Once Upon A Time In The (mid) West

SPC - 'Flashback 2011' - #4

2012-02-01T09:34:00.000-05:00

Idiom - the cheese stands alone
tiny words
Beatles Songs - "I Saw ~~Her~~ Him Standing There"

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To brie or not to brie; that is the queso.

You have my parmesan to answer, if you’d like.

This picture is gouda – but not grate. Actually, it should probably be put out to Pasteur. You may Swissagree, but it’s my opinion that matters, nachos. Sorry, that’s just the whey it is.

Photo Friday - 'Greenery'

2012-01-27T12:41:00.000-05:00

SPC - 'Flashback 2011' - #3

2012-01-25T09:20:00.000-05:00

Let's see:
Macro
Seven Dwarfs - Sleepy
Beatles Songs - "Good Night" // "I'm So Tired"
Idioms - "Sleeping like a log" // "playing dead"

Here's an alternate shot that I kind of liked:

Photo Friday - 'Pristine'

2012-01-20T14:17:00.001-05:00

SPC - "Flashback 2011" - #2

2012-01-16T09:32:00.000-05:00

"A "Flashback In The Pan"

Flash in the pan - Something which disappoints by failing to deliver anything of value, despite a showy beginning.

Also:
Reflective Surfaces
tiny words
Beatles Songs - "Come And Get It"

Photo Friday - 'Cloudy'

2012-01-13T01:20:00.001-05:00

SPC - "Flashback 2011" - #1

2012-01-09T01:34:00.000-05:00

It's January and Self Portrait Challenge is again looking back at the new themes from 2011 and combining two or more of them into a new self portrait for this month.

For now, I'm sticking primarily with some leftover ideas for December's theme, "Idioms."

Namely,

Balance the Books - to determine through bookkeeping that financial accounts are in balance.

vs.

Cook the Books - to falsify a company's financial records.

Besides the obvious Idioms, I'm saying that it qualifies for Literature.

Tiny Words works, I suppose.

The top image is Defying Gravity in a way.

Again with the top image, I'm saying that the Beatles Song, "Carry That Weight" works (or "Sure to Fall"). Surely there's a Beatles Song for the bottom image: "Happiness is a Warm ~~Gun~~ Book??" // "In Spite of all the Danger?"

Photo Friday - 'Day's End'

2012-01-06T01:07:00.001-05:00

SPC - Idioms - #4

2012-01-03T10:32:00.000-05:00

Final entry for 'Idioms' from December's theme.

Cut to the chase - Get to the point

Cut to the quick - Cause someone deep emotional hurt

January's theme is 'Flashback 2011' (combining 2 or more themes from the previous year) and has officially begun, but I'm still recovering from Christmas break. Hopefully, I'll get one up before the end of the week.

SPC - Idioms - #3

2011-12-20T11:09:00.000-05:00

Why was six scared of seven?

Because seven ate nine.

At sixes and sevens -- in a state of total confusion or disarray.

On cloud nine -- in a state of blissful happiness.

SPC - Idioms - #2

2011-12-13T01:04:00.000-05:00

Behind The Eight Ball - In trouble or an awkward position, out of luck

On The Ball - to be especially capable or efficient

Not quite as diametrically opposed as last week's, but still, one meaning an adventageous position and the other meaning a dire position. I guess it just depends on where one is in relation to the ball.

Photo Friday - 'Depth Perception'

2011-12-12T16:16:00.000-05:00

SPC - Idioms - #1

2011-12-05T23:15:00.001-05:00

The new theme for Self Portrait Challenge in December is - 'Idioms'

SLAP

on the back vs. on the wrist

Interesting how they mean exact opposites:

A slap on the back is a casual gesture of congratulations

A slap on the wrist is a mild punishment

Transitioning from tiny words, as well.

Photo Friday - 'Graceful'

2011-12-02T15:17:00.001-05:00

This is my wife, Christy. She demonstrates grace every day in how she deals with others (especially her family; especially especially her husband).

I picked up her wedding rings from the jeweler today. She had them sized down so they wouldn't fall off her finger. I wasn't as nervous picking them up the second time as I was the first time, but it made me realize that I'd do it all over again.

In a heartbeat.

Coronet 500

2011-11-30T23:01:00.001-05:00

Accidentally for Self Portrait Challenge - 'tiny words'

Didn't really intend for this to be a self portrait or a 'tiny words' shot. I was just fascinated by the car.

Gotta be my first "tiny words" self portrait that is straight out of the camera, though.

Photo Friday - 'Rugged'

2011-11-30T12:07:00.001-05:00

On the theme, I thought this weathered door fit on it's own.

