Monthly Archives: January 2011
Takamine Time…
I’ve been so busy with work and fixing things, not to mention blogging, that I haven’t really paid much attention to my guitar.
I like accoustic music. Anything that I can play along with (Yes, I started with Stairway to Heaven and worked up to Dust in the Wind). I just like to play.
I have a Takamine Steve Wariner Limited Edition (Autographed and numbered 215 by Steve Wariner). I swear I could leave this guitar in the case for a year and pull it out and it will still be in tune. – The best guitar I’ve ever owned. It was good to take it out and tinker a bit.
Peace, Love, and Picking,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Bugs and Things…
I think it’s awesome to get a good picture of a bug. They’re challenging, for the most part, especially the flying insects.
I’ve already blogged a bit about bees and I hate to be repetitious but here are some of my favorites although some aren’t really artistic or anything, they’re bugs after all.
I found this tiny guy sitting down to a snack on one of our flowers in the back yard. He’s tiny and would sit happily on the tip of a ballpoint pen but lookes much larger due the 250mm lens I used.
Dragonflies are another favorite though they’re very quick and shy. I saw a patch that dragon flies were going in and out of and just sat there for awhile and sure enough one came along and planted itself in just the right spot!
Butterflies are also shy and flit around quite a bit. I find them challenging as well. Though sometimes all you have to do is offer them a good drink and….
I guess there must be something natural in Natural Ice because the butterfly really liked it.
Spiders are another fun insect to capture though I am intimidated by getting bit by them.
In Louisiana we had cochroaches – In central Texas we have THESE things that I believe probably might eat them which brings me to this multi-eyed spider that enjoyed the camera TOO much.
Then I found out about grasshoppers. I was chasing this guy around the yard and after I uploaded the photos to the computer I discovered it appeared he was smiling broader than a beer pitcher.
Then there are the bugs that you have no clue what they are – they just look, well, weird!
I could go on quite a bit about bugs as I have quite a few shots of different dragonflies and things. I may post the more interesting shots later. I enjoy photography and I’m working on PEOPLE for once so maybe I’ll be able to branch out a little more.
Thank you for stopping by and taking a break. Hope you enjoyed it and that I didn’t creep anyone out with the bugs.
Peace, Love, and Hold the Bug Spray,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Has Its Thorn…
I believe since I made the post with the giant thorns from the rose bush I decided to post my favorite from when the bush was blooming one cloudy, rainy morning.
Somehow makes the pain of being stuck a little worth it when you see this bush bloom.
While crawling around the gardern I spied some things you may not want in your flower bed. I like bugs as well and will do a post on them soon – but this little guy wasn’t bashful about eating my plants. Even seemed to look at me like “Whud do YOU want?”
So I did what every concerned gardner would do. I took his picture and then did the “Twitch- SEE YA!” thing being ever so careful not to damage the flower.
You have to love roses. They’re soft, velvety, and smell so good. They also make the ladies smile!
So keep the flowers blooming and the ladies happy. Also, thank you for stopping by!
Peace, Love, and Mulch,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Heron After…
I remember when I first received my new Nikon fresh from eBay I had already set my sights on photographs I would like to take.
San Gabriel Park here in Georgetown Texas was home to some Blue Herons that I chased up and down the San Gabriel river trying like crazy to get a good shot of him (her).
They must have razor sharp vision because I couldn’t seem to get within 200 yards of the bird before it startled and took off.
However, I was fortunate on a couple of days when he wasn’t really paying attention to me and I managed to take his photograph.
Birds and Bugs are fun to photograph – especially the more challenging ones. This bird was challenging because they’re so shy – dragonflies are another subject – maybe my next one – that are tricky because they move so fast.
Thanks for stopping by and a special thank you to the bloggers of the 30 Day Bloggers Challenge that pop in. I need to get all their links put in on the right over there.
