Friday, December 6, 2013


This photo of Hood River Bridge from near Bingen, Washington is from 2009, but today there is new snow in this area! 



I have another shipment of calendars coming in next week, so let me know if you are interested in ordering one or more for Holiday presents!  You can see all the pics in the various calendar choices on this link by clicking on this calendar pic below.

 2014 calendars and books by Starlisa Black Photography


Tuesday, November 26, 2013

I now have three calendars for 2014, and they are on heavy cardstock with beautiful full color.  You can read about them here... I am taking orders but the shipment is not due in until the second week in December, at which point i will be shipping and delivering calendars like crazy!  Click on the photo to learn the details and see more photos

 2014 Calendar choices

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

I finally finished making my 2014 calendar of images mostly around the Columbia Gorge out to Mount Adams and Mount Hood. You can see the full gallery of images as well as information on ordering the calendar on this page on my primary website.
http://starlisablackphotography.com/books-and-calendars/2014-calendar/



More information on the 2014 calendar

Monday, November 18, 2013

Journey to Nicaragua, and what is True Wealth

Camping with Daddy ;-)

Many years ago I was in a mountain village in Nicaragua with a 14 person work party from Port Townsend, Washington; installing a water system for the village of Teotecacinte'  where children were dying of dysentery.  While working there for 2 weeks we stayed with host families, and my family lived in a small home with open windows (no glass) , a large adobe style wood stove for cooking built into the corner of the small kitchen, and dirt floors. Those dirt floors were ideal for the tiny fire often burning for light while we sat in the evening shucking corn after working hard all day.
     The family I stayed with owned very very little, and I felt like I brought more in my old back pack than most people there even owned.  The children in Teotecacinte worked hard to help their family from the time they could swing a machete or carry a load on their little heads.  These youngsters outworked us big Americans carrying pipes out to lay in the ditches we dug,  or gathering rocks and sand from the Rio Limon' for the concrete that we mixed by hand in a large mound.
     The family I stayed with wanted to send their young daughter back to the US with me to give her a chance in life and we struggled with my broken Spanish to have conversations about the difference in our lives.  To their mind I was obviously rich, after all I had a car and a house.  I tried to explain about things like old cars, rent, electricity bills, car payments, insurance, phone bills, etc , but that was incomprehensible. They no doubt thought I was crazy when I told them having so many things becomes like a chain around our necks weighing us down, with ever increasing debts.
     Yes, their homes and lives were simple, and even a pocket knife I took for granted or a hair clip became valuable gifts to someone with so little.  On the other hand,  I saw their simple lifestyle as a refreshing tranquil life compared to the rat race here.  With no TV or computer they did not have to worry so much about losing power, and were not overwhelmed with tv commercials showing them all the things they could not afford. There were no power saws, or blenders, or electric mixers!
      The electricity  was out several days every week in the village from the weight of Epiphytes (air plants) growing on all the power lines coming to the village from Jalapa.  The weight of the plants would literally pull the wires down on a regular basis.  Cars were seldom seen, people walked everywhere.  The little girls in mi'  casa carried buckets of water from the springs half a mile away home on their heads before school.  As we walked around town people would nod their heads and say "Adio" both coming and going, and reply "Tranquilo" when asked how they were doing.
      All things are relative to where we are and how we see it I guess. The only reason I was able to go with that work party to Nicaragua was with the financial help of other people who paid for my plane ticket.  I grew up in "poverty" according to the Government but my parents taught me I was a princess as a child of God, so I never felt poor with my hand me downs and home made clothes. We headed for the hills a lot, and I felt that my home was a Cathedral of tall trees,  and that we were  pretty rich! We had deer meat and fish, huckleberries and mushrooms, and gardens with canned food, and it was good. Seems like we traded for fresh raw cow's milk from neighbors and it was so delicious and healthy.  Life was not all about making money or accumulating possessions.
      I still am on that low end of things financially, and in reality I don't think much about what others have that I don't, rather I am full of gratitude for the roof over my head thanks to my sister, and for the fact someone gave me a camera and I am able to capture the beauty around me and share it, and even sell some of my photography to supplement my $600 a month income and help pay for my photo addiction.. That is not a large income by U.S. standards, but it allows me to stay home with my sis and take care of her part time. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to have enough money to go to a dentist or other basic things, but then I realize the true riches I have and am grateful.
       A story going around about the distribution of wealth in the United States (with the gap between middle class and poor increasingly broad) brought about many conversations and thoughts from many angles on this subject.  It is fascinating that posting these facts causes many of us to at least contemplate this inequality, with many taking the mindset that things are getting so bad we are heading eventually toward a revolution.  Others point out that even the poorest 10%  of the American population is probably better off than the average person in many other countries, such as Nicaragua., and through hard work a person can still improve their lot in life and at least have enough food  for their families and gas for their cars.  Perhaps they can accumulate even a great deal more, for movies and dinners out, great unimaginable luxuries to so many in the world.
       I prefer to be grateful for what I have rather than jealous of the wealth others have.  Also I will say that my level of "poverty by choice" (which I do not consider to be true poverty at all) allows me the freedom to do things that are more important to me than money, as it did my Father and Mother.   Dad retired from being a mechanic around age 62 and we spent summers traveling to see family or camping in the hills. Like them, I highly value time in the forest and with family and loved ones over the accumulation of more material possessions.  This  allows me to follow the light on occasion, chasing clouds and rainbows, capturing photos that have even begun to bring some money back into the equation as well as bringing peace to myself and to others.  Priceless!!!  Just like my friends in Nicaragua who had to work hard to survive yet were surrounded by tranquility and beauty.  Oh, I should also add, many of the essential items I took with me in my backpack to Nicaragua stayed with my family in Teotecacinte. I also had some of the most fun ever wandering the village like a pied piper blowing bubbles that had all the children following me all the way home, and then they would not leave!  Mama' had to chase them away.
Someday I am going to find the pictures I have from there and scan them.  Then I can tell even more of this old wonderful story and refresh the joy in my heart from meeting these lovely kind hearted tranquil people of the village of Teotecacinte.