I was pleasantly surprised to rediscover the cross emblem formed by the long shadows of fading daylight in this photo.

The word "rugged" automatically conjures the cross of Christ in my mind because of the old George Bennard hymn, "The Old Rugged Cross."

thankful

2011-11-22T23:46:00.001-05:00

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

Photo Friday - 'Noon'

2011-11-18T15:54:00.001-05:00

hedge apples

2011-11-14T22:17:00.001-05:00

The kids and I were at the park Saturday and the hedge apples (we were calling them Alien Brains and making up associated stories) were abundant. Several of the kids on the playground took it upon themselves to collect and compile the worthless fruit onto this piece of playground equipment. Some bonus shots from the same day:

Photo Friday - 'One'

2011-11-11T01:06:00.001-05:00

the civil wars

2011-11-09T01:36:00.001-05:00

For Self Portrait Challenge - tiny words

Christy and I went to see The Civil Wars last Friday night. Awesome concert. There's something refreshingly honest about a simple vocal duo like The Civil Wars. Darn near zero noticeable production and yet there was magic in that room.

Backstory: Christy and I are not "concert" people. We tend to avoid crowds and are reluctant to spend money on luxuries like concert tickets. I was immediately hooked when I first heard The Civil Wars, but would have been content to listen to the CD, as usual.

It was actually in an effort to get her approval to buy the digital album that I showed her these two videos and she was like, "we have to go see them live." Well, that never happens, but I immediately looked into it and they had just been in Indianapolis like three days prior. The were headed for Europe and I didn't have much hope they'd be back to Indy soon. Then they announced their Fall dates and indeed they were coming back to Indy afterall. I ordered our tickets immediately.

It was a good night. The kids spent the night with good friends from church. We got dressed up. We stopped at a sushi place we'd been wanting to try on the way to downtown. Traffic was decent. Lovely weather for a short walk in the theater district of Indianapolis. Amazing concert. We even enjoyed the opening act. We discovered that we could upgrade our tickets when we got there which turned out to be a good thing because the Egyptian Room is usually a standing concert. Christy is....not tall. If we'd been in the middle of that crowd, I'm not sure she would have seen anything. The upgrades got a place to sit on some risers and some rowdy neighbors.

Cameras with detachable lenses were not allowed.

I crammed my smallest body and shortest lens (Sigma 30mm) into my smallest bag and didn't have any problems. Wished I'd had my telezoom, but it was general admission and I had no idea where we'd be located in the room. Just glad I didn't have to make do with my iPod. :-)

Photo Friday - 'Public Space'

2011-11-04T10:13:00.002-04:00

boo

2011-11-01T00:12:00.000-04:00

The new challenge theme for Self Portrait Challenge in November is "tiny words."

We did this challenge two years ago (also in November) and had a blast with it.

It just so happens that November 1st falls on a Tuesday this year. That means two things: 1.) We'll have five (5) weeks of this challenge. 2.) I got to shoot this photo when it was still October 31st (aka Halloween).

Since we're coming off the "Fears" challenge from October, this seemed appropriate.

Halloween, 2011

2011-10-31T01:06:00.001-04:00

Here are a few pictures for Halloween, 2011:

Photo Friday - 'Wide Angle'

2011-10-31T00:59:00.000-04:00

I don't have a particularly wide angle lens.

This is a shot from Michigan a couple of summers ago that shows some of the effects of wide angle distortion, etc. despite it being shot at 18mm (27mm equiv.).

Pediophobia

2011-10-25T01:00:00.001-04:00

Pediophobia - def. - the fear of dolls

I don't know if the Uncanny Valley shifts based on personal experience or not, but these dolls, for me, reside on the downward slant of it.

Photo Friday - 'Little'

2011-10-21T10:32:00.000-04:00

Kleptophobia

2011-10-17T23:51:00.000-04:00

Kleptophobia - def. - the fear of being stolen from or robbed.

OK -- I'm having a little fun at the expense of certain members of the Flickr community.

To be clear, I am among those who share at least a hint of this fear with regards to images.

I'm interested in starting a dialogue for those interested.

What do you do to protect your images? Upload low resolution files? Watermark? Register copyrights?

What about on the other side? If you upload large files, are they available for use?

Anybody use Creative Commons? I have, at several times in the past, almost worked up the nerve to go with Creative Commons (non-commercial, attribution). Anybody else?

Curious about the thoughts of the communities out there.

