We took Jaryd back to Turkey Run last weekend and had a great time though I didn't get many worthy pics, except of Jaryd!  I also almost didn't make it back up the 70 steps from the creek.

The Rock The sun was just starting to get into the creek canyon. 

Throwin' Rocks You can see grandma's shadow as she hovers nearby.

Wet Feet Grandma wasn't watching!

Bright, Sun, Bright!   He wouldn't look up just said "sun bright sun"!
 

Well, I guess I'll fess up since people have been asking.  I haven't spent a lot of time here, or anywhere for that matter, for about a month or so.  The reason is that about a month ago during a routine physical they discovered what appeared to be a mass on my lung.  Last week I went to Indy to get a cat scan which confirmed that I had a mass about the size of a golf ball.  They haven't determined yet if it's malignant or not but they will probably end up removing at least part of the lung as it is appears to be impairing my breathing. I may have to change my username to onelunglo soon.
So, I haven't been online much just spending time with the grandbabies.  It just seems like most of my shots lately are crap and I don't know if it's a lack of concentration, a change of priorities, or what.  I'm working on it though.  Barb is taking it worse than me but our spirits are high and we are fine, except she threatens to kick my ass every time I make a joke.  But that's normal.
I've been trying to use the condition to get sympathy sex or gifts but so far no luck!  I did get a couple hugs and I think there might have been some slight grinding with one of them... but he denied it later.

   We haven't been getting any dramatic weather but. hey, clear skies are weather too.  This is from our roadtrip last week.
Yellow light, Blue skies.   I almost trashed this cause it looked like camera movement when I reviewed them but I looked closer and it's some sort of ripple and edging in the brick that's brought out by the low angle of the sun.
   The next day it looked like some weather moving in but it just got cloudy for a while, no freezing rain or snow. Dang it!
Pink Sunrise.
   But we have been frosty every morning.
Frost Burn
Pan Frosting
   Haven't been shooting much recently Barb's making me work around the house.  Hopefully, that's at an end and we can do some shooting soon. Happy Holidays!

  Well, Jaryd stayed overnight so we figured we'd take a roadtrip Friday morning.  But after we dropped Barb off at work she called us and said she forgot she had to go buy donuts for the birthday of one of her workers.  So we go back.  We get that taken care of and as soon as we get out of town... Donnie calls and they want Jaryd back now cause they have to go somewhere and want him to go with them.  So back we go.  It was a gloomy, rainy, overcast day anyway but we we made a trip thru a city park on the way back...it was almost right on the way.  In a hectic morning this was our only moment of Tranquility

  This was the only shot I took.  It seemed odd only importing one image into Lightroom.  I waited for the stupid geese to get higher in the frame but when I stopped on the bridge to shoot they turned around and came back...must of thought it was feeding time.  

  Yesterday I got a last minute early morning call from the boy wanting me to watch Jaryd.  So we got an extra roadtrip this week.  It was real nice and foggy but with the late start the sun was already up pretty high.  Luckily the fog was pretty thick for awhile.
Glow.
Ghost tree.  B&w but not much color in the color version anyway.
Light in the forest.
Backlight.
Baclight-HDR This is an "over the top", in my opinion, HDR version of the previous shot.
Baclight -Mild This is more like the amount of effect I prefer.
  The first backlight shot is pretty much straight from the camera and the last is closer to what I saw but I've been shooting a lot of shots with the auto bracketing turned on so I could play with them later using the HDR software.  It's very easy to get a gaudy, unnatural look with the adjustments in Photomatix which I think I did in the middle shot. Of course, others may prefer it.  While I prefer the more natural look it is fun to play with.
Comments and criticism, hopefully constructive, are welcome.  Except for those mentioned all other shots are not HDR.

First I apologize for leaving the caps lock on for my comments. Will not do it again.

My post is of the fall colors. I and my kids took a road trip two weeks ago to see the fall leaves. it was a great day.
feilds_of_color2
feild_of_color_again
feild_of_color_some_
water_and_trees
water_plant2 trees
the sun was picasa_ray_of_light over the fields.
And i could not resist stoping to take pictures of the_tree_amegos
donkey here_i_come

First shot  with the new camera.   Couldn't wait so I charged the battery in the car on the drive back from Indy and tooks some shots of Jaryd who rode up with us.  You can still see the remnants of the two black eyes he got when he fell and hit the bridge of his nose on the step.
These are from our first roadtrip with it, not much to shoot, a foggy, gloomy, rainy day.  Every trip with Jaryd is fun though, even if we don't see much.
Bend your ear I like how this comes out at ya!
Country Road 1
Country Road 2
Muddy Road We didn't drive thru.

