Photo of the Day....Hot Ozarks Saturday Morning

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Photo of the Day......Ozarks Hillbilly Billboard Humor

Photo of the Day......Fishing with Gramps

This photo is for Richard James who's Tweet stirred up old memories of Fishing with Gramps Summer 1955.  I was six years old.  If I am in this photo I must be hiding. 

Photo of the Day......Ultimat Vodka

I decided the blog needed a face lift.  I will likely change the color schemes a few more times before I let it ride again.  I will very likely not stay with the introduction photo.  It was taken last year during an assignment for an aircraft sale. The misty trees seemed to be getting tired and depressing.  

Today is an early attempt at product photography.  My goodness but you do have to keep the product clean and dust free.  I wasn't too concerned since I was trying to see what I can do with the lighting first.  

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Photo of the Day......Last Storm Photo

While that beast of a storm moved away showing off it's brilliant rainbow it was not done displaying it's other deadly beauties.  As we gazed upon the rainbow to the east the south abounded with massive lightning flashes.  It seemed as though the storm was lashing out at us one last time.  Reaching back with it's electric fingers.  One last reminder that he was the king of the beasts and we were nothing in his presence. 

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Bonus Photo of the Day......Beauty within the Belly of the Beast

The storm that devastated Joplin, MO 80 miles to the west of us pasted just to the south of us and as the storm passed to the east an intense rainbow formed.  

As I stepped out of the house to enjoy some post storm fresh air my neighbor across the street shouted "Get you camera!  and pointed eastward and upward.  I turned to see an extremely intense rainbow.  In the time it took for me to find my camera low clouds began to obscure the upper part of the bow, and neary obscure the double bow.  Still the ends were extremely intense.   

I am one of thousands of Ozarkers  who took photos of this rainbow and almost all of them are better than this one.  My favorite being a portrait of two people with the rainbow end descending right behind them.  Nice work Kelsenator!  But, still it is worth sharing.  

This tornado storm may turn out to be the deadliest in Missouri history.  I believe it is the worse I've ever witnessed.  Nature is brutally beautiful and seemingly the more magnificently brutal the storm the more majestically beautiful is it.   

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Photo of the Day......Immature Turkey Vulture

Immature Turkey Vulture sitting atop an abandoned grain silo.  I did my homework on this one.  While I was confident this was a Turkey Vulture the lack of a red head made me check the Sibley's bird guide to be sure.  Turkey Vultures are very common around here.  Maybe they should be referred to as Ozarks Robins.

Speaking of being sure, the previous posting is NOT a Monarch Caterpillar but a Black Swallowtail Caterpillar.  Sometimes known as a "Parsley Caterpillar, so of course it does like Parsley.

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Photo of the Day......Yea, I like Parsley

It's been a sadly busy day here.  But, spotted a Monarch Caterpillar munching on Parsley while working in the garden Earlier today.  So I wanted to post it before I head for bed because it will be a busy day tomorrow.  

Prayers and thoughts for my fellow Ozarkers who suffered through what may turn out to be one, if the not the worse, tornado disasters we've seen and we've seen a lot of them.  Especially for those at St. John's Hospital in Joplin, MO which was extensively damaged by the storm.  Mother Nature can so beautiful and yet so destructive. 

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Photo of the Day......Noir portrait series location testing

A Location test photo for a planned "Film Noir" portrait series using Chiaroscuro low-key lighting.  using an old empty building with bare brick interior walls and large south facing window openings. This door would likely be best used with back lighted windows. 

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Bonus Photo of the Day......The road to Blue Eye

View of Hwy 13 leading into Blue Eye, or for you Daniel Woodrell fans, the road to Blue Knee. Read Daniel Woodrell's 'Tomato Red' published by Henry Holt 1998.  I highly recommend the book if you want insight into rural Ozarks culture.

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Photo of the Day......Will someone turn off the damn light?!

Photo of the Day......High Water on Table Rock

I have seen high water on the lake before but this is right up there.

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Photo of the Day....................Happy Mother's Day MOM

Photo of the Day......Galloway Creek

This is a quick work up of one of today's photos.  Galloway Creek.  

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Photo of the Day........Why do I love this photo so much?

I love this photo so much because it is PERFECT!  Orville Fox and Georgia O'Feeffe  at Canyon De Chelly in Arizona.  Photographed by Ansel Adams in 1937.   

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Photo of the Day......Yea I Like Fish

The Tern after diving into the water comes away with a nice yummy fish snack.  I was shooting manually and with the light changing my shutter speed dropped below 1/1000 sec. while adjusting exposure, which doesn't seem to freeze the wings.   If they are there again.  I will shoot shutter priority and let the stops float to get exposure.  Keeping the shutter above 1000 or more.  Again it capture the bird but no prize for this one.