Photo Friday - 'My Baby

2011-10-14T07:56:00.000-04:00

Iatrophobia

2011-10-10T23:53:00.000-04:00

It would be unfair to say that I have a fear of doctors. It would, however, be accurate to say that I have seen my doctor exactly three times (as a patient) in the fifteen years I have been out of college and "on my own" as they say. All of those were for very specific procedures (all relatively minor/outpatient). Have I mentioned my 17-year non-vomit streak?

I actually like my doctor. I have seen him on many other occasions. He is a GP who delivers babies, so unless there is a need to see a specialist, he is the doctor that all members of my family see for whatever ails them and I have often accompanied said family members to appointments, when necessary.

Still, one can never be too careful, so here I am pretending to adhere to a well-known proverb for real and imagined iatrophobes, everywhere.iatrophobia -- def. - the irrational fear of doctors.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away"

Photo Friday - 'Slick'

2011-10-07T08:23:00.000-04:00

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia

2011-10-03T23:41:00.003-04:00

Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia -- def. - the fear of long words.

For the month of October, participants at Self Portrait Challenge are exploring fears.They may be honest-to-goodness actual personal fears or depictions of fears that they may not actually experience, but have fun depicting photographically. The latter is the case for this one.

I do not experience any problems with long words except for the occasional misspelling -- which may be an issue here. Since I found this word and got my paper prop ready, I have discovered an alternate spelling for this word "quipped" (double-p, there). Still not sure which one is correct.

*********************

This was actually my original concept for this shot with the typewriter and white out. I decided to shoot the wadded up version as an alternate. I switched the alternate to the primary when I saw how the post-processing turned out.

Photo Friday - 'Animal'

2011-09-30T08:28:00.000-04:00

Well, I guess I'll just stick with the tiger again, this week.

I hope you don't get tigered of seeing them.

:-)

SPC - Reflective Surfaces - #4

2011-09-27T00:02:00.001-04:00

This is not at all what I conceived when I stopped for this shot. My intention was to use one of these, but when I loaded them all as layers, I noticed that these three aligned (accidentally) so nicely that I put them in as clones.

Any resemblance to any real flags, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Seriously.

Photo Friday - 'Inside'

2011-09-23T12:56:00.000-04:00

SPC - Reflective Surfaces - #3

2011-09-20T08:26:00.000-04:00

The kids started up with swimming lessons at the local YMCA again. They're both doing great. They seem to take to it naturally and have good strokes. They're both in small classes because soccer is still going on (which affects other kids who might otherwise be in swimming lessons). At least, that's what I've been told.

Afterward, they were curious about the racquetball court and when I noticed the reflection, I knew I had my shot for this week. You can see Hannah off to the right of frame there. She was looking for a light switch, I think.

Photo Friday - 'Glowing'

2011-09-16T08:23:00.000-04:00

March, 2011 - One night before Supermoon.This is from the Sam's Club parking lot at 96th Street and I-69 if you can believe. The windsock indicates the nearby airport (Indianapolis Metropolitan Airfield).Looking east here and getting the glow on the silos from a setting sun (or already set, possibly) behind me. The dusky sky allowed for a proper exposure on all three elements, here (sky, moon, silos). I think I played with levels on the silos to enhance the glow that was there, but I liked the final image.

SPC - 'Reflective Surfaces' - #2

2011-09-13T17:24:00.000-04:00

Photo Friday - 'Near'

2011-09-09T08:30:00.000-04:00

A macro shot of a thin stream of water coming from our bathroom tap. If you look closely, you can see my face (sideways) refracted in the water.

First Day of Preschool -- Year 2

2011-09-08T13:32:00.000-04:00

He's an "upperclassman" this year. :-)

SPC - 'Reflective Surfaces' - #1

2011-09-07T09:02:00.000-04:00

Photo Friday - 'Cars'

2011-09-02T05:20:00.000-04:00

So, I get an e-mail around 1am every Friday morning from Photo Friday notifying me of what the new theme is for the new week.

"Cars"

"No problem," I think, confident that I already have something on my Flickr photostream that will fit the bill.

I do have several pictures of cars, but they are nearly all pictures of a car -- isolated. I didn't find a picture that clearly featured more than one car. Maybe I'm being too literal about interpreting the theme, but that's my nature.

So my SPC shot this week (immediately below) used an old Kodak Duaflex through which I had run some 120 film before I finally got around to using the camera for TTV (through the viewfinder) work.I shot the film last fall and had it developed shortly thereafter. The images were mostly underexposed and lacked contrast. I wasn't sure I'd ever get around to making them public on Flickr. The SPC shot this week was the impetus for going ahead and making the images public (though there are buried in my stream because they were uploaded months ago), and here, now, I find a use for one of them:

I guess I prefer posting a shot with zero cars instead of one with only one. Makes sense to me!

