Life...Moving Forward

Fall Colors in Gruene, Texas

2011-11-26T16:00:00.002-06:00

These images were taken earlier this

month -- on Nov 18th --

on a day when I had some time

to explore a bit with my camera.

The day was overcast, with gray clouds

completely covering the blue sky.

And since it was overcast, I thought it was a

great day to show off the colors of

the leaves that remained on the trees.

I took a short walk down to the water's edge

and from here, you can see how low the

river is compared to the past water lines

that line the roots of the trees.

All the while, this long-legged feathered fowl

was keeping a watch on me...

Even though I kept my distance,

he decided to take a

short flight to the other

end of the sidewalk.

Clouds

2011-10-27T08:30:00.001-05:00

Let me start by saying, I love clouds!

They can add a bit of drama to landscape photos

or help with diffusing the light on overcast days.

Clouds are ever-changing as they float on by...

puffy bits of fluff on clear days,

towering and intimidating in stormy weather

and casually stretched out as feathery

wisps on windy days.

They also help in adding color to the sky...

often pale pinks & soft yellows in the mornings

or a sheer orange against a violet

blue sky as the sun sets in the evening,

to different shades of gray on moody, rainy days.

Sometimes, I think the world is moving

at such a quick pace, that we forget to take in

the simple things available, like...

watching the clouds pass by,

looking for recognizable shapes,

or as the sun settles in for the night,

seeing the colors fade into darkness.

How often do you get the chance to stop

and watch the clouds as they cross the sky?

County Fair

2011-10-18T09:00:00.006-05:00

The local county fair was just about a month ago,

and these photos remind me of when

I was a kid and brave enough to get

on all the 'BIG' rides....

Ooh, the ferris wheel...sorta,
each of the carriages are enclosed,

with the passengers facing each other.

Haang on!!!
Guess I'm still that brave lil' kid...
but now armed with a camera!

This is what the view was
like from one of the rides!

The Kamikaze is best when you're sitting up front...

the ground rushes up towards you and then, just when it
looks like you might turn into a pancake,
you make a loop all the way around again!

Then... you get to go backwards! Wheee!

This is one ride that I didn't think I could stomach...

so this time, I just watched from the sidelines

and remembered the good 'ol days

of climbing in and making the carriage

flip over and over, as fast as it go,

while the ride spun you 'round and 'round.

So, tell me...what's your favorite ride at the fair?

Hummingbird Silhouette

2011-07-13T08:30:00.038-05:00

A few weeks ago, I noticed some hummingbirds

flitting about the neighbor's yard among the flowers.

I've always enjoyed other people's photos

of these tiny feathered creatures and

wondered if I'd ever have the opportunity to

capture them in my own photographs.

So, I bought a feeder for them to visit our yard and

it didn't take long for hummingbirds

to begin hovering around it.

Even though it's shaded, it's still

no fun sitting outside in the heat of summer

waiting patiently for them to appear.

Thankfully, they typically appear in the latter part of the day.

So one day after work, I just camped outside,

sitting in the adirondack chairs, camera in hand, waiting.

I got bit by mosquitoes and even an ant

just as they appeared.

I quickly snapped a few shots

and then waited again while one

hovered around the feeder.

After downloading the photos to

Picasa and making a few edits,

you see the photo above.

To me, it was worth the wait (and the bites)

No Trespassing

2011-05-04T08:10:00.103-05:00

White Metal Fence ©Corina Murray

I feel that there's a haunting quality about this image

that I'm not able to pinpoint...

Where was this taken?
A cemetery? No...perhaps it could have been, though.

Could it be the Fleur de Lis design, the bit of cobweb

seen atop the closest part of the fence,
the repetition of the design and lines,
or maybe the dark, blurred background?

With all the above elements, this image could convey

something dark and ominous

something that's actually a bit peaceful,

left to decay one lil rust spot at a time.

There are so many other ways

that you can set the tone for your

photos to be perceived - with filters, lighting,

even post-processing....

but no matter how hard you try,

don't expect the same interpretation

from everyone who views your photos.

Your photos will mean different things

to different people.

It doesn't mean that one view is right or wrong,

or that the photo is good or bad -

everyone has a different vision.

Accept it. And, learn to see differently, too.

Lizard Looking In

2011-04-23T09:30:00.011-05:00

Walking out the front door, my husband

pointed out a peeping-tom...of sorts.

At first, I just laughed... then I grabbed the

camera once I noticed that he WAS

looking indoors!

What a CREEP...

I mean, what a creepy-crawly!

Once he figured out there would be

no show to see, he moved on.

Lil Ladybug

2011-04-22T08:30:00.022-05:00

On the same day that I was taking

photos of bluebonnets,

I began watching this lil ladybug.

It was crawling back and forth on the same leaf.

Once it got to the leaf's point (again),

it took off... a little tiny dot in the sky.

After a second or so, I couldn't see it anymore.

Getting a photo of insects and animals in nature

is hard to do, since you can't direct them,

or tell them to hold still for just one more shot....

So, sometimes, you just gotta click

otherwise the moment (or the bug) is gone.

Spring Bluebonnets

2011-04-21T09:00:00.036-05:00

Since it hasn't rained much, I wasn't expecting

to see many wildflowers, but to my surprise,

the bluebonnets did appear...

Not many, but at least we were able to spot a few.

Those blue petals stand out in the sea of green.

Capturing them in a photo is my way of

"picking" them so that others can still enjoy them, too.

And, by taking a photo of them, they'll last longer

than if I dug them up and re-planted them....

so go ahead -

Take a picture, it'll last longer.

Shattered

2011-03-30T07:30:00.052-05:00

Shattered window

My parents have an old broken down bob-cat

sitting in their back yard. It worked at one point,

and then it started breaking down a few years back.

It hasn't moved since then....

So, while I was there for a visit (ok, and some BBQ)

I noticed that that window of the bob-cat was broken

but most of it was still intact.

We're not sure how or when

the window was broken.

I decided to take the opportunity to

photograph it, since it's not often

that I would come across something like this.

I do like how the shattered lines resemble

an old spiderweb.

What does it make you think of?

Photo of a Damselfly

2011-03-24T07:30:00.072-05:00

Springtime in Texas...
Not much different than
the winter, well, in some parts of the state.

Now, there are colorful flowers, birds,
butterflies and other insects flitting around.

Above, is a damselfly that waited patiently
for me to change the lens over to the 50mm
and then take a few snaps.

And, at first, I kept calling it a dragonfly,
but I read that those have 2 sets of wings.
(Thank you, Google)

Squirrel Photos

2011-01-25T23:45:00.002-06:00

A few weeks ago, I was able to

photograph our backyard squirrel,

much to the chagrin of our dog,

who was kept inside during this time...

She wasn't too scared when I opened the door

to get a clearer shot...

It seems that she even posed after getting used
to me being in the doorway.

She stood statue-still for about 5 minutes,
while I made camera adjustments.
The darker edge on the left is part of
the door, since it was opened just a bit.

After awhile, I closed the door so that

she could get back to being a squirrel.

On and on....

2011-01-11T02:00:00.001-06:00

It was the second day

of the new year and we

took a short road trip to

nowhere in particular,

watching the sun set

as we traveled on and on...

Time Flies

2011-01-09T22:00:00.006-06:00

Long time, no read -

It's not like I put my camera away and

stopped taking photos.

I've been reading other blogs,

getting ideas and practicing different shots.

Like the shot above -

Those are lights from the Christmas tree.

The shutter was open for a bit longer

and I moved the camera up

while it was open.

