Thought you might enjoy seeing this guy I took last summer.  I was experimenting with a new lens (should have used my macro) but this one came out reasonable.  Handheld on a ladder with fill flash and still got some blur in the antenna.  

Actually, it is just a B&W yellow jacket.

PS.  I just look at what got uploaded and it lost even more, wow, this is horrible.

It uploaded a little better on Zenfolio     http://lahontanaperture.zenfolio.com/p648906505/h3d73cb6f#h3d73cb6f

http//...6505/e3d73cb6f

Well, I discovered yesterday that there is an etiquette to proper buck dominance competition.

First, there is the Challenge 

Followed by the challenger's bow to the Master

Then the strategic and careful locking of "horns" 

Fourth, is the main action of Pushing and Shoving

Until the challenge winning Twist

and lastly, the claiming of the prize.

Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All

George

Title says it all:

Seeds

Orange

Thanksgiving Wreath

Leaves

Ps.  I will try to get out and actually take some tomorrow :)

It has been a bit since I have had a chance to get out and photograph.  I, at least, like to try to get in on the challenges but am a bit behind.  Dub, here is the Water Challenge picture I promised.  I thought I came out tolerably good considering I did everything wrong (didn't check my settings since I last used the camera):  ISO 64 (in deep shade and with polarizer), lens locked on macro, no tripod (used a rock), dog pulling on leash afraid he was going to get a bath, etc.)

This is a shot taken the same day that I almost threw away when I noticed the spooky face at the top of the trunk so ran it through Topaz Adjust and also made a version with Topaz B&W.  Wife and I disagree which we like best.  Let me know which you like best so we can settle this argument.  (If you get it wrong I have to go out and rake leaves :)

Finally, I corrected all the settings, stuck the dog on a five foot high stump and he posed nicely for several shots.  Jake

 For Carol 

Go to the light with Love.

(I hope her family knows how much Carol touched all of us here through her photos.)

I need you help!  I am hoping to get back to Auburn soon and want to photograph this Coffee Rooster at Depot Bay coffee shop.  I took a snapshot with a point and shoot that I had on me the last time I was there.  I want to do a serious, technically correct photo next time and would like some suggestions from you guys.  I plan (owners willing) to use a tripod and off camera flash if necessary (to help with fan blur and window over exposure).  I will probably bracket the exposure in case I need to bring out shadows or reduce highlights... whatever.

The first image is a jpeg straight out of the camera (I think. Looks kind of soft but could be camera shake).  The second one is enhanced with Topaz Adjust.  And I just bought (I didn't win :(  Topaz B&W Effects ---> third picture.  I don't have any preconceived notions of what I want (will also probably have to please the owners -- I work for coffee.

Anyway, I got my wife's input, now I want yours. Please.

Thank You in advance.

the cloud photo is much better cropping out half of the sky.

Cropped

Here is a shot I took out in the valley.  I kind of like the simplicity of it.

I wanted to post something different so this is of a sky I worked up as a background sky for one of my stereo cards.

Finally, wildfires not only produce lots of smoke but moisture that turn into beautiful clouds.  The head of the fire in on the right and the orange glow under the cloud is the rest of the fire being reflected.

Just a pleasant landscape I thought you might enjoy.

BTW, for all you hot people, note the snow still on the mountains in August!

Just some fooling around with flowers.

Poppy

Spiderwort

I know you guys love these things so here are a couple more  :-)    I wanted to try my hand at some architectural photography.  Which sort of turned into some stereo cards.  For those of you that may not have tried to view these before I set them up for cross-eyed viewing.  The idea is to cross your eyes until the two images merge in the middle as one.  The further from the computer the less your eyes have to converge.  also keep you head level to the screen.  This is good exercise for your eyes.

Courthouse

Jail house

Links to Zenfolio for full size image:

Courthouse

Jail House

I have included the standard single images that I originally set out to take in the Thumbnails below for those of you that aren't cross-eyed.

Critiques are appreciated.

Went down to the river to see if anyone was keeping cool.  Seem like this guy has the right idea.

Critiques appreciated.

Inspired by MrQ's snow pic I had to stop and take this one when I was taking the dog to the Vet.  -- And I didn't have to cheat --  

Nice to know someplace within site is still cool.  Another contribution to "soft" week.  It was a little hazy out and I was using a 500mm prime -- not a good combination.

I don't know if she was keeping her chicks cool but she looks comfortable enough in the shade of the oak.

(these are just for fun and your enjoyment)

So, the home addition is 99% done and most of the construction crap cleaned up and, low and behold, I found a camera underneath it all.  So I took it out on the new deck with the tele on in hopes of getting some bird shots or maybe some inspiration for the Challenge.  As I was sitting there our new "San Diego beach set" neighbor came out on her deck to soak up some rays in her bathing suit.  That's staying cool, right?  Just as I was focusing she caught me!  Her: " Hi what are you taking pictures of?"  Me: " Oh, just a dove in her nest in the tree".   So....

Instead I am posting a couple of oldies just to say I participated:

Looking Cool 1

Looking Cool 2

PS: I understand doves keep producing in the same nest all summer.  So as soon as she gets off the nest I am going to trim some branches so I can get some clean shots.