Diane Putnam's photos

Shock, anger, fear, depression. Feel free to comment about the "situation." I might not have much heart or brain space to respond very much.

Allowed to cut dead trees only by the Dept. of Forestry. The two on the left are my son (works for Forest Service) and grandson, the rest are friends of theirs. Wild and crazy day! It's so much like old logging photos as long ago as the early 20th C., just with better equipment.

My son and his granddaughter in their acting debut. (She is strapped to him in a baby carrier.)

He's an Old Cowhand, originally sung by Sons of the Pioneers, 1934 (or '36). www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEBGPqCl0T0

How not to frame your shot.

I would like to point out the location on the right. Yes, it is really called that, but the entire name is Dead Indian Memorial Rd.. I was horrified when I first moved here and saw the name, but none of the locals seem fazed by it. Here is its history: www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/dead_indian_memorial_road

Klamath Lake, Oregon. There are only a few access points for this huge lake. I believe that's mostly because it is not a priority area for State money to be spent. Klamath County is one of the top seven poorest counties in Oregon and with few tourists, there is little incentive for the State or the County to provide new amenities. So, the expansion of this small access area is a big deal (toilets!). It will be used year-round to launch small boats, photograph landscape and birds, catch fish or stop for a little "relief" on the way to Medford. Klamath lake is "dead" - full of algae. It is usually harmless. However: there are periodic cyanobacteria blooms and Oregon Health Authority publishes warnings and instructions on the thorough cleaning of fish caught there. I don't personally know anyone who uses the lake at all during blooms, which can make people and pets very ill if they swim in the lake at that time. Dogs are especially hard to keep out of the water, so they must be leashed to posts at your campsite. Warnings are posted everywhere during that time, so everyone knows when to take precautions. Several species of fish can be caught and eaten, including rainbow trout and largemouth bass, but only with very thorough cleaning (see second link below). It is against the law to harvest or consume clams or mussels from the lake. If by any chance you are visiting Klamath Lake during the summer, refer to this site for warnings and instructions: www.healthoregon.org/hab This is the most recent warning, June 2024: www.oregon.gov/oha/erd/pages/recreationalusehealthadvisoryreissuedupperklamathlake.aspx

There are three hung together here. Maasai (and the related Fulani) women wear them in multiples, sometimes piled up to their chins. When they dance they lift their shoulders up to make the stiff beaded necklaces bounce up and down. The strings of beads in the middle are about three feet (.91m) long. Bought in Kenya from Maasai ladies sitting on a sidewalik near City Market. Nairobi, 1989. I had assumed they would be open to price negotiation like the other market ladies. I was mistaken. Thoroughly humbled, I bought several ornaments from the ladies. The prices were more than fair, considering they made everything themselves and traveled from the Maasai Mara into the city. I went to Kenya twice. Once in 1987, again in 1989. During the first trip, I also went to Senegal - which felt oddly familiar to me. The people were entirely unlike the very quiet and modest Kenyans. When I got home, I thought about it a lot and I think I solved the puzzle: the people were amazingly like Black Americans that I've known. Extraverted personalities, flamboyant and imaculate dress, the confident way they carried themselves, their humor, loud voices, even their perfume. This made sense, considering Black Americans were originally West Africans. It was my goal to return to Senegal again, but life (and finances) got in the way and I was never able to. Now, I visit both countries often on Google Street View. ;-)