Kitsap Frames

Yikes, can’t believe I haven’t posted any of my Hipstamatic Views From the “Office” yet this year! My goodness, I apologize for my slacking and promise to be better at sharing these random photos shot with the Hipstamatic app on my iPhone while I’m on assignment.

Here’s a catch-up of a few:

“Tree Climbing Competition” by Meegan M. Reid

“Sidewalk Sale Flowers” by Meegan M. Reid

“Stennis Welcome Home Wave” by Meegan M. Reid

“Tree Climbing Competition Silhouette” by Meegan M. Reid

“Sail Team Practice” by Meegan M. Reid

“Just Clucking Around” by Meegan M. Reid

“Kites Over Kingston” by Meegan M. Reid

“Hipsty View From Norm Dicks Building” by Meegan M. Reid

“Michigan Beer Love at Sound Brewery” by Meegan M. Reid

“Mannequin Parts” by Meegan M. Reid

“Mannequin gets new hairdo” by Meegan M. Reid

“Get Out Of My Garden!” by Meegan M. Reid

“Point No Point” by Meegan M. Reid

“Lilly The Kingston Food Bank Mascot” by Meegan M. Reid

“Whimsical Pool Murals Are Closer Than They Appear” by Meegan M. Reid

“Gas Station Dog Says Hello” by Meegan M. Reid

“Trawlin’ The Hood” by Megan M. Reid

“Creatures From The Floor of the Hood Canal” by Meegan M. Reid

“Hipsty High Jump” by Meegan M. Reid

One never know what kind of photos are going to present themselves when a tree takes out a power pole and then sets a funeral home on fire, so of course I didn’t expect to see a firefighter handing off an urn to another firefighter as they removed the remains inside the funeral home and loaded them into an employees car.

A firefighter hands off an urn to a fellow firefighter as they gather remove remains from the smoking Tuell-McKee Funeral and Cremation Services on Auto Center Way, after a wind knocked down a tree which than took down a power pole and ignited the building on fire on Monday, May 13, 2013. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

This upcoming weekend (May 17th-19th) kick starts the summer of festivals, so I thought, why not have a Festival Fun themed photo challenge!

So your challenge, if you choose to accept it of course, its to show me your best photo taken from any of the festivals, events etc. happening in the next three weeks. And there are plenty of things going on for example:

May 13th-18th. Port Townsend Rhododendron Festival

May 17th-19th Viking Festival

May 18th. Armed Forces Day Parade

May 25th. Kitsap Harbor Festival

May 26th. Port Orchard Seagull Calling Festival

June 1st. Port Gamble June Faire

So grab that camera as you are heading out to watch a parade or taking the kids to ride the carnival rides.

Entries may be uploaded via the “Upload Kitsap Frames Photo Challenges here.” link over on the right hand side of this page or you may email them to me if you prefer : mreid@kitsapsun.com.

YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR REAL NAME SOMEWHERE IN THE EMAIL TO ME OR ON THE UPLOAD FORM, I will not credit photos to FishingIsMyLife@yahoohotmailgmail.com

Stand-outs will be chosen and published in an upcoming print edition of the Kitsap Sun.

Here are a few from our archives from a few of the festivals listed:

The Central Kitsap Marching Band marches down Fourth Street duiring the Armed Forces Day Parade in Bremerton, Wash. on Saturday, May 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Kitsap Sun, Meegan M. Reid)

Crew members of the USS Kentucky makes their way down Fourth Street for the Armed Forces Day Parade in Bremerton, Wash. on Saturday, May 19, 2012. (AP Photo/Kitsap Sun, Meegan M. Reid)

Armed Forces Day Parade in Bremerton May 19, 2012. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

Armed Forces Day Parade in Bremerton May 19, 2012. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

Marli Stodden munches on a dorito as she watches the Armed Forces Day Parade in Bremerton on May 19, 2012. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

Bremerton High School Marching Band flute player Autumn Bondy,16, performs at the Armed Forces Day Parade in downtown Bremerton. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN

Courtney Walker,center, and her husband Andy Maxey from Bremerton watch the Mountain View Middle School Squire band march up Fourth Street at the Armed Forces Day Parade in downtown Bremerton. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN

Children on one of the many floats in attendance wave to parade goers as they travel through downtown Poulsbo on Saturday. (MEEGAN M. REID/KITSAP SUN)

Holly Beaudoin, 8, wears her viking helmet while she watches the Viking Fest Parade travel through downtown Poulsbo, WA on Saturday, May 21, 2011 (Meegan M. Reid/Kitsap Sun)

Viking Festival. (MEEGAN M. REID/KITSAP SUN)

May 29, 2011: Autumn Brown sported a Seagull calling costume while she attempted to call the birds onto the beach at the 23rd annual Seagull calling contest in Port Orchard, WA. (JESSE BEALS/ SPECIAL TO THE KITSAP SUN)

Carolyn J. Yaschur | Kitsap Sun
Nine-year-old Mackenzie Smith of Port Orchard used her vocal talents to attract seagulls at Saturday’s Port Orchard Seagull Calling Festival on the city waterfront. It was the 20th year of the quirky event.

