El Dorado Motel Baker City, Oregon

El Dorado Motel Baker City, Oregon, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

When I travel I much rather stay at some older motel with character than most of the cookie cutter places that are way too common today.

On a trip last year we stayed at this motel in Baker City, Oregon. Baker City is home to several unique lodging locations but this one is right off Interstate 84 on Oregon Highway 7 and convenient for our late arrival.

While the rooms could use some sound insulation and the continental breakfast was nothing to write home about, we had a nice short stay before continuing our trip.

Portland Streetcar at Portland State

Portland Streetcar at Portland State, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

In my last posting I mentioned how it had been three years since I came to Portland for a conference that would lead to me actually moving here to Portland.

Here is another once of those photos that makes me think about that trip three years ago. The day after I arrived in Portland for the conference I had a free day so I planned to walk the city using walks created by Laura Foster in her books "Portland City Walks" and "Portland Hill Walks" both of which I highly recommend.

That day I walk to this very spot and took a picture of a streetcar approaching this very spot. Little did I know that I would become very familiar with this spot. Since a year ago June I have been attending Portland State and have had classes in the building to the right and left behind the streetcar. I have also spent time in the Park Blocks which are on either side of the streetcar.

Just goes to show that sometimes a picture is can be more than just a picture of something but can have meaning and possibly for things we don't think of when we take the picture.

Party in the Park, Beaverton, Oregon

Party in the Park, Beaverton, Oregon, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

I did not realize how long it has been since I posted a photo on my blog, but that is now going to change.

My first picture in a log time is from a band that played at Party in the Park which is big party sponsored by the city of Beaverton and takes place in July.

Unfortunately the band was placed in a bad position for taking photos but I think the photo still came out pretty good. I have not tried taking pictures of bands too many times before so what do you think?

Mobile Artist Studio

Mobile Artist Studio, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

I decided to spend the first Saturday in March walking around downtown seeing what I could find to interest me to photograph.

I walk around for a little while till I saw people near the Portland Saturday Market. I thought the market didn't open until late March but as it turns out it opens the first Saturday in March.

This guy has a cool set up. He has turned his bicycle into a mobile studio and gallery. You can see he is painting on one side of the bike and has paintings available for sale on the other side. Talk about being creative.

Related articles

• 39th season of Portland Saturday Market opens this weekend (oregonlive.com)

Lovely home in Portland Heights

Home in Portland Heights,, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

This lovely home sits in the Portland Heights area of Portland. Many of the homes in this area are very lovely but I love the classic architecture of this particular home.

Anyone want a locomotive?

Abandoned Locomotive, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

This locomotive belongs to the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad. The railroad has been shut down since a devastating storm a few years ago.

Apparently this locomotive was abandoned in Timber, Oregon since that day.

Hungry??

Voodoo Donuts Neon Sign, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

Voodoo Donuts is a downtown Portland institution that is known for its long lines along with its donuts.

Lines can often be a block long to get in the place. Although I have never had them I have heard they are wonderful.

Today I passed by there and although the place was packed there was no line and it was so tempting to try some donuts out.

You also have the wonderful neon sign.

The Goonies Home

The Goonies Home, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

I always like the movie "The Goonies" and is probably one the reasons I like the Astoria area so much.

The Bucket is Gone...

Closed KFC in Tigard, Oregon, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

No getting a bucket of KFC at this place. This former KFC sat not too far from my school and home but was torn down shortly after I took these pictures.

That is one of the reasons I always try to get pictures when I can. You never know if there will be a "next time". I have missed too many opportunities over the years. At least this time I got the picture before the bulldozers took it away.

Steam Train in Rockaway Beach 2

steam Train in Rockaway Beach, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

Here is another shot of the steam train sitting in Rockaway Beach, Oregon.

Like that a breeze was blowing both the US and Oregon state flags.

Steam Train in Rockaway Beach

steam Train in Rockaway Beach, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

Now that I am back living in Oregon, trips to the Oregon Coast are a necessity since we are not living directly on the coast itself.

One of my favorite places on the coast is Rockaway Beach. Rockaway Beach is on the Port of Tillamook Railroad which suspended operations back in 2007 after a storm heavily damaged a portion of the line.

However, there is still a tourist train running from Girahaldi to Rockaway Beach using a steam locomotive from California.

Here is a shot of the train sitting at Rockaway Beach before returning to its point of orgin.

Steam Train in Rockaway Beach

Steam Train in Rockaway Beach, a photo by Dornoff Photography on Flickr.

Took a trip over to the Oregon Coast to celebrate my friend's birthday. While in Rockaway Beach had the opportunity to capture the Oregon Coast Scenic Railway making its run from Garibaldi to Rockaway Beach.

The tracks belong to the Port of Tillamook Railway that has not seen service since its line was heavily damaged in a severe storm several years ago and the Port used the FEMA money on other projects instead of restoring rail service.

TRAX train in Sandy during a snow storm

TRAX train in Sandy during a snow storm
Originally uploaded by Dornoff Photography

This was the first picture I ever posted on Flickr and one of the early pictures I took with a HP 735 camera I bought while working at Officemax during Christmas 2003.

When I first bought the camera (thanks to HP supply problems and their employee partner program they paid me to buy the camera and a photo printer), I mostly used it for taking photos of stuff I was putting on Ebay.

However, soon enough I was trying different types of shots while still using my film cameras.

This camera bit the dust about 18 months ago when something in the SD card slot broke and wouldn't recognize any card. I then replaced that camera with a Kodak P&S before finally getting my new Nikon D60 a few months ago.