Peace, Love, and Watch The Birdie,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Every Rose…
You know? I noticed our rose bush today and decided to try out a new lens on the thing. There are no roses blooming on it at this point, however, I noticed something intrigueing.
The thorns on this thing compare to baby shark teeth! And when I tried to move the vine for a better angle on it, I got bit!
I wonder if it is so the deer won’t eat them and we can enjoy them a little longer? Do women want roses because they know the guys bleed when they pick them?
Well that will give me something to Google this evening I suppose. Plant protection mechanisms. Cures for Rose Bites, etc.
Peace, Love, and Every Rose Has Its Thorn,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Imagination…
I remember seeing those clever photographs of trees that when you look closely there are outlines of things or people in them. So today I managed to take a break and look through the myriad of branches of the tree in the front yard and looked for “things”. You know. Like one of those find the hidden object kind of photographs.
I didn’t see anything spectacular but it was fun to use my imagination to think of something else other than the things that stress me out.
Let me know if you see anything in the above image. I could have missed something!
Peace, Love, and Imagine,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Austin, Texas…
I really love Austin, Texas, especially downtown. It’s picturesque and the people are amazing! I have to say that the city has its own ‘vibe’.
They’ve just completed the Austonian in downtown which is now the tallest building in Austin. I wonder if they let folks up on the top to take pictures or if you have to live there?
My favorite building is usually the Frost Bank Tower. I guess because it’s shiney – reflects the light well. Looks like an ‘owl’ sometimes. I haven’t placed my finger on it but I’ve sure taken alot of photographs of it.
Some photographs I play with in Photoshop or paint shop pro. I think I found a tutorial on turning photographs in to paintings such as this, but I’ve since forgotten where and how to do it.
Austin when the sun goes down is another story. So much to do, see, taste, smell. There’s music everywhere down 6th street and it’s just so ‘alive’ and beautiful.
I guess you can see why I love this area so much. It’s interesting, weird, beautiful, musical and just makes me feel like I’m at home. Thanks for stopping by again!
Peace, Love, and Keep Austin Weird,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Hard Drive Space…
Well, I’m behind in the blogging. Partly due to work/home responsibilities and then I’m finding I’m running out of hard drive space for the myriad of photographs (and backups) I take.
I have 3 in the PC and 4 external drives for back ups but they’re filling up.
Then there is when they go bad.
Alot of money can go in to a computer. (That’s why I photographed and photoshopped my hard drive because I could do little else with it.
It is a very scary pain the rear but then you realize you’ve done a good job of backing up your stuff – so all you have to do is get another drive and put the data back.
So make sure you back your stuff up. Because when your hard drive goes on the rocks there’s little you can do with it (other than that magnet in there you can use for the fridge).
Peace, Love, and Hardware,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Llano Eagle’s Nest…
I haven’t had a chance to visit the nest this winter …I hear the nest has moved. I’m waiting till I can rent or get my hands on a ‘sharper’ lens. – These are my first attempts at it when the nest was closer to the road. The nest was located down Highway 29 toward Llano, Texas.
These are the best of alot of shots. I was still learning my new camera at the time as well. That’s why the images aren’t as sharp as I would like.
I wish this next shot would have been sharp – but in all honesty I had a wonderful time just watching this bird feed his family. I nicknamed the two babies “Orville and Wilbur” after the wright brothers.
So alas, my dream is saving up the money for my dream lens – The Nikon 70-200mm f2.8 VRII which runs around a good $2,000.00. I tried to rent one but they want a deposit equal to the amount of the lens so I’m still hunting sources so I can go back out and shoot (with a camera) this bird.
Peace, Love, and Eagle’s Wings,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Mornings…
Sometimes I like it early in the morning and yet others I just want to get more rest. Some scenes make it worth the getting up.
I wonder if the moon was going down this morning or just coming up late. Too tired to pay attention really. Then I started thinking about driveways.