SPC - 'Inspired by Literature' - #5

2011-08-31T23:05:00.000-04:00

"In a Wonderland they lie, Dreaming as the days go by, Dreaming as the summers die: Ever drifting down the stream- Lingering in the golden gleam- Life, what is it but a dream?"
Lewis Carroll - Through The Looking Glass

I figured when we were doing "Inspired by Literature" as a challenge theme for SPC that Lewis Carroll's Alice would likely make an appearance or two and I was right. There are at least three in the pool and this will make four. I knew I wanted to represent "Through The Looking Glass" in a "Through The Viewfinder" shot. This one is not exactly what I had in mind, but it's what I had time for. :-)

A brief word on the bottom camera seen in this shot. Over a year ago, lovegreendog hosted a give away on a couple of TLR cameras. I received one of those. This is the first TTV shot I've taken with it, but I did run a roll of 120 film through it last fall. I never made those photos public until just now. Here if you want to see.

My apologies to lovegreendog for the long delay in getting around to this. I intend to do more soon!

Photo Friday - 'Recreation'

2011-08-30T23:55:00.000-04:00

SPC - 'Inspired by Literature' - #4

2011-08-23T23:39:00.001-04:00

For Self Portrait Challenge -- 'Inspired By Literature'

Some of you may remember a similar image to this one from a few years ago (the boy has grown a bit, eh?).

I have found it interesting that, so far, many of the entries to the 'Inspired by Literature' theme for SPC have been from books and authors often associated with children. Some of them are hardly 'kid lit,' but still, those books we read during our formative years continue to resonate into our adult years and then into the lives and minds of our own children, too.

On the subject of children's literature, I have to make mention of Mo Willems. Here, we are reading the appropriately named, cleverly written and brilliantly illustrated title, "We Are In A Book!" from his Elephant and Piggie series. As a family, we also particularly enjoy his books featuring The Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, and Cat The Cat.

We still enjoy classic books from authors like Dr. Seuss, Bill Peet, Arnold Lobel, Don Freeman, etc., but it has been a good experience for my kids to experience excellent books from a living and working author, as well.

The are just imagining what will take place in the upcoming The Duckling Gets A Cookie!? knowing that The Pigeon will not be a bit happy about that!

Honestly, I can't wait either.

First Day of Fourth Grade

2011-08-22T13:47:00.004-04:00

Hannah started the fourth grade today. She's off to a new building (yet again), new teachers and new experiences.

This year, she was judged to be eligible for a high ability classroom that combines fourth and fifth graders. When we attended the open house last week, we saw that she had actually been assigned into two different classes. Let me explain -- no, there is too much. Let me sum up.

At the end of last year, we attended a fourth grade orientation at her new school building. At that orientation, we were quite impressed with one forth grade teacher, in particular, Mrs. Peyton. I quickly wrote a letter to the Principal asking that Hannah be assigned into Mrs. Peyton's classroom, if possible. Just a few days after I had written that letter, we became aware of the opportunity for Hannah to be in the high ability class. At the recent open house, we discovered that she was assigned into Mrs. Peyton's classroom and the high ability class. I spoke with the Principal and she indicated that Hannah could choose between the two classes. It was entirely up to her and she chose to participate in the high ability classroom -- without hesitation.

We are excited for the opportunity for Hannah to be challenged and proud that she is willing to face those challenges boldly and confidently.

Photo Friday - 'Curvature'

2011-08-19T08:30:00.000-04:00

SPC - 'Inspired by Literature' - #3

2011-08-16T00:08:00.003-04:00

Revisiting Lewis again this week:

Dragon Skin

But the lion told me I must undress first.

I was just going to say that I couldn’t undress because I hadn’t any clothes on when I suddenly thought that dragons are snaky sort of things and snakes can cast their skins. Oh, of course, thought I, that’s what the lion means. So I started scratching myself and my scales began coming off all over the place. And then I scratched a little deeper and, instead of just scales coming off here and there, my whole skin started peeling off beautifully, like it does after an illness, or as if I was a banana. In a minute or two I just stepped out of it. I could see it lying there beside me, looking rather nasty. It was a most lovely feeling. So I started to go down into the well for my bathe.

But just as I was going to put my feet into the water I looked down and saw that they were all hard and rough and wrinkled and scaly just as they had been before. Oh, that’s all right, said I, it only means I had another smaller suit on underneath the first one, and I’ll have to get out of it too. So I scratched and tore again and this under skin peeled off beautifully and out I stepped and left it lying beside the other one and went down to the well for my bathe.

