Astoria, A Great Little Fishing Town Along the Columbia River...

Sunset, Astoria ©Lynne Buchanan

Sunset Geometry ©Lynne Buchanan

When I was in Oregon for a Flash Powder retreat, we went into Astoria on two different occasions.  Located along the Columbia River, this fishing town has a great vibe and lots to look at.  The sunsets we saw both nights were wonderful, one we saw from down by the piers and the other from the top of the column.  

Sunset from the Column, Astoria ©Lynne Buchanan

Breaking Rays, Astoria ©Lynne Buchanan

There were lots of interesting pilings covered in green algae that made interesting patterns along the shoreline.  In the daytime, the emerald hues called the most attention, while at dusk they created patterns that lead towards the horizon.

Algae Covered Piers, Astoria ©Lynne Buchanan

Last Light Astoria ©Lynne Buchanan

The seals were hiding on the plants under the buildings on stilts.  They made lots of noise and found their way into lots of unusual patterns.  It was difficult to photograph them with the shadow and light, but then this one seal came right underneath me and kept looking up.  The light caught him perfectly making his whiskers appear golden.

Seal in Repose ©Lynne Buchanan

Decomposing Dock ©Lynne Buchanan

One of the things that fascinated me most about Astoria was all the old docks and patterns created by the decomposing docks.  I can't wait to use these images as transfers in my multimedia paintings.  The textures were incredible.

Wall Painting, Astoria ©Lynne Buchanan

Old Car, Astoria ©Lynne Buchanan

There were lots of quirky things in Astoria too. The wall painting with the fish and cat above had some weird hovering beings in the shadows.  The old car below actually must still run, because the first time we were in town we saw it here and the next time it was on another street.  Amazing.

First Signs of Spring ©Lynne Buchanan

The first signs of spring were on the trees and filled me with such happiness, especially silhouetted against a blue sky with fluffy white clouds.  Last time I was in the Pacific Northwest it was raining constantly by the time I left, so I was very grateful for the beautiful weather on this trip.