Peace

This was a display in one of the downtown windows. It just evokes the feeling of peace and serenity.
As 2010 comes to a close, I wish you all peace and serenity in 2011. Thanks for following my blog.

This is the Rainbow Arch bridge just on the outskirts of Emporia, Kansas. The Franklin County Shutterbugs were out working on night photography and long exposure. I like the shadows that were created by the parking lot lights. The lights also provided the effect of the warm glow. I can assure you, the night temperature was not warm that night!!

Have you Hoodoo'd today?

Another hidden treasure in Colorado Springs is the hoodoos found in Palmer Park. The soft stone has been carved over the centuries into formations.

A hoodoo (also called a tent rock, fairy chimney, and earth pyramid) is a tall, thin spire of rock that protrudes from the bottom of an arid drainage basin or badland.

Hoodoos consist of soft sedimentary rock topped by harder, less easily-eroded stone that protects each column from the elements.

The Puppy Face

While visiting my friend Tara in Colorado Springs, she took me to Red Rocks Canyon. This area is south of the Garden of the Gods. (Most tourists hit Garden of the Gods.)

Red Rocks Canyon has trails, picturesque views, and is used by the local folks.

Obviously, I found another face. I'm not sure if someone helped this face develop, or if it is truly natural.

If you are ever in Colorado Springs, please take the time to find this little gem.

Cheyenne Canyon

During a recent trip to Colorado Springs, CO I was treated to a trip to Cheyenne Canyon. I converted this photo to black and white.

I have recently started finding "faces". Can you find the face in this photo?

Windmill & Clouds

This windmill was at an abandoned farmhouse along the Native Stone Byway. Across the road, the dark clouds were already piling up.

Racing The Storm

Today I drove the Native Stone Byway. This photo is just outside of Alma, Kansas. The
thunderstorm was rolling in and this farmer was busy trying to get his crop work done.

The Old Kitchen

There's nothing more fun for me than to explore old abandoned houses, barns, churches, etc.

This is from a house that has intrigued me for many, many years. I have never photographed the house, as I do not do these kind of things alone!! I want to make sure others are around in case something should happen....and the fact that I can scare myself silly sometimes!!

Anyway--I had an opportunity (with others) to explore this house. This is from the kitchen.

In Memorium

This is Rockie. Rockie was my brother-in-law's partner from September 2002 to March 2009, when she was retired. Rockie was a guide dog and was trained thru KSDS in Washington, Kansas.

We, unfortunately, lost Rockie a couple of weeks ago to a tumor that was between her heart and her esophagus. She was a very special part of our family.

A Sign of Spring???

Could this be a sign of things to come?? I was out in my yard taking ice photos and found that the sedum is trying really, really hard to speed spring along.

Infrared Tree/Picnic Table

This is another one of my first attempts at infrared photos. I wish I had been standing on the other side of the tree, as the bright sun on the green leaves would have photographed as white. I'm sure I'll return to this spot this summer to see it from the other side.

The Grumpy Old Man

I bet the image you had in mind when reading the blog title does not match the photo on the left.

This grumpy old guy was found at the Baker Wetlands, located in Lawrence, Kansas.

I'll be sharing other photos later on where nature imitates life.

Gas Pump Humor

When I first printed this image and showed it, everyone said "I don't get it." Once I asked them to read the last work out loud, then they got it.

There were 4 pumps at the station, but only one had this humorous sign.

The Shotgun Wedding II

Of course, the girls were not about to be out-done by the guys and wanted to pose with the guns as well.

While most every photographer has done the "Charlie Angel" pose, I got to do an authentic one.

Whether in a family portrait session or a wedding, I always encourage individuality. You never know what opportunities you have when you say "let's go have some fun" or "bring something along that means something to you & your family."

The Shotgun Wedding I

Who says weddings have to be traditional and/or stuffy? This was an outside wedding and we all had a good time.



The groom had a collection of guns and they were all joking about how they should bring them out to pose with. I had been telling them all along that I was not opposed to having some fun with taking photos.

Forest Park Tree

Buffalo Woman

"Buffalo Woman" by Charlie Norton is a statue located in front of the Franklin County, KS courthouse in Ottawa, Kansas.

The statue was installed on October 7, 1989 to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Ottawa.

Flint Hills

I have always wanted to "get lost" in the Flint Hills of Kansas. This summer, I took a day and just drove several hundred miles taking photographs.

This photograph was taken out behind the Lower Fox Creek schoolhouse. I met a fellow photographer who was doing medium format photography. As we stood there talking shop, the sunlight decided to break through the clouds.

Panorama - Oregon

2009 found me at Cannon Beach, OR with two photographer friends. This is Haystack Rock. The little dots you see along the shore are people.

Definitely puts a perspective on the photo.

Trees in Winter

I prefer winter and fall, when you feel the bone structure of the landscape ~ the loneliness of it,
the dead feeling of winter. Something waits beneath it, the whole story doesn't show. ~~Andrew Wyeth

Macro Photography

I love macro photography. I like being able to bring a new view to an ordinary object. To see something in a different way.

This is a dandelion. I took it in July 2008, thinking how it looked like fireworks.

One of My Favorites

This is one of my all-time favorite wedding photographs. This is Henry. We took all the formal photos prior to the wedding.

Henry didn't want to smile at all in any of the photos. We tried everything. His mother was none too happy. I was finally able to get one smile when I did reverse psychology....telling Henry I did not want him to smile....nope, he couldn't smile at all as it could make the lights go out.

By the time we got to the ceremony, he obviously had had enough and just had a total meltdown right in front of me. You'll notice that everyone else in the photo is focusing on the bridesmaids and anticipating the bride.

Once the ceremony was over, I'm glad to say that Henry was all smiles the rest of the night.

Seeing, But Not Seeing

As a photographer, it is my job to "see".

When composing a photograph, I should not end up with a tree or pole growing out of someone's head. We are constantly told to look at all areas of the viewfinder.

Occasionally, I get surprised.

"The Ice Reindeer" is one I did not see coming. I was out doing some macro photography, looking at ice and its patterns. I was drawn to this particular icicle because of the bubble.

When I downloaded the image onto my computer, lo and behold, I found the ice reindeer.

This little guy also made his TV debut as a WDAF weather photo on 12/28/09.

January 19, 2010

We're now 19 days into the new year. We probably all had resolutions, or goals, for 2010. One of my goals was to start blogging about my studio and my photography. I am going to try my hardest to be somewhat consistent in this endeavor. I would love to promise a photo-a-day type thing, however, I'm not sure that would be a reality. I've seen photo blogs try it, however, somewhere along the way, things get in the way and the blog is forgotton.

The photo above was taken on 1/4/10 at the Johnson County (KS) Arboretum. This is actually an infrared photo. I will share some other infrared photos later.