I like the feeling of fast motion

you get from looking at it,

much like time flying by.

October Lights

2010-11-24T15:00:00.000-06:00

Driving around one night in October,

I began taking some photos.

I love the out-of-focus lights...

some are street lights,

others belong to the

vehicles ahead of us.

When I see photos of colorful lights with the bokeh effect,

it reminds me of the holidays...

Lots of lights, different colors!

Cookie-Cutter Sky

2010-11-22T17:30:00.001-06:00

Waiting for a table at a restaurant,

I noticed the sky thru the

circular grate on the patio.

The Mantis

2010-11-21T23:30:00.001-06:00

Praying Mantis or Preying Mantis?

Up close & personal, I'd say the latter.

The praying mantis was on my parent's mailbox,

apparently waiting for a photo-op.

I captured a few photos before

it decided that the paparrazi life

was too glamorous & demanding.

Montecito, CA

2010-09-30T19:00:00.030-05:00

So... I've been a bit distracted lately.

Still taking photos, but haven't had the energy to post them.

I'll start with my most recent photos, since the memories of

those are still fresh in my mind....

Took a quick trip to California.

Upon arriving, I noticed the overcast sky and the light drizzle...

It didn't last very long and the next day was bright and sunny.

Too sunny. Headache sunny. At least the cool breeze made it bearable.

Took a quick tour through Lotusland... a botanical wonderland.

Check out the website, or visit this place if you can....

there's quite the history behind this beautiful place.

Budding Roses...love the bokeh effect here.

There were many other sculptures to see,

but I really like the fun shapes of these

with the mouse in the foreground.

I like the contrast of the lighter cacti

against the darker, dense vegetation in

the background.

September 11, 2001 - We Remember

2010-09-11T20:30:00.001-05:00

Locally, a memorial walk was held this evening to mark
the ninth anniversary of the Sept 11 attacks.

We Remember.

Stuff at Grandma's House

2010-09-03T20:00:00.001-05:00

During lunch, I stopped in at my

Grandma's house for a quick visit.

She always has something good to eat,

and a bit of news from other family members.

As she was giving me an update,

I took a few photos to share with

those family members who

aren't able to see her as often as I can.

I like this metal dress frame...

Grandma sews many things,

and this item just fits her style so well.

The pink cap was already on there,

and I liked how it went

with the 'dress'.

This princess or queen frog sits happily

facing the kitchen - just one of the many

toys that can be found there.

Grandma's seem to always have a collection of

mis-matched spoons, spatulas and knives

that are ready to whip up a meal when you show up.

And, it never matters which one gets used or

how many are needed to make a meal.

Over good conversation, it never matters.

This is one of the angels that is

watching over the house and

the people inside it.

Being at Grandma's house

seems to transport you back to

feeling like a ten year old kid...

listening to stories, making and sharing

a meal and just hanging out without

having to rush off to the next thing.

Just as a side note:

The 50mm lens was used on all

the above photos.

I ♥ NY

2010-08-28T20:00:00.017-05:00

Earlier this month, I was able to visit New York for a few days.

Even though the daytime hours were reserved for work,
I was able to take a few quick shots walking
around the area either prior to or after the event.

This one was taken in the morning, before it began to rain lightly. I walked right by it and then

just out of the corner of my eye... I "saw" it.
A photo waiting to be taken.

I only wish that I had taken a step or two back,
so that the full archway could have been included.

I spotted LOVE across the street and I had to take it.

Since there were many couples that stopped to take a photo

with LOVE, waited a bit for it to be alone.

While waiting, I saw camera-phones, point and shoots

and DSLRS being used at this one spot.

After waiting about 10 minutes, I was able to
quickly take this photo, while others decided who
was going to be next to have their picture taken.
It wasn't until later that I noticed

that there was a man laying between the V and the E.

New York is full of skyscrapers and signs.

Even though I was originally looking at

the birds perched atop the signs when I took this photo,

it wasn't until I began this post that I noticed them again.

I'm going to say it... I love this photo.

It shows the fast pace of New York,

with skyscrapers lit up in the background,

the blurred bus zipping by and the people

walking along a busy street.

There's so much more to ♥ about NY

and hope to visit again with time

to explore more of it.

Inside an Antique Store

2010-08-10T19:00:00.002-05:00

The indecision on how and where to spend my lunch hour lasted for about a minute, and once I realized

I had my camera with me, I knew I'd drive over to Gruene, Tx.

Seeking indoor shelter, due to the Noon Sun I entered

the Gruene Antique Company. Now, I've visited this store before, but never with a camera.
I felt like I had stepped into my Grandmother's house,
with her lifetime collection of....'things'.

I decided to use the nifty-fifty lens
(Canon 50mm F1.8 lens) to get to know it a bit better.
I'm glad I did - I felt that this was a perfect setting for me to try out this lens. Once indoors, the low light was a stark contrast to the brilliantly bright sunshine found outdoors.

Once my eyes adjusted to the low light, I began exploring, walking on the sometimes creaky and sometimes uneven wood floors in the shop. I came across many items, books, figurines, tins, bottles, etc.... as you'll see below:

I remember these...

They were the only types of phones around when I was a kid.

Dialing a number took about a minute, longer if you

mis-dialed and had to start over!

I love these -

Just because of the possibilities they hold,

and the stories to be told.

Since the 50mm lens was being used,

I had no trouble filling the frame

with these blocks that were sitting in a bowl.

The tin up front is in focus, with the slightly blurred background.

Using the 50mm was great.

A most unusual find - cast molds to make baby doll heads.

At first, these were a bit disturbing...ok, they still are.

Overall, I spent about an hour looking into the past

as well as getting to know the 50mm better.

I really liked how well these photos turned out

using that lens.

If you've ever tried the 50mm (nifty-fifty)

what are your thoughts on it?

San Antonio Photo Walk

2010-07-28T22:00:00.035-05:00

Finally, I have some time to post photos

from Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photo Walk

that I participated in on Saturday,
in San Antonio.

We began the walk in the evening,

so that we were not in the
summer sun for too long.

Our path took us along the Riverwalk,

and by several other landmarks.

I'd like to go back on my own

to "see" what I missed....sans camera.

Sometimes when viewing the world

thru the lens of a camera, you miss out

on some other experiences.

You can visit the Flickr page to view
the group's photos, along with a few more
photos from me.

Looking at the photos from the other photographers,
I found that even though we were at the same
location, taking photos of the same places or things,
each person saw something vastly different than I did.

Different.
Not better or worse.
Just Different.

It makes you want to see things differently too.
It was a good learning experience.

Did you participate in the Worldwide Photo Walk?
Leave a link to your photos in the comments -
I'd like to see how you view the world!

Fallen Fruit

2010-07-20T18:52:00.000-05:00

Venturing outdoors in the

heat and humidity,

I found that the pears are

ripening and starting to fall from the tree.

Since there was so much rain the area,

there is an abundance of pears

and their weight has some of the branches

bowing down to the forces of gravity.

I picked some off the tree the other day,

but haven't tried them yet.

The Original Web

2010-07-15T23:30:00.015-05:00

Tired of being on the computer,
surfin' the web I grabbed my camera
and headed to the backyard.

I thought maybe a butterfly I saw would

miraculously stay still long enough for

me to photograph it.

Instead, it kept fluttering along,

oblivious that it was a subject

being observed.

As I was walking along the back fence,

I nearly avoided a spiderweb.

Don't you hate it when you

walk into a spider's web?

