Sunday, February 28, 2010

Scooby


This is Scooby, our daughter and son-in-law's dog. He's a mix of something or other. I believe poodle and golden lab. I'm sure he's not a snickerdoodle... labradoodle I believe is what he is called. This is his first trip to our house. I expected a small dog, like a poodle, but whoa, he's much larger, more lab size than poodle. He's cute and obedient. I like dogs, except for the fact you have to take them for walks, they poop, and they bark. I like cats...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image of Scooby).

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Wine


Still paying with light, flash and color. More tomorrow... (I should have picked a lighter colored liquid).

Friday, February 26, 2010

Studio Set Up

I have an area in my basement where I have my lights and backgrounds setup.


The apple...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Snow Bush


It's pretty - but, I am ready for spring NOW!!!
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Fountain Display


An interesting fountain display at the Cedar Rapids Home Show.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

United States Sailor

Experimenting with flash and close up photography.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Monday, February 22, 2010

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Cedar Rapids Home SHow

Stained Glass Gallery Exhibit at the Cedar Rapids Home SHow


This is Laura, our daughter-in-and law and proprietor of the Stained Glass Gallery. I frequently see this expression, "Are you taking my picture...again."
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Flags Fly High


My Mother-in-Law gave me a flag pole for one of my birthdays a few years back and I proudly fly the American and Navy Flags. I used to buy the less expensive flags, but the wind would shred them in no time. Last year my Sister-in-Law gave me a quality Navy Flag, and I added a higher quality American Flag and they are "hanging in there" [pun intended].

A Happy Birthday Wish to my youngest daughter Jessica who turns...I won't put the years in as I am certainly not old enough to have a 32 year old youngest child.
(Click on the photograph to view a larger image).

Friday, February 19, 2010

Leading Lines


I'm taking a photography course and the assignment calls for a photograph with "leading lines" where the lines in a photo draw a viewer to the subject - sounds simple until you try and find an example. I drive by here every day and yesterday I "saw" it for the first time...a perfect example of leading lines.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Then and Now or Old and New


Went on a road trip yesterday and if you take a look at the new header photograph you can see another angle of the windmills that are popping up all over northern Iowa. As I was framing the line of windmills I looked to my left and this is what I saw... the old windmill setting next to the new one.
(Click on the photograph to view a larger image).

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Fat Tuesday


We had a Mardi Gras themed pot luck at the church yesterday. It was much tamer than the celebrations that happen in New Orleans. I think we have some "closet" Cajuns in the group because some of the "fixns" were as good as the food served in the finest Southern restaurants.
(Click on the photograph to view a larger image).

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Katharine


Granddaughter Katharine in one of her "brief" quiet, pensive moods. It didn't last long - maybe 2, 4, or 5 seconds. She's a busy girl so if you want to take her photo you need to be quick about it. Come to think of it all the grandkids move at that pace - m-m-m - perhaps I move slow...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Monday, February 15, 2010

Blue Water


I spent a couple of hours yesterday trying to perfect the technique for taking a photograph of a water drop. I've found it difficult to find the right combination of aperture, shutter speed, focus and lighting. This one is the best out of 1,134, 234 exposures (I exaggerate for effect).
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Sturdy Leaves


The trees were covered with frost again yesterday. These two leaves, the last on the tree in my front yard, just continue to hang on. They've stayed put storm after storm, blizzard strength winds, freezing rain and ice, and so many days of frost I've lost count.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Daniel


Grandson Daniel paid us a visit from Iowa City so I just HAD to take a photo or 12... Daniel's Dad takes A LOT of photos so Daniel is quite comfortable in front of the camera. If you have a moment or 2 you can visit "All Things Daniel" at http://www.flickr.com/photos/spcummings/.
(Click on the photograph to view a larger image).

Friday, February 12, 2010

Hot Peppers


Hot Peppers from the produce section of Target.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Thursday, February 11, 2010

RAH


In one of my past lives I was a printer and had my own print shop. Just as an aside the computer I am typing this on has more capabilities than the 7+ machines I had to generate copy and print.

The letters above are all that remain - I didn't have to set type by hand (gladly), but there was an old set of lead typesetting letters laying around that went with a very old press in the basement of the shop. I sold the shop (minus the R, A and H)...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Snow On The Roof


Snow on the bird house roof.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Monday, February 8, 2010

Do I have too?


On a good day I'm not a fan of taking out the garbage, but - when I have to shovel, and then clear the container and THEN take the garbage out I really don't like it. I just heard the "weather lady" say something like 6" to 10" - oh joy - where is SPRING!!!!!!!!!!!!! (PS) To my friends on the East Coast there's more coming....
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Shopping at Target


Peppers


Purple Flowers


Red Pepper

We went grocery shopping last evening at Target and the colors in the produce isle were just vivid - worthy of a photograph. But, I had a dilemma - no camera. But, wait... my iPhone is also a camera and I have a gazillion (exaggerated for effect) photography apps so I decided to use my iPhone to take some photographs.

I did learn a lesson - when taking photos of produce in the case - every so often a fine watery mist is sprayed over the produce - so, if you are taking a closeup with your head nearly in the case - well, I'll let you imagine what happened. I do believe a few people who were wondering what I was up to to got a laugh...
(Click on a photo to view a larger image).

Friday, February 5, 2010

Pens




A few of my pens - color and B/W versions.
(Click on a photograph to view a larger image).

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Snow Fence


This snow fence has gotten a work out this winter - and from what I hear of the forecast for the next couple of days it will have additional snow to catch.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Old Cameras


Feeling better - not quite good enough to go anywhere - but, brave enough to venture into eating something besides toast and chicken noodle soup Besides one "toe" picture is quite enough. I went foraging around the house and put this display of photography books and old cameras together.
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Feet


It's taking every bit of strength I have to do this post - have the flu - but, I haven't missed a day since 01-01-2009. My feet taken with my iPhone.

Monday, February 1, 2010

An Angel

I noticed this statutue on a shelf in the church library and almost crawled onto the shelf to get a different angle to take a photo. Now that I think about it I suppose I could have moved the statue without crawling onto the shelf...
(Click on the photo to view a larger image).