| The above will search Ashland Daily Photo. |
A little over a month ago, Ashland looked like this from the trail that switches back and forth in Hald Strawberry Park. The scene isn’t as pretty now, but the landmarks of the Ashland Springs Hotel and the Elizabethan Theater in the OSF complex are still there of course. I should try this shot again the next time it snows in town.
It’s not everyday that you get the chance to stand on the roof of a two-story, Victorian Italianate house built in 1883 near downtown Ashland. When that opportunity affords itself on a day (near the end of autumn) when half the town is getting rained on and the other half is under a bright blue sky you count yourself lucky. Today’s photo is about a 300 degree panorama I photomerged together. For loads more details click on the above image. Depending on your browser you may want to click on it again for even more detail. See if you can find the Ashland Springs Hotel, Wagner Butte, the Historic Ashland Armory, and Grizzly Peak. If you look really closely you can also see Puck’s Donuts, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Modern Barber Shop, and the Ashland Wine Cellar.
The temperature in Ashland has dropped over the past week or two. It no longer feels like summer, and that means no more Green Show before the OSF plays at night. This past weekend featured the last Green Show acts of the 2012 season. Saturday night’s performers were a touring troupe known as the Mud Bay Jugglers. These three pictured here were backed by a four-piece band, and they put on a great show.
I first saw Mitsuki Dazai perform at the free Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show two years ago. She came down from Eugene last year too, but I was out of the country so I missed it. A few nights back she performed again, and I was fortunate enough to attend this time.
I’ll post another photo of Mitsuki Dazai on my Japan-related blog.
Pirates and Nuns at Ashland Halloween Parade
“Jesus Loves You But I’m His Favorite” reads the nun’s t-shirt. The posters in the background are for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (OSF) which just wrapped up its 2011 season last week.
Elizabethan stage at OSF enjoying the sunset
Even though I live in a “theater town” I must admit that I am easily bored by play going. Tourists come to Ashland and watch five or more plays on their mini-vacations. I have a tough time making it through a single performance a year. Such was the case a couple weeks ago when we went to see “The Pirates of Penzance.” Everyone in the audience seemed to love this musical. After the first few minutes I was longing to be anywhere else.
The best part, by far, of this experience for me was watching the sunset behind the Elizabethan Stage. The stars then came out, and the Big Dipper was perfectly framed (from my seat) by the opening in the theater.
You’ll be able to catch Hamfist again at the Green Show on September 7.
I really wish I had captured a video of their cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “Are You Experienced?” No joke. They covered Hendrix in bluegrass style.
Hamfist played a couple nights back at the Green Show. I’m not a huge bluegrass music fan myself, but live it is pretty fun stuff.
Sequoia Pearson
The band members all work (or worked) for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Many years ago I played on the OSF softball team. Ezra (EZ on the right of the above photo) was also on the team at the time.
I have a bunch more photos, but only three videos, so this will wrap up On Ensemble at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival Green Show for now. The guys seemed to be having a really good time performing. Shoji Kameda, above, was laughing while playing at this point in the show.
This last video I took with my new 50mm lens. Hence, there is no zooming in and out. I don’t see any improvement in quality vs. my 18-200mm lens, but if the lighting wasn’t as good this lens may have been a better a choice. Actually, with the VR (vibration reduction) on the 18-200mm lens (since these were hand held videos) I think the 18-200mm VR provides a better image (in addition to the versatility) for video in good lighting.