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Photo of the Day......Forster's Terns at Lake Springfield

A few days ago I spotted a couple migrating Forster's Terns fishing on the lake.  I didn't have the proper shooting tools with me so I watched them fly dart  veer and dive straight down into the water for fish.  The following day they were gone.

Today there were lots of them  but unfortunately they stayed mostly across the lake and only a few times came within range of my camera.  Right now for all birds in flight it seems 1/1000-sec is the slowest shutter speed you dare shoot at.  I had more range than that but didn't figure that out right away so I head back tomorrow and if they are there I will try some different settings.  

This is a true action shot but not as sharp and dramatic as is could be.  Hopefully, if they are back tomorrow,  I'll find a spot closer to the action.

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Photo of the Day........Colors of Spring

This is an attempt to show the variety of colors of spring.  Along with the domination of greens there are blues and reds and orange to spice the eye.

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Photo of the Day......Caged Chevy

I took this photo back on August 24, 2010 while driving along Walnut Street.  I have been playing with the image some so you might see a few more versions of this.  

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Photo of the Day......Ring around the Sun

This is a photo I've been meaning to post for some time now.  It was taken the late afternoon of April 17th.  My lens would not encompass the entire ring.  Since I wanted to highlight the clouds and ring I used a 4X Neutral Density Filter to attempt to minimize the brightness of the sun.  High altitude ice crystals form these rings.  

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Photo of the Day(4)...........James River Flooding

This is the last photo of the day,  I was waterlogged.  My camera was getting waterlogged and the light was running out and it was still raining very hard.  I was amazed to find the park still open but not surprised to find the Boat House nearly surrounded in water.  The decorate stone wall around the building almost looking like sandbags.  I felt there was still a chance the water would be licking at the balcony by morning but knowing the park was actual close to closing due to darkness decided it was time to go home and warm up with a cup of tea.

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Photo of the day(3)...........James River Flooding

The most interesting aspect of this photo is it is one of 10 shots at a rate of 8 frames per second.  This was the last frame shot.  It is also when I noticed that the water line was now about four feet closer to me.  How would the math go?  8 frames per second.  10 frames shot.  So lets say 1.5 seconds of shooting and the water came four feet closer.  Rising towards me at a rate of, lets see. 2.7 feet per second.  Multiplied by 60 to get a rate of 162 feet per minute and then another 60 to get a rate of 9600 feet per hour.   Divide by 5280 feet per mile and you get 1.8 miles an hour.  Not a speed freak pace but also not a warm fuzzy considering the volume.

This photo was created at the fishing boat launching parking lot just west of the US highway 65 overpass.  Its not in the frame of view but Farm Road 177 is just to the right of the end of the frame and it was flooding fast.  A few cars turned around but the tall four wheel drive pick ups kept barreling along through the rising water like kids playing in a puddle.  It seemed obvious that this section of Farm Road 177 would be closed very soon.

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Photo of the Day(2)......Tranquility above the turmoil

I climbed the hill back up to the road gaurd rail to get the expanse of flooding onto the sensor.  The fishing pier curves from where the walkway submerges to just past the third light post from the right.  Both of the Tranquil waters photos were created at the same time of the morning as the turbulent dam images.

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Photo of the Day......Tranquility above the turmoil

While trees were being tossed about like sticks below the dam above the dam showed no sign of the chaos below.  Smooth water belies the rush and volume of water moving past you at the very moment in time.

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Photo of the Day(3).....James River Flooding

Here is the zoom I promised.  Shooting under these conditions was a matter of serious compromising.  It was raining.  Humidity was over 90% and there was river water misting and it was very cloudy and morning light.  I decided to shot at slower speeds to capture detail and to blur the water movement to create more drama.  My intentions, when I decided to capture the dam overflow today,  was to share the sight, but I was also very interested in putting life into the images so I wanted emotion too.  

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Photo of the day(2)...........James River Flooding

This still was taken this morning at 8:55 at the same time I took the short video of the dam overflow and debris flowing with it.  Notice the extra large burbling water and splash to the far right.  I didn't see what just came over but from later shots it appears to have been a tree.  I am going to zoom into the large burble and splash in the next photo.

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Photo of the day...........James River Flooding

View of the James River flooding from the bluff overlooking the Missouri Veteran's Cemetery.  It was raining very hard at the time and both me and the camera were getting pretty water logged.  It's amazing how well a garbage bag can protect a camera.  Put it in the bag.  Punch out a hole for the lens and shoot.  

