.. Jalbum 8.6 slides/jan31.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 It sorta sucks to be this family- you get your modest house paid off, retire, and think you can live out your years here, and then they build a rail line practically over your house. Not a nice view here... This is a DART rail line- Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. It sorta sucks to be this family- you get your modest house paid off, retire, and think you can live out your years here, and then they build a rail line practically over your house. Not a nice view here... This is a DART rail line- Dallas Area Rapid Transit. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan31.jpg slides/jan30.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 Another clear night, and another shot of the moon. But also, there was this dandelion flower near a spotlight in the yard. I took that and positioned it so that the spotlight backlit the cottony head. I rather like the lighting on the edge of my finger here. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: Some dodging of my finger and stem to add some balance to the picture. Another clear night, and another shot of the moon. But also, there was this dandelion flower near a spotlight in the yard. I took that and positioned it so that the spotlight backlit the cottony head. I rather like the lighting on the edge of my finger here. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: Some dodging of my finger and stem to add some balance to the picture. slides/jan30.jpg slides/jan29a.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 I decided to change out today's picture after taking this one. This is my first space pic with my new camera. This is a conjuntion of the Moon and Venus. I love the detail on the dark side of the moon. No enhancement done here at all. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. I decided to change out today's picture after taking this one. This is my first space pic with my new camera. This is a conjuntion of the Moon and Venus. I love the detail on the dark side of the moon. No enhancement done here at all. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan29a.jpg slides/jan28.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 We had rain and temps in the 20's last night, so a fair amount of ice on the ground. In addition, my neighbor's sprinklers were still running, and this was the result. This is a nandina, I think of the Fire Power variety. They are more globe-shaped and very red. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. We had rain and temps in the 20's last night, so a fair amount of ice on the ground. In addition, my neighbor's sprinklers were still running, and this was the result. This is a nandina, I think of the Fire Power variety. They are more globe-shaped and very red. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan28.jpg slides/jan27.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 This is the camera looking at itself in a mirror, lit up by a tiny LED lamp. Nice to have a real iris again (new camera). Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. This is the camera looking at itself in a mirror, lit up by a tiny LED lamp. Nice to have a real iris again (new camera). Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan27.jpg slides/jan26.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 I accidentally fired the camera off with the macro lens at a pile of burlap we had thrown over some plants we brought in (the burlap keeps the cat from eating the flowers). I liked it well enough becaue of the detail (though a macro lens, this was a good 6 feet away or more) to keep it. Things I would do differently: ? Mods: None. I accidentally fired the camera off with the macro lens at a pile of burlap we had thrown over some plants we brought in (the burlap keeps the cat from eating the flowers). I liked it well enough becaue of the detail (though a macro lens, this was a good 6 feet away or more) to keep it. Things I would do differently: ? Mods: None. slides/jan26.jpg slides/jan25.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 This is a lollipop reflector that we keep in the driveway so my wife won't run over the planters when she backs her car out of the garage. Interesting lensing pattern up very close. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. This is a lollipop reflector that we keep in the driveway so my wife won't run over the planters when she backs her car out of the garage. Interesting lensing pattern up very close. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan25.jpg slides/jan24.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 The cardinals really do like the cat food we put out. It was cold and grey today, that also seems to bring them looking for alternative food sources. Got a nice side-on view of this one. This new camera is definitely helping me get better bird pictures! Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. The cardinals really do like the cat food we put out. It was cold and grey today, that also seems to bring them looking for alternative food sources. Got a nice side-on view of this one. This new camera is definitely helping me get better bird pictures! Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan24.jpg slides/jan23.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 Tonight I used a glass mosaic candle vase, aimed at a bright light. It's a little more purple than this, but with the incandescent white backlight, it browned it up a bit. It sort of looks like it could be a polished cobblestone walkway with water pooled on it. Things I would do differently: Nothing, except maybe try to get a truer color as well. Mods: None. Tonight I used a glass mosaic candle vase, aimed at a bright light. It's a little more purple than this, but with the incandescent white backlight, it browned it up a bit. It sort of looks like it could be a polished cobblestone walkway with water pooled on it. Things I would do differently: Nothing, except maybe try to get a truer color as well. Mods: None. slides/jan23.jpg slides/jan22.