by Jim Bellomo | Sep 1, 2025 | 365, Photography
The year is two-thirds over, and I am still here taking photos. My personal take on my photos is that this week was a bit weak. I really like the two shots I took at Marymoor on Friday—the ones of the kids getting ready for their final ride at bike camp and the parents all waiting with cameras and phones in hand. And I can tell you that yesterday’s bread tasted as good as it looked. Oh, and I got a pretty darned good sunrise last Monday morning. But my sentimental favorite has to be my two girls in our car that I took on our 26th wedding anniversary. Happy Labor Day.
Tonight, our “older” kids are coming over for dinner, and I plan to make an African meal. I’ve been putting this off since we got back because I was waiting a month for one of my ingredients to arrive. It finally did, so tonight’s the night. I don’t have a truly African starch to add, so I decided to make some sourdough bread. I started baking sourdough about two years before the pandemic, when everyone suddenly became obsessed with it. I don’t bake bread as often as I should because it doesn’t always turn out like this. This is one of my best loaves. I can’t wait to try it with some good Irish butter at dinner, along with the bobotie, Steelworks cocktail, and hearts of palm salad.
I was at the Saturday Market again this morning (it runs until the last Saturday of October), and they had a woodwind quintet performing. Now, I don’t think a French horn is a woodwind instrument, but according to the signs advertising this group, it is. I took photos of all of them, but this young woman with the French horn was my favorite.
I went to Bellevue today to get my weekly injection and had some time on my way home to stop by Marymoor Park and take some photos. I parked in one of their 10 lots, and luckily, I found the right one. There were all kinds of things to shoot. I took pics of a Microsoft team-building exercise, a mom taking pics of her toddler, or an architectural shot of the climbing structures, but in the end, I chose these two shots from the final day of Bike Camp. In the first photo, the little ones are all grouped together before they go on their final bike parade. For the second, I turned my camera to the parents waiting to cheer them on and take photos. I couldn’t decide which one I liked more, so you get both.
The weekly Keeley is earlier this week because I wanted to take a picture with my incredible wife. Today is our 26th wedding anniversary, and we are as happy as we could possibly be. Over the past year, Keeley has only added to our happiness.
Early this evening, we attended what Trilogy calls Canapé Collective. It’s a fun food class that our chef Andrew hosts once a month. Usually, he shows people how to make appetizers, which explains the Canapé in the title. We had never been before, but this month, we decided to give it a try because Andrew was doing a cocktail class. I took my camera along because I hadn’t taken a photo for today yet and got this shot of Andrew’s bar setup.
I’m not sure if I mentioned this before, but Trilogy (the 55+ community where I live) has a golf course running through it. In fact, the golf course is only within Trilogy, but fortunately, Trilogy neither owns nor operates it. That means we often see lots of carts crossing our streets and plenty of golfers around every corner. Today, I saw two guys, braving the heat, finishing up on a hole I pass at least three times a day. I thought it might make a nice photo.
It’s another hot day here in the paradise of Trilogy Redmond Ridge, so I decided to go out early and walk my six miles. I’m so glad I did because Mother Nature provided a GORGEOUS sunrise, giving me a chance to share this shot with you. I really love the power lines silhouetted against the sunrise; they give the photo a strong focal point.
Taking pictures is like tiptoeing into the kitchen late at night and stealing Oreo cookies. – Diane Arbus
by Jim Bellomo | Aug 24, 2025 | Photography
Can you believe we are 237 days into 2025? Only 128 days until New Year’s Eve. 68 days to Halloween, 95 to Thanksgiving and 123 to Christmas. Now that I have ruined your day, here are this week’s photos. If I have to pick a sentimental fave, it has to be the kids and I at a Mariner’s game but the best photo may be the Bear Creek shot from Saturday morning.
Went to take out the trash this morning, and this was the sky at the end of our street. Ran back inside to get my camera. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I almost always do foreground silhouettes when I take sky photos in our neighborhood. That’s because we have short houses and tall trees. If I silhouette them, you never know there are houses there.
Visited old friends who are our forever neighbors in their new home on Camano Island, about a 90-minute drive north of here. On the way to their place, we pass by a place that sells giant chickens. On the way home today, I had to pull over and shoot some chickens, so to speak.
