Self-Portrait Through The Bathroom Looking Glass

Now here's a photo that I find unique.  I have a split medicine cabinet in the bathroom (two doors), and I managed to keep one door open, and the other mirrored door closed to show my reflection.  The key with all photos is sharpness of image (roll finger over shutter release rather than punch it, hold breathe, that sort of thing). Also important here is depth of field. While the image seems to show a deep field, it really is only as deep as the glass mirro and the items in the cabinet--thus, they are all in focus. The depth of field compensation here is not really as "deep" as it would appear.

Nordkapp HM with OC

"You must be the change you want to see in the world" -- Mahatma Gandhi

A Study In Depth Of Field

I forget the details now, but a couple weeks ago I had the Canon on a tripod and snapped two identical, unedited photos of the reflection in the kitchen window above the sink.  One was f/2.8 and one was F/11 (as I recall).  One shows the reflection and counterto items in good and clean definition, and the other has a more shallow depth of field and a more blurry reflection and items.  Click to enlarge and see. With the camera automatically making all other adjustments (this is Av or aperture priorty mode, where I select only the aperture), the two photos seem otherwise identical,---that is, no major changes in light quality or shadows.

Youtube Rarity: Tight Editing (Sometimes Loses The Backstory)

Master Bathroom Tile

We hired a professional tiler,

to redo our master bathroom floor.

He asked what pattern we desired,

and we said "do it just like your foyer."

If I Can Do It, You Can Do It

Cellphone Env2 Images at 2.0 Megapixels In The Light

Too blown out. Poor depth of field. But all in all, not terrible for a teensy weensy camera on the tip of my cell phone.

Google Chrome For Windows

Been enjoying Google Chrome instead of internet explorer on my nettbook now for about two weeks. Faster (slightly) and has some controls that are easier to use than IE8. With patience, I have learned about it and find it--like most things Google--exceptional. I'll now download and try it on my main PC.

Lake Vermilion, Danville, IL Paddling With Trailmom and LittleRed

These two cellphone shots are from the access atop the hill at Lake Vermilion, Danville, IL, when Trailmom and LittleRed and I paddled up the feeder river until it petered out under a rocky shoal where we took a break.  We met in C-U, and threw the yaks on my late,great trailer--now sold in 2009 on eBay to a fellow from Wisconsin.  You see, the trailer is sublime--but storing it in a neighborhood with covenants against leaving things outside the garage is not so sublime.  I have fond memories of our paddle that day, the three of us had a fine, sunny day.

Cognac On The Rocks

I've read all three of Scott Kelby's digital photograph books (excellent!) on my Ipod Touch (with Kindle app), and now enjoying a glass of Hennessy while I read The Kite Runner.

Life is good. Reading is more on my mind now than ever--television has lost it's luster except as an activity with my wife. I guess if I simply take up drinking and reading, I may die before I have to do any writing.

The Riverboat in Elgin, IL

Today in Elgin, IL, drove my red truck, and walked across the park to the Fox River to photograph the casino and seek a kayalk launch spot. The casino boat is impressive--frankly, the only impressive thing in a downtown that has fallen on blight, vacancy and homelessness. Yet, as in the photo, a couple of huge new condo complexes have risen from the ashes. They came up just prior to the real estate nosedive, and many units recently sold at foreclosure auction. Anyone wanting a deal on a posh condo in a 1/2 filled building located across from the neon lights of the casino, which attracts gambling addicts and whores like a yellow light beckoning summer moths, consider Elgin, IL.

Megadeth From Stage Left, Front Row

This is the Suicide Silence, Machinehead and Megadeth concert that mancub and I attended in autumn 2009.  It was a thrilling show, and all three bands were brooo-tal! Dave Mustaine and Megadeth are seen in this cellphone camera shot from that night. We were in the front row, stage left.

The Kite Runner

I know, I'm late to the party. But after hearing raves about debut novel The Kite Runner, by K. Hosseini, I am into it now about 100 pages. I wanted to read it before the hype of the movie. So far, so good... Johnny Come Lately, better late than watching the movie. So far? Simple writing style, very good story.

A Little Picasa Editing Bleaches On Blog

Interestingly, I get the hues all tuned ideally on Photoshop Elements 8, and it looks brighter--over-exposed, frankly--when I put in a blog.  Go figure.  One tip from my Scott Kelby reading says that its better to have it a tad darker when you take the original image, as it's easier to add highlight (i.e. lighten the image) during photo editing, than it is to take away light.  Seems like sound advice.

Enjoy a Diet Coke While We Read Hosseini Together

Lip Gloss

I Can See You Clearly

Pot Light Over Maple Cabinet

Dumped Brokers