The nearly invisible strands

against your skin....

It's just a creepy feeling.

Although, I'm sure the spider

isn't too happy about it either.

You may need to click on the images
for a better view...

I still can't decide which version I like best...

the original SOOC
or the B/W version, via Picasa.

Which version do you like better?

I know the photo could be better....
but I didn't feel like hanging around
too long with the resident spider
that close to me.

By The Lake

2010-07-09T00:45:00.048-05:00

We were able to visit the Dam at Canyon Lake on

Monday evening, before the sun set for the day.

And, it was the perfect time and day to go....

Many of the holiday visitors had already left

and with the sun setting, temperatures were tolerable.

Walking along the top of the dam, looking down

toward the water below.

And then the view to the other side....

Lots of green on those hills due to

all the recent rain.

While on our walk atop of the dam,

we had a great view of the few boats

that were still on the lake.

Brian captured this shot of this boat

in the wake of another.

I like how the movement of

the water was captured.

Fireworks from the 4th of July

2010-07-06T01:30:00.001-05:00

We had a great 4th of July holiday...

Spent some time with family & friends,

fired up the grill for some hot dogs

and lit up a few fireworks....

Trying to figure out where our backyard fireworks

would light up the night sky was

really hard to do,

but I was able to capture this

cool shot of two fireworks!

Although, it didn't go quite as planned,

the attempt was made to light up
as many sparklers as possible.

I think the count was up to 2 or 3

before they went out.

These two always make me laugh

when they're together...

and this night was no different,

as they were waving around sparklers.

Sparklers offer some great photo

opportunities, so long as the

shutter remains open for a

bit longer than usual.

Too bad I can't read
sparkler writing!

It was a fun 4th of July...

hope you had a great weekend, too.

After the Rain

2010-07-02T23:30:00.004-05:00

For the past few days, it rains some, then stops

and then rains some more.

In between one of these rain showers,

I walked around the backyard to see

what I would find to photograph.

I was hoping for some raindrops on flowers,

or some reflections.

Instead, I saw the wings of a dragonfly

that had been discarded...

unwillingly, I would suppose.

When I look at this photo,

I think it's kinda sad.

Not all photos can evoke

happiness, though.

On the Cutting Board

2010-06-29T22:00:00.004-05:00

I've been intrigued by those who take photos of food...

either while at restaurants or while preparing food in the kitchen.

A few nights ago, cooking dinner in the kitchen,

I made time for a spare minute or two to take some quick snaps.

As I was cutting up the green onions,

I kept the stringy heads from immediately going

into the trash, keeping them on the cutting board.

I took a few photos on the cutting board,

then moved them to a black plate, which didn't take long either.

The lighting is different from the counter-top to being

under the stove's hood light.

I guess what took the longest time to do was to download them!

Reviewing the photos, I choose these two

below 'cause some of the others

were either too blurry or crooked!

I did add some shadows and cropped the photos a little to cut

out the clutter of the kitchen.

(Hey, when there's a meal in progress, there's bound to be a mess)

Above, the initial thought was to take a photo to show the depth of field.

I think the photo could have been better if I had added a little bit more

space between them, stretching the lines out just a bit longer.

I like how this photo shows the

different areas of focus...

The right side of the photo is clear, while the left

is a bit fuzzy and the middle

is a complete blur.

Lawnmower Power

2010-06-26T21:30:00.054-05:00

Can't you smell the just-cut grass?

The grass seems to grow as fast as it's

cut with all the rain we've been receiving lately.

Today, I was able to spend sometime outdoors,

listening to the chirps of the birds

and the buzzing of the cicadas

hiding in the leafy trees.

I watched the clouds float away

and cars roll by.

I saw the leaves of the trees

being shuffled by a light breeze.

I didn't see the grass grow while I was out there,

but I'm pretty sure by tomorrow,

I'll have noticed that too.

It was a good day,

being able to take in all of this

from my front porch.

Doggone Cute Photos

2010-06-21T22:30:00.001-05:00

In one of my previous posts,

I introduced our dog, Shelby, a fox terrier mix.

In this photo, she's giving you the

"I've got the sweetest face ever" look that

sometimes works when she wants a treat or

just some attention.

Even though she would have preferred to remain

the only (and, thus favorite) furry pet of the house,

Shelby now has a lil' brother...Bentley!

He's about a 2 year old yorkie mix..we think :)

Bentley is playful, somewhat protective

(barks when the doorbell rings) and

just has that mischievous look about him.

He's quick to learn, likes going for walks

and is super-curious!

Aside from a little jealousy from time to time,

these two get along pretty good,

which makes life that much easier.

Curbside Caterpillar

2010-06-15T06:15:00.000-05:00

While taking photos outside,

I noticed a little movement

out of the corner of my eye.

This lil' caterpillar was really moving too.

I scooped him up and placed him on the grass,

but by the time I got him in my sights,

he had already reached the curb.

Sometimes, 'ya gotta be quick

and even then, it's not fast enough!

After the Flood

2010-06-13T01:25:00.003-05:00

Earlier this week, the rain kept fallin',

causing some flooding in Gruene

and surrounding areas in Texas.

The flooding occured in the early morning hours

and subsided as the day wore on.

There were many photos being
circulated online as things were happening -
it's amazing to see how fast things like that

get posted online.

I walked out to the bridge - that was recently
re-constructed to be a bit

higher to allow for tubers to safely
travel beneath it - and saw that

the water easily rose above it.

Mother Nature is a powerful force

and can be scary and amazing at the same time....

Memorial Day...

2010-05-31T01:00:00.000-05:00

A few months back, I had posted a photo from Seguin, TX.

While I was there, I had taken these other photos

from the courthouse that I wanted to post for Memorial Day.

The inscription on the Guadalupe County

Veterans Memorial states:

"The citizens of Guadalupe county dedicate this memorial to

all veterans who have served and continue to serve

in the United States Armed Forces at home and abroad.

We shall forever be grateful to them for their sacrifices

in giving us the most important gift of all :

America's Freedoms,

Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness."

All around this memorial there are bricks inscribed with names

of those who have served or are currently serving in the military.

Please take a moment to

remember those who have passed and

thank those who have served or are currently serving.

Location: Roadside, Texas

2010-05-28T01:00:00.046-05:00

Lately, I've been experimenting

with different perspectives

when taking photos.

With the photo above,

I hand-held the camera

low to the ground, with the tops

of some flowers brushing up

against the bottom of the camera.

Photo was taken in the evening

alongside a gravel road...

which turned very dusty as we

continued on our way.

Floral Fun

2010-05-27T01:30:00.031-05:00

As promised from the last post,

some photos of my intended subjects.

As soon as I clicked the switch to the 'on' position,

a slight breeze swayed the slender stems

(but didn't keep the mosquitoes away).

I cropped the above photo to remove some

other floral clutter...

I really like the blur of the background

and how the reds and yellows

stand out against the green grass.

This photo reminds me of a postcard

wishing that you were here...

the easy yellows and greens

make it seem so peaceful.

Fuzzy Wuzzies

2010-05-24T21:30:00.005-05:00

I got the chance to get away for a bit before the sunset
and I took my camera with me :)

The original plan was to see if any wildflowers
were still standing and they were......BUT

As we were walking around, trying to avoid
the mosquito horde buzzing all around us,
my husband noticed these
little fuzzy creatures crawling on the ground

Kneeling down and getting my camera as close as possible...
sometimes too close
(I've got about 3 or 4 photos of TOO close)
I was able to capture these yellow fuzzy caterpillars
á la National Geographic style.

