Reflective

I'm beat. End of a long day and I carved out no time for photos.

I need to remedy that...

Shot at 30mm, f8, 1/125th, iso 100, with a single 430EX and DIY grid spot.

Right Tool for the Job

I've been asked to come up with some ideas for "lifestyle" photos for a coffee shop. I've got quite a few actually, though this one might need a little more simmering before it's fully baked.

Shot at 30mm, 1/2 second, f8, iso 400, lit by the work light and a 430EX on a stand pretending to be the porch light.

Off Camera Flash

Let the light play begin...

Shot at 30mm, 1/25th, f1.4, iso 100, lit by the subjects with a little fill from the light down the hall.

Movie Night - Take 2

While I was messing about setting up last nights shot, my daughter suggested I use her toy family. When she was little, she'd play with these for hours on end. Now that she's older, they don't get out so much.

From their expressions I'd guess they're watching Brian Regan...

Shot with 50mm 1.4 at f5.6, 1/20th, iso 100 using three strobes and two flashlights (torches?). A 580EX with a blue gel pretending to be the one-eyed monster, two 430EX strobes posing as lamp light cast on the wall. One flashlight in each hand to light up the plastic lamps and a self-timer to trigger the shutter.

Thriller Night

The theme this weekend is "Family" - thanks Lance.

I thought that one way to illustrate the idea would be with the whole clan wrapped up in a spooky movie. Something that makes the skin crawl, brings the feet up away from things that grab, and squeeze in close to the person sitting nearby.

I think everyone will have nightmares of Mike Wazowski tonight...

Shot with 50mm 1.4 at f5, 1/20th, iso 100, using a single 430EX gelled blue.

Prom Night

Kate and her date ready for Prom Night.

Shot with 70-200 at 70mm with a 3 stop nd filter, 1/250th, f2.8, iso 100, backlit by the sun and lit in the front with 580EX at 1/4 power.

Fireside Reading

It's Friday.

A little time and space to catch up on what famous-er photographer heros types have been up to (and how they did it).

As it's spring, this'll be the last fire in the fireplace for a while...

Shot with 12-24 at 14mm, 1/30th, f5.6, iso 400 with a single 430EX CTO double-gelled playing firelight.

Spring Detritus

In the spring, the neighborhood trees turn pink,

A year in the waiting, and the color's gone in a wink,

So much energy in a furious bloom, down the drink.

Shot with 70-200 at 70mm, 1/10th, f8, iso 400.

Goin' Organic

It is Earth Day after all. Time to put away the chemical dandelion solutions and remove the pesky things using the green method.

I just don't know what the green method is and how to implement it without my hay fever giving me grief...

Shot with 12-24 at 12mm, f10, 1/200th, iso 100 with 2 430EXs in umbrellas bringing the foreground light levels up to match the sky.

Wish I had used the hyperfocal distance...

Concentration

We've finally got the weather to support outdoor construction projects, while wearing shorts. I don't do construction projects unless I can wear shorts.

We jack-hammered out our patio last year to try and solve a drainage problem and now it's time to re-build.

So, here's Alyssa out helping and making a few dollars while she's at it...

Shot with 85mm 1.8 at f2, 1/250th, iso 400 in the waning evening light.

Beady Eyes

I was putting things away before bedtime tonight as the family was heading off to bed. While doing so (and thinking about what to make a photo of) I stumbled upon this little guy hiding out behind a couple of teddy bears and staring down anyone coming up the stairs.

He looks a bit unhinged to me. Perhaps he's spent a little too much time alone in solitary packed away in the box since the kids have outgrown dolls.

Shot with 70-200 at 140mm, f4, 1/15th, iso 200 using two 430EX flashes - one pretending to be the upstairs hall light and another close to the camera to give 'Jimmy' some catchlights in the eyes.

Spiritual Ground

There are places in our lives that somehow acquire more meaning for us than the rocks and dirt might have on their own. Locations that, due to sounds or smells, remind us of a now distant experience.




Sometimes a place has a connection to ancestors or brings one closer to God and spirit.


Other places have the ability to, by the lay of the land or features within it, calm the voices in our heads and help the cares of the day drain away.





Almost anywhere that has water flowing nearby has these affects on me.





Shot using a 50mm 1.4 at f4, 1/60th, iso 400 with a single 430EX on a stand, gelled with a CTO and aimed through a DIY grid spot.

Practice, Practice, Practice

I nabbed a few shots of our Church Band warming up before Saturday services. While practice doesn't make anyone perfect, it does make them much better, and these guys do sound really good together.

Shot with 70-200 at 150mm, f3.2, 1/40th, iso 400 handheld under the stage lights.

Spelunking

I discovered a small treasure of stuff in the fridge that took me back, it was like opening a time capsule. There were these little canisters containing an image capturing medium called 'film'. We used it back in the days before digital cameras were invented.

Might have to dredge up the old SLR and see if it still works...

Shot with a 12-24 at 16mm, f4, 1/15th, iso 400 lit by the kitchen lights and the little bulb in the fridge.

Efipany

I had a apif, efip, uh, epiph, idea today.

It was a little out of reach and I couldn't quite get my head around it. We ended up laughing about the light bulb buzzing on and off over my head. In our conversation, it was making a noise like a fly zapper - ffzzzt, buzzz, zzziittt.

You can make the noises that you think sound best...

Shot with 85mm 1.8 at f4, 1/100th, iso 100 with AB800 overhead in a soft box and me trying not to touch the electrically charged light bulb.

Setup shot here

Dues Day

Today we get to buy into civilization. And here I am gladly opening my wallet to do so.

Why is it that so many of us curse this day? Why is it we're willing to pay dues to the country club, but not to our communities? Why is it we feel good about paying for a membership card to a warehouse retail chain, but not to support our nations infrastructure?

