You know when you look out your back window and you see those colors of the sunset and think “wow, that’s an awesome sunset?” Well, you’re right, it is an awesome sunset.
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Head On
I’m self-taught on several subjects. Specifically bike maintenance and mechanics and videography/photography. The two areas that have essentially dominated my life for the past 20/30 years. I’ve turned both into successful professional careers at one point or another.
As a side note, I have a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from James Madison University.
My kids think it’s hilarious that I have a BS Degree.
It’s really a tough way to do it for many reasons, but mostly because you’re at the mercy of your own motivation and commitment. Freelancing is a tough road, but it can be rewarding. The one thing I’ve learned through my “travels” is that whatever the new technique is or whatever the new trend in the industry is, you gotta jump right in to stay current. Learn as you go, make mistakes and improve your craft. Whatever it is. Just go for it – head on.
Trying to take my photography to a new level. Ha! I just heard that in my head.
Recipe For Easy
Sunsets have never been easier. Granted, it’s not the highest quality sunset image that I could take, but it gets me above the power lines and mess of the city and gives me a clear shot at one of the best parts of the day.
Was able to grab the gear and catch the sun setting over Winchester. That’s the elementary school (bottom) where both my kids attended.
A Whole New World
“Flying is learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.”
– Douglas Adams
Yep. Guess who got a new toy? Look out world, here I come!
Sneak Peek
A little hint of what’s coming next…
Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.
Dear Today
Letter to Today:
Dear Today,
You could have been better to me. While washing the car, I almost ripped the fingernail off my middle left finger. Yeah, this one. The one I’m holding up and showing to you. Yeah, that one. Hurts like crap. Then I had to cancel a credit card due to fraudulent charges. It’s getting to the point that the banks red flag ANY spending that’s even slightly outside of my pattern. I get it, but it’s frustrating when it happens. I think I’m on my 3rd new credit card in the past year! Oh, and I ran into the back of a car on my bike ride. Credit card fraud really sucks.
So, yeah, you could have been better to me.
Sincerely,
Me
And just a FYI, I’m fine after the cycling incident (for those of you asking). I was more embarrassed than I was concerned. It was one of those “I’ve-ripped-the-fingernail-off-my-middle-finger-(the-one-I’m-showing-you-now)-and-somebody-is-trying-to-steal-money-from-me-but-I-want-to-get-a-ride-in-so-I’m-in-a-hurry-and-I’m-not-paying-any-attention” kind of incidents.
If you play the guitar, you can identify and here’s why. Let’s say you play the guitar. You know all the chords. You’ve practiced. You know ’em. But ya still look at the frets from time to time, right? Ya just do. That’s the way it works. It’s the same with us cyclists. I know where my pedals are. I know how my shoes fit into the cleats. But I still look at the pedals every once in a while. Imagine you’re playing the guitar. You got a pretty good tune going on. You’re strumming along and you glance down to check the proper fingering and WHAMMO! You just ran into the back of a stopped car. See, now you understand.
There was really no damage to either me or the car, but guess what took the brunt of the impact. Yeah, my left middle finger (the one I’m showing you now).
Yeah, today could have gone better.
I’m thinking those agoraphobics are on to something. Of course, I wouldn’t be able to capture images like these if I never went anywhere.
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Light Show
So, it’s been quite a while since I’ve actually been at home for the 4th of July. I completely forgot that the fireworks were set off last night. Oh well. No biggie.
I posted an image previously from this lightning storm, but this was what was happening over the ocean in the other direction. Pretty crazy considering that this was taken between 10 and 11 pm. Our own little pre-4th fireworks show.
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Photo Blog
Can I just post a picture? No writing. This is, after all, a photo blog. Can I just post an image that has no worldly significance other than to portray the subject in my viewfinder? Is that acceptable?
Yes.
My mother inherited an enormous yard of flowers from my grandmother and is enjoying all the different colors these days. I seem to remember, when I was much younger, my grandmother cross-pollinating various iris species to get a new one with crazy color schemes. Am I not remembering that correctly? Anyway, here’s one of the many irises in the yard these days. More images coming soon to my newest gallery here.
Happiness
“Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is Happiness.”
I’m liking what I’m doing and, somewhat more importantly, I’m liking who I’m doing it for. Horrible grammar, I know, but you get it.
I’ve said it before, it’s the little things that people walk by every day that can really be eye-catching.
Last Look
So after this two-week vacation, our next 1-week vacation is going to feel way too short – OR – all our vacations from now on will have to be at least 2 weeks long!
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Up
After a while, it becomes difficult to tell what’s up and what’s down. 219 steps to the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse.
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Augustine Light
“It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.”
– Aristotle Onassis
So I’ve had this urge to photograph lighthouses for a while now so it’s always awesome when I get to visit a new one. Now, apparently, I need to get this same image at every lighthouse I visit. Be sure to check out my other lighthouse images (and more to come from St. Augustine).
The St. Augustine Lighthouse is St. Augustine’s oldest surviving brick structure. | Order a print of this image.
The Sun Also Sets
Yeah, I know that’s not the title, but that’s not what I’m going for here. With so much attention to the sunRISES lately, I needed to turn around and give some time to the sunSET.
This Sucker’s Electrical!
“No, no, no, no, no, this sucker’s electrical, but I need a nuclear reaction to generate the 1.21 gigawatts of electricity I need.”
– Dr. Emmett Brown
I think Doc Brown would have been all set for a few more trips in his time machine after last night’s storms! I wonder how many gigawatts were generated from this one.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you 1.21 gigawatts! | Order a print of this image.
See What I Mean?
They’re all different – I’m just saying.
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Different
The thing I like the most about the sunrise (sunsets follow suit) is that it’s always (always – no exceptions) different. And the clouds make it even better. In my opinion, a clear sky with just the sunrise is kinda boring. I’ll take it, but I’d rather have the clouds and patterns they make.
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The Funshine State
We’ve renamed the Florida state nickname to the “Funshine” state. Just so you know. That is all.
A protected wildlife habitat that we pass every day on our walk. | Order a print of this image.
Shark!
Yeah, it wasn’t that impressive, but I wonder if its big brother is still lurking…
In no way did we harm this shark. It had washed up on the shore. Just FYI.
Revert
Sponges grow in the ocean. That just ‘gets’ me. I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be if that didn’t happen.
– Steven Wright
So at what point does the urge to dig a hole at the beach cease to exist? I think I’ll hold on to that one for a while.
Cedarmeade Studios 