Janine Gates Photography / Janine Gates
Card Locations &
Sample Assignments
Gallery of More Local
Images/Local
Campaign Events
About the Photographer
Email me
P.O. Box 7418 Olympia, Washington 98507         (360) 791-7736
Images of Turkey and
Jordan
Welcome to Janine Gates Photography, featuring images of beautiful Olympia, Washington, South
Puget Sound and the Pacific Northwest.  These images are available as greeting cards, large prints
and stock photography.  I also accept special event and photojournalism assignments.
Click on images to enlarge.
Photo by Tristan Gates
Click on images to enlarge
Aerials of Olympia
Available in any size,
Framed/Unframed
Images of Egypt
Summer 2008
Yes, this view is sacred
Washington State Capitol Building Reflected in Capitol Lake
Testimony Delivered on December 16, 2008

Olympia City Council Members,

My name is Janine Gates. As a local photographer, I am
asking you to not approve the Urban Waterfront rezone.

We have all seen pictures of Triway’s proposed project by
day, but never at night. I am quite sure, that if this rezone
is allowed and the proposed buildings were built in this
location, it will be lit up all night long and we will not see
this scene ever again.

I took this picture on December 5, across from the
darkened nine story Capital Center Building. It was a
beautiful, magical night as you can see. Lots of people
were walking around the lake and I felt no concern for my
safety as I took pictures from different angles around the
Capitol Campus. The area was well lit, but not overly lit. I
know Olympia is in the process of analyzing its contribution
to local and global light pollution, so please think of the
impact a rezone would have on this scene.

There’s lots of talk about Wilder and White’s original
intentions and view “sight lines.” But did they, the Capitol
Campus architects, in the early 1900’s, ever imagine a
nine story or a seven story or even a five story building lit
up all night long, obscuring the glory of the Capitol
Building? It is our duty to protect their intentions. Capitol
Lake was always intended as a reflecting pool for the
Capitol Building. Even if it once again becomes an estuary,
we would still see this scene.

We Olympians have been spoiled the last several years to
not have the nine story Capital Center Building all lit up.
However, it has also been a disservice, in a way, because
many cannot remember the sheer amount of light pollution
emanating from that building.

With Triway’s proposed buildings immediately adjacent, we
can’t even begin to imagine the extreme amount of light
pollution that would spill onto this spectacular view. Surely,
we would never see this scene again.

Please, do not allow the rezone. Yes, this view is sacred.

Thank you.
(Later that same night, the Olympia City Council voted, 5 - 2,  sided
with a development company, Triway Enterprises, to approve rezoning
this precious viewshed, the isthmus between Capitol Lake and Budd
Inlet (see aerial, above), to accommodate 90 foot buildings.)

Go to www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com to read articles about
the ongoing isthmus issue.
For more Olympia news stories and pictures, please see my new
blog at: http://www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com
May 2009

Janine Gates Photography
Greeting Cards -
Newest Location!

Wild Birds Unlimited
1200 Cooper Point Road, Suite 304
Olympia (near David's Bridal and the
Westside Post Office)
352-5458

Wild Birds Unlimited, a backyard
birding and nature gift shop, has a
wide variety of fun and useful items.
Owner Ruth Pagel, below, loved
Janine's greeting cards featuring
hummingbirds, chickadees, red winged
blackbirds (male and female), and
local nature scenes.
Thank you Ruth!
Capital City Pride Day in
downtown Olympia - parade June 21!