I was able to capture some wild-flower shots too
and I'll be posting those in the next few days...

Effect: Soft Focus

2010-05-15T06:00:00.003-05:00

Since it's raining and I'm feeling under

the weather, I haven't taken any new photos

for about a week or so.

This year's weather is certainly different

than last year, where we had very little rain

and the spring season jumped right into summer.

But back to the photos, right?

I'm going to use some photos

that I took about a month ago.

After this photo was cropped,

(a few different ways)

there was something about

it that wasn't "right" for me.

Please note, there was no color

correction done, only the background

clutter was cropped out.

So I decided to try out some of the

effects that Picasa has to offer

and found that the Soft Focus effect

worked best on this photo

(in my opinion).

I think that if I pumped up the color

in the petals, the effect might

be more dramatic...

but I like to capture nature as it is.

What do you think?

Which of these photos appeals to you and why?

The Blue Oval

2010-05-12T22:30:00.000-05:00

The Ford logo from a 1986 F-250 still has some

color left in it even though it has seen

its fair share of the elements.

The Waiting Game

2010-04-22T23:30:00.039-05:00

Typically, I don't have the patience to wait for

a photo opportunity to present

itself to me.

So, last week, I decided to test out my patience

and see if I could obtain a photo with the birds that

~~have been using my Mustang as target practice~~

I saw outside.

I swapped out the 50mm lens for the 70-300mm Canon lens

and pulled up a patio chair and waited.

And waited.

And swatted a mosquito or two

and...waited.

After about 3 minutes, I took a few test shots

of the trees and their new spring leaves.

But those shots were boring.

So I waited some more.

Finally this bird lands on the fence.

Now, I'm still close enough to where he

can see me, so I move

s l o w l y

and take two photos before he

decides that he'd rather be hidden in a tree elsewhere.

I posted this photo, 'cause I like

how the 'bird march' was captured.

I really have to give the wildlife / bird photographers

credit for the patience they have....'cause after those

two photos, I headed inside.

I was done waiting.

Is That Sunlight?

2010-04-21T00:00:00.001-05:00

Earlier this afternoon, I was out in the backyard,

looking at all the signs of spring.

As you've seen in previous posts, there

are roses blooming along the fence-line,

as well as the beginning sprouts of pears in a near-by tree.

Walking by this flower, I noticed that the sunlight

seemed to be shining through it, since it was evening

and the sun was settling behind the fence.

Too quickly, I snapped a couple of photos...

then realized that the shutter speed was incorrect,

resulting in over-exposed photos.
There was also some lens flare, which
I didn't want to include, so I made sure
to shield the lens with
my hand (since I don't own a lens hood, yet).

After a few adjustments, I took some more photos,

which seemed OK in the camera's display.

Once downloaded into Picasa, I adjusted the Shadow

just a bit to remove any evidence of the grassy, cluttered background.

The resulting photo makes it seem like there

was a dark background with special lighting in place.

50mm Point of View

2010-04-15T22:30:00.004-05:00

It's raining today, so I'm using a photo

that was taken a few days ago.

Since I wasn't sure what to shoot, er...photograph,

I decided to take another look at what I had available....

another lens, a different angle and you get a different looking photo!

I swapped lenses and used the

Canon EF 50mm F1.8 II for this photo.

I've had this lens for about 4 months, but

really haven't used it.

The lens is shorter than the kit lens and made

the camera feel different...lighter, I guess.

Of course, once I found my subject to photograph,

and had the camera focused

the wind picked up and the petals were fluttering,

with the whole flower swaying to and fro.

I held the rose to steady it once the

wind died down and snapped a few photos.

After attempting a few photos of the front of the flower,

I found that the back of the rose was more interesting.

with the details of the texture of the petals

and how they curled backwards .

I also liked the bokeh effect of the light through the leaves

in the background. The petals seem soft and touchable,

even on the computer screen!

I'm glad that I was able to take some time to compose

the photo, otherwise, I may have never thought

to try a different point of view.

This photo is SOOC (straight out of the camera),

except to scale it down.

Photo Potential

2010-04-07T23:30:00.002-05:00

Ever see one of those motivational posters?

I think this photo would have one of these captions:

Don't envy your neighbor - You, too, will flourish at your own pace.

You can't rush beauty, it moves at its own speed.

I'd love to see your photos with your own caption(s)!

Send 'em to me or leave link to your photo/caption in the comments below....

Seguin, Texas

2010-04-06T23:30:00.000-05:00

A few weeks back, Jury Duty called me to Seguin, Texas.

Out of all the people in the county...I was selected.
Well, if I must go, I must go with my camera :)

Six hours later....
After being released from the courthouse, I grabbed my camera from the car and wandered around the block. I hadn't been to Seguin in a few years and thought there might be a few things to photograph.

Around the back of the courthouse, I noticed this building.
It houses a furniture store, Starcke's Furniture, which has been around since 1910,
100 years!

In Picasa, I took the original photo, which was in color and selected the B&W effect.
The black and white effect seems to go naturally with the content of the photo.

Easter Eggshells

2010-04-02T19:00:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year...well, I'm a bit late, to make cascarones or confetti eggs!

Take some carefully cracked eggshells, after they've dried and let them marinate in dye for about 5 minutes.
The other, non-colorful eggs will be jealous.

Once the dye is dried, you fill 'em with confetti and cover the hole with glue & tissue paper.

After the glue has dried, you get to chase people around on Easter Sunday or at any party/fiesta to crack'em on the head. Yay!

Towers of Information

2010-03-23T00:15:00.001-05:00

These towers remind me of ancient hieroglyphics.

Each one is standing tall, overlooking the roadways,

passing along information to one another.

Gotta love technology...

but maybe not all the cables & cords that come with it!

Rainy Highway in Dallas,TX

2010-03-19T00:00:00.003-05:00

As you know, I kept my camera nearby on our way

to and from our road trip adventure.

I didn't know what moments I'd be capturing

or even if I'd be able to chronicle this adventure properly.

I had no idea we'd see something like this...

On the way home, we encountered some rain in Dallas,

which was actually the only bad weather we saw on our trip.

Traffic on the highway was quickly slowing down,

as we saw police cars and emergency

vehicles with their flashing lights and blaring sirens

coming up from behind us.

Cars and trucks were switching lanes to

clear a path for them, as well as to give

a wide berth to what lay ahead...

It must have been scary for the people involved!

Thankfully, it did seem that everyone involved was OK.

Along with the reflections on the road, there was some

debris from the impact of all 3 vehicles.

As we drove past, it seemed really quiet.

It may have been that everyone was traveling at a

more leisurely pace than before, eyes on the road,

hands on the steering wheel.

Too bad this only lasted a minute or two,

as traffic picked up the pace and started moving forward....

Road Signs of the Times

2010-03-13T16:15:00.001-06:00

Along the way to Kentucky, we saw many informative signs,

and some that left us laughing until the next one.

Here are some road sign photos to give you the giggles too:

This was probably funnier in the suburban,

but just say it out loud and you'll laugh too

Not the best photo, thru the passenger window at 70 MPH.

Needless to say, we didn't stop at

Wang's All You Can Eat Chinese Buffet.

Is there anyone that wants to drive into Local Traffic? There was no mention if it was light or heavy traffic, either way, we avoided Local Traffic by staying on the highway.

Sad Sam's at it again...
playing those emotional games again
so that you'll buy a truckful of fireworks.

Woo-Hoo! Flea Land!
Oh. Wait.
It's nothing like Disney Land, is it?!