Looking for something to shoot this afternoon on what turned out to be a beautiful day, I headed down the hill to the Tolt River Valley where I saw this group of horses. It wasn’t the horses that drew me to the shot but more the entire scene. The pasture, the horses, the sky, the clouds…all combined to give me a photo I really like.
One blossom. In our backyard. On our trellis. Took this while making dinner.
A rare ussie. No big cameras allowed at T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners, so I only had my phone when the A-Team (my daughter, her husband, and my grandkids whose last name starts with an A) took me out to the ballgame. This was my Father’s Day gift and a fantastic one. We got to see the Mariners win, enjoy a spectacular drone and fireworks show after the game, and just have a great time being together.
Went out for an early walk this morning to avoid the heat. It’s supposed to reach nearly 90 today. While I was walking, I passed the newly reconstructed area of Bear Creek. It looked so pretty that I had to snap a quick photo. Bear Creek winds through downtown Redmond, where I was walking today before heading to the Saturday Market for blueberries, raspberries, and tomatoes.
Your weekly Keeley is here. Over the past few weeks, we’ve been practicing with her to get her to stop at the end of the runner leading to our front door, sit there, and stay while I open the door. She does great when no one is around, but when the kids came on Friday, she went nuts… like usual. We will keep practicing.
“There are no bad photos; that’s just how your face looks sometimes.” – Abraham Lincoln
by Jim Bellomo | Aug 17, 2025 | 365
Another week, another set of photos. Some landscapes, some food, a dog and a close-up. My favorite (after what we went through last night) has to be my weekly Keeley. Read the caption to get the complete story.
Trying some “flat food photography” today. And this particular dish I made for dinner is one of the most colorful things I make. It’s called Taverna Salad and it is delicious. It might be the best dinner salad I have ever had. And because there is no lettuce, it stays great in the refrigerator as leftovers. If you would like the recipe, send me a note.
Got up early this morning for a walk to beat the heat (we’re supposed to hit 90 today), and that gave me a chance to shoot this while I was out. It’s a drainage pond on the far side of Redmond Ridge. I like this particular walk because it is mostly flat and just straight out and straight back. The photo was taken with my iPhone 16 in Apple’s version of Camera RAW, which I wish would just open in Adobe’s Camera RAW and not as a TIFF in Photoshop. Who still uses TIFFs?
Out for a walk today and crossing a wooden walkway about two miles from our place. This walkway goes over a bog/swamp. I have taken photos from this walkway many times but this might be the first time I shot the entry way.
Most of today was kind of gray, so I felt the need for some color. I got out my macro lens and took a shot of my mug filled with Sharpies. I used to use these for business, but now that I am retired, I only use them for birthday cards. I have a label format I use for analog birthday cards that prints the name, address, and a set of four balloons. I print the address and return address labels and then color all eight balloons each a different color.
Really rainy day today. Not pouring, but constant drizzle. I had an appointment in Bellevue, so I thought I would take a photo of Seattle from Medina City Hall. Medina is a tiny town surrounded by the much larger city of Bellevue. But Medina is kind of special. It has one of the highest per capita income populations in the USA. I was about 10 houses away from Bill Gates’s mansion when I took this photo. I promise to go back and show you what it looks like when it is sunny.
One of the great things about the Pacific Northwest is that after a day of rain and clouds, you get a day like today. Big white, fluffy clouds and the bluest skies. Everything just feels clean. I went out for my walk today on a new trail that has just opened. I parked at the Redmond Saturday Market and then set out to walk three miles up the trail and three miles back. When I reached the turnaround point, I took this shot. A truly beautiful day.
This is the weekly Keeley, but it might be the week we’re most happy about. Our usually rambunctious dog stopped doing anything last night and just lay on the floor. When she moved, she would moan or whine as if she were hurt. Then she vomited her bedtime snack, and that was it. We headed to the emergency vet, but we’re happy now because everything seems to be back to normal. The vet checked her out thoroughly and couldn’t find anything wrong. Of course, when we got to the vet hospital, she suddenly came alive with all the other dogs and cats there. I told Kathleen it was kind of like taking your car to a mechanic because it’s making a weird noise, and then once you arrive, it doesn’t make the noise anymore. But she appears to be back to her usual self this afternoon. This picture, by the way, shows what greets me every time I go somewhere, no matter how long I stay. She’s inside the door to the laundry room that leads to the garage, whining until I come in.
