Plans for 2013

Yes, I know it's been a while. Blogging is actually a lot harder than it seems, because there are times when you just can't think of anything to say. You'd think that wouldn't be a problem for a jabberjaw like me, but I guess writing uses a different, less-effusive language center in my brain (my memory of biology is sketchy, but I seem to remember Broca's region and Wernicke's region. I don't remember which one does what... but I digress)

I have been experimenting in the studio with some sculpture ideas, expanding on my use of recycled metal components and bent wire to also include old circuit boards. This is probably going to take quite a long time, since I have to de-solder all the old boards I've gotten ahold of, dye them the colors I want (since they're all green), cut them to the shapes that I need, and teach myself how to solder the shapes into place using a copper foil normally used for making stained glass windows. I have plans for a bejewelled tortoise, a Tiffany-inspired table lamp, a dragon emerging from an egg, a jewelry box and some simple luminaria (which I will probably make first, since they'll (theoretically) be the easiest. If there are any requests out there for things I should make, by all means let me know and I'll see what I can do. As work progresses, I'll post updates, but expect it to be slow-going.

On the photography front, I will be providing photography services for Chris's "Mentoring Movement" event in April (click here for tickets and information ), and I also plan to take a weekend in April to cruise through the Palouse, focusing more on the very southeastern corner of Washington and maybe wandering into Idaho and northeastern Oregon. May is kind of shot, with weekend work at the day job and Seattle Symphony Chorale performances ( If you're interested in tickets, click here ), so I won't be able to leave town until June. If my schedule allows, I'd like to get to the Olympic Peninsula in June, shooting both along the coast as well as in the rainforest (Hoh river valley, as well as on up to Hurricane Ridge). And...

(fanfare)

... plans are now set in stone for my trip to Alaska in July! I'll fly out to Lake Clark National Park for several days of photographing Alaskan brown bears during the summer months when any new cubs should be out and about, food is plentiful and the bears are less likely to try to eat me. I'm pretty stoked, and I'll be sure to let you know when the new photos are up and available.

In the meantime, I'm offering a sale on prints on my Photoshelter site. Go to mikeuyyek.photoshelter.com and browse my galleries. Enter coupon code "summerfun" at checkout and receive 40% off your entire order! (Lets just see who's a good blog reader and finds this deal!) To get you started, here are some snowy owls I found last month out near the Washington coast. Enjoy!
Snowy owls - Images by Michael Uyyek