Here are a couple links to photos of Teotecacinte I found on Panoramia.com
 Photos by Donatan of the small town of Teotecacinte looks much like it did back in 1989.

Photos by Pablo Sánchez A. includes this great photo of Teotecacinte

Hurray for Family!
Camping with my Daughter


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

PIG BOWL 2013

PIG BOWL 2013….September 28th….7pm Wahtonka Football Field….. The Dalles

The pig bowl is an annual Benefit football game between Washington and Oregon law enforcement agencies. This year two families will be helped. In Washington a family in Goldendale whose husband died and the wife and young mothering 2  had back surgery that failed. She is now the sole breadwinner for the family. In Oregon a young man named Donovan has stage four Hodgkin's disease. He will be going to Seattle for a four month treatment involving bone marrow transplant. You can attend the game in The Dalles for $3 dollars an individual or $10 family. All food being sold at the game was donated and sales will benefit the families. 
This is a flag football game, with a twist. Points for both teams may be purchased at the game, or online at 

www.pigbowl.net

Right now Oregon is ahead so come on Washington, $5 gets a point plus an oink sound over the PA system at the game, $25 gets a field goal, and $50 gets a touchdown seven points. 
At the game itself there will be a bounce house for the children, displays and information by search and rescue, and other such fun

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Wildflowers At Bird Creek Meadows

Marsh Marigolds Along the 9 trail to the meadows near Mount Adams. 

 



Several shades of Indian paintbrush


Bear Grass was prolific this year. 