David Baggott of Seattle battles a contestant in the armor combat at the June Faire in Port Gamble on Saturday. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN

Jack Crockett of Bremerton takes a rest after armor combat at the June Faire in Port Gamble on Saturday. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN

Allurinda of Tacoma who is dressed in a Middle Eastern costume uses a modern digital camera to take photos at the June Faire in Port Gamble on Saturday. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN

The reigning King Quentin Baker from Chilliwack British Columbia, Canada watches the armor battles at the June Faire in Port Gamble on Saturday. LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN

Nice job on the Spring Has Sprung challenge everyone! We had a lot of entries depicting blooming flowers (which is of course to be expected) but also a lot of other subjects, including a pile of slinkys (springs) in the green grass since I do always encourage “out of the box” creativity on these, kudos go out to the slinky photographer.

Remember, there aren’t any winners or losers, I just pick a few photos and explain why they “stand-out” to me for various reasons. So without further ado, here are my stand-outs which will be published in the print edition of the Kitsap Sun on Sunday, May 12th:

“Sharing Her Easter Basket” by Ashley Keil

I like photos that make me go “Awwww” and a little girl sharing her Easter basket with a pair of goats is definitely worthy of an “Awwww”. Besides the cuteness factor, the image is well composed with Dora the Explorer Easter eggs in the foreground and the goats and youngster balancing out and filling the frame almost perfectly.

“A Young Frond Unrolling” by Megan Henry

This frame has fabulous texture! And the texture combined with the composition convey what the image is even though it is in black and white and lacking the frond’s signature green color.  It’s a beautiful shot.

“Coastal Spring” by Lea Bessler

I think this image sums up a Pacific Northwest Spring just perfectly. Sure it’s cloudy, maybe a little stormy and windy out there at times but we all still strike this exact same pose and smile up at the sky once the calendar strikes April/May. I love the expression and the pose of the subject as well as the composition of the Spring reveler which is slightly off center and gesturing towards the sea on the other side of the frame.

“In Bloom” by Mistey Neff

Of course the majority of entries were of spring blooms, I mean it is that time of year. I like the composition of this image and the shallow depth of field, but mostly I enjoy how the flower looks to be missing a few petals or maybe the petals have yet to catch up with the growth of the rest of the plant. It’s not a “perfect” flower and I like that.

“Mackey Loves The Hose” by Elvina Bueno

With her arm entering the frame from the bottom right corner, the viewer gets Elvina’s exact point of view as she sprays her dog with the hose.

Alright since the weather outside this week is now Summer, instead of Spring, I think we shall close down the “Spring Has Sprung” photo challenge. Nice job everyone. I’ll start my pondering and post “Stand-Outs” tomorrow.

Until then, here are a few of the last entries that filtered in:

“Mackey Loves The Hose” by Elvina Bueno

“Rikker” by Jack C. Harpel

“USS John C. Stennis, Welcome Home” by Jack C. Harpel

“Anna Up A Tree” by Jack C. Harpel

“Throwing Rocks” by Jack C. Harpel

“Escort Boats For The Stennis” by Jack C. Harpel

“Tulip 2013″ by maipema

“Untitled” by keil.ashley33

“Untitled” by keil.ashley33

“My Spring Fun!” by Mistey Neff

“My Spring Fun!” by Mistey Neff

“My Spring Fun!” by Mistey Neff

“My Spring Fun!” by Mistey Neff

“Star Trails” by Mistey Neff

“Pollinators For The Fruits And Flowers” by Kim Demko

“Our Mt. Rainier” by Jim55

“Why Seattle Is #1″ by Jim55

“My Spring Fun”! by Mistey Neff

“My Spring Fun”! by Mistey Neff

“My Spring Fun”! by Mistey Neff

“My Spring Fun”! by Mistey Neff

“Full Moon” by Mistey Neff

“Father Lappe Giving First Communion” by Patty Marz

“Narcissus Flowers Covered In Morning Dew” By Theresa Borne

“Crocuses” By Theresa Borne

“Untitled” by Brenda Ryon

“Frog On Flower” by Brenda Ryon

“Baxter Laying in the Sun” by Elvina Bueno

“Boxers” by Elvina Bueno

“Drop” by Zoe Wiltz

Flowers by James Apodaca

“Geese” by
Elvina Bueno

” Goin’ With The Flow” by Joey Helland

“Spring ride in Williams canyon” by Noelle Morris

“Spring Eagles” by Justin Sharrett

Lady’s Mantle and rain drops by Janet Neill

“Land Ho!” by Joey Helland

“Lovely Faces” by
Janet Neill

“Mountain” by Hayden Johnson

“Spanish Bells” by
Janet Neill

“Spring” by Cody Arns

Spring by Aaron Shouldis

Spring by Anna Flood

“spring” by John Wright

“Spring” by Meghan Weathers

Sun Worshippers by Joey Helland

The Itsy Bitsy Spider by Joey Helland

“The kid in all of us” by Grace Garguile

Sun, families, clear skies and kites…..by Cindee Still

A much awaited Hero’s welcome by Cindee Still

“Sunsets and Do you see the smiling frog?” by PaulPhoto12249

“Sea Shell Hunting at The Sea Shore” by Jack C. Harpel

“Short Sleeves, Sunglasses, Must be Summer” by Jack C. Harpel

“My Spring Fun!” by Mistey Neff

In the crazy busyness of Friday…and Saturday… I never got around to posting a few of my favorite photos from the Stennis homecoming last week.