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 These are flat-bottomed glass beads from a Pente game. I side-illuminated them with a laser, which refracted through all the beads as I scanned it back and forth for a 1s exposure. Things I would do differently: ? Mods: None. These are flat-bottomed glass beads from a Pente game. I side-illuminated them with a laser, which refracted through all the beads as I scanned it back and forth for a 1s exposure. Things I would do differently: ? Mods: None. slides/jan22.jpg slides/jan21.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 I found this acorn top the other day in the driveway- it makes an intersesting macro due to it's texture and shape. Things I would do differently: ? Mods: None. I found this acorn top the other day in the driveway- it makes an intersesting macro due to it's texture and shape. Things I would do differently: ? Mods: None. slides/jan21.jpg slides/jan20.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 Personally I was very proud today- we finally got past race as an issue, to a large extent. This man is capable and seems open to new ideas, as he's certainly already discarded some of his old ideas. Here's to going forward and a good riddance to the my-way-or-the-highway Bush administration. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. Personally I was very proud today- we finally got past race as an issue, to a large extent. This man is capable and seems open to new ideas, as he's certainly already discarded some of his old ideas. Here's to going forward and a good riddance to the my-way-or-the-highway Bush administration. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan20.jpg slides/jan19.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 And today this little fellow was in our yaupon holly. It frequently spends time inside the foliage, and is relatively unafraid of me, enabling me to get this shot. Hopefully, I can get even better ones now that I know to look out for him. Things I would do differently: Deploy the flash manually- still learning this new camera. Mods: None. And today this little fellow was in our yaupon holly. It frequently spends time inside the foliage, and is relatively unafraid of me, enabling me to get this shot. Hopefully, I can get even better ones now that I know to look out for him. Things I would do differently: Deploy the flash manually- still learning this new camera. Mods: None. slides/jan19.jpg slides/jan18.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 Another shot of Nadia- we were working in the yard and she likes to help us. Here she is up on the roof surveying out work. Things I would do differently: Have had the camera earlier- she was up on the apex, which might have been a better photo. Mods: None. Another shot of Nadia- we were working in the yard and she likes to help us. Here she is up on the roof surveying out work. Things I would do differently: Have had the camera earlier- she was up on the apex, which might have been a better photo. Mods: None. slides/jan18.jpg slides/jan17.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 Here's Nadia walking across the driveway, near sunset when the shadows were long. I like the sepia tone of the late afternoon sunlight. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. Here's Nadia walking across the driveway, near sunset when the shadows were long. I like the sepia tone of the late afternoon sunlight. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan17.jpg slides/jan16.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 Today we had more birds trying to get at the cat food. It was a very cold day (23F this morning when I got up), and they were hungry. I caught this female cardinal grabbing a snack. I love the red beak and the crest. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. Today we had more birds trying to get at the cat food. It was a very cold day (23F this morning when I got up), and they were hungry. I caught this female cardinal grabbing a snack. I love the red beak and the crest. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan16.jpg slides/jan15.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 For today's shot, I resurrected the Starbuck's specialty coffee box cover cutout, intricately (and probably somewhat expensively) designed for their extra special import coffees. I combined it with the fiber optic toy I got at a tradeshow for this tie-dyed cool shot of the day. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. For today's shot, I resurrected the Starbuck's specialty coffee box cover cutout, intricately (and probably somewhat expensively) designed for their extra special import coffees. I combined it with the fiber optic toy I got at a tradeshow for this tie-dyed cool shot of the day. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan15.jpg slides/jan14.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 We keep our hibiscus indoors during the winter- they are constantly blooming, which is amazing, because the flowers only last a day and then wither and fall off. Even the buds are pretty. This backlit bud was shot with the macro looking out the window into the setting sun. The flare on the left is from the window cross bars- hard to eliminate. I really like the edge on the flower- it was a matter of picking the right aperture to get a decent focus on the bud, but to blur out the window in the background. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. We keep our hibiscus indoors during the winter- they are constantly blooming, which is amazing, because the flowers only last a day and then wither and fall off. Even the buds are pretty. This backlit bud was shot with the macro looking out the window into the setting sun. The flare on the left is from the window cross bars- hard to eliminate. I really like the edge on the flower- it was a matter of picking the right aperture to get a decent focus on the bud, but to blur out the window in the background. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan14.jpg slides/jan13.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 And for a repeat of a shot from last year. These are pixels on my phone, as seen by my new, very detailed macro lens. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. And for a repeat of a shot from last year. These are pixels on my phone, as seen by my new, very detailed macro lens. