Two visual souvenirs of West Seattle’s fabulous Friday

| Seen at sea | West Seattle video | West Seattle weather

Ever wish you had the perfect video to send to friends/family out of state who haven’t been here on a sunny day and can’t understand why you love West Seattle so much? We suggest this could be THE clip to share. WSB contributing photojournalist Christopher Boffoli went out for a drive, with his camera riding high in the back, and that video is the result. (See if you recognize ALL the streets!)

Meantime — it was still a lovely day as the clouds rolled in later; Dan in Sunrise Heights sent this photo from the ferry Kitsap:

Tomorrow’s forecast: Cloudy. At least we have the memories!

Kevin February 28, 2009 (12:08 am)

Many congratulations to Christopher Boffoli! The “Nice day for a drive” video was fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

Graysongirl February 28, 2009 (12:38 am)

Thank you! This is just wonderful. Can I place this on my Facebook page and share with my relatives? Can we expect more WS adventures (i.e., you roller blading down Alki, scuba diving off Alki? Dog Park?). Ha!

BobLoblaw February 28, 2009 (12:40 am)

Exactly what I do on my days off — except there was no three-hour stop at Cactus for margaritas!

Erik February 28, 2009 (12:43 am)

Charlestown and Orleans don’t seem so steep from this camera angle.

Nice video Christopher.
thanks.

What The February 28, 2009 (12:54 am)

He’s driving WAY TOO FAST!!! I’ve already submitted this vid to the WSPD for review.

If this is ever shown at the Sundance Festival I would call it:

“California Stops at West Seattle”

WSB February 28, 2009 (12:59 am)

Graysongirl – I’ve already posted it to the WS Blog Facebook page – it’s on a publicly accessible server (as is the video that Patrick and I shoot; Christopher uses Vimeo, we are partial to Blip, but all offer embed code to anybody who wants to use a clip).
What The – at the corner nearest WSB HQ, that’s what the “California Stops” look like every five minutes! WITHOUT benefit of special-effect speed-up!

JayDee February 28, 2009 (8:09 am)

Thanks Christopher…I am jealous. I was sitting in a skyscraper downtown yesterday afternoon, regreting that Friday wasn’t Saturday. Perhaps our clouds will disappear and we can enjoy the evil yellow orb’s brief appearance once more…

PDieter February 28, 2009 (8:48 am)

nice red light @ Chaleston Christopher. ;-) A brave man that posts his own traffic violations on the web.

fun video thanks for sharing.

d February 28, 2009 (11:16 am)

christopher –

Thanks for sharing – so very nicely done!

Ah….home sweet home! :)

Margaret February 28, 2009 (12:16 pm)

hey Chris great video. We should do it by bicycle sometime.

sw February 28, 2009 (12:45 pm)

Excellent video – I’m SO ready for more of that kind of weather.

What’s the tune? I know it in the back of my mind but just can’t find it…

cjboffoli February 28, 2009 (2:39 pm)

sw: That’s ‘Concorde’ by Branford Marsalis:

http://tinyurl.com/cry6mu

Nulu February 28, 2009 (4:06 pm)

wow-
couldn’t he find the Creedence?

Soundtrack of Your Life March 1, 2009 (3:40 pm)

Would’ve been better had the camera been focused on the drive instead of the back of a head and two head rests.

WSB March 1, 2009 (3:47 pm)

Nulu, maybe the next step is for everybody to be able to customize videos with their own tunes. Me, I keep hearing Kylie Minogue’s “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” but only because that video began with something similar, an in-the-car-driving-on-highway sequence. Or there’s Gary Numan’s “Cars” … or “On the Road Again” … or … (sorry, all I know is oldies) … TR

cjboffoli March 1, 2009 (9:29 pm)

Soundtrack of Your Life: If you’d like to loan me your $3,000 camera for precarious mounting on the front bumper of my car I’m happy to re-shoot it. Until then you’re riding in the backseat, buddy.

Longtime WS Resident March 2, 2009 (7:58 am)

I noticed he ran a red light as he was making a left at Charleston St. Shame!!!!!!!

sonja March 2, 2009 (8:56 am)

I’m currently living in Ellensburg but miss West Seattle so. This was a nice visual fix.

WSB March 2, 2009 (9:19 am)

A reminder of WSB rules. No personal snipes, and one wing of this discussion has already gone far enough in that direction. People send photos and video to us to share for the fun of it, not to be critiqued. Noting that a red light may have been run (to which Christopher can respond himself if he so chooses) is one thing. Criticizing the angle or whatever is another and there’s no place for it here; these are uncompensated, volunteer contributions.
Anyone who thinks they could “do better,” our mailbox is open any time for the great photos/videos YOU want to contribute, too, and we’ll eagerly wait to receive and share them – TR

cjboffoli March 2, 2009 (9:58 am)

Folks, if you were to watch the video at normal speed you’d see all of the driving is safe and legal. But I understand how the effect of speeding this up may make it appear different. The wide angle lens also distorts the perception of distance.
.
It was all within the speed limit and with full stops at all of the stop signs. I’ve actually also edited out a couple of pedestrian-in-the-crosswalk stops just for the sake of flow.
.
In response to the left turn from California to Charlestown, I was already in the intersection waiting to turn. So it was perfectly legal to make the turn as I did. Anywhere else I probably would have completed the turn sooner. But with so many drivers here in Seattle who run red lights I wanted to make sure the opposing traffic was really going to stop before crossing the lane.