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Video of the Day.......Hydraulic Jump and Debris

This is a short rough video taken below the Lake Springfield Dam about an hour ago.  Towards the end you can see the hydraulic jump line reaching from shore to shore parallel to the damn.  Watch the trees being tossed about in the turbulant water.  Water is powerful. 

Photo of the Day......Thunderstorm Outbreak of April 23, 2011

I realize that I should be talking about storm images from Saturday April 23rd even though the storms started Friday afternoon and are, more or less still going on two days later.  This second lightning photo was taken during the same storm passing to the north of my location.  This time I burrowed a bit deeper into the storm to capture this cloud to cloud  stroke.  This image was captured at 6:51:30 PM.

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 Camera: Canon 40D  Lens: Canon EF24-70 f/2.8 USM  Processor: Photoshop CS5

Photo of the Day......Thunderstorm Outbreak of April 22, 2011

At about 6:37 PM another storm slipped to the north of my location with a good amount of cloud to cloud lightning.  I was able to capture a few strokes.  During this storm passage there was light rain falling and a lot of humidity misting around so sharpness is lacking.  With the time being closer to sunset and the sun setting off to the left, in the photo, created some interesting colors and seemed to create a dilemma regarding brightness, contrast and photo detail integrity. 

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 Camera: Canon 40D  Lens: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 USM   Processor: Adobe CS5

Photo of the Day......Thunderstorm Outbreak of April 22, 2011

Mammatus clouds over Springfield, MO at 5:15 PM.  These are the only Mammatus clouds I saw last night.  

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 Camera: Canon 40D  Lens: Canon EF24-70 f/2,8 USM   Processor: Photoshop CS5

Photo of the Day......Thunderstorm Outbreak of April 22, 2011

I wasn't able to travel far from home base last night but I tried to capture some storm moments.  The main imaging issues were trees and humidity.  Being close to a storm at each imaging attempt there was high humidity which impacted the clarity of the images.  I will post the best I have over the next few days starting with a Cumulus buildup occurring to the east of my location in SE Springfield at 2:40 PM 

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 Camera: Canon 40D   Lens: Canon EF24-70 f/2.8 USM  Processor: CS5

Photo of the Day......I think its been raining

Photo of Lake Springfield dam taken April 15, 2011 at 5:41 CDT. 

Camera: Canon D10   Process: Picassa

Photo of the Day........Deep Cove British Columbia Canada

From the archives.  A photo of Deep Cove British Columbia Canada taken on A foggy Feb. 10, 2008 at 5-PM local time. 

Photo of the Day.................Happy Birthday

This month these four little furry stinkers turn four years old.  From left to right they are:  Willow McBitey Longshanks, Goosafur "Goose" Longshanks, Rooster Longshanks, and Rowan Longshanks. 

No Photo of the Day....................Last Day???

The old saying "Out of sight. Out of Mind" rings so very true for the internet.  Especially for blogging and tweeting.  

I have my photography computer back up and running.  I had to reload the operating system.  Reload all the application software.  Reload all my working photos and then reload a new anti-virus.  The McAfee would never reload so I installed Norton 360, and on first glance the Norton Anti-virus is very impressive.  Did I say that since I could not find the wireless adapter driver anywhere I installed a new adapter?     

Everything is up and running beautifully except for Flash Player so I still have video issues. I think I am on the verge of solving that issue too. 

For you who are actually reading this blog here is a wonderful video created by taking a photo approximately every 2 miles on a flight from San Francisco to Paris using a Canon EOS 5D Mark-2 camera 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j36Erxd5rc

Photo of the Day........Winter Sunset over Lake Springfield

I took this photo on the evening of Feb. 21, 2011.   Shows why the term "Golden Hour" rings so true.

Camera: Canon D10     Process:Picassa

BONUS PHOTO OF THE DAY....I KNOWS YOUR HOLDING OUT ON ME

He seems to think I have food and insists that I have some for him. 

Camera: Canon D10   Process:Picassa

Photo of the Day........Duck Tailed Drake

While on my evening walk I made friends with a couple Drakes.  I know that look when I see it.  That "You got noms?! look.  That feed me now look.  Sorry no food for you.  You got plenty all around you.  Don't be a mooch.  No matter how cute you are your not getting any food from me. 

Camera:Canon D10  Processor:Picassa

NO PHOTO OF THE DAY............ALMOST BACK UP AND RUNNING

Since letting McAfee attempt to repair their software on my computer I have had to reinstall the operating system.  I fixed everything but none of the wireless adapter drivers I have installed will work.  Fortunately everything else is working and all my files are intact.  I'll get the wireless running......there are ways to make things work. 

