FOTD – 07162024

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Yesterday, before the sky opened up and unleashed all kinds of nastiness, it was a beautiful serene day. Though, it was a little on the hot, I pulled out my phone and took a few shots. It felt good.


Macro Monday – 07152024

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Macro Monday – 07082024

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Macro Monday – 06172024

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Macro Monday – 06102024

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Macro Monday – 06032024

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Killing two birds with one stone. I’m also using this image for Cee’s FOTD

Pull up a Seat Photo Challenge 2024 – Week 22

PHOTOGRAPHY – CHALLENGE RESPONSE – PULL UP A SEAT

Here is my response for this week


Grazing in the Grass

CHALLENGE RESPONSE – COSMIC PHOTO CHALLENGE

When I found these photos, I had chucked them up as a loss. There wasn’t anything I was going to use them for. I’m surprised I hadn’t deleted them. Then, this morning I saw this challenge and remembered I had these shots.



It’s In The Eyes

CHALLENGE RESPONSE – ONE WORD SUNDAY

Three

Most of the time, my brothers and I don’t have any problems. We deal with the normal issues in this strange, cryptic thing called life. However, from time to time, an asshat appears out of nowhere. It’s almost like they waiting in the shadows for the precise moment to be a nuisance. It’s quite difficult to avoid asshats because you can recognize them from sight. However, once open their mouths, they are now easily recognizable.

They say things like, “How are guys related?” Or some other variant of dumbness.

The reply…

It’s in the eyes!

LastOnTheCard – May

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I felt good the other day and decided to take a walk at a local park. It was spur of the moment thing, so I didn’t have my Nikon. I whipped my trusty Samsung and started snapping away. Before I knew it, I was looking up at the picturesque sky because I had tripped over the pavers, falling right into a nearby flower bed. I looked around to see if anyone had noticed, and the entire affair was witnessed. Is it a requirement for someone to witness someone fall to be a fall? Otherwise, a firm denial works. Here is what I got before I bit the dust.

i listened to track as collected myself. A Stevie can do wonders for the soul.

Afternoon Sky – 05282024

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It was such a gorgeous sky today. So, I played around in PS Express. This is what I came up with this evening

Macro Monday – 05272024

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Taping a motorcycle fuel tank

Coping a Squat

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Here is my response to Cee’s – CFFC – Indoor Seating challenge

Weekend Sky – 05262024

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Macro Monday – 05202024

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CFFC – 05082024

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My response to Cee’s CMMC – Macro Close up

I enjoy taking two types of photos more than any other composition; candids and close-ups. In these photos are close-ups of a project my brother worked on last fall. He was working on a fuel tank for a motorcycle. I kept getting in the way of photographing the entire process. I complained about not being able to catch the shot I wanted. Sometimes, you get lucky a find something you weren’t looking for.

Macro Monday – 05062024

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One of things I enjoy about photography is the ability to make the mundane into something interesting. Well, it works out that way sometimes. I compare it writing. Sometimes you just can’t get a sentence the way you want. Or you write this complicated sentence when a simple will do just fine.

So, this is what I come with for today…

Top of a toolbox

I was walking into an office and saw this toolbox. Nothing about it is unique. I’ve owned several of the years. However, that day I just stopped snapped a photo. I wondered what I would do with it. I’m sure I’m not finished with it either. Well, at least I don’t think so.

As I look at this picture, I’m drawn to the symmetry of the pattern and the surface’s texture. I also notice a slight reflection of the adjacent building I hadn’t noticed before. At any rate, to me, what I’m seeing just illustrates the point I’m trying to make.

~Have a wonderful day ~

Last on the Card – 05012024

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I haven’t been taking many photos for the last few months. However, last month, I snapped a couple of decent images. They aren’t my best work but call it me working my way back into it.


FOTD – 03282024

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It’s been awhile since I posted one of these. The weather is changing and flowers are poking their little heads out.