**Keep your dog away from this place**

Dinosaur World
Again...Nothing like Disney World.

Fans of Twilight and other vampire movies and books should
know that this is where all the cool vampires hang out,
at Transylvania U!

I'm not sure what the Eat-N-Go tag line is supposed to insinuate,
but we took no chances, especially with "Express" being part of the name.

Danger! Horse-drawn carriages on the loose!
This place was really beautiful and I wish I had seen one of those carriages!
You'd never know that I was taking this photo from the
McD's parking lot across the street.

Why is this place empty ?!
Every minute of the day, this parking lot should be jam packed.

A terrible, but wonderfully delicious fate seems
to await this cow at
the Up In Smoke BBQ.

Watch out for horned toads in Texas...along with those
pesky Horny Toads who'll take your motorcycle too.

I'll leave you with something to think about
that the Salt Lick put so eloquently...
Come to Texas and smell our pits!

What humorous signs have you encountered on your travels?! I'd love to see 'em!
**Just for the record...I don't know how these places compare to Disney Land or Disney World, but I'm sure they are quite nice in their own right. And we eat Chinese food at least once a week.**

Traveling...

2010-03-10T06:30:00.002-06:00

After returning from a recent road trip to Kentucky

from Texas, we're now getting back into the

usual routine of things.

The photo above was taken through the

front windshield while driving by

Texarkana.

After noticing the dark spots on the photo, the

windshield wipers were used, which only created

clean, dead bugs, that stayed along for the ride

until we stopped at a gas station that had a squeegee

to make them unboard the vehicle.

Along the highway in Tennessee, trees lined both sides.

I rolled down the passenger window to snap

the photo above.

I like how the leaves bounce the sunlight

among the many tall, slender tree trunks.

Once in Kentucky, there seemed to be such

wide open spaces.

There were many

hay barns, silos, horses and cows.

More photos of this trip are on the way

(but you knew that already, haha)

Snow Day

2010-02-23T22:30:00.001-06:00

About noon today, it began to sleet and snow.

Luckily, I had my camera with me to snap a few photos

because it was all over too soon!

Here was the view from inside the car, before the heat melted

away the snow / sleet that had built up on the windshield.

The wintery weather moved on

by the time the work day had ended.

It was still cold, but the

snow flakes and icy rain were gone.

Gruene Friday

2010-02-20T17:00:00.000-06:00

I had noticed that the historic Gruene Dance Hall was

getting a facelift and decided to snap a photo.

I waited awhile to get this photo without any people in it.

I used that time to snap a few shots to adjust the

settings so that the Hall wasn't blown out or over-exposed.

Walking around the back of the buildings yielded some nice photos too.

Wine-tasting can be done here at the Grapevine, also in Gruene, which

is just down the street from Gruene Hall.

I especially like the colors in this photo.

This building is also part of the Grapevine.

Texas View

2010-02-14T01:29:00.003-06:00

On my way back from Kerrville, TX, I stopped

at one of the rest areas to take in the views.

No wonder they call it the Texas hill-country :)

I was able to enjoy the bit of sunshine today,

while walking along this path.

It was a nice break from the

"drive, drive, drive"

mentality.

Larger than Reality

2010-02-11T06:30:00.002-06:00

Going through some of my photos, I came across this set from October 2009.

At that time, we were driving around, looking at the rising waters at the nearby creek from the recent rains. Off the main road, into a newer subdivision, we saw a huge sculpture looming near the entrance.

Driving closer, we saw it was a deer made of metal parts. Getting out of the suburban, I walked around it, taking photos, looking for any info on how or why this subdivision had taken in this huge animal.

Having a larger than life "pet" seems to be catching on -

Check out this site that a friend of mine created when she

took in an orphaned giant rooster!

This is Vegas, Baby

2010-02-04T06:00:00.002-06:00

Vegas has it's own scenery,

full of glitz, neon lights and noise.

The Paris casino provided this

lovely lady who spins endlessly

for pennies to be spent,

which will eventually turn into dollars.

Paris was lovely on the outside too.

I almost increased the shadows on this photo,

but liked that you could also see

the images that are visible in the day.

Walking by Harrah's, I almost missed this shot completely...

but, out of the corner of my eye,

I noticed Viking boobs hanging over me.

Not exactly what I was expecting, but hey,

This is Vegas, Baby!

This photo is being printed and hung on the wall.

Stratosphere

You have to go at night and get on all 3 rides.

If I can do it, so can you!

Note: No tripods allowed. :(

Only in Vegas

2010-02-01T06:00:00.002-06:00

Storm Troopers in the streets.

Giant M&Ms
( If only they were edible! )

Overlooking the strip was a giant lion surrounded by...

Scantily clad men holding up either water bowls or ashtrays.

And, of course, we saw Elvis everywhere,too.

All stages of his life were seen -

young Elvis

old Elvis

skinny Elvis

overweight Elvis

side-burns Elvis

balding Elvis

casually dressed Elvis

rhinestoned, blue suede shoes Elvis

Above It All

2010-01-30T23:59:00.002-06:00

I had the opportunity to fly out to
Las Vegas, NV earlier this month and I wasn't
about to leave my camera behind!

Clouds look awesome when

you're able to look down at them.

Beautiful view of Lake Mead.

I wanted to keep the wing of the airplane

in view to provide some perspective.

Winter Frost

2010-01-13T06:30:00.005-06:00

The start of this week was downright cold...for Texas, my northern friends!

Starting up the car early Monday morning,

I noticed the frost that had spread all over the car

like bacteria in a petri dish.

Ew. I know.

It is now the middle of the week and the temps are reaching a little higher each day,

keeping the frosty virus at bay.

Measuring Up

2010-01-07T01:00:00.005-06:00

Visiting my Grandma last month, she had these measuring spoons on the table

and I had my camera in hand...

Grandma's have such neat things, don't they?!

Looking at this photo got me to thinking about how we measure "things"

Love

Success

Knowledge

Happiness

Wealth

There are many more to add to the list of the intangibles.

We all try to measure them...

but how would you know if you have a

¼ or 1 whole teaspoon

of any of the above ?

Film Daze

2009-12-27T22:30:00.002-06:00

So the great debate of film vs digital cameras has been played out.
It seems that digital has gained popularity quickly, while film is now considered to be another relic of the past.

I'm almost afraid to find a new home for my trusty Canon SLR camera.
I have come up with many excuses to keep it...
- it's a back-up
- what if the digital age ends
- it might become a cherished (and valuable) item
- maybe I can pass it down
- it's still a great camera
- now I know what all the settings are for

Funny thing is - I've tried to re-home it, but it seems that it's not as valuable to anyone but me.
So until then, I'm keeping it, 'cause it really is an excellent camera and I have many, many photos to prove it.

Christmas Lights

2009-12-19T06:15:00.002-06:00

Turning on the Christmas lights makes the house so festive!

We had fun decorating the tree - getting out the decorations, untangling the lights and hanging up the ornaments and candy canes. Once it was all set up, we turned off the other lights and flipped the 'on' switch for the Christmas lights.....

Ooh
Ahhh

Merry Christmas!

Frosty

2009-12-16T06:50:00.002-06:00

Woke up to frost on the lawn (the roof, the cars, mailbox, etc) a few Saturdays ago. My husband told me I'd better get a few photos before the sun reached the yard. Once the sun touched the yard, it was like it never happened...but I have proof that it did!