Well, exactly the same thing happened again. And I thought to myself, oh dear, how ever many skins have I got to take off? For I was longing to bathe my leg. So I scratched away for the third time and got off a third skin, just like the two others, and stepped out of it. But as soon as I looked at myself in the water I knew it had been no good.

Then the lion said — but I don’t know if it spoke — "You will have to let me undress you." I was afraid of his claws, I can tell you, but I was pretty nearly desperate now. So I just lay flat down on my back to let him do it.

The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I’ve ever felt. The only thing that made me able to bear it was jut the pleasure of feeling the stuff peel off. You know — if you’ve ever picked the scab of a sore place. It hurts like billy-oh but it is such fun to see it coming away.

“I know exactly what you mean,” said Edmund.

Well, he peeled the beastly stuff right off – just as I thought I’d done it myself the other three times, only they hadn’t hurt – and there it was lying on the grass, only ever so much thicker, and darker, and more knobbly-looking than the others had been. And there was I smooth and soft as a peeled switch and smaller than I had been. Then he caught hold of me – I didn’t like that much for I was very tender underneath now that I’d no skin on — and threw me into the water. It smarted like anything but only for a moment. After that it became perfectly delicious and as soon as I started swimming and splashing I found that all the pain had gone from my arm. And then I saw why. I’d turned into a boy again.

from The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

Photo Friday - 'Gold'

2011-08-12T10:35:00.000-04:00

SPC - 'Inspired by Literature' - #2

2011-08-10T17:03:00.001-04:00

I remember reading "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis for the first time. I recall many instances when I found myself believing that Lewis had somehow managed to peer into my very soul and discern my thoughts, behaviors and attitudes.

C.S. Lewis wrote The Screwtape Letters in the form of a series of letters in which the older, wiser demon, Screwtape advises his young nephew, Wormwood, in the subtlties of temptatation and ultimately, damnation.

Here, Screwtape is suggesting that Wormwood needn't waste his efforts on causing his subject to commit some grand sin when something more understated will suffice:

You will say that these are very small sins; and doubtless, like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember, the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the Enemy. It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one-the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.

Photo Friday - 'Spot'

2011-08-05T08:24:00.000-04:00

A Red-Spotted Purple butterfly

SPC - 'Inspired by Literature' - #1

2011-08-02T14:17:00.003-04:00

'Hold it up!' said Gandalf. 'And look closely!'

As Frodo did so, he now saw fine lines, finer than the finest pen-strokes, running along the ring, outside and inside: lines of fire that seemed to form the letters of a flowing script. They shone brightly, and yet remote, as if out of a great depth.

'I cannot read the fiery letters.' said Frodo in a quavering voice.

'No,' said Galdalf, 'but I can. The letters are Elvish, of an ancient mode, but the language is that of Mordor, which I will not utter here. But this in the Common Tongue is what is said, close enough:

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.

It is only two lines of a verse long known in Elven-lore:

Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.'

He paused and then said slowly in a deep voice: 'This is the Master-ring, the One Ring to rule them all. This is the One Ring that he lost many ages ago to the great weakening of his power. He greatly desires it – but he must not get it.'

*******************************************

The challenge theme at Self Portrait Challenge for the month of August is "Inspired by Literature."

“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”
--Oscar Wilde

This is my beat up paperback of The Lord of the Rings saga. I read LOTR several times surrounding the release of Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Fellowship of the Ring and subsequent LOTR films The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

I am currently re-reading The Hobbit.

Photo Friday - 'Enormous'

2011-08-02T12:31:00.000-04:00

An older shot (2004) from the Indianapolis Zoo.

SPC - 'Games' - #4

2011-07-26T08:15:00.000-04:00

Photo Friday - 'Vertical'

2011-07-22T10:20:00.000-04:00

Weekend

2011-07-19T01:01:00.002-04:00

Highlights from the weekend included Hannah participating in a musical, "Joseph: From the Pit to the Palace" and Harrison learning to ride his bike without training wheels.

That's just what he did!

You may notice that he learned in the exact same spot as his big sister:

Also this past weekend:

Joseph: From the Pit to the Palace

Hannah participated in a musical camp last week where they prepared a musical for presentation in five, 3-hour practices in one week. Shows were Friday night and Sunday morning. They all did a great job. I was particularly proud of one member of the cast.

SPC - 'Games' - #3

2011-07-19T00:59:00.000-04:00

Blokus ** This is an example of a possible, but unlikely result where the game ends in a 4-way tie because all players used every piece with which they started the game.

The first time I tried, I ended up with one piece left over for each color that could not be placed, so I started over from scratch.

You may also notice that the finished board as you see it here has Rotational symmetry (ignoring colors).

