Hot Water

After a long day in the yard, digging, planting and otherwise gardening, it's awful nice to find some flowing hot water.

Shot at 70mm, f9, 1/250th, iso 100, with a single 430EX overhead in a gridspot at 1/4 power.

Feets, Don't Fail Me Now

How much of my body do I take for granted? All of it. What an amazing thing it is. How often it does just what I ask. How much more often now it complains in the doing.

Shot in my easy chair with 85mm at f2, 1/50th, iso 400 under the living room lights.

Frenetic

I've been all over the county today running errands. Here I am out running one more time to return the video before a late charge is assessed. I probably spent close to two hours behind the wheel today. I know, I know, some people out there spend two hours or more one way on the commute to work. I think I'd be changing careers if I had to endure that.

Oh, and it reminds me of Abby Road...

Shot with 30mm at f11, open for 1.3 seconds at iso 400 - handheld firmly on the dashboard.

Dilapidated

Across the park from us, near a 3-way intersection, this old fence is falling into disrepair. I love the gnarly look of the wood and the tints showing in the grain.

Shot with 30mm 1.4 at f3.2, 1/50th, iso 400 in the waning evening light.

Eject! Eject! Eject!

There are a lot of parallels to these little seeds taking flight:

Bailing out.

Leaving home.

Kicked outta the nest.

Going south.

Heading out west.

Looking for greener pastures.

Seeking your fortune.

Getting famous.

Making a mark.

And then there's Paul Simon:

Slip out the back Jack,

Makin' no plan Stan,

Don't need to be coy Roy,

Just get yourself free.

Shot with 12-24 at 16mm, f9, 1/200th, iso 100, with a single 580EX at 1/8th power.

Up Close & Personal

With so many dandelions around, I thought it might be a good season to wear the subject out.

So, I brought one into the house (they won't sprout in the carpet, will they?) to look at it real close under no-wind conditions. I even kept my breathing under control.

Shot with my favorite 85 on a 36mm extension toooob, at f5.6, 1/250th, iso 100, with a single 580EX flash in a soft box right overhead.

Tooling Up

Riding my bike the other day I realized I should be sure the tool kit is up to snuff.

So, since the theme this weekend is 'Bicycle', I pulled out all the bits tonight and spent a little time removing the grit and grime.

I also tried to pare it down to the bare essentials, to save weight, naturally.

Shot with 85mm 1.8 at f8, 1/125th, iso 100, using a 580EX bounced off the ceiling and a 430EX with grid to highlight the Goof Off.

In The Spotlight

It's still dandelion season around here.

I spied this one nicely lit by the sun passing through lower branches of the trees. It was in the spotlight only long enough for me to run in, grab the camera, back out and shoot about three frames. Then, the sun settled a little further and the show was over.

Shot at 200mm, f2.8, 1/200th, iso 100.

Get Your Motor Runnin'

Head out on the highway,
Lookin' for adventure...

Ok, it's not quite the same as a Harley, but it is two wheels and the wind in the face feels pretty good.

Thanks Tim, for the weekend theme 'bicycle'...

Shot with 12-24 set to wide, f8, 1/10th, iso 100.

Bleeding Hearts

The one in the family with the Green Thumb planted these 'Bleeding Hearts' and they've been returning each spring year after year. She finds such joy in little sprouts growing into so much color and variant forms.

Shot at night with 85mm lens on 36mm extension tube, f8, 1/80th, iso 100, using a single 430EX overhead.

Over the Hill

These flowers brightend up the room when first brought home. Now well, they've certainly seen better days. Or hours, since their lives are so short from our perspective. Of coarse, from the Tortoise' perspective, our lives are pretty short too. Compare to a Giant Sequoia, or a Bristlecone Pine and it's over in a wink.

Now, where's that bucket list I was working on...

Shot with 30mm 1.4 at f2, 1/80th, iso 400 under the kitchen lights.

Item Eleventeen

There's a long list of things around our house that need getting done. If we get through them now, then the list will be empty and we can go play in the summer time.

That's the theory anyway. I'll have to get back to you on how that turns out.

In the meantime, here's me trimming the tops of the newly installed fence boards and perfectly timing the 10 second shutter release so I'd have the saw in focus.

Shot with 85mm 1.8 at f2, 1/200th, iso 100, in the early evening light before sundown.

Shredder

One of this pup's favorite things to do is shred cardboard. She considers any box that comes into the house to be hers, and we're only borrowing it until she can get her teeth around it.

Shot with 85 1.8 at f2.8, 1/40th, iso 800 under the living room lights.

Harvest Time

I've noticed that the Dandelions are ready for harvest all over Skagit and Whatcom counties. I've been waiting for the equipment to get out and start bailing 'em up, but have not seen them yet.

I'm afraid they've all gone to seed...

Shot with 70-200 at the long end, f5.6, 1/100th, iso 100, just before the rain fell.

The Loud Handle

We're on our way back to port with the loud handle is set to around 6 (about 1800 rpm). Anything above that and we just make more noise and burn more fuel without really gaining any momentum.

Besides, 7 knots is a nice pace when observing life on, and above, the water.

Shot with 12-24 at the wide end, f6.3, 1/125th, iso 100, out in the fresh daylight.

Last Light

A short moment of amazing light in the evening sky as we wait for full nightfall before heading out to see the phosphorescence in the water given off by millions of little animals in Ewing Cove.

Tonight it was possible for each of us to find the other kayak by the glow along the waterline as it slid past.

