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...

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Wine

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

Studio Set Up

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

The apple...

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Snow Bush

It's pretty - but, I am ready for spring NOW!!!

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Fountain Display

An interesting fountain display at the Cedar Rapids Home Show.

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United States Sailor

Experimenting with flash and close up photography.

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Barn

Barn near Charles City, Iowa

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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."

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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.

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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.
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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.

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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.

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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...

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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).

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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.
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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/.
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Hot Peppers

Hot Peppers from the produce section of Target.

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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)...

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Snow On The Roof

Snow on the bird house roof.

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3 Trees

Still winter...

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....
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Candle

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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...
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Pens

A few of my pens - color and B/W versions.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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...

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