Had I been born in Somalia or Ethiopia the opportunities I have enjoyed would not have been available to me. My parents and grandparents paid into a system that gave me an education, and a stable environment to make use of it.

I'm happy to pay my taxes dues today. I'll vote for people that see education as more important than the military. I'll support politicians who work hard for health care for everyone. And, I'll let them know that I'll happily pay more dues to fund those things that matter to my community.

Shot with 50mm at f1.6, 1/160th, iso 400 under the dinning room lights.

Story Time

I love bedtime stories.

I remember hanging on every word my Dad or Mom would read to my brother & I at bedtime. It didn't happen every night, nor even every week, but when it was reading night I wouldn't miss it for the world. To disappear into an imaginary place with adventures and laughter was a definite highlight in my life.

So tonight, my youngest & I spent a little time of our own recreating that memory.

Shot with 12-24 zoom at 12mm, f8, 1/200th, iso 100 using a 430EX on a stand to throw the shadow and another 430EX in the book.

The Need for Speed

It is spring. Offically.

A time when young drivers everywhere are yearning for the feel of the open road with wind in their hair and freedom to go where their hearts take them. Detroit would be proud.

However, there are forces at work in the world that work hard at reining in those urges. People with a budget to spend and spare time on their hands to dream up discouragments to such wild abandonment.

I say: You only go around once. Live a little. Double down - go 10!

Shot at 115mm, f16, 1/50th, iso-400.

Under the Sunset

We had a rather dramatic sky this evening and it needed recording.

God did the painting and I just happened to be there to record it.

Shot at 24mm, f8, 1/100th, iso 200.

100 Again

It's still theme weekend and the theme is One Hundred.

So, here's a walk that requires 100 steps easily. Even if you don't see 100 actual stairs. This is because the stairs are big and some require 3 strides to traverse.

Shot at 12mm, f10, 1/4 second, iso 400, on a tripod.

One Hundred!

We've reached 100 posts and Tim's theme for this weekend is, well, one hundred.

So, here's a photo of 100 raindrops per minute. (I counted 'em. Trust me, I have a signature like a doctor)

Shot at 400mm, 1/500th, f5.6, iso 400.

It's a Jungle Out There

We walked in the city again.

Like that's news in this city.

New Yorkers walk way more than the national average and we decided to do the same while here. This time it was to Rockefeller Center to see the if the skating rink was still in operation and perhaps take the elevator to the "Top of the Rock" for a view of the rooftops.

Skating was in full swing, and the elevator was in operation, but we all elected to people watch instead. While the family was busy with that, I spotted this pot of flowers competing for sky with The Rock.

Shot at 12mm, 1/250th, f8, iso 100.

Urban Assault Vehicle

There's definitely more than one way to get around this city quickly. We saw quite a few bicycles bravely zipping around in traffic.

I say "bravely" because there really doesn't seem to be any observed rules here for what constitutes "staying in your lane". Drivers just steer to the sound of their own inner navigational drummer.

Shot at 24mm, f11, 1/10th second, iso 100.

Playing Tourist

We did the tour to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty today.

Man was it COLD!

I'd talked the family into an early arrival to see the sun come up on the statue from Battery Park and we were there about an hour too early for the boat. The mercury hovered just above 30 with a wind out of the east making it feel like -10. We found a coffee shop open and huddled there for warmth until ferry time.

The sun did come out, and when we managed to find shelter out of the wind we could actually feel its warmth.

Shot at 24mm, f11, 1/8000th, iso 400.

Waiting for the #5 Train

This city is BIG and a very good place to learn about public transportation. This city has it figured out and we're working on how to make the best of it.

Shot at 15mm using my new 12-24, 1/80th, f4.5, iso 800.

Day at the Museum

A rainy day in the Big Apple.

What to do with kids in the city? I know, go to the museum where the movie was made!

It's a cool place where we discovered that one day doesn't really do it justice. Ah well, something to look forward to if we ever return.

Shot hand-held under the dim museum lighting at 24mm, f4, 1/4 second, iso 3200.

Empire State

Our first full day in the city and the weather is fine! A little bright and contrasty for us photographer types, but for a family outing it couldn't be better.

We walked from our hotel on 30th up Fifth Avenue and into Central Park. Alyssa ran into one of her best friends along the way. What a surprise! So we chatted for a while on the corner of Fifth and 46th with the crowds coming and going all around us.

Shot at 17mm, 1/200th, f8, iso 100 and cropped to 1x3 for the theme weekend.

Air Travel

We're on our way to New York City (Yew Nork to the delight of the kids) with a stop at O'Hare Airport for lunch. We chose to look at the non-nonstop flight as an opportunity to stretch our legs and grab a really good meal at a bargain price.

Ok, so there weren't any good bargains for the captive audience after all. it was nice to get out of the aluminum tube for a breather though.

Shot with a Powershot G7 at 7mm, 1/400th, f4, iso 200.

Packing for Travel

We're heading to the Big Apple for spring break. I asked my two daughters to start packing by putting the shoes they want to take in the one large suitcase.

I should know better...

Shot in a hurry at 17mm, f5.6, 1/125th, iso 400 - 580EX bouncing off the ceiling.

You're Not Reading it Right

I had a checkup the other day to see if I was on the right track with my BP. Something the doctor said about reading the machine right sort of stuck with me, but I didn't quite "get it".

Until today.

I had an epiphany. And look, the reading was 128/79 - a whole lot better than the upper 140s I have been getting.

I think I may be onto something...

Shot with a 17-35 at 19mm, f5.6, 1/125th, iso 400 - single 430EX in an umbrella standing in for the chair-side lamp.