When I'm not obsessing about a Self Portrait Challenge, we enjoy playing this game as a family. Harrison is still a bit young, but does pretty well for himself with some assistance.

I love how the board looks when the game is over. It's like a game and a piece of art all wrapped up into a colorful package.

Photo Friday - 'Seashore'

2011-07-15T08:42:00.000-04:00

Yes, I know that Lake Superior is not technically a "sea" since it isn't salt water, but I'm fresh out of seashore photos, see?

SPC - 'Games' - #2

2011-07-14T17:16:00.001-04:00

This is a bit of a cheat for Self Portrait Challenge, but I'm in a bit of a "double whammy" situation this week.

1.) Vacation Bible School is happening at my church this week and I'm taking home a few hundred photos each night to sort through, pick favorites and edit for a running slideshow. The kids love to see themselves on the big screens.

2.) It is Polaroid Week on Flickr. Browsing the group pool is always inspiring and now, with new films available from The Impossible Project plus die-hards who collected and stashed the now otherwise unavailable Polaroid films, no less time consuming.

For these reasons, I am posting this as my entry for Self Portrait Challenge this week. Plus, I'm stoked about having at least two (thanks to acukiki) Polaroids in the SPC pool for the week that coincides with 'Roid Week.

What's the 'game' you ask? Well, that's a fair question, I suppose.

Revisiting this location with each combination of cameras and films I have encountered, I suppose is a game, of sorts.

Also, taking a picture of the finished Polaroid print at the location where the print was made is a bit more of a game than it used to be. While using the new films from Impossible, light shielding is an important part of the process. Some films may require as much as ten minutes of developing time away from bright light. This means that unlike the old 600 film from Polaroid that usually finished developing in 60 seconds or so, now I usually have to snap the Polaroid and then return to that location at a later date to get the type of "picture of a Polaroid" photograph you see here.

My final Polaroid for 'Roid Week that I will post tomorrow morning will reveal one of the difficulties and/or amusements associated with this delay. [UPDATED with link. You'll have to scroll down to the context shot to see the amusement).

Photo Friday - 'Gloomy'

2011-07-08T08:23:00.000-04:00

I missed Photo Friday's "Sharp Focus" challenge last week. My company decided to give its employees Friday off in addition to Monday for the Independence Day holiday, so we had a fun, activity-filled, 4-day weekend, including Friday. Then, it was a
short week this week (not to complain).

I guess one could say that I got a bit out of focus regarding the 'sharp focus' challenge.

It's a bit of an odd challenge, too. I mean, "sharp focus" is a pretty fundamental element to photography. What's next week's challenge going to be: correct exposure?? It's not that I don't get out of focus shots from time to time, but I wouldn't likely be using an improperly focused picture to participate in a photography challenge, regardless of how formal or informal the challenge is.

Having said that, there are times when experimenting with intentionally defocused or unsharp photos can be advantageous.

Had I participated, I probably would have used one of these, combining sharp focus with an item or object that is also physically sharp:

SPC - 'Games' - #1

2011-07-06T00:35:00.002-04:00

This is my transition from June's "Street" theme to July's "Games" theme.

"Games" is inclusive of Board Games, Card Games, Video Games, Sports Games, etc.

I don't know if bicycling on a straight path for miles and miles qualifies as a game or not. If not, let's say this is the take-pictues-while-riding-a-bike-and-try-not-to-kill-myself-or-anybody-else game.

Part of our July 4th Holiday weekend consisted of hauling the bikes to Indianapolis and riding a bit on the Monon Trail. This was the first time that Harrison rode his own bike (he usually rides in a trailer behind me).

Monon Trail
Indianapolis, Indiana

Yes, Hannah was there too. She was in front of me, leading the way.

Got ornery??

A few more...

2011-07-05T00:58:00.001-04:00

from Anderson's fireworks Monday night:

Independence Day 2011

2011-07-03T01:59:00.002-04:00

It has been a good weekend already with more fun yet to come!

SPC - 'Takin' It To The Streets' - #4

2011-06-28T12:09:00.003-04:00

I lived in Anderson for many years before I discovered this tunnel on a bike ride one day a few years ago. It's an odd place. I have a feeling that the tunnel is actually wide enough for two-way traffic, but there are dedicated traffic lights on each end that only allow traffic to go through one way at a time. There are no fewer than 10 lanes of train tracks running across it comprising the CSX Transportation Anderson Rail Yard. Of course, when we go this way, the kids insist that I beep my horn going through.

I usually do.

Here's a bonus shot. Just up the hill from this tunnel lives another oddity in Anderson: Norm's Alley:

What you see here is the beginning and end of this street. It connects a major North/South route, Madison Avenue, to Marine Drive where the above-mentioned tunnel is (Madison has its own tunnel, in case you were wondering).