If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough. — Robert Capa
by Jim Bellomo | Aug 10, 2025 | Photography
It was an okay week, featuring photos from Olympia with our grandkids and some nice moments at home. I really struggle to decide what I like best. I’d love to hear what you prefer in the comments. If I had to choose, I’d go with the blue heron in flight. I enjoy wildlife photos, especially action shots because they challenge me.
Don’t forget; if you click the first shot, you can scroll through with your arrow keys or by swiping.
I was out looking for something to photograph today, and lo and behold, a 1941 International Harvester panel van appeared. Who would have ever expected this to be parked in the lot at our Trilogy clubhouse? It’s gorgeous. I had to work to get some reflections off of it and shot it with a very low f/stop to make the background fade out and highlight the car in all its glory.
It’s Saturday, so that means I head to Saturday Market in Redmond for blueberries, tomatoes, and beets. This is our first week with beets, but the blueberries and tomatoes have been fantastic all summer. Besides fruits and vegetables, there are always plenty of people selling flowers. They were so colorful today, I couldn’t resist taking these photos. Enjoy.
I went into downtown Redmond today to pick up groceries and two picture frames for prints we had brought back from Africa. When I stopped in front of the craft store where I bought the frames, I saw a little boy mesmerized by the pinwheels outside. I wish I could find that kind of wonder in everyday life. Ah, to be young again.
On my way home from our August Travel Club meeting, I noticed a beautiful sunset. Since I am seldom out at sunset, I snapped a few shots. This one, where the houses and trees are silhouetted, is my favorite of the bunch. I do wish there had been a few more clouds to catch the colors.
Another day of waiting too long to take a photo. So I grabbed this metal model of a DC-3 we have in our living room. It’s small, but I made it appear larger with my macro lens. This plane is special to us because Kathleen used to fly in one of these when she was with the FAA back in the day.
If you asked us what the best part of our life is, we would say this photo. Our two grandkids and our Keeley. They make us happier than we have a right to be. Spending the last three days with them has been incredible. I will miss my camera-shooting buddies. But we handed them over to their Nanna this morning, and she will carry the torch until their parents are back from Costa Rica.
The kids took Keeley on a walk in downtown Olympia. Saw some really nice herons and the Rainbow Rails bridge. Made me happy to shoot with both of them. My favorite photographers.
I love photography. I love the imagery. I love what I do. —Don McCullin
by Jim Bellomo | Aug 3, 2025 | Photography
Now that we are back, I am resuming my photo a day for the rest of the year. I didn’t post any weekly summaries while we were in Africa, because I figured you had seen all the pictures in my daily posts.
Sometimes, abstract photography can convey the feelings you have. Right now, I feel fed up with this 365 project. It is very hard to go back to shooting at home after three weeks in Africa. So, today, I feel disconnected.
I am still in an abstract, disconnected mood. Can’t say I want to go back to Africa, but I can say I need something better to shoot. Until I figure out what it is and why I am so melancholy and tired, this might be the kind of thing you get.
Two weeks ago, I was shooting the real thing. But this is as close as I can get today. At least we know it was hand-carved and hand-painted in a small village in Namibia that we visited while there. But I still think my actual giraffe photos are better.
A little owl activity tonight. We spotted a couple in our front yard. We think they’re cute. Again, nothing worth writing home to your Mom about.
Kathleen asked me to pick up books for her at the library today. When I got home, I told her I had taken pictures of the library as my photo of the day. She tried to act like it might be interesting, but then I showed her it wasn’t the library where her books came from; it was a tiny library about half a mile from our house. If you’re not familiar with the tiny library concept, it’s a small wooden structure where you can leave a book, take a book, or do both. We have a few around here, but this is the only one I know on Redmond Ridge.
Took the grandkids to the Thurston County Fair today. We are staying with them through Tuesday while their mom and dad head to Costa Rica to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Saw this rabbit and thought it would make a great subject.
Went to a car show with the grandkids today. Got some nice photos of a classic Chevy as well as the hula dancer dashboard ornament, an engine manifold??? and a car painted pink and black that my granddaughter loved.
My favorite this week is probably the plug from Monday. It was all about how disconnected I was from photography after the three weeks and 8,000 photos in Africa.
Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything. —Aaron Siskind