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan13.jpg slides/jan12.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 This is a hibiscus leaf, backlit, shot with macro. One of the things I like about this camera is the isolation of the subject in close-up. This is in my living room, yet it might as well be in outer space. You see only the subject. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. This is a hibiscus leaf, backlit, shot with macro. One of the things I like about this camera is the isolation of the subject in close-up. This is in my living room, yet it might as well be in outer space. You see only the subject. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan12.jpg slides/jan11.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 Finally getting around to tearing down the Christmas tree. Thought I'd try out the macro and make an ornament look a bit like a planet. Things I would do differently: ? Mods: None. Finally getting around to tearing down the Christmas tree. Thought I'd try out the macro and make an ornament look a bit like a planet. Things I would do differently: ? Mods: None. slides/jan11.jpg slides/jan10.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 This is the tarmac of the McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. Just experimenting with scene composition and a few basic elements in the picture. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. This is the tarmac of the McCarran Airport in Las Vegas. Just experimenting with scene composition and a few basic elements in the picture. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan10.jpg slides/jan09.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 The lobby wall behind the reception desk at Planet Hollywood is covered in these dinner-plate sized spheres. The background pulsated all colors of the spectrum. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. The lobby wall behind the reception desk at Planet Hollywood is covered in these dinner-plate sized spheres. The background pulsated all colors of the spectrum. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan09.jpg slides/jan08.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 Same view from my hotel room at Planet Hollywood of the Las Vegas City Center. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. Same view from my hotel room at Planet Hollywood of the Las Vegas City Center. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan08.jpg slides/jan07.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 I'm now in Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show- CES. This was the view from my 38th floor room of the Las Vegas City Center- the largest development outside the Middle East. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. I'm now in Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show- CES. This was the view from my 38th floor room of the Las Vegas City Center- the largest development outside the Middle East. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan07.jpg slides/jan06.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 The macro capability is very good with this camera. This is a hard shot to take, so hence the blurriness. I will have to experiment over time- I'm even hoping to see inside the eye, if possible. That will take some experimenting, though, and lots of shots to make it happen. Things I would do differently: ? Mods: None. The macro capability is very good with this camera. This is a hard shot to take, so hence the blurriness. I will have to experiment over time- I'm even hoping to see inside the eye, if possible. That will take some experimenting, though, and lots of shots to make it happen. Things I would do differently: ? Mods: None. slides/jan06.jpg slides/jan05.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 We had a mild ice storm today- this icicle was hanging from the patio furniture. Shot with the new Canon with a macro lens and flash for some good highlighting. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. We had a mild ice storm today- this icicle was hanging from the patio furniture. Shot with the new Canon with a macro lens and flash for some good highlighting. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan05.jpg slides/jan04.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 This is the large burner on our cooktop. Things I would do differently: ? Mods: None. This is the large burner on our cooktop. Things I would do differently: ? Mods: None. slides/jan04.jpg slides/jan03.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 We took a hike this afternoon at Arbor Hills Nature Park in Plano. This eastward-looking sunset view of buildings along the North Dallas Tollway was rather pleasing. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. We took a hike this afternoon at Arbor Hills Nature Park in Plano. This eastward-looking sunset view of buildings along the North Dallas Tollway was rather pleasing. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan03.jpg slides/jan02.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 This is Bill, of Bill's Records (and Tapes, as it used to be called). He's a Dallas icon. I donated all my vinyl today (3 crates), as I have no need for them anymore. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. This is Bill, of Bill's Records (and Tapes, as it used to be called). He's a Dallas icon. I donated all my vinyl today (3 crates), as I have no need for them anymore. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan02.jpg slides/jan01.html# Sat, 29 May 2010 00:27:04 -0500 Not a bad start for the New Year! I have my new camera, and got this nice little shot out the window, through two panes of glass, hand held, at high zoom. Nice color, pretty sharp considering all the conditions. This was taken with the new camera. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. Not a bad start for the New Year! I have my new camera, and got this nice little shot out the window, through two panes of glass, hand held, at high zoom. Nice color, pretty sharp considering all the conditions. This was taken with the new camera. Things I would do differently: Nothing. Mods: None. slides/jan01.jpg