The first thing you see when you get home. The final few feet. The welcome mat for your car. Also that it will be 10 hours before I see mine again. This one isn’t mine, but it gave me ideas about maybe going out and photographing driveways and even doing a series. I guess that’s how random I think at times.
Peace, Love, and Happy Friday!,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Early Morning Foggy Traffic…
Slow, yet very busy day. The fog this morning was eerily beautiful with the sun coming up.
Now that I’ve seen the morning fog it makes me want to get up earlier and see what I can photograph. Though, I believe I’ll save it for a day off when I’m not so hurried and can take the time appreciate it.
Well, I’m off to bed as I have to do this all again tomorrow. Enjoy your day and thank you for stopping by.
Peace, Love, and Foggy Fields,
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V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Out in the Country…
What a wonderful day this turned out to be! It didn’t start out very well but I decided to just get out and wander.
The sun was out and it wasn’t too cold and I just decided to take a county road to see what I could see.
I don’t know why it is that I’m always ‘looking for a picture’. I don’t know how to describe it other than when I saw this bunch, I hit the brakes.
They were just standing there staring looking like something out of a wild west movie.
I couldn’t tell you how thrilled I was to stumble on this scene.
I was so tickled I later wound up with a double-exposure of some trees I was tinkering with.
I also took some more photographs of that wavey grass, and the San Gabriel River.
More waves of grain. I love the patterns they make. It was a good day for photography.
That’s all for now, my friends. Thank you so very much for stopping by!
Peace, Love, and The Wild, Wild, West,
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V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Pride in Workmanship…
You know? There is alot of awesome architecture around Austin, Texas and what I guess you would call the “I-35 Corridor. But take a closer look at the photograph below.
When I saw this all I could say was “Really?”… I wonder what happened. Either the shorter people called in sick or maybe a shift in the earth’s crust?
I understand there is a fine line to what can be considered ‘artistic license’ – is that what that is?
Can you imagine running down this fire escape with a railing like that?
And I wonder if the guys were a little tired one day laying brick what these windows may look like?
And lastley I don’t think the train would last very long if these tracks were laid out like that railing, right?
Take pride in what you do. Be the best you can be. Take the time, ALL of the time, to do it right the first time. Just something I saw that made me think.
Peace, Love, and Straight Lines,
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V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Acts of Kindness…
I just had to share this story because, well, it just restores my faith in the world.
I also just wanted to say God Bless Southwest Airlines for the caliber of pilots and employees they have on their staff.
Imagine being a greiving grandfather trying to catch a flight to see your grandson one last time. The line getting through security is stupidly long and you fear there is no way you are going to make your flight.
I don’t want to ruin the story so I’ll place the link here for you all. I just had to share this with you because of what this pilot did!
Click the following: Southwest Pilot Holds Flight…
Peace, Love, and Friendly Skies,
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V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Favorite Things…
I know I’m behind but boy can life get busy sometimes. Of course I was struggling with what I could possibly write about and then I remembered an impulse I had.
I was in Starbucks (rarely but I treat myself once in awhile) and I saw this coffee cup.
I had to have this coffee cup. I literally saw myself relaxing with my photographs drinking coffee out of this coffee cup.
It was large enough – it said “Austin Starbucks Coffee” on it and had a guitar player on it.
All things I love. Coffee, music, and Austin.
I didn’t NEED this coffee cup. But I had to HAVE this coffee cup.
Does it make the coffee taste better? Maybe not, but makes it feel better somehow I guess. I wonder if anyone else has this ‘impulse’ or a favorite thing that they absolutely have to have around that somehow makes us feel better?
Surround yourself with good things and good people and life will be good.
Peace, Love, and Folgers,
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V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
The Highway…
I realized that in alot of my “drive by shooting” I take alot of photographs of highways. I guess that’s because I’m ‘driving’ at the time I take the picture but something about overpasses and the open road draws me.
I have no idea if it has to do with their architecture or design. Or the way they seem to be getting higher in the sky these days.
