Localism: Thurston, OR

Pictures, edits and what the heck is this?

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 22:37:57 -0500

Hi everyone,

I took some pictures before sunset and then did some weird type things with my Adobe Photoshop Elements just to see what would happen. So, I am asking for feedback. What do you think of the pictures and/or the edits?

I tried the paint bucket feature and got some strange colors. Take a look at this next set of canna lilies.

Next I took a day lily and did some other colors. Kind of silly looking.

Then just some different angles on the sun and plants.

My last colorization. Very strange.

Please let me know what you think of these effects. I don't know how to work the photoshop very well, and elements is a lower end program. I will keep experimenting, maybe something will be good. I kind of like this last one, it is almost an abstract.....sort of. (Carolyn, how do you like the eye candy?)

Full Moon tonight, maybe that is why today was so strange???

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:33:52 -0500

I had a night shot of the Springfield Bridge yesterday, so I thought I would try some effects to get the full moon tonight. Here goes:

I used my BBQ as my tripod and it didn't do such a great job but not too bad.

This is an effect called night shot. It gives a rather interesting outworldly perspective.

Overall, I am not really impressed with the way they came out, but they certainly show the full moon. Now, it is almost pumpkin time, so good night.

Pretty sunset, at least I think so

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:18:42 -0500

I thought the sunset was really nice last evening so I took some pictures. They turned out rather different than I expected. My camera, although it can be set, has automatic focus, exposure, etc. Because of that, the pictures taken of the sun, came out a lot darker than I expected and gave a rather "unworldly" effect. I hope you enjoy these.

I hope you liked these.

Thurston Market Update Feb 2007 - Feb 2008

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:48:17 -0600

Thurston, Oregon is east of Springfield heading up the McKenzie River Valley, a little higher end market area than Springfield. Here are some of the essentials for the period Feb 2007 through Feb 2008, according to RMLS residential data.

Of 572 total units listed, 282 sold, at an average sale price of $234.4K against an average list price of $258.3K. 290 unis remained on the market. Average days on market generally increased across the one year period, from 60 in Feb 2007, to 106 in Feb 2008, averaging 75 days for the year.

Thurston is a growing market, as the new PeaceHealth hospital starts hiring, and the Springfield area becomes a home for new call center facilities. It is also the Willamette Valley gateway to the beautiful McKenzie Valley. Despite all the reports of doom and gloom in the US real estate market, this area, along with the entire Eugene/Springfield area, continues to be a very active market, with homes priced right and marketed effectively still selling!

John & Susan Gray, McKenzie Valley Realtors