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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