If you're going to hang around the barbershop (2)

Note: This post is being revised and reposted to add comments I received from Christie via email yesterday about what was going on in each of the shots. See below. Thanks, Christie ...




There's an old saying that if you're going to hang around the barbershop, you're going to get a haircut. (AA's use it as a warning to newbies who think they can still hang out in the old watering holes drinking Sprite.)

It is also true that if you're going to hang around with a shutterbug, you're going to get your picture taken. Christie was Timm's companion on many of his photographic outings, so I wasn't surprised to find pics of her in various folders on his computer. Do you recognize all of them, Christie?



(Christie) In the summer of 2007, Timm and I traveled the central coast line starting at Florence cruising through Coos Bay and stopping somewhere along Myrtle Point, about 60 miles of coast line before heading home from the weekend.

We enjoyed viewing 3 light houses that day. The first was Heceta Head, easy enough to access, just a 5 min walk from the parking lot and your're there. Umpqua was a challenging 2 mile walk up a steep hill (felt like 10), well worth the energy spent to get there. Halfway up the hill is a cove with the most beautiful emerald water that I've ever seen in Oregon, looked like it was hand delivered to us from the Caribbean Island -just a sight to behold. Our last stop was Cape Arago, our favorite because of the serenity that embraces this fortress, not as touristy so you can get lost in the peacefulness that surrounds you. Also, it's near Sunset Bay - our ultimate favorite place on the coast to visit.

There was no pathway to where we stood for the shot at Heceta Head, so we kicked into Lewis and Clark mode and broke through nature's line of defense - fighting through an army of bushes, a barrage of thorns, and blankets of bumble bees. But we made it - and oh, what a beautiful scene it was, an open field of wild flowers, a lighthouse in the background, and rolling ocean waves in the distance.

We had been marvelling at the view -- forever, it seemed -- when I heard Timm say "got to get some shots, babe" And it's true -- if hang around a shutterbug you will never be a bystander for long. My spot on this location was in front of the camera, receiving cues to move left, right, forward, inch to the left, now move back 2 steps. Meanwhile Timm was meticulously lining up the perfect shot with each adjustment made.

It seemed that each click of the shutter and rustle of the flowers agitated the resident bees alittle more each time we moved about. There was a small gang of them growing in size just hanging around my legs not sure if they were considering pollination or what the subject between them was, but Timm confidently assured me that he would come save me from the gang of bees -- just after he got the shot. That's the playfulness from some of the shots that day, he was teasing me like a playful schoolboy...


Timm was working with a flash bulb for a shoot the following day. So as usual, I was plucked from the crowd as a willing participant for shadow casting, it took about 1/2 hour for Timm to figure out which settings were the best to use. Oh the things I had to endure.




These two were from an event for State Parks, one of Timm's freelance contracts. Gov. Ted Kulongoski was in attendance for a ribbon cutting at the grand opening of Jefferson Street Boat Ramp. It's called The Willamette River Water Trail, supporters like the Gov. & Congressmen Hooley along with many others want to create more parkland use along the Willamette River. It's an excellent program due to opportunities to restore degraded areas or create and protect habitat. Currently they have improved 106 to 180 miles of river from Buena Vista to The Columbia. It's a pretty big deal and Timm was a huge supporter. He and I were able to check off 8 of the sites along the many miles of river and had already mapped out some sites for this year.




This was taken near Clear Lake, the lake born of fire. It's said that the water was so cold it stopped lava from destroying further wilderness and the overflow from the river created the lake. This is the hike that Timm and were on when he shared with me his wishes of cremation and wanting a memorial sight in his honor overlooking a view, preferably a bench so visitors can sit and visit with him. It's a beautiful place to visit in the fall/ We were there the last weekend of Sept. 2007.



This is Bear Creek where we also did a lot of snow shoeing, Another gorgeous place which I've only seen it in winter time, but that was enough to leave an intoxicating effect in my heart. Midway through the hike, which is about 5 or 7 miles, there is a comfort station that Timm and I made good use of. We spent either our 1st Christmas (2002) or our 2nd (2003) nestled together enjoying lunch we prepared the night before, and cozied up together to a crackling fire to celebrate Christmas Day. It's my fondest memory of Timm.




Champoeg State park, east of Newberg. I'm not sure where we were coming back from but I do remember hustling to get to the nearest location to lay a blanket out and enjoy the sunset. It was one of those days - you know the kind - the day is full of commitments to other people so you want just a minute of solitude to regather your thoughts, reconnect with God, or maybe just to breathe. I wish Timm's face was in the frame, you would have seen the moment through both our eyes. We were tired and just wanted a sunset to enjoy. Unfortunately it was overcast that day, so there wasn't anything to watch other than the clouds. So we played that childhood game - what do you see? Some how I came up with a monkey and Timm came up with a flower. Hmmm.