So here they are a few days late, my apologies:

Jacob James nuzzles his 5-month-old daughter Annabelle after arriving on the USS John C. Stennis at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on Friday, May, 3, 2013. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

Sailor Brandon Rimes kisses his wife Sam after the couple were reunited on the pier after the USS John C. Stennis docked at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on Friday, May, 3, 2013. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

Sailors look out of a porthole in the side of the USS John C. Stennis as it docks at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on Friday, May, 3, 2013. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

Jason Griffin holds his 6-month-old daughter Jordynn for the first time after the USS John C. Stennis docked at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton in Bremerton, Wash. on Friday, May 3, 2013. (AP PHOTO/ Kitsap Sun, Meegan M. Reid)

Sailors man the rails as the USS John C. Stennis docks at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on Friday, May, 3, 2013. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

Loren Berberich, 11, uses binoculars to search for his father Michael as sister Rosellen, 9, uses a camera during the homecoming of the USS John C. Stennis at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on Friday, May 3, 2013. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

Sarah James greets her husband Jacob with a kiss as she holds their 5-month-old daughter Annabelle after he arrived on the USS John C. Stennis at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, in Bremerton, Wash. on Friday, May, 3, 2013. It was the first time he had met his daughter.(MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

Victoria Baty rushes across the pier with son Maximus in her arms as she heads to meet her husband Justin at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on Friday, May, 3, 2013. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

USS John C. Stennis returns from deployment to Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on Friday, May, 3, 2013. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

A sailor stands on deck of the USS John C. Stennis after it docked at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton on Friday, May, 3, 2013. (MEEGAN M. REID / KITSAP SUN)

Alright so how are those “Spring Has Sprung” photo challenge entries coming along?

A question was asked about the usage rights for these challenges…in laymen terms, someone wanted to know if we we would be stealing the photos and using them all willy nilly like on billboards and calendars etc.

The answer is no, The Kitsap Sun will not take the photo you enter and use it for advertising or sell reprints of the photo etc. The only time your photo will be used is: 1) posted here on the blog as an entry and 2) published in the paper if it is chosen as a “stand-out”. So call off the lawyers, and take the watermark off of your photos because I promise the Sun and I are not out to steal your photos.

Deadline is May 6th and my goodness the weather is going to be AMAZING this weekend so I’m expecting tons of entries by the time I arrive to the office Monday morning.

So here are a few of the entries we’ve received thus far, and remember NAMES PEOPLE, I NEED AN ACTUAL REAL NAME ON THE PHOTO UPLOAD OR IN THE EMAIL YOU SEND and don’t be afraid to think “outside of the box” and show me some creativity in your interpretation of this theme:

“Coastal Spring” by Lea Bessler

“Spring Has Sprung” by yolo_pancakemix

“Spring Blossoms on Wilbert” by Patty Marz

“Spotted Towhee” by Jim55

“Boioioing!” by Lea Bessler

“Spring Blossoms” by Patty Marz

“Spring Rainbow” by Connie Bickerton

“Full Moon” by Jim55

“Flowering Red Currant” by Connie Bickerton

“Predator” by Terry Cooper

“Spring Calves” by Jack C. Harpel

“Spring Flower on Wilbert Ave.” by Patty Marz

“Spring Colors” by Jim55

“Spring Has Sprung Shadow” by Steven Gardner (SUN STAFF)

“Spring Has Sprung Flower” by Steven Gardner (SUN STAFF)

“First Tulip” by Jack C. Harpel

“New Life” by Terry Cooper

“Spring Calf Stretching After A Nap” by Jack C. Harpel

“Discovering The World” by rustandrea

“Taking A Peek” by Lea Bessler

“Barnacle Lawn” by Lea Bessler\

“Brothers Mts. And Spring Blossoms” by Patty Marz

“A Young Frond Unrolling” by Megan Henry

“Spring Seeds” by Terry Cooper

“Dew Drops” by Terry Cooper

“King Of The Perch” by Jim55

“Olympic Mountains” by Selah Kay

“Harborside Fountain Park” by Kitsap Portraits

“Spring At Seabeck Marina” by Lisa Thompson

That Larry, he sure does love taking photos of the moon, and his “bird against the moon silhouettes” are always amazing!

So amazing, that I’ve come to the conclusion that he drives around with various bird shaped cardboard cut-outs and he just stages them around town in various places so he always has a bird shape to shoot against the moon.

A bird is perched on a wire as the full moon rises Tuesday evening in Bremerton. (LARRY STEAGALL / KITSAP SUN)