Shot with 12-24 at 12mm, f4, 1/15th, iso 100, under the Alpenglow.

Wildlife

Spending the weekend on Sucia Island with my long-time buddy David and a pair of Kayaks. We're having wonderful weather and plenty of good eats too.

While out wandering the shoreline, I found the lichen to be an interesting foreground for this flower (an LPJ I'm told).

Shot with 70-200 at 200mm, f8, 1/320th, iso 200, under the high overcast.

Jelly

And now for something completely different.

I came upon this invertebrate as I was paddling and hold the phone! Is your screen dirty? You need to keep up on that. Would you take care of that please?

Oh. Wait. It's in the camera. Sigh. Time to it send in...

Shot with a Canon G7 in video mode in daylight with some aperture and a little f-stop.

Juice of Life

My buddy & I are heading out this weekend for a boat trip (can't wait!) so I'm getting the gear ready for travel. Necessarily, that means charging as many batteries as possible since where we're going has no power available.

Maybe I should buy stock in battery manufacturers...

Shot with 30mm 1.4 at f2, 1/30th, iso 800 with one 430EX flash in a grid for background light and a 580 on camera with diffuser off the ceiling to season.

Bump in the Night

This week's theme is 'Reflection' - thanks Lance.

Since I'm going to be out this weekend where the connectivity stinks it's nice and quiet, I thought I'd get a jump on the project.

'Coarse, now that the results are back, I see why I've been having midnight cravings all these years...

Shot wide with 17-35 at f8, 1/13th, iso 200, using two flashes - one 430EX right over the lens to get the red-eye, and one overhead in the light fixture with a CTO and diffuser.

Tune It!

Here's a closeup of the tuning bits for my daughter's violin. Besides her fingers, these make the sound that much sweeter...

Shot with 50mm on 36mm extension tube, at f2, 1/15th, iso 400, under the overhead living room lights.

Yak Dude at Sunset

This little guy was a gift, one meant to remind me of being on the water, whenever I can't be out there for real.

He sits on top of the fridge, locked down with a magnet so he doesn't go anywhere riding the door as it opens and closes.

Tonight, the light on the cabinet behind him looked orange like the sunsets we get along the shoreline now and then.

Shot using 85mm at f4, 1/60th, iso 400, under the last* kitchen tungsten light with the white balance set to flash.

* We're working our way over to CFL.

Eighteen!

It's another birthday day in our house. Our first born child turns 18 today. Yikes, that happened fast!

Naturally, a busy person cannot expect their birthday to be observed on everyone else's calendar, and hers was no exception. Today was fair qualifying for "Performance" riding.

Here's a frame taken during the few minutes we could put down our chores and watch...

Shot with 70-200 at 125mm, f2.8, 1/160th, iso 800 in the dismal arena lighting as she passed the open door.

Chips & Egg

Dinner time, and the theme is "Extreme Color" - thanks me. (We take turns choosing the theme Tim, Lance & I)

Since we have these eggs left over from Easter I thought I'd better make good use of them and not let 'em go to waste. Not sure what was in the dye, but these things look radio-active.

I think I just lost my appetite...

Shot with 50mm at f5.6, 1/125th, iso 100, with a 580EX and two 430EX flashes.

Keys to the Shuttle

The new Star Trek movie is out tonight and it looks like fun. My friend Steve & I are heading out to find out.

Since the transporter is down for maintenance, we'll have to take a shuttle...

Shot with 50mm at f1.6, 1/25th, iso 400, under the pod bay full spectrum glow globes.

Birthday!

It's my sweetie's birthday today! Another year gone by so quickly. I pray for many, many more.

Shot with 85mm at f2, 1/250th, iso 100, with a single 430EX in a softbox for light.

Speck-Be-Gone

I'm on the hunt. Again.

You see, there is a dust mote in my camera's eye that simply must be erradicated. Get out the cleaning tools. Bring in the bright lights, the better to see with. Work in a dust free cleanroom (or at least, not in the wood shop).

And remember: as when blowing out birthday candles, keep your spit to yourself...

Shot with 12-24 at 16mm, f5.6, 1/250th, iso 100, with an AB800 lighting the whole wall behind and a 580EX in a snoot lighting the face.

She's Gonna Blow

I've been impressed lately with photos Alan has been making out in the garden.

Specifically, he gets down on their level and brings out the colors.

So, I thought I'd give it a go. The sky played well today, but tomorrow anything is possible...

Shot with 12-24 at 12mm, f22, 1/250th, iso 100, with one 430EX flash on either side set at 1/2 power.

Loyal Cohort

This weekend's theme is "coworker" - thanks Tim.

Since I spend most of my work week tele-commuting from home, it's hard to get a photo of my coworkers. But, then I peeked over the cubical wall and what did I find?

So that's where the heavy breathing is coming from...

Shot with 12-24 at 20mm, f4, 1/30th, iso 400, using a single 430 bounced off the ceiling.

One Way

Here's Tim Connell warming up this afternoon for two Saturday night services and two more Sunday morning.

This group of volunteers can really bring the house down when they get going. Here's a link to what they were playing this weekend...

Shot with 12-24 at 16mm, f4, 1/50th, iso 400 under the stage lights.

Pasta with Pizzazz!

The kitchen was a shambles tonight.

Good excuse to go out. So we did, and there was this reflection in the dish...

Shot at 30mm, f8, 1/40th, iso 400, in window light.