Day 22

The sun was shining, so I rushed outside to see what roses looked like with light on them. I shot a few flowers, and then I tried once again to get some drop shots, but had no success.


I'm happier with the photos I took this afternoon at Cameron's football game. Maybe it's the subject matter.

After football, he took a few minutes to run up and down the bleachers with a soccer ball. I wish I had that kind of energy.

Day 21

I went out first thing this morning to photograph a drip. I found some good drips on these rosehips--which are pretty, with or without drips. Drips are harder to shoot than I thought. So are rosehips. Somewhere in this paragraph is a nursery rhyme for children.



The yellow rose I photographed last night is next to the bush with the bright red rosehips, so I turned around and focused on it. This time I used the macro instead of the telephoto, getting in closer and eliminating all the thorns. Look how she shines on her own, without those prickly thorns poking at her all the time. :-) It's a metaphor.

Day 20

When I first got to work, I stepped out of the car and took this one. It was still dark, and the the street lights were on.

But it wasn't quite what I wanted. So during the lunch hour, I walked across the street and climbed to the top of the parking structure there. I took a lot of photos with fall colors. I liked this one, because it looks like an impressionist painting.

Then I found a new lens in my mailbox, so I had to run out and try it. This shot is okay--it was a 10 second exposure with my new Canon EF 70-200mm f4L, which actually comes with a CD on how to use it. I probably should watch it before I try again. I like the rose and the thorny, half-dead bush though, so I'll probably go after it again tomorrow in the daylight. Maybe with the macro. (Terri, this shot made me think of you. Can you guess why?)

Day 19

I drove to Roseburg today to interview a young woman whose father died in a logging accident when she was two years old. As the recipient of a scholarship given out by OR-OSHA, she is a great subject for a story, and she made a poised model for the real photographer (as opposed to me, the fake photographer). The UCC campus was lovely, but soggy.

Day 18

Internet wasn't working last night. Didn't have the right photos to post with me now. Hope I do better tonight. Oh well, a photo is a photo, right?

Day 17

The obligatory fall leaf photo.

Day 16

Sometimes it's not about the quality of the photography, but the story behind the photo, when the beauty is in the relationship between two people--er, cows--not in the exposure.

Day 15

With today's stormy weather, I'm more interested in trying to capture the summer that still exists in our atrium than going outside in the wind and the rain. Besides, I have to load my 30-day, free trial of Lightroom now that I have a computer that plays nice with others.

Day 14

Crash Course in Digital Photography with John Greengo: My head is expoding.

Day 13

Yes, I went after the damned geese again. This time I came back vowing to take a rifle the next time I "go shoot geese." Then I went online to B&H Photo, wondering if a better quality telephoto lens would help. Fortunately, since some of those lenses cost more than $8,000, it's the sabbath, and B&H isn't taking any online orders until late tomorrow. That ended my hopes for instant lens gratification. I'm sure I'll feel better by the time the store reopens.

I decided to end the day with flora instead of fauna. It let me get as close as I wanted.

Day 12

On Being Prepared and Night Photos Part II: Serendipity

As I drove home, I noticed thousands of geese cleaning up the corn left over from the chopping. In fact, it was hard to see the field for all the geese. I ran into the house, put on my boots, and ran back out with my camera. It was starting to get dark, so I was rushing. Forgetting momentarily that haste makes waste, I didn't take time to get my camera bag or my tripod. Big mistake on both counts. The geese offered several opportunities for some nice photos, but with a setting sun, cloudy skies, and flapping wings, I needed a different lens and the tripod. A bit wiser, but sadder, I moved on to Night Photos Part II: Serendipity.

Downhearted after the goose photo fiasco, I began the walk back to the house (it was only about 100 yards, but it felt longer). Just before turning into our driveway, I saw some bicyclists approaching. I wasn't even sure of my camera settings when I raised the camera. I just chose continuous shooting and auto focus and held the shutter down. Like I said: serendipity.

Day 11

I spent more than an hour this evening in photo hell. Inspired by The Bog Hare's tale of night photography, I decided to go out after dark and get some dramatic shots of the shop. It was not easy. In any shot that showed detail on the outside of the shop, the interior looked like something had exploded inside; it was that bright. And when you could see details inside the shop, the outside was coal black. I tried manual (on every conceivable setting); I tried several variations of auto; I tried crying. Then I tried PhotoShop Elements and signed up for a night photography class. This photo is still far from what I could see with my eyes, but it's time now for a cup of Calm tea before bed.

Day 10

I feel a cold coming on--don't want to go outside. Come here, let me take your photo.

Day 9

Spent a little time playing with the new wide angle lens. It's a Tokina 12-24 F4 DXII. The short walk from work made the state capitol building a handy photo op.

Day 8

Like The Bog Hare (theboghare.blogspot.com), I ran off to get a photo of something in the air: a bald eagle that had been spotted just north of the house. I saw it, but like her balloons, my eagle was just a black dot in the sky. It was, however, a chance to take a few photos of corn chopping in progress. And, no matter what else is going on, there's usually a dog around to steal the show.

Day 7

Our grandson Zach's soccer photos take the top spot today, beating out peppers and Indian corn at the farmers' market, bottles inside the recycling bin at Garten, and a portrait of Don at Starbucks (but I can get portraits of him any time I want).

Day 6

When I snapped this photo, I was in the hydrangeas having a little kiss-and-make-up session with the macro. I thought it would be my photo of the day. The hydrangeas were all dry and crackly, just like autumn. But then I wandered into the shop, waiting for the crew to start chopping--I've been trying to get a good chopping photo for a week. Back in a corner, I happened to see this guy, just begging to have his photo taken. He's not only my photo for the day; he's my newest best friend.

Day 5

I love autumn. It is without a doubt my favorite season. Summer is too hot; winter is too cold; spring is too cheerful.

Day 4

At 7:20 a.m. this morning, fog covered everything. I grabbed my camera and ran outside, wanting to capture it. On my way to a clear shot from our field, I stepped in a big hole filled with mud. Then, as soon as the camera was on the tripod, I remembered the battery was recharging, and the memory card was in the computer. I ran back in, managing to hit the mud with the other foot on the way. As soon as I had the battery and memory card back in the camera, I realized I didn't have the lens I wanted. I cursed mornings, wondered why I had ever decided to do this, and snapped the damned photo. It's only Day 4.

Day 3

By the time I get home from work, the sun is already setting. It's definitely autumn: this corn will be gone in a few days.

Day 2

I've been having a lot of fun with my new Canon 100mm F2.8 macro lens. I was able to spend a few minutes with it this evening, looking for fall in a freshly chopped cornfield. Last year I took aim at geese with a telephoto lens. This year I stayed much closer to the ground. This corn cob doesn't seem nearly as appealing as the corn we've enjoyed all summer.

Day 1

Caving in to peer pressure, I decided to try posting one photo a day for the next year. A date with so many ones in it—10/10/10—seemed a good place to start (sorry, Karen, I couldn't find an appropriate digital clock anywhere in the house). This photo will be the last one taken with the "old" G9, which will return to Don, its rightful owner. I like the shapes and colors I find around the farm, so I'll start with a piece of equipment near the house on this rainy day. I expect this project will be much more difficult than it sounds—or that other people have made it appear.