Unusual Finds

2009-12-11T06:30:00.002-06:00

While walking along the creek,

we came across some unusual items

Abandoned Power-Wheels

Missing its power source

With a punctured wheel

Ironic?

Caption for yard sale:

Slightly used chair

Make offer.

I think I've located Nessie,

the Loch Ness monster.

Apparently, she's moved to a much quieter locale.

The Creek

2009-12-09T22:30:00.003-06:00

I have to go back a few weeks -
After Thanksgiving, we took a walk at the nearby creek

and I wanted to share what we saw that day...

Amazing how these trees along the creek

are just holding on...for now

Looking straight down at the pretty colors
on the ground

Just hold still

Squirrel at the Park

2009-12-04T07:30:00.003-06:00

A few weeks back, I had made my way to the local park during my lunch break. It was a nice afternoon, one where you don't feel the need to go back to work, but know that the daily grind beckons and so you do return.

I like how this squirrrel seems to say, "Sure, I'll let you take a photo for your blog"

What caption or bubble thought would you insert for this photo?

Different Angle

2009-11-25T16:00:00.002-06:00

What do you really see?

In front of me,

There's this really tall tree

Its branches above reaching all around

While I stand below on the ground

I see bits of blue sky

Falling leaves as they flutter by

Branches swaying, with a wind that is barely making a sound

While I stand below on the ground.

Air Show....

2009-11-20T07:00:00.003-06:00

In color, the photo above was waaay over-exposed, but I really liked the subject, so I played with some settings in Picasa and found that the B & W setting made the details appear even better.

It's true when they say not to delete your photos until you see them on your computer...you just might be able to salvage a few with different settings.

View from Below

2009-11-14T06:30:00.004-06:00

Last weekend at the air show, everyone was shielding their eyes from the sun to see the F-22 Raptor in action. And, while the announcer was providing details, the pilot would manuever the plane above the audience.

As it flew past, I took as many photos as I could...determined that I'd be able to obtain a few good photos. While I kept my eye on the sky, it was Brian that pointed out that EVERYone (except that woman who turned at the last second!) had their eyes glued to the sky. So, I snapped a photo of them too. I think it helps to complete the story in the collage.

Just before the Raptor was to perform a fly-by, my husband suggested that I put the camera down and cover my ears. That's my husband, always looking out for me. It rattled my ear drums nonetheless as it passed by :)

Air Show

2009-11-12T22:30:00.005-06:00

This past weekend there was an air show at the local Air Force Base. I'd been looking forward to it all week, knowing that I'd be able practice taking different types of photos.

From this experience, I learned that planning what type of photos you want to take is crucial. I used up quite a bit of time tweaking the settings and even changing lenses more than I wanted to, because of the different scenarios we encountered.

Walking through one of the cargo planes, meant opening up the aperture, slowing down the shutter speed...Shortly afterwards, not thinking, and just clicking away, I took the next few photos (outdoors & super-sunny) with those same settings, and came away with WAY overexposed photos, which will not make it on the blog.

I did end up with some really cool photos though, and learned a few things about the history of some of these planes.

Gruene Morning

2009-11-05T22:00:00.007-06:00

Every now and then, it's a good idea to "stop and smell the roses".

This morning, I stopped my car in Gruene, TX and took in this view. I walked on the newly built bridge's sidewalk and just stood there. For about a minute or so, I was just listening and watching the water rush by, going under the bridge. A few drivers in their cars drove on by, oblivious or immune to the beautiful view before them.

I've also been like that... too busy to notice my surroundings. It shouldn't be that difficult to stop and really see the world around you. I'm glad I was able to...even if it was just for a moment.

Seasonal Confusion

2009-11-04T06:30:00.005-06:00

The calendar says November...but the leaves on the trees and other plants seem to scream "Spring". The recent rains revitalized the yard, however, with the cool mornings, and cooler evenings that might not last too long.

With the clock moving back one hour...by the time work and any errands are finished, there's not much daylight left. Which means, less time to take photographs outside with any natural light!

More Halloween '09

2009-11-01T18:00:00.002-06:00

Zombies are looking for you.

Watching for potential victims!

Brian's THE life of the Party!

Halloween 2009

2009-11-01T01:15:00.001-05:00

Now maybe, someone will believe me when I say that we get worked to death!

I always feel like...somebody's watching me.

Zombies....They're real and they're out to get you!

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween!

Evening Rose

2009-10-27T06:30:00.003-05:00

Taken Saturday evening, before the sun completely sank in the horizon for the night.
There was a light breeze, but a fast shutter speed dealt with the gentle swaying, however didn't leave room for much light to enter the picture.
I was going to center the rose on the cropped photo, but I like it with some negative space on the left-hand side.

In the Corner

2009-10-25T23:00:00.004-05:00

Taking my camera everywhere has become a habit for me...
Some find this annoying, others find it quirky and still some just don't get "it".

All I can say is, I like taking photographs...I want to capture something that others might have overlooked or seen as just an everyday object.

Visiting my Grandmother, I took some photos of her and her house while she was talking to me about the weather, the holidays and everything else in between.

Walking into her house is like strolling through an antique shop... There's an old Singer sewing machine (which she still uses!), old glassware, black and white photos (when that's all there was) and figurines of all kinds.

Glancing around the house one last time, I saw this basket and bucket in the corner and casually snapped a photo.

I didn't think much of it, until I cropped it and converted it to black and white in Picasa. I think it conveys the rest of the house...how easy going it is there, with the simple things in life like clothespins and rolled up newspapers.

Car Show, Part 3

2009-10-24T18:18:00.003-05:00

One final look at last week's car show.

Car Show, Part 2

2009-10-22T23:30:00.002-05:00

The vehicles are arranged on this collage as they appeared on the one from the previous post.
Before we proceed, I just want to clarify that I'm a little iffy on the year, but make/model should be correct, as I neglected to take a notepad to jot down details!!

Let's see how you did...

1. 2008 Ford GT
2. 1973 Dodge Charger
3. 1966 Chevy Bell Air
4. 1967 Ford Mustang Fastback
5. 1959 Chevy Corvette
6. 1954 Dodge Truck

Both the Charger and the Dodge Truck were difficult to guess, given only a small portion of the vehicle to view.

Hope you had fun! Can you guess which would be my favorite?

No?!

Well, here's a hint....

If you want to see what my favorite automobile is, then head on over to my other blog. I think you'll find the answer there.

Car Show

2009-10-21T01:20:00.002-05:00

This past weekend, there was a local car show at Simpson Racing in New Braunfels, Texas.

Cars, trucks, dragsters and other four-wheeled beasts of all makes, models were on hand.

Limited on battery life, I snapped as many photos as possible, saving that precious battery power for photos at the racetrack later that evening.

Try your hand at guessing the make or model of these vehicles. One answer is already provided for you. I'll post the answers tomorrow.

Picasa Parade

2009-10-15T06:30:00.003-05:00

A little boy stood out from the crowd, intently watching the marching band as they paraded down the street.

I tried to capture this moment, however, standing behind the crowd wasn't the best place to set up, but it was the only seat on the street, er sidewalk (but that doesn't rhyme!)

After cropping the photo and making some edits in Picasa, I couldn't choose just one version to post.

Plus, I thought this would be a good way to show off some effects that Picasa has to offer. There are so may different combinations to try!

I started off with just a cropped version of the original photo, then clicked over to the Effects tab. Once there, I could preview how each effect could customize and maybe even enhance (or not) the photos.

