Sunday, December 30, 2012

Bird on a cold, snowy roof

Bird on a cold, snowy roof

46/52 for Monochrome 52

SPC - Magic - #3 & #4

Here are my final two posts for Self Portrait Challenge's December theme, 'Magic.' #3:

Christmas Magic


Christmas magic is a toy train around your Lego Christmas tree outside of your Lincoln Log home -- with a creepy guy standing in the background for no reason.

Seriously though, this shot wouldn't be possible without my kiddos and they are among the things I love most about Christmas.


and #4:

Christmas Candy Magic

As we made some hard candy tonight, I was again amazed by the process of candy-making.  To watch through the various stages of the molten mixture changing texture, boil speed, temperature -- all without changing the applied heat or stirring.  It's gotta be magic!


Tuesday, December 18, 2012

The Lemon Drop

The Lemon Drop

I guess because this building is bright yellow, I've never really considered it for a black and white photograph, but it turned out OK!

45/52 for Monochrome 52

Monday, December 17, 2012

SPC - 'Magic' - #2

Still Magic
Me and my girl on her birthday, Friday;

Her choice for dinner -- a local sushi place;
Kids even enjoyed going to a place they'd never been before (they were reluctant to try the sushi, but liked the teriyaki chicken and rice -- Harrison may or may not have been drinking his mix of soy sauce and wasabi);
Our favorite place for ice cream afterward and staying until closing;
First time sushi
Hugging these kids a little tighter and a little longer after the events of Friday morning;
Noticing the little things and realizing they are the big things.
This is magic.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Anderson Arts Center Chandelier

Anderson Arts Center Chandelier

This is a chandelier at our local Arts Center. My company hosted its annual Christmas party there last night. I was interested in this chandelier as a photographic subject, but I try to be discreet in such settings. This was meant to be just a blind (not looking through the viewfinder or live view) test shot for purposes of focal length and framing.

I ended up widening up a bit and getting a straight on shot without the camera shake, but ended up liking this one better, anyway. Go figure.

44/52 for Monochrome 52

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Friday, November 30, 2012

SPC - Six Word Story - #4

Say hello to my little friend
Say hello to my little friend

So, last time we did "Six Word Story" as a challenge theme for SPC (November, 2010), I managed to extract a few six word stories from a few favorite films (Lord of the Rings; Star Wars ; Jaws)

One that I considered, but never got around to was this line from Tony Montana/Scarface.

I'm taking a slightly less violent approach (though I'm not sure that Gingerbread Man will survive that head wound -- and that screw eye through the skull's gotta hurt).

This is easily the most diminutive Christmas ornament on our tree, so it seemed appropriate.

Alternate shot below:





Here's the artoo-nate shot:

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Say hello to my little astromech

Thursday, November 29, 2012

All that remains...

All that remains...

42/52 for Monochrome 52

Revisiting this location as the building that once stood next to the remaining smokestack has been demolished, leaving only rubble.

SPC - Six Word Story - #3

85mm is too long for this
85mm is too long for this

This was the only thing I have passing as a self portrait for this week.

Standing on top of some monkey bars on an unseasonably warm Thanksgiving Day in the park adjacent to my old elementary school watching my kids play with cousins.

Some alternate titles: The Kit lens might've worked better.

Who says longer is better, anyway?

Shoes photo will have to do

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Friday, November 02, 2012

Inside A Grain Bin

Inside A Grain Bin

Inside a grain bin. This one had been emptied and was used as a location to watch a short video about working on a farm. I attended a field trip with my son and his Kindergarten glass a few days ago. Couldn't resist the radiating lines, here.

38/52 for Monochrome 52

SPC - 'Empty' #4

Only Empty Hands

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Detour

Detour It was a detour that led me to this barn out on a country road. The combine was out and you can see that the corn there had been partially harvested.

37/52 for Monochrome 52.

Friday, September 28, 2012

SPC - 'Alternate Cameras' - #4

Plan C (maybe D)

I had originally hoped to get an actual photo from this old Polaroid camera for this month's 'alternate cameras' theme for Self Portrait Challenge.

A friend found this in her neighborhood when her neighbors were trashing some stuff that didn't sell in their rummage sale. She picked it up thinking I might like it. Upon inspection, I could see that there was still some film in it! I read about how the camera works and (in a rare moment of optimism) hoped for the best. Alas, the film was just too old. I'm guessing the pods had dried up many years ago.

Plan B was to take a decent picture of myself holding the Polaroid camera with my good old Canon S1IS that I used for many years. Apparently, the sensor has gone bad in it. Menus show up fine, but anything through the lens is complete unrecognizable garbage.

Plan C was to use my iPod again. I was reluctant to do this because I had already used the iPod this month and was trying to use 4 different "cameras" (self-imposed rule).

With time running out and plans dropping like flies, I decided to just use the iPod again. Though, I will say that this was taken using the lens on the back of the iPod while my earlier photo used the lens on the front of the iPod. So technically.....

Anyway, it's a pretty cool looking old camera (Land Model 95A) even though the type of rolled film it uses has been unavailable for quite some time, now.

SPC - 'Alternate Cameras' - #3

I guess I missed posting this last week:

Why the long face?

At Self Portrait Challenge, we're continuing to explore 'Alternative Camera' as our challenge theme for the month of September.

This is from a simple (though very dirty) flatbed color scanner.

I read about (and tried) techniques involving a cardboard box (for darkness) and magnifying glass (for the lens) to make this type of shot. That wasn't working for me, so I cast those items aside and got this.

DO NOT TAKE APPLIANCES!

DO NOT TAKE APPLIANCES!

33/52 for Monochrome 52.

Monday, September 24, 2012

The Gap

The Gap

Harrison lost another tooth at school last Thursday (9/20). This was was lost at lunch and swallowed. He drew a picture of himself with a tooth in his belly for the Tooth Fairy.

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Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Kitten

Kitten

An alley cat that hangs around our house had her kittens a while back. This one has taken up residence under our back deck.

Hannah is completely smitten with this -- um -- juvenile feline. DSC_4953_gimp_edit_small

32/52 for Monochrome 52.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Thursday, September 06, 2012

SPC - 'Alternate Camera' - #1

Scanned Hand

At Self Portrait Challenge, we're exploring 'Alternative Camera' as our challenge theme for the month of September.

I hesitate to make these challenges about equipment in hopes of being as inclusive as possible for those who wish to participate.

This is my first contribution on this theme and I'm hoping to lend a hand in distorting peoples' limited concept of what can be used as a "camera."

This is from a simple photocopier. Scanned using another photocopier and uploaded straight out of "camera."

Photo Friday - 'Modern Life'

Meter 002

Dracorex Hogwartsia

Dracorex Hogwartsia

30/52 for Monochrome 52.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

SPC - 'Transparent'

Week 3:

Transparent Playground

Week 4:

Transparent Hypocrite

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?"

Matthew 7:1-4