Shooting Stars


Heather


Pussy Toes


Big Orchid

Bear Grass by Bird Creek Falls


Sunday, July 7, 2013

Bird Creek Meadows on Mount Adams Opening Monday July 8

Bear Grass has such intriguing blossoms, and they are thick this year! These images were all taken July 3, 2013
This is taken up by the locked gate to Bird Creek Meadows by Mount Adams... and that gate will open for the season Monday Morning early! The area is managed by the Yakama Tribe, and is part of what they call Tract D. A $5 entry fee is good for vehicle and passengers, for 5 days. Several trails climb up into the Alpine Meadows and while there may still be snow in patches it is leaving fast. Ask the rangers for a trail map.
If you choose to camp in the park, it is $10 a night still (in addition to the entry fee) and that includes 12 pieces of firewood. There is also a fishing fee, seems like maybe $5 for 3 days but not positive there. Rangers live onsite in trailers, and have been known to rescue people who get lost and such.
The road in is rough, and has been known to eat small car oil pans, however I have seen many low clearance cars do just fine if they pay attention and drive slowly. Mosquitoes can be fierce so be prepared with repellent. Also remember to drink plenty of water and use a hat or sunscreen.
There are 3 lakes with campsites around them, Mirror Lake, Bird Lake, Bench Lake. Also a lovely lake up the trails called Bluff Lake. However there is no camping anywhere except designated lake campsites and Sunrise Camp up on Mount Adams. That requires its own registration.
The lakes are stocked occasionally with huge high altitude trout.
BirdCreek_Bee-Lupine_9006-1
Bird Creek Falls by the entrance gate
BirdCreekFalls_9048-2
A Heart for you
BirdCreek_Heart_9543-1
If you ever see cows on the trails notify the Rangers please! They will notify the ranchers who will bring horses up and cow dogs to chase them out.
BirdCreek_cow_9565-1
BirdCreek_BearGrass_9493-1BirdCreek_BearGrass_9555-1
BirdCreek_BalancedStones_9540-1

HAPPY HIKING!

Also my show at Skyline Hospital in White Salmon is now on display in the main corridor,
IMG_0609IMG_0610
as well as more images down the hall into the old part of the hospital in the Visiting Doctors waiting room. Still more of my photographs hang in the North Shore Clinic  across the parking lot from the hospital.
Saturday Markets have started in Trout Lake, and I will be selling books, cards and some prints there. Please see my CONTACT and ABOUT page in the links to the right for more information.  To purchase prints and view more galleries click on this link:   PURCHASE PRINTS ;-)

To see detailed images showing my photo books start at this page:  Books and Calendars
You can also contact me directly for orders at starlisa.black@gmail.com
thank you for the visit!

Friday, May 10, 2013

Wild Horses Can't Drag Me Away

I recently got a chance to get a few shots of a couple wild bears and many wild horses.  The series is posted on my wordpress blog, and you can go see it here http://starlisablackphotography.com/2013/05/10/wild-horses-couldnt-drag-me-away/
This made me dream about a bigger zoom lens!

here is a photo for this page as well!




Monday, April 22, 2013

Flight of the Red Tail Hawk

I happen to be very fond of Raptors, and especially Red Tail Hawks.  Recently I caught one in a tree by the road where I was able to stop, and got this series of shots, in Bingen, Washington.








 For more interesting information on these Hawks you can look here

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Massive Gallery Sale!

This week only all of my images hanging at the White Salmon community library in White Salmon , Washington are marked down 40%. My computer died and I am trying to get to my aunt's funeral in Utah and I need to raise money. There are about 38 images on the walls ranging from frame size 11 x 14 and 16 x 24 up to 0 x 30 metal prints and 24 x 36 thin wraps All signed works and all 40% off through the end of March.

You can also see more of my work with links to Flickr and Facebook at www.starlisa.net







Friday, March 15, 2013

Something About Horses

Ever since I was a child I loved horses.. Never did get to own one, or even ride them more than a handful of wonderful moments, but that never stopped me from adoring powerful and beautiful creatures, and petting them any opportunity I can find.
This first photo is one i took back in 2007 in Trout Lake, a brief moment in the playful dance these two had choreographed spontaneously.  This first image became my dedication image on Flickr in honor of my Mother and Father, Claude and Nina Black, and has been seen around the world for 6 years now over 26,600 times.



As a Third Grader in school I learned to draw horses from my sister in law, and went on to teach my class the tricks of the trade.  Later in life I got to ride my friends big red Arabian Racehorse, Damascus, while he ran out of control and I stayed on!  Now i just pet and hug any horse that will come close enough to the fence and allow me to do so.