Be sure to use the 'Save A Copy' feature to save the edited photo and maintain the original photo. You'll have to 'undo' the effects on the original photo though, since the saved photo with all the effects is under a different file name, usually with the suffix of '-1', ie. PhotoName-1.jpg.

Which version strikes your fancy and why? Let me know in your comments!

1. Original Photo...Not Cropped.

2. Cropped Photo, with the Shadow factor increased ever so slightly.

3. Cropped Photo - Using the Focal Black & White effect.

4. Cropped Photo - Using a combination of Sepia and Film Grain.

5. Cropped Photo - Using a combination of Soft Focus and Focal Black & White.

6. Full Photo - Using the Soft Focus effect.

7. Full Photo - Using a combination of Soft Focus and the Focal Black & White effects.

Big Green Tractor

2009-10-14T22:00:00.002-05:00

This photograph makes me think of a song by Jason Aldean... Big Green Tractor,

"....And I can take you for a ride on my big green tractor.We can go slow or make it go faster -Down through the woods and out to the pasture - 'Long as I'm with you it really don't matter - Climb up in my lap and drive if you want to - Girl, you know you got me to hold on to - We can go to town, but baby if you'd rather I'll take you for a ride on my big green tractor..."

Each year there's a parade through downtown New Braunfels, TX to celebrate the Comal County fair. People line the streets, vying for the best spot to see the parade participants. Police cars block the roads so that the parade can proceed, with marching bands, football teams, decorated floats, fair Princesses and of course...tractors.

Most of these tractors then participate in a good ol' Tractor pull at the fairgrounds.

Now, not all parades can boast of having tractors cruise through the streets...at least, I've never seen any of these at a Macy's parade.

After the Rain

2009-10-06T06:30:00.002-05:00

These photos are also from Sunday morning's thunderstorms. We had driven to another area of the creek to see how high the water had risen. This area was extremely muddy and slippery, so we didn't tempt fate and kept our distance.
The cows didn't seem to mind the rain waters at all. As I started walking toward them, they got camera shy and kept their distance from me!
After driving from one area to another, taking photos of the flooded roads and other unusual findings, it was time to fuel up and call it a day.

Road Closed

2009-10-05T06:30:00.002-05:00

After a severe thunderstorm early Sunday morning, my husband drove me around so that I could take some photographs. We drove to the creek and found that it had flooded the road. We had to stop the truck about 30 feet from where the water met the road, due to the silt and mud that had been left behind from where the water had risen.

As we walked to the edge of the water to get a closer look, the mud clung to our boots, making nearly impossible to walk in the slippery stuff. On the exposed road, there were muddy lines showing where the water had been and the grass that got caught in the torrent was now laying down instead of standing up. It was amazing to see just how high the water had been just a few hours earlier.

I love this photo of our foot steps in the mud :)

Rain = Mud

2009-09-25T06:30:00.001-05:00

It's been raining here in Texas. And, it almost feels like Seattle, with cooler temps and overcast skies over the last few days.

With the rain, everything gets wet, especially the ground which has been exposed to extremely dry conditions over the last few months, which then turns into the mushy mud that adheres to shoes or in this case...paws.

The four dogs that made this paw print collage were super excited to see someone outdoors in this strange new weather that this area is experiencing.

These dogs ran in the mud, almost delibrately, and onto the porch. Their tails were wagging, and those muddy paws were ready to jump onto clothes that took all morning to put together.

For the most part, the paws stayed on the ground and off the clothes. If it had been the other way around, then that image might not have been captured as readily! Haha!

Remember to enjoy the weather, rain or shine :)

California Photos...

2009-09-23T06:30:00.002-05:00

Standing outside of the hotel the last evening of the conference, I was able to capture this sea gull sitting atop the light pole. I was focusing on the boats in the water, hoping that the photo would turn out decent, since I didn't take the zoom lens on this trip.
The following morning, I took a photo of the stairs from the hotel I was staying at. Tile like this was found throughout the city, on interior as well as exterior walls and floors.

One morning I walked down the street to take in the sights during the early hours. The day before, this sidewalk was lined with people, some with artist's easels as they painted or drew the scenic view before them.

It was during this time that John, who is the self-proclaimed 'real mccoy' spoke up and told me about the area, with all the interesting views that I would be able to photograph, like the 200 year old fig tree, the pier and so many other places, BUT....I was there on business and those places will have to wait until I can go back on my own time...whenever that may be.

With the conference over, it was time to come back to Texas...even if it was close to midnight when the plane touched the tarmac. It is good to be home :)

California Views

2009-09-21T06:30:00.004-05:00

This photo above was taken from the patio of the hotel where I was staying for a few days. A mountain view isn't something I get to see everyday, so I definitely wanted to bring that sight to share back home. Palm trees line the streets there, as do the pecan trees that we have here in Texas. Spanish architecture can be found on most buildings, with the red roof tiles, archways and stucco exteriors.

While waiting at the airport, I was able to sit outside in the parking lot under the shade of a palm tree. Here, I had a great view of the incoming airplanes, not to mention some hummingbirds that were a bit too fast for me to photograph!

These two planes were coming in after re-seeding the mountains in the background. Recent wildfires in the area along with little rain have left the mountainside bare. It would be great to see what the area looks like when the trees and plant-life take hold of the mountains once again.

In Another State

2009-09-20T06:30:00.002-05:00

California in the evening...cool breeze off the ocean, warm air from the daytime, with sunset lighting makes for a great photo (if I do say so myself!)

Even though the trip was not a personal vacation, I still took my camera. I was not going to miss the opportunity to take photos outside of Texas!

Although I was not the only one to bring a camera, I did receive some strange looks whenever I took my camera out, since this was not exactly the venue for it, but at least I came back with more than just notes and a to-do list!

Wedding Flowers

2009-09-14T06:30:00.001-05:00

In a church for a wedding ceremony, I noticed that these flowers were begging for a photo to be taken of them.

I obliged. The lighting in the church gave a yellowish tinge to the photos, so some quick adjustments were made and the photo was taken.

I took many as a matter of fact, trying to get the depth of field correct, or at least what I thought would be acceptable.

I need to attend more weddings - there's so much to be captured on film or an SD card! LOL

Squirrelly Photos

2009-09-13T06:30:00.001-05:00

About a month ago, I was taking photos in the backyard, where nothing exciting really happens.
Except that this time, I heard a rustling in the trees and then quick feet on the fence.

I'd seen this squirrel (and probably other ones too) walking along the back fence before and of course, my camera had been inside the house, snug in its bag. So I was surprised to have had this opportunity to take a few quick snaps before she headed off into another yard.

And I had to be quick, 'cause she wasn't stopping to pose for me. She had many things on her agenda and a photo shoot wasn't on the list.

What kind of critters have you encountered in your own backyard?

Open Field

2009-09-12T06:30:00.002-05:00

We were driving by this open field when I saw this lone fire hydrant.

It tells me that in the near future, this place will be filled with houses, their privacy fences and it will no longer be an open field to be gazed upon.

I'd rather remember it this way.

The Road Ahead

2009-09-10T06:30:00.005-05:00

I love the feel of movement in this photograph...

The dizzying lights, the yellow and white lines of the highway and the blur of the green sign overhead.

It makes me feel as if I'm still in the car, looking at the road ahead.

Possibilities

2009-09-08T06:30:00.001-05:00

Everyday, I encounter twenty-six letters, ten numbers and all kinds of symbols to get my point across to anyone who will listen...well, read. So many possibilities with so few characters!

Gathering thoughts, ideas and remembering bits and pieces of the day, each letter clicks as it is selected, creating words, sentences and paragraphs, that are to be read someday.