FOTD – 03282024

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It’s been awhile since I posted one of these. The weather is changing and flowers are poking their little heads out.

CMMC – February

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Here is my response to Cee’s Photo Challenge – CMMC’s X & W – February

Over the last several weeks, I have been playing catch-up. Since retiring, I’ve sat back and enjoyed the wonderful world of blogging. I don’t have to tell you about the fantastic posts from around the world. When it came to finding images for this post, I had to do a little digging. Trust me, that was the fun part. Here is what I discovered.

Random shot of a body of Water

Water Fountain

Wallclock

Texture

I was trying to get my camera to focus during a shoot and had no idea I accidentally snapped this shot. I remember hearing the shutter. I immediately went to work and did not pay attention to all the pictures.


I was doing research last week and discovered groundhogs are also called woodchucks. So, here is one of the first pictures I took of my woodchuck, “Emmitt.” He was so shy back then. We’ve come a long way together over the years.

Woodchuck

This last photo fits several categories. It basically depends on the mood I’m in at the moment. So, today, As I gaze upon this photo of me and a few of my granddaughters, I think “Weirdo’s”.

Weirdo’s

Marco Monday – 03252024

PHOTOGRAPHY – COLOR – MACRO MONDAY

CFFC: Tools of the Trade

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Here is my response to Cee’s CFFC – Tools

When I hear the word tools, I immediately think of the various instruments I’ve used over the years for countless projects. So, for this post, I wanted to look at things a little different. Today, I will not only display tools, you know standard one’s people know. I’m display some pictures of things created by various tools.

Brother preparing a fender for painting.

As a tradesman we use so many tools and sometimes we have to make the tools we need in order to complete the job. We use a sander in body work. I use a different type of sander in woodworking. Those drivers you see in the picture of the wood project, in that shop I’ve used those drivers in various other projects, such as mechanical, hydraulics, electrical, and pneumatics.


Writer of all things:

As a writer, one of my most important tools is a laptop. I do most of writing, research, and general clowning on it. Also, I edit video and photos on it. I love my laptop and iPad, but the tool I use for writing the most are books. I can’t describe how valuable books have made a better craftsman, writer, and visual artist.




Visual Arts

Cinematography

As a visual artist, I spend a ridiculous amount of time behind the camera. In cinematography, I’m involved in aspects of filmmaking, such as Pre-production, production, and postproduction.


Still Photography

Initially, I doubted my abilities as a still photographer. So, I would hire a photographer for location scouting and various shots I needed. I found myself arguing with them more than getting any work done. This disagreement occurred because I had vision in my mind, and they weren’t capturing what I wanted for the project. Each of them were good photographers, but I couldn’t get them to understand what I wanted.

One day, I worked on a project where I was just a camera operator. I got an opportunity to work with a couple of still photographers. One photographer handed me a camera and said ” show me”. I started taking pictures. Now my framing and composition was a little off, because I was used to video where we would just cut out the useable portions. They gave me some tips and told to go buy a camera and the rest is history.


The most important tool I have learned over the years is that every skill I learn is another tool in my toolbox. I just have to remember to be patient enough to use the right tool for the job.

Macro Monday – 03182024

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CFFC – Deuces

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Here is my response to Cee’s CFFC – Pairs

Two of my feral cats, Smoke and Roscoe

Too cute


They put together a beautiful Buick
Some more Cuteness … just in case you didn’t get enough

Macro Monday

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1000hp

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Here is my response to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Cars




Macro Monday – 03042024

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A motorcycle tank we worked on this weekend at the shop

Lens Artist Challenge # 287 – Sound

PHOTOGRAPHY – COLOR – CONCERT FOOTAGE

One of my favorite forms of therapy is a Metal Concert.


RDP Saturday – Shoots

CHALLENGE RESPONSE

Here is my response to RDP’s Shoots

A toddler unleashes a shriek of glee as he shoots past an elderly gentleman with his unsure footing. He balances himself with his tiny arms outstretched. He giggles a little more with each step. We stand silently, watching him go. My soul churned in the warmth of his happiness as it spurred my own. His happiness brought back vivid memories of my grandchildren learning to walk and run. I missed my children’s milestones; otherwise, I was engaged.