Here's a top-down view:

I just love that this tiny connecting street receives its very own name -- and a quirky one, at that. No idea on the origin of the street's name or its namesake (fictional or otherwise).

Photo Friday - 'Wilderness'

2011-06-24T08:37:00.000-04:00

SPC - 'Takin' It To The Streets' - #3

2011-06-20T22:50:00.002-04:00

Meridian Street

Photo Friday - 'Building'

2011-06-17T01:03:00.001-04:00

SPC - 'Takin' It To The Streets' - #2

2011-06-16T12:03:00.000-04:00

Photo Friday - 'Shade'

2011-06-14T08:19:00.000-04:00

SPC - 'Takin' It To The Streets' - #1

2011-06-13T00:46:00.001-04:00

The new challenge theme for Self Portrait Challenge for June is officially "Takin' it to the Streets," but is inclusive of all thoroughfares: Roads -- Paths -- Trails -- Highways -- Sidewalks, et cetera...

I spent last week in the North Woods of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. My cousin has a cabin up there and he graciously allowed its use by my family, including my Parents and my Sister and our families.

We had awesome weather and had a great time enjoying both the great outdoors as well as the cabin.

One of my favorite activities was going to the end of the dock and watching for loons, which were common to hear and see, but proved difficult to photograph.

This is the path that led from the cabin to the dock.

Photo Friday - 'People'

2011-06-03T21:50:00.000-04:00

Extreme processing on a pretty boring image. The crowd at a Symphony on the Prairie concert - Conner Prairie - Indianapolis, Indiana

Recent Photos of the Kids

2011-06-02T00:46:00.002-04:00

These are candid portraits of the kids at the Zoo this past Saturday:

SPC - 'Beatles Songs' #5

2011-05-31T17:07:00.001-04:00

You say it's your Birthday?

On Saturday, I celebrated the anniversary of the day on which I was born. This is commonly referred to (even by The Beatles, apparently) as one's "Birthday."

The "birthday" present that I bought myself that was from my family (yeah, that's how we roll), was a Gorillapod and Ballhead.

I've been nursing along a busted tripod for a few months now and I think the Gorillapod and I will get along quite nicely -- as soon as it quits trying to eat my skull.

Photo Friday - 'Sundown'

2011-05-27T09:21:00.000-04:00

SPC - 'Beatles Songs' #4

2011-05-24T07:58:00.000-04:00

Let It Be

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me, shine until tomorrow, let it be.

Photo Friday - 'Many'

2011-05-20T01:08:00.001-04:00

SPC - 'Beatles Songs' - #3

2011-05-17T00:40:00.003-04:00

Such a beautifully haunting melody.

I remember going nearly crazy trying to identify the opening melody when SPT/SPC alum, girlhula posted about her brother's video to "Know This" by The Remnant (featuring Scar). I heard it, by chance, several days later and may have frightened my colleague who was playing a cover version of "Here There & Everywhere" on her computer. "WHAT IS THAT SONG?!?!?"

"Know This" was the reason that I established a iTunes account so that I could buy that track. I listen to it often on my iPod, but in so doing, I've done myself a disservice in neglecting the gorgeous music video, "a love letter to color and light."

It has since become one of my favorites (both of them). :-)

Photo Friday - 'My World'

2011-05-13T07:57:00.001-04:00

I've posted this before, but I thought it seemed appropriate:

“Too bad you can't buy a voodoo globe so that you could make the earth spin real fast and freak everybody out.” -- Jack Handy

SPC - 'Beatles Songs' - #2

2011-05-09T22:05:00.001-04:00

The Long And Winding Road

Photo Friday - 'Manufactured'

2011-05-06T10:29:00.001-04:00

SPC - 'Beatles Songs' - #1

2011-05-03T23:14:00.002-04:00

It's May and the challenge theme at Self Portrait Challenge is "Beatles Songs."

I'll admit that besides the hits that everybody knows, I've only dug deeper into the Beatles albums in the last year or so.

"Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey" is one of those that stood out to me from The White Album.

Photo Friday - 'Primary Color'

2011-04-29T08:03:00.000-04:00

I guess we're supposed to pick one primary color to represent?

SPC - 'Defying Gravity' - #4

2011-04-28T08:10:00.000-04:00

We used to get on top of tables and hang our heads over the edge and look at the room upside down to imagine the ceiling was the floor and the floor was the ceiling.

Sometimes a change in perspective is exactly what one needs.