So, it its by the warm glow of the computer monitor that I typeth to thee.

Angles

2009-09-02T06:00:00.008-05:00

Thought I'd get some close up shots of these leaves. The photos just look much more interesting this way than if I'd taken a photo of the entire plant.

The angles of the leaves caught my attention, along with their high gloss shine. All it took was a spray of water and for the sun to shine brightly. That's no problem here in Texas, where it's still summertime.

I like the different angles and perpectives that the one subject provided...even if it meant that I had to be the one to move closer or further or remember to turn the camera on its side for a different view.

One Headlight

2009-08-31T21:30:00.007-05:00

How do you use your headlights?

Do you turn them on so that you can see what lies ahead?

Do you turn them on to make others aware of your presence?

On the day I took this photo, I did neither.

Sitting in front of the Suburban gave me a bug's eye view of how they might view such a vehicle...at least for the last two seconds of their life.

I took the photo of the headlight, wanting to get as much detail as I could with the dwindling light. It was only after reviewing the photos later, that I realized my husband was looking over my shoulder.

Apparently, I have my own personal stalker...and I like it :)

Let the Sun Shine

2009-08-23T22:15:00.001-05:00

I left the cool comfort of the air conditioning and dared to venture out into the Texas summer heat. After seeing some flowers thrive in the sunshine, I decided to take a closer look.

I tried out some different setting combinations and found that blurring out the background, or adjusting the Depth of Field (DOF), worked best for this type of subject. And, moving in closer and filling the frame didn't hurt either!

Another bit of adjustment in Picasa and you have a striking photo of a beautiful flower in Texas.

Green Light - Go!

2009-08-17T00:00:00.005-05:00

Ever wonder what your camera sees if you leave the shutter open just a bit longer?

I wondered.

So, as we were approaching an intersection with

traffic lights, I decided to find out.

To the camera, it looks like we're going 100 MPH...but in all reality, we probably were lumbering along about 30 MPH.

Once I downloaded this photo, I did increase the shadows on it in Picasa to increase the focus on the light streaks.

I love it how looks like we flew past the intersection. We really didn't, I promise!

Sunset

2009-08-12T06:00:00.002-05:00

This photo was taken last Friday out of the passenger window as we were going to visit Brian's parents. The clouds were on the move but at a leisurely pace, giving the sun ample time to paint them with sunset colors.

Looking for Rain

2009-08-11T06:00:00.002-05:00

In this heatwave of 100+ degree temperatures, rain has become a myth.

The upwards view shows some cloud cover, but not the kind of clouds that promise rain, only the ones that lie about it.

I've forgotten what real rain looks like, so if you have photos of rain, leave a link in the comment section or send them to me.

An Hour in Gruene, Texas

2009-08-09T17:30:00.011-05:00

Friday afternoon, I decided to take a quick trip into the past at Gruene, Texas. Since this was my lunch break, I had a limited amount of time and no control over the amount (the crazy amount) of sunshine (and heat) that was covering the area. Click on the image for a larger view.

Now, some of the best times to head over to Gruene, TX are during Market Days, which are held on the 3rd full weekend of each month, Feb-Nov and the 1st weekend of December. During these days, you can find some unique gift items, handcrafted out of wood or metal and some just unique treasures (and people).

There is also Gruene Hall, which is the oldest dance hall in Texas. It is also the site for one of scenes from John Travolta's movie, Michael. There's no a/c in this place, but lots of cool refreshments can be bought...which lead to some interesting stories. So I hear....

Gruene is a place where you can enjoy wine tasting, homestyle cookin', the Guadalupe River and so much more.

Ever been to Gruene? I'd like to hear from you! Leave me a comment with how far you travelled to get to Gruene.

Cicada Shells

2009-08-08T16:15:00.010-05:00

Cicada husks can be found just about anywhere this time of year...on houses, trees, mailboxes and apparently, tires!

They emerge from their shell and are transformed into winged insects, but they must wait for their wings to harden before taking flight. Once they are in the trees, they are nearly impossible to see, as they are as green as the leaves around them. Even though they aren't easily seen, they can be heard for blocks, making an incessant buzzing noise!

Before taking off to work earlier this week, I found another cicada on my front tire, with his newly transformed self sitting next to who he used to be. After taking a few photos, I moved him to a new spot so that he'd be able to fly away later. Pay no attention to the dirty rims :)

Portrait of a Dog

2009-07-30T22:30:00.003-05:00

This is Shelby or rather, ShellBEE in your best hillbilly voice.

We first saw Shelby at a shelter after losing our beloved Buddy, a toy Rat Terrier, who was smarter than some people I've encountered ;-)

Her name was actually Sheba, but since there are Ford Mustangs in the driveway, a more suitable name was needed. Sheba became Shelby and she didn't seem to mind the change one bit, especially when she's called and there's a treat to be had.

When she's happy, really happy, she smiles...She has smile wrinkles that appear on her face, as seen in the photo above. She's happiest when her best friend (my daughter) gives her lots of attention.

Unfortunately, Shelby sheds fur. Not just a little bit, either. I can sweep around the house and I swear there's enough fur in the dust pan to make another dog! Yikes!

What quirky traits do your pets have? And, is there a story behind their name?
Share your stories by leaving me comments.

Photo Not Needed

2009-07-25T17:30:00.002-05:00

Not all experiences are captured with photographs or video recordings...which is ok, because that's life as we know it to be - it's always moving forward. It doesn't stop and pose or have room for re-takes. We capture memories in our minds and hearts....

Last night, on my way to visit my parents, I accidentally hit a turtle that was attempting to cross road. Now, the car didn't crush it, but it was still in the middle of a busy 2 lane road. I really felt sorry for the slow-moving animal because it was in a 55 MPH zone. There's no way a turtle on land can move that fast, unless it's in the vehicle.

Oddly enough, as we were leaving their house, my daughter noticed that the dogs had "found" a turtle. We saved this one from nosey wet noses and snappy sharp teeth by placing the turtle in a box while we pondered just what to do with him..or her.

This turtle was not injured, but it was hiding in its protective shell, keeping all its limbs intact.
Watching him in the box, we waited for him to "come out of his shell"...literally!

We had to decide quickly what to do with him, since it was getting dark and I didn't want to be stuck with a turtle for the rest of the night. My daughter suggested that we release the turtle at the river or the local park.

With the turtle still hiding in its shell, in the box, we decided to drive down to the park.
It was dark when we arrived. I lifted the turtle out of the box and carried it to a place where he could either slide into the water or walk away from it.

We set the turtle down and watched and waited. It wasn't long before the water began beckoning him and we saw the turtle make a move toward the water. Another minute or so and the turtle took off into the water without making a noise. Since it was dark, he disappeared quickly from our view.

We talked about the turtle on the way home. We felt that it was in a better environment to forage for food and find other turtles. We thought of the other turtle that wasn't so lucky and how this one shouldn't encounter a road since it had so much more room to roam in and out of the water.

It was quiet but happy celebration that took place without one single photo....but the memory of that night will be something that we'll talk about for years to come.

Eerie Photo

2009-07-14T21:15:00.001-05:00

This photo has an X-Files quality about it that I find intriguing...

It's hard to see exactly what's going on... and the lighting creates the shadows that draws the eyes toward the middle of the photo.

My husband was just putting the ladder away, using a flashlight to find his way to the shed in the backyard.

BUT...It could be an alien lurking about in the shadows, using its own source of light, ready to pounce anything that dares to get near it....