The western coast of Washington state has been pounded by storm after storm for the last 25 days. As a result, a full day, or even a few hours of sunlight has been a rarity in Seattle. This effect, compounded by the incredibly short days of winter here, has certainly impacted my mood during what is meant to be the most joyous time of the year.
Here is to hoping that this will change over the next few weeks, both from the increasing length of day, and from a change in weather patterns.
Meanwhile, here is an image from a prior winter in Seattle during a remarkably crisp winter day.
Seattle
WA USA
The Square of Forty-Five
Welcome to 2025. We are now closer to 2050 than we are to the turn of the millennia. Let that sink in.
So much has changed in the last 25 years. I still remember the birth of 2000 with the Y2K scares, the rise of the dot-com economy (eventually leading to its collapse in the following year), the growth in popularity of cell-phones as a technology and many more. In the intervening years between then and now, we invented snazzy new smartphones, made advancements in AI, healthcare, medicine, and many more, all while dealing with multiple financial crises, multiple pandemics, and a more volatile geopolitical arena. Now, 25 years later, we are still dealing with some of the ramifications of those developments, including the middle-east quagmire, a tech-bubble in AI and more.
Who knows what the next 25 years will bring....
But in the meantime, let us enjoy the present. The Space Needle finally presented an amazing fireworks display and we were lucky to avoid any weather disruption.
Seattle
WA USA
On Fire
This December in Seattle has been one of the more gloomier winters, with storm after storm bringing overcast skies and drenching the coast and mountains with rain. Compared to this, 2023 was host to a many more sunny days with colorful sunrises and sunsets. This was one of the many dramatic sunrises in Seattle from 12 months ago where the reds were very intense straight out of the camera.
Seattle
WA USA
And vibrant cities
There is something unique about the urban life in many of the Western European cities. The activity and urban life I witnessed during my few brief jaunts to different cities left me longing for such a similar hub of activity. And I wondered what it was that created that feeling.
I realized that it really centered around exploring the old-towns in the country, replete with timber-frame housing dating back centuries, listening alternately to the harsh clanging of church bells and the melodious sounds of the choir, the vibrant street-music and colorful shops, and sipping on refreshing tipples in biergartens and wineries.
While not every place I visited had the entire gamut of experiences, most did. And Colmar, pictured here, came pretty close. And I was often torn between being a photographer documenting the scene, and enjoying the moment.
Colmar
Alsace, France
Of Distant Lands
The very first time I had seen photos of the Köln cathedral and the Hohenzollern bridge, I knew that I would want to see it in person. It took me a long time to get there, but the vision of the scene kept me focused.
This is true not only of photography, but other aspects of life as well. As long as the vision is concrete, and the path is clear, the objective can be achieved. The one thing to keep in mind is one has to enjoy the journey, or process, of getting there.
I truly enjoyed the contrast in culture and scenery I had experienced in my journey through Germany. For my young mind, it truly felt like I was in a land very distant from home.
Köln
North Rhine - Westphalia, Germany
Turkish Delights
The cavernous ceilings of Istanbul's mosques covered spartan interiors, the only embellishments being Arabic script with beautiful gold embellishments and floral patterns that stretched from floor to ceiling. The naturally ventilated mosques provided a welcome respite from the hot sun of mid-summer outside. In contrast, the Royal Palace was an exercise in lack of self-restraint, showcasing an over-indulgence of embellishments and decorations that yet were tastefully done.
It was a reminder that opulence of the gilded age in European castles continued to be a major influence in the styling of the Royal Palace. And of the strong contrast from the confluence of western designs and eastern culture. Istanbul is one of the few places that one can experience this amalgam in a single day.
Istanbul
Turkey
Pike Place Colors
A couple of weeks ago during one of those dazzling winter sunsets, the sky turned to a fiery spectacle. Bands of colorful clouds arced across the entire sky, turning slowly from yellows to reds to purples as the sunset progressed. While walking around the market, I found the blazing sign of Pike Place Market highlighting the fiery colors behind it. Composing this frame while minding vehicular traffic and people proved to be a challenge.
Seattle
WA USA
Kodachrome color
The winter in Seattle has been upping its game with spectacular sunrises and sunsets over the last few days. While I missed out on some of the action, I was still able to catch a decent bit of color.
Here is one from a foggy morning where the fog almost managed to play spoilsport, clearing just in time for the colors in the sky to shine through.
Seattle
WA USA
The Medina
My heart goes out to the people of Morocco who have been affected by the terrible tragedy that occurred last week. During my travel there, I was struck by the kindness and hospitality, the richness of their history, and their way of life rooted in tradition. Walking around the medina was an experience where all my senses got overwhelmed: the fragrant smells of spices, the dine of the street hawkers, the colorful fabrics, carpets and leather goods and so much more. I can only imagine how terribly these places were impacted.
The people of Morocco are resilient. I hope they pull through this difficult time.
Marrakech
Morocco
The lollipop swirl
The ferris wheel in Seattle often features patterns relevant to current affairs. On Valentines day, it featured a red heart, and for the majority of 2022, it featured the Ukrainian flag. But on this day, it featured a pattern I had never seen before - a spiral pattern that reminded me of a lollipop with a swirl. And so, even though the sunset burn wasn't as colorful, the ferris wheel more than made up for it.
Seattle
WA USA