In one of the purest displays of public emotion I have seen, people rushed the streets of Seattle tonight to celebrate the election of President Barack Obama.

I have never seen so much genuine patriotism in America.

While the past 8 years has played host to numerous widespread protests against Bush policy, tonight a much more constructive and optimistic dynamic permeated the crowd.

Traffic was stopped all along 1st avenue as a spontaneous parade moved south through downtown Seattle. Seattle Police held back traffic and the parade was peaceful.

I snapped this shot of Mt. Rainier early one morning from Kerry Park. I like the interplay of the clouds and the mountain in this one.

Just a quick evening shot of Seattle from Kerry Park. This is one of those ubiquitous images that every Seattle photographer has in their portfolio. Nevertheless, it is a striking view of Seattle.

This photo is more or less an accident of perseverance. I went up to Kerry park at 6 am on Sunday hoping to get “the dawn shot.” (As a sidenote, I’ve tossed out the originally criteria for the time being in Seattle, as I feel there are a few Seattle Shots that every photographer in the city needs in their portfolio.) Anyway, it looked a bit cloudy, but I thought the ceiling would be higher. Leaving my parking garage in downtown Seattle, I was thinking, “Sweet a little reflected light off the clouds to balance the city lights and some diffuse dawn shots.” Then my car was engulfed in thick fog. At that point, “I’m like whatever, I’m not going back to bed; might as well listen to Morning Edition and drink my coffee.” Fast forward one hour, I am wondering around like a idiot in the fog and another photographer shows up. He shows me what he shot from Alkai that morning and I feel a bit better, since a photographer of this caliber has shown up in the fog. Instantly, that feeling is shoved aside by the thought: “I picked the wrong place to go this morning.” Another couple hours pass in foggy nastiness. He leaves; a couple other guys show up. And the fog finally starts to lift, but in the the wrong way!!! There is a really strong back light. I feel like I’ve wasted 4 precious hours of a Sunday morning. But, the photo grew on me in post. Yeah, it’s backlit, but I was careful not to blow the highlights and in contrasty B&W I like it’s edginess. I think it kinda captures that torn feeling we all experience as we trudge to work each morning.

So I’ve shot the Seattle Skyline a few times now and am finally getting some decent results. I shot this one this evening. I think often too much attention is paid to the Space Needle. I mean sure it’s really futuristic in a Jetson’s sort of way, but it’s only one element of reality. And when you step back and take in downtown Seattle, it’s pretty amazing. That’s what I was trying to capture here.