Photography: Washington Part 6-Pike Place Market

This is my final Washington photography post and it’s of the iconic Pike Place Market. If you’ve never been, it’s a daily market known for its produce and fish-throwing vendors. In my opinion, these are the best photos I’ve ever taken. I usually focus on macro shots, but I’m learning to step back and let the scene tell a story. I’m excited to see this growth in myself and look forward to continuing to learn new skills.

To those who have visited all six posts, thank you. This trip felt transformative to me in a way I’m not sure I understand yet. Next week is my birthday and I always get introspective this time of year. I’m not writing my novel, I’ve not published anything yet, but I’m still creating. Maybe that’s enough.

“…and then, I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?” —Vincent van Gogh


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Can you believe I didn’t get a single photo of the Space Needle? Neither can I. Next time…

  • All photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW.

Photography: Washington Part 5-Seattle Streets

“I have been one acquainted with the night.
I have walked out in rain—and back in rain.
I have outwalked the furthest city light.”
—Robert Frost

On the last morning of my stay in Seattle, I strolled the city alone with my camera. I took photos of things that caught my eye and allowed myself to be an explorer in a big land. It was the most creative and alive I’ve felt in a long time.

I hope you enjoy these photos and please let me know if you have a favorite.


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  • All photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW.

Photography: Washington Part 4-The Last of Us

One of the major reasons we visited Seattle was my daughter’s obsession with the video game The Last of Us. The second game takes place largely in Seattle during the year 2039, a city abandoned and overrun with infected (think mushroom zombies). It’s a story of found family, hope, love, and revenge.

Using a list of locations by the blogger Sam, we traveled around the city replaying the game. A lot of places we looked at but didn’t photograph, those include Columbia Center, Seattle Municipal Tower, Pioneer Station, the Convention Center, and Lumen Field. I also took plenty of pictures of the Great Wheel, but I’ve already shared them in previous posts.

Let me know if you are a fan of the game or the HBO series. Be sure to make it down to the hotel photos where I share a bit about our stay in another famously haunted hotel.

Also, in case you’re wondering, I’m a huge fan of the game now too!


1. William Kenzo Nakamura US Courthouse on Fifth Avenue

“If I ever were to lose you, I’d surely lose myself.” —Joel


2. Central Public Library

“I’m just a girl. Not a threat.”—Ellie


3. Daniels Recital Hall

“Oh Ellie, I think they should be terrified of you.”—Dina


4. Capitol Hill Crosswalk

“My friends’ problems are my problems.”—Jesse


 5. KOMO Plaza


6.  Paramount Theatre

“If somehow the Lord gave me a second chance at that moment… I would do it all over again.”—Joel


7. Historic Hotel Sorrento, built in 1909

This gorgeous hotel was our home while in Seattle.

We didn’t know this until after booking the room, but The Hotel Sorrento is supposed to be one of the most haunted places in the city. Supposedly the ghost of writer Alice B. Toklas haunts room 408 and many people stay there hoping to get a glimpse of her.

The elevator was broken at the time of our visit so nobody was allowed to stay past the third floor. We stayed in room 308, a spacious two-room suite with a gorgeous marble bathroom down a short private hallway. There was a nice little window nook I sat in each morning to drink my coffee.

On the second night of our stay, I woke up at 1 a.m. to someone walking very loudly in the room above ours. It seemed they were having a party. The walking and dancing went on for over an hour, waking up my mom and daughter as well. I finally said loudly, “I really need some sleep” and the sound stopped. I chalked it up to coincidence and went back to sleep.

The next morning when we were checking out I mentioned that our upstairs neighbors were quite rowdy and the lady gave me a startled look. “Nobody was in the room,” she said. It turned out we were staying directly below the famed haunted room of 408. Did Alice B. Toklas have a party? I’d like to think so.

My daughter was so excited because the details of the hotel matched the game perfectly, including this entryway rug.

“What is the downside to eating a clock? It’s time-consuming.”—Joel


8.  Seattle Aquarium

This was our favorite location to visit because so many pivotal scenes in the game take place here. My daughter even bought a stuffed shark exactly like the one Abby gave Lev.

My momma ❤️


Thank you so much for taking this adventure with us! And here’s a bonus for those who love Grey’s Anatomy, the building Seattle Grace Hospital was modeled after. Not the best shot, but it was fun to see!

  • All photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW.

Photography: Washington Part 3-Seattle

I’ve always been someone who is in awe of the world, but being able to capture some of that feeling with my camera is incredibly satisfying.

This third installment of photos from my Washington trip are shots taken around the city of Seattle. I sure hope this isn’t like making someone sit through vacation slides! Let me know if you have a favorite and thanks for supporting me. It really means so much.

“Sometimes I come up here at night…just to look at the city. I like to imagine that the world is one big machine. You know, machines never have any extra parts. They have the exact number and type of parts they need. So I figure if the entire world is a big machine, I have to be here for some reason. And that means you have to be here for some reason, too.” —Brian Selznick


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  • These photos were taken with an Olympus OM-D and edited with ON1 Photo RAW.