During the down time I've been wondering what this blog should really be about, and honestly I am not at all sure what that should be.  Maybe it should continue to be about nothing.  Just whatever photo or occasional video that interests me that day.  Maybe it should be about photography or a specific photographic subject.  I am tending towards leaving it as eclectic as it can be and posting whatever tickles my fancy.  Isn't that essentially what blogging is about?  Talking to anyone who will listen, even if it is just the wind, about whatever is on your mind no matter if anyone cares or not?  According to Dictionary.com a "blog" is:

a web site containing the writer's or group of writers' own experiences, observations, opinions, etc., and often having images and links to other Web sites.

Sounds like a good enough definition to me.  Narcissistic? Certainly!  At least I am not posting photos of myself.

NO PHOTO OF THE DAY

Sometimes I hate computers.  Had a lightning strike and power surge a few days ago.  The computer and software survived just fine except for McAfee.  It went insane.  Can't fix it.  Spent hours on phone with McAfee tech. support.  Finally let them fix it remotely.  They said I can now reboot and and reinstall.  So I did.  BLUE SCREEN!!!  I have to reload Windows now.  Last time I let someone else touch my computer.  Three computers on the network and  McAfee went insane on all three at the same time.  Oh well at least I am getting some shooting done. 

VIDEO OF THE DAY...LITTLE BLACK DUCKS BOBBING ON THE BIG BLUE SEA

Well they are not ducks and this is not the big blue sea, so how about some Coots bobbing on a Midwest Lake?  Do they get sea sick?  I wonder how furiously their little legs are paddling against the wind. 

PHOTO OF THE DAY.................STIRRING UP MUCK

Photo taken yesterday while on my evening walk of a Canadian Goose stirring up the muck from the bottom of the lake. 

CAMERA: CANON D10 - SETTINGS:AUTO - PROCESS: PICASSA 

PHOTO OF THE DAY......INDUSTRIAL SUN

Industrial sunset. 

Camera: Canon D10  Processor: Photoshop CS5 

PHOTO OF THE DAY........SILO SUNSET

Happy Saint Patrick's Day everyone.  I am sorry I am unable to offer up something green and Celtic for you.  Unfortunately my day is occupied by things unartistic.  So I am offering up a sunset from last month. 

CANON D10 PROCESSED IN PICASSA

PHOTO OF THE DAY........SUNSET OVER ENGLISH BAY

Sunset over English Bay Vancouver British Columbia.  Taken back on March 25, 2002

OLYMPUS D40Z AUTOMATIC

BONUS PHOTO.........HOW DID I KNOW THAT?

How did I know that was a Yellow Rumped Warbler?  That looks like a mighty yellow rump to me.

PHOTO OF THE DAY........YELLOW RUMPED WARBLER

This is a Yellow Rumped Warbler. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology it is a very common bird in the Ozarks during winter, but is not a bird feeder visitor.  Being winter, it is wearing it's drab winter feathers. The photo was taken on Jan. 30, 2011, a very gray day. It was taken through a window so quality is not very good but my goal was to record it. Hopefully I will get another opportunity to take a portrait of this tiny little cutie under better conditions. I have added a link to the Cornell Lab Website so you can hear it's song. Watch your volume it can be an ear piercing melody.

http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-rumped_Warbler/sounds

 

CANON EOS 40D w/ EF 7-200 f/2.8 IS USM

PHOTO OF THE DAY.............MORALITY SIGNS

A Not so hidden message.  100 'Get out of Hell Free' Points for anyone who guesses where these signs are located.  Locals ineligible to play.

PHOTO OF THE DAY........AIRCRAFT I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE

It has been sometime since I have driven down the flight line and there was a Saab 340 parked on the ramp with US Air Force markings.  By the look of it, it seems to be a coastal or maritime surveillance aircraft.   It sure has a lot of "things" hanging off of it and two bug eyes in the nose. 

CANON D10

PHOTO OF THE DAY........MELTING ICE

CANON EOS 40D with CANON EF-60MM F/2.8 MACRO USM  

PHOTO OF THE DAY......BROTHERLY LOVE

Would you believe as I write this these two brothers are beating the snot out of each other behind my chair.  "Don't you love your brother?  Nah but I'm used to him"   Chico Marx.  The grey guy is Goosafur 'Goose' Longshanks.  His brother is Rooster Longshanks.

Photo of the Day........Ice fog over Lake Springfield

Yea it's called Lake Springfield or Springfield Lake.  Yea it's a man made lake.  Yea it sounds like something out of the Simpsons, and if you're thinking that, trust me, you wouldn't be far from wrong.  But, when I see Lake Springfield I don't always see Lake Springfield.