
blown by winter winds
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I draw in a breath in a moment of astonishment
when viewing artwork, delicate yet strong
And when seeing string sculptures scattered around a winter garden
I gasp with excitement
when two fine drakes line up perfectly for my lens
And when viewing a peaceful place in the center of a bustling city
I draw in a breath in a moment of astonishment
when tasting a marvelous blend of spicey and smooth, cilantro and coconut
And when seeing architectural wonders paying homage to trees
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – What Astonishes You?
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On a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, I saw this abstract in an elevator. The patterns were created by reflections of lights on the stainless steel walls. At first, I was going to show this picture in black and white, but the different colored lights made it more interesting. This week, I decided to use photography effects that show the designs in even more abstract ways.
I used Corel PaintShopPro 2021 for different photo processing effects on this picture of the elevator. In the original image I increased the contrast and cropped the edges. Use the slider to view each effect compared to the original.
In the first photo, I used a distortion effect. I went to Effects>Distortion Effects>Polar Coordinates and chose the Rectangular to Polar effect with a black background. With this effect, the program “maps pixels from Cartesian to polar coordinates.” Some describe this technique as creating ‘little planets’ from the original photo. With the black background, I thought this image looked like a distant galaxy, with a twist.
In the next photo, I also used a distortion effect. I went to Effects>Distortion Effects>Twirl and used the Right 180 setting. This effect distorts the image by twirling it around its center. I like the swooping action created by this effect. All the straight lines disappeared.
In the last abstract in an elevator photo, I used a reflection effect. I went to Effects>Reflection Effects>Kaleidoscope and used the Default setting with a reflected edge. This effect turns a pie-shaped area of the image into a circular pattern. I like how this effect turns pictures of ordinary objects into something extraordinary.
This freight elevator was in the Portland Art Museum in Oregon. Even a functional item like an elevator was beautiful.
One-to-Three Photo Processing Challenge February 2026
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Today, I’m sharing images I created of 3 fish 3 ways. When I took an ichthyology class at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington, we visited the aquarium in Vancouver, B.C. Our assignment was to sketch some of the fish we saw and write down notes related to their life history. What a fun assignment! 😀
My first picture shows a pencil sketch of three fish. I drew a Longnose Butterflyfish, Forcipiger longirostris, a Swallow-tailed Angelfish, Genicanthus melanospilos, and a Smoothed Unicorn Tang, Naso lituratus. These three have great common names.
I traced a copy of the pencil drawing and outlined each fish with an ink brush pen.
In the last of my 3 fish 3 ways pictures, I quickly filled in the ink outlines with watercolor pens. The coloring of these fish varies widely.
Note to self… use a good quality watercolor paper next time. Since I used cheap printer paper, the paint dried fast and I couldn’t blend it.
Here’s the watercolor pen set I used. I found it at one of the gift stores in downtown Bend. I like having them organized in a handy case.
Do you have artwork you would like to share? Be sure to include the First Friday Art tag.
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Cat on a golden rug
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Designs in… nature
may be spikey and sharp
curve around contours
or fracture along fault lines
Designs in… the human-made world
may symbolize city skylines
carved details of the cosmos
or footpaths leading us forward
Lens-Artist Photography Challenge – Looking back to 174 – Shapes and design
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in turbulent times
barriers bring together
remnants of autumn
The Weekend in Black and White
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Joe Feddersen baskets at the High Desert Museum, Bend, Oregon
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Last April, we had an unexpected Speed Racer show up in our yard.
We could see that the pigeon had a yellow band on one leg and a blue one on the other.
We also noticed how tame the bird was. It walked right up to us without any fear.
I called the local animal rescue organization, and they said they don’t deal with pigeons, aka Rock Pigeons, Columba livia. They referred me to the local Central Oregon Racing Pigeon Club. When I sent them photos, they determined it belonged to one of their members.
They instructed me to keep it in a safe place until they could drive to our house to pick it up. The guy asked, more than once, if it was able to escape since they’d had other calls where the bird got away before they arrived. I reassured him that the bird could not escape.
After he picked up the Speed Racer pigeon, I did a little research on racing pigeons. According to the America Racing Pigeon Union, there are more than 700 affiliated clubs around the country. They recommend this hobby to people who enjoy working with animals and appreciate their athleticism. The races their members participate in range from 100 to 600 miles in distance.
Pigeon racing is popular throughout the world. These birds were domesticated thousands of years ago, and the sport of pigeon racing began in the 19th century. Participants in this sport take it very seriously and are willing to pay high prices for the birds. The highest price paid was 1.9 million dollars. The higher priced birds often originate from Belgium.
Because of their high value, racing pigeons are often stolen. One well-known breeder in Belgium, Frans Bungeneers, had 60 birds stolen from his property in 2017. Some of these heists read like a fictional thriller. Today’s breeders rely on cameras, sensors, and alarms to protect their Speed Racer birds.
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A new year has begun, so it’s time to post my 2025 photo bloopers. This is where I share pictures from the past year that didn’t quite fit into any category, were blurry, or had poor composition. I try to add a little humor to them with captions and comments. Hope they entertain you!
What happens when the photographer hasn’t had her morning coffee yet.
“Hamburger? What hamburger?”
The eyes have it!
Mole two ways
“Don’t let them get you down, Herb. You just gotta stick with it.”
The picture I shared and the rest of the story showing what was in the foreground. Use the slider to view each image.
My dog took a selfie. Pretty good, right?
“It was a dark and gloomy night… “
Hope you enjoyed my 2025 photo bloopers. See more of my funny photos on my photo bloopers tag.
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Rejected
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