I stopped to fuel up pickup before heading to a photo shoot. I’m excited about this one because it is the first time in months I’ve been well enough to even consider pulling out my camera. I’m startled back in the present by a metallic clang of debris hitting a dumpster. I watch the trash chutes flex as the waste finds its way down. AC/DC’s Shoot to Thrill starts the road trip playlist.

After, a few minutes of chatting after arriving at shop I discover I have everything in my camera bag, but an SD card. We laugh about the ridiculousness. I finally got myself together to do the shoot and realized I’m so rusty I have no idea if any pictures will be good enough to post. I show a few to the fellas and assure me that concerns are justified.

Here are a couple shots:

My brother skim coating a new gas tank.

Today was first day all three been in the shop in months. The first time in forever, where there wasn’t constant look of concern on whether I was going face plant at any moment. I lasted several hours before I plain tuckered out and needed to make the drive home.

My first photo shoot back was disaster as photo shoot’s go, but it felt damn good to be working in the shop again. Round 2 is tomorrow; wish me luck

Len Artists Challenge #288 – Window Shopping

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Towards the end of fall, my brother and I decided to take a trip downtown for some sightseeing. It was a welcomed distraction from our usual agenda as of late. Doctor’s office, Hospital, and doctor’s office again. I have a thing for pocket watches, so we stopped at this store to see what they had in stock.

A local clock shop

The windows caught my attention, so picture time


Sadly, no pocket watches, but the sign did say “clock shop”

I love windows

Macro Monday

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Spoon River: RDP – Friday

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One of the things I love about photography is you never know why you take a picture. There’s something about the lighting, the feel, or something else that captures you and makes you snap the shutter. I’ve had these photos for years. When I first took these photos, I had no idea what I would do with them. Yet, I hung onto them, wondering If I would see something different the next time I looked at them.



Last on the Card – January

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Macro Monday – 01292024

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RDP – Saturday – Web

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This is my response to the tangled web prompt. I took this photo this fall. I forgot about it until I was deleting some of the horrible photos, I took last year.

Macro Monday – 01222024

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RDP – Sunday – Jug

CHALLENGE RESPONSE

Over the years, I watched my late wife restore and sell these milk jugs. So, I snapped a picture of this one as I drove through a small town.

FOTD – Bearded Iris

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Participating in this challenge last year, I actually learned the names of a few flowers. I’ve been organizing my photos and found a few archived photos of the bearded iris that grows in my front yard. I find this flower interesting because it just showed up one year. I didn’t plant it and I haven’t done anything to get it going.

I’d completely forgotten taking this shot and I’m pleased how well it came out. According to my records, I took this picture in the spring of 2020. I hope you guys enjoy it.

Wordless Wednesday – 12272023

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My submission for Hugh’s Views & News blog, Wordless Wednesday post.

Christmas Eve Sky – 12242023

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Yesterday, I felt better than I had in weeks. I’m not sure if I actually felt better or was it more of not letting my illness mess with me during the holidays. In any case, I looked up at the sky and saw a beautiful cloudy sky. Such a wonderful cloud pattern. I’m a junkie for a cloudy day. There’s no snow, but the day is good all around. I feel pretty good today as well, so I will take the opportunity and get some writing done. Who knows? I might get crazy and take a few photos while the getting is good.



So, wherever you are in the world, happy holidays to you. Enjoy the break, do your thing, and be blessed.

Macro Monday – 12182023

PHOTOGRAPHY – COLOR – CLOSEUP

CMMC – Close up -December

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CWWC – Clouds

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Here is my entry for Cee’s CWWC – Clouds

Throughout the year, I developed an obsession with the patterns in the sky. So, I took an obscene amount of photos of clouds this year. Here are a few of my favorites. I hope enjoy them.



