Yakima – Really? Really!
bicycle in front of the fruit crates, Yakima, Washington, © Jay Goodrich
A few weeks ago I was in Yakima, Washington with friend and fellow photographer Daniel Galan. Right at sunset I lead the charge to ditch the wives and kids to shoot a few images before settling down to a margarita and a little of the local Mexican cuisine. After being cooped up in a hotel room with the kids all day he gladly obliged. So what to shoot? Yakima isn’t exactly booming with crazy scenery. Or is it?
Earlier that morning I spotted this area of town that had what seemed to be tens of thousands of fruit boxes lining the street corridors down by the proverbially train tracks. This place offered up a photographer’s composition paradise. There were patterns, textures, shapes, and even some “local color”. One kid kept begging me to take his picture, so I finally asked him to ride through the frame. Without any further direction he slowed down enough for my dwindling shutter speed and rode exactly where I would have suggested. A few clicks of the shutter and bingo, my artist statement about Yakima, Washington in one frame. Daniel and I could have spent days there, I think we pushed it for about an hour before the wives started texting. I know I will return. Maybe when those boxes are full of fruit to add even more color?
No related posts.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 at 9:00 am. It is filed under articles and tagged with perspective, photography, subject matter, Washington, Yakima.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Jay is an internationally published and celebrated photographer and writer. His work focuses on architecture, nature, and adventure. His clients have included fortune five hundred companies, trade publications, national and international magazines and books, graphic designers, architects, builders, commercial printers, and many others.
Thank you for the comment and the information Erin. I will definitely be back to Yakima to photograph real soon.
I live in Yakima and I must say that is an interesting photo. However, in order to get filled boxes you would have to go to the orchards. What you took a photo of are apple bins. They are stored/stacked until ready to use and then they are placed at the end of a row of trees in the orchards for the pickers to fill. Then the filled bins are taken to the packing warehouses to be sorted, waxed, packed and shipped out. Fall is when you will see them filled. I am glad you enjoyed Yakima and I hope you will come back to see many of the other wonderful photo op’s this area has to offer. Dave Nadal has mentioned some great ones and there are always interesting photo’s to be had.
Thank you Dave. I definitely want to visit and shoot more in the Yakima area.
Thanks Younes.
ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!! Blew me away!
Love love this photo!!!
We would love to have you!
Jay and Dave,
If you do get together again to shoot in Yakima. I would be interested in coming along. I live in Cle Elum and am looking for local photography groups, clubs or just individuals to get together and shoot with, share ideas, etc. I have a wonderful series of Roslyn WA as an album on FB. I also have monthly photowalks. I would enjoy hearing from you again. Teri Lou
Yakima has a lot of shooting potential, particularly around its edges…the old YVH east of town toward Zillah is a gold mine in Aug/Sept when the apples are rockin’ and the grapes are ready…lots of dust, so the afternoon light is fiiine! If you get up high enough in the Rattlesnake Hills, lots of great early morning looks at Adams and the top of Rainier, too.