Leap Day

Took this picture of my ball cap yesterday, in anticipation of posting today.

I heart the number twenty-nine. Why? Because two is the only even prime number. And nine is a trinity of trinities and the jersey number of my softball playing youth. Together they make a wicked prime number. I heart prime numbers.

And it's the number of my Nascar driver. : )

My ball caps are so much a part of me that I think I'll tag this as a self-portrait.

Take my photo off the wall,

if it just won't sing for you.

- Jet

f/3.2, 1/50 sec., 50 mm, ISO-400

It rains

f/1.4, 1/5000 sec., 50 mm, ISO-800

Ever carried the weight of another?

The girl asked me to create this shot for her. Someone that she knows online is using this photographic theme to celebrate her recovery from self-abusive behavior. Others are posting pictures in support, or even in tribute to their own recovery. Many people are writing the words on their body in places that they used to cut themselves.

My girl said she wonders what it's like to feel that way; the way that makes someone want to hurt themselves. I said I thought I understood, except my ways have always been more subtle and indirect. I told her I was glad that she has never felt that way, and that she has a heart big enough to care for others that do.

Ever carried the weight of another?
For how long?
I walk as far as they need to recover
For how long?

- Overweight, Blue October

An hour in the sunshine...

...does so much for the soul.

The girl and I went out with cameras in hand yesterday afternoon. She was more intrigued with the graffiti and trash, and I with the creek and moss, but a good time was had by both of us. I'll even forgive her for the picture she took of my big backside. But no, I'm not posting it. Here's a more acceptable angle:



These are my favorites that I took. The entire set (including a link to her shots) is here.


f/8, 1/800 sec., 50 mm, ISO-400


f/5.6, 1/1000 sec., 50 mm, ISO-400


f/5.6, 1/800 sec., 50 mm, ISO-400


f/5.6, 1/500 sec., 50 mm, ISO-400

"These bones are mere accesories." -- Envy on the Coast


f/8, 1/200 sec., 50 mm, ISO-400


f/5.6, 1/200 sec., 50 mm, ISO-400

Frosty, the fire hydrant

This is Friday's shot. After a few quick shots in the morning of the light layer of snow and ice, I put the camera back in the bag and did not take it back out until Sunday afternoon.

Saturday, I sat in front of the TV all day and watched one movie after another. It felt so damn good to just stop for a day and do absolutely nothing.

Finally Sunday brought sunshine so I coaxed the girl away from the computer, and her online friends, to go out to shoot some pictures. I even let her use the "big camera." Aren't you proud of this self-admitted control freak?

I'll get those shots up later today. :-)

Oh, and a big shout out to Boogieman who worked both Saturday and Sunday at the store so that I could have this much needed respite.

Faded Glory

Still beautiful.

I have a new endeavor...Amperdoodle.

I need another photoblog like a need a hole in my head, but I just can't resist the direction in which the creative process is pulling me right now. Creating graphic art from words and images is combinatorial* heaven.


* I know that's not really the proper use of that term, perhaps it's the latent math major coming out in me.

Interpretive Dance

This is what happens when I'm stuck in the store all day with nothing much to inspire me. My friend, Manny, has to rescue me.

I love the posterize effect so damned much. If I could, I'd probably posterize the world!

Accessorized

f/1.8, 1/1600 sec., 50 mm, ISO-400

Glory

If there are any two things that could make me believe in God, it would be trees and flowers.

Well, there's also the sky, and water, and kind people. And birds.

Or any combination thereof.

A life in neon

Part of our store's sign and the front of the Greek restaurant next door. When we order food, Dmitri knocks on the wall when it's ready to be picked up. And his food is just excellent.

Pac Sun Tour

Last night, the girl and I went to a concert at a very small club. Although the club only held about 200 people, we stood in line for three hours to get a spot right in front of the stage.

I enjoyed that spot well into the third set, when the crowd began slam dancing, or so my girl tells me that's what that was. I was smashed forward into the stage by the entire crowd behind me...and not a happily as I am usually very strict about my personal space.

Here are the pics from when I was up front, after that I was in the back with all the other parents, where I belonged.

Local Band, Mir and the Moon (pop electronica)

I love a synthesized voice. My needs are simple that way. :)



Another Day Late (alternative rock)

The bass player messed with me, stepping off the stage and resting one foot on my shoulder -- my bad shoulder! -- and by making faces at me and putting his hand in front of my camera. I think he enjoyed amusing himself with the old lady in the front of the crowd.



Danger Radio (alternative funk indie)

I thought this band was pretty adorable (I know! I'm old, if I think in those terms.) They were very dancy and boppy, hence me getting crushed at the front of the crowd!



Much to my dismay the girl went back up front to the slamming and moshing for Envy on the Coast (her fave) and The Audition. I was certain she was going to be crushed, but she lived to tell. We went to the meet and greet afterwards and she got pics with her favorite guys.

