So ugly that it's cute

Last night, as I checked the house before bedtime, I found this critter in my garage.  I knew that I wanted to photograph him so I saved him in a box for the night and shot this morning.

My wife commented that it doesn't look too happy.  I think it might have one of my "grumpy" traits.  Enjoy!

Summertime Memories

As a young boy, I recall and cherish the summers away from school.  We did not need high tech games for fun.  We simply made our own fun as we explored what was around us.  This image reminds me of those days.

The sepia processing really enhances boyhood memories.... it was incredibly hot and the sun was so intense that it "seemed" to bleach away the color on everything around us.  We'd find an old railroad trestle, climb up, and wait for a train to cross above us.  As the noisy train crossed, we'd yell as loudly as possible.

We never felt the urge to say "I'm bored!"  I hope this brings back your childhood memories.  Why not write and share those memories with others?  Thanks for coming by.

More sights from Washington DC

These images are nothing to "write home" about but I like them and they are my personal souvenirs from a recent trip to Washington DC.

Thanks for viewing and your comments are very welcome.

Space Shuttle Discovery

Last week, my wife and I were sightseeing in Washington DC and were fortunate enough to see the final flight of the space shuttle Discovery on her way to the museum at Dulles Airport.  The shuttle arrived piggyback on a NASA 747, made three passes over downtown DC and then landed at the airport, which is northwest of town.  I'm very disappointed that I did not capture a quality photo but I did manage to get a decent "snapshot" of this historic event.  Let me share it with you.

I served with the United States Air Force for 20 years and have worked around a lot of aircraft but this sight was awesome to see!

Decay and Abandoned

I love photographing old forgotten and abandoned buildings that are full of decay.  As you view the artwork, it calls upon your memory to younger days when things were lively and vibrant.  You admire the rugged construction of these decaying items because they are still surviving.... the rust and peeling paint seem to provide a layer of "character."

Recently, while visiting Okmulgee, Oklahoma, I came across an old abandoned gasoline station.  One of the more interesting images that I captured was this compressed air line.  Present day construction would have created this item with plastics and it certainly won't have "character" in 40 years.... it's not even likely that a modern day item will survive that long.  How sad that we live in an age of cheap materials, shoddy trade work, and disposal of our property after a very short life.

They just "don't build things like they used to."  Here's my decaying compressed air station.  I hope you like it.

You're welcome to visit my online gallery to examine and view a larger image.

Crane Fly

I just want the opportunity to share a new image that I just shot.  You can either like it or hate it.... I'm quite happy with the result.  Does anyone else like close-up or macro work of insects?

It's stored in my "Recent Additions" gallery if you'd like to have a closer look.  Just click the link on the right side for "My Online Photo Gallery."

Is photography a criminal offense?

I've been out of town for the past week so haven't been on top of my blog.  I apologize for that.  We visited many of the sites in Washington DC and photographed a few.

While out and about, I learned how to receive a quick police response.... you simply pull out professional camera gear, i.e., large professional series lens, tripod, monopod, remote trigger, light meter, etc., and the police will come to you very quickly.  Now I don't know if a person gets such a rapid response if you report a criminal offense but they alert VERY QUICKLY to any person who photographs a government facility.  I witnessed people in the street making public racist speeches, panhandlers harassing us for cash, and people who simply looked dangerous BUT the police force merely stands on the corner while this goes on.  I am 55 years old, caucasian, well groomed, dress conservatively, and toured with my wife who has similar physical attributes.  So what makes the law enforcement officials so concerned about our activities??

I remember during the Cold War, where in communist countries, i.e., Soviet Union and China, we learned about how their citizens had no freedom to photography government facilities.  And a western tourist who visited those countries was warned to be careful with their photography.... our own (United States) government reminded us of our fortune to be citizens where we had no such restrictions on our rights.  The United States talked about how the communist governments didn't trust their own citizens.... how they monitored and restricted their activities.  Oh my gosh.... what has happened in America??

I intend to pursue my right to photograph public facilities in spite of the harassment from law enforcement officials.  I hope you will too.... be sure to write to your Congressman, post your concerns in the social media, and letters to your local newspapers, so that you can express your feelings on the matter.  We all share a responsibility for protecting our country but we cannot relinquish our rights as citizens and allow our officials to monitor our every movement nor to treat us as criminals when we photograph a building that is paid for with our tax dollars.  Please do something about it!

That is my rant for this day.... you may hear more and I hope you'll comment.  In parting, I'd like to share a couple photos from our trip.  These are both from inside the Thomas Jefferson Library of Congress building.

Non-Profit Organizations

I'm going to make a plug for an organization that means a lot to me.  Actually, what they do has more meaning than the group itself.  Before I list any of my links, let me comment how giving and selflessness are traits that many artists and collectors possess.  When I decided to start selling my work, the first consideration was to include a way that my photography could create some revenue for the needy.

I've recently gotten acquainted with a group from Knoxville, Tennessee called Project Being There.  They exist to help impoverished children at an orphanage in Vietnam.  What impresses me the most about this organization is that they are 100% volunteer so all of the profits go to the children.  If you've ever looked at one of the big charitable organizations, you'll find an executive staff whose salaries are in the 6 figures and a high percentage of their revenue goes to cover administrative overhead.  That bothers me because they appear to be nothing more than a large corporation with a mission to raise money.... a true heart for the needy may be forgotten in that board room of executives.

Please do take a few moments to read about Project Being There.  I hope you'll consider making a tax deductible donation and follow their story as they work to improve life for many forgotten children.  If you're an artist, I hope you'll consider incorporating a charity option to use at your showings and engage the collector.

NBC broadcasted two stories on this group:

NBC Nightly News - Making a Difference

NBC Nightly News - Followup Story


Learn more at their website: Project Being There

If you can help this group, please contact them.  Every human sometimes needs a "hand up" and when it's a child, that hand should be strong and empowered by a gentle heart.  Thank you for your help.

B&W Photography

I am going to talk about B&W digital photography - it is something that gives me great joy.  With color, I love the sharp pop that you can achieve from digital captures but there are times when I know that an old fashioned B&W photo is so much nicer.

There are primarily two elements needed to create a good black and white photo - now don't laugh but the image needs black and white areas.  I'm trying to create a contrast within my image and I don't have the luxury of doing this with vivid colors.  If you've ever seen those dull flat images with different shades of grey, you can understand why.

It's important, during post processing, to use your software and set your black and white points.  It's even better when you can find a leading or diagonal line in black.  Alternately, frame your focus point with one of these colors or use one of these colors as your background... it all depends on the image.  If your B&W photos are lacking something, think about this.

I have a few B&W images on my website that you can look at:  Clicking this will open a new window.

My Black and White Gallery

I'm not saying that I'm a master in black and white photography but when I began applying this principal, the quality really improved.  And like anything in photography, sometimes rules are meant to be broken.  Use your eye, apply creativity, but most of all create something that pleases YOU.  I would love to hear your comments and thoughts on different techniques.  Thanks.