Thank you, Seattle Times photographers

Inspiring selection of 2009 review

Editor, The Times:

Thank you for the article in Sunday’s Pacific Northwest magazine about Seattle Times photographers [“Pictures of the Year 2009,” Dec. 27]. It was interesting to read how they first got interested in their craft.

The Seattle Times photographers are an amazingly talented group of people. It is always a pleasure to view their work in the paper. I often find myself lingering over a photograph, either admiring its beauty, sharing in its humor, or experiencing its raw emotions.

The pictures are often worth many more times than a thousand words.

When I lived in the Bay Area, it was always interesting to view Steve Ringman’s profound work in the San Francisco Chronicle. When I moved up here, it was a pleasant surprise to discover that he was working for The Times.

Several years ago I was so moved by a stunning photograph Greg Gilbert had taken of the Bainbridge Island ferry coming out of the fog with the Olympic Mountains as a backdrop, I called The Times to purchase a copy of the photo.

Gilbert came by on his motorcycle to personally drop it off.

Only in Seattle.

— Dave Richards, Bainbridge Island