I was going to put this in my last post but left it out somehow.
Arizona Cactus

    I hope these look ok I did them at the library on my laptop.
   They are all from Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah, about 30 miles from Arches National Park.  Legend has it the park got it's name from the fact that they would herd horses out on the point and close off a narrow neck of land to corral them.  Once they were left there and died hence the name, or at least that's the story.  The neck is pretty narrow about 30 yards with about a 2000 foot drop on either side but it wasn't as bad going across it as it was thinking about going across it.  There's enough plants and obstructions that it's not real obvious.  Barb was freaking out anyway.  When we left I told her to pull over and let me out and I'd take a picture of her driving across then I'd catch up with her.  She said she didn't want to do it because, "If I'm not with you you'll get too close to the edge!"  I said, "If you weren't with me I wouldn't NEED to get too close to the edge!"  She dropped me off.  The picture sucked though cause you couldn't tell it was narrow there.
DHPSP 1
DHPSP 2 Dead Horses aren't the only animals here there's also Dead Donkeys and Dead Asses!
DHPSP 3
DHPSP 4
   I could enter this in the challenge cause I'm sure Barb thinks a 4500 mile roadtrip with a smartass is purgatory, if not hell itself.
Oh, these are a squarish 8x10 format cause I was making them for Amber.  She wants to decorate her apartment with pics we shot on vacation and she wanted 8x10s.

I have been in a huge slump lately.  I hope that I am coming out of it.  Had a good long pic taking drive today.  This shot was my favorite of the day.  So far....thanks to having children I have to take a road trip in a little while to the college to unlock my sons truck keys that he felt like locking in it today.......

BW

Color

I took this at Starved Rock in IL. I did some editing to it and not sure if it is good any ideas? I plan on going again they go here every winter. We saw over 50 eagles. I need a longer lens but it was a great time.

I am new to this any feedback would be great. I have enjoyed looking at everyones photos and just signed up. Any feedback would be great. ThanksNatural Bridge I am new to this any feedback would be great. I have enjoyed looking at everyones photos and just signed up. Any feedback would be great. Thanks

Garden in Indy

This was a 6 day trip started in MI and ended up in SD, WY, CO. enjoyed this trip. We went to the Badlands the first day. The next morning we drove by MT Rushmore, Crazy Horse the to Custer State Park the drove to Devil's Tower then Made it to the CO. to the Rockies State Park. Nutcracker Enjoying the sun Badlands Rams on the Hill Elk Grazing This was a 6 day trip started in MI and ended up in SD, WY, CO. enjoyed this trip. We went to the Badlands the first day. The next morning we drove by MT Rushmore, Crazy Horse the to Custer State Park the drove to Devil's Tower then Made it to the CO. to the Rockies State Park. Nutcracker Enjoying the sun Badlands Rams on the Hill

We where on a road trip left MI made it to SD in 10 hrs. Then we got up early one morning and headed to Custer State Park. With the time difference we were able to see more animals out. We drove by a hill and there they were sitting there.Rams on the Hill

We recently took a two week road trip out to Wyoming.  Here are just a couple shots from that, as well as a couple from the first few days we were home.  

Butterfly in the Teton Mountains.

Flowers after  the rain.  

Pine trees after the rain.

Pinecone.

This may not be the best shot you've seen, but the subject matter is difficult to work with, and I was unable to get it moved to a setting with better lighting.

I issued a challenge to my husband - each time he requested a visit to a rest area, he had to take one intresting picture.  This was one of the only stops we made.  :)

This was the general attitude of my Furbis when we arrived home... apparently, we did wrong by him.

Shortly after returning, I was asked by a friend if I would take some photos of her and her new fiance.

  Jaryd and I had our weekly roadtrip yesterday.  It was very gray and threatening day but didn't rain... during the outing.  This view of the barn was taken later in the morning and I have some earlier ones with a sunrise that I may post tomorrow.
B&W Barn
  Let me know how it looks as I'm using my laptop to edit on so I can see if it's worthwhile to try and post during the vacation.
  Barb complained that we got the new truck all dusty driving the back roads and drove it to the car wash on her lunch hour.  Then it rained.