Photo Friday - 'Minimalist'

2011-04-22T22:09:00.002-04:00

Interesting that this theme comes on the heels of "Lines" last week.

Even though I wouldn't consider the photo that I posted last week for "Lines" as "minimal" (though, a case could be made), I see lines, and the simplicity thereof, as a fundamental in visual minimalism.

Even in nature, I have a tendency to reduce many of my photographs to their most basic elements. This can be accomplished by lighting, background and composition.

I think modern photography, in it's effort to capture maximum detail, is often counter-intuitive in conveying minimalism and yet it can be done.

Since it's a relatively modern concept, I've chosen a relatively modern subject for this theme:

More examples of photos tagged minimalism on my Flickr photostream.

SPC - 'Defying Gravity' - #3

2011-04-21T01:03:00.002-04:00

I've always wanted to levitate an X-Wing.

:-)

Photo Friday - 'Lines'

2011-04-15T08:51:00.002-04:00

It was tough to choose a photo for this Photo Friday theme, "Lines."

I have almost fifty public photos on my Flickr photostream tagged Lines. Additionally, sixty or so are tagged Stripes (some overlap between the two, but not as much as you might suspect.)

I've always been fascinated by geometry and lines. It's the convergence of math and art that draws me in, I think.

Thinking about convergence helped me to choose this image for the theme:

SPC - 'Defying Gravity' - #2

2011-04-14T01:13:00.000-04:00

Photo Friday - 'Ride'

2011-04-12T14:00:00.003-04:00

SPC - 'Defying Gravity' - #1

2011-04-10T21:38:00.000-04:00

A new month brings a new challenge theme at Self Portrait Challenge: Defying Gravity.

Photo Friday - 'Elaborate'

2011-04-01T09:30:00.001-04:00

SPC - 'The Seven Dwarfs' - #5

2011-04-01T08:53:00.002-04:00

Final Week of The Seven Dwarfs challenge theme.

Doc

Photo Friday - 'Mother Nature'

2011-03-25T10:07:00.000-04:00

SPC - 'The Seven Dwarfs' - #4

2011-03-21T23:46:00.001-04:00

Grumpy

Photo Friday - 'Polished'

2011-03-18T12:19:00.000-04:00

SPC - 'The Seven Dwarfs' - #3

2011-03-16T00:11:00.000-04:00

Sneezy

Photo Friday - 'Ethereal'

2011-03-11T01:44:00.000-05:00

This 22-degree halo lasted much of the afternoon last Thursday.

SPC - 'The Seven Dwarfs' - #2

2011-03-09T00:39:00.001-05:00

Happy

This past Saturday night, my church hosted a Father/Daughter banquet complete with catering, entertainment, getting dressed up, formal portraits, etc. This was right up Hannah's alley and I was happy to attend with her. She is a special girl and worthy of such special treatment. It was a good night for us.

Special thanks to Dwayne Smith and his family for a wholly selfless act to take charge of this event and make it enjoyable for all in attendance.

This will be a day long remembered...

2011-03-08T12:35:00.001-05:00

Did I mention that I finally let the kids watch Star Wars?

We recently let the kids watch Star Wars (1977) for the first time. They were both aware of some of the ships and characters from toys and clothing and a general awareness of Pop Culture, but they hadn't actually seen the movie.

My hope had always been that both kids would be ready to watch it at about the same time and that's pretty much how it worked out. They both liked it, of course, and are anxious to see the other films in the series. We're letting them watch the original a few more times before we launch into any others.

Even though it is unlikely that I saw the original film in theaters (as a three-year-old), I keep telling them how I had to wait three years between films. Besides, Empire is so much darker than the first film. We'll see how it goes.

A friend sent me this on Facebook when I mentioned it there:

In other news...

Pee Wee Basketball 2011

Harrison had Pee Wee basketball on Saturdays in February again this year. He did much better this year. I didn't have to physically control his unwilling body this time, so that's a step in the right direction.

Photo Friday - 'Turbulence'

2011-03-04T13:36:00.001-05:00

Got a bit nervous when I was this one approaching last summer. It never ended up producing severe storms in our area, only a bit of rain as I recall. Still the structure was impressive.

I couldn't get the panorama to stitch right, so I just left it like this.

SPC - 'The Seven Dwarfs' - #1

2011-03-03T00:35:00.001-05:00

Bashful

Well, I may have gone off my rocker (possibly from that poison apple), but I have chosen 'The Seven Dwarfs' as the challenge theme for Self Portrait Challenge for the month of March.

The challenge: depict the Name/Attribute of one of the seven dwarfs:

Happy
Sleepy
Sneezy
Grumpy
Dopey
Doc
Bashful