The patterns and lines they form – the traffic that moves along them (sometimes agonizingly slowly).
Not to mention the backdrop they form for sunsets sometimes.
Ahhh yes. The highway. Traffic. The hustle and bustle of daily life. Moving along like ants in a line. Hoping I’m paying attention to traffic and not my camera settings…
But I can’t help it. I guess I always use to think that travel and the open road was romantic. Not just the daily, get in line, go from home to work and back again kind of thing.
Of course the roads aren’t always crowded and sometimes the ride to work is peaceful. Like when I work on a holiday…
And alot of the time you get the spectacular view of downtown Austin. Always different somehow. I guess it’s the light but it never looks the same but always beautiful.
And then the familiar road home in the evening. Off the highway. Away from the millions of cars all heading home. The familiar arch of trees over the road. Family time.
Peace, Love, and White Lines,
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V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Time…
I can’t help but feel overwhelmed at times with all I’m in to. I mean with work, blahgging (as I call it), photography, and trying to keep up with things.
Something went wonky with the blog yesterday. I was receiving this error whenever I tried to upload an image to the ‘blahg’. So I googled the error message- found several ideas on how to fix it. I also found that an error had occurred on the last WordPress update so I re-ran that – and it appears to be fixed now. But I have no idea what fixed it.
I think it’s about time to take a day off and gather myself together and take a load off. I need to read some blogs and learn a few things. I’m going to start putting a bunch in to that there blog roll for ya’ll to go visit.
Thank ya’ll for stopping by – I need to figure out what happened and clean up the media library after several attempts at fixing the problem.
Peace, Love, and Crash and Learn,
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V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
I Love Shiney Things…
I was trying to think of what to blog about today and was a little stumped. I see the neighbors are still runinng the sprinkler and turning the tree in their front yard in to an icicle.
Well, then WordPress decided it couldn’t resize anything I uploaded so I manually resized it and hopefully can get through today – I still owe a post for the 30 day thing – I may be able to manage (I Hope).
Anyway – I discovered I love chrome but I also learned you have to be careful about reflections. I love shiney things- like I think this motorcycle engine (Harley Davidson) is awesome.
However, closer inspection reveals my truck parked next to it and probably me leaning out of it taking this picture. I thought it was funny anyway. I think I’ll be more careful next time.
Peace, Love, and Chrome,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Ice Garden?…
The sun came out today (yay!) and I finally was out and about (meetings and things) and got to play around with the camera a little and I wasn’t sure what I would blog about today until I stumbled upon a curious sight.
Seems someone forgot to turn the sprinkler off. But then again, it was under 40 degrees outside and wasn’t sure why the folks were waterin’? With the wind blowin’ and all it froze in the tree making for an interesting sight.
I also found an interesting crossing to photograph for the fun of it. It was pretty cold out and though I didn’t get out as much as I would have liked with the meetings and appointments at least I managed to get an interesting shot or two.
The day has wound down . Now time to relax and look over some photographs and enjoy the rest of the evening.
Peace, Love, and Pictures,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
Drive By Shooting…
I know the title sounds serious…but it’s not really. It’s sort of what I call the photographs I get by not taking the time to stop and really TAKE the picture. I just hang the camera out the window and *click* away.
Sometimes I get an interesting sort of something I want to keep kind of a photograph. And yet other times, I”m not sure why I kept it…a pattern? The color? A memoriy? I’m not sure. Just something kept me from deleting it.
I guess this must be what a hound sees while hanging his head out the window with the breeze flapping his ears around. I don’t know. It reminded me of how fast things seem to be going by faster than I can seem to manage to catch up.
For now as I drive the 42 miles home I’m thinking I can’t wait till it warms up a bit so I can go walking through the woods or somewhere and just make pictures. I love taking pictures. Even while I’m hurtling down the road and too lazy to get out of my truck.
Enjoy my friends!
Peace, Love, and White Lines,
V7 Network 30 Day Bloggers Challenge