It was a great time, but every cell of my body hurts today -- standing out in the cold for several hours and then staying up till 2 am is painful for me.

Extra: The Boy

Normally very camera shy, he allowed me a few shots a couple of weeks ago. I felt he should get a post, since I'm sure my camera loving girl will get more than a few shots on this blog.

Almost delight, ennui

f/1.4, 1/1250 sec., 50 mm, ISO 400
post-processing: cropped, levels, contrast, posterize level 7

Other versions, here and here.

Autospkr

f/5.6, 1/13 sec., 50 mm, ISO-100

I'll leave this one open for interpretation.

The Ice Cometh

f/5.6, 1/30 sec., 90 mm, ISO-800


f/5.6, 1/6 sec., 132 mm, ISO-800


f/5.6, 1/25 sec., 50 mm, ISO-800


f/5.6, 1/20 sec., 105 mm, ISO-800


f/5.6, 1/100 sec., 50 mm, ISO-400

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

The Girl, in morning light...

f/2.8, 1/320 sec., 50 mm, ISO-400

...intently watching the TV. (How do they contort themselves that way? I could no more use my arm as a comfortable head rest than fly.)

Happy Accident

f/5.6, 1/8000 sec., 85 mm, ISO-100

The exposure on this shot is not anything that I can take credit for. In fact, shooting with the sun in front of me, I did not think I'd get a good shot and did not even check my settings from whatever they were for the last shot (with the sun behind me).

But I was captivated by the light on the water, with all it's movement from the gusting wind, and my contemplative Boogieman.

So I clicked. And I just love this shot.

ETA: Check out that shutter speed. Using aperture priority mode at f/5.6 and this is the exposure time it used. Wow. I heart my camera.

(This is a local park that is new to us that a friend tipped us off to. We went there after checking out the little cemetary. We have lots more pics from this park that I'll post on the Amped Eye soon. It was a great morning out with our cameras.)

General Jeremiah Crabb

I'm posting for Boogieman who is stuck in meetings all afternoon. Last week he told me that he had found a little cemetary near his office building. He and I share a reverance and love for cemetaries, particularly old ones.

Yesterday, we went to check it out. Boogieman took the "big" camera while I waited in the warm car. I think that it's the best feeling to be alone in a cemetary, and after all, it was his "find."

This little patch of sacred ground has been preserved with a white rail fence, even as residential neighborhoods and office buildings have been built all around it. Truly special.

(all shots f/5.6, 50 mm, ISO-400)









General Jeremiah Crabb
Died 19th February 1800
in the 40th Year
of his Age.

From Wikipedia: Jeremiah Crabb (1760 - 1800) was a United States Representative from Maryland.

He was born in Montgomery County, Maryland, in 1760. He served in the American Revolutionary War as second lieutenant in the First Maryland Regiment. He promoted to the rank of first lieutenant on December 15, 1777 and served as such until April 1, 1778.

He resigned on that day because of ill health occasioned by the winter hardships endured at Valley Forge. He was an extensive landowner in Montgomery County. He served as general with General Harry Lee in Pennsylvania during the Whiskey Rebellion.

Crabb was elected as a Federalist to the Fourth Congress and served from March 4, 1795, until his resignation after June 1, 1796. He returned to his home near Rockville, Maryland, and died there in 1800. He was buried in the family burial site in Derwood.

Fallen

f/2.8, 1/250 sec., 50 mm, ISO 400
f/2.8, 1/320 sec., 50 mm, ISO 400

I took a walk in the woods today.

Bokeh Bracelet

f/1.4, 1/100 sec., 50 mm, ISO-100

Friday Extra

Just because I'm on a photo effects kick these days.

f/9, 1/80 sec., 28 mm, ISO-400

(the photo effect is poster edges)

Master

f/5.6, 1/60 sec., 135 mm, ISO-400

alter-ego, as fire hydrant

f/1.4, 1/1000 sec, 50 mm, ISO-100

The original, ego. I think I should start a collection of these shots and correlate them to friends and family members. :)

The Mist

f/3.2, 1/125 sec., 50 mm, ISO-100

Local Color

With the monochrome background of winter lurking everywhere, I got myself some flowers and stuck them on the counter of our store. They really do provide some cheer.

f/2.8, 1/30 sec, 50 mm, ISO-100

I got got my 28-135mm lens back today, so I thought I'd shoot the flowers with that lens too, and add these to the above shot, taken yesterday with the nifty fifty.

f/5.6, 1/8 sec, 135 mm, ISO-100

f/5.6, 1/6 sec, 135 mm, ISO-100

f/5.6, 1/10 sec, 135 mm, ISO-100

I really love the closer shots of the zoom at 135, but I have to admit I have a thing for the extreme selective focus shots and bokeh that the fifty can get...and this was at f/2.8, that thing is wicked at f/1.4. But it sure will be nice to return to the variety of the two lenses.