Jaryd and I had another roadtrip yesterday and it was a beautiful foggy morning but almost as soon as we get out Barb calls and needs us to come back and pick her up.  So we didn't get to shoot much...maybe next time.

Beans and weeds.
Sun tracks.
Fade out.
Barn minus owl. I didn't see the owl perched on the peak of the roof till I stopped and he flew off. Not enough time to switch lenses... you can see him headed for the trees in the lower left of frame.
  These were all taken with the 14-70mmL handheld, or propped on the window, from the safety of the car.

  Went on another roadtrip with Jaryd the other morning.  Decided to do all b&w that day.  No particular reason why, I guess it just adds a little interest to the day like the "not getting out of the car" rule.
Coiled.
Split level home.
Deep dark woods.
Son of a Beech.
That's a wrap!

  Picked Barb up at work so she could go with us to the playground.  Naturally, she wore all black to make this b&w thing as hard as possible.
Got it made. Chauffered and eating a cookie.
Hey, babe! Liked to swing but more interested in the girl in the next swing.
Escape tunnel.  Running from his grandma!  He was moving almost too fast for me to catch!
Where's Jaryd?  The end.

  A side note:  If you think that eventually I'll get tired of shooting Jaryd and you'll be spared all the baby pics...think again.  We found out last night that Jaryd is getting a cousin.  My other son and his wife informed us that they are expecting.  It was a surprise for them too as they were going to wait till they were both done with school and financially stable but life has a way of screwing with your plans.

  Jaryd and I took another roadtrip today.  It was insufferably hot and humid and I thought we were going to get our butts kicked by a couple octogenarians.  I was jockeying the car back and forth to set up a shot (remember I shoot from the car on our roadtrips) and a truck down the road starts to turn and then backs out and comes our way.  
  Almost every roadtrip someone stops and wants to see what we're doing. Out of curiosity mostly.  The guy and his wife stop beside us, they both look like they're 80 if a day, and this is what I thought the guy said... "Are you back here for trouble? Like I told you I'm going to give you hell!"  I instantly flare but remember there are two of them and, though they are old, they both look fit.  Too I didn't know if Jaryd was awake to back me up or not.  Looking to talk my way out of this I turn down the cd, we were jammin' with some Patsy Cline, and say..."Excuse me, what did you say?" Politeness counts even if it's sarcastic. And he said... " I said, Are you having trouble?  If you're on the mowing crew I'm going to give you hell!"  Relieved I said..."I'm not having trouble and I'm not on the mowing crew. They're about a half mile down the road and turn right."  
  After they left in search of the mowing crew I got out and got in the back to check on Jaryd.  He was awake but cowered down in the car seat.  I told him..."Dude, you're going to have to man up.  The next time this happens you take the old guy and I'll take the old woman... and when you get done come help me!"  He just laughed.  I'll remember that.

When your rooster crows at the break of dawn.
Repossessed
Ahole Bridge
Patriotic Rectangles
Flower
You ain't goin' nowhere.
Just Jawin'

These are some of the things Jaryd and I saw on our weekly road trip Wednesday morning.  As usual, all are taken from the safety of the car, except the shot of Wrigley.  Although, after shooting the buck, I did take Jaryd out of his carseat and the car so he could get a better look. The butterflies were out in droves.

Buck 1.
Buck 2.
Butter 1.
Butter 3.
Butter 4.
Butter 5.
Ol' Ford.
Huh? Your guess is as good as mine!

Portrait of Wrigley. Not a car shot. 8o)

Jaryd and I took a road trip yesterday.  It was kinda gloomy out and threatening and I have to basically shoot from the car window cause I'm afraid I'll get out and lock him in the car... and I don't want to make that phone call!
Barn 1
Barn 2
Barn 3
Flower 1
Flower 2 I been bug-mooned!
Field of green.
Warning! and B&W version. I actually started to get out of the car and take a closer look at this but I thought I heard the faint strains banjo music so I just got out of there!

Jaryd had his first encounter with spaghetti!  Snapshot warning.
Zen of spaghetti.
Satisfied customer.

The St. Lois Gateway arch is an elegant monument to westward expansion in the USA. Located on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Louis, Missouri, the 630-foot tall stainless steel arch rises above the city skyline. The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial consists of the Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and St. Louis' Old Courthouse.
   I captured this pic on our last road trip to Okl, as we drove by...
   