Wordless Wednesday – 12132023

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My submission for Hugh’s Views & News blog, Wordless Wednesday post.

Macro Monday – 12112023

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Lens Artist Challenges – November

Here are my responses to the Lens Artist Challenges in November

Lens Artist Challenges #274 – Asymmetry

Lens Artists Challenges #275 – Filling the Frame

Lens Artists Challenges #277: Empty Spaces

CMMC – November

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I have been playing catch-up all month. So, I figured I’d do one post featuring the challenges for November.

Here is my response to CMMC – Macro or Close-Up

Macro or Close up

Here is my response to CMMC – Pick a Topic from her photo

Tree
Sign
Mural under a bridge

Here is my response to CMMC – Red Color

Little Red Corvette
Concert Footage – Nonpoint

Here is my response to CMMC – Alphabet ending in R

Ending in R – Deer

Last on the Card – November

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For the last few weeks of the month, I’ve been ill. So, I haven’t been on top of my posts. I haven’t done any real shooting with my camera and haven’t been writing. I’m not 100 percent, but I do feel much better than I have in weeks. I was going through my files this morning and found some photos I snapped during the month. Some have been posted, but I found that were shot at the end of the month.

Nikon D3200

Samsung Galaxy S22 ultra

Getting Caught Up #1

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Due to my illness, I got behind on a few challenges and other posts for the blog. So, I decided to combine several a few challenges. I used the challenges listed below.

CWWC Which Way with People

CWWCWhich Way with Bridge

Lens Artist Challenge #276Looking Up, Looking Down

Looking Up
Looking down & a bridge at the park
Highway bridge
People on the bridge
Looking Up
Looking Down

CWWC – Road with Vehicles

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Here is my late entry for Cee’s CWWC – Road




CFFC – Light Fixtures – Lights around Town

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Here is my entry for Cee’s Cee’s Foto Fun Challenge – Any type of light fixture

I enjoy the most about these challenges because they push me away from my comfort zone and allow me to explore different aspects of photography.

Shot this while grabbing smokes
Adjacent to a power substation

I decided to play around with the challenge and take a few night shots.

An apartment building
Reflection Shot
Local Petro Station
Defunked Bridge

Macro Monday

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Typically, I don’t stage my photos, but this time I got tired of tripping over these dang things.

Fire in the Clouds

PHOTOGRAPHY – COLOR CLOUDS

I know clouds can’t be on fire, but the reflection is epic. It reminded me of sitting in front of the fireplace watching the embers fight for life. Just a corner at first. Slowly, it stretches until the entire clouds in engulfed



Land of Lincoln

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This post is in response to the Travel With Intent blog One Word Sunday Challenge.

Macro Monday – 11062023

PHOTOGRAPHY

I was trying to focus my camera to get another shot and accidentally took this picture.

Autumn Trees

PHOTOGRAPHY

Here’s my response to XingfuMama’s One-To-Three Photo Processing Challenge – November 2023

I’ve been working on a daily prompt response for nearly a week, and I can’t quite figure out what I want to say. All I know is that I wanted a tree in the post. So, I have been taking photos of trees. However, none of them entirely do the trick for the original I took them for. Yet, I ran across this challenge and they may work for this challenge.

Let’s take a look.

For this photo, I used Photoshop Express on my iPad

Original
Silvered
Charm 7
Carmine

I’m not sure how the challenge works, but I posted three different processes from the original. I hope I got it right. Either way, it was fun playing around with the various presets.

Sunday Stills Challenge #3

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Here is my response to Sunday Stills Challenge

Spooktacular Job

My Irish twin—I have no idea what an Irish Twin is, but she says it all the time, so I don’t argue—does a spooktacular job each year with Halloween Costumes.

This is someone’s interpretation of the “Munster” dragged and the “Munster” Chopper. You can never tell what you are going to see at a car show.

Walkabouts & Daydreams

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Here is my entry for Cee’s Which Way Challenge