Earl Harper Studios, Inc./ Harper Studios, Inc.

09/05/2025

If you would like to vote, hopefully for us...:), take a peek at this link!

https://exposureoneawards.com/people-vote-award?q=Earl+Harper&entry=wild-namibian-textures

05/22/2024

We have a group of 8 that are going to Namibia in March of 2025...

Some of us are going to spend a day at a running event in Swakopmund where we'll choose to run a 10K, a half, or a full marathon.

Before we run we'll spend a day climbing some of the biggest sand dunes in Africa. The rest of the time will be spent at some amazing lodges doing a variety of wildlife safaris. Think, Lions, Giraffes, Zebras, Elephants, and much more...

We can go with 8 but 10 would be better, and we can go up to 12.

Right now it's just friends from my running club and a couple of non-running friends so it's going to be a great group...

Let me know if you are interested and want to see a rough itinerary.

Here is a link to our Hatch website that gives some information but not our trip in particular...

Travel to the southern coast of Africa and craft a customized safari that will take you across the amazing country of Namibia. This choose-your-own adventure will take you to some of the finest lodges and within insanely close (yet very safe) proximity to fabled African wildlife. Watch prides of lio...

03/15/2024

Any of you that are a small business owner will probably totally get this....

The IRS suspected a fishing boat owner wasn't paying proper wages to his Deckhand and sent an agent to investigate him.
IRS AUDITOR: "I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them".

Boat Owner: "Well, there's Clarence, my deckhand, he's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $1,000 a week plus free room and board.

Then there's the mentally challenged guy. He works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of the work around here. He makes about $10 per week, pays his own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of Bacardi rum and a dozen Budweiser's every Saturday night so he can cope with life. He also gets to sleep with my wife occasionally".

IRS AUDITOR: "That's the guy I want to talk to - the mentally challenged one".

Boat Owner: "That would be me. What would you like to know"?

03/14/2024

Do you like beer? Do you like friendly people?

Well then get down to Narrows Brewing in Tacoma and you'll find the best of both...

We recently did some photography for owners Parker Rush and Lauren Rehn, soon to have the same last name, and had an amazing time. We especially liked hanging out on their deck that overlooks the Marina.

Check out their website and go taste some of their beers...

https://narrowsbrewing.com/

02/05/2024

This is the whole truth and nothing but the truth...:)

11/27/2023

Our friends at Rising Wines Collective said that their Street Vine Syrah pairs nicely with a Blue cheese...

We just happened to have some Rogue Creamery Blue cheese, voted best cheese in the world, and decided to see for ourselves if they were correct.

You know what? They knocked it out of the park with this pairing....:)

10/04/2023

I've been working on a little project....

I'll find somebody from our little town of Des Moines and take their portrait. Then I'll write up a little bio, and post the story and photo on our community page. I think this is a way that folks in our community can get to know each other...

It's been a fun way to meet more people that I may not have otherwise..

Maybe I'll share more later..

PS. If you don't know, the Quarterdeck is one of our favorite gathering spots!

If you’ve spent any time at the Quarterdeck, or walking around the marina, there is a good chance you’ve seen an older gentleman in a plaid shirt and baseball cap, (and no I’m not talking about me…:), with a scruffy little black dog.
The scruffy little black dog is a wire-haired Dachshund that is so iconic that he only goes by one name, Jack! The soft spoken, friendly, guy with him does not get that privilege and is known as Gene Cofer.
Gene’s family is originally from Iowa, but Gene was born in New Mexico where his parents spent a few years after leaving Iowa before deciding to go back home. Later his parents moved to Butte, Montana and then on to Deer Lodge where Gene played High school football. Gene would have been a 3 year Letterman, as an offensive lineman, if it weren’t for a little after game celebratory accident. He fell out of the back of a moving truck. It’s not a good way to end a season!
After High school Gene went to Western Montana University where he was planning to become a Math teacher. The Vietnam war had other plans for him and Gene joined the Air Force. During one of his visits home he had a buddy that was also home on leave. His buddy had eyes on one of the local girls but she wouldn’t go out on a date unless she could bring a friend and he was to do the same. Gene was the lucky guy because his buddy and the girl he had eyes on never went any further but Gene and the young woman he met that night, Linda Thormahler, eventually married and had two children. Their son, Richard, and daughter, Stacy, both live nearby.
After 4 years in the Air Force Gene went back to Deer Lodge and began working for the Railroad. Gene spent time in Deer Lodge, then Nebraska, and onto Spokane. Eventually, Gene ended up working here in Seattle’s Interbay for Burlington Northern.
In 1995 Gene had a heart attack, he eventually retired from the Railroad, left Des Moines and moved South to Spencer Lake where he and Linda lived for 13 years.
In 2019 they moved back to Des Moines. In 2021 the young pretty girl from Deer lodge, Montana and the love of Gene’s life for 52 years of marriage, Linda Thormahler Cofer, passed away.
Nowadays you’ll often find Gene, and Jack, at the Quarterdeck enjoying the sun and music when they have it. Jack seems to get all the attention but occasionally somebody will say “hi” to Gene as well…:)
If you see them, buy a Stella Artois for Gene and sit and listen to his stories, I’m sure he has many more than the few I’ve already heard...

09/06/2023

Isn't it ironic that it's beautiful out and the Puget Sound is full of salmon and we are inside shooting snowshoes preparing for winter recreation in the mountains. 😀

08/30/2023

Apparently August 30th is National Harper Day!
Enjoy a cold one while celebrating a Harper you know!

08/29/2023

A few quick copy shots with my phone of an article that was just published in Outdoors Unlimited, a magazine published by the Outdoor Writers Association of America...
It's a photo essay from a recent trip that I hosted with Hatch Adventure Travel this past January. I'm hosting a trip in November 2023 and another one November 2024.

Send me a note if you want to plan your own Namibia trip. I promise it's a trip that you will cherish and remember for the rest of your life.
https://hatch.travel/trips/namibia/namibia-tours-and-safaris