   Thank you all for the get well wishes,
   Blessings to all of you..

This past Tuesday my daughter seized me for the day to celebrate a belated birthday, but more importantly too just celebrate life. Being the creative genius she is, she combined a road trip visiting places I like with a photographic scavenger hunt of sorts. This story captures a portion of the magic that she created that day.

Our journey began with Jana giving my special book, which was more like a keepsake box. Her plan was detailed in a smaller book that was artfully produced with all the love and creativity she could muster. She jump started my day at Starbucks and with a triple shot of caffeine in my system I was ready for our day of memories.

Several miles down the road, I got a first peek at the days events. She found a website that gives photographers a random list of 26 things to capture. Instantly we both started brainstorming on all sorts of ways we could combine 2 or even 3 of the ideas together. Creative minds love to wander down roads that seem to go nowhere to others, but somehow make sense to their owners. As we approached a bridge, I thought of the word transport, I also thought about the differing lines on the bridge. Quicker than the speeding traffic my mind wandered down scattered thoughts on lines. A straight line is the shortest distance between 2 points. But is it the best route to take. In life it is easy to become focused on the end result. Making it to the top, making it to retirement, getting married, and getting a house, getting a better house. Everything seems to center on where you end up, not as much on how you got there. This day caused me to think about the process, the trip itself, and all the moments we would share. It made me appreciate the not so straight lines, perhaps life’s little surprises, which can add so much to one’s life.

ur first stop was at Texas Xtreme Choppers, passing by a Fire Station and then ending up at a Boardwalk in Kemah. We visited shops such as Thomas Kinkade where we picked up a nice night light and a Christmas shop where we just picked up some cool pictures. Magical places where a princess feels at home with Kings and Princes and you believe anything is possible. We took a break from the shops to get our picturetaken. Jana makes even sitting for a picture a fun experience.

Soon we worked up an appetite and went to the Aquarium restaurant where Jana did a rather impressive fish imitation. There were several photo opportunities with fountains all around us. But the coolest place to be was the cool zone. I had no doubt that to find the true definition of the word “glee” I would have to do nothing more than sit near the water spray and wait for a kid to arrive. While some were a tad apprehensive, others got lost in the fun of the moment. On the other side of the boardwalk, kids young and old alike were thrilled by the rides. Jana had planned a ride on the ferris wheel wheel. Other tamer rides were fun to capture and even got me my stripes picture I needed.

We found time to reflect on all the little things that make a moment great. That was her plan after all; to go on a treasure hunt of mementos and memories. I found other neat photos of means of transportation (that one of the jo’s might be familiar with) and got an ant's eye view of another overhead. Another little piece of transportation seemed more likely to be appreciated by Mrs. N unless of course she was with one of the Jo’s. telephone was rather easy to find, and we found a copy of the Osbourne family.

The day was still young so Jana and I decided to venture over to Galveston Island. We found little treasures like Kerry our adopted sea turtle. Jana is quite the bargain hunter, and always on the side of the underdog. So while at a gift shop she had me pick one of the wounded animals for adoption. She picked Elle, a 3 legged elephant, while I chose Hip, a 1 eared hippo. We stopped and picked up picnic supplies and went down to the beach. I found a neat statue that fit the art category Another neat picture was a couple walking by the sea (ok you perfectionist, I know it’s a gulf, but lets not get picky). The sunset was beautiful, a capstone to a perfect day.

After all was said and done, we had filled our box with little mementos of the day, and our heart with memories of each moment. During the day I got lost once, side tracked many times, didn’t get some of the pictures I would have wanted to, and never really counted to see if I got all 26 of the categories. In the end, it wasn’t about the lists; it was about the trip, and who I was spending the day with. It was about enjoying the simple things, and finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.

I feel blessed to have a daughter that loves me so much to do all this for me. I feel with deepest conviction that the fastest way through life bypasses many of the things that make up the importance of life. My encouragement to others is to slow down the frantic pace, and enjoy a moment. If you’re stuck in traffic, find a tune you love and let your spirit dance. Whatever it takes, find ways to make memories that will trace the paths your life course will take. It is more than getting there… make sure you enjoy the trip.

jeffrey

took a little road trip to Ft. Belnap, 12 miles south of Orth. Here are a few things that caught my eyeDSC03160 DSC